2021 NHL DRAFT ANALYSIS
Complete breakdown of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, including statistical analysis and all the top story lines.
2021 NHL Draft Analysis
The 2021 NHL Draft was a draft unlike most years, with many of the eligible players not having the full opportunity to showcase their abilities with the shortened, and cancelled seasons across North America and Europe. Our team of scouts broke down the draft highlighting the top stories, the winners and losers, as well as a complete statistical analysis.
By The Numbers
A total of 223 players were selected in the 2021 draft, and forwards dominated as they usually do. Forward made up of over 54% of the total selections, with over 20 in the first round alone. 81 total defenseman were selected (36%) followed by 21 goaltenders (9%). 38 Canadians were selected in the first 3 rounds (39%), leading all countries, followed by the United States with 21 (22%) and Sweden with 11 (11%).
Picks by Position ( All Rounds )
Centers - 54
Wingers - 67
Defenseman - 81
Goaltenders - 21
*Note - Arizona forfeited a first round pick for violating player testing rules during last years draft
Top Five All Big Blue
Red Berenson is doing something special at the University of Michigan, as 4 of the top 5 picks were all current or future Wolverines, including the top 2 picks with Owen Powers to Buffalo and Matt Beniers to Seattle. Luke Hughes at 4th overall is a future Wolverine and Kent Johnson, arguably one of the top skilled players of the draft, was selected 5th overall by Columbus played last year for Michigan.
Cosa and Wallstedt First of Many Goaltenders
The top 2 goaltenders were selected in the middle of the first round, with Detroit selecting Sebastion Cossa out of the WHL, and Minnesota selecting Jesper Wallstedt out of Sweden. 21 goaltenders were selected in total, with 5 coming out of Russia (KHL or MHL), 3 from each the OHL and WHL, and 2 from American tier II junior leagues, one from the NAHL and NCDC.
CHL Tops All Leagues
The Canadian Hockey League, the umbrella for Canada’s Major Junior hockey, produced 37% of all drafted prospects in the 2021 NHL Draft with 84. The WHL and OHL were 1st and 2nd in total picks, as well as total picks in the first 3 rounds. The USHL, the top junior league in the US, produced 11 prospects in the first 3 rounds, not including the 7 players selected out of the US National Team Development Program (USNTDP).
Picks in First 3 Rounds
WHL - 13
OHL - 12
USHL - 11
QMJHL - 9
USNTDP - 7
USHL, USNTDP Lead US Leagues in Selections
The USHL had a total of 19 selections, 11 coming in the first 3 rounds, while the US National Team Development program produced 14 total selections, with 7 coming in the first 3 rounds. Similar to recent drafts, the US leagues have continued to improve their development of NHL talent, and this year’s storylines were no different. Most impressive was of the top 5 selections, 4 were current or future University of Michigan players, as well as the top 2 selections.
Total Picks from US based Leagues
USHL - 19
USNTDP - 14
Minnesota High School - 6
Big 10 (NCAA) - 3
USPHL NCDC - 2
Top Storylines
Columbus Big 3 Picks in 1st Round
The Columbus Blue Jackets may have lost stud