Early look for 2021 draft

[The Zetterberg Era]

Elite skating. Very good hockey sense. Good size. Good positioning and gap control. Not as "skilled" offensively as his brothers, but he has a good offensive toolkit, or at least has looked better than I was expecting prior to watching him. I'll be curious to see how much his offense develops this year. In theory, he can afford to take more risks than the other guys in his draft class simply because he's such a great skater. And no, it certainly doesn't hurt that he gets to train with Quinn and Jack Hughes during the summer.

He's also mere days from being in the 2022 draft. He is doing all this at as young as you can do it. I think the WJC-20 team made a mistake not taking him to the tournament. The most excited I have been about a d-man in the program since Jones. I like him more than Quinn at the same age and I did like Quinn a ton.

I still believe there is a ton in there and at 6'2" with a better frame for weight than his brothers he has a physicality upside as he continues to develop. But like Jones, he just has really amazing tools to me.

 

[lilidk]

Anybody watching Veleno. I like that Veleno getting a lot of responsibility. There is 17 year old defender there , looks confident
Anton Olsson at eliteprospects.com
Could be target for second round , if he is still there

 

[Henkka]

Johansson - Seider
Power - Hronek
(whoever) - Wallinder

That looks like a good projection. Maybe Wallinder-Lindström at 3rd pair.

 

[GoBoltz56]

Johansson - Seider
Power - Hronek
(whoever) - Wallinder

In terms of a general prospect depth chart, it seems realistic. But in terms of a nightly lineup, it never works out this way. There are always UFA's and vets mixed in and some prospects bust or are traded. For example, Tampa has had a ton of high picks over the years but the only drafted D-man they had on their cup roster was Hedman this past year. Even the Wings cup teams only had a few drafted D-men on the nightly roster, and the rest were vets/ UFA's.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

In terms of a general prospect depth chart, it seems realistic. But in terms of a nightly lineup, it never works out this way. There are always UFA's and vets mixed in and some prospects bust or are traded. For example, Tampa has had a ton of high picks over the years but the only drafted D-man they had on their cup roster was Hedman this past year. Even the Wings cup teams only had a few drafted D-men on the nightly roster, and the rest were vets/ UFA's.

That's how I feel about this as well. I think a few of these guys end up being traded to improve our areas of weakness (center, goalie) from our positions of strength (wing, defense) if these prospects develop as hoped for. Our projected lineup will likely be 60% current prospects and graduates, supplemented by FAs and trades 5 years from now.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Blueliner Owen Power tops McKenzie's first 2021 Draft Ranking

Mckenzie's list posted. Top 10...

1. Owen Power (LHD)
2. Simon Edvinsson (LHD)
3. Dylan Guenther (C/RW)
4. Matt Beniers (C)
5. Brandt Clarke (RHD)
6. William Eklund (C/LW)
7. Kent Johnson (C/LW)
8. Aatu Raty (C)
9. Mason McTavish (C)
10. Luke Hughes (LHD)

 

[GoBoltz56]

I like Powers as a prospect, but he's definitely more of a project than initially thought it seems. My darkhorse for us is Beniers...I think he's the type we need...good 2-way 2nd line center who can contribute everywhere.

 

[Henkka]

Blueliner Owen Power tops McKenzie's first 2021 Draft Ranking

Mckenzie's list posted.

— Swedish goalie Jesper Wallstedt, at No. 14, did get one vote in the top five overall. He’s one of three goalies on the Swedish national junior team at the WJC.

If we want a goalie, he is pretty sure there with our pick.

 

[Henkka]

3. Dylan Guenther: The 6-foot Edmonton Oil King scored 29 goals as a WHL rookie last season and earned a reputation as a versatile goal-scoring/playmaking forward. Two of our 10 scouts ranked him No. 1 and two more had him at No. 2, but not playing full time yet this season in the WHL may, anecdotally speaking, start chipping away at his status. He did play a handful of games in the Alberta Junior League for Sherwood Park. His projection is as a top-six NHL forward.

Guenther sounds so Raymond copy, that I think we don't need another one. And we have those damn wingers.

