By We are days away from the 2021 NHL Draft and the anticipation is starting to build as we get closer and closer to the draft opening for business on June 23.
When it does, the Buffalo Sabres will be on the clock and look to make a selection that will finally spark the franchise enough to get them back to relevance. Having not made the playoffs since the 2010-2011 season, this pick is crucial.
Where the Sabres are seeking relevancy, the team selecting right after them may be the most relevant team in the entire NHL right now, as the NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken will make their first ever draft pick with the second pick in the draft.
So, who will they make their first ever draftee in franchise history? And who will the Sabres take to try and finally turn things around? Find out below, and in the process, see who your favorite team could select when the NHL Draft finally gets underway.
NHL Draft Lottery
1. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D, University of Michigan (NCAA)
The last time the Sabres had the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, they selected a defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin. I think they’ll do it again in choosing Power, who’s the consensus top player in the draft. Power would help solidify the blue line for the Sabres for years to come. They won’t overthink this one.
2. Seattle Kraken: Matthew Beniers, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)
The second Wolverine is already off the board with the second pick, as the Kraken use their first ever draft pick to select the center out of Michigan. Beniers provides excellent two-way ability that should give him the edge over the likes of the top defenseman left on the board in Brandt Clarke and Luke Hughes.
3. Anaheim Ducks: Brandt Clarke, D, HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)
Speaking of Clarke, he goes to the Ducks with the third pick, as they opt to go with the best available player on the board. Most people have the team pegged to take a forward with this pick, but they instead go with a player who has as high of a ceiling as anyone in this draft to continue and stockpile young talent.
4. New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP Juniors (USHL)
It’s a family affair in New Jersey, as the Devils select Luke to pair him with his brother Jack Hughes, the first overall pick in 2019. Besides the fact that it would be the most fun selection, it also makes the most sense. The team needs to invest more resources into their blue line. With Power and Clarke off the board, Hughes is the best of the top three defenseman left on the board. Make it happen New Jersey!
5. Columbus Blue Jackets: William Eklund, LW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
This is where the draft will start to get really interesting, as the Blue Jackets could go in a number of different directions with this pick. The last of the consensus top four defenders in this draft is still available in Edvinsson. The best goalie in the draft has to be considered here as well. However, the Blue Jackets instead choose to go in a completely different direction, instead solidifying their offensive attack by taking the young forward out of the SHL. With three first round picks, it makes the most sense for the team to go with the best player available and that is Eklund.
6. Detroit Red Wings: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Luleå HF (SHL)
With Columbus opting for Eklund, it is the Red Wings who pounce on the highly touted goalie prospect. Wallstedt has been labeled by some as the best goalie prospect since Carey Price. With the Red Wings light on top tier goalie prospects in their system, it’s worth using the sixth pick in the draft on the goaltender. Furthermore, it seems like this is one of those spots where the player and the team have been linked to each other so often throughout this process that it’d be more shocking if this wasn’t the pick.
7. San Jose Sharks: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frölunda HC (SHL)
The last of the premier defenseman is off to San Jose as the Sharks make sure to add talent to their defensive core with the big Swedish prospect. While adding to their core of forwards may be more popular for some, especially with Dylan Guenther still on the board, snatching Edvinsson was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
8. Los Angeles Kings: Dylan Guenther, LW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
And that allows Guenther to go to the Kings with the very next pick. It’s no secret that the Kings prospect pool is very deep. It’s also no secret that it affords them to go in whichever direction they’d like with this pick without having to think of need. With that being said, it makes the most sense to go best player available here, and that’s Guenther, who will eventually help provide scoring from the wing, although it shouldn’t be expected of him right off the bat.
9. Vancouver Canucks: Kent Johnson, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)
“There ain’t no party like Michigan party, cause a Michigan party don’t stop…” or something like that. With the ninth pick of the draft, Johnson becomes the third Michigan Wolverine off the board. Not only that, but he goes to the Canucks, who have a couple of University of Michigan connections. They drafted Johnson’s Michigan teammate Jacob Truscott in the 2020 NHL draft and their star young player, Quinn Hughes, also starred at the University of Michigan before lighting it up in the NHL. Here, the Canucks go back to that pipeline once more and get a player who has incredible puck skills that leave him as the best prospect on the board for this pick.
10. Ottawa Senators: Cole Sillinger, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
With Mason McTavish still on the board, many would be likely to assume the Senators pull the trigger and take him here at No. 10. However, sleep on Sillinger at your own risk. Sillinger is a bonafide sniper that belongs in the top 10 of this draft and while this is earlier than many will slate him to go, don’t be surprised if he actually sneaks up and goes a little higher. The Senators will take slack for this pick but it’ll be worth it years down the line.
11. Forfeited Pick (Arizona Coyotes)
This pick was forfeited as a result of the team violating the NHL Combine Testing Policy.
12. Chicago Blackhawks: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Chicago, say hello to your goalie of the future. I mean what more needs to be said here? This is the perfect match. Cossa will be a starting goaltender in the NHL one day. The Blackhawks are desperate for a top tier goalie prospect. If Cossa is on the board, this will be the pick.
13. Calgary Flames: Fabian Lysell, LW, Luleå HF (SHL)
Lysell could go in the top 10 or he could also fall out of the top 20. While Lysell is a wild card all-around, he is known for being a grinder, which is something the Flames will need to turn their team around after missing the playoffs this season. Adding a player like Lysell could pay huge dividends in the future as the team looks to re-stock their prospect pool.
14. Philadelphia Flyers: Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Finally! After a bit of a slide, McTavish is finally off the board and lands in a great spot with the Flyers. McTavish is a top ten player in this draft and could even go as early as the top five. However, with the way the board shakes out he lands in Philly, where they will welcome a player who will fit slide effortlessly into their top six within a couple of years.
15. Dallas Stars: Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP Juniors (USHL)
Injuries result in a bit of an unfortunate slide for Lucius, as he falls to No. 15, right into the waiting arms of the Stars. He has the talent, if not more than some of the players chosen ahead of him here, and he has shown that he can put up points in a hurry. That’s exactly why he’s the pick here, as the Stars need to take these kinds of risks to bolster their prospect pool with young offensive stalwarts.
16. New York Rangers: Isak Rosen, LW, Leksands IF (SHL)
The Rangers close out the NHL Draft lottery by taking the 18-year-old Swedish prospect. Rosen is an exciting offensive prospect who knows how to put the puck in the net and will look to do just that down the road for the Rangers. He’s just another gem to add to the never-ending wealth that is the Rangers’ prospect pool.
The remainder of the First Round
17. St. Louis Blues: Aatu Raty, C, Kärpät (LIIGA)
18. Winnipeg Jets: Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
19. Nashville Predators: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
20. Edmonton Oilers: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL)
21. Boston Bruins: Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
22. Minnesota Wild: Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
23. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals): Olen Zellweger, D, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
24. Florida Panthers: Daniil Chayka, D, CSKA Moskva (KHL)
25. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto Maple Leafs): Matthew Coronato, LW, Chicago Steel (USHL)
26. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh Penguins): Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL)
27. Carolina Hurricanes: Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno (Czech)
28. Colorado Avalanche: Brennan Othmann, LW, ECH Olten (SL)
29. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders): Simon Robertsson, RW, Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
30. Vegas Golden Knights: Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Ässät U20 (U20 SM-SARJA)
31. Montreal Canadiens: Zach Dean, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
32. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay Lightning): Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawnigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
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