The 2024 NHL draft is set to take place on June 28 and June 29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and fans are eagerly anticipating the next wave of talented prospects that will be added to their favorite teams. This year’s draft class features several players with family ties in the NHL, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the event.
Macklin Celebrini, a forward from Boston University, is considered the top prospect in this year’s draft. His brother, Aiden Celebrini, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023, and his father is currently the vice president of player health and performance for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Defenseman Zeev Buium’s older brother, Shai Buium, was a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, and the two siblings recently won the NCAA championship with the University of Denver.
Adam Jiricek, a defenseman from HC Plzen, is expected to be a first-round pick. His older brother, David Jiricek, was selected sixth overall in the 2022 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Berkly Catton, a forward from the Spokane Chiefs, is a second cousin of former NHL player Cory Sarich, who had a successful career that included winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tij Iginla, a forward from the Kelowna Rockets, is the son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, who played 20 seasons in the league and holds several franchise records for the Calgary Flames.
Cole Eiserman, a forward from the USNTDP, will follow in his older brother Shane’s footsteps, who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2014.
Ryder Ritchie, a forward from the Prince Albert Raiders, is the son of former NHL player Byron Ritchie, who had a career that spanned over 300 games with various teams.
Goalie Jacob Oster, from the Oshawa Generals, is a second cousin of NHL forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk.
Aatos Koivu, a forward from TPS, has a hockey lineage with his father, Saku Koivu, and uncle, Mikko Koivu, both having successful NHL careers.
Max Plante, a forward from the USNTDP, is the son of former NHL player Derek Plante, who won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.
Lukas Fischer, a defenseman from the Sarnia Sting, is the son of Jiri Fischer, a former first-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings who also won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2002.
Carson Wetsch, a forward from the Calgary Hitmen, is cousins with Edmonton Oilers’ veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Miroslav Satan Jr., a forward from HC Slovan Bratislava, is the son of NHL veteran Miroslav Satan, who played over 1,000 games in the league.
Cole Hutson, a defenseman from the USNTDP, has a brother, Lane Hutson, who was drafted by the Canadiens in 2022 and made his NHL debut in the 2023-24 season.
William Samuelsson, a forward from Sodertalje, is the son of former NHL player Mikael Samuelsson, who had a lengthy career with several teams.
Noah Lapointe, a defenseman from the USNTDP, is the son of former NHL player Martin Lapointe, who now works in the Montreal Canadiens’ front office.
These family connections add an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming NHL draft, as fans look forward to seeing how these young prospects will follow in their relatives’ footsteps in the hockey world.