Winners, losers and surprises of the 2024 NHL draft
The 2024 NHL draft is complete. After Macklin Celebrini went first overall to the San Jose Sharks, there were many twists and turns throughout the event.
From certain prospects dropping to others going well above their pre-draft ranking to the Utah Hockey Club making major trades on Day 2, it was a wild weekend.
Now that all 225 selections have been made, what stands out the most? ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski identify the picks, trades and moments we’ll remember most — for better or worse.
WINNERS
Holding the draft at Sphere
Hockey fans should take a moment to thank UFC for helping to create the most aesthetically impressive NHL draft ever held.
The NHL knew it had one weekend on which to schedule the draft, because of the late end of the Stanley Cup Final and the beginning of free agency on July 1. The NHL knew it wanted to hold the even in Las Vegas, as both a popular destination for team personnel and a banger of a farewell party if this is the last in-person draft. One problem: T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights and the logical place for the draft, was booked for UFC 303.
So Steve Mayer, NHL chief content officer, and his group pursued a more ambitious alternative: Sphere in Las Vegas, the James Dolan-owned entertainment orb previously best known to hockey fans as the place where the Nashville Predators didn’t get to watch U2 perform. The result was an NHL draft like no other and a landmark moment for the facility, which hosted its first (of many) sporting events.
The league used the height of Sphere to create incredible imagery, from a draft board that cascaded into the sky to moving images of hundreds of draft picks in a giant collage. Every pick felt epic, both inside Sphere and outside, where they were broadcasted to the rest of The Strip on the exterior of the building.
But the most memorable use of the building was, of course, the trade horn. Fans like the NHL draft for the deals as much as as prospects. Leaning into that, the NHL had an ostentatious goal horn sound and graphics take over Sphere when a trade was announced. From the blockbusters to the pick swaps, every deal caught the fans’ attention with the loudest arena gimmick since the Columbus Blue Jackets goal cannon. From sights to sounds, Sphere was a singular experience. — Wyshynski
The San Jose Sharks
Free agency hasn’t even started, and the argument could be made that the Sharks have had one of the strongest offseasons in the NHL because they added a pair of top-six centers. That’s what it meant for them to draft Boston University freshman center Macklin Celebrini with the first pick after signing Boston College freshman center Will Smith, their first-rounder from last year, to an entry-level contract.
Back when the Sharks started their rebuild, the goal was to center it around the sort of elite players they felt could become franchise cornerstones, similar to what’s been done in Colorado, Edmonton, Dallas and Florida.
Celebrini reiterated that he would weigh his options when it comes to either signing with the Sharks or returning to BU, while Smith will be in training camp. Whatever Celebrini decides, general manager Mike Grier added a pair of top-six centers who will be on team-friendly contracts whenever Celebrini does join the team.
And remember, they strengthened their farm system significantly by adding defenseman Sam Dickinson with their second first-rounder. High marks all around for Grier and his front office. — Clark
It was the most wholesomely unwholesome moment from Friday’s first round when the Anaheim Ducks announced Beckett Sennecke as their third overall pick — and a stunned Sennecke mouthed “what the f—?” to his equally shocked parents before they embraced.
Naturally, Sennecke’s reaction made the social media rounds. At a draft where the No. 1 overall pick was all but confirmed for months ahead of time, it was a delightful contrast to see Sennecke’s honest astonishment at seeing his own dream come true far more quickly than he anticipated it would. — Shilton
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Beckett Sennecke has amazing reaction to being drafted No. 3 by the Ducks
Beckett Sennecke is chosen by the Anaheim Ducks with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
College hockey
The victories college hockey had in Las Vegas started Thursday at the NHL Awards, when NCAA products Connor Hellebuyck (Vezina Trophy) and Quinn Hughes (Norris Trophy) took home hardware. It kept going into Friday with Celebrini going first and the Chicago Blackhawks selecting Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov No. 2. Together, Celebrini and Levshunov became the second college hockey players to go 1-2 at a draft since 2021 when University of Michigan teammates Owen Power and Matty Beniers were selected with the first two picks.
