Rangers 2024 NHL Draft Preview
Las Vegas, NV – The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft takes place this Friday and Saturday, June 28-29, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Draft will be televised live in Canada on Sportsnet (English) and TVA Sports (French) beginning with the first round Friday at 7 p.m. ET, followed by rounds 2-7 starting Saturday at 11 a.m. ET. In the United States, Friday’s first round will be televised live on ESPN while rounds 2-7 will be televised on the NHL Network.
Current Rangers who are first-time eligible for selection in the NHL Draft include Luke Ellinas, Max Dirracolo (pronounced Dear-uh-coal-oh), Justin Bottineau, and Carson Campbell. Additionally, 2004-born forward Trent Swick will have another chance to be picked up in the draft.
Ellinas, a forward from Etobicoke, Ontario, is the highest-rated player from the Rangers projected to be selected in this year’s NHL Draft. Ranked 88th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final list, Ellinas saw significant improvement throughout the season, rising seven spots from the mid-term rankings. He finished eighth on the Rangers in scoring, with 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 67 games. The 6-foot-1 forward was also named the Rangers’ top playoff performer, contributing five goals and three assists, including an overtime game-winner that advanced the Rangers to the second round of the playoffs.
6-foot-6 forward Trent Swick from Thorold, Ont., is not far behind Ellinas, rated 109th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings list. Swick had a breakout year registering 25 goals and 37 assists for 62 points in 63 games played which was good for the fourth most points on the Rangers.
Defenceman Max Dirracolo from Barrie, Ont., has also cracked the North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final list rated at 220th. The 6-foot-4 and 216-pound defender signed with the Rangers in December as a free agent. He quickly jumped into the lineup and never left it while he registered five points (1G, 4A) in 31 games.
This will be forward Justin Bottineau from Burlington, Ont., first chance to be drafted as a 2006 born player. Bottineau was drafted by the Rangers in 2022 in the third round. He was the only skater selected from the 2022 OHL Priority Selection to crack the Rangers roster as a true rookie. Last season the 6-foot and 170-pound left-winger scored five goals and 14 assists in 61 games played.
Defenceman Carson Campbell from Campbelford, Ont., is also eligible for the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. Standing at 6’1” and 180, he played in 58 games this season registering eight assists.
Since 1969, the Kitchener Rangers have had 168 players selected in the NHL Draft which is the fourth most in the Ontario Hockey League. The highest two selections were Gabriel Landeskog (2011) and Brian Bellows (1982), both selected second overall. The most Rangers selected in a draft was seven in 1989. Impressively, 18 Rangers have been selected in the NHL Draft by 17 different NHL clubs in just the past 10 years.
Last season, the Rangers had four players on their roster that were drafted with three of them signed by their NHL clubs respectively: Eduard Šalé (signed – Seattle Kraken), Hunter Brzustewicz (signed – Calgary Flames), Carson Rehkopf (signed – Seattle Kraken), and Matthew Andonovski (Ottawa Senators).
For live coverage of the Rangers at the 2024 NHL Draft, stay tuned to the Rangers social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by searching @OHLRangers.
For media inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
