Prospect Info: 2021 NHL Draft Part 2

[Fighter]

Just go for the BPA Bob: Beniers, Edvinsson, Eklund.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

“We just did a presentation for ownership,” Murray said, referring to Henry and Susan Samueli. “If you look at any of the top teams this season, and back when we were good, the core of their players, 80 percent of them, come from the draft, if not more. This is a big draft for us. Whoever we get (in the first round) has to be capable of playing in our core, in our top-six forwards.”

Murray expanded from top line to top-six forwards. Everyone is thinking LW Eklund will be a top line forward. The media darling being mocked to the Ducks at #3 in RW Guenther, is also projected to be a top line forward. We already have 1C Zegras. If the team selects C McTavish, then he'd be playing 2C, which is a top-six forward.

McTavish has shown he can also play 1C at the WJC-18 and not miss a step. That's gotta be huge when thinking long term. He is the most complete center and his ceiling just keeps raising.

Eklund's play dropped when he lost his center Josefson in mid-November. Josefson returned for four games in December, but Holtz wasn't available in December. Eklund got hot in the last three games with a point in each game, but he was center by a recent trade for a big center in Stoa.

Eklund
2020-21	Games	g	a	pts	ppg
Total	40	11	12	23	0.575
Before Dec	18	8	5	13	0.722
Dec	6	0	2	2	0.333
After Dec	16	3	5	8	0.5

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

An Eklund-Josefson-Holtz line was en feugo to start the season together! It took a while for Djurgardens to find the right chemistry for Eklund when Josefson wasn't available.

McTavish had an opposite path such that he started slow in the Swiss League with 1 point in the first six games and then went beyond del scorcho to where there wasn't enough TP for the great Cornhulio's bunghole. In the final seven games, he scored 9g and 1a. In the playoffs he helped Olten win their sweep in the first round, he generated 2 goals and 5 assists in four games.

2021
	League	Team	Season	Games	G	A	Pts	PPG
McTavish	NL-B	Olten	Regular	13	9	2	11	0.85
McTavish				1 thru 6	0	1	1	0.17
McTavish				7 thru 13	9	1	10	1.43
.
McTavish	NL-B	Olten	Post	4	2	5	7	1.75
.
McTavish	WJC-18	Canada		7	5	6	11	1.57

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

McTavish' game got stronger the more games he played. It helps that he has an NHL body already at 6'1 and 207 pounds, which is 3 inches taller and 35 pounds heavier than Eklund.

I've said before that McTavish and Eklund were equal to me in talent. I like them both. It's just a preference of top goal scorer + physicality vs top playmaker as well as center vs wing. No one believed it possible back when I introduced this, but now McKenzie says they're both equal to him. I just have a preference for a physical, goal scoring center whose upside remains unknown to due to his big jump in improvement this season.

Guenther, on the other hand, just doesn't pop like an elite player should at the AJHL and WJC-18. In the lower league of the AJHL, he scored 3g + 2a in four games. At the WJC-18, he scored 4g + 3a in seven games while playing on the top line for team Canada with Othmann and 2022 Wright. That's all Guenther managed for a projected top-3 pick? That's very good production, but below top-end talent production on a stage with other talented players and teams. Wright had 9g + 5a in only five games. Othmann had 3g + 3a in seven games.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Last year most places had Drysdale as the Ducks pick and this year its Guenther linked to the Ducks, then there was someone in this forum that mentioned seeing Madden himself at a game watching Guenther and that he seemed really impressed by him.

Then Bobs comment about Top6 has eliminated chance they go Edvinsson/Clarke/Hughes.
That narrows it down to Eklund, Guenther, Beniers, McTavish, Johnson.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Murray expanded from top line to top-six forwards. Everyone is thinking LW Eklund will be a top line forward. The media darling being mocked to the Ducks at #3 in RW Guenther, is also projected to be a top line forward. We already have 1C Zegras. If the team selects C McTavish, then he'd be playing 2C, which is a top-six forward.

