The Dallas Stars only had three picks to work with in the 2024 NHL draft, but unlike last year, the Stars got to pick in the first round, albeit late.
Still, Dallas has built its recent success through the draft, using 12 drafted players in this years playoffs, and have hit on draft picks late in the first round and beyond, including Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven. Young talent on team-friendly contracts has helped Dallas to be one of the deepest teams in the NHL,
With their first pick, the Stars chose Finnish forward Emil Hemming in addition to two picks in the fifth and seventh rounds.
Corey Pronman, The Athletic
Grade: B-
“Dallas didn’t have many draft picks in this class, and their first-round pick, Emil Hemming, is a player who I could never come around on all season to go that high in the draft. He’s clearly a talented goal-scorer, but I think he has to work on a lot of aspects of his game to become a full-time NHL player.
“Hemming is one of the better natural goal-scorers in the draft with a solid overall talent level. He frustrated scouts at times with his consistency and lack of playmaking, but there’s no doubting he can be an NHL scorer if he hits. He has a little more size than some of Dallas’ other top forward prospects, which helps. His game rubbed me the wrong way, but I see the path to him being a middle-six forward.”
Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
Grade: C+
“In three years, when we’re discussing Dallas hitting on players in the late first or middle rounds, Emil Hemming at No. 29 in 2024 is going to be a player we mention. The Stars continue to extract value out of their selections in that area.
“Outside of that, the Stars had two picks in the late rounds that are unlikely to be NHL players. Trading the negotiating rights to Chris Tanev when it became clear he’d priced himself out of Dallas was shrewd, too. It wasn’t a busy weekend for the Stars, but Hemming is a quality player for the pipeline.”
Hannah Stuart, Bleacher Report
Grade: C+
“Finnish winger Emil Hemming was a great get for the Stars—and an unsurprising one, given Jim Nill and co.’s penchant for drafting Finns. He was the only real standout, though. That’s pretty par for the course when you only have three picks and two are late-rounders.
“Still, if you’ve gotta have a draft where you only hit on one pick, Hemming’s a very good choice for that hit.”
Bryan Murphy, The Sporting News
Grade: B
“The Stars sure like their Finns. Emil Hemming is viewed as one of the safer picks in the draft class, as he’s a strong, two-way winger with an above-average shot that he has proven he can use at a multitude of angles. His work in his defensive zone never slacks, and he is a threat to win puck battles every time he is in the corner. Hemming’s ceiling may not be high, but his floor isn’t low, either. There is a history of success between the Stars and Finnish prospects, so this is a good selection for Dallas.”
Kyle Cushman, The Score
Grade: C
“Hemming has a strong shot and a solid frame at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. He has the potential to be a big goal scorer with more consistency. The Stars have had success out of Finland in the past and doubled down with defenseman Niilopekka Muhonen.”