 

[Henkka]

My darkhorse for us is Beniers...I think he's the type we need...good 2-way 2nd line center who can contribute everywhere.

Have to admit that I've started liking him very very much.

Can't wait that U20 to start. Fun to see especially him.

4. Matthew Beniers:

The University of Michigan freshman centre didn’t get a vote for first overall but he did get three rankings at No. 2 and/or 3. Because he’s playing such a strong two-way game for the Wolverines, his star is most definitely ascending. He’s pegged to play between Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield on the U.S. national junior team at the World Junior Championship, which will be a terrific opportunity for him to enhance his standing. Scouts are currently projecting him as an NHL second-line centre.

From a defenceman draft... this has started to feel like a goalie or Center draft for us. Our young defencemen are doing so well, like Seider, Johansson etc.

And that winger core is so damn deep. Still need extra centers.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Have to admit that I've started liking him very very much.

Can't wait that U20 to start. Fun to see especially him.



From a defenceman draft... this has started to feel like a goalie or Center draft for us. Our young defencemen are doing so well, like Seider, Johansson etc.

And that winger core is so damn deep. Still need extra centers.

Fill out the defense or goaltending this year with one of Power/Hughes/Lambos/Wallstedt, then get Brad Lambert next year. He can be our next do-it-all scoring center/leader.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Blueliner Owen Power tops McKenzie's first 2021 Draft Ranking

Mckenzie's list posted. Top 10...

1. Owen Power (LHD)
2. Simon Edvinsson (LHD)
3. Dylan Guenther (C/RW)
4. Matt Beniers (C)
5. Brandt Clarke (RHD)
6. William Eklund (C/LW)
7. Kent Johnson (C/LW)
8. Aatu Raty (C)
9. Mason McTavish (C)
10. Luke Hughes (LHD)

This list makes me think Detroit should target 1st round picks.

A lot of needs might be available.

 

[Henkka]

Added Bob's list + many others from November. Also my own views there with stronger load than ever. Still mostly an average rank. My own rank only with 10% weight.

