3 2024 Draft Prospects Whose Dads Played in the NHL

For hockey fans, some of the best memories you had as a child were watching your favourite players play. Well, most hockey fans born between 1990 and 2005 will be delighted to realize that those same players now have children of their own. 

As for Tij, he has been lighting it up with the Kelowna Rockets. He has 66 points in 52 games and is projected to finish on pace for 81 points. He is slotted to go in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, which could make things interesting since he is expected to go in the range of 10–15. There could be a chance that he is selected with the 11th pick to match his father. Furthermore, there could also be a world where the Flames are in and around that spot in the draft and could draft him. That would be a surreal moment for both Jarome and Tij. 

Other Notables: Vladislav & Igor Bryzgalov, Derek & Max Plante

Aatos & Saku Koivu

As a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, this one is fun to see. The Montreal Canadiens and Maple Leafs never fail to disappoint, but when you look back to the years 2000–2010, there were some fun games. Mats Sundin vs. Saku Koivu was the highlighted matchup during those times. Well, Sundin doesn’t have a son who’s going to be drafted in the NHL, but Koivu does, Aatos Koivu. Saku had a hard-fought career; between playing in the NHL in a pressure cooker market like Montreal and battling cancer, he deserved to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Saku played for TPS in the SM-liiga, before being drafted by the Canadiens. He played for 13 years with the organization, scoring 641 points in 792 games. He would then go on to play for the Anaheim Ducks for five seasons, after which retired with 831 points in 1,124 career games.

Aatos followed in his father’s footsteps and is playing for TPS in the SM-liiga. He has been a name that many fans who grew up watching his dad have kept an eye on. He is currently ranked 30th amongst European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, which is 20 ahead of Satan Jr. TSN’s insider Bob McKenzie has Koivu ranked 60th in his 2024 draft rankings, which would be the fourth-last pick in the second round. If you look at the Canadiens draft picks, they have the Avalanches’ second-round pick, which could be in the last five picks of the round, depending on how they do in the playoffs. Aatos could fulfill a dream by being drafted by Montreal, following in Saku’s footsteps.

For most hockey fans, it is such a cool experience to see your favourite players’ children being drafted into the NHL. These players are just the beginning, though; there are so many more former NHL players whose children will be in the NHL for years to come.