For the first time in the club’s history, the Sharks got the first pick of the NHL draft – Hockey – Sportacentrs.com

The San Jose Sharks won the first round number in the draft lottery of the National Hockey League (NHL). With the second number in the 2024 NHL draft, the young hockey player will be chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks, and with the third – by the Anaheim Ducks.

San Jose, which had an 18.5% chance of winning the lottery, for the first time in the club’s history got the opportunity to select a hockey player first in the NHL draft. In three years (1991, 1996 and 1997) it had the second consecutive number. Most likely, the club will select center forward Meklin Celebrin, who has represented Boston University, in the draft. The 17-year-old hockey player accumulated 64 points (32+32) in 38 games, later becoming the youngest player to win the NCAA’s best hockey player award.

The Blackhawks will select a player with a high number in the draft for the second year in a row. In the 2023 draft, it won the lottery and quite predictably drafted Connor Bedard. For now, it is predicted that the club could choose defender Artyom Levshunov.

The Columbus Blue Jackets represented by Elvja Merzlikina got the opportunity to make the fourth pick in the first round of the draft, while the Buffalo Sabers got the 11th round number. The 2024 NHL draft will be held in Las Vegas – the first round selections will be announced on June 28, and the remaining rounds (from the second to the seventh) on June 29.

Resources used:
https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-s…