McTavish has shown he can also play 1C at the WJC-18 and not miss a step. That's gotta be huge when thinking long term. He is the most complete center and his ceiling just keeps raising.

Eklund's play dropped when he lost his center Josefson in mid-November. Josefson returned for four games in December, but Holtz wasn't available in December. Eklund got hot in the last three games with a point in each game, but he was center by a recent trade for a big center in Stoa.

Eklund
2020-21	Games	g	a	pts	ppg
Total	40	11	12	23	0.575
Before Dec	18	8	5	13	0.722
Dec	6	0	2	2	0.333
After Dec	16	3	5	8	0.5

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

An Eklund-Josefson-Holtz line was en feugo to start the season together! It took a while for Djurgardens to find the right chemistry for Eklund when Josefson wasn't available.

McTavish had an opposite path such that he started slow in the Swiss League with 1 point in the first six games and then went beyond del scorcho to where there wasn't enough TP for the great Cornhulio's bunghole. In the final seven games, he scored 9g and 1a. In the playoffs he helped Olten win their sweep in the first round, he generated 2 goals and 5 assists in four games.

2021
	League	Team	Season	Games	G	A	Pts	PPG
McTavish	NL-B	Olten	Regular	13	9	2	11	0.85
McTavish				1 thru 6	0	1	1	0.17
McTavish				7 thru 13	9	1	10	1.43
.
McTavish	NL-B	Olten	Post	4	2	5	7	1.75
.
McTavish	WJC-18	Canada		7	5	6	11	1.57

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

McTavish' game got stronger the more games he played. It helps that he has an NHL body already at 6'1 and 207 pounds, which is 3 inches taller and 35 pounds heavier than Eklund.

I've said before that McTavish and Eklund were equal to me in talent. I like them both. It's just a preference of top goal scorer + physicality vs top playmaker as well as center vs wing. No one believed it possible back when I introduced this, but now McKenzie says they're both equal to him. I just have a preference for a physical, goal scoring center whose upside remains unknown to due to his big jump in improvement this season.

Guenther, on the other hand, just doesn't pop like an elite player should at the AJHL and WJC-18. In the lower league of the AJHL, he scored 3g + 2a in four games. At the WJC-18, he scored 4g + 3a in seven games while playing on the top line for team Canada with Othmann and 2022 Wright. That's all Guenther managed for a projected top-3 pick? That's very good production, but below top-end talent production on a stage with other talented players and teams. Wright had 9g + 5a in only five games. Othmann had 3g + 3a in seven games.

I prefer McTavish over Guenther for sure now but still prefer Eklund over both.

I guess I see Guenther as a guy who could have ran away with insanely good numbers at WHL over a full season or a guy who just got off to a hot start there and would cool off which makes him risky to me.

McTavish is safer bet to be a goal scorer with 37 goals and 23 assists.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Does anyone else get a bit of a Joffrey Lupul vibe from Guenther?

Obviously quite talented offensively, but will he be an elite producer or just a notable offensive player? Is there any depth to his game beyond offense? Will he rise to the occasion when the going gets tough?

 

[Masch78]

Does anyone else get a bit of a Joffrey Lupul vibe from Guenther?

Obviously quite talented offensively, but will he be an elite producer or just a notable offensive player? Is there any depth to his game beyond offense? Will he rise to the occasion when the going gets tough?

I'd take a healthy Lupul in a heartbeat but I'd still go with Eklund.

 

[Kalv]

Does anyone else get a bit of a Joffrey Lupul vibe from Guenther?

Obviously quite talented offensively, but will he be an elite producer or just a notable offensive player? Is there any depth to his game beyond offense? Will he rise to the occasion when the going gets tough?

Guenther is regarded as a good two-way player, but I don't know myself.
To me I do not see the hype why we would need to pick him at #3. He looks like a great pick at #8-#10 tho.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I'd take a healthy Lupul in a heartbeat.

