Talented California products see NHL dreams get closer to reality at 2024 draft in Las Vegas
The 2024 NHL Draft was held over the June 28-29 weekend at Sphere in Las Vegas, and several players with California ties heard their names called to become property of NHL clubs.
And it didn’t take long for the first players with ties to California.
The San Jose Sharks kicked off the draft taking Boston University freshman forward Macklin Celebrini first overall.
“It’s a big weekend for the organization,” said Sharks GM Mike Grier. “We’re really excited. Not only with Macklin (Celebrini), but with Sam (Dickinson), too (11th overall). The potential to add a top pairing (defenseman) and a first-line center doesn’t come along too often in one draft. It’s a big moment for us and we’re really excited.”
“(Macklin) is a great kid, a really good personality. When you sit down with him for two minutes, you feel his drive and his competitiveness. It seeps out of him. That’s what you notice most. He’s a driven kid. He’s an alpha. All the things you expect and have experienced from other No. 1 picks, he has all that. The belief in himself and the will and the want to get better and work on his craft, he’s an impressive kid.”
Celebrini played in 38 games for Boston University this past season, recording 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists). He finished the campaign ranked second nationally in goals, third in points, and tops in both categories among undrafted NCAA skaters, helping the Terriers reach the Frozen Four. His point total was the sixth-highest single-season output in the NCAA in the past 10 seasons.
At 17 years old, he became the youngest player ever to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, awarded annually to the best player in college hockey. He was the fourth-ever freshman to win college hockey’s top individual honor and has become the first-ever Hobey Baker winner to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft. He also won the Tim Taylor Award, awarded annually to the best rookie in the NCAA, was named Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, earned spots on the conference’s First All-Star Team and All-Rookie Team, and was selected to the AHCA East First All-America Team.
In international play, Celebrini represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship and led the team with eight points (four goals, four assists) in five games en route to being named a Top Three Player on the squad. He collected 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in seven games at the 2023 U-18 World Junior Championship, helping Canada earn a Bronze Medal after tallying points in each of the final six games at the tournament, three (two goals, one assist) in the Bronze Medal Game.
The native of Vancouver, B.C., competed for the San Jose Jr. Sharks in 2019-20, totaling 101 points (54 goals, 47 assists) in 61 games. He is the fourth-ever former Jr. Shark to become part of the San Jose Sharks organization, joining former defenseman Matt Tennyson, forward prospect Reese Laubach and goaltender Devin Cooley.
He can become the fifth-ever first-overall pick to play for the Sharks, the first four including Joe Thornton (selected by Boston in 1997), Owen Nolan (selected by Quebec in 1990), Joe Murphy (selected by Detroit in 1986) and Brian Lawton (selected by Minnesota in 1983).
Then 11 picks later at No. 12, the Minnesota Wild took San Diego native and University of Denver freshman defenseman Zeev Buium.
Buium played his first season of collegiate hockey for the Pioneers last season, totaling 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists), 20 penalty minutes, 41 blocked shots and a plus-34 rating in 42 games as the second-youngest player in college hockey.
His 50-point season was the first by a freshman NCAA defenseman in over 20 years. He led the Pioneers in assists and plus/minus, ranked second in points and third in blocked shots. Buium was named NCHC Rookie of the Year and the Best Offensive Defensemen, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, First All-Star Team and All-Tournament Team. He was also named to the USCHO.com First Team, NCAA First All-American Team and was a Hobey Baker Award nominee.
The blueliner helped lead the Pioneers to an NCHC championship and an NCAA Frozen Four national championship, both played at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.
“Buium is a smooth skating, puck mover with championship pedigree,” said Judd Brackett, Minnesota Wild director of amateur scouting. “We are very excited to add him to our organization.”
In his youth hockey days, Buium played for the SDIA Oilers and Los Angeles Jr. Kings.
At No. 19, the Vegas Golden Knights selected Tustin native and incoming Providence College freshman forward Trevor Connelly. This past season, Connelly skated for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.
Appearing in 52 contests, Connelly recorded 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists) and was named to the USHL Second All-Star Team and the World Jr. A Challenge All-Star Team. The 18-year-old earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (six goals, five assists, 11 points in six games) and a silver medal at the 2024 World Under-18 Championship with the United States.
Back home, Connelly played for the San Diego Saints, Anaheim Ice Dogs and Anaheim Jr. Ducks.
Later in the first round, Compton native EJ Emery was selected 30th overall by the New York Rangers. Emery skated the past two seasons on the blue line for the U.S. National Team Development Program and will play next year for the University of North Dakota.
Emery produced 22 points (all assists) in 88 games with the NTDP last season. At this year’s Under-18 World Championship, Emery totaled six assists in seven games as Team USA placed second behind Team Canada.
Born in Surrey, B.C., Emery was raised in Compton. Emery’s father Eric Emery played college football for California State University-Fullerton and went on to become a linebacker in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Rough Riders from 1985-87.
He said he models his game after current Rangers defenseman and former NTDP product K’Andre Miller.
“My skating ability and how well I play defense (are his strengths),” said Emery. “I would say I’m really good at being a lockdown guy. I’m someone that can shut down plays, get the puck up the ice, and make plays.”
“EJ is a very talented young man,” added Rangers director of player personnel and director of amateur scouting John Lilley. “He’s raw, very athletic, just starting to come into his own. Has a lot of work to do getting a little bit stronger, but the foundation is there. He’s an excellent skater and his defensive game, we found as a staff, was one of the best in the entire draft.”
Mission Viejo native and Lincoln Stars (USHL) defenseman Tanner Henricks was drafted in the fourth round at pick No. 101 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jr. Ducks alum will play for St. Cloud State University this fall.
Henricks registered nine assists with 12 penalty minutes in 59 games during his rookie season with the Stars in 2023-24. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound blueliner helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he posted one assist in five games.
In the sixth round with the 185th pick overall, Jr. Kings and San Jose Jr. Sharks alum Tory Pitner heard his name called by the Colorado Avalanche. Pitner calls Greenwich, Conn., home and will play 2024-25 at Denver.
Pitner recorded 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) with a plus-10 rating in 50 games with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms during the 2023-24 season, serving as alternate captain. The blueliner skated in seven postseason contests with the Phantoms, adding one goal.
Pitner has totaled 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 86 career USHL games from 2022-24. Pitner recorded nine points (all assists) in 36 contests during the 2022-23 season, helping Youngstown secure the USHL Clark Cup championship. He has appeared in 16 career USHL postseason outings from 2022-24, tallying the one goal.
Internationally, Pitner represented his country at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, serving as team captain and helping the United States capture the bronze medal.
Rounding out the draft in the seventh round (205th overall), the Philadelphia Flyers chose Las Vegas native Austin Moline.
Moline, a defenseman, played for the Nevada Storm and at Faith Lutheran High School in Nevada as well as for the Jr. Kings. He played the 2023-24 season at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn., will play ’24-25 for the BCHL’s Brooks Bandits and will then be off to Northern Michigan University in the fall of 2025.
Moline recorded 41 points (11 goals, 30 assists) in 71 regular-season games for Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep team in the 2023-24 season. He tallied one goal and 25 assists for 26 points in 68 regular-season games for Shattuck St. Mary’s U-18 Prep team in the 2022-23 season.
“It feels surreal being drafted in my hometown and by such a great organization,” said Moline. “I can’t wait to get down to Philadelphia and meet everyone. I want to thank my family, friends and coaches for everything. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
— Matt Mackinder
Celebrini photo/Matt Woolverton
(July 1, 2024)