NHL Entry Draft: 2021 First-Round Mock Draft Selections
1. Buffalo Sabres OWEN POWER, Michigan, NCAA
Selected by Jake Leblanc of Sabrenoise.com
The consensus top prospect in the draft to the team that needs the most help. Owen Power to the Buffalo Sabres at number one overall in this draft makes sense on multiple levels. Buffalo has been struggling to find consistent quality play on the defensive end of the ice. Hopefully, that is something that Power can provide once he is in the NHL.
At only 18-years-old, he will fit right in with the Sabres youth movement and core of young players, including Rasmus Dahlin, Dylan Cozens, and Jack Quinn. Standing 6-foot-6, the native of Mississauga, Ontario also has excellent size for someone that can skate and control the puck as well as he can.
Power has yet to decide whether or not he will join the team he is drafted by right away or if he will return to the University of Michigan for one more season in the NCAA. But regardless of his decision, it should not scare the Sabres away from drafting him first overall. Buffalo is nowhere close to “win now” mode, so they can afford to wait an extra year for Power to join them if he is at the top of their draft board.
–Jake LaBlanc
2. Seattle Kraken: MATTHEW BENIERS, Michigan, NCAA
Pick by M. Derosa of krakenchronicle.com
What to get the team that needs everything? It turns out Matthew Beniers! The Michigan prospect plays a competitive two-way game which is something GM Ron Francis, a pretty good two way center in his own right, would find valuable.
Beniers game is centered around possession, keeping possession and then denying possession from his opponents. Offensively Bernier has superior puck advancing skills, meaning he is able to gain the zone and create opportunities at an extraordinary rate, while rarely turning the puck over. While the entry/turnover ratio is impressive, it actually undersells what Beniers does with the puck. He is a above average playmaker who sees the ice well and can deliver opportunities to his team mates at high speed. This is a trait NHL teams covet.
Defensively, Beniers is consider by many to be among the top defensive forwards in the draft. He is constantly engaged in the defensive end, looking to exploit mistakes by unsuspecting puck carriers. He plays physically and uses his body to consistently cancel his man denying, passes and scoring chances alike. His defense technique is textbook.
At this point it is hard to determine how Berniers fits into the empty canvas that is the Kraken roster, but at the minimum, it is clear he is a valuable building block for the future
3. Anaheim Ducks – DYLAN GUENTHER, Edmonton, WHL
Pick By C. Durant of Pucksofafeather.com
The Ducks have many holes they need to fill if they want to move ahead with a successful rebuild. They have plenty of playmakers, some talented defenseman, but what they really lack is goal scorers. This is not a knock on Max Comtois but if your best goal scorer is scoring 16 goals, that’s not good enough and that signifies a problem that desperately needs to be addressed. It can be addressed through the draft or trades, so why not both? Guenther has proven he can be a goal scorer. Not only that but despite needing a little improvement defensively he is still a very good two-way player, which screams Bob Murray pick to me.
— C, Durant
4. New Jersey Devils— LUKE HUGHES, USA U-18, USHL
Pick By N. Villano of pucksandpitchforks.com
The Devils use the fourth pick to keep it in the family with offensive defensemen Luke Hughes. Hughes is the younger brother of Quinn (Vancouver) and Jack Hughes. Jack plays for the Devils. Luke has the bloodlines and the high-end skills that both of his brothers possess.
Like his brothers, the scouts agree Luke really sticks out in the offensive zone when the puck is on his stick. He has plus vision and passing, allowing him to spot team mates and complete challenging passes. He is able to open space on the ice for others by drawing defenders and manipulating the defensive zone coverage to his advantage. His shot from the point is not elite, but effective, and would not be out of place on a first unit powerplay .
There is also scouting consensus that Hughes will need to do some work on his defensive game. Opinions vary wildly on the degree of his defensive flaws, ranging from a few tweaks to issues that will haunt him through his career. The Devils are betting on Hughes being a boom rather than a bust.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets –SIMON EDVINSSON, Frolunda J20, SuperElit
Pick By C. Coyne of broadstreetbuzz.com
Simon Edvinsson maybe the most divisive prospect in the draft. While not a boom or bust player, as it is universally accepted he projects to the NHL, the range of how successful he will become is vast. Is he Victor Hedman or Robert Hagg?
