Pro Hockey Focus – 2021 NHL Mock Draft

2021 NHL MOCK DRAFT

#1

The Sabres think long and hard about selecting a defenseman here but with the likely trade of Jack Eichel out of town, they decide to take the best center prospect in the draft. This will give them a great one-two punch at center with Cozens. The young defenseman they covet can be acquired as part of the package for Eichel and could potentially be more NHL-ready.

#2

The Kraken are elated to start off their inaugural season with the selection of the concensus #1 pick in Owen Power. As they are in the building phase of their brand new franchise, they don’t mind so much if he needs to go back to college to continue to develop for a year or two.

#3

In a surprise move, the Ducks select promising starting goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. They make this selection because they have a great offer in exchange for goaltender John Gibson and the package of assets helps them in several areas with a mix of players that are NHL players, NHL-ready or close to it. Wallstedt fits with their new timeline and they are able to add to a strong group of prospects like Zegras and Drysdale as their rebuild continues. The potential for a trade-back scenario also certainly exists.

#4

Having added centers Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes as 1st overall picks in recent years, the Devils are all too happy to be in a position to select a young, top-end defenseman who just so happens to be the younger brother of Jack Hughes.

#5

The Blue Jackets think about taking a forward here but they are likely moving Seth Jones rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer. Clarke can potentially be an eventual replacement and they can use the Jones return for help in other areas.

#6

The Red Wings have options to add a solid center but choose to prioritize and build the back-end first. Edvinsson is a logical choice for them here but I wouldn’t be surprised if they selected McTavish or Eklund with this pick.

#7

The Sharks are surprised to find that William Eklund has fallen to them and waste no time in making this selection. He’ll be a good addition to their Top-6 adding some high-end skill and talent.

#8

The Kings are thrilled that Johnson was still available and that they are able to add him to one of the league’s best prospect group. We see him developing as a winger but the Kings love the versatility that he can potentially play multiple positions.

#9

The Canucks go with the best player available as per their list and that’s a highly-skilled goal-scoring winger in Dylan Guenther. When you think about adding an offensive player like Guenther to a group that already includes Pettersson, Boeser, Horvat and J.T. Miller – it’s a pretty good fit for Vancouver.

#10

Since the Ottawa Senators seem content with Tim Stutzle as a winger (we believe he should have been developed at center starting last season), they are excited to be able to add such a strong two-way center as Mason McTavish to their group of prospects.

Forfeited

Arizona Coyotes forfeit their 1st Round Pick (#11) for violating NHL Combine Testing policy during the 2019-20 season.

#11

The Blackhawks think about going with a center here but in the end they select the best player available on their board and that’s game-breaking, speedy winger Fabian Lysell.

#12

While trying to figure out what they are going to do with Sean Monahan, the Flames select a goal-scoring centerman with a lot of offensive upside in Chaz Lucius. If he doesn’t work out at center maybe they’ll end up with a sniping winger.

#13

The Flyers add to their group of young, talented offensive-minded prospects that already includes Tyson Foerster, Cam York and Bobby Brink to name but a few. Some might feel this is a little early for Ceulemans but the Flyers are happy with this selection at this spot.

#14

The Stars debate going with a defenseman with their pick but in the end they opt to add a dynamic and talented, highly-skilled winger in Nikita Chibrikov.

#15

Having added talented wingers in the past two Drafts with Kappo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere along with an already pretty strong defensive group in place and upcoming, the Rangers decide to add a talented all-around center ice man in Franceso Pinelli.

#16

After the loss of Alex Pietrangelo to Vegas last summer, the Blues add a talented puck-moving defenseman to shore up their defensive group. Some may feel this is a reach at #16 but the Blues are not afraid to go and get the guy they want.

#17

After seeing Behrens go off the board, the Winnipeg Jets don’t hesitate to choose a phenomenal skating & puck-moving, young defenseman in Olen Zellweger.

#18

With the uncertainty of Filip Forberg only 1 year away from UFA, the Predators select a talented offensive winger who can put the puck in the net here with Isak Rosen.

#19

The Oilers think about maybe adding a goaltender but don’t want to wait for him to develop so they continue on their quest to add wingers that could potentially keep up and play with McDavid and Draisaitl. They believe they have a good one here in Simon Robertsson.

#20

The Bruins are thrilled to have the chance to select such a solid two-way center in Fedor Svechkov. With Bergeron and Krejci getting older, they add a great prospect at the center position.

#21

Only 1 year after long-time Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu moved on and eventually called it a career – the Wild find themselves in a position to add a player who plays a similar game. They are thrilled to be able to select a two-way center like Aatu Raty at this position.

#22

With their second pick in the 1st Round, the Red Wings select a second generation Red Wing in Cole Sillinger. Cole’s father Mike Sillinger was selected in the 1st round 32 years ago by the Red Wings. (11th overall – 1989)

#23

The Panthers are happy to be able to select a player of the skill and determination of Brennan Othmann with this pick.

#24

With their second pick in the 1st Round, the Blue Jackets are only too pleased to be in a position to select a versatile and dangerous offensive player like Matthew Coronato.

#25

Having just bought out long-time Wild defenseman Ryan Suter, with their second 1st round selection Minnesota adds a solid all-around defenseman in Carson Lambos.

#26

With the prospect of potentially losing Dougie Hamilton to free agency, the Hurricanes add a dynamic puck-moving defenseman in Aleksi Heimosalmi.

#27

The Avalanche consider drafting a goaltender with this pick but in the end they decide to select a talented Finnish offensive player in Tuomaala instead.

#28

With their second pick in the 1st round the Devils select a great all-around, speedy offensive player in Zach Dean. The Devils continue to add talent to eventually be able to play with Hischier and Hughes up front.

#29

The Golden Knights are extremely pleased that so many teams passed over Sebastian Cossa and they take him with the 29th pick. With Fleury at age 36 and Robin Lehner with 4 years left on his contract – selecting Cossa here fits with their timeline.

#30

With an aging group on their back-end the Montreal Canadiens make a safe pick in selecting defenseman Stanislav Svozil. He’s not the sexiest pick but his overall game makes him a prospect that has a good chance to be a steady NHL player for a lot of years.

#31

With their 3rd pick in the first round, the Columbus Blue Jackets select Logan Stankoven of the Kamloops Blazers. With Clarke, Coronato and now Stankoven – the Blue Jackets do an excellent job of greatly improving their prospects pool.

Follow @TwitterDev