2021 NHL Draft: Live pick-by-pick analysis, news and notes from Day 1
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It’s finally here! The 2021 NHL Draft is as unpredictable as it’s ever been and with all of the trades executed Friday, there’s potential for even more fireworks from the virtual draft floor. No matter what happens tonight, you can stay right here for laser-focused analysis on all of the players selected during the NHL Draft.
Bookmark this page and keep refreshing because minutes after each pick is made, I will have the full breakdown of the player and how they fit into their new team’s system. This page will be available to all readers, but there will also be a bunch of post-draft coverage both tonight and tomorrow for premium subscribers.
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In the immortal words of Pierre McGuire, let’s go have fun out there.
NOTE: Three big trades impacted the draft order tonight, so in case you didn’t know…
The Buffalo Sabres now own picks No. 1 and No. 14, the latter of which was acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Flyers (Rasmus Ristolainen)
The Arizona Coyotes now own pick No. 9 in the first round, after a major trade with the Vancouver Canucks that saw Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland go the other way. The Coyotes are also listed at 11th overall, but that pick is forfeited.
The Columbus Blue Jackets now own pick No. 12 in the first round after swinging a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blue Jackets also own picks No. 5 (their own) and No. 25 (via TOR)
The Chicago Blackhawks now own pick No. 32 in the first round, acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Seth Jones trade.
RELATED LINKS: Hockey Sense Draft Rankings 1-90 | 90-100, late-rounders to know
Round 1 Draft Order
1. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D, University of Michigan
Hockey Sense Ranking: No. 1; Full Report
Player Summary: The top player in the draft goes right where everyone thought he would. A big defenseman with top-pairing upside, Power gives you proficiency at both ends of the ice. At 6-foot-5, his footwork is already good and got better over the course of the season. His skating has become more and more of a strength which allows him to get pucks out of the zone, defend with good range and he can get into the rush. His puck skills are closer to average, but he makes a very good pass and is one of the draft’s smartest players. Power can do whatever you need him to. The biggest reason Power solidified himself as the No. 1 prospect on my list was that he showed continuous improvement from the beginning of his season to winning gold with Canada at the Men’s World Championship this spring. He is going to be a special player.
Team fit: The Sabres may already have Rasmus Dahlin as a high-end left-shot defenseman, but Power was too good to pass up in this particular class. Now the Sabres have two foundational defensemen who could be building blocks. Sabres fans have been patient long enough over multiple rebuilds, but the foundation gets a little better, at least on the back end. Also, having another lottery pick acquired from the Flyers in a trade today should allow them to land another impact prospect in this class.
2. Seattle Kraken: Matty Beniers, C, University of Michigan
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 2; Full Report
Player Summary: The best two-way center in the draft, Beniers gives you good offensive talent, speed, and defensive sense. He is the best competitor in this draft, providing an unrelenting motor in all areas of the ice. His puck pursuit is second to none and he can take over shifts. While he doesn’t have elite skill, he has elite hockey sense and it makes up for any perceived deficiencies. He has top-six center upside.
Team fit: The Kraken are very thin down the middle after the expansion draft. Beniers is the only player that I see that has No. 1 center upside. He is the kind of player that can help set the identity of your team, maybe wear a letter one day, too. I think he’s the right fit for a new franchise. His character and work ethic are going to go a long way in making new fans in Seattle. I’d let him go back to Michigan for one more year, but if Seattle wanted to sign him I think he could be a credible forward at the NHL level. I do think another year in the NCAA would best suit his development, though.
3. Anaheim Ducks: Mason McTavish, C, Olten/Peterborough
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 7; Full Report
Player Summary: A power center that gives you great effort every time out, McTavish has some solid offensive upside with good vision, passing and a high-end shot. He’s a physical forward that makes other players he’s aware on the ice at all times. I think the skating is going to need to improve for him to be more effective, because the physical elements can be maximized with more speed. The hockey sense makes up for it in a big way. I definitely like other players better in terms of having more dynamic players, but McTavish earned his late rise.
Team fit: With Trevor Zegras being the super-skilled center, McTavish provides a different element. He can play in tough matchups, give you good defensive shifts and still not lose a ton of offense. I think McTavish is very much an old-school Anaheim kind of player. They’ve been their best when they’ve been rough and tumble. That can still matter in the NHL so long as you have the scoring to back that up and not have to chase games. McTavish gives you good balance.