Well sure, we could use the offensive help and he was a pretty good player at his best. But with a #3 pick you're hoping for more

 

[Masch78]

Well sure, we could use the offensive help and he was a pretty good player at his best. But with a #3 pick you're hoping for more

Sure but I'd be pretty pleased if this pick turns out to be a 35g scorer. Lupul, when healthy was that kind of player.

 

[Trojans86]

I’m still confused why people assume Seattle doesn’t take power if he’s there at 2

I personally just think it woupd be hard for thrm to pass up a center like him. A bit of positional need.

 

[Kalv]

The weird thing is that pretty sure that the 3rd big piece in our rebuild will most likely play the ''3rd role'' (be a bit lower), compared to Zegras and Drysdale who were picked lower (#6 and #9).

But that's fine, can't wait for tonight to see what we get.

 

[anezthes]

Does anyone else get a bit of a Joffrey Lupul vibe from Guenther?

I get floater vibes. No bueno.

 

[rlstine]

The thing that concerns me about Guenther is that I think the WHL is kind of a shitty league and our last couple prospects out of it haven't exactly panned out.

 

[gilfaizon]

I think I prefer a swing like McTavish over Guenther. Although I guess McTavish isn't quite the swing he was even a couple of months ago. However, you have to wonder if we prioritize our organizational strength at D and go Edvidsson. I'm really nervous, I have no idea.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I really hope it’s

eklund or berniers

if not them
Power or Hughes

mctavish or guenther I’d be okay with but not nearly as happy

 

[Anaheim4ever]

The thing that concerns me about Guenther is that I think the WHL is kind of a shitty league and our last couple prospects out of it haven't exactly panned out.

Steel and Mahura destroyed the WHL and struggle in the NHL.

 

[AngelDuck]

Theodore turned out pretty good, as did Barzal. Guenther will be a very good player, and I don’t get the floater vibe from him.

 

[Rasp]

Guenther is the best player to complement Zegras, Power/Edvinsson are the best for Drysdale

 

[Kalv]

Guenther is the best player to complement Zegras, Power/Edvinsson are the best for Drysdale

We have to look for the best player, not best complementary player.

 

[bsu]

Button: He’s another really good offensive player. I’ll tell you who he reminds me of. He reminds me of Sebastian Aho. He’s quick and he’s fast. He’s quick and fast in recognizing where the opportunities are. He sees them and now he’s ready to get there. A lot of players, by the time they recognize them, it’s too late. That’s not the case with William. He’s got a quick processor with respect to opportunity. And then when he gets them, he’s dialed in.
I use this comparison for William Eklund. Lionel Messi has got a striker’s mentality. That’s why he’s arguably the greatest goal scorer that’s ever played soccer. But that striker mentality says, ‘That’s where I’ve got to be, and I’ve got to be there at the right time.’ (Messi’s) not the biggest guy. He’s not the most blazing guy. He doesn’t jump the highest. But he’s got the striker mentality. He’s obviously been a brilliant striker. William Eklund has a striker’s mentality.

 

[Dirk316]

2021 NHL Draft: Mason McTavish has steal potential

 

[Vipers31]

I loved Zetterberg, so that comparison always excited me, and I love Sebastian Aho, so I’m hoping he’s available, the Ducks agree and we end up with Eklund. But since my personal „scouting“ was minimal this season, I’m not going to go all-in on my rather superficial preferences. Still, looking forward to seeing what kind of core piece we’ll add in 9ish hours.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Interesting comment from Murray - targeting a F perhaps?


Draft serves as foundation for Ducks GM Bob Murray’s rebuilding project

I reposted that to the Eichel thread so people will see the Ducks aren't trading the #3.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

There is no way Murray would ever pass on Powers:

Owen Power, a defenseman from the University of Michigan who reminds many scouts of former Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger, is the consensus top pick, ticketed for Buffalo

Draft serves as foundation for Ducks GM Bob Murray’s rebuilding project

 

[ShadowDuck]

I hate that comparison. Other than size, I don’t see any similarities.