The 2024 NHL Draft will take place on June 28 (7 p.m. ET, KeynoteUSA/KeynoteUSA+) and June 29 (11:30 a.m. ET, KeynoteUSA+) at the Sphere in Las Vegas. As usual, fans of the teams at the top of the draft are excited about the next big prospect their club will add.
Additionally, many of the best prospects available have last names that sound somewhat familiar.
Here’s a rundown of some of the top players in this year’s draft class who have family ties to the NHL, including a handful who could go early in Round 1.
Macklin Celebrini
F, Boston University
Celebrini is the consensus No. 1 prospect available, with many mock drafts, including one from KeynoteUSA’s Rachel Doerrie, projecting him there to the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini’s brother, Aiden Celebrini, was a sixth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks (No. 171 overall) in 2023 and his father is the current vice president of player health and performance for the Golden State Warriors. NBA.
Zeev Buium
D, University of Denver
Buium’s older brother, Shai Buium, was a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2021 (36th overall), and the two brothers won the NCAA championship with Denver during the 2023-24 season.
Adam Jiricek
D, HC Pilsen
Jiricek, a likely first-round pick, is following in the footsteps of his older brother David Jiricek, who was selected No. 6 overall in 2022 by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Berkley Catton
F, Spokane Chiefs
Remember Cory Sarich? He was drafted in the second round in 1996 (No. 27 overall) by the Buffalo Sabres, played over 900 NHL games and won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024. Berkly Catton remembers Sarich quite well. He is a second cousin.
Tij Iginla
F, Kelowna Rockets
One of the easiest family connections to make on this list is that Tij is the son of Jarome Iginla, a Hockey Hall of Famer who played 20 seasons in the NHL and holds the Calgary Flames‘ franchise records for goals and points in his career.
Cole Eiserman
F, USNTDP
When Cole hears his name called in the draft, he will be the second Eiserman to do so, as his older brother Shane was a fourth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators (No. 100, 2014).
ryder ritchie
F, Prince Albert’s Raiders
Ritchie’s father, Byron Ritchie, was drafted in the seventh round (No. 165) by the Hartford Whalers in 1995 and played in more than 300 NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Flames and Canucks.
Jacob Oster
G, Oshawa Generals
Although the last name may not lead you to this conclusion, Oster is a second cousin to Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk and Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.
Aatos Koivu
F,TPS
Aatos Koivu has two famous relatives who had long careers in the NHL. His father, Saku Koivu, was drafted in the first round (No. 21) by the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, and played 1,124 NHL games with the Habs and Anaheim Ducks. Aatos’ uncle, Mikko Koivu, was also a first-round pick (sixth overall in 2001 by the Minnesota Wild) and played in 1,035 NHL games, split between the Wild and Blue Jackets.
Max Plant
F, USNTDP
Max is the son of Derek Plante, an eighth-round pick (No. 161, 1989) of the Buffalo Sabres, who played 450 NHL games, including a Stanley Cup-winning season with the Dallas Stars in 1999. elder Plante is an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Lucas Fischer
D, Sarnia bite
This last name should be familiar to Red Wings fans, as Lukas’ father, Jiri Fischer, was a first-round pick (#25, 1998) of the Wings and won the Cup with them in 2002.
Carson Wetsch
F, Calgary Hitmen
The oldest member of the Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, is Wetsch’s cousin.
Miroslav Satan Jr.
F, HC Slovan Bratislava
Satan’s father skated in 1,050 NHL games, including stints with the Oilers, Sabres, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.
Cole Hutson
D, USNTDP
Hutson’s brother, Lane Hutson, was drafted in the 2022 second round (No. 62) by the Canadiens. After helping the United States win gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship, the elder Hutson made his NHL debut near the end of the 2023-24 season.
William Samuelsson
F, Södertälje
Mikael Samuelsson, William’s father, played 699 NHL games, in a career that saw him skate for the Sharks, New York Rangers, Penguins, Panthers, Red Wings and Canucks. He is currently a development coach in Vancouver.
Noah La Pointe
D, USNTDP
Currently, Canadiens director of player personnel and director of amateur scouting Martin Lapointe, Noah’s father, played in more than 900 NHL games in his career.
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