The 2021 NHL draft is almost a craps shoot. One source said it is in the eyes of the beholder. After pick 10, it is anyone's guess who gets grabbed. This year especially, the pandemic is making it hard for the teams to see these prospects play. There may be some picks off the board. So it almost ludicrous that I try to do my draft board, but I am crazy anyway. Here it goes.
1 Buffalo Sabres
Owen Power - Defence
From what I have read on Owen, he is an offensively gifted defenceman. His strength is his passing skills being able to distribute the puck without panicking. He uses his size to get the puck out of danger. He has a great shot, and because of this, Owen will be on most teams' powerplay units. Scouts love his smooth skating skills speedy skater for a big defenceman.
2 Seattle Kraken
Matthew Beniers - Centre
Matthew is a terrific play-making centre who thrives with the puck. Scouts love his soft hands, smooth puck-handling skills. I am a firm believer that team builds around defence and then the first-line centre. Matthew is a swift skater who accelerates in and out of the zone. He will be a future second-line centre if he lives up to his potential.
3 Anaheim Ducks
Dylan Guenther - Right Wing
Dylan has a knack for being able to find the open spots in the offensive zone. Brilliant right-winger with an excellent release on his shot. Dylan is a gifted passer who can see the open man through a needle in a haystack. Solid in his own zone, which makes him even more valuable in the draft. A smooth skater with a high hockey IQ.
4 New Jersey Devils
Brandt Clarke - Defence
Brandt is offensively gifted, to put it mildly. A terrific young dman who skates like the wind. What makes Brandt so dangerous is his hockey smarts, being able to find the open man. He will make a great powerplay quarterback on any team. Brandt's ability to pinch in is uncanny. A terrific young dman for many years to come.
5 Columbus Blue Jackets
William Eklund - Left Wing
Eklund is a terrific young forward who excels every time he has the puck. An excellent puck handler who stick-handles with the best. Eklund sneaks in and out of traffic. The defence will back up and give up the blue-line because of his speed. He intimidates players into making mistakes because they are worried about getting beaten down in their defensive end.
6 Detroit Red Wings
Luke Hughes - Defence
This name sounds familiar? Yes, he is the third brother from the Hughes clan. Luke is a terrific skater who has major offensive talent. Luke has a great shot will be an asset on the powerplay. It may take some time to develop, but he can become a second-pairing defenceman. He will be used on the Red Wings powerplay.
7 SJ. Sharks
Kent Johnston - Centre
Kent's best skill is as a play-making centre. Being hard to bring down and possessing great puck-handling skills make him dangerous in the offensive zone. He knows how to get the passes there. What makes him dangerous is his ability to make things happen. He will be a dynamic centre for years to come.
8 LA Kings
Simon Edvinsson - Defence
Simon is a smooth-skating dman who is a game-changer—he has been described as a panther when a team makes a mistake. Simon knows when to pinch in the offensive zone and rarely gets caught because of his speed. His quick wrist shot often catches the goalie off guard. He might very well be the best passer in the draft.
9 Vancouver Canucks
Mason McTavish - Centre
Mason is a big centre who is willing to get his nose dirty. Mason moves well for a big man. Mason is known for his heavy shot with accuracy. He is hard to take off his game. He may not be the fastest player, but he makes it up with determination and will. Mason is a solid second-line centre with a chip on his shoulder.
10 Ottawa Senators
Jesper Wallstedt - Goalie
Jesper is the best goalie in the draft. Scouts seem to think that he could be close to jumping into the NHL. He rarely gets caught out of position. Jesper controls rebounds and is always aware of the puck. Rapid reflexes combined with a never-say-die attitude make him a top prospect.
11 Arizona Coyotes
Bad boys, no pick for you.
12 Chicago Blackhawks
Cole Sillinger - Centre
Cole is one of the best playmakers in the draft. He can make a pass from anywhere. Scouts say he can score from anywhere at any time. He is a pure sniper. What makes him truly incredible is that he can shoot from anywhere in the offensive zone and still score—the perfect top-6 forward the Hawks need.
13 Calgary Flames
Fabian Lysell - Right Wing
Fabien is a highly skilled forward who can skate through a phone booth. His puck handling skills are amazing; he is a game-changer. He is a playmaker who can score goals at will. The Flames badly need a top-six right winger for years. Fabian would be an answer to the Flames fans' prayers.
14 Philadelphia Flyers
Carson Lambos - Defence
Carson is a solid defender who will help stabilize the Flyer's defence. He is an excellent puck handler, which gets him out of trouble in his zone. He has good passing skills, which make him a two-way game. Capable of helping with the Flyers offensive game, Carson knows when to pitch and when not to. Scouts say he has a stride in his skating skill. A terrific young defenceman with great skill.
15 Dallas Stars
Chaz Lucius - Centre
Chaz is a powerful centre who has a complete game. Chaz has a powerful, accurate shot that will give goalies trouble. He will score his share of goals. Great offensive centre with size. Chaz is strong and hard to take off the puck. He may not be the best skater, but he will more than make up for it with his terrific shot.