Edvinsson is an excellent skater, especially for his six-foot four-inch size. He is able to generate great speed and excellent change of direction which makes it hard for even the fastest offensive players to beat him. He has a long reach and uses his stick effectively to close down opponents and passing lanes.
With excellent physical tools Edvinnson would seem to be a lock as a shutdown defender, except for an under developed hockey sense. While an evaluation on “hockey sense” is often too broad to be useful, Edvinsson’s detractors were quite specific. He does not read the game well in his own end. He often will fixate and not be able to identify threats as players move through out the zone. This limits the impact of his tools defensively.
Hockey sense is Edvinsson’s issue on offense as well. While his puckhandling is good, he can needlessly skate himself in to danger. He also will attempt risky or complex passes that would be better left unexplored. Edvinsson’s ceiling will be determined by the amount of his improvement in the game’s mental aspects.
6. Detroit Red Wings –MASON McTAVISH, Peterborough, OHL
Pick by B. Heyrman of Detroitjockcity.com
The Redwings have been in a funk for year, grabbing a favorable draft position to hasten rebuilding the franchise. Unfortunately, that has not translated into the robust prospect stable one would expect, but a rather pedestrian group that seems to ask more questions than provide answers. Mason McTavish is a player that will provide answers. The center may not have as high an upside as some of his other draftmates, but he may have the highest floor in the draft as a virtual lock for a 2c.
7. San Jose Sharks–WILLIAM EKLUND, Djurgarden, SHL
Pick by Walt Gebelein of Broadstreetbuzz.com
William Eklund would instantly become the Sharks forward prospect with the highest ceiling. While it is an indictment on the desolate state of the Sharks talent pool, Eklund would jump to the top of the prospect pool for many NHL teams.
Eklund was considered a top four pick by the majority of scouting services, and it is thought that his small space creativity and playmaking are the best in the draft. Not overly big or lightning quick Eklund is able to use his skating and body positioning to keep puck possession on the cycle. This allows him to use his superior vision to find tight passes to team mates as they flash open. Put another way, he may be the best in the draft class at creating offensive chances from the cycle with the puck on his stick.
Without the puck there is a lot to like in the young Swede’s game. He is a tireless forechecker who will relentlessly dog the opposition if they cross him with the puck. He is active and engaged defensively and rarely makes mistakes that leave the team in a bad position. The Sharks will start to replenish their system with a high floor, complete player, that will project in the top six for most of his career.
8. Los Angeles Kings -BRANDT CLARKE, Barrie, OHL
Pick by J. Amaulli from krakenchronicle.com
The Los Angeles Kings selected defenseman Brandt Clarke eighth overall in the mock draft. Once regarded as the consensus top pick in this draft class, finding Clarke at the 8 spot feels like a gift. He dropped in some rankings after spending this past season in Slovakia, but put together strong enough campaigns in the OHL to warrant top-10 or even top-5 consideration.
He has produced solid offensive numbers while holding steady in his own end, and could be a major asset for a Kings team that is lacking in right-handed defense prospects. With the team going very forward-heavy in recent draft years, landing Clarke in this spot bodes well for their future on defense.
–Jay Amaulli
9. Vancouver Canucks —KENT JOHNSON Michigan, NCAA
Pick by Z. Lalani of thecanuckway.com
According to Elite Prospects, Johnson possesses high hockey IQ that is evident in his creativity, precision and agility on the ice. A high-octane, offensively-driven goalscorer and playmaker, Johnson is known for dazzling the crowd with highlight-reel plays and dekes that appear effortless. He is able to score goals at will with his quick, yet accurate wrist shot, and has all the tools to transform into a dangerous, point-producing top-six forward in the NHL. Given his intelligent puck-handling skills and natural ability to score, as well as his obsession and dedication to his craft, it seems that Johnson would be the perfect addition to Vancouver’s young core moving forward.
–Z. Lalani
10. Ottawa Senators–JESPER WALLSTEDT, Lullea, SHL
Pick by Walt Gebelein of Broadstreetbuzz.com
Ottawa has spent the last several years dismantling the old core and meticulously rebuilding their prospect pipeline. With high end prospects and depth at forward and defense it makes sense to look at goaltending, especially when Jesper Wallstedt, the consensus best netminder in the draft, is available.
