GDT: 2024 NHL Draft (June 28 - June 29, Las Vegas Sphere)

[Cush]

THW 2024 Mock NHL Draft Round 1: Our Writers Make Their Picks - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

With the 2024 NHL Entry Draft about a month away, it’s time for the THW writing staff to make their picks in the annual mock draft.

thehockeywriters.com

17. Washington Capitals: Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
THW Writer: Lukas Bernasiewicz

A player who was a star in minor hockey for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Hage decided to take his talents south of the border and join the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Michael Hage did not see the ice much in his rookie season due to an injury he sustained in the summer of 2022 but once he returned near the end of the season, he scored 10 points in 13 regular season games and two points in six playoff games while also committing to the University of Michigan for the 2025-26 season. Hage struck back in his draft year after a full training camp and produced 75 points in 54 regular season games and four points in two playoff games.

Hage will need some time to develop which is why Washington picking him at this spot would be perfect. The Capitals took a step forward this year in making the playoffs but the team is not in any rush to win a Stanley Cup just yet. The team will be waiting on recent first-round pick Ryan Leonard for at least another year and also have 2023 second-round pick Andrew Cristall in the pipeline. Alex Ovechkin isn’t getting any younger and the Capitals need to think of a future where he is no longer on the team anymore. Adding Hage to an already promising offensive prospect pool will do wonders for the franchise after Ovechkin retires.

 

[usiel]

THW 2024 Mock NHL Draft Round 1: Our Writers Make Their Picks - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

With the 2024 NHL Entry Draft about a month away, it’s time for the THW writing staff to make their picks in the annual mock draft.

thehockeywriters.com

Damn Stiga right after at #18.

 

[Langway]

https://www.flohockey.tv/collections/7958069-talking-hockey-sense-with-chris-peters/video?playing=12591037

Caps mocked going with Jiricek over Solberg or Hage. I'd probably go Solberg, in part due to his physicality. But the injury-related slide is certainly something they've invested in several times in recent memory.

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

hopefully one of catton/helenius/yakemchuk falls to us. if not; id like to see chernyshov or connelly if we go forward or freij/kiviharju if we go defense. brandsegg-nygård would be acceptable as well but i dont think he has any kind of x factor. can we just avoid boring low ceiling/high basement guys.

 

[Holtbyisms]

hopefully one of catton/helenius/yakemchuk falls to us. if not; id like to see chernyshov or connelly if we go forward or freij/kiviharju if we go defense. brandsegg-nygård would be acceptable as well but i dont think he has any kind of x factor. can we just avoid boring low ceiling/high basement guys.

Sure hope so! Need to keep swinging for the fences even if we miss a pick or two. Gotta get some talent up in this pipeline.

 

[pman25]

Caps do seem to attach themselves to the highly rated pre-season guys and get them as sliders (Lapierre, Miroshnichenko)

So Jiricek makes sense but I also think that approach is generally pretty risky. It looks like both picks are looking decent for us when we went that route but I wouldn’t mind taking the Riser this year.

 

[kicksavedave]

Interesting map.

 

[Cush]

2024 NHL Mock Draft: Pronman, Wheeler and Bultman play GM and pick the first round

The Athletic's Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler and Max Bultman make their own selections for each team in the 2024 NHL Draft's opening round.

www.nytimes.com

17. Washington Capitals (Pick by Wheeler): Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel

This is where things start to open up in the draft. The Caps’ pool is strong at wing but could use a boost at both C and D. I like Hage’s skating, length, skill level and premium position for them in this range over the available D. He’s probably going to go a little lower than this on draft day but I’m a big believer.