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Takeaways from first round of 2024 NHL Draft: Fired-up Sharks fan, Vegas makes controversial pick
The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft took place on Friday night from Sphere in Las Vegas and had no surprise at the top where Macklin Celebrini went No. 1 overall to the San Jose Sharks.
Here are a few other standout takeaways from the first round.
One Sharks fan was very excited about Macklin Celebrini
The Sharks had the top pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history and used it to select Celebrini out of Boston University. Celebrini projects to be a top-line forward and potential star in the NHL, and one Sharks fan took over the broadcast by being extremely vocal in the lead-up to the pick and through the pick itself.
The San Jose Sharks selected Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, and one Sharks fan in the background loved everything about it.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 28, 2024
Here's how it looked and sounded on the ESPN broadcast. ️️ pic.twitter.com/SSjdYOzTxC
Now that is some excitement.
Canadiens did not repeat their mistake from a year ago
During the 2023 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens had a chance to select forward Matvei Michkov, one of the most talented players in the draft out of Russia. They passed on him, let him fall to the Philadelphia Flyers, and now Michkov is set to make his NHL debut far sooner than anybody could have anticipated.
The Canadiens did not repeat that mistake this season when Russia's Ivan Demidov, arguably the second-best talent in the draft, fell to them with the No. 5 overall pick.
They immediately pounced and selected him, giving them a potential star to build around. Even as high as No. 5 he still might prove to be a steal of a pick.
Blockbuster trades do not happen at the draft anymore
The first night of the NHL Draft used to be one of the busiest days of the year for some of the offseason's biggest trades. With all of the general managers and front offices in one place, and draft picks being major trade capital, teams used to take advantage of that and swing huge trades.
That no longer seems to be the case.
After zero trades were made in the first round a year ago, there were only a handful of trades made this year, and none of them involved NHL players or prospects. They were all simply pick swaps, creating a rather dull night for roster movement.
The stage is however still set for some big trade action between Saturday and Monday when the free agent signing period begins.
The stars were out in Vegas
When the NHL Draft is in Las Vegas you need to bring out some stars to help with the show. The NHL brought out a couple of big ones and Las Vegas legends on Friday.
First, we had Celine Dion announcing the Montreal Canadiens' No. 5 overall pick.
Later in the first round, long-time boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer was brought out to introduce the Philadelphia Flyers' No. 13 overall pick.
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE ️
— NHL (@NHL) June 29, 2024
The @NHLFlyers brought out @Michael_Buffer to help them announce Jett Luchanko as their selection! #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/efaBV1f5Fk
Vegas makes a very controversial pick
The most controversial pick of the first round came when the Vegas Golden Knights selected Trevor Connelly with the No. 19 overall pick.
The controversy is not with his ability to play.
He is a legit first-round talent and has a chance to stick in the NHL.
The controversy comes from the fact he has an extensive list of off-ice issues that have ranged from him posing for a Snapchat picture with a swastika, to being accused of using a racial slur in a game, to have constant chemistry concerns with pretty much every team he has played on.
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said during the ESPN broadcast that he had spoken with Connelly twice during the pre-draft process but refused to go into any detail on those conversations.