4. New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 4; Full Report
Player summary: The best-skating defenseman in this draft and maybe the best skater in the draft overall, he has a lot of the same elements as older brother Quinn, but Luke is 6-foot-2. He is an incredible passer and makes a lot of high-end reads. Defensively, he needs work, but it’s getting better. As he gets stronger, he’ll be more difficult to play against down low and he has a chance to be a zone exit and entry machine.
Team fit: Jack Hughes’s reaction said it all. He might have been more excited than Luke was. Getting another high-end puck mover to add to the mix that already includes Ty Smith is huge for a Devils prospect pool that is deepening very, very quickly. Tom Fitzgerald has a stable of young players that could make a sizable impact on the NHL roster very soon. I’d bet Luke Hughes is at least two years away from making a substantial impact.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets: Kent Johnson, C/W, University of Michigan
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 6; Full Report
Player Summary: He has the best puck skills in the draft and he knows how to use them. Kent Johnson, as I’ve said many, many times is a magician with the puck. He knows how to get pucks into the zone and can find holes as well as anyone. If he can’t find them, he creates them with his puck skills. Johnson is a pass-first kind of guy, but he does have a good shot. Pair him with a sniper and reap the rewards. He needs to do a better job of getting inside and has to get physically stronger to play down the middle. He was mostly a wing this year, but likely will see time at center at some point at Michigan. Defensively he’s improving, but still has a ways to go. No matter what, he’s one of the most entertaining players in this draft.
Team fit: The Blue Jackets need everything and can address a bunch of needs in this draft with three picks. Going after high upside and skill is never a bad thing to chase early because those are the big-time players. Johnson might end up being a wing in the NHL depending on how his development goes. But the Blue Jackets announced him as a center and I bet that’s where they’d prefer him to play assuming he can handle that as he moves forward.
6. Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frölunda
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 9; Full Report
Player summary: A massive defenseman with good hands and mobility, Edvinsson’s skill hasn’t translated to production quite yet, but there’s reason to think more could be coming down the line. He is rangey, defends well and as he tacks on strength he could be a bear to play against. He is more of a project than a finished product, which is why the Red Wings will have to be patient, but that is one organization that you won’t have to worry about that with.
Team fit: Simon Edvinsson might be a future pairing partner with the great Moritz Seider. The Red Wings have to keep building up their prospect system but they might have two cornerstone defensemen in Edvinsson and Seider. They also have the exciting Lucas Raymond coming up front. As noted, Edvinsson needs patience and a lot of work, but his ceiling is really high. While I liked other players better here, I don’t mind the pick for Detroit. I’m sure they would have loved finding a center, but there just wasn’t one that warranted.
7. San Jose Sharks: William Eklund, LW, Djugården
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 3; Full Report
Player summary: Among the more dynamic players in the draft, Eklund has elite vision and is an excellent passer. He made a ton of big-time plays this year in the SHL, where he had 23 points in 40 games, which is exceptional production for a U19 player in the league. Eklund has quickness and evasiveness through the neutral zone. He also has a little bit of grit to go down low and make plays near the net. As my No. 3 player this year, I think this is nice value for the Sharks and I’m sure they’re feeling very fortunate he was there.
Team fit: The Sharks system continues to get more and more skilled. They had some high-skill picks in their last draft, but I think Eklund ascends to the top of their prospect system. That’s a great get at No. 7. I think he’s at least a year away from being ready for the NHL and I’m sure the Sharks will be happy to let him go back to Sweden where he can take the next steps.
8. Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie Colts
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 8; Full Report
Player summary: The best defenseman available on the board, the Kings fill one of their most glaring needs in one of the league’s elite prospect pools. Clarke is a right-shot defenseman who is probably the most offensively gifted blueliner in this class. He played in Slovakia this year with the OHL shut down and had impressive production as he moved up the depth chart for Nove Zamky. Clarke is an elite passer and thinks the game a few steps ahead. His skating is an area that needs significant improvement to ensure top-four upside, but as he gets stronger and more powerful that could help. Defensively, the feet have been a problem, but he has a good mind for the game and being in good positions. If he can clean up the stride, he’s going to maximize his entire game.