Pick	AVG	Range	Pos	2021 draft	Size/Hand	Nat
1	1,7	1-4	LD	Owen Power	6'5 - L	CAN
2	3,7	1-10	RD	Brandt Clarke	6'1 - R	CAN
3	5,2	2-10	LD	Luke Hughes	6'0 - L	USA
4	5,3	2-9	LD	Simon Edvinsson	6'4 - L	SWE
5	5,5	2-17	LD	Carson Lambos	6'1 - L	CAN
6	5,8	1-12	C/LW	Kent Johnson	6'1 - L	CAN
7	6,9	1-16	RW	Dylan Guenther	6'2 - R	CAN
8	7,9	3-16	C	Matthew Beniers	6'0 - L	USA
9	9,3	1-25	C	Aatu Räty	6'1 - L	FIN
10	11,5	4-16	C	Chaz Lucius	6'1 - R	USA
11	14,0	4-41	C/LW	William Eklund	5'10 - L	SWE
12	14,3	5-26	RW	Fabian Lysell	5'10 - R	SWE
13	15,1	4-32	G	Jesper Wallstedt	6'3	SWE
14	15,3	8-19	C/LW	Cole Sillinger	6'0 - L	CAN
15	16,4	9-33	LW	Zachary L'Heureux	5'11 - L	CAN
16	17,5	4-32	C	Mason McTavish	6'1 - L	CAN
17	18,4	6-35	C	Zachary Bolduc	6'1 - L	CAN
18	21,1	11-31	LD	Daniil Chayka	6'2 - L	RUS
19	23,6	15-36	RW	Xavier Bourgault	5'11 - R	CAN
20	25,4	9-39	RD	Corson Ceulemans	6'2 - R	CAN
21	25,4	10-40	RW	Samu Tuomaala	5'10 - R	FIN
22	25,6	14-37	F	Logan Stankoven	5'8 - R	CAN
23	26,9	17-38	RW	Nikita Chibrikov	5'10 - L	RUS
24	27,0	7-37	LW	Brennan Othmann	5'11 - L	CAN
25	28,0	5-59	LW	Oskar Olausson	6'2 - L	SWE
26	28,2	14-48	LW	Sasha Pastujov	6'0 - L	USA
27	30,1	14-53	W	Simon Robertsson	6'0 - L	SWE
28	30,3	10-44	W	Isak Rosen	5'10 - L	SWE
29	30,5	11-43	LD	Aidan Hreschuk	5'11 - L	USA
30	32,0	19-54	LW	Francesco Pinelli	6'0 - L	CAN
31	32,5	15-45	LD	Isaac Belliveau	6'0 - L	CAN
32	32,7	27-50	C/LW	Samu Salminen	6'2 - L	FIN
33	33,3	15-68	RW	Matthew Samoskevich	5'9 - R	USA
34	33,3	12-46	C	Zach Dean	6'0 - L	CAN
35	34,7	22-44	LD	Stanislav Svozil	6'1 - L	CZE
36	34,7	16-56	C	Jack O'Brien	6'0 - L	USA
37	35,9	6-64	C	Daniil Lazutin	6'2 - L	RUS
38	37,6	19-52	C	Brett Harrison	6'1 - L	CAN
39	37,7	14-53	LW	Matthew Coronato	5'10 - R	USA
40	38,9	22-58	LW	Joshua Roy	6'1 - L	CAN
41	39,3	19-80	C/LW	Dylan Duke	5'9 - L	USA
42	39,4	15-56	C	Ryder Korczak	5'10 - R	CAN
43	40,1	13-63	LW	Conner Roulette	5'11 - L	CAN
44	41,5	9-80	LD	Sean Behrens	5'8 - L	USA
45	42,1	28-54	LD	Anton Olsson	6'1 - L	SWE
46	45,0	16-59	LD	Artem Grushnikov	6'2 - L	RUS
47	46,0	24-63	C	Matthew Knies	6'2 - L	USA
48	46,8	29-60	RW	Prokhor Poltapov	5'10 - L	RUS
49	47,8	15-90	RD	Scott Morrow	6'2 - R	USA
50	49,1	24-74	RD	Dmitry Kostenko	6'0 - R	RUS
51	49,7	13-74	RD	Roman Schmidt	6'5 - R	USA
52	51,5	23-75	LD	Vladislav Lukashevich	6'1 - L	RUS
53	52,2	27-67	C	James Malatesta	5'9 - L	CAN
54	53,2	34-64	C	Peter Reynolds	5'10 - L	CAN
55	53,3	35-63	W	Fedor Svechkov	6'0 - L	RUS
56	53,3	31-70	C	Cole Huckins	6'4 - L	CAN
57	53,6	16-66	C	Lorenzo Canonica	5'11 - L	SUI
58	53,6	31-69	LD	Cameron Whynot	6'2 - L	CAN
59	53,7	29-73	C	Wyatt Johnston	5'11 - R	CAN
60	54,4	33-71	G	Sebastian Cossa	6'4	CAN
