Michigan players to watch in the 2024 NHL Draft

LAS VEGAS – The NHL playoffs are one of the most exciting spectacles of the year.

Not only because the best team in the league gets to win the coveted Stanley Cup, but also because of the awards and the draft that follows. Speculation rages all year long about who the best young players are, and the answer will finally be revealed this Friday and Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

This year’s draft features three new additions to the Michigan hockey team who are expected to be selected in the seven rounds to one of 32 NHL teams. While none of them are currently with the Wolverines – unlike last season’s draft – the trio of young players are ready to bring talent and drive to a roster that will be left slightly tattered after the 2023-24 season. So let’s take a look at what makes each new addition a desirable player for an NHL team and an integral part of the upcoming Michigan roster.

C Michael Hage

NHL Draft Candidates: No. 10 (North American skaters)

Scott Wheeler/The Athlete: No. 15

After the Wolverines lost their top center Frank Nazar III to the Chicago Blackhawks at the end of the 2023-24 season, it appears they have plenty of new centers to fill the void. Hage, who finished his junior career with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, joins the list of talented Steel alumnae turned Michigan skaters. In his two-year tenure with the Steel, Hage totaled 85 points — 75 of which came in his final season. He is a versatile player who can play both center and right wing, and when he has the puck, he loves to shoot. From the loss of his father to serious injuries, Hage has endured a lot of adversity in the first 18 years of his life, which has shaped him into a well-rounded individual ready to take on any challenge that comes his way.

Many teams, from the Detroit Red Wings to the Minnesota Wild to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, have shown interest in signing Hage, but at the end of the day, he will be an asset to any team that signs him.

C Christian Humphreys

NHL Draft Prospects: No. 71 (North America)

Scott Wheeler/The Athlete: No. 60

Another center who has joined the Wolverines is center Christian Humphreys. Humphreys’ draft value dropped last year, but that doesn’t diminish his value. Humphreys finished his junior career with the USA NTDP team and put up 82 points over two years, scoring 58 points in his freshman season. Similar to former Michigan forward Gavin Brindley, Humphreys’ size is a disadvantage. However, he has a keen eye and an accurate shot, and is also explosive on the run. Originally committed to Michigan State, Humphreys will be a solid third or fourth line center and is expected to be selected late in the second or early in the third round of the draft.

C Aidan Park

NHL Draft Candidates: No. 91 (North America)

Scott Wheeler/The Athlete: No. 92

Former center and Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep graduate Aidan Park just about makes the top 100 prospects and is expected to be selected in the late third or early fourth round. The only West Coast native on the Wolverines’ roster, Park is another versatile player who scored 93 points in the 2023-24 season. Leading up to the draft, Park has played two USHL playoff games with the Green Bay Gamblers and played a major role on the roster, recording one point in the two games. Similar to former defenseman Seamus Casey, Park is a good read of his teammates and understands what is going on in every corner of the ice, making him a smart and talented player. His draft projection increased significantly last season and it’s clear his work ethic is paying off.

In addition to these three, Kristian Epperson would have been a fourth Michigan player to be drafted. However, just days before the draft, he announced that he had signed with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL and is no longer a candidate for the NHL draft. He will also not attend the University of Michigan in the fall.

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