Team fit: The Kings have so many high-end prospects at forward. They need guys that can get the puck to them. As one of the better passing defensemen in this draft, Clarke makes high-end plays in all zones that will help let those forwards do what they do best. He’s probably two years away from being NHL ready.
9. Arizona Coyotes (via VAN): Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 5; Full Report
Player summary: The Coyotes made today’s trade count by getting the best player remaining on the board. Guenther is a great shot-pass threat with high-end tools in both categories. He’s more of a finisher than a driver, but someone’s got to fill the net. He makes so many crisp decisions with the puck and has good feet. Guenther also shows good effort in all zones. I’m a bit surprised he slipped this far, but I think his skill level is going to make him an impact prospect and moves him close to the top of their prospect pool.
Team fit: The Coyotes took on a bunch of salary and let go a couple of franchise stars to earn this pick. They’re making the most of it. If Barret Hayton can get going again, the Coyotes could have a center-wing combo that could put a lot of points on the board. The Coyotes prospect pool was very light in the wake of some thin drafts with picks lost or traded away. Hats off to the Coyotes front office for finding ways to earn draft capital. They have so many picks in the second round, too, to land even more helpful talent.
10. Ottawa Senators: Tyler Boucher, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 43; Full Report
Player summary: A hard-checking power winger who missed most of the season with injury, the Sens went way off the board here. Boucher trended towards first round because of that aggressive style that he plays. The question is if he will have enough offensive upside to warrant a pick this high.
Team fit: I am a fan of the player, but this is a stunner. The Sens have a lot of skill in their system, but I think they could have gotten an even more dynamic player with some of the other players on the board. Clearly they want to be “tough to play against” and Boucher will help to that end. I’m still shocked to see Boucher go this high with what remains on the board.
11. Arizona Coyotes: VOID
12. Columbus Blue Jackets (via CHI): Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls Stampede
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 16; Full Report
Player summary: With one of the best releases in the draft, Sillinger scored 24 goals in just 31 USHL games this year. He’ll be headed back to Medicine Hat and the WHL next season, but he became a star with the Stampede. He took that team over after entering the roster late. He can score from anywhere on the ice, but also has good sense of what the best play is for him to make. He’s not just going to shoot it blindly. His skating needs to improve and he can afford to get stronger, but those hands are high-end.
Team fit: We were talking about pairing Kent Johnson with a sniper. Sillinger might be it. The son of former Blue Jacket (and a lot of other teams) Mike Sillinger was born in Columbus and will now have a chance to supercharge the soft rebuild in Columbus. Skill is the name of the game for the Jackets in this draft so far and that could make them very fun to watch if both players hit their ceiling. I think Sillinger’s going to need at least two more years to get to the NHL.
13. Calgary Flames: Matthew Coronato, LW, Chicago Steel
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 17; Full Report
Player summary: Corontato scored 58 goals between the regular-season and playoffs this year for the Chicago Steel. He was one of the most important players on a championship team. Despite his lack of size, he has tremendous net drive and is really difficult to stop. He has good lower-body strength that gives him leverage in competitive situations. Coronato does not have the prototypical high-end skill, but he’s smart and gets himself into good positions. He is a high-end competitor as well.
Team fit: The Flames have gotten quite a few forwards in recent drafts and they’ve got another good one here. Coronato could be a very natural wing with Connor Zary who was picked in the first-round last year. Coronato is not going to be in Calgary for a bit as Harvard players are almost always at least 2-3 years in school. We’ll see how Coronato progresses, but he’ll improve at Harvard which has become a pretty reliable NHL producer with recent graduates like Adam Fox and John Marino in the top league.
14. Buffalo Sabres (via PHI): Isak Rosén, LW, Leksands
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 18; Full Report
Player summary: A speedster who can score, Rosén set a record for goals by a Swedish player at the World U18 Championship with seven. He is one of the better skaters among forwards in a draft that didn’t have too many of them. When he gets stronger, he should be able to add some power to that speed and he’ll be even tougher to defend. His competitiveness can come and go, which is a moderate concern, but he really jumped up the charts with that U18 performance.
