Once again, there will be no surprises at the top of the NHL entry draft, as Boston University center Macklin Celebrini is expected to be chosen first overall by the San Jose Sharks.
The top five are expected to include defensemen Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State and Anton Silayev of the KHL, as well as forwards Cayden Lindstrom of Medicine Hat (WHL) and Ivan Demidov of the KHL.
The guessing game begins after that. It’s anybody’s guess who the Detroit Red Wings will pick at No. 15. Early mock drafts reveal a variety of possibilities.
The only consensus is that the Red Wings will select a forward with their first pick for the third year in a row, following picking centers Marco Kasper (eighth overall in 2022) and Nate Danielson (ninth overall in 2023) in the previous two drafts.
Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Albert Johansson are among the young defenseman on the NHL roster for 2024-25, with Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder, Shai Buium, and Andrew Gibson coming up.
A goal-scoring winger is their most important organizational requirement.
Here’s who some mock drafts predict general manager Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper, his assistant in charge of the draft, would select:
NHL.com: Michael Hage, 6-0, 187, centre, Chicago (USHL) Adam Kimelman states, “Hage plays with a physical edge and impressed with his ability to take over games late in the season.” He has committed to Michigan beginning in 2025-26.
NHL.com: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (6-1, 198), RW, Mora (Allsvenskan, Sweden): According to Mike Morreale, Brandsegg-Nygard “is a hard-working two-way player with good first-step quickness, decision-making, and vision.” The Norwegian competed in Sweden’s second men’s category.
TSN.ca: Brandsegg Nygard: According to draft expert Craig Button, “He is a hard-working winger who simply wants to make a difference in the game.” Hard-working. We’ve seen the Red Wings have great success in Sweden.”
Beckett Sennecke, 6-2, 181, right wing, Oshawa (OHL): According to Sam Cosentino, Sennecke is a player with a high attacking upside who mixes talent and strength. He “eludes defenders one-on-one with speed to the outside, cuts to the off-side well, and has quick hands to excel in a small-area game.”
The Hockey News: Liam Greentree, 6-2,198, RW, Windsor (OHL): Ryan Kennedy writes, “The Red Wings could use a scoring winger in the future. Greentree has power forward potential and the added benefit of finesse in his hands. “Big and surprisingly fast.”
According to Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report: Sennecke, the Red Wings’ generally strong prospect pool lacks a right winger. Sennecke might be a nice fit. He skates well for his size, has strong offensive skills, and is not afraid to use them to win puck battles.”
Tij Iginla, 6-0, 185, center/wing, Kelowna (WHL): Logan Horn writes, “(Iginla) has been one of the draft year’s biggest risers.” He has the hands to make opposing defenders completely miss him, and his shot is fast and elusive enough to be a good weapon in the NHL. Iginla would be an excellent fit alongside recent Red Wings draft choices Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson.
Dobber Prospects: Sennecke: Peter Harling writes, “While the scouting world was focused on the U-18 WJC, they missed Sennecke having a monster playoff, leading the Oshawa Generals to the OHL finals with 22 points in 16 playoff games. It’s impossible to predict what Steve Yzerman will do in the draft after going off the board with Moritz Seider and Nate Danielson previously, but Sennecke would be difficult to pass up here.”
