Four Round Mock 2021 NHL Draft

The Smaht Scouting team did a mock draft for the first four rounds. Bailey Johnson (NCAA and USHS amateur scout), Paul Zuk (USHL and Southern OHL amateur scout), Alexander Appleyard (Sweden and Finland amateur scout), Jordan Malette (Eastern OHL and Western QMJHL amateur scout) and Josh Tessler (Director of Amateur Scouting) drafted for assigned teams. The below screenshot shows the assignments.

#1 – Buffalo Sabres – Matthew Beniers

Selected by Paul Zuk

With the first overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres selected Matthew Beniers (University of Michigan, Center). It’s not the first time that in the last few years that the Sabres took a NCAA centerman in the top five. Back in 2015, the Sabres selected Jack Eichel (Boston University, Center) at second overall. Beniers has proven to be relentless with the puck, possesses strong puck manipulation, is a two-way center and a problem solver in transition.

#2 – Seattle Kraken – Owen Power

Selected by Josh Tessler

With Seattle’s first ever draft selection, they select Owen Power (University of Michigan, LHD). The Kraken are likely to add quite a few solid left handed defensemen in the expansion draft like Devon Toews and Brady Skjei, but they need a top left handed defenseman of the future. Power has proven to be a solid puck distributor at the point, he will pinch and fight in puck battles down low.

#3 – Anaheim Ducks – William Eklund

Selected by Alexander Appleyard

In the last few drafts, the Anaheim Ducks have selected quite a few forwards in the early rounds including Jacob Perreault, Sam Colangelo, Trevor Zegras, Brayden Tracey, Isac Lundestrom and Benoit-Olivier Groulx, but they aren’t done yet. With the third overall pick, they take playmaking forward William Eklund (Djurgården, Left Wing). As Alex notes in his report on Eklund, his vision allows him to be a rather crafty playmaker with excellent vision.

Side note, Mikael Holm of McKeen’s Hockey constantly reminds the folks in Will Scouch’s discord server that Djurgården is the official name of the club and doesn’t require a “s” at the end.

#4 – New Jersey Devils – Luke Hughes

Selected by Jordan Malette

The New Jersey Devils select Jack Hughes’ younger brother, Luke Hughes (USNTDP, LHD) with the fourth overall pick. In the 2020 draft, the Devils went forward heavy in round one with Alexander Holtz and Dawson Mercer, but did add Shakir Mukhamadullin with their third first rounder and Ethan Edwards in the later rounds. Luke Hughes is arguably a much stronger puck moving defenseman than both Mukhamadullin and Edwards. Hughes is the best skater in the 2021 NHL Draft class and possesses soft hands when distributing the puck.

#5 – Columbus Blue Jackets – Simon Edvinsson

Selected by Bailey Johnson

With the fifth overall selection, the Columbus Blue Jackets select Simon Edvinsson (Frölunda, LHD). As Seth Jones is rumored to be leaving the organization when he becomes a UFA in 2022, the organization will need to fill his skates with another highly touted defenseman who can be a consistent threat in the offensive zone. As Alex notes in his report on Edvinsson, the Swede has proven to navigate through “neutral zone traps” and pinch down low into high danger to generate scoring chances.

#6 – Detroit Red Wings – Brandt Clarke

Selected by Paul Zuk

The Detroit Red Wings already had an outstanding farm system before the 2021 NHL Draft with a plethora of prospects including Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, Theodor Niederbach, Joe Veleno and William Wallinder, but they add another stud at sixth overall with Brandt Clarke (Barrie, RHD). Clarke was set to play for the Barrie Colts this past season, but due to COVID-19, he took his talents across the pond to Slovakia alongside his brother Graeme Clarke (New Jersey Devils prospect). Clarke has shown that he possesses a strong transitional game and is one of the best puck distributors in this class.

#7 – San Jose Sharks – Jesper Wallstedt

Selected by Josh Tessler

The San Jose Sharks land the prospect with the highest upside in the 2021 NHL Draft class. With the Sharks struggling in net over the last few years, they now have a franchise goaltender in the making. Jesper Wallstedt (Luleå, Goaltender) has dominated the SHL at such a young age. The Sharks are netting a patient goaltender and who doesn’t expose much of the net. His glove work is easily the best in this class and controls rebounds extremely well.

