NHL Entry Draft: 2021 First-Round Mock Draft Selections
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