2021 NHL Mock Draft: Third Edition

 Here is the third edition of my 2021 NHL Mock 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- Luke Hughes, Defenseman, USA-U18 (USHL): The Ducks here have some nice choices and here I have them taking Hughes. The youngest Hughes is a dynamic, borderline elite skating defenseman who has tremendous offensive upside, similar to his brother Quinn.

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- William Eklund, Center, Djurgardens (SWE): The Blue Jackets have needs in a lot of places and Eklund here makes sense. He is somebody that has top-offensive skills, has shown some physicality, and does some of the little things that teams like.

6. Detroit Red Wings- Dylan Gunther, Right Wing, Edmonton (WHL): The Red Wings have some promising young forwards in their system. Guenther was a points machine in the WHL and he has the ability to shoot from anywhere and that's what makes him dynamic.

7. San Jose Sharks- Mason McTravish, Center, Peterborough (OHL): The Sharks need some young blood 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.

8. Los Angeles Kings- Simon Edvinsson, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): The Kings get themselves a nice player here with Edvinsson, who can use some young defenseman. He has the mobility and ability to create chances for himself and teammates.

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- Jesper Wallstedt, Goaltender, Lulea (SWE): The Senators are a team that may look at a possible goalie of the future and they take one here with Wallstedt. He has the calmness and control to be a successful goalie in the league and he tracks pucks very well.

11. Chicago Blackhawks- Chaz Lucius, Center, USNTDP (USHL): The Blackhawks add to their young collection of forwards with Lucius. His stock is rising in and has the ability to get to the high-danger areas is impressive, and his shot is high-end.

12. Calgary Flames- Cole Sillinger, Center, Sioux Falls (USHL): The Flames are one of the interesting teams coming up in the draft as they are in trade rumors galore. Sillinger has a strong offensive presence and has strong playmaking abilities.

13. Philadelphia Flyers- Fabian Lysell, Left Wing, Lulea (SWE): The Flyers 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.

14. Dallas Stars- Matthew Coronato, Right Wing, Chicago (USHL): The Stars are also a team that can go anywhere with their pick and here I have them taking the forward in Coronato. He is a dominant offensive force with the puck, has a physical approach, and is a strong skater.

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- Corson Ceulemans, Defenseman, Brooks (AJHL): The Blues are an interesting team to watch here as the draft comes. Ceulemans is someone that is an outstanding skater who can lead rushes into offensive zones in transition and also has good mobility.

17. Winnipeg Jets- Aatu Raty, Center, Karpat (Liiga): Raty 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.

18. Nashville Predators- Fyodor Svechkov, Center, Togliatti (VHL): The Predators are a team that needs some youth at the forward positions. Svechkov is somebody who is great at positioning himself at the right spots and getting open off the puck.

19. Edmonton Oilers- Logan Stankoven, Center/Right Wing, Kamloops (WHL): This would be a nice pick for the Oilers, who can use some versatile youngsters. Stankoven plays hard every shift and makes up for his size with great skating ability and an excellent shot.

20. Boston Bruins- Simon Robertsson, Right Wing, Skelleftea (SuperElit): The Bruins are a wild card with their first rounder and here I have them taking Robertsson. He is a smart player that is dangerous with his shot and release.

21. Minnesota Wild- Carson Lambos, Defenseman, Winnipeg (WHL): The Wild 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.

22. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals)- Zachary Bolduc, Center, Rimouski (QMJHL): The Red Wings with their second first rounder that another forward with Bolduc. He has the speed and "hockey smarts" that would have teams excited.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Francesco Pinelli, Center, Jesenice (SLO): The Blue Jackets need some high end center prospects. Pinelli a gifted playmaker with a strong wrist shot, and he isn’t afraid to throw his weight around either.

24. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Oskar Olausson, Right Wing, HV71 (SHL): The Wild go offense here with their second first rounder and go with the talented Olausson. He is a confident player that has some speed in his game, both in his feet and hands.

25. 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. 

26. Carolina Hurricanes- Isak Rosen, Left Wing/Right Wing, Leksands (SHL): The Hurricanes are just picking for depth at this point and I have them taking the forward in Rosen. He lacks the size, but is an offensive force.

27. Colorado Avalanche- Nikita Chibrikov, Right Wing, St. Petersburg (MHL): The Avalanche can go anywhere realistically with this selection. Chibrikov is an offensive force that has great hands to control the puck and the confidence to take control of every shift.

28. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders)- Sasha Pastujov, Left Wing, USNTDP (USHL): The Devils go offense with their second first rounder and snag Pastujov. He is one of the most patient players in the class, with an ability to show up clutch in games.

29. Vegas Golden Knights- Zach Dean, Center, Gatineau (QMJHL): The Golden Knights should be targeting center depth here and Dean would be a nice choice. He is a player that never hesitates and could skate and pass very well.

30. Montreal Canadiens- Zachary L'Heureux, Center/Left Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Canadiens 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.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Daniil Chayka, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): With their third first rounder, the Blue Jackets go defense with Chayka. He is a reliable, two-way defender with a long reach.