#8 – Los Angeles Kings – Dylan Guenther

Selected by Alexander Appleyard

Like the Detroit Red Wings, Rob Blake, general manager of the Los Angeles Kings has done an excellent job building his system. Their farm system includes Quinton Byfield, Tyler Madden, Helge Grans, Brock Faber, Alex Turcotte, Tobias Bjornfot, Rasmus Kupari, Akil Thomas, Gabriel Vilardi and Jaret Anderson-Dolan. The system has a lot of quality two-way playmakers and defenders, but aside from Kaliyev, there isn’t a ton of raw goal scoring talent. By drafting Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, Left Wing), they are netting an excellent shooter who can drain one-timers with ease. Guenther also possesses a strong transitional game and can find gaps consistently in the offensive zone to exploit with a quick timed pass.

#9 – Vancouver Canucks – Kent Johnson

Selected by Bailey Johnson

The Vancouver Canucks have selected the local kid. Kent Johnson (University of Michigan, Center/Wing) from North Vancouver, British Columbia. While Johnson has lined up at center throughout his youth, he’s shown that he is far stronger on the wing during his freshman year in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Johnson has a tremendous amount of flash to his game and is one of the strongest stick-handlers in the class. As Bailey explained in her report, he’s creative and will produce highlight reel plays. So, Vancouver get ready for plenty of Kent Johnson clips on TSN’s Top 10.

#10 – Ottawa Senators – Fabian Lysell

Selected by Jordan Malette

The Ottawa Senators have built a solid youthful core including Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Shane Pinto, Josh Norris, Erik Brannström, Alex Formenton and Drake Batherson. So, why not add another fun winger to the mix. Senators general manager Pierre Dorion nabs Fabian Lysell (Luleå, Right Winger) with the tenth overall pick. Tony Ferrari of Dobber Prospects yells “Vroom Vroom” when he watches Lysell and Will Scouch of Scouching calls him “The Swedish Roadrunner”. So, obviously skating and speed are a big part of his game. His compete level is exceptional and it shows in his decision making and his defensive play.

#11 – Arizona Coyotes – Forfeit

The Coyotes lost their first rounder for the 2021 NHL Draft.

#12 – Chicago Blackhawks – Chaz Lucius

Selected by Paul Zuk

The Chicago Blackhawks stock up at center and add University of Minnesota commit Chaz Lucius (USNTDP, Center). Fans at the Madhouse on Madison will love Chaz and his goal scoring ability. As Paul notes in his report, Lucius has excellent range on his shot and can be a threat no matter where he is in the offensive zone.

#13 – Calgary Flames – Fyodor Svechkov

Selected by Josh Tessler

The Calgary Flames add Fyodor Svechkov (Togliatti/SKA St. Petersburg, LW/C) at 12th overall. Svechkov is easily the best defensive forward in the 2021 NHL Draft class and has outstanding acceleration, puck manipulation and is rather dangerous down low.

#14 – Philadelphia Flyers – Aatu Räty

Selected by Alexander Appleyard

The Philadelphia Flyers take Finnish forward Aatu Räty (Kärpät, Center) at 13th overall. While Räty is no longer considered the top prospect in the class and has fallen to the teens, he’s shown that he can be a reliable forechecker, possesses a quality defensive game and is strong on the cycle.

#15 – Dallas Stars – Mason McTavish

Selected by Jordan Malette

The Dallas Stars ink Mason McTavish (Peterborough, Center) at 14th overall. Due to COVID, McTavish ended up returning back to Switzerland (where he spent a decent amount of his youth) and played for EHC Olten alongside Brennan Othmann (fellow dual citizen of both Canada and Switzerland). While McTavish was a sniper in the OHL, his shot and offensive production was more well-rounded in Switzerland. He loves drawing the attack to the perimeter and then finding a gap in the slot to exploit. McTavish also possesses a lot of grit in his game.

#16 – New York Rangers – Brennan Othmann

Selected by Bailey Johnson

With Chris Drury’s first selection as general manager of the New York Rangers, they select Brennan Othmann (Flint, Left Winger). Alongside McTavish, Othmann spent the season with EHC Olten in Switzerland. The dual citizen (Canada and Switzerland) consistently finds the right spot in the offensive zone and has one of the best shots in this class. He is an efficient defender and will drop back to regroup when facing tough pressure in the neutral zone.

