The 2021 NHL draft still appears to be a toss-up, with some high-end talent but with many unknowns due to many players still not playing yet this season. However, it appears both the WHL and OHL will play some games in the very near future, likely making observations easier as the season progresses.
With that being said, getting a read on players is still difficult, and comparisons are few and far between this season. yet, there is a handful of players who have appeared to move ahead of the pack a bit. Below are a few highlights from my top 32 for the month of March.
- The Michigan kids (Power, Beniers, and Johnson) continue to dominate this season. Power is still the top prospect for me at this point, but Beniers is very close and is slowly approaching potential number one status.
- Brandt Clarke has been able to play a few games overseas and looks like who I thought he was: a potential top-pairing defender .He possesses excellent speed and hockey sense, moving him up my list from January.
- The Chicago kids (Samoskevich and Coronato) made huge jumps on my list. Both players are small but possess excellent offensive ability. Both are likely first-rounders this year.
- Chaz Lucious (number 16 on my list) made his season debut recently after struggling with injuries early on. He’s looked excellent so far and could compete for a top ten position.
- Jesper Wallstedt, my top goalie on the list, also climbed and I currently have him sitting at number seven. Wallstedt is an elite goalie talent and could easily find himself the highest drafted goalie since Carey Price, or Yaroslav Askarov.
Without further ado, here are my top 32 for the 2021 Draft.
| Ranking | Name | Height/Weight | Team/League |
| 1. | D Owen Power | 6’5 209 | U. of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 2. | D Luke Hughes | 6’2 182 | USA U-18 (USHL) |
| 3. | C Matthew Beniers | 6’0 179 | U. of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 4. | D Brandt Clarke | 6’1 181 | Barrie (OHL) |
| 5. | C William Eklund | 5’10 172 | Djurgardens (SWEHL) |
| 6. | C Kent Johnson | 6’1 170 | U. of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 7. | G Jesper Wallstedt | 6’3 214 | Luleau (SWEHL) |
| 8. | W Dylan Guenther | 6’1 170 | Edmonton (WHL) |
| 9. | C Aatu Raty | 6’1 181 | Karpat (FIN) |
| 10. | D Carson Lambos | 6’1 200 | Winnipeg (WHL) |
| 11. | D Simon Edvinsson | 6’4 185 | Frolunda (SWEHL) |
| 12. | W Fabian Lysell | 5’10 176 | Frolunda (SWEHL) |
| 13. | C Matthew Samoskevich | 5’9 172 | Chicago (USHL) |
| 14. | C Zachary L’Heureux | 5’11 194 | Halifax (QMJHL) |
| 15. | C Mason McTavish | 6’1 196 | Peterborough (OHL) |
| 16. | C Chaz Lucius | 6’0 172 | USA U-18 (USHL) |
| 17. | W Nikita Chibrikov | 5’10 170 | SKA (MHL-RUS) |
| 18. | C Cole Sillinger | 6’0 187 | Medecine Hat (WHL) |
| 19. | C Franesco Pinelli | 6’0 176 | Kitchener (OHL) |
| 20. | C Zachary Bolduc | 6’0 161 | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
| 21. | D Stanislav Svozil | 5’11 167 | HC Kometa (CZE) |
| 22. | W Oskar Olausson | 6’2 182 | HV71 (SWEHL) |
| 23. | W Logan Stankoven | 5’8 170 | Kamloops (WHL) |
| 24. | C Xavier Bourgault | 5’11 154 | Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
| 25. | W Simon Robertsson | 6’0 181 | Skelleftea (SWEHL) |
| 26. | W Isak Rosen | 5’10 154 | Leksand (SWEHL) |
| 27. | C Jack O’Brien | 6’0 155 | Portland (WHL) |
| 28. | W Matthew Coronato | 5’10 181 | Chicago (USHL) |
| 29. | D Corson Ceulemans | 6’2 190 | Brooks (AJHL) |
| 30. | C Brett Harrison | 6’1 172 | Oshawa (OHL) |
| 31. | D Danill Chayka | 6’2 187 | Guelph (OHL) |
| 32. | C Ryder Korczak | 5’10 160 | Moose Jaw (WHL) |