Another layer to Celebrini and Levshunov going 1-2 is how the college game continues to attract elite players beyond the United States. In Celebrini’s case, he became the fifth first-round pick from Canada since 2016 who either played college hockey or was committed to a college program in their draft year. It’s a group that includes Cale Makar, Owen Power, Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli. It’s a bit of a trend now, considering there were only three Canadians that either played college hockey or were committed to a program who were taken in the first round between 1993 and 2015.
Celebrini, Levshunov and Zeev Buium were the three college players who went in the first round. But there were also six USHL players who went in the first round, and all of them are currently slated to play college hockey in addition to St. Andrew’s College center Dean Letourneau, who is set to play at Boston College in the fall. — Clark
Norwegian hockey
There have been only nine Norwegians who’ve ever made it to the NHL. And yet the nation had four players get drafted in 2024, with two of them coming in the first round. It started when the Detroit Red Wings drafted Michael Brandsegg-Nygard with the 15th pick, becoming the first Norwegian to ever go in the first round. Eight picks later, the Ducks drafted another Norwegian, Stian Solberg.
Just for context, the first Norwegian to play in the NHL was Bjorn Skaare, who played once for the Red Wings during the 1978-79 season. It’s a path that was later traveled by Espen Knutsen, Andreas Martinsen and current Norwegian national team captain Peter Thoreson, before Mats Zuccarello became the nation’s most prominent player, with 636 points in 835 games.
Zuccarello and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect defenseman Emil Martinsen Lilleberg were the only Norwegians to play in the NHL during the 2023-24 season. But with Brandsegg-Nygard and Solberg going in the first — while four Norwegians as a whole were drafted — it appears this could be something of a golden age for Norwegian hockey. — Clark
The Utah Hockey Club
Welcome to the NHL!
Owner Ryan Smith noted that the league’s newest team was getting boos from the crowd without having played a single game yet — maybe the first inkling of a geographic rivalry between Vegas and Salt Lake City. If UHC wanted to make a big first impression, then mission accomplished. GM Bill Armstrong selected one of the most prominent names in the first round in Kelowna forward Tij Iginla, son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla.
Then he opened Day 2 with the weekend’s biggest blockbuster, acquiring defensemen Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning and John Marino from the New Jersey Devils.
As Armstrong said, his team can score, but needed help on the back end, and boldly sought it out at the draft. My how times have changed: Could you ever imagine Armstrong trading for a player with seven years and $56.59 million left on his contract as GM of the Arizona Coyotes? Free agency should be fun times in Salt Lake City. — Wyshynski
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Utah Hockey Club selects Tij Iginla with first-ever pick
Tij Iginla becomes the first player to be drafted by the Utah Hockey Club expansion franchise.
The Golden Knights had truly impeccable timing, trading goaltender Logan Thompson to Washington on Saturday morning right before Thompson was set to do an autograph signing session for hometown fans at Sphere. Thompson said he was at home in bed when GM Kelly McCrimmon called to share news of the deal, and the goaltender could have easily skipped out on following through with the meet and greet.
But Thompson kept it classy and went to Sphere anyway to cycle through a long line of Golden Knights’ faithful who came for his signature — and now, a chance to say goodbye (and thanks). Credit to Thompson for making the most of an unexpectedly poor situation and honoring one final commitment in Vegas before his next chapter begins. — Shilton
Logan Thompson is a champ for staying to sign autographs and take pictures with fans 30 minutes after being traded. pic.twitter.com/sJ2QByxorT
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 29, 2024
LOSERS
Goaltenders in the first round
No goaltenders were taken in the first round this year. No goaltenders were taken in the first round last year. There wasn’t a goaltender taken in the first round in 2022, either. Altogether, it means there hasn’t been an NHL team that’s taken a goalie in the first round since 2021. Metallurg Magnitogorsk’s Ilya Nabokov was the first goalie off the board, drafted No. 38 overall by the Colorado Avalanche.
Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa and Minnesota Wild prospect Jesper Wallstedt were the two goalies who were first-round picks in 2021. What is it about goaltenders that has led to them being shut out of the first round? Could it be possible that it has something to do with the fact that more goalies taken in the later rounds are having success? None of this season’s Vezina Trophy finalists were first-round picks, while the last three Vezina Trophy winners were drafted no higher than 118th.
While there hasn’t been a goalie drafted in the first round since 2021, there was a time when it was a fairly common occurrence. There was at least one goalie drafted in the first round from 2019 through 2021. But in terms of what the figures have looked like since 2014? The NHL has had five drafts (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021) when a goalie went in the first round, with six drafts (2014, 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024) in which a goalie wasn’t taken until Day 2. — Clark
Having to rationalize a problematic pick
When Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon described his 19th overall pick Trevor Connelly, he described the player’s high-end talent and offensive skill. Absent was anything about his character, until he was asked about it.
“We have a comfort level that this is a player that will represent our organization as we’d expect any player to do so,” he said.
Many believe Connelly fell to No. 19 because of two incidents as a younger player. When he was 16, he posted an image to Snapchat of a swastika made with building blocks in the children’s area of a library. According to The Athletic, his team the Long Island Gulls dropped him after that. In 2021, he was accused of directing a racial slur at an opponent during a game and was suspended, although the California Amateur Hockey Association lifted the ban when it couldn’t corroborate the accusation. Connelly has denied using a slur.
McCrimmon wouldn’t elaborate on what Connelly told him to ease any concerns, although Connelly himself told the Associated Press that he informed teams that “I’ve put in a lot of work in myself and done a lot of things in the community and volunteered a lot.”
That kind of vague hand-waving might have worked in the past, but fans are demanding more from teams that make this kind of pick today. It’s one thing for McCrimmon is say his team’s “due diligence is very extensive” and that Connelly had “some growth and some recognition of areas where he made mistakes.” It’s another to explain what any of that actually means, given the circumstances. — Wyshynski
Swedish hockey
While Norway had a moment, Sweden had its lowest number of players selected since the 2015 draft, when just 19 Swedes were selected. This season, that number was 22 players from Sweden taken, fourth most behind Canada (87), the U.S. (39) and Russia Federation (27).
Perhaps the biggest indication that this wasn’t the most robust year for Swedish prospects: They didn’t have a player selected in the first round of the draft. The first Swede drafted was center Lucas Pettersson of MODO Jr. at No. 35 overall to the Anaheim Ducks.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, 2010 was the last previous year that a Swedish player wasn’t taken in the first round. It’s the fourth time it’s happened in the last 25 years (2024, 2010, 2004, 2003). Prior to this year, the last time no Swede was picked in the top 10 was 2015; Joel Eriksson Ek was the first Swedish player taken, 20th overall that year. — Wyshynski
No player trades on Night 1
The NHL had installed a kitschy goal horn graphic (and sound effect!) at Sphere to be used when clubs made a trade. But it took a while for that thing to get any use — because not one general manager made a significant trade during Friday’s first round.
And that was a bummer. Player trades are the lifeblood of a draft after about the 10th pick, when you know the number of prospects being taken who will actually see NHL action in the next season or two is dwindling.
In years past, we’ve seen trades go down even before the draft’s opening bell that gave us all something to talk about long into the night ahead. Alas, that wasn’t the case this year.
Kudos to Utah’s GM Bill Armstrong and Tampa Bay’s Julien BriseBois for bringing the heat to start off Day 2, though. That goal horn was blowing loud and proud out of the gate at the pre-9 a.m. hour local time, no doubt electrifying all those who had an enjoyable time in Sin City the night before. — Shilton
No QMJHL players in the first round
This was another draft cycle that saw the QMJHL have more than a dozen players get selected. This was also another draft cycle that saw the QMJHL fail to produce a first-round pick; the second year in a row. Prior to that, the previous time the QMJHL didn’t have a first-rounder was the 2008 draft, when goaltender Jake Allen was a second-round pick by the St. Louis Blues.