Rest Of The First Round:

RoundPickTeamTraded FromScoutProspectTeam
First Round1BuffaloPaulMatthew BeniersMichigan
First Round2SeattleJoshOwen PowerMichigan
First Round3AnaheimAlexWilliam EklundDjurgården
First Round4New JerseyJordanLuke HughesUSNTDP
First Round5ColumbusBaileySimon EdvinssonFrölunda
First Round6DetroitPaulBrandt ClarkeBarrie
First Round7San JoseJoshJesper WallstedtLuleå
First Round8Los AngelesAlexDylan GuentherEdmonton
First Round9VancouverBaileyKent JohnsonMichigan
First Round10OttawaJordanFabian LysellLuleå
First Round11ArizonaFORFEITFORFEITFORFEITFORFEIT
First Round12ChicagoPaulChaz LuciusUSNTDP
First Round13CalgaryJoshFyodor SvechkovSKA St-Petersburg
First Round14PhiladelphiaAlexAatu RätyKärpät
First Round15DallasJordanMason McTavishPeterborough
First Round16New York RangersBaileyBrennan OthmannFlint
First Round17St. LouisPaulCole SillingerMedicine Hat
First Round18WinnipegJordanSimon RobertssonSkellefteå
First Round19NashvilleAlexOskar OlaussonHV71
First Round20EdmontonBaileyScott MorrowFargo
First Round21BostonJoshIsak RosénLeksands
First Round22MinnesotaJoshCarson LambosWinnipeg
First Round23DetroitWashingtonPaulMackie SamoskevichChicago
First Round24FloridaAlexStanislav SvozilBrno
First Round25ColumbusTorontoBaileyMatthew CoronatoChicago
First Round26MinnesotaPittsburghJoshFrancesco PinelliKitchener
First Round27CarolinaPaulLogan StankovenKamloops
First Round28ColoradoJordanAyrton MartinoOmaha
First Round29New JerseyNew York IslandersJordanXavier BourgaultShawinigan
First Round30VegasJordanVille KoivunenKärpät
First Round31MontrealAlexNikita ChibrikovSKA St-Petersburg
First Round32ColumbusTampaBaileySasha PastujovUSNTDP

First Round Recap

Pick #17 was a great value selection for the St. Louis Blues. The Blues took former St. Louis Blues forward Mike Sillinger’s son Cole Sillinger. Since 2016, the Blues haven’t taken many WHLers, but the allure of drafting Sillinger this late makes it all worth it. He has strong goal scoring and playmaking ability. Sillinger just doesn’t fire at will from low danger. He does the dirty work and looks for scoring chances down low. Following the Sillinger pick, we saw multiple Swedes come off the board with Simon Robertsson heading to Winnipeg, Oskar Olausson to Nashville and Isak Rosén to Boston. All three are excellent additions. Robertsson does an excellent job at finding open ice in the neutral zone and his shot is easily one of the best in the class. His wrist shot accuracy from the point is mouth watering. Olausson is a solid power forward, who possesses excellent reach and that comes in handy for stick-handling around traffic. Plus, he just loves driving play and moving the puck from zone to zone. For Bruins fans, Rosén would become a fan favorite. He finds open ice with ease and will burn net-minders with his one-timers. Rosén’s foot speed in transition and edges make him a true pest for defenders to contend with. The Minnesota Wild grab two prospects, who were projected to go much higher before the season kicked off. Carson Lambos’ offensive production was not as consistent as last year, but there is still a creative play-making defenseman there. Speaking of creative players, Francesco Pinelli is another. He’s deceptive especially with his skating and is a forechecking pest. Towards the end of the first, Logan Stankoven, Ayrton Martino and Ville Koivunen went off the board. Stankoven’s ceiling is slightly higher than Martino’s and Koivunen’s, but if you are looking for three forwards who can be crafty and well-rounded, you will appreciate these three.