16 New York Rangers
Aatu Ratay - Centre
Aatu is an excellent puck-handling centre. He is always thinking two moves ahead; he has a high hockey IQ. Aatu should be put with a sniper who could get tons of goals with this highly skilled playmaker. Aatu is probably one of the best passers in the draft.
17 St.Louis Blues
Zachary Bolduc - Centre
Zachary is a gifted centre with excellent vision. He is a great puck distributor. Bolduc is a smooth skater who has a good first stride; he accelerates into the zone. He has all the tools in the world offensively. Zachary needs to develop his defensive game, which is quite common for the QMJHL.
18 Winnipeg Jets
Corson Cuelemans - Defence
Corson is a powerful skater who is aware of his surroundings. Scouts say Cuelmans can be relied on in all aspects of the game. He is solid defensively, rarely caught out of position in his own zone. Corson has a fantastic shot with a quick release. Known for being an offensive defenceman, he needs to develop his defensive zone coverage.
19 Nashville Predators
Xavier Bourgault - Centre/Right Wing
Xavier is a terrific play-making forward. He has amazing puck-handling skills, especially for the cycle game. He is a hard-working forward, never give up has this never-die attitude, which will pay dividends in making it to the NHL. Xavier is a sniper who knows how to put the puck in the net. However, he needs some help on the defensive end. That will come if the team is patient with him.
20 Edmonton Oilers
Sebastian Cossa - Goalie
Sebastian is a stand-up goalie who uses his size to his best ability. Cossa has excellent vision and is a great positional goalie. He has the potential to be an outstanding goaltender. The Oilers have had a great need for a first-string goaltender for some time and Sebastian fits the bill.
21 Boston Bruins
Daniil Chayka - Defence
Daniil is a big defenceman who is outstanding in the defensive zone. He uses his reach to his advantage in his defensive game, bringing the poke check back. He fits the Bruins' mold and has the potential to be a big bruiser defenceman with some offensive punch.
22 Minnesota Wild
Isak Rosen - Right Wing
Isak is an elite, skilled playmaker. He is a technically sound player who understands what is going on around him. His stickhandling skills are off the charts. Isak gets defencemen to look at the puck and before they know it, he is around them with a scoring chance.
23 Detroit Red Wings
Francesco Pinelli - Centre
Francesco will not have any trouble playing hard. He will get his nose dirty to fight for the puck. Pinelli is a highly skilled player who will make the players around him better. His hockey IQ is high, as he always thinks ahead. A great passer with puck handling skills to match. He has a quick release and is a finisher when there are no other options.
24 Florida Panthers
Brennan Othmann - Left Wing
Brennan has a deadly shot with a quick release. Brennan is a slick stick-handler, able to fend off even the most formidable defenders. His ability to find space in the offensive zone makes him dangerous. Brennan has an excellent ability to find players in the open. He has a knack for being where the puck is.
25 Columbus Blue Jackets
Zachary H`ueruex - Left Wing
Zachary is a terrific skater, with the ability to change direction on a dime. He is a pure sniper with an explosive wrister score from anywhere. The only negative I have seen is keeping his temper in check. Zachary has a ton of potential. His passing is alright, but not his strong suit.
26 Minnesota Wild
Oskar Olausson - Left Wing/Right Wing
Oskar is a slick puck handler with moves that gets him through from one end to the other end. He has excellent speed with a quick first stride that throws off opposing defenders. Finally, Oskar has a nose for the scoring chances and always finds that niche in the offensive zone.
27 Caroline Hurricanes
Nikita Chibrikov - Forward
Nikita is a Russian forward. He can score and score in bunches. Nikita has excellent stickhandling skills and manoeuvres well in small spaces. He has a way of ending with the puck. A great passer with all the offensive talent in the world. Again, his weakness is in the defensive end.
28 Colorado Avalanche
Simon Robertsson - Right Wing
Simon has an an excellent release on his wrist shot. Robertsson will be a weapon on the powerplay because of his ability to do a one-timer. An above-average passer who can distribute the puck in the offensive zone. He is capable of being a top-six forward, but it will take a few years to get there.
29 New Jersey Devils
Mackie Samoskevich - Centre
Mackie's greatest ability is speed. He glides with the puck. The defence has to back up as he heads into the offensive zone. He has a wrister to die for, with accuracy to boot. Mackie reminds me of Barzal because of his play of circling in the offensive zone.
30 Los Vegas Golden Knights
Sasha Pastujov - Forward
Sasha has a high hockey IQ. He has excellent puck handling skills. He has a good shot and will be used on the powerplay. His defensive zone coverage is a work in progress. He has the potential of being a top-9 forward but has to develop his defensive game.
31 Montreal Canadians
Zach Dean - Centre
Zach has a ton of heart who works hard. Dean has good vision with a high hockey IQ. His awareness of what is going on around him makes him dangerous. Dean has a good wrister and could be a solid sniper. A solid all-around player who has a nose for the net. He is capable of being a second-line centre.
32 Columbus Blue Jackets
Fedor Svechnikov - Centre/Wing
Fedor is not a typical Russian Centre; his best skills are on the defensive side. He is technically sound with his coverage as he uses his stick to bring his opponents to a standstill. A solid defensive centre who can become a third-line centre.
