The first round of the 2024 NHL playoffs came to an end with a thrilling Game Seven victory for the Dallas Stars, as they eliminated the defending champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, with a score of 2-1 on Sunday. This unexpected outcome has had a significant impact on the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft, particularly for the Washington Capitals.

Despite the Golden Knights utilizing crafty salary cap tactics to bolster their roster at the trade deadline, the Stars proved to be a formidable opponent, thwarting Vegas' hopes of repeating their championship glory. The Golden Knights' loss has now solidified their draft selections, placing them as the 19th-best pick in nearly every round.

However, the Washington Capitals were the unexpected beneficiaries of Vegas' elimination. In a trade made on March 5, the Golden Knights acquired winger Anthony Mantha from the Caps, but as part of the deal, they also sent back a 2024 second-round draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick to Washington. As a result, the Capitals will now have the 52nd overall pick in the second round, securing a notably better position than they would have otherwise had. This move spares them from a potential drop to a lower pick, possibly as low as the 65th spot.

The NHL draft order is determined based on regular-season point totals for rounds two to seven, with the draft lottery only impacting the initial 16 spots. Teams that made the playoffs but did not win their divisions or reach the conference finals hold picks 17 to 24, and the teams that won their divisions but did not reach the conference finals take positions 25 to 28, depending on playoff results.

In Vegas' case, since they did not win the Pacific Division and finished as the second wild card team in the Western Conference, their second-round pick moved down one spot to the 52nd position. This adjustment was due to the Philadelphia Flyers receiving a compensatory second-round selection from the league for failing to sign their 2018 first-round draft pick, Jay O'Brien, to an entry-level contract.

The Washington Capitals, meanwhile, made their own moves in previous years, trading their own 2024 second-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators for Connor Brown before the 2022-23 campaign. Additionally, the Capitals possess the Boston Bruins' third-round pick, dependent on the outcome of the Bruins' second-round matchup against the Florida Panthers.

As the 2024 NHL Draft approaches, the Dallas Stars' victory over the Vegas Golden Knights has undoubtedly shaken up the draft order, with powerful implications for the Washington Capitals' selection position. Fans and analysts alike eagerly await the outcome of the further playoff rounds and the final determination of draft order for all teams involved.