Tomorrow is the big day, the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. While it was anticipated the Seattle Kraken would make a slew of trades that would influence the draft order, none of this actually came to fruition. Instead, barring trades between today and the actual draft tomorrow, it appears the draft order is more or less set.
Every year, I attempt to predict the first three rounds of the NHL draft. There are going to be many surprises in this one and my mock draft attempts to build this in. Withouth further ado, here are my predictions for the 2021 NHL Draft.
1.Buffalo Sabres-D Owen Power
Power seems to be the consensus number one prospect in the draft. The Sabres need help and depth at all positions. He makes perfect sense at number one.
2. Seattle Kraken-C Matthew Beniers
I could see the Kraken taking a long look William Eklund or even Brandt Clarke here at number two. However, I might be over thinking it somewhat here, though I do think Eklund could be the guy taken as well. Beniers is a solid two-way center who can fit nicely in anywhere in an NHL line-up when he’s ready. The Kraken took very few centers in the Expansion Draft, so filling out that position is a mediate need for the franchise.
3. Anaheim Ducks-C Mason McTavish
The Ducks took a defenseman last season and desperately need scoring help. WHL forward Dylan Guenther and OHL Center Mason McTavish are two options here that make sense for the Ducks. McTavish is a center, and would form a formidable one-two punch down the middle with budding star Trevor Zegras.
4. New Jersey Devils-D Luke Hughes
The Devils need defense, and Jack’s brother is a perfect fit here at number four. They Devils could also target Brandt Clarke, a defenseman with some high offensive upside.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets-D Simon Edvinsson
The Jackets are rumored to lose Seth Jones, and soon via trade. They need defenseman sooner rather than later. Edvinsson is a big, fast defender with some upside.
6. Detroit Redwings-W William Eklund
Eklund is the perfect Steve Yzerman pick. Though Yzerman would likely prefer a center, Eklund is fast and highly skilled. He could be a potential play-driving winger, and a nice compliment to fellow Swedish prospect Lucas Raymond.
7. San Jose Sharks-W Dylan Guenther
The Sharks need a bit of everything, and Guenther is a goal-scorer from the WHL. Both fit the mold of what the Sharks have looked for and drafted in the past few seasons.
8. Los Angeles Kings-D Brandt Clarke
If Clarke is somehow still available at eight, the Kings’ will happily snatch him up. The offensive defender has a high ceiling and will be another blue-chip prospect for the loaded Kings.
9. Vancouver Canucks-C Kent Johnson
The Canucks pick will be an easy one. Johnson will likely be the consensus best player available. He has the best hands in the draft.
10. Ottawa Senators-C Cole Sillinger
The Sens need a goalie, but they could also use some center depth. Cole Sillinger, the son of former NHL Mike seems like an obvious choice here at 10.
11. Arizona-No Pick(Forfeited)
12. Chicago Blackhawks-G Jesper Wallstedt
The Hawks will be hard pressed to pass up on the best goalie in the draft. Wallstedt is a future number one, star goalie.
13. Calgary Flames-C Chaz Lucius
The Flames’ are in need of replacing Mark Giordano sooner rather than later, but such was the case last year and the Flames opted until later rounds to take defenders. With most of the big names off the board, the Flames can take a chance on Chaz Lucius, a wild-card goal-scoring center.
14. Philadelphia Flyers-W Matthew Coronato
The Flyers have some options here at 14, but Coronato seems like a slam dunk. He led the USHL in goals and is considered by some to be the best goal-scorer in this draft class.
15. Dallas Stars-D Carson Lambos
The Stars are rumored to be shopping John Klingberg, and could use some overall defensive depth. Lambos, a two-way defender, has some questions surrounding his overall game but fits well with the type of defender the Stars have drafted in the past.
16. New York Rangers- C Fedor Svechkov
The Rangers need some centers. Svechkov has risen on draft lists all season and the Rangers have shown a willingness to draft Russian prospects.
17. St. Louis Blues-W Brennan Othman
If there’s a Blues’ style pick in this draft, it’s Othman. He’s skilled with some grit and plays in the OHL (a league targetted frequently by the Blues).
18. Winnipeg Jets-C Francesco Pinelli
If there’s a player that reminds me of Mark Schiefele a bit in this draft, it’s Pinelli (though the two are not close in terms of upside, but style). He feels like a Kevin Cheveldayoff pick.
19. Nashville Predators-D Corson Ceulemons
The Preds traded Ryan Ellis and don’t have much in their defensive pipeline. Ceulemons is an offensive-minded defender who will need some development time but also has top-four upside.
20. Edmonton Oilers-G Sebastian Cossa
The Oilers just resigned a 39 year-old to a two-year contract, so clearly the team is in need of some goalie prospects. Cossa is a stellar option and a likely number one at the NHL level.
21. Boston Bruins-D Stanislav Svozil
The Bruins always make off the board picks, and Svozil feels like one they could make. He reminds some scouts of Zboril, a pick the Bruisn made in the first round back in 2015.
22. Minnesota Wild-W Nikita Chibrikov
Wild GM Bill Guerin made a ton of stealth picks in last year’s draft and clearly targeted high skill level. Chibrikov would fit that mold and has a ton of upside.
23. Detroit Redwings-W Fabian Lysell
If Lysell is still available, it’s hard to image the Wings passing on him. A pure sniper who skates like the wind, some scouts have appeared to sour on his overall game as of late. The Wings would happily snatch him up at 23.
24. Florida Panthers-D Daniil Chayka
The Panthers need defensive depth and Chayka is one of the best available.