Team fit: The Sabres were always going to get a really good forward here. I was a little surprised they didn’t go after Chaz Lucius here, who is the more skilled player. Rosén isn’t as cleanly projectable in terms of his skill set, but he’s a far better skater and speed definitely matters. I think Rosén could be an excellent middle-six guy down the road, but is probably 2-3 years away.
15. Detroit Red Wings (via DET): Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton Oil Kings
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 13; Full Report
Player summary: A 6-foot-6 goalie with incredible quickness, Cossa has tremendous upside. He only lost one game and had a .941 save percentage in the abridged WHL season. The numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt, but the skill does not. I have not seen too many goalies at his size that move as quickly as he does. On top of that, I think this season he really started to get his game under control. He was much wilder last season. This year, he was making more of the easy saves because he was making better reads and locking in. I’m fascinated by where he can go.
Team fit: The Red Wings traded up from No. 23 and it cost them three picks to get here. The pre-draft speculation that Detroit coveted a goalie was not far off, but now they managed to get a top-level defenseman and one of the two elite goaltending prospects. I had Jesper Wallstedt higher than Cossa, but only by two slots. I don’t think there was much separating them. Also, there was no way Cossa would be there at No. 23. This was an aggressive move, but as usual, Yzerman gets his man. The last goalie he took in the first round was Andrei Vasilevskiy. That worked out OK.
16. New York Rangers: Brennan Othmann, LW, Olten/Flint Firebirds
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 24; Full Report
Player summary: An excellent shooter with a heavy, accurate shot, Othmann is more of a complementary player than he is a play-driver. He’s gotta get a little quicker, too. I thought the Rangers were going to go for a center here, but with a few good ones on the board, they went for the high-scoring winger. Othmann has a solid on-ice work ethic and gets himself into good positions a lot. He’s not shy.
Team fit: The Rangers have a ton of prospects, but really could have used some depth down the middle. With top prospects being wings, Othmann is more of the same, but will be a likely middle-six option. He still has a couple of years to build strength and improve his speed. You need goals, he can score them.
17. St. Louis Blues: Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 26; Full Report
Player summary: Bolduc was a bit lower on my list when I submitted, but I had been hearing that teams were higher on him than I was because of the upside. Over two years in Rimouski, Bolduc had consistent production. A late-season injury knocked him out and didn’t allow him to finish with flourish. What he does have, however, is a projectable frame where he should tack on strength. He’s got a bunch of skill and I think he’s just scratching the surface of it. Bolduc stepped into the QMJHL and was a go-to player from Day 1. I want to see more shift-to-shift competitiveness from him and get a little more physical/power element.
Team fit: The Blues need strength down the middle and can get it with Bolduc. He has quite a bit of upside. They drafted a grittier forward in Jake Neighbours last year, so this is a much more skilled element for their future pivot.
18. Winnipeg Jets: Chaz Lucius, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 10; Full Report
Player summary: My best player available, Lucius was the most skilled player remaining on the board. He’s a lanky center who missed most of the season with an injury, but when he was in the lineup he scored goals, 13 in 13 games in fact. Lucius competes well and as he gets stronger, he’ll be even better inside. I like the way he finds the middle of the ice and gets to the net front. He has a filthy release, with the ability to score from distance, but he has the drive to get to the net and make plays in tight. He can get tunnel vision sometimes and I’ve seen him fade out of games in the past. His skating also needs to get better to maximize his package of skills. A healthy Lucius, however, is a dangerous offensive player.
Team fit: The Jets sure like their American players and they get another good one here. A similar physical profile to Kyle Connor, Lucius is similarly skilled. Having scoring weapons at all forward positions as Winnipeg has had for the last several years has gone a long way for them. Lucius is very much their style of player.
19. Nashville Predators: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 14; Full Report
Player summary: A skilled, two-way center, Svechkov plays hard in all zones. He has a good physical frame, good strength and good work ethic. Svechkov also has high-end hockey sense, with good vision and higher-end passing abilities. He really popped at the U18 World Championship where he grew into the No. 1 center role, logging big ice time. He’s a tough matchup kind of player and can still produce. He had 10 points in seven U18 games, winning silver. Because of his two-way abilities mixed with skill, he’s been one of my favorites in this class.
