2024 NHL Draft: Complete First Round Draft Order And Predictions

The 2024 NHL Draft is just days away.

The NHL Draft has long been the place for aspiring contenders to rebuild their team and for teams like the Florida Panthers to now look at finding a few gems in the later picks to bolster their roster.

With the draft taking place in just a few days, let's highlight the entire first round order and look at a few predictions heading into the draft.

The 2024 NHL First Round Complete Draft Order

1. San Jose Sharks

2. Chicago Blackhawks

3. Anaheim Ducks

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

5. Montreal Canadiens

6. Utah Hockey Club

7. Ottawa Senators

8. Seattle Kraken

9. Calgary Flames

10. New Jersey Devils

11. Buffalo Sabres

12. Philadelphia Flyers

13. Minnesota Wild

14. San Jose Sharks (from Penguins)

15. Detroit Red Wings

16. St. Louis Blues

17. Washington Capitals

18. Chicago Blackhawks (from Islanders)

19. Vegas Golden Knights

20. New York Islanders (from Lightning via Blackhawks)

21. Los Angeles Kings

22. Nashville Predators

23. Toronto Maple Leafs

24. Colorado Avalanche

25. Ottawa Senators (from Bruins via Red Wings)

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Jets)

27. Carolina Hurricanes

28. Calgary Flames (from Canucks)

29. Dallas Stars

30. New York Rangers

31. Anaheim Ducks (from Oilers)

32. Philadelphia Flyers (from Panthers)

As for predictions, I think the biggest thing will be the fact of no surprises at first overall. Last year the Chicago Blackhawks surprised no one, drafting Connor Bedard with the first overall pick, but it wasn't too long ago that we had some surprises at the top.

Just two years ago during the 2022 NHL Draft Shane Wright was the projected first overall pick. Wright was the player featured on the NHL broadcast when the draft lottery occured, and he was the player most people expected the Montreal Canadiens would take during their at home draft with the first overall pick.

The Canadiens shocked the hockey world, along with their fan base, drafting Juraj Slafkovsky with the first overall pick, while Wright would fall to fourth overall being drafted by the Seattle Kraken.

This year looks to be another predictable year with Macklin Celebrini being the consensus number one pick heading to San Jose this summer. What will be interesting is what comes next, the Blackhawks and Ducks could land some star level talent as well with the second and third overall picks.

There is plenty of talent in the top 15 to keep teams excited going into the draft, I do wonder if some teams might value the top available defensemen more than the forwards with the top ten picks.