2024 NHL Draft picks for second, third overall

What: 2024 NHL Draft
When: Friday, June 28th-Saturday, June 29th
Where: Las Vegas

The Florida Panthers have just been crowned Stanley Cup champions after beating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. And while the next season is months away, this Friday and Saturday will be a chance for teams to potentially get better when the 2024 NHL Draft happens in Las Vegas. The San Jose Sharks hold the first overall selection and it's a foregone conclusion who they will be taking: Boston University star Macklin Celebrini. Since it's a lock as to who the Sharks will draft, you can't actually bet on that at most sportsbooks. However, the second and third overall picks are an absolute toss-up and we'll focus on that below. Keep reading for the 2024 NHL Draft picks.

Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction, make sure to check out our NHL Playoffs Page and our NHL Draft page.

2024 NHL Draft Second Overall Odds

Player
Artyom Levshunov	-250	-250	-250
Ivan Demidov	+170	+170	+170
Cayden Lindstrom	+2500	+2300	+2500
Anton Silayev	+3000	+3000	+3000

Who Could go Second?

As you can see, the odds are heavily favoring Artyom Levshunov out of Michigan State at No. 2 overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, the same team that drafted Connor Bedard first overall last year. The organization is a rebuild and adding a player like Levshunov could be a good move. The Hawks reportedly met with him and took the defenceman out to dinner. He's big and strong and would be a nice fit for Chicago, who need blue-line help. He's a wonderful skater and a physical presence. Levshunov could be a building block for the Blackhawks alongside Bedard for many years to come.

Over to Ivan Demidov. He's an intriguing option for the Blackhawks, too. The youngster is an electric player on the wing, averaging two points per game as a 17-year-old in Russia's version of the AHL. He averaged more than a point per contest at 16, too. He's also left-handed so it would be a perfect fit alongside Bedard. He has it all: Speed, skill, and power. Demidov is already nearly 200 pounds and he's still extremely young. Between Levshunov and Demidov, it's a tough pick for Chicago. Both could make them instantly better, whether it's next season or the one after that.

2024 NHL Draft Third Overall Odds

Player
Anton Silayev	+140	+140	+140
Artyon Levshunov	+280	+280	+280
Beckett Sennecke	+550	+550	+550
Ivan Demidov	+550	+550	+550

Who will Ducks Select?

The Anaheim Ducks have been a dumpster fire for several years now. Despite having players like Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras, they can't get out of the gutter. Anaheim still has a lot of work to do in order to be a contender again, but whoever they draft on Friday could help their future. While you'd think Demidov or Levshunov would be the third overall favorite, that's not the case. It's actually Anton Silayev, who is a defenceman.

The Ducks don't really need one of those right now, with a couple of young ones already developing. Anaheim ranked 30th in the NHL in 2023-24 in scoring with only 2.48 goals per night. Their need is offense. That's why Demidov becomes an intriguing option at +550. If Chicago did decide to go defense and take Levshunov, it would only make sense for the Ducks to shift their focus to Demidov if he's available. As previously mentioned, he is truly the full offensive package and would fit nicely with Terry and Zegras.

Beckett Sennecke is another intriguing option, but he isn't Demidov. That being said, since Demidov is such a young player, he could stay in Russia for a season or two more. Anaheim may be looking for someone to contribute immediately instead amid their struggles.

On the other hand, one player isn't going to make an immediate difference, anyway. Might as well let Demidov develop more in Russia, become a more polished product, then come over to the NHL and absolutely light it up.

2024 NHL Draft Picks

Honestly, it really does feel like the Blackhawks are leaning toward drafting Artyom Levshunov out of Michigan State. He's probably more NHL-ready right now than Demidov, which could be something that Chicago considers. For that reason alone, I would take the Hawks to draft the defenceman at second overall at -250 odds.

As for third overall to the Ducks, I cannot see Anaheim passing up Demidov if he's available. He's just too good of a player. They need to make the right decision here and I think they will.

Artyom Levshunov Second overall to Blackhawks

-250

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Ivan Demidov Third overall to Ducks

+550

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