61	56,0	33-72	C	Connor Lockhart	5'9 - R	CAN
62	56,3	25-80	C	Justin Robidas	5'7 - R	CAN
63	56,5	23-94	LW	William Strömgren	6'2 - L	SWE
64	57,7	36-82	W	Justin Janicke	5'11 - L	USA
65	58,2	37-67	RD	Oscar Plandowski	5'11 - R	CAN
66	58,9	32-75	RW	Chase Stillman	5'11 - R	CAN
67	60,9	31-89	LD	Kirill Kirsanov	6'1 - L	RUS
68	64,0	15-93	LW	Martin Rysavy	6'2 - L	CZE
69	64,9	41-80	LD	Graham Sward	6'2 - L	CAN
70	65,0	33-73	LW	Gabe Klassen	5'10 - L	CAN
71	65,3	35-84	C	Verner Miettinen	5'11 - L	FIN
72	65,5	46-76	C	Oleksii Myklukha	5'10 - R	SVK
73	65,9	48-84	C	Jeremy Wilmer	5'6 - L	USA
74	66,3	29-85	F	Tyler Boucher	6'1 - R	USA
75	68,0	44-79	LW	Zack Stringer	6'1 - L	CAN
76	68,3	16-91	LD	Jimi Suomi	5'9 - L	FIN
77	70,5	48-83	LD	Atte Lehikoinen	6'2 - L	FIN
78	70,6	32-90	C/LW	Andre Gasseau	6'4 - L	USA
79	70,7	41-99	C	Samuel Helenius	6'7 - L	FIN
80	72,4	28-102	LD	Shai Buium	6'3 - L	USA
81	72,6	27-117	LD	Evan Nause	6'2 - L	CAN
82	74,6	48-102	RD	Jack Bar	6'2 - R	CAN
83	74,9	31-122	G	Benjamin Gaudreau	5'10	CAN
84	75,1	14-103	RD	Logan Mailloux	6'3 - R	CAN
85	75,4	43-146	LW	Ayrton Martino	5'10 - L	CAN
86	75,5	48-90	LD	Vincent Iorio	6'3 - L	CAN
87	76,8	51-103	LW	Ville Koivunen	5'11 - L	FIN
88	77,0	48-85	C	Alexei Prokopenko	5'11 - L	RUS
89	77,4	48-90	F	Yusaku Ando	5'8 - R	JPN
90	78,1	65-100	LD	Luke Mittelstadt	5'11 - L	USA
91	78,1	48-89	RD	Ty Callagher	6'0 - R	USA
92	78,2	43-90	C/RW	Marcus Almquist	5'7 - R	DEN
93	78,2	47-116	G	Tristan Lennox	6'4 - L	CAN
94	78,7	56-101	LW	Viljami Marjala	5'11 - L	FIN
95	80,5	48-91	C	Alex Geci	6'2 - L	SVK
96	80,5	49-103	C	Liam Dower Nilsson	5'11 - L	SWE
97	83,5	63-108	W	Oliver Moberg	6'2 - L	SWE
98	83,7	39-116	C/LW	Cameron MacDonald	6'2 - L	CAN
99	84,8	45-117	RW	Eetu Liukas	6'2 - L	FIN
100	88,1	66-117	F	Oliver Kapanen	6'0 - R	FIN
101	88,4	56-105	C	Francesco Arcuri	6'0 - L	CAN
102	88,7	52-114	LW	Matvei Petrov	6'1 - R	RUS
103	89,1	54-120	C	Elias Stenman	5'10 - L	SWE
104	90,1	65-118	LD	Guillaume Richard	6'2 - L	CAN
105	90,1	65-115	C/LW	Red Savage	5'11 - L	USA
107	90,2	64-116	RW	Ty Voit	5'9 - R	USA
108	90,2	40-118	LW	Stuart Rolofs	6'2	CAN
109	90,3	50-144	C	Manix Landry	5'11 - L	CAN
110	91,1	65-118	C	Riley Kidney	5'11 - L	CAN
111	91,1	51-145	F	Kalle Väisänen	6'4 - R	FIN
112	91,2	65-145	LD	Nolan Allan	6'2 - L	CAN
113	91,9	62-132	RW	Niko Huuhtanen	6'1 - R	FIN
114	92,7	65-170	F	Joonas Lohisalo	6'2 - L	FIN
115	93,6	64-118	G	Talyn Boyko	6'8	CAN
116	93,9	62-116	LD	Brian Zanetti	6'2 - L	SUI
117	95,1	59-145	C	Jere Virolainen	6'1 - L	FIN
118	98,2	69-170	RD	Ruben Rafkin	6'0 - R	FIN
119	99,6	70-145	RW	Alex Christopoulos	5'10 - R	CAN
120	99,9	72-145	C	Avery Hayes	5'10 - R	USA
121	100,1	69-145	G	Hobie Hedquist	6'2	USA