Granted, the year Allen was drafted came off a draft cycle that saw the QMJHL produce four first-rounders. And since then, the QMJHL has had three years in which they had the No. 1 pick, with Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Nico Hischier (2017) and Alexis Lafreniere (2020). They’ve also had draft classes that saw as many as five players go in the first round. That came as recently as 2020, the same year that Lafreniere was selected with the first pick.
Altogether, this is the fourth time since 2000 that the QMJHL didn’t have a first-round pick, and the first time in league history that it’s gone consecutive years without a first-round pick, according to the QMJHL’s records. – Clark
The timing of the draft and free agency
Not that a weekend in Las Vegas is some sort of punishment, but it’s also not an ideal situation for a number of front offices either. Why? Because of the extremely tight turnaround they face with trying to get back home as they seek to have everything in order before free agency opens Monday at noon ET.
But this is also the NHL, where managing the small window between the draft and free agency has become a rite of passage. It was like that last season when teams traveled from an albeit more centralized city in Nashville where they had two days to prepare. Back in 2022, the NHL had to readjust because of the truncated 56-game schedule it played while navigating the pandemic. That year, the draft ended July 8 with free agency starting July 13 — a four-day window in between.
It’s what makes the decision to move to a decentralized draft next season something that could plausibly benefit more front offices. Instead of traveling to a central location, teams will be able to operate from their respective facilities. One amateur scouting director told ESPN last week that the decision to move to a decentralized draft resulted in “a divided opinion.” On the other hand, another amateur scout said they were in favor of the new approach, because it allowed teams to openly explore their options in a private room rather than in a more public setting like the draft floor. — Clark
The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs has heated up, and the end of many series is approaching. How many teams will move on with clinching games Wednesday night?
There are two potential elimination games on the docket. First up is Montreal Canadiens–Washington Capitals (7 p.m., ESPN), with Alex Ovechkin & Co. on the verge of sealing the deal over the Habs.
Staggered just 30 minutes later is the possible final game of the 2025 edition of the Battle of Florida (7:30 p.m., ESPN2). Will the Florida Panthers get win No. 4, or can the Tampa Bay Lightning draw the series to 3-2?
Finally, the St. Louis Blues visit the Winnipeg Jets (9:30 p.m., ESPN) in a series that sits at 2-2 following the first four, including major intrigue as leading Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck continues to struggle in goal.
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Monday’s games, and the Three Stars of Monday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals
Game 5 (WSH leads 3-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Historically, teams that have a 3-1 series lead have gone on to win the series 90.8% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Capitals’ record in that scenario is 8-5, which is 62%.
Cole Caufield is taking many shots. His 21 shots on goal are the second most in the playoffs (trailing Nathan MacKinnon, with 31), and he has had 11 shot attempts blocked, which is tied for second most in the playoffs, behind Jack Eichel.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is the sixth first-year blueliner in playoff history to record at least five assists in his first postseason series, joining Ray Bourque (1980), Janne Niinimaa (1997), Erik Karlsson (2010), Marc-Andre Gragnani (2011) and Quinn Hughes (2020).
Alex Ovechkin has scored the most goals in NHL regular-season history, and he is 13th on the all-time playoff list with 75. His next will tie Mario Lemieux for 12th.
Anthony Beauvillier is the first player in Capitals history to record an assist in each of his first four playoff games with the club, and the fourth with at least one point, following Dave Christian (five GP in 1984), Adam Oates (four GP in 1998) and Mike Knuble (five GP in 2010).
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 5 (FLA leads 3-1) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
In the 2025 playoffs, home teams have a 23-10 record. That script has flipped in the Battle of Florida series as the road team has won three of four games.
The Panthers are 5-0 all time when leading a playoff series 3-1, closing out three of the previous series in Game 5. The Lightning are 1-5 all-time in a best-of-seven series when trailing 1-3.
