Three favorite picks from the 2024 draft

Here is something to look back on in the future. I’m selecting my three favorite picks from each round. These are not necessarily the most talented or have the highest ceilings, just that the team did well to take the player in that position and also pointing out kudos for a particular strategy.

ROUND ONE

#12 – D Zeev Buium – Minnesota Wild

Zeev should have never fallen out of the top ten and it was Minnesota’s gain after they traded up one spot to nab him.

#20 – LW Cole Eiserman – New York Islanders

Islanders are the great beneficiary of this top sniper in the draft falling to them.

#22 – C Yegor Surin – Nashville Predators

Teams unafraid of drafting Russians high will reap the benefits.

ROUND TWO

#33 – LW Igor Chernyshov – San Jose Sharks

This talented Russian should have been a first rounder and therefore an easy pick to lead off day two.

#38 – G Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

Ballsy strategy to take first goalie of the draft and invest in the 21-year old KHL playoff MVP.

#41 – LW Andrew Basha – Calgary Flames

Another talented forward who fell out of the first round is a great choice here.

ROUND THREE

#66 – RW Maxim Masse – Anaheim Ducks

Ducks might have grabbed the best player out of the QMJHL.

#80 – C Ondrej Becher – Detroit Red Wings

Could an overager who scored 96 points in the WHL provide immediate dividends?

#92 – RW Jack Pridham – Chicago Blackhawks

Finding a player with size and speed in the BCHL to BU pipeline is intriguing.

ROUND FOUR

#109 – LW Kevin He – Winnipeg Jets

Could be the biggest star of the draft and the Flyers got him at seven is great fortune.

#122 – D Aron Kiviharju – Minnesota Wild

Was once considered a top prospect in the draft class is this small gifted defenseman.

#125 – C Riley Patterson – Vancouver Canucks

Underrated find primed for a big second year in the OHL.

ROUND FIVE

#131 – D Colton Roberts – San Jose Sharks

A big right handed smooth skating defenseman will always get a chance.

#150 – C Luke Misa – Calgary Flames

Grabbing a player who scored 81 points in the OHL at this pick is good business.

#156 – RW Justin Poirier – Carolina Hurricanes

Another small prolific scorer is a nice bet this late in the draft.

ROUND SIX

#162 – RW Anthony Romani – Vancouver Canucks

Getting the draft class’ leading scorer, even as a reentry, is a huge pick up at the top of the sixth round.

#178 – C Petr Sikora – Washington Capitals

Good international experience and taken second overall in CHL import draft.

#185 – D Tory Pitner – Colorado Avalanche

The smooth skating cerebral defenseman is going to the Denver factory for defense and is a nice pick at the end of the sixth round.

ROUND SEVEN

#207 – C Mac Swanson – Pittsburgh Penguins

Small sniper from Alaska might put up a lot of points at North Dakota.

#212 – C Miroslav Satan – Washington Capitals

Large and NHL bloodlines are good enough reasons past pick 200.

#219 – G Ryerson Leenders – Buffalo Sabres

For nearly the last pick in the draft to get a goaltender who truly could be as good as any in the draft class is a worthy investment.