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Henkka]

Samuel Helenius is very interesting Finnish prospect. Is like Elmer Söderblom, huge sized 199cm, 91kg center with some skill. Has played at Liiga againt men at this season, and put some nice points.

I would put him a lot higher on my own list, but I still like to go with these averages.

Watch him out at WJC.

Son of former NHL goon Sami Helenius.

***

Would be fun to have Helenius, Rasmussen, and Söderblom at future core.

 

[HoweFan]

I think Bob McKenzie needs to consult some new scouts when he has Lambos at 17. Hopefully none of these ones are Red Wings

 

[Gniwder]

I like Powers as a prospect, but he's definitely more of a project than initially thought it seems. My darkhorse for us is Beniers...I think he's the type we need...good 2-way 2nd line center who can contribute everywhere.

Not thrilled with the prospect of picking a 2C with a top 5 pick. Top 5 pick should be first line...

I'd prefer to go all in on one of the Dmen then pick centers and goalies with the rest of the picks.

 

[jfrank21]

Beniers could very well turn out to be a Larkin clone. I could live with that with a top 5 pick in a draft year lacking in superstar talent. At this point, depending on where the wings land, I'd be excited for one of Powers, Beniers, or Hughes.

 

[lilidk]

A lot of those kids not even playing, it has little sense to pay attention to those ranking at this point.

 

[Martinez]

I’m no goalie scout but this seems significant. Comparing wallstedt and the other goalie on his team. Maybe the other goalie is just really bad or maybe wallstedt is really good.

Wallstedt GP: 9 GAA 2.06 SV% .920
Rautio GP: 12 GAA 2.84 SV% .888

 

[raymond23]

Beniers could very well turn out to be a Larkin clone. I could live with that with a top 5 pick in a draft year lacking in superstar talent. At this point, depending on where the wings land, I'd be excited for one of Powers, Beniers, or Hughes.

If you can get a Larkin-clone with a top 5 pick, you take that every time. Especially if it’s 18-19 Larkin.

 

[Martinez]

I don’t think beniers has as low of a ceiling as some people are making it out to be. He’s just as skilled as any other forward, he just isn’t as flashy. He makes effective moves and the puck just stays on his stick, even against the boards when battling bigger defenders.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I don’t think beniers has as low of a ceiling as some people are making it out to be. He’s just as skilled as any other forward, he just isn’t as flashy. He makes effective moves and the puck just stays on his stick, even against the boards when battling bigger defenders.

Low ceiling? Top 6 isn't a low ceiling. I think the concern is the lack of elite potential. I can see Beniers being an impact, 2-way guy getting 50-60 points in the NHL, but I don't think he's the kind of guy who would ever be in the top 30 in scoring. He'll be a star, but not a superstar.

 

[Martinez]

Low ceiling? Top 6 isn't a low ceiling. I think the concern is the lack of elite potential. I can see Beniers being an impact, 2-way guy getting 50-60 points in the NHL, but I don't think he's the kind of guy who would ever be in the top 30 in scoring. He'll be a star, but not a superstar.

I’d don’t see why he lacks elite potential, he’s going to get way better as the ncaa season goes on, if it does go on. Last I heard he was playing with boldy and caufield in the wjc. Lack of flash does not mean less skill. I get why a d man like power has tons of potential but for the forwards beniers has as high of a ceiling as anyone.

 

[GoBoltz56]

Not thrilled with the prospect of picking a 2C with a top 5 pick. Top 5 pick should be first line...

I'd prefer to go all in on one of the Dmen then pick centers and goalies with the rest of the picks.

Drafts are a crapshoot anyways, but this year is FULL of kids who are complete projects with no sure-fire #1 overall pick...so unfortunately there aren't alot of top pairing d-men or 1st line forward options available. Beniers fits the bill as a safer pick because he's already mature in his 2-way game while guys like Johnson are flash and skill with no 2-way ability yet. As others mentioned, running Larkin and Beniers down the middle with skilled wingers is hard to complain about.

 

[Frk It]

I like the options at defenseman better than the forwards. And I am probably a bigger fan of Beniers than most, I mentioned him back in July in this thread.

People that have cooled on Power are just stat-watching. He has all the tools and traits you want and projects very well at the next level.