Lightning forward Jake Guentzel is tied with Brad Marchand for the fourth most playoff goals since 2017 (40), behind Nathan MacKinnon (51), Leon Draisaitl (44) and Brayden Point (44).
Andrei Vasilevskiy has been doing his part: He allowed five goals combined in Games 2-4 (.936 save percentage) after allowing six goals in Game 1 (.647).
Matthew Tkachuk is tied with Nate Schmidt for the Panthers’ goal-scoring lead this series (three), and has 20 in 48 career playoff games with Florida; that is third most in franchise history, behind Sam Reinhart (22 in 59) and Carter Verhaeghe (27 in 65).
With each game and win, Sergei Bobrovsky adds to his lead in each category since the start of the 2023 playoffs (47 games played, 31 wins).
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has encountered another postseason rough patch. He allowed 11 goals combined in the past two games, and has now allowed four-plus goals in 10 of 14 starts the past three postseasons. That is a 71% rate, and his regular-season rate for that same stat is 17% in the same three-season span.
After starting the series hot — with five points in the first two games, both wins for the Jets — Mark Scheifele has been pointless in the two losses in Games 3 and 4. Kyle Connor has been just slightly better, with four points in the first two and just one goal in the ensuing two.
Although the Jets outshot the Blues 31-23, Jordan Binnington was up to the task in Game 4, stopping all but one. Overall this postseason, Binnington has a .907 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average. In the Blues’ Stanley Cup run in 2019, he finished with a .914 save percentage and 2.46 goals-against average.
In-season trade addition Cam Fowler is playing in his first postseason since 2017, and he’s making up for lost time, leading the Blues with eight points (one goal, seven assists) through four games. Fowler’s career-high postseason point total was 10 in 16 games in the 2015 playoffs.
Arda’s three stars from Tuesday night
Ullmark recorded his first career playoff shutout, becoming the second goalie in Senators franchise history (with Craig Anderson) to secure a shutout in a potential elimination game.
Two goals, including the overtime winner, to cap a three-point night to send the Hurricanes to the second round with a 5-4 win. The Canes scored three goals in four minutes in the second to tie the game after going down 3-0 early. This was Aho’s 10th career postseason power-play goal, which ties Eric Staal for the franchise record.
Tkachuk and Stutzle are the first Senators teammates to have three points when facing elimination in franchise history. They’ll get another chance at it Thursday at home.
Tuesday’s scores
Ottawa Senators 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
TOR leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark faced questions heading into this postseason, as his playoff career performances had not been up to par with his regular-season success. On this night at least, he was stellar. Ullmark stopped all 29 shots the Maple Leafs directed at him, and the Senators got goals from Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens, with empty-netters by Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk capping the evening. Full recap.
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Dylan Cozens doubles lead for Senators in Game 5
Dylan Cozens’ goal in the third period gives the Senators some breathing room in Game 5 vs. the Maple Leafs.
Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 4 (2OT)
CAR wins 4-1, plays winner of WSH-MTL
It was a wild one Tuesday night in Raleigh, with eight goals between the two teams through two periods. The goalies shut it down for 40 minutes thereafter, with the teams going scoreless in the third period and first overtime. It wasn’t until 4:17 of the second OT when Sebastian Aho scored the game- and series-winning goal. Full recap.
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Sebastian Aho slots in a goal for Hurricanes
Sebastian Aho answers with the Hurricanes’ fourth goal of the second period to tie the game 4-4 vs. the Devils.
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)
VGK leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
The teams traded a pair of goals early on the same Minnesota power play — William Karlsson scoring short-handed and Kirill Kaprizov notching the power-play tally — and Mark Stone capped off the first period with a goal at 13:24. The score would remain 2-1 Knights until 3:31 of the third, when Matt Boldy tied things the game at two. The Knights needed just 4:05 of the first OT period to score the game-winner off the stick of Brett Howden. Full recap.
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Brett Howden nets OT winner for Golden Knights to seal Game 5
Brett Howden’s close-range snap shot finds the back of the net to win it in overtime for the Golden Knights and claim a 3-2 series lead vs. the Wild.
