2024 NHL Mock Draft: San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have had an awful season, but they have a chance to really improve their prospect pool and their team at the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft, as they have 2 first-round picks, 2 second-round picks, and two 5th-round picks. The Blackhawks also have Tampa Bay’s 3rd round pick Vegas’ 4th round picks, and their own 7th round pick but don’t own a 6th round pick. San Jose has a total of 9 picks in the 2024 draft, 4 in the first 2 rounds of the draft, and 4 picks from rounds 3 through 5, so they will have plenty of chances to select impact players in the draft. This Mock Draft assumes they have the 1st overall pick in the draft.

Related: Chicago Blackhawks Mock Draft

1. Macklin CELEBRINI, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Macklin Celebrini is the Consensus No.1 Pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and could be a franchise-changing player for whoever gets the fortune of landing him. Celebrini came into the 2023-24 season highly hyped and more than delivered on that hype. After an impressive World Juniors tournament at the U20 WJC, where he had 4 goals and 8 points in 5 games, Celebrini went on to dominate the NCAA with Boston University, scoring 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games. Celebrini finished the season with a 1.68 Points per game average; this accomplishment is even more impressive when you take into consideration he did this as a Freshman. Celebrini is an exceptional rush offense creator with a solid base of pro-ready tools, he jumpstarts offensive transitions with solid defensive positioning, great intensity, and refined technique in board battles. He has the technical abilities to either skate it out himself while evading pressure with his crossovers or to find an outlet and outrace back-checkers to open ice to make himself a shooting threat. In addition to his offensive skillset, he is also defensively sound, creative, and agile, with a knack for winning board battles. The tools and the toolkit make Celebrini the runaway first-overall pick at this point in the season, and he has all the makings of a top-line, do-it-all center at the NHL level. If the San Jose Sharks land Macklin Celebrini, they will have a fantastic 1-2 punch of Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini as their Centers in the Future.

14. Carter YAKEMCHUK, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Carter Yakemchuk is a big, 6-foot-3 offensive defenseman with great range and tools, a standout offensive game, and top powerplay upside. Yakemchuk immediately jumps off the page as a 6’3, RHD with a booming point shot and dynamic puckhandling. Yakemchuk possesses a level of supreme confidence with the puck that allows him to create difficult zone entries, dangle through pressure at the attacking blueline, and fire dangerous shots on net. As a result, Yakemchuk was second among CHL defencemen in goals, behind only Zayne Parekh. In transition, Yakemchuk’s hands are his best asset as he is not a particularly adept skater or transition playmaker. He is fast for his size, but his mechanics are poor, and lacks acceleration. However good his upside and offensive potential may be, his hockey IQ is not and strength and his decision-making can leave you scratching your head at times. Most glaring are Yakemchuk’s issues on defense, stemming from a combination of mentality and awareness. Yakemchuk is physical and overly aggressive, leading to hit-chasing, getting burned, and failed entry denials. Yakemchuk also frequently loses his checks, misses coverage, and forgets his responsibilities. Carter Yakemchuk has the upside of a top-pair offensive defenseman, though it will take time to get to that point and he will need to be paired with a reliable partner at first. San Jose is the perfect place for Yakemchuk to land, they really need an offensive defenseman like him who has a high offensive upside and could run the powerplay down the road.

33. Tanner HOWE, C/W, Regina Pats (WHL)

Tanner Howe’s Regina Pats were one of the worst teams in the WHL in 2024. Yet Howe still managed to have a productive season, though perhaps not giving him much room to showcase the upside that had him so highly ranked earlier in the year. As a forward who is willing to drive the net, isn’t scared to battle for the puck, and doesn’t play in fear against players bigger than him, Howe reminds me of a Zach Hyman or Travis Konecny type of player, these kinds of players are ultra-reliable and will always find a spot on an NHL roster due to the supreme work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work. Howe’s best—and most projectable—qualities are his abilities to play through contact as a smaller player, create offensive zone entries, play a possession game along the boards, and funnel to the net to bang in greasy goals. Howe showed flashes of dynamic playmaking and puckhandling upside, but even without these, Howe still projects as a dependable, tenacious middle-six winger with scoring upside. A Feisty, undersized winger with great hands, motor and defensive ability, I see Tanner Howe as a top 6 caliber forward, but he most likely falls out of the first round because he is a smaller player and he doesn’t have as high a upside as some other prospects. By adding Tanner Howe to go along with Macklin Celebrine, the San Jose Sharks would be setting themselves up for tons of success down the road; it could resemble the McDavid-Hyman pairing up in Edmonton. Howe did play with Connor Bedard in the 2022-23 season and showcased that he can play with elite-level talent, so he would fit in great beside Macklin Celebrini.