Team fit: Svechkov is under contract with SKA St. Petersburg until 2022-23, so settle in for a couple of years. I think Svechkov’s physical profile doesn’t leave him too far away, though. When that contract ends, there’s a good chance he will be ready to play in the NHL because he’s physically developed and has that good mind. With both Yaroslav Askarov and Svechkov, two of the Preds very best prospects are Russians. David Poile showing he’s not scared of waiting for good talent.
20. Minnesota Wild (via EDM): Jesper Wallstedt, G, Luleå
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 11; Full Report
Player summary: My top goaltender, the Wild may have gotten some significant value getting him this late. I did not see him slipping this far. Wallstedt has been an exceptional player in Sweden’s 2002 birth year, always playing up a level. He’s had an accelerated development, playing in SHL games this season before losing his starting gig to a veteran, Wallstedt handled himself very well. He’s so technically sound and I think he has some of the best hockey sense in this draft for any player. His pre-shot reads are strong. Wallstedt needs to improve his lower body strength to get even more explosive side-to-side, but if he gets there, he could be an absolute star. The tools are there.
Team fit: The Wild have built up a ton of skill in their prospect system and they still have young Finnish goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, as well as promising Hunter Jones in the system. So why Wallstedt? With all due respect to the other two guys, Wallstedt’s upside is far more favorable to being a long-term No. 1 goalie. It’s going to be 2-3 years before we see him I think, but Wallstedt can master the pro game in Sweden before making the jump to North America and working his way into the NHL. Trading up to get the goalie tells you just how much Minnesota wanted this guy in their system.
21. Boston Bruins: Fabian Lysell, RW, Luleå
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 12; Full Report
Player summary: A dynamic speedster who burns in transition, I love the value the Bruins are getting here. I had been hearing Lysell would slip a bit because teams were a bit worried about his shift-to-shift competitiveness and toughness, but he’s still young and a bit on the smaller size. It’s very rare to find a player with his combination of speed and skill in this particular draft class, however. He’s been one of my favorites in the class and I think he’s at the very beginning of a development arc that should head north rapidly. He’ll need to get stronger and bear down on the work ethic on the ice a bit, but it’s hard to teach his transitional play.
Team fit: The Bruins’ core is getting older and they’re going to need a new top six a little further down the line. I would put Lysell at the very top of their prospect pool right now. That’s not a high bar to clear, but he’s a special talent that could pay dividends 2-3 years down the line.
22. Edmonton Oilers (via MIN): Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawinigan
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 27; Full Report
Player summary: His 1.38 points per game was highest among draft-eligible players in the QMJHL this season. There’s all sorts of skill in Bourgault’s game and he’s been highly productive over the last two seasons. He’s got decent size, but will need to get stronger as so many of these players need to do. What I really like about Bourgault is his sense of time and space. He always seems to find the seams and time up plays to become more dangerous.
Team fit: I like that Edmonton was able to get an extra pick by trading down because I don’t think there was much doubt he would be there in this range. To get one of the more productive players in this particular draft at this late stage while getting an extra asset is a nice piece of business by Ken Holland. Bourgault has fringe top-six upside with a better chance to be a middle-sixer who provides secondary scoring.
23. Dallas Stars (via DET, via WSH): Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 52; Full Report
Player summary: Johnston played only in seven games this season, at the World U18 Championship. Team Canada used him in a bottom-six role where I didn’t get a chance to see the full complement of his skills. That’s why I had a harder time ranking him in the first round because he’s lost a year of game repetitions. However, I know many teams were high on Johnston based on his U17 season in Windsor where he 30 points in 53 games. I know Dallas was not alone in ranking him in the first round.
Team fit: Dallas never goes with convention. Picking a player who barely played all season certainly is that. However, the Stars like their OHL guys as they have several of them in the pipeline now led by Thomas Harley and Ty Dellandrea. Johnston is a higher-risk with potentially high reward. He could put up a boatload of points next season in the OHL, and I’ll need to see him more next season before projecting an NHL timeline.
24. Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich, C/W, Chicago Steel
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 25; Full Report
Player summary: A speedster with skill, Samoskevich is headed to the University of Michigan and is now the fifth Wolverine to go in the first round this year. He had 37 points in 36 games in the regular season and 10 in eight playoff games as the Steel won the Clark Cup. In every game I’ve seen him play live, he’s really popped. I love his net drive and I think his skill set is such that he’ll be able to get inside more at the next level. I think sometimes he needs to rein his game in just a bit to make sure he makes better decisions with the puck, but I don’t ever want him to slow down that pace.
Team fit: Samoskevich is not going to be ready for the NHL for a while, but that’s OK since the Panthers have a few other youngsters on the way, namely Girgori Denisenko. Samoskevich can continue to develop at his own pace and arrive on time for a Panthers roster that will probably look a bit different by the time he’s ready. With quality depth up front, the Panthers are starting to build a more serious contender. There’s more work to do on their roster, but with the picks they’ve made the last three years, they’ve got quality in their system to build up on.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets (via TOR): Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 19; Full Report
Player summary: Ceulemans was the top remaining defenseman on my board. He’s got size and is a really good skater. Ceulemans likes to get up in the rush and can take shifts over with his skating. His offensive game needs refinement, but he’s skilled. A right-shot with a good physical profile, Ceulemans is headed to the University of Wisconsin which has been an NHL defenseman factory over the years. Ceulemans didn’t get a ton of games in this year, but he was a standout for Canada at the U18 World Championship where they won gold.
Team fit: After loading up on forwards with their last two picks, the Blue Jackets get a right-shot defenseman. I don’t know that Ceulemans will be able to replace Seth Jones, but one day he could be a real solid top-four defenseman who gives you good minutes. Offensively, he could really take off and that would give the Blue Jackets another power play weapon. Patience will be required because there are rough edges to his game, but the upside is notable.
26. Minnesota Wild (via PIT): Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg ICE
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 20; Full Report
Player summary: I think the Wild are going to really like the value they get in Lambos here. Concerns about his health really was the big story of his draft year. When he did play though, Lambos showed excellent mobility, a good shot and he can be physical, too. He came into this season as one of the most highly-regarded prospects and not getting a chance to play for much of the season didn’t allow him to showcase that. I think he can skate well and is getting better. We’ll see how he looks next season as he needs to get healthy and back up to speed, but he’s got a lot of tools.
Team fit: The Wild have a lot of talent up front with Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi, among others. On the back end having a couple of WHL defensemen in Calen Addison and Lambos with good upside, the Wild have to feel very good about how they’re positioning themselves long term.
27. Nashville Predators (via CAR): Zachary L’Heureux, C/W, Halifax Mooseheads
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 33; Full Report
Player summary: A polarizing player just because of on-ice maturity, but a lot of NHL teams love the passion and fire he plays with. L’Heureux is mean and plays a physical game. He’ll also drop the gloves. But here’s the part that makes him a first-rounder, he’s got skill and makes a ton of plays. He could improve his skating, and he needs to let cooler heads prevail sometimes, but there’s no doubt he’s that mix of snarl and skill that is very hard to find. He relishes the physical game, but he can play. I’ve said before, he’s got top-15 caliber skill, but I hedge due to the maturity.
Team fit: The Predators traded two 2021 second-round picks to move up and get this one from Carolina. I don’t think he would have fallen much further in the draft, either. L’Heureux brings a more dynamic element to Nashville’s system, which drafted a goalie last year and a hard-driving two-way center in Svechkov earlier. With Phil Tomasino still in the system, I like what the Preds are building beneath the NHL roster.
28. Colorado Avalanche: Oskar Olausson, LW, HV71
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 28; Full Report
Player summary: A fast winger who gets in on the forecheck and does a lot of dirty work, he has some power elements in his game. He’s a very mature player as well. Olausson scored at all three levels he played at, physically dominating at the U20 level, holding his own in the SHL and performing at a reasonably high level in the Allsvenskan. His versatility, as noted on the broadcast, is probably one of the things coaches like about him most and why they took him on Sweden’s U20 team for the World Juniors.
Team fit: Stylistically, Olausson screams Avalanche. They’re one of the quickest teams in the NHL and he’s going to help them establish that even further. I think Olausson projects more in the middle six and not much more than scoring depth, but he’s going to bring the pace the Avalanche crave to play with.