Edmonton Oilers 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
EDM leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
After wins in the first two games of the series, the Kings are now looking up at the Oilers — the team that has beaten them the past three postseasons. The Kings were on the board first via an Andrei Kuzmenko power-play goal in the second, but Evander Kane would tie things up less than three minutes later. The eventual game-winner came off the stick of Mattias Janmark 7:12 into the third, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added an empty-net goal to put the game further out of reach. Full recap.
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Mattias Janmark puts the Oilers ahead in the 3rd
Mattias Janmark scores off the rebound to give the Oilers the lead in the third period vs. the Kings.
Will the Presidents’ Trophy curse claim a new victim this year?
For the past 11 NHL seasons, the winner of the trophy — awarded to the team with the most regular-season points — has failed to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, none of the last 11 Presidents’ Trophy winners have even played in the Stanley Cup Final.
All told, of the 38 seasons when the trophy has been awarded, just eight of its victors have also lifted the Stanley Cup. With the Winnipeg Jets‘ series against the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs knotted at two games apiece, could the curse be looming large again?
Here’s a look at the eight squads the Jets will be hoping to emulate that defied the curse:
Chicago Blackhawks, 2012-13
The most recent team to take home both the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks earned the regular-season crown in a campaign that didn’t start until January due to lockout. Patrick Kane would go on to earn Conn Smythe Trophy honors after a postseason in which he posted nine goals (tied for second on the team) and 10 assists (third on the team).
Detroit Red Wings, 2007-08
Winning the Central Division by an impressive 24-point margin, the Red Wings bolstered the best goals-against record in the league and raced to an impressive 115-point regular season. Henrik Zetterberg, the team’s top goal scorer in the regular season, won the Conn Smythe after a 27-point postseason.
Detroit Red Wings, 2001-02
Not to be outdone by their franchise counterparts six years later, the Red Wings turned in a regular season that not only saw them win the Central Division by 18 points, but top the overall league standings by a 15-point margin as well. The Conn Smythe went to Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidström, capping off the third of his three Stanley Cup triumphs in Detroit.
Colorado Avalanche, 2000-01
Combined with the Red Wings’ subsequent title, Colorado’s Stanley Cup win marks the only time in league history teams won both the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in back-to-back years. Goalkeeper Patrick Roy was awarded his third Conn Smythe — a record that still stands today.
Dallas Stars, 1998-99
Dallas led the league in goals allowed, a trend that continued into the postseason. In just one of the Stars’ 12 postseason wins did the team concede more than two goals. Centers powered the squad’s offense — Mike Modano’s 81 regular-season points led the team by a sizable margin, while Joe Nieuwendyk earned the Conn Smythe.
New York Rangers, 1993-94
After the regular season saw the Rangers beat local rivals the New Jersey Devils to both the Atlantic Division crown and the Presidents’ Trophy, New York’s postseason didn’t lack for rivalry thrills either.
The Rangers met New Jersey in the Eastern Conference finals, coming away victorious in a seven-game series that featured three games decided by double overtime. New York’s subsequent Stanley Cup Final series with the Vancouver Canucks would go seven games as well, with Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch scoring the opener in the decisive final game.
Calgary Flames, 1988-89
The 1988-89 NHL season was all about Calgary and the Montreal Canadiens, who posted 117- and 115-point regular seasons respectively — no other team in the league amassed more than 92. Fittingly, the two squads met in the Stanley Cup Final, where the President Cup champion Flames bested Montreal again, topping the Canadiens in six games. Defenseman Al MacInnis racked up 24 postseason assists en route to Conn Smythe honors.
Edmonton Oilers, 1986-87
Led by Wayne Gretzky at his peak, Edmonton raced to a 106-point regular season as Gretzky led the NHL in goals, assists and plus/minus as he earned his eighth Hart Trophy. Unsurprisingly, Gretzky was a driving force in the Oilers’ postseason march as well — he totaled 29 assists as Edmonton won its third Stanley Cup in what would end up being a run of four Cups in five years for the franchise.