Second Round

Second Round33BuffaloPaulSebastian CossaEdmonton
Second Round34AnaheimAlexOlen ZellwegerEverett
Second Round35SeattleJoshSamu TuomaalaKärpät
Second Round36VegasNew JerseyJordanBrent JohnsonSioux Falls
Second Round37ArizonaOttawa (via CBJ)BaileyJack PeartGrand Rapids
Second Round38DetroitPaulDylan DukeUSNTDP
Second Round39OttawaSan JoseJordanZachary L’HeureuxHalifax
Second Round40NashvilleLos AngelesAlexSamu SalminenJokerit
Second Round41VancouverBaileyDaniil ChaykaGuelph
Second Round42OttawaJordanJake MartinUSNTDP
Second Round43ArizonaBaileyTristan BrozFargo
Second Round44ChicagoPaulAleksi HeimosalmiÄssät
Second Round45CalgaryJoshWilliam StrömgrenMODO
Second Round46PhiladelphiaAlexCorson CeulemansBrooks
Second Round47DallasJordanProkhor PoltapovCSKA Moscow
Second Round48DetroitNew York RangersPaulSean BehrensUSNTDP
Second Round49Los AngelesVegas (via BUF and STL)AlexZachary BolducRimouski
Second Round50WinnipegJordanSean TschigerlCalgary
Second Round51NashvilleAlexZach DeanGatineau
Second Round52DetroitEdmontonPaulMatthew KniesTri-City (USHL)
Second Round53BuffaloBostonPaulCole JordanMoose Jaw
Second Round54MinnesotaJoshBenjamin GaudreauSarnia
Second Round55WashingtonAlexAnton OlssonMalmö
Second Round56FloridaAlexRyder KorczakMoose Jaw
Second Round57TorontoJoshMarcus AlmquistHV71
Second Round58PittsburghPaulBryce MontgomeryLondon
Second Round59CarolinaPaulEvan NauseQuebec
Second Round60New York IslandersColoradoBaileyLiam GilmartinUSNTDP
Second Round61New JerseyNew York IslandersJordanArtyom GrushnikovHamilton
Second Round62ChicagoVegasPaulColton DachSaskatoon
Second Round63MontrealAlexLiam Dower NilssonFrölunda
Second Round64MontrealTampaAlexAlexander KisakovDynamo Moscow

Second Round Recap

In the second round, quite a few USHLers went off the board. The excellent puck-carrying defenseman Brent Johnson was taken by Vegas and Detroit grabbed this year’s Bobby Brink in Dylan Duke. If you enjoyed Brink’s play with the USNTDP prior to the 2019 NHL Draft, you will appreciate Duke’s 200 ft game. Ottawa grabbed a potential steal in Zachary L’Heureux. L’Heureux was lower on our board due to four suspensions, but his offensive production makes him worth the selection at #39. If he can be cautious of his on-ice issues and just become an aggressive defender in transition and on the forecheck, he will be very successful with similar minded forwards in Ottawa. Chicago takes Aleksi Heimosalmi, who stick-handles with ease around the forecheck. Quick pivots and he’s off. Winnipeg nets Sean Tschigerl, who possesses strong forechecking especially on the penalty kill, uses his upper body well to separate himself from attackers and has strong defensive awareness. Towards the end of the second round, we saw a few players go off the board like Liam Gilmartin to the Islanders and Liam Dower Nilsson to the Canadiens who both possess excellent compete levels. They give it their all every shift and are puck hungry.

Third Round

Third Round65New York RangersBuffaloBaileyAidan HreschukUSNTDP
Third Round66AnaheimAlexWyatt JohnstonWindsor
Third Round67SeattleJoshTy VoitSarnia
Third Round68New JerseyJordanDmitri KatelevskyKazan
Third Round69ColumbusBaileyTrevor WongKelowna
Third Round70DetroitPaulTristan LennoxSaginaw
Third Round71San JoseJoshDmitri KuzminDinamo-Molodechno
Third Round72Los AngelesAlexVictor StjernborgVäxjö
Third Round73VancouverBaileyJiri TichacekKladno
Third Round74OttawaJordanLorenzo CanonicaShawinigan
Third Round75WashingtonNew Jersey (via ARI)AlexKirill KirsanovSKA St-Petersburg
Third Round76MontrealChicagoAlexMatvei PetrovKrylya Sovetov Moscow
Third Round77CalgaryJoshDanila KlimovichMinskie Zubry
Third Round78PhiladelphiaAlexOliver KapanenKalPa
Third Round79DallasJordanLukas GustafssonChicago
Third Round80New York RangersBaileyRyan UfkoChicago
Third Round81St. LouisPaulMartin RysavyHC Prerov
Third Round82WinnipegJordanBrett HarrisonOshawa
Third Round83NashvilleAlexVladislav LukashevichYaroslavl
Third Round84CalgaryEdmontonJoshSamuel HeleniusJYP
Third Round85BostonJoshRobert OrrHalifax
Third Round86MinnesotaJoshEthan Del MastroMississauga
Third Round87MontrealSan Jose (via WSH)AlexJack BarChicago
Third Round88BuffaloFloridaPaulChase StillmanSudbury
Third Round89Los AngelesTorontoAlexPeter ReynoldsSaint John
Third Round90MinnesotaPittsburghJoshShai BuiumSioux City
Third Round91CarolinaPaulVincent IorioBrandon
Third Round92ColoradoJordanRedmond SavageUSNTDP
Third Round93New York IslandersBaileyHugo GabrielssonFrölunda
Third Round94DetroitVegasPaulVerner MiettinenKiekko-Espoo
Third Round95BuffaloMontrealPaulJustin RobidasVal-d’Or
Third Round96TampaPaulConner RouletteSeattle

