Flames select Matvei Gridin with Canucks’ 28th overall first-round pick

The Calgary Flames select winger Matvei Gridin at 28th overall –– the pick that was originally owned by the Vancouver Canucks. This was the Flames’ second selection of the 2024 NHL entry draft. Calgary owned their own first-round pick, where they selected an offensive defenceman out of Memorial Cup champions, Saginaw Spirit, Zayne Parekh, and ninth overall.

Gridin, 18, is a 6’1, 185-lb Russian right-winger out of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He scored 38 goals and 83 points in 60 games for the Lumberjacks this season. Gridin ranked 91st by Elite Prospects, 37th by Bob McKenzie and 52nd by Daily Faceoff.

Here is how Elite Prospects scouting report on him from their 2024 NHL draft guide:

Gridin leverages his ability to spot lanes and create space to amplify his impact as both a shooter and passer. A quick fake opens both shooting and passing lanes, and he generally chooses the right play at the right time. He gets open between defenders to blast powerful one-timers and occasionally makes the extra pass for the tap-in.

The Canucks traded the 28th pick to the Flames along with right-winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defensive prospects Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo and a 2024 fourth-round pick, 107th overall, in exchange for 29-year-old centreman Elias Lindholm.

Lindholm had 12 points in 26 regular season games and 10 points in 13 playoff games. Unfortunately for Canucks fans, it looks like his stats will have to be good enough, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Lindholm will not be returning and testing the free agent market come July 1st. Despite the club offering the Swedish centreman a seven-year, $49M extension.

Canucks fans will have to wait until later on Saturday morning for their first selection. Vancouver makes their first selection in the third round, 93rd overall. The club also selects 125th, 162nd, 189th and 221st overall for a total of five draft picks in the 2024 NHL entry draft.