29. New Jersey Devils (via NYI): Chase Stillman, RW, Sudbury Wolves
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 63; Full Report
Player summary: An energetic, gritty forward who forechecks extremely well, Stillman does not have the skillset that suggests first round. That said, he is a very effective forward at what he does. Stillman spent a chunk of this season playing in the Danish U20 league which allowed him to put up points and focus on his offensive game, which was probably good for him. While he has some offensive talent, I think he’s going to end up as a depth forward long-term, as he did with Canada at the U18 Worlds where he was a more a minor piece.
Team fit: The Devils have a lot of high-end talent in their system already. They’re going with a safe, projectable forward who has the tenacity and physicality to find a way to make it to the next level. He has enough offense to potentially find himself in the middle six, but I think he looks more like a bottom-six. But if you can get an NHLer out of the bottom of the first round in a weaker draft, that’s not a bad place to be. I think there were better options and Stillman could have been had later, but I still think the Devils have a future NHLer here which isn’t always a guarantee in this range.
30. Vegas Golden Knights: Zach Dean, C, Gatineau Olympiques
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 37; Full Report
Player summary: A smart player who doesn’t have a ton of razzle dazzle, he does pretty much everything well. There’s no one thing you point out and say he does at an elite level, but he’s versatile and reliable. I really like the way he works for his offense and how he competes to make things difficult on the opposition. He wins battles and you pretty much know what you’re going to get from him every time over the boards.
Team fit: Vegas is going to need some of their young guys to step into the lineup with their cheap entry level deals. They might be waiting on Dean for a year or two before they can seriously look at plugging him into the lineup. They’ve used many of their top prospects in trades over the years, but Dean has a good chance to stick and play down the middle for a long time.
31. Montreal Canadiens: Logan Mailloux, D, London Knights
Hockey Sense Rank: NR; Full report
Player summary: The Canadiens picked a player who had publicly asked not to be drafted after he was criminally charged in Sweden in November. I’ll leave the full reporting to Frank Seravalli at DailyFaceoff.com, who has the full details from all sides on the Mailloux front. But the summary is that Mailloux was fined for taking and distributing a photo of he and a woman engaged in a sexual act. The photo was taken and distributed via Snapchat without the woman’s consent and she reported it to the police. Mailloux paid the fine and resumed playing. However, when news of the charges became public, Mailloux “renounced” himself from the draft asking all teams not to take him. After I learned of the situation, I moved him from No. 95 on my list to no-draft. As did many NHL teams. Apparently not Montreal.
Team fit: I wonder what the NHL is going to have to say about this pick. Officially, there’s no such thing as a player renouncing himself from the draft. The team has the discretion to take the player if he is eligible to be selected, which Mailloux was. Now Montreal has to explain to their fan base why they took a player who was criminally charged in his draft season. Especially when the victim of his decision recently told The Athletic that she did not feel he was remorseful and does not forgive him. Her voice goes unheard here. I believe people can get second chances, but there has to be a lot more work done before you can have the honor of being a first-round draft pick. Mailloux made the conscious decision to ask teams not to draft him, saying he would put the work in to prove himself. I just don’t see how a team can make a decision like this while extolling the virtues of character and all the things you expect your players to have. It’s a terrible message to send to the player, to your fans and most importantly, to the victim, the person most directly affected by what happened in a way that is much harder to move on from. Shameful.
32. Chicago Blackhawks (via CBJ, via TBL): Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert Raiders
Hockey Sense Rank: No. 65; Full Report
Player summary: A big, physical defenseman who plays with a mean streak and is one of the best body checkers in the draft, Allan comes with next to no offensive upside. He can make a decent first pass, but you’re getting very little production from him. He has 11 points in 81 career WHL games. He’ll win most of his physical battles, he’s got good range and mobility defensively and I like how he closes gaps, but I think he could have been had much later and there was a ton of skill left on the board here.
Team fit: The Blackhawks just landed a long-term defenseman in Seth Jones. They still have young guys like Riley Stillman, Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin in the system. They could have found some more scoring talent here, but they went this direction. Ultimately, I think Allan still has NHL upside, which is why I had him as a fringe second-round kind of guy. He looks more like a bottom-pairing, shut-down defenseman. Blackhawks have loaded up on more skill in recent drafts and this is quite a departure.