25. Columbus Blue Jackest-C Aatu Raty
The Jackets could use a center, and the once number one ranked prospect in this draft is a worth a swing at late in the first round.
26. Minnesota Wild-C Zachary Bolduc
The Wild coud use a center and could take a look at two options for the QMJHL: Zachary Bolduc and Xaviour Bourgault. Bolduc is slightly ahead on some draft boards, so he seems like an option here.
27. Carolina Hurricanes-C Logan Stankoven
The Hurricanes’ are notorious for late round steals. Stankoven could be their next one. The small, skilled forward has some question marks but plays a tenacious skill game.
28. Colorado Avalanche-W Zachary L’Heureux
The Av’s will love the tough winger falls to them at 28. He could go significantly higher.
29. New Jersey Devils-W Isak Rosen
The Devils can take the best player available. Rosen is an option for them here at 29.
30. Vegas Golden Knights-D Shai Buium
There is going to be a handful of surprise defenders taken in the first-round. I could see Vegas being the team to make this happen. Shai Buium or Scott Morrow are both options the Knights could go for here.
31. Montreal Canadiens-C Xaviour Bourgault
If he is somehow still there, the Canadiens will happily select the Quebec-born Center.
32. Columbus Blue Jackets-C Zachary Dean
With their third first-round selection, the Jackets can take the Newfoundlander with the last pick in the first round and add some center depth to their prospect pool
Second Round
| 33. | Buffalo Sabres | W Tyler Boucher |
| 34. | Anaheim Ducks | D Scott Morrow |
| 35. | Seattle Kraken | D Ollen Zellweger |
| 36. | Vegas Golden Knights | C Ryder Korczak |
| 37. | Arizona Coytes | C Wyatt Johnston |
| 38. | Detroit Redwings | D Aleksi Heimosalmi |
| 39. | Ottawa Senators | D Brent Johnson |
| 40. | Nashville Predators | W Simon Robertsson |
| 41. | Vancouver Canucks | D Jack Peart |
| 42. | Ottawa Senators | G Ben Gaudreau |
| 43. | Arizona Coyotes | C Ben Harrison |
| 44. | Chicago Blackhawks | W Samu Tuomaala |
| 45. | Calgary Flames | D Evan Nause |
| 46. | Philadelphia Flyers | W Mackie Samoskevich |
| 47. | Dallas Stars | W Oskar Olausson |
| 48. | Detroit Redwings | W Ayrton Martino |
| 49. | Los Angeles Kings | D Vincent Iorio |
| 50. | Winnipeg Jets | D Aleksi Malinen |
| 51. | Nashville Predators | W Matthew Knies |
| 52. | Detroit Redwings | W William Stromgren |
| 53. | Buffalo Sabres | W Sasha Pastujov |
| 54. | Minnesota Wild | D Sean Behrens |
| 55. | Washington Calpitals | D Nolan Allan |
| 56. | Florida Panthers | C Oliver Kapanen |
| 57. | Toronto Maple Leafs | W Alex Kisakov |
| 58. | Pittsburgh Penguins | D Roman Schmidt |
| 59. | Carolina Hurricanes | D Ryan Ufko |
| 60. | New York Islanders | W Oliver Nadeau |
| 61. | New Jersey Devils | W Dyaln Duke |
| 62. | Chicago Blackhawks | D Anton Olsson |
| 63. | Montreal Canadiens | D Kirill Kirsanov |
| 64. | Montreal Canadiens | W Chase Stillman |
Third Round
| 65. | New York Rangers | D Aidan Hreschuk |
| 66. | Anaheim Ducks | C Connar Lockhart |
| 67. | Seattle Kraken | C Tristan Broz |
| 68. | New Jersey Devils | W Prokhor Poltapov |
| 69. | Columbus Blue Jackets | W Matvei Petrov |
| 70. | Detroit Redwings | C Riley Kidney |
| 71. | San Jose Sharks | D Cole Jordan |
| 72. | Los Angeles Kings | W Trevor Wong |
| 73. | Vancouver Canucks | W Ethan Cardwell |
| 74. | Ottawa Senators | D Jack Bar |
| 75. | Washington Capitals | C Colton Dach |
| 76. | Montreal Canadiens | C Sami Helenius |
| 77. | Calgary Flames | G Tristan Lennox |
| 78. | Philadelphia Flyers | D Ryan Mast |
| 79. | Dallas Stars | W Conner Roulette |
| 80. | New York Rangers | C Peter Reynolds |
| 81. | St. Louis Blues | D Ethan Del Maestro |
| 82. | Winnipeg Jets | W Josh Doan |
| 83. | Nashville Predators | D Vlad Lukashevich |
| 84. | Calgary Flames | W Robert Orr |
| 85. | Boston Bruins | C Red Savage |
| 86. | Minnesota Wild | W Ville Koivunen |
| 87. | Montreal Canadiens | C Ryan Winterton |
| 88. | Buffalo Sabres | D Oscar Plandowski |
| 89. | Los Angeles Kings | W Stuart Rolofs |
| 90. | Minnesota Wild | W Ilya Fedotov |
| 91. | Carolina Hurricanes | C Justin Robidas |
| 92. | Colorado Avalanche | W Liam Gilmartin |
| 93. | New York Islanders | D Artyom Grushnikov |
| 94. | Detroit Redwings | C Jakub Brabenec |
| 95. | Buffalo Sabres | W Joshua Roy |
| 95. | Tampa Bay Lightning | C Cole Huckins |