42. Marcus GIDLOF, G, Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

Marcus Gidlöf is a massive 6-foot-6 goaltending prospect who has dominated Sweden’s top junior league this season. As an 18-year-old, Gidlöf had a .923 save percentage (SV%) over the course of 26 starts this season, which becomes even more impressive when you realize that only two other goalies in the league were above .910 SV%. We haven’t seen a goaltender go in the first round since the 2021 Draft with Sebastian Cossa and Jesper Wallstedt, and while I don’t think Gidlöf will break that streak, he’s got a great chance to be one of the first goalies off the board on day two of the draft.

84. Gabriel ELIASSON, D, HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell)

A towering 6’6, Swedish defenseman who doesn’t offer much offensive capability at this jucture but he takes care of business as an intimidating presence using his size in all possible engagements, to the point of almost playing dirty. He is relatively mobile for a kid this large with good footwork and skating ability and can hand the puck to make swift outlet passes. He takes undisciplined penalties and will use his stick and elbows to intimdate opposing attackers as he engages physically in front of his net and along the boards. He is a major asset on the PK, as he will clear the front of the net but he will need to learn not to get penalized for crosschecking opponents/elbowing his opponents. Like most big defensemen, Eliasson will take longer to develop, but the potential is there for him to become a top 4 shutdown defenseman, and at worst he could be a bottom pair guy who gets used on the PK. This is the type of defenseman that the San Jose Sharks absolutely need if they want to compete in the Western Conference, they need to become physically tougher on the defensive side of the puck.

115. Darels ULJANSKIS, D, AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)

Darels Uljanskis is a big Latvian defenseman who moves the puck with smart passes and plays physically around the net. A defensive defenseman who is steady, solid, and reliable. Plays a simple game, rarely activates offensively, and concentrates on winning battles down low in his end. Powerful and strong on his skates, and tough to knock off the puck as he can control pucks and make plays by holding off checkers. On the Defensive end, he makes life difficult for attacking forwards around the net by using his big frame to move them out of the way. Latvia’s U20 coach seemed to think very highly of him at the U20 WJC, he played in all situations and even quarterbacked the PP for Latvia. This is a highly under-the-radar defenseman that isn’t really getting much buzz but he has all the tools to be a top 4 defenseman two-way defenseman. The San Jose Sharks desperately need to retool the left side of their defense and adding Darels Uljanskis to the prospect pool will help the team down the road.

130. Kieron WALTON, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Big power forward with a 6 foot 6, 206-pound frame, Kieron Walton skates very well for a guy his size and also has a good heavy shot. He has always been a a highly skilled player with good size, in fact, he was originally thought of as a top 5 OHL draft pick until his family demanded that whichever team selected him also selected his twin brother. Although skilled, a major issue with Walton is his inconsistent play and laziness and there were also concerns about his compete level as well. After his twin brother was traded, he turned his game around and started to mature and be more consistent. Walton is an excellent pick here in the 5th round because he has elite-level skill but he has some character concerns. If San Jose can work with him and turn him into an impactful power forward, this would be an amazing pick.

142. Tuomas SUONIEMI, C, Kiekko-Espoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

Shifty skating little center is a slick little puck handler and traditional center with soft hands ho is an elite thinker who is always aware of where his teammates are, ready to send no look passes their way. He pounces on turnovers and makes quick little touch passes to set up linemates. He is more quick and elusive than fastened and relies of his hockey IQ to out-think opponents. Not very big, and his physicality and physical tools are just average. Despite all of the good things he does, he is pretty much one-dimensional and not strong away from the puck, which is why he ultimately falls to the fifth round. Suoniemi is a player who could be developed into a middle-six center. San Jose needs all the depth at center, they can get and Suoniemi could be one of those depth pieces down the road.

193. Alexis MICHAUD, RW, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

A sneaky under-the-radar prospect is a finesse right winger with very good offensive zone instincts. Not especially flashy, he plays a reliable two-way game and has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Smooth fluid skater with a good stride, although he lacks separation gear. He’s a good finisher around the slot and in close. He has a hard accurate shot but doesn’t use it nearly enough, and defers to his teammates when shooting is his best option. Has all-around tools with potential for improvement. Michaud is a long-term project but could be a bottom-six forward in the NHL down the road. It is hard to project where Michaud fits with San Jose in the future, but his best fit would be as a Fourth-line forward and penalty killer.

Draft Recap

A-

Macklin Celebrini (C)
Carter Yakemchuk (D)
Marcus Gidlöf (G)
Gabriel Eliasson (D)
Darels Uljanskis (D)
Kieron Walton (LW)
Tuomas Suoniemi (C)
Alexis Michaud

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