Wallstedt spent last season in the SHL and was among the best in the league through out the season. The youngster is technically sound and has a calm demeanor and presence in net. In a draft that is full of uncertainty and hedging, no one seems to think that Wallstedt could be anything less that an above average NHL starter. This could give the Senators the solid back stop for a team that looks to be a powerhouse in the making.
11. Phoenix (forfeited)
12. Chicago Blackhawks — CARSON LAMBOS, Winnipeg, WHL
Pick by Jimmy Lynch of Blackhawkup.com
The Chicago Blackhawks were so close. Going into this little experiment the goal in my mind was to draft the goalie Jesper Wallstedt with the first-round pick. However, similar to Nashville taking Yaroslav Askarov before the Blackhawks could last season, things just did not work out for the Blackhawks and drafting a netminder.
So, I went with one of the best next options for the Blackhawks, a big two-way defenseman who could be a nice addition to the farm system for years to come. Carson Lambos might not be as high on some lists going into the NHL draft, but if there is one thing the Blackhawks have done a lot of the past few years it is not shying away from taking someone not as talked about.
Last season the team drafted Lukas Reichel with their first-round pick and this was something that the team was not really predicted to do. Yet, now a year later it seems like Reichel could be poised to be in the lineup next season.
With the expectation of Chicago buying in on a player like Seth Jones and trying to improve their team with a trade or two there is a chance they lose some of their defensive prospects. Adding Lambos will make things better for the farm system and potentially the top four in a few seasons after he develops his shot and two-way game even further.
— Jimmy Lynch
16. New York Rangers –FYODOR SVECHKOV, Ladia Togliatti, MHL
Pick by S. Paulus of bluelinestation.com
The Rangers looked to add depth up front adding Russian Center Fyodor Svechkov. The defensive minded center has the tool set that makes him capable offensively as a distributor. He can gain the zone efficiently through stick handling or using his body to protect the puck, but does not have much flash in doing so. This lack of creativity would seem to limit his offensive upside.
Svechkov is extremely effective backchecking and supporting in his defensive end where he shows an understanding of how to identify and gauge threats. With good mobility and balance the center is able negate scoring chances and create turnovers.
Svetchkov may not project as a top line center, but the consensus sees his floor as nothing less than a responsible third line player that will help a team on the penalty kill.
17. St. Louis Blues — ISAK ROSEN, Leksands, J20
Pick by Todd Panula of bleedinblue.com
Rosen is the kind of player that people won’t know right now, but he has the potential to be something special down the road. Given the needs of the team, the players already selected and his talents, Rosen fit for the Blues.
Rosen comes out of Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League. He spent most of his time dominating their junior ranks before a brief stint in their professional league.
Rosen proved he’s more than capable of hanging with his counterparts. Between the J18 and J20 teams, he combined for 69 points in 66 games.
Detractors will point to his lack of scoring at the pro level, but he received little ice time, making it hard for even the most talented to score. Additionally, he’s only 18 so it is hard to expect him to dominate a men’s league.
Rosen is a good fit for what the Blues are right now. The Blues have enough NHL talent for the next few years and can supplement that with free agents or trades.
However, they are particularly thin at left wing on the depth chart, so Rosen would fill that void. The Blues are still somewhat transitioning toward the speed game, so his skating ability and pace will eventually be very valuable.
Even better, Rosen is a shoot-first playmaker, which is the opposite of what they have and exactly what they need. Too often the Blues have playmakers that can score goals, but rarely look to. Having someone with top-end passing that will actually look to score for themselves would be a nice change of pace.
The one drawback of Rosen is that he is likely somewhat of a project. Don’t expect to see him in the NHL within the next few years unless the Blues are forced to push the reset button.
Rosen is a solid pickup at 17 though and right in his projection zone. There’s tons of potential there, but let’s just hope he has more staying power than the last few Swedish draftees by the Blues.
–Todd Panula
18. Winnipeg Jets- SEBASTIAN COSSA, Edmonton, WHL
Pick by W. Gebelein of broadstreetbuzz.com
Winnipeg’s prospect pipeline boasts several pieces of depth both at forward and on the blue line, but have a huge void at goaltender. Fortunately, Oil Kings’ goalie Sebastian Cossa stands tall at six foot six inches and could fill the gap. Cossa would become the heir apparent to former Vezina trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.
