Utah HC will debut in the NHL when they take the podium to make the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Draft viewers will get to know this Utah team quickly, as they have 13 picks over seven rounds, which is the most in the league. Utah HC's general manager Bill Armstrong had some surprising draft targets last year for the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes when he took Dmitri Simashev and Daniil But, but he'd be wise to go safer this time.
The 2024 NHL Draft is wide open, as there are many possible combinations of picks after the San Jose Sharks undoubtedly take Macklin Celebrini. Utah HC will be wise to rank their prospects and pick the best one available when their time comes. Utah has three picks in the second round, three in the third round, and two in the fourth round. Bill Armstrong desires to take some big swings with all their possibilities of getting a pick right, but it'd be safer to save those for the middle rounds and not this sixth-overall pick. They also have plenty of cap space to make a big move like acquiring a player like John Tavares or Mitch Marner.
As noted earlier, Utah's general manager is aware of the importance of this pick for Utah. “There’s a lot of excitement around our organization about the new and about where we’re going, and it starts at the draft,” Armstrong said. “That’s the first kickoff where we’re walking [in] there with the Utah colors and go to work, so there’s a tremendous amount of excitement around just having the first draft and representing Utah. It’s going to be a great day.”
Utah will ensure a great day if they avoid taking these two players in the 2024 NHL Draft.
There are too many Berkly Cattons on Utah HC
Utah HC's new fans will realize they have a lot of speed in their top-end forward group. Another feature of these speedy forwards is they are very undersized. Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Alexander Kerfoot, Matias Maccelli, Logan Cooley, Michael Carcone, and Barrett Hayton are six-feet or shorter, while Berkly Catton is another speedy, undersized forward.
The NHL is changing, and you don't need a roster full of big enforcers to be successful. However, as we saw with the Florida Panthers, it doesn't hurt to have some snarl and size in your lineup. The Panthers looked like they were about to choke away a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, but they played some of the best defensive hockey in the entire postseason to shut down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
No players in Utah HC's system are of McDavid or Draisaitl's quality, making it easier for teams to shut down these smaller players. It isn't difficult to imagine a forward group where half of the players are under six feet tall getting thrown around by a bigger team in the playoffs. Utah HC may get away with that if they were in the Eastern Conference. However, the Western Conference is notorious for being a more physically demanding style of hockey.
Utah HC would be better suited to take Beckett Sennecke with this pick if he is available, a 6-foot-2 two-way forward from the OHL.
Cole Eiserman has too many flaws
Cole Eiserman feels like a Doug Armstrong, which has to be a concern for Utah HC fans. Armstrong's motive last season was to make some big swings, and it seems he may have the same mindset this year. Eiserman will be a big swing for any team that takes him in the top ten, and Utah seems like the best bet to do it.
Eiserman was always in the 1A/1B conversation with Macklin Celebrini leading up to the 2023-24 season. He will attend Boston University next season, where he may star alongside Celebrini if he stays for another year.
Eiserman's stock dropped significantly over the year, as flaws started to open up in his game away from the puck. He is an elite scorer, but his defensive skills and decision-making in the offensive zone left some question marks.
The positive of Eiserman is that he will score plenty of goals in a Utah jersey if he is the pick. However, his ability to adjust to the NHL level is no sure thing, and Utah needs to give their new fans something to be sure about. Eiserman could be a good professional, but the prospect of him being a bust as the first pick in Utah history is something Armstrong may not come back from.
If Beckett Sennecke doesn't interest Utah, some valuable defensemen could be available at this pick in the 2024 NHL Draft that would be a much better fit with a higher floor.
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