2024 NHL Draft Round 1 Winners: Canadiens Pave Way with Demidov

Seattle Kraken

It wasn't as though the Seattle Kraken had multiple first round selections like other teams on this list. Going into Round 1, the strong consensus was that the Kraken would select a premiere defenseman with their top 10 pick. That ultimately didn't end up being the case. The Kraken made a home run swing with the selection of dynamic center Berkly Catton. There's always a chance that a player with a smaller frame doesn't pan out, but the potential is so high with Catton that it's worthy of the risk. The Kraken are building a solid offensive core, and Catton now figures to be a big part of it. 

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San Jose Sharks

When you have multiple picks in the top 12, including the first overall pick, it shouldn't be a surprise that the San Jose Sharks find themselves on the winners list. Macklin Celebrini was a slam dunk pick to kick off the 2024 NHL Draft, while landing defenseman Sam Dickinson with the 11th overall pick signals a major home run for the Sharks. Not only were the Sharks able to select a potential franchise player with the first overall pick,, they landed one of the top defenseman in this draft class just outside of the top 10. What a night for Mike Grier and company. 

Minnesota Wild

Despite the 2024 NHL Draft being labelled as a defenseman heavy draft class at the top, it was the forwards that stole show early on in Day 1. With six forwards going in the first eight picks, that left multiple high-end defenseman falling into the teens. Behind Artyom Levshunov, Zeev Buium was widely viewed as the consensus second-best available defenseman. Buium has the potential to be a top pairing defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, and it's hard to imagine a better fit for him than being paired with Brock Faber for the next decade. 

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New York Islanders

It was somewhat shocking that when the New York Islanders went to the podium with the 20th overall selection that they landed on Cole Eiserman. It's not as though Eiserman wasn't worthy of the selection, more so that it just simply didn't feel like a Lou Lamoriello type pick. Eiserman is by all accounts the top goal scorer in this draft class, but his play away from the puck left many concerned. Still, you can make a very strong case he was worthy of a top 12 pick, meaning the Islanders are thrilled to land him at 20th overall. 

Seattle Kraken

It wasn't as though the Seattle Kraken had multiple first round selections like other teams on this list. Going into Round 1, the strong consensus was that the Kraken would select a premiere defenseman with their top 10 pick. That ultimately didn't end up being the case. The Kraken made a home run swing with the selection of dynamic center Berkly Catton. There's always a chance that a player with a smaller frame doesn't pan out, but the potential is so high with Catton that it's worthy of the risk. The Kraken are building a solid offensive core, and Catton now figures to be a big part of it. 

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