The Winnipeg Jets were spectators for Round One of the 2024 NHL Entry draft on Friday Night at the Sphere in Las Vegas after surrendering their 26th overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens for Sean Monahan.
This year’s draft marks only the second time Winnipeg has not had a first-round pick since relocating from Atlanta in 2011. The Jets did not have a first-round selection in 2018 as a result of the Paul Statsny trade earlier that year with St. Louis and eventually took David Gustafsson with the 60th overall pick.
But as Round Two began on Saturday morning, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the scouting staff were able to actively participate in proceedings, and with the 37th overall selection went for Swedish defenceman Alfons Freij.
The 6-foot-1, 187-pound left shot blueliner had 14-19-33 in 40 games with Vaxjo Junior during the 2023-24 season. And in 7 games at the U18 World Championship in Espoo, Finland – Freij scored twice and set up four other goals to help Sweden eventually earn a bronze medal with a 4-0 victory over Slovakia.
Some scouting reports have described Freij as “boom or bust” but McKeen’s Hockey described him as a diamond and “a dynamic, mobile, offensive puck-moving defenceman.”
The Jets obtained this pick, originally belonging to Montreal, from the Los Angeles Kings last June as part of the trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Winnipeg traded their own second-round pick to Nashville just before the deadline on Feb. 25, 2023, to acquire Nino Niederreiter from the Predators.
The Jets did not have a third round selection as a result of this past spring’s trade with New Jersey to acquire Tyler Toffoli at the deadline.
Winnipeg sent their 4th (123) and 7th (219) round picks to Buffalo to move up to 109 in the draft and selected Niagara Ice Dogs forward Kevin He. The 5-11, 182 left winger had 31-22-53 in 64 games for Niagara and became the highest drafted China born player in NHL history. He was born in Beijing, and arrived in Canada at the age of 5 when his family moved to Montreal.
Andong Song, also born in Beijing, held the distinction of being the first China born player selected in the NHL draft when he was taken in the sixth round (172nd) by the NY Islanders in 2015.
He is from the same hometown (Nobleton, Ont) as Calgary first round pick Zayne Parekh who is of Indian and South Korean heritage.
6-1, 185 pound Finnish Center Markus Loponen was Winnipeg’s selection (155th) in Round Five. He had 25-29-54 in 45 games for Karpat U20 this past season.
With their final scheduled pick of the day, the Jets took 6-6, 211 pound center Kieron Walton of OHL Sudbury in Round Six (187th). The Toronto native scored 18 goals and had 25 assists for 43 points in 65 games for the Wolves.
The entire Jets Draft Class of 2024 is expected to be on hand for development camp which gets underway Wednesday at Hockey for All Centre. But there will be one noteable absentee from Winnipeg’s prospect pool as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed with reporters in Las Vegas that 2022 first rounder Rutger McGroarty will not be attending.
There was much speculation McGroarty would be traded leading up to or during the draft, following reports he will not sign with the team because he doesn’t want to begin his pro career with the AHL Manitoba Moose.
But for now, the University of Michigan star remains a Jet, as does veteran forward Nikolaj Ehlers who has also been the subject of trade rumours. Cheveldayoff told reporters on Friday that Ehlers remains part of the team’s plans in going forward.
Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Charlie Elick went to Columbus in the second round (36th) while Brandonite Carson Caswell of the WHL Swift Current Broncos was the first Hockey Manitoba product taken in 2024 when he was selected in Round Five (141st) by the Seattle Kraken.
G Dawson Cowan of Warren (Spokane), RW Luke Mistelbacher of Steinbach (Swift Current) D Josh Fluker of Boissevain (Wenatchee) and LW Gavin Hodnett of Winnipeg (Edmonton) were all listed in the NHL Central Scouting rankings but went undrafted.