Here is my first edition of my 2021 NHL Draft.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Owen Power, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): Power is the consensus choice among experts and people around the league to go first overall. The Sabres here with the first overall pick for the second time in four years get another top pair defenseman to go with Rasmus Dahlin for the future.
2. Seattle Kraken- Matthew Beniers, Center, Michigan (NCAA): The second overall pick here I have being yet another Michigan Wolverine product, this time the center in Beniers. He stood out in his first college season, being a point per game player and he is someone that is a good skater.
3. Anaheim Ducks- Dylan Guenther, Right Wing, Edmonton (WHL): The Ducks need some youth injected into their organization so they have a lot of choices here. Guenther was a points machine in the WHL and he has the ability to shoot from anywhere and that's what makes him dynamic.
4. New Jersey Devils- Brandt Clarke, Defenseman, Barrie (OHL): The Devils should go defense here due to the fact they do have some dynamic young forwards that already on the upswing. Clarke is somebody that is a great two-way player who is very careful with the way he plays.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets- Simon Edvinsson, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): This pick would make a ton of sense for the Blue Jackets, who might be targeting this position due to a possible departure of Seth Jones. Edvinsson's game is reminiscent of Jones's due to his mobility and ability to create chances for himself and teammates.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Jesper Wallstedt, Goaltender, Lulea (SWE): The Red Wings are in dire need of a goalie of the future and Wallstedt has potential to be one. He has the calmness and control to be a successful goalie in the league and he tracks pucks very well.
7. San Jose Sharks- William Eklund, Center, Djurgardens (SWE): The Sharks are a team that needs an injection of youth in the worst way. Eklund is somebody that has top-offensive skills, has shown some physicality, and does some of the little things that teams like.
8. Los Angeles Kings- Luke Hughes, Defenseman, USA-U18 (USHL): Getting Hughes at 8th overall would be a huge steal for the Kings. Many people have compared Hughes to his brother Quinn due to his skating ability and getting the puck in the right spots.
9. Vancouver Canucks- Kent Johnson, Center, Michigan (NCAA): The third Michigan player goes off the board here with Johnson, who would be a nice fit with the Canucks. He is a solid playmaker and has shown versatility as well as his puck carrying ability.
10. Ottawa Senators- Matthew Coronato, Right Wing, Chicago (USHL): The Senators here go with Coronato to add to their young forward collection. Coronato is somebody that is a dominant offensive force with the puck, has a physical approach, and is a strong skater.
11. Chicago Blackhawks- Carson Lambos, Defenseman, Winnipeg (WHL): The Blackhawks have options here with this selection and here I have them selecting Lambos. He is a two-way defenseman that has good patience in the defensive zone and in transition.
12. Calgary Flames- Fabian Lysell, Left Wing, Lulea (SWE): The Flames can go anywhere with this selection and here I have them selecting the talented forward in Lysell. He has shown good craft in his game and has great speed and skill as well.
13. Philadelphia Flyers- Mason McTravish, Center, Peterborough (OHL): The Flyers have a lot of promising youth in their organization and here I have them going with the center in McTravish. He has the feistiness that teams like and has shown strength in battles along the boards.
14. Dallas Stars- Corson Ceulemans, Defenseman, Brooks (AJHL): The Stars are a team that should be targeting defense in this round. Ceulemans is someone that is an outstanding skater who can lead rushes into offensive zones in transition and also has good mobility.
15. New York Rangers- Brennan Othmann, Left Wing, Flint (OHL): The Rangers have one of the most promising young group of talent in the entire league and they add another young gun in Othmann. He is a two-way player that has a lot of physicality in his game and this is what the young Rangers can use.
16. St. Louis Blues- Isak Rosen, Left Wing/Right Wing, Leksands (SHL): The Blues are a team that needs some scoring with David Perron being a free agent and Vladimir Tarasenko having shoulder issues. Rosen lacks the size, but is an offensive force.
17. Nashville Predators- Cole Sillinger, Center, Sioux Falls (USHL): The Predators are a team that could use some young blood and here I have them picking Sillinger. He has a strong offensive presence and has strong playmaking abilities.
18. Edmonton Oilers- Sebastian Cossa, Goaltender, Edmonton (WHL): Goaltending has been a major long-term issue for the Oilers for sometime now and here I have them taking the in-town kid in Cossa. He has excellent size and athleticism to be a starting goalie in the league.
19. Minnesota Wild- Simon Robertsson, Right Wing, Skellefta (J20): The Wild are coming off a successful season and I have them adding a nice and talented wing in Robertsson. He is someone that is capable of being in a top six and has excellent vision for the game.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Aatu Raty, Center, Karpat (Liiga): Karpat was someone that a while ago was thought out to be in play for the number one overall pick, but his stock plummeted due to underperforming this past season. Raty has promising offensive abilities and is a good skater.
21. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals)- Sasha Pastujov, Left Wing, USNTDP (USHL): With their second first rounder, the Red Wings take the winger in Pastujov. He is one of the most patient players in the class, with an ability to show up clutch in games.
22. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Daniil Chayka, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Wild get more defense depth for their organization with Chayka. He is a reliable, two-way defender with a long reach.
23. Florida Panthers- Xavier Bourgault, Center, Shawinigan (QMJHL): The Panthers have some choices here and this mock I have them taking the talented center in Bourgault. He is an offensive presence that is fearless in his drive to the high-danger areas.
24. Winnipeg Jets- Carson Lambos, Defenseman, Winnipeg (WHL): The Jets go with the in-city kid here with Lambos with their selection. Due to a leg injury, his stock plummeted so if he gets back to that level or close, this pick could be a steal.
25. Boston Bruins- Zachary L'Heureux, Center/Left Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Bruins have choices here and this pick I have them taking L'Heureux. He has high-end offensive skill in his finishing ability and has a knack for getting under an opponent’s skin.
26. Carolina Hurricanes- Logan Stankoven, Center/Right Wing, Kamloops (WHL): The Hurricanes are just picking for value and depth at this point as they pose on the leagues best rosters. One of the most competitive players in the class, Stankoven plays hard every shift and makes up for his size with great skating ability and an excellent shot.
27. Colorado Avalanche- Oskar Olausson, Right Wing, HV71 (SHL): The Avalanche are coming off a disappointing playoff series loss against the Vegas Golden Knights and they can use some more depth. Olausson is a confident player that has some speed in his game, both in his feet and hands.
28. Montreal Canadiens- Chaz Lucius, Center, USNTDP (USHL): The Canadiens are in the midst of a magical run to the Stanley Cup Semifinals, but this team still needs help. Lucius has the ability to get to the high-danger areas is impressive, and his shot is high-end.
29. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders)- Zachary Bolduc, Center, Rimouski (QMJHL): The Devils go offense with their second first rounder as they go with Bolduc. He has the speed and "hockey smarts" that would have teams excited.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Samu Tuomaala, Right Wing, Karpat (Liiga): With their third first rounder, the Jackets go with Tuomaala. He brings a ton of energy that the fans always enjoy and is a fast player.
31. Vegas Golden Knights- Benjamin Gaudreau, Goaltender, Sarnia (OHL): The Golden Knights here go with the possible heir-apparent to Marc-Andre Fleury with Gaudreau. He played at an advanced level in the U18 worlds leading the Canadian team to the gold metal and that shows that he could be a quality starter in the league.
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