Cossa’s most noticeable attribute is his size, which gives him the ability to cover the top portion of the net, even when on his knees, better than any other goalie in this year’s draft. Even more impressive is the athleticism he displays at that size, which allows him to fly from post to post and to make spectacular saves.
All the scouts acknowledge that Cossa’s skating still needs refinement and could prove to be an obstacle to a good NHL career, but the same scouts predict that Cossa will be taken in the first round and become an eventual starter in the NHL
After several seasons of sustained excellence from the twenty-eight year old Hellebuyck, and with several more anticipated, the Jets have the luxury to bring Cossa along as slowly as he needs. The young goalie is not nearly as refined as his draft mate Wallstetd, so it may be five years before Cossa is ready for a full time NHL job. As of today, the Jets are in no hurry.
19. Nashville Predators- CORSON CEULEMANS, Brooks, AJHL
Pick by W. Gebelein broadstreetbuzz.com
The Predators have made the decision to start the rebuilding process. Pekka Rinne retired and the team jettisoned such staples as Bonino, Arvidsson and Ellis in order to turn the page. The Pred’s will look to rebuild their blueline with the offensive minded RHD Corson Ceulemans.
Ceulemans has great skating ability and is able to navigate the puck up ice by weaving through the opposition. He uses subtle fakes and looks to deceive his opponents, opening skating holes or seams for passes. In the offensive end he is able to pick out teammates for passes, often drawing the defense’s attention to him before reversing the puck. Off the puck he is constantly moving, attempting to create passing lanes for his team mates to find him.
Defensively, Cuelemans has some shortcomings. Despite being such a good skater, and having good size he is not always able to ride opposing forwards off the puck. Compared to the zeal he brings offensively Ceulemans’ defensive efforts fall flat. The Predator’s will need to see Ceuleman’s defensive game mature before he garners a serious look for a NHL roster spot.
20. Edmonton Oilers–OSKAR OLAUSSON, HV71 J20, SuperElit
Pick by Jimmy Lynch of Oilonwhyte.com
With the Edmonton Oilers’ first-round pick the team has drafted Oskar Olausson. Edmonton has the starts. The team has drafted plenty of times to start the draft, and they have had success at it. However, finding that next wave of talent that can help in the middle and bottom six has been elusive to them.
While trading for players to make up the bottom six can work, so can adding some of those skilled guys that can work out through the draft. That is why Oskar Olausson works so well for the team with their first-round pick. First of all, most predictions have Olausson going sooner in the draft. With this mock draft, Olausson falling to Edmonton would be amazing.
Edmonton would acquire a talented winger that can make a difference on their roster for years to come and they can expect him to be a decent puck handler. The team needs some players with a little bit of size like Olausson and there is no doubt he would be making a difference on the roster by 2022 or 2023.
–Jimmy Lynch
21. Boston Bruins — DANIL CHAYKA, CSKA, KHL
Pick by Matt Hawkins of causewaycrowd.com
After losing veteran Kevan Miller to retirement and then youngster Jeremy Lauzon to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, the Boston Bruins now lack a big, physical presence at their blueline for the present and the future.
Insert 18-year-old, 6-foot-3, Russian-born defenseman Daniil Chayka.
Chayka is not only big and tough, but he can also bring some offense. In 2019-20 – his last season with the Guelph Storm – he put up 11 goals and 34 points in 56 games while also being a +9.
With Chayka being big and physical as well as being mobile and able to bring some offense, his playing style has been compared to a young Dmitry Kulikov and Alec Martinez. The B’s may go with a stopgap to fill in their left side this season with someone like Ryan Suter. Chayka should be able to replace him in a two to three years.
— Matt Hawkins
22. Minnesota Wild -AATU RATY, KARPAT-U20, Jr.A SM_Liiga
Pick by Brandon Quast of gonepuckwild.com
The Wild may have found a wild card in this year’s draft with Aatu Raty. It was thought that Raty would be vying for the top slot in the draft but things did not work out that way for the young center. Raty struggled mightily this season in Liiga. Raty projects to play in the NHL, but his effectiveness on offense is a question mark.