Fourth Round

Fourth Round97BuffaloPaulJames MalatestaQuebec
Fourth Round98AnaheimAlexJayden GrubbeRed Deer
Fourth Round99SeattleJoshOscar PlandowskiCharlottetown
Fourth Round100New JerseyJordanFrancesco ArcuriKingston
Fourth Round101ColumbusBaileyTopias VilénPelicans
Fourth Round102DetroitPaulElias StenmanSkellefteå
Fourth Round103San JoseJoshKalle VäisänenTPS
Fourth Round104New York RangersLos AngelesBaileyJustin JanickeUSNTDP
Fourth Round105ChicagoVancouverPaulPhilip GranathFrölunda
Fourth Round106New York RangersOttawaBaileyNolan AllanPrince Albert
Fourth Round107ArizonaBaileyKirill GerasimyukSKA St-Petersburg
Fourth Round108ChicagoPaulTy GallagherUSNTDP
Fourth Round109Los AngelesCalgaryAlexTheo JacobssonMODO
Fourth Round110PhiladelphiaAlexDovar TinlingVermont
Fourth Round111DallasJordanCameron WhynotHalifax
Fourth Round112New York RangersBaileyRoman SchmidtUSNTDP
Fourth Round113MontrealSt. LouisAlexOlivier NadeauShawinigan
Fourth Round114VegasWinnipegJordanJackson BlakeChicago
Fourth Round115NashvilleAlexLogan Mailloux*London
Fourth Round116EdmontonBaileyJimi SuomiJokerit
Fourth Round117BostonJoshJack MatierOttawa
Fourth Round118MinnesotaJoshJeremy WilmerUSNTDP
Fourth Round119WashingtonAlexViljami MarjalaQuebec
Fourth Round120FloridaAlexCole HuckinsAcadie-Bathurst
Fourth Round121San JoseTorontoJoshRuben RafkinTPS
Fourth Round122ArizonaPittsburghBaileyDavid GucciardiWaterloo
Fourth Round123CarolinaPaulNoah MeierGCK Zürich
Fourth Round124NashvilleOttawa (via COL)AlexKyle MastersRed Deer
Fourth Round125New York IslandersBaileyJack O’BrienPortland
Fourth Round126MontrealVegasAlexAleksi MalinenJYP
Fourth Round127MontrealAlexJoshua RoySherbrooke
Fourth Round128DetroitTampaPaulDario AllenspachEVZ Zug

Third and Fourth Round Recap

In rounds three and four, there was a run of prospects who project to be excellent third line grinders with offensive upside. Dmitri Katelevsky was selected by the Devils. Katelevsky has proven to be a forechecking pest in a league that simply doesn’t see a ton of forechecking pressure. Victor Stjernborg to the LA Kings. Stjernborg is a well-rounded forward, who provides the Kings with an excellent defensive forward when covering the point and the half-wall. Aside from the grinders, Jiri Tichacek was selected by the Vancouver Canucks. Don’t let size fool you. There is a solid prospect in Jiri. For a smaller defender, he has excellent gap control and solid physicality. He’ll give you Nick Jensen vibes at times. In round four, there were quite a few defensemen who are true defensive defenseman and can be pests to beat. For instance, Topias Vilén and Jack Matier. The San Jose Sharks drafted two TPS prospects with their fourth round picks. Kalle Väisänen provides the Sharks with a physical power forward who loves finding open ice to key up one-timers. Ruben Rafkin is a Finnish over-ager, who has shown to be excellent in transition and loves to pinch up to run the cycle. 

Note on Mailloux: At the time of the mock conducted, Mailloux was eligible to be drafted before withdrawing.

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