Speculation: NHL 2021 Entry Draft -- "Don't Call It A Rebuild"

[Muffinalt]

It's looking like a really D heavy draft, so if the Hawks land a top 3 pick it's likely BPA is a D.

There's also Wallstedt, who I said last year I liked more than Askarov, and so far I still do.

As for forwards, Kent Johnson, William Eklund, and Matthew Beniers seem to be the top guys. Guenther could be at their level, but the lack of WHL play is hurting his stock right now. Raty I've never been a fan of, and would always scoff when he was pegged as number 1 for this draft.

I absolutely love Beniers. What an add he would be next to Toews and Dach. He's my favorite so far because there just aren't many questions marks with a guy that's so consistent in his motor.

I know we need a true 1D but he could easily be a better pick than some of the D eventually.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Might be the worst year to have 1st overall if we get it, with so much unknown and a lost season for many of the players.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Might be the worst year to have 1st overall if we get it, with so much unknown and a lost season for many of the players.

The lottery will f*** us one way or another, that’s for sure.

 

[Teemu]

Back-of-the-envelope top 10

1. Clarke
2. Beniers
3. Power
4. Eklund
5. Hughes
6. Johnson
7. Wallstedt
8. Sillinger
9. Lambos
10. L'Heureux

 

[Kevin Musto]

I absolutely love Beniers. What an add he would be next to Toews and Dach. He's my favorite so far because there just aren't many questions marks with a guy that's so consistent in his motor.

I know we need a true 1D but he could easily be a better pick than some of the D eventually.

I really like Beniers as well. His 2 way play is excellent from what I've seen so far.

 

[Brightwing]

Nobody else is alarmed with this draft? Of course it's early in the process still, and literally the strangest and most uneven circumstances apply... But my opinion of the crop goes down each day.

And it's not coz I watched a bunch of them (some didn't even play yet). But there is more and more worry popping up everywhere. Power being limited and not too dynamic. Lambos having a hard time adjusting to a higher level. Clarke's defensive issues. Questions about Edvinsson's iq and Hughes' floor (although these two I'm higher on).

What seemed like a situation of 'look there is 4-5 1LHDs in this draft' kind of really changed and pretty fast at that. Id be happy if these Ds were on the level of Drysdale when its all said and done, but they're no sure fire 1lhds to me at this point with so many question marks.

We will see how it all shapes up with more viewings and opportunity. It's always nice to have a top 5 pick regardless of crop, but I really wish our unlucky situation was a year from now on the 22 draft, the real big boy draft.

It's because they are missing their draft season for the most part. The hockey world is a mess and picking in this draft is a total crapshoot. I'm really hoping the CHL gets going properly.

 

[hawksrule]

Might be the worst year to have 1st overall if we get it, with so much unknown and a lost season for many of the players.

Silver lining is we probably won't be much better in '21-22. This is already a bottom-5 team with Dach and Toews.

 

[BK]

Nobody else is alarmed with this draft? Of course it's early in the process still, and literally the strangest and most uneven circumstances apply... But my opinion of the crop goes down each day.

And it's not coz I watched a bunch of them (some didn't even play yet). But there is more and more worry popping up everywhere. Power being limited and not too dynamic. Lambos having a hard time adjusting to a higher level. Clarke's defensive issues. Questions about Edvinsson's iq and Hughes' floor (although these two I'm higher on).

What seemed like a situation of 'look there is 4-5 1LHDs in this draft' kind of really changed and pretty fast at that. Id be happy if these Ds were on the level of Drysdale when its all said and done, but they're no sure fire 1lhds to me at this point with so many question marks.

We will see how it all shapes up with more viewings and opportunity. It's always nice to have a top 5 pick regardless of crop, but I really wish our unlucky situation was a year from now on the 22 draft, the real big boy draft.

I don't see Owen Power as being limited at all.

Edit: I put draft instead of Owen Power.

 

[Kevin Musto]

The only alarming thing with this draft is going to be the small sample sizes.

It's going to result in a lot of busts, steals, and quality undrafted players.

 

[Muffinalt]

I don't see this draft as being limited at all.

Limited? What does that mean?

I think its not as strong as previously thought. It could mostly be due to all the uncertainty to be fair and how so many have not even played at all - but my personal opinion of it gets more and more negative.

Im heavily influeced by the 22 draft too tbh. Its just looking so good. But this draft is missing true top prospects. Could end up being deep, but 1-3OA i thnk wont be as valuable as it is usually.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Limited? What does that mean?

I think its not as strong as previously thought. It could mostly be due to all the uncertainty to be fair and how so many have not even played at all - but my personal opinion of it gets more and more negative.

Im heavily influeced by the 22 draft too tbh. Its just looking so good. But this draft is missing true top prospects. Could end up being deep, but 1-3OA i thnk wont be as valuable as it is usually.

Stating the obvious here but most draft classes are average.

And one where Raty was pegged as number 1 should have never been hyped to begin with.

It's uncommon for there to be a generational talent in a draft...hence the term generational. You're right that we could be seeing that in 2022, but again it's not a common occurrence so it should never be the expectation.