Following two transfer portal windows and the NFL draft, college football fans might need Apple AirTags to track where their favorite players wound up.
This space is dedicated to those who decided to stay — commitments who boosted their teams’ College Football Playoff hopes. Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class could take up half the list: quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and defensive tackle Zane Durant are all back from the Nittany Lions’ CFP semifinal run.
“When we all committed here coming out of our ’22 class, that was one of our goals coming in as Penn Staters, we wanted to compete for championships, both Big Ten and obviously national championships,” Allar said. “And obviously we had a taste of that last year, and we know how close you are, so it’s just building off that and trying to make another run at it.”
Here’s a look at 13 players from 11 schools and representing five different leagues whose decisions to either forgo the NFL draft or sidestep the portal have beefed up their respective teams’ playoff chances.
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What his return means: Nussmeier, a fifth-year senior, and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan are entering their second season together and aiming to improve upon a stellar debut, which will help the Tigers contend for the SEC title. Nussmeier threw for 4,052 passing yards last year, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Even if LSU can’t win the league, Nussmeier’s return can help the Tigers earn an at-large CFP bid — especially if he makes a similar jump to his predecessors, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, who both won the Heisman Trophy in their second seasons in Baton Rouge. Nussmeier’s dad, Doug, will be nearby as the Saints’ offensive coordinator after winning a Super Bowl as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach. With four new starters on the Tigers’ offensive line, there’s going to be an adjustment period, but if the “Nuss Bus” gets the time he needs, this should be a breakout season and his draft stock will rise with LSU’s playoff chances.
2. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What his return means: Penn State has something Ohio State and Oregon don’t — a starting quarterback with playoff experience. The Nittany Lions might finally have the pieces in place to return to the top of the Big Ten and contend for a national title. Allar, who’s entering his third season as the starter, will be surrounded by NFL talent on the offensive line and in the running game, and could make a case to be Penn State’s first Heisman Trophy winner since John Cappelletti in 1973. Last season, he had 3,327 passing yards, the third most in a season in school history. With a second season under coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and more options at wide receiver — plus a still-loaded tight end room — there will be no shortage of options for Allar to push the ball downfield more.
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What his return means: On paper, Clemson has enough offensive firepower returning to elevate the Tigers into a deeper CFP run than their first-round exit in 2024 and they should have the Heisman-contending quarterback the program has desperately missed. Klubnik leads a Clemson offense that is No. 1 in the FBS in returning production (81%), according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. Klubnik reestablished himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country following a down season in 2023. Last year, his 308 completions, 3,639 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns all ranked among the best seasons in program history. As he enters his third season as a starter under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, Klubnik’s understanding of the offense and his relationship with Riley has grown, positioning Klubnik for what should be his best season with the Tigers.
4. Nicholas Singleton/Kaytron Allen, RBs, Penn State
The decision: Forgo the 2025 NFL draft
What their return means: The nation’s best running back duo returns intact, and they’ve got playoff experience along with familiarity and knowledge of the offense in coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s second season, all of which should boost the Nittany Lions’ hopes of winning the Big Ten and returning to the CFP. Singleton and Allen were projected by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. to be the Nos. 5 and 6 running backs available in the 2025 draft after becoming the first combo in Penn State history to each have at least 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Penn State ran for more than 200 yards in 10 games last season, and the Nittany Lions led all Power 4 teams and Notre Dame in rushing with 3,237 yards. Of course, it helps to have 6-foot-4, 350-pound offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane blocking.
The decision: Avoid the transfer portal
What his return means: Sellers absolutely drew interest from other teams in November and December, but he re-signed quickly with the Gamecocks — and his commitment could be the difference between receiving or not receiving a CFP bid. The same can be said for edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who also attracted attention after 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks last year. South Carolina made a playoff case with Sellers leading the offense last year, but the CFP selection committee didn’t rank the No. 15 Gamecocks high enough for inclusion. He improved throughout the season last fall, increasing his Total QBR from 52 in his first six games to 81 over the last six. This year, he’ll be working with Mike Shula, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula.
