The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29, the NHL announced Tuesday.
The NHL will be the first sports league to use the $2.8 billion, 18,600-seat globe-shaped arena, which is renowned for its immersive video and audio technology, including a 16K-resolution wraparound indoor LED screen and outdoor LED displays. It will also be the first live television event since Sphere.
The announcement was made by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman during the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Lottery.
“The NHL is proud to bring the first live sports event and television broadcast to Sphere,” said Steve Mayer, NHL Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer. “Together with the incredible team at Sphere, we look forward to delivering an NHL Draft like no other, showcasing the exciting future of hockey in an innovative and exciting environment.”
The first round of the draft will take place on Friday, June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 29 (11:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NHLN, SN, SN1). NHL club executives, scouts and coaches will be on the floor of the NHL Draft, while thousands of fans and hundreds of print, television and radio media outlets are expected to attend.
“Sphere continues to establish itself as a premier destination for some of the most anticipated events in sports and entertainment,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president of marquee events and operations for MSG Entertainment, who oversees Sphere’s marquee events. “We are thrilled to host the NHL Draft and look forward to showcasing Sphere’s next-generation capabilities, both in person and around the world via the first live television broadcast from the venue.”
Macklin Celebrini, a center from Boston University in Hockey East, is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. The 17-year-old, the youngest player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey this season, finished second in the nation with 32 goals and third with 64 points in 38 games for Boston University. He was named Hockey East’s Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year and was the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s hockey player.
Celebrini (6-foot, 190 pounds), the No. 1 overall pick in NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters eligible for the 2024 draft, scored 14 more goals and had 15 more points than the next-highest ranked player in each category on his team.
“I’m really excited. The draft in Vegas is going to be really cool,” Celebrini told NHL.com. “I’ve never been to Vegas and this will be my first time, so I’m looking forward to it.”
There will be plenty of talent to choose from after Celebrini, including several top prospects at defenseman. Among them are Michigan State freshman Artyom Levshunov (6-2, 208), the No. 2 overall Central Scouting North American skater, and University of Denver freshman Zeev Buium (6-0, 183; No. 4), who was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament team.
Additionally, Zayne Parekh (6-0, 179; No. 5) of Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League, Sam Dickinson (6-2, 199; No. 7) of London (OHL) and Anton Silayev (6-7, 211; No. 1 in Central Scouting’s final international skater rankings) of Torpedo in the Kontinental Hockey League also drew more attention late in the season.
“This is an elite class with very high-level players on offense and defense,” said David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting.
The talented group of forwards includes right wing Ivan Demidov (5-11, 181; No. 2 international) of St. Petersburg in the Russian Minor Hockey League, centre Cayden Lindstrom (6-3, 210; No. 3) of Medicine Hat (Western Hockey League), left wing Trevor Connelly (6-0, 156; No. 6) of Tri-City in the United States Hockey League, centre Berkly Catton (5-10, 170; No. 8) of Spokane (WHL) and centre Tij Iginla (6-0, 182; No. 9) of Kelowna (WHL).
“I actually laughed when I first heard that, because it’s crazy to think about, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Catton said. “I think it’s going to be a super surreal experience.”
Cole Eiserman (6-0, 195; No. 12), a left wing for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program under-18 team in the United States Hockey League, has 58 goals and 89 points in 57 games this season. He has committed to Boston University in 2024-25.
“When we heard the news about the draft possibly coming to Vegas, my brother sent it straight to the chat group and they were really excited,” Eiserman said. “I don’t know much about the Sphere, so I’ll probably have to do some digging. I always like new things, so this is pretty cool. This will be my first time in Vegas.”
Sphere is located just off the Las Vegas Strip, less than three miles from T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights, and is owned by New York Rangers owner Jim Dolan.
“Hosting the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere is a perfect reflection of Las Vegas’ evolution as the sports and entertainment capital of the world,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Las Vegas has been a hockey town since the Golden Knights first dropped the puck in 2017. As the reigning Stanley Cup champions, we couldn’t be more thrilled that the NHL has chosen Las Vegas and this truly innovative venue to host its next generation of players.”
This will likely be the last NHL draft to feature representatives from all 32 teams. Starting in 2025, the draft will be decentralized, with most team executives staying in their home markets so they can have real-time access to their staff, and clubs will be able to host fan events. Draft-eligible prospects will likely congregate in one location.