More must-reads:
- Sharks select Macklin Celebrini first overall in 2024 NHL Draft
- Blackhawks select Michigan State defenseman second overall
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Rumored Targets to Fill 'Marner-Sized Hole' on Maple Leafs’ Roster
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made several moves this offseason, including the high-profile sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. While the team added forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli to help shore up its depth, NHL analyst Shayna Goldman of The Athletic believes the Leafs still have a major issue to address. “There is still a Mitch Marner-sized hole in the top six,” Goldman wrote, noting that while Marner’s playoff production often fell short, his ability to produce 100 points during the regular season hasn’t been replaced. Captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain elite offensive weapons, and John Tavares re-signed on a more team-friendly deal, but Tavares is expected to take on a reduced role. Young forward Matthew Knies is developing nicely, but Goldman argues internal improvements alone won’t fill the void left by Marner. “With most top-tier free agents signed and just $2.9 million in cap space remaining, Toronto’s only real path to addressing this gap may come via trade,” she added. Who Might the Maple Leafs Be Targeting? The Maple Leafs have a few options still out there on the trade market. First, they might be eyeing Evan Rodrigues as a potential trade target amid the Florida Panthers’ cap crunch. With Florida $3.7 million over the cap, Rodrigues’ $3 million AAV and playoff pedigree make him an appealing, affordable top-six option to help fill the post-Marner scoring gap. Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has predicted a major trade deadline move that could see the Leafs landing Anders Lee from the New York Islanders. Lee, 35, is in the final year of his eight-year, $7M AAV deal. While the Islanders insist they aren’t rebuilding, Lee could become a trade chip if they slip from playoff contention. His 29 goals and 25 assists last season should draw interest across the league. With Yegor Chinakhov requesting a trade out of Columbus, the Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential suitor. The skilled winger could help fill Toronto’s top-six void. Nick Robertson may be a trade chip, though his value is uncertain. Chinakhov’s upside and affordable cap hit make him an intriguing target for GM Brad Treliving. According to Nick Kypreos, Nazem Kadri may be willing to help facilitate a move to Toronto if the Calgary Flames are open to a deal. Kadri is a center, but his production certainly would help. Finally, the Maple Leafs may target Penguins winger Rickard Rakell to fill their top-six hole. Rakell, coming off a 35-goal season, fits Toronto’s cap structure and could thrive alongside Matthews or Tavares. However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will demand significant value, likely starting with Easton Cowan.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Nick Saban responds to speculation about coaching return amid NFL rumors
Shortly after former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy shared that someone "in the know" believes there's a possibility Nick Saban — who retired in January 2024 — might return to coaching, NFL insider Albert Breer suggested that the Dallas Cowboys could be a potential destination for the seven-time national champion. According to Mike Rodak of 247Sports, Saban was asked during a Friday appearance on Fox News if he intends to come out of retirement. "No, I'm really happy with what I'm doing right now," Saban responded. "It's exciting to still be involved in the game. It's exciting for me to work with athletic directors, conference commissioners, people in Congress to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to be able to create opportunities to help young people create value for their future that will help them be successful in their life, which is what we always try to do as a coach." Saban, now working as an ESPN analyst, will be 74 in October. Per Christian Datoc of the Washington Examiner, President Donald Trump could consider having Saban "lead a new commission examining problems arising with the growth of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and coinciding changes to the NCAA transfer process." Meanwhile, it's thought that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones could look to hire a big-name candidate if first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer fails to impress during the 2025 campaign. Additionally, Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd recently hinted that Saban could be interested in becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns if the team selects Texas quarterback Arch Manning as the first pick in the 2026 draft. "There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance me to go back to coaching," Saban added during Friday's segment. "I enjoy what I'm doing. I did it for 50 years. I loved it. I loved the relationships with the players. I loved the competition. But it's another station of life now. I enjoy what I'm doing right now and want to continue to do it — spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children. It's been really, really good." The "right now" portion of Saban's comments attracted the attention of Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who was quick to point out he did not say "no for good" regarding a return to coaching. In short, it seems that rumors about Saban's future could hover over the college and pro football communities through at least the rest of the year.
Packers rookie could miss time after suffering injury in training camp
The Green Bay Packers offense was dealt a bit of a blow early in training camp. Friday, third-round rookie wide receiver Savion Williams was a spectator for practice after suffering a concussion. Williams, chosen by the Packers with the No. 87 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, is aiming to climb the depth chart at a crowded wide receiver position this summer. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, Williams ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.48 seconds during the NFL Combine and has the profile of potentially becoming a reliable possession receiver and after-the-catch weapon for quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense. Reaching those benchmarks and climbing the depth chart will have to wait, though, as Williams works his way through the concussion protocol and back onto the field for practices during training camp and the preseason this summer.
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