23. Detroit Red Wings–CHAZ LUCIUS, USA U-18, USHL
Pick by B. Heyrman of Detroitjockcity.com
The Red Wings will look to improve their floundering prospect pipe line with a player that knows how to light the lamp by selecting Chaz Lucius. The young center’s knack for finding the net may be the best in this year’s class.
Lucius has an elite snap shot which was his calling card. He is able to pick the corners with the booming shot that takes him an instant to wind up. Not far behind are his slap shot, which he can one time with accuracy, complimented by a deceptively heavy wrist shot.
While posting underwhelming assist number scouts feel he is a sound passer who’s play making is improving each season, He is an able stick handler, checking all the technical boxes, but seems to over handle at times, losing the puck in doing so. This is something that could disappear as his play making improves.
Lucius’ defense has no one excited, at least not in a good way. Scouts remark that there is little effort or attention to detail while he is in the defensive zone, which he will leave frequently before the puck is secure. Many see his defensive game as beyond repair and project him as an offense only winger.
24. Florida Panthers –OWEN ZELLWEGER, Everett, WHL
Pick by W. Gebelein of broadstreetbuzz.com
The Panthers are in the midst of a “win now” window with Barkov and Ekblad both in their prime and a very expensive Bobrovsky still effective. It would not be surprising to see this pick traded for more help on the blueline. Olen Zellweger, the smallish defensemen from the Everett Silvertips is an intriguing prospect at this point in the draft.
Zellweger is a player who’s skating really stands out, in form an in effectiveness. His short powerful strides produce superior quickness in any direction. He is able to use his quickness and balance to anticipate and negate dangerous plays. At times Zellweger can establish better position against much bigger players while battling for pucks, oft times forcing the puck loose. Zellweger’s strength on his skates lets him play bigger than his actual size, but it may not be enough.
Despite getting the most out of his smaller frame Zellweger still can be overpowered. He will need to increase his strength to be able to contend with NHL power forwards. Unlike other limitations, a player’s size can’t be overcome with training, which puts Zellweger’s NHL chances in jeopardy.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets –FRANCESCO PINELLI, Kitchener, OHL
Pick by C. Coyne of broadstreetbuzz.com
Pinelli seems destined to be selected in the latter third of the first round. By all accounts he is a very intelligent player who is able to anticipate open space much better than the typical skater. When controlling the puck, he is able to confuse and deceive defenders with superior skating and edge work. His body control and tight turns allows him to shake free from opponents and find open passes.
The offensive toolset and his ability to read the game should make a highly attractive package that would translate to a lofty draft status, but that is not the case. Pinelli has many scouts questioning if his work ethic, especially in the defensive zone, garners too much of a risk. Scouts fall anywhere between simple recognition of inconsistent efforts all the way to great alarm, alarm to the point that makes an NHL future look uncertain.
The truth likely lies in the middle, but it seems to fall squarely on PInelli to determine how good he will be.
26. Minnesota Wild –MATTHEW SAMOSKEVICH, Chicago, USHL
Pick by Branson Quast of gonepuckwild.com
The Wild continue to build their forward prospect depth with the selection of the highly skilled playmaker Samoskevich. The young winger is something of an offensive dynamo when operating in space with the puck on his stick where he can regularly dazzle his way past defenders with superior stickhandling. He is able to bait the defense towards him, creating open spaces for his teammates. He is an NHL quality distributor.
Samoskevich has major deficiencies that are exposed when he is without the puck. Most vexing is his inability to win board battles in either end. He does not seem to have the strength or the strategy to get in position to get the puck. As a defender he is capable when he is interested, but does not see defense as his priority often leaving the zone early, cheating for offense. Even as an offense first playmaker Samoskevich needs to smooth out the rough parts of his defense before he gets an NHL look.
27. Carolina Hurricanes –Simon Robertsson, Skelleftea J20, SuperElit
Pick By C. Durant of Pucksofafeather.com
The Hurricanes continue to build out their forward corps with another pick from over seas, two-way winger Simon Robertsson. The winger was ranked as high as #14 by some scouting services and as low as the second round by other publications, which may actually tell us more about the state of the scouting services than the player.