The decision: Avoid the transfer portal (twice)
What his return means: Illinois can be a CFP sleeper team by competing for the Big Ten title and earning an at-large bid if it doesn’t win the league. The importance of Illinois retaining its starting quarterback after a strong spring push from Tennessee can’t be understated. The Illini have a chance to be this year’s Indiana — a Big Ten contender with a manageable schedule that can play its way into the selection committee’s rankings with a standout quarterback and his supporting cast. After public speculation he might transfer for his final year of eligibility, Altmyer announced in December he would return to the team. He did it again in April, following the drama at Tennessee. Altmyer passed for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions last year, leading Illinois to a 9-3 regular season and a top-20 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
The decision: Avoid the transfer portal
What his return means: K-State can win another wide-open Big 12 race and earn an automatic bid into the playoff as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. Johnson never entered the transfer portal, but he attracted interest, especially after Tennessee lost Nico Iamaleava. “We got a damned wall built around him,” a K-State source told ESPN. “They better bring the Tennessee National Guard.” Expectations will be higher this year for Johnson, who threw for 2,712 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first full season as a starter last year. He also had 605 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. With the depth at wide receiver, K-State’s passing game could flourish this fall.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his return means: A veteran offensive line that includes four returning starters from a group that allowed the third-fewest sacks in the SEC last season (20). It also means better protection for quarterback DJ Lagway, who could be one of the best in the country if he can stay healthy — and Lagway’s health is the most critical component to Florida’s success this year. According to Pro Football Focus, Slaughter allowed one sack, one QB hit, six QB hurries and eight pressures — with only three penalties — in 728 snaps. The Gators again have one of the toughest schedules in the country, and Slaughter is the kind of veteran they need up front to help Lagway survive it.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his return means: That the Buckeyes didn’t lose everyone from their national championship defense. Styles had an outstanding 2024 season with 100 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five passes defended. His draft stock rose as the Buckeyes ascended through the CFP bracket, but he told reporters at their national championship celebration that he “wasn’t ready to leave yet.” Styles still has room to improve and grow, and his draft stock will continue to rise. He’s now in a position of leadership as one of just three returning starters on defense and the most experienced player among the rising seniors.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his return means: The Ducks retained a 6-foot, 175-pound receiver who played a key role in advancing them to the top seed in the 2024 CFP, and they’ll need his help again — especially with the departure of Tez Johnson, who entered the NFL draft after leading Oregon with 83 receptions for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior season. Stewart is Oregon’s only returning receiver who had more than 30 receptions in 2024. Stewart, who transferred to Oregon from Texas A&M, had 48 catches last season for 613 yards and tied for the team high with five receiving touchdowns. He was Oregon’s second-most targeted receiver in an offense that finished 13th nationally in passing yards. Stewart’s role will increase, and his decision to return will help the Ducks’ new starting quarterback, which could be former UCLA QB Dante Moore.
The decision: Forgo the NFL draft
What his decision means: The Longhorns have leadership, playoff experience, NFL talent and a familiar face returning to a defense that again has to replace multiple starters from the previous season. Taaffe, a rising senior who ascended from walk-on to All-American, had 71 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. His decision to return was driven in large part by the desire to win a national title at Texas and the devastation he said he felt following the loss to Ohio State. Taaffe will get another chance at the Buckeyes in the season opener.
The decision: Withdrew name from portal
What his return means: The Broncos were able to retain top talent from their 2024 CFP run, which featured one of the nation’s top defensive fronts, a huge boost for coach Spencer Danielson as he tries to own the Group of 5’s guaranteed spot as one of the nation’s five highest-ranked conference champions. Fely took visits to Miami and Cal before announcing on social media he planned to return to Boise. Fely, who spent the past three seasons at Boise State, started 28 games in the past two seasons. He had nine TFLs last year and 5.5 sacks.
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