 

[BK]

Limited? What does that mean?

I think its not as strong as previously thought. It could mostly be due to all the uncertainty to be fair and how so many have not even played at all - but my personal opinion of it gets more and more negative.

Im heavily influeced by the 22 draft too tbh. Its just looking so good. But this draft is missing true top prospects. Could end up being deep, but 1-3OA i thnk wont be as valuable as it is usually.

I meant Owen Power instead of draft. Sorry I was multi-tasking.

 

[Muffinalt]

Stating the obvious here but most draft classes are average.

And one where Raty was pegged as number 1 should have never been hyped to begin with.

It's uncommon for there to be a generational talent in a draft...hence the term generational. You're right that we could be seeing that in 2022, but again it's not a common occurrence so it should never be the expectation.

Yeah all valid points. I think i was just too high on the draft prematurely, seeing all the potential 1ld prospects - and then after the inevitable corrections now its a more negative view.

We'll see how it plays out but i dont like draft where every prospect has multipel question marks. Just did that with the recent nba draft, its exhausting lol.

I meant Owen Power instead of draft. Sorry I was multi-tasking.

Im not an expert clearly, but there is more and more worry about him coming up and people being underwhelmed. Scouching for example if you want to hear for yourself. He could improve of course, but there are more concerns than before (thats the theme - same with Raty, Lambos etc.)

 

[BK]

Im not an expert clearly, but there is more and more worry about him coming up and people being underwhelmed. Scouching for example if you want to hear for yourself. He could improve of course, but there are more concerns than before (thats the theme - same with Raty, Lambos etc.)

None of us are experts. except me.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Im not an expert clearly, but there is more and more worry about him coming up and people being underwhelmed. Scouching for example if you want to hear for yourself. He could improve of course, but there are more concerns than before (thats the theme - same with Raty, Lambos etc.)

In my viewings, there's nothing to worry about with Power, but being underwhelmed is a possibility if you're judging him by the 1st overall hype that surrounds him.

From what I've seen thus far, Owen Power is a jack of all trades player with a big size advantage. He's good at everything, but I don't think he possesses any elite attribute.

So maybe he becomes a low end 1D, or a really high end 2D.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

In my viewings, there's nothing to worry about with Power, but being underwhelmed is a possibility if you're judging him by the 1st overall hype that surrounds him.

From what I've seen thus far, Owen Power is a jack of all trades player with a big size advantage. He's good at everything, but I don't think he possesses any elite attribute.

So maybe he becomes a low end 1D, or a really high end 2D.

Is that like a McAvoy type, or is there a better type of defenseman to think of?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Is that like a McAvoy type, or is there a better type of defenseman to think of?

As purely a style comp, I was thinking something like Oscar Klefbom

 

[TheDachKnight]

It's looking like a really D heavy draft, so if the Hawks land a top 3 pick it's likely BPA is a D.

There's also Wallstedt, who I said last year I liked more than Askarov, and so far I still do.

As for forwards, Kent Johnson, William Eklund, and Matthew Beniers seem to be the top guys. Guenther could be at their level, but the lack of WHL play is hurting his stock right now. Raty I've never been a fan of, and would always scoff when he was pegged as number 1 for this draft.

Guenther is/was playing in the AJHL on loan. Not amazing stats but over a ppg.

 

[Pez68]

This is a silly thread. Without Toews and Dach this season, Hawks are guaranteed Owen Power. Shut this thing down.

 

[Kevin Musto]

This is a silly thread. Without Toews and Dach this season, Hawks are guaranteed Owen Power. Shut this thing down.

I'm not entirely convinced at this point that Owen Power would be the guy to target with a top 3 pick, but of course we'll wait to see how things develop.

 

[bwana63]

I'm not entirely convinced at this point that Owen Power would be the guy to target with a top 3 pick, but of course we'll wait to see how things develop.

Yeah, a lot of media draft guys seem to think that Power leaves them wanting to see more. Some of that is due to sky high expectations, but not all of it. I'm hardly a draft expert, but it seems like anointing Power as the top D man is premature.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I'm hardly a draft expert, but it seems like anointing Power as the top D man is premature.

Absolutely. And maybe by the end of the season he really does prove to be the top defender in the draft, but at this point it's too early to peg him as such.

 

[GaryU]

Might be the worst year to have 1st overall if we get it, with so much unknown and a lost season for many of the players.

I'll take my chances with #1...Focus on guys that got to play this season.

 

[Muffinalt]

Absolutely. And maybe by the end of the season he really does prove to be the top defender in the draft, but at this point it's too early to peg him as such.

Well it's nice to have many options at the least, to eventually select from should we end up with a D bpa.

I like Edvinsson's and Hughes' package the most. Especially Edvinsson, his ceiling could be so high.

But above all my crush on Beniers is growing by the day lol.

 

[Kevin Musto]

No idea where he gets drafted, but Kirill Kirsanov is a player I really like in this year's draft. I've watched him play A LOT.

I'm thinking he makes his way into the 1st round, but if not he's my early candidate for the Hawks' 2nd round pick.