Even detractors agree that Robertsson is not lacking in physical tools. He is a good skater that can stay on the perimeter or bull his way into the messy areas with his strength. This combination of power and skating makes him extremely effective along the boards and in scrums where he wins the puck often. He is a high effort player who is always working on the ice, applying smart pressure on the forecheck or high in the defensive zone.
Offensively there is a schism between reports. In the best light Robertsson is painted as having a shot catalogue that is a plus NHL tool, and the ability to read the game, finding open spaces to get his shot. They portray a smart player who can make nifty passes to his teammates. The less flattering portrait speaks of a player who is unable to harness his skills because he can’t decode the game as it unfolds, limiting his upside to an NHL grinder.
28. Colorado Avalanche–LOGAN STANKOVEN, Kamloops WHL
Pick by Walt Gebelein of Broadstreetbuzz.com
Already loaded with offensive talent in the NHL, and a prospect pool that is bubbling over, the Avalanche can afford to take a risk on a player’s upside in this years NHL Entry Draft. Center Logan Stankoven has been beating the odds for years and will try to do it again to reach NHL stardom.
Stankoven is a smallish forward, who is not as dynamic a skater as could be hoped, these are the major areas of concern as he progresses. Outside of those areas Stankoven offers a very good set of NHL level tools. Despite his size and skating he is able to battle below the goal line and along the boards taking and then keeping possession of the puck. He has plus vision and is especially dangerous creating below the hash marks.
Stankoven owns an NHL ready shot, perhaps a tick below elite. He is able to fire his wrist shot accurately when open or while having a defender draped across him. His ability to shoot from any position in any circumstance makes him very difficult for defenders to stop and for goalies to read.
Perhaps Stankoven’s best trait is his motor, he is a total effort player who gives all he has each shift. He is a very direct, north-south, in his approach offensively and defensively which translate to an aggressive style that forces the tempo to where he wants it.
29. New Jersey Devils (from NY Islanders) –JACK PEART, Fargo, USHL
Pick By N. Villano of pucksandpitchforks.com
The Devils go defense with their second first round pick selecting Jack Peart out of Fargo of the USHL. Peart is a mobile-defensemen, not nearly the quality of Luke Hughes, that needs to refine his decision making and coverage defensively before he can find a spot in the NHL.
Peart is a plus skater who shows great lateral and backwards movement. Using his skating he becomes very elusive against the forecheck and can simply out maneuver players that are closing down on him. He is also capable of carrying the puck out of the defensive zone and is constantly searching for teammates to pass to.
Defensively Peart has plenty of room to improve. At his best he is an engaged and active defender who can use his stick or body to separate the puck from attacking forwards. He is adept at closing down passing lanes using his stick to poke the puck free.
Peart does not bring his best effort consistently enough to make him a reliable defender. When he is not at his best, Peart can be caught puck watching, losing his man and any idea of what is happening behind him. He reacts slowly to puck reversals and picking up threats in the slot. There has been improvement but there is still substantial work to do before he will be ready for the NHL.
30. Vegas Golden Knights–EVAN NAUSE, Quebec, QMJHL
Pick by Walt Gebelein of Broadstreetbuzz.com
The Vegas Knights have a variety of forwards in their prospect pool, so they looked to defense and select Evan Nause. The young defensemen skates well, has good size and reads the game well which creates a tool kit that makes him a formidable force on the blueline.
The key to Nause’s success is his ability to skate. Be it closing lanes in the neutral zone or battling for pucks in his own end Nause is able use his skating to possess the puck or to stop the attack. His ability to move is further augmented by his ability to read the game and establish proper positioning as the play unfolds. This combination makes him a solid defender who projects as a plus defender in the NHL.
Nause is also very solid offensively though not at all flashy. He will not dazzle the crowd as he weaves through defenders, but he does not try. Nause looks to make smart and efficient plays with the puck to expedite the transition to offense, accurately calculating the risk and often opting for the safest option. As a puck carrier Nause is able to lug the puck up ice as needed but does not have the speed or creativity to put defenders on their heels. He simply gets the job done by bringing the puck up and making sure it gets into the offensive zone. Just about every aspect of Nause’s game is solid, making him a very solid pick at 30.