Meet the New Bolts: 2024 NHL Draft Recap
Three weeks ago, 225 young hockey players’ dream came true. They heard their name called at the NHL draft.
Seven of those players were chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning originally had five picks in the draft, but thanks to some trades by general manager Julien BriseBois, the team gained two extra draft picks.
So who are these new players and what should fans know about them? Well, allow us at RBLR Sports to answer those questions. Let’s take a look at the 2024 Tampa Bay Lightning draft class.
Jan Golicic (4th round pick #118)
Position: Defenseman
From: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Nationality: Slovenia
Age: 18 (17 when drafted)
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 198
A large, physical defenseman, Golicic was selected with a pick that the Lightning didn’t have until the day of the draft. They got this pick in the trade that sent Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings.
Golicic saw plenty of ice time in his rookie QMJHL season. In 63 games he put up 3 goals in 29 points. Scouts have said his defensive play is his strength, as he’s been praised for his ability to close passing lanes and his physical and hard checks. At the same time, scouts have criticized his skating for being rigid.
He’s young and will return to the QMJHL, so he’ll have plenty of time to develop.
Hagen Burrows (4th round pick #128)
Position: Center
From: Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)
Nationality: United States
Age: 18
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 176
A young kid with a lot of potential.
It will be a bit before Lightning fans can see Burrows. He was drafted out of high school after all! But it will be easy to watch his development. Starting this year he will be playing for the University of Denver, the defending NCAA champions.
Though it will be a while before he turns pro, Burrows already has scouts believing he could be a great NHL player. His offensive skills and scenes have been described as “NHL average.” This means scouts see his passing, handles and shooting as already being NHL quality. What isn’t, and is something he needs to improve while at Denver is, like his draft classmate Golicic, his skating. Scouts believe he is too slow and that he will struggle to create separation from defenders on the ice.
Burrows recorded 40 points in 28 games during his final high school season, as well as 13 points in 25 USHL games.
Also if you need an extra reason to route for him, the Lightning posted photos of Burrows as a child at Amalie Arena wearing a Lighting shirt and standing next to the Stanley Cup. As the post says, you could say he was “born to be a Bolt.”
Joona Saarelainen (5th round pick #149)
Position: Center
From: KalPa U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
Nationality: Finland
Age: 18
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 176
Saarelainen was an on-ice leader for his team this past season. In 41 junior games, he put 13 goals and 36 points.
He has shown to be an excellent skater with incredible speed. The knock against him is his size. He’s a little short for the NHL and some scouts wonder if that will hurt him if that could keep him from making it to the league.
Kaden Pitre (6th round pick #181)
Position: Center
From: Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Nationality: Canada
Age: 18
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 168
Pitre put up 30 points in 30 OHL games. He’ll be returning to the league to continue his development.
Scouts have praised his defensive instinct, speed and playmaking ability when on the perimeter. He falls on the shorter end of most NHL centers, so you have to wonder if that will affect him.
Joe Connor (7th round pick #195)
Position: Center
From: Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Nationality: United States
Age: 19
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 174
Connor is really the same as the last two Lighting draft picks. He’s praised for his speed and playmaking, but scouts question if his size will limit what he can do at the professional level.
In his final USHL, he recorded 32 goals and 60 points in 50 games. He will be continuing his development by joining the Northeastern University hockey team.
Noah Steen (7th round pick #199)
Position: Left Wing
From: Mora IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Nationality: Norway
Age: 19
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 192
Steen was selected with one of the picks the Lightning got from the Utah Hockey Club in the Mikhail Sergachev trade.
A two-way forward whose scouts believe is a penalty-kill specialist, Steen put up 14 goals and 17 points in 40 games this past season. He also represented Norway at the World Juniors, where he put up three points in five games.
While a good player, Steven will need to improve dramatically as scouts don’t see any amazing aspects in his game.
Harrison Meneghin (7th round pick #206)
Position: Goalie
From: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Nationality: Canada
Age: 19
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 170
Meneghin played in 53 OHL games this past season and he put up a .919 save percentage.
