Mock Draft with Explanation

Draft Class: 2021

Published: Jun. 5, 2021 at 4:20 p.m.

Description

The year has been a very weird year for the sport in general but as the lottery is now behind, Buffalo will hold the first overall pick. Though this draft has been said to be a little weaker, with the amount of scouting done and potential most of these players have, lots of teams will still grab a quality player and a few will grab that franchise building block for years to come. This may be one of the most uncertain draft classes in recent history as lots of different people are there number one from lots of different paid scouts.

DRAFT

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Round 1
1. Matthew Beniers (Buffalo Sabres) (Details: While most people think Owen Power and it did also cross my mind with the thought of Eichel leaving or just not wanting to play there anymore, it may be a good idea to pick up a center number 2 and really give them a insane center core. This may take the pressure off of Ecihel giving him more of a margin of error knowing he has Beniers and Cones behind him. Beniers also was around a point per game scorer in the NCAA which is very impressive, and also one of the if not only NHL ready players.).
2. Owen Power (Seattle Kraken) (Details: Since Seattle is starting from scratch they will most likely take the best player available. I think even if Power goes number one, you still go either Clarke, Edvidson or Hughes because of how in the expansion draft they will most likely get lots of 2nd or 3rd line Defensemen. Grabbing a future first round guy like Power who is pretty good defensively and good defensively with his great 6 foot 5 or 6 foot 6 frame will be very helpful to start a franchise. Though he does make some errors and probably has a year before NHL playing.).
3. Dylan Guenther (Anaheim Ducks) (Details: The Ducks did not have a great year and also in their luck were the only team to move down in the lottery. It may have only been one spot but that can be the difference between a quality and franchise player. Though I think you take Dylan Guenther and grab a very good scorer to play alongside your very good play making center in Trevor Zegras, maybe giving them a dynamic duo for years to come.).
4. Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) (Details: My favorite team, the New Jersey Devils would be extremely happy to pick a very good scorer who may be the best skater and have the best upside in the draft. What may stop him from going higher is that he has not played in a year but still looks to be extremely good. Also he will give the devils hopefully a good first line right handed defenseman to play next to T.Y Smith for years to come. I would take him over Brandt Clarke because he is a very good skater like his brothers and also has an extremely high upside and offensive potential.).
5. Brandt Clarke (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Details: Blue Jackets either take Edvidson or Clarke depending on who they think is better. I say Clarke because he is a very good defensmen with very good upside and with Seth Jones leaving and not really having any other good Defenseman you take a solid defenseman that you think best. Edvidson does some weird things with the puck at times which is why people have him lower. Clarke on the other hand's main problem is his discipline.).
6. Simon Edvinsson (Detroit Red Wings) (Details: Detroit has to take some defenseman and even though Eklund is still on the board I don’t think they can logically take him. They really need some good defensive prospects that can give them excitement for their future. If they want to make strides in the right direction they need to take D and Edvidson has proved he is very good and just has little things to work out which may take a year or two.).
7. Jesper Wallstedt (San Jose Sharks) (Details: Sharks take a goalie that can very soon be their starter. There two goalies now are goalies with below 900 save percentages and both undrafterd. Wallsted  or Cossa depending on who they prefer may be able to play immediately and develop into a top 5 goalie eventually.).
8. William Eklund (Los Angeles Kings) (Details: The Kings take another forward prospect even though their Defense is Ok. But you can in a few years have Turcote, Byfield and Eklund on a line. If they all reach the potential that they are supposed to they can become a deadly line as the Kings try to rebuild quickly and redo their dynasty.).
9. Mason McTavish (Vancouver Canucks) (Details: The Cannuks who are a very good team that was just ruined by covid similar to the Devils just take the best player available and with all the hype recently circling around McTavish you probably take him. He was rated the second best skater which may help the Cannucks fast and agile core get better and more dangerous.).
10. Kent Johnson (Ottawa Senators) (Details: SImilar to the Devils and Canucks the Senators are a young team that should be closer to the end of their rebuilding, making me think you grab a player that can play with Brady helping them both get better and helping the Senators get over that hump and get to the promised land sooner than later.).

CapFriendly.com User-Generated Mock-Draft

ROUND 1	TEAM	ORIGINAL	PLAYER	DETAILS

1	-	Matthew Beniers	While most people think Owen Power and it did also cross my mind with the thought of Eichel leaving or just not wanting to play there anymore, it may be a good idea to pick up a center number 2 and really give them a insane center core. This may take the pressure off of Ecihel giving him more of a margin of error knowing he has Beniers and Cones behind him. Beniers also was around a point per game scorer in the NCAA which is very impressive, and also one of the if not only NHL ready players.
2	-	Owen Power	Since Seattle is starting from scratch they will most likely take the best player available. I think even if Power goes number one, you still go either Clarke, Edvidson or Hughes because of how in the expansion draft they will most likely get lots of 2nd or 3rd line Defensemen. Grabbing a future first round guy like Power who is pretty good defensively and good defensively with his great 6 foot 5 or 6 foot 6 frame will be very helpful to start a franchise. Though he does make some errors and probably has a year before NHL playing.
3	-	Dylan Guenther	The Ducks did not have a great year and also in their luck were the only team to move down in the lottery. It may have only been one spot but that can be the difference between a quality and franchise player. Though I think you take Dylan Guenther and grab a very good scorer to play alongside your very good play making center in Trevor Zegras, maybe giving them a dynamic duo for years to come.
4	-	Luke Hughes	My favorite team, the New Jersey Devils would be extremely happy to pick a very good scorer who may be the best skater and have the best upside in the draft. What may stop him from going higher is that he has not played in a year but still looks to be extremely good. Also he will give the devils hopefully a good first line right handed defenseman to play next to T.Y Smith for years to come. I would take him over Brandt Clarke because he is a very good skater like his brothers and also has an extremely high upside and offensive potential.
5	-	Brandt Clarke	Blue Jackets either take Edvidson or Clarke depending on who they think is better. I say Clarke because he is a very good defensmen with very good upside and with Seth Jones leaving and not really having any other good Defenseman you take a solid defenseman that you think best. Edvidson does some weird things with the puck at times which is why people have him lower. Clarke on the other hand's main problem is his discipline.
6	-	Simon Edvinsson	Detroit has to take some defenseman and even though Eklund is still on the board I don’t think they can logically take him. They really need some good defensive prospects that can give them excitement for their future. If they want to make strides in the right direction they need to take D and Edvidson has proved he is very good and just has little things to work out which may take a year or two.
7	-	Jesper Wallstedt	Sharks take a goalie that can very soon be their starter. There two goalies now are goalies with below 900 save percentages and both undrafterd. Wallsted or Cossa depending on who they prefer may be able to play immediately and develop into a top 5 goalie eventually.
8	-	William Eklund	The Kings take another forward prospect even though their Defense is Ok. But you can in a few years have Turcote, Byfield and Eklund on a line. If they all reach the potential that they are supposed to they can become a deadly line as the Kings try to rebuild quickly and redo their dynasty.
9	-	Mason McTavish	The Cannuks who are a very good team that was just ruined by covid similar to the Devils just take the best player available and with all the hype recently circling around McTavish you probably take him. He was rated the second best skater which may help the Cannucks fast and agile core get better and more dangerous.
10	-	Kent Johnson	SImilar to the Devils and Canucks the Senators are a young team that should be closer to the end of their rebuilding, making me think you grab a player that can play with Brady helping them both get better and helping the Senators get over that hump and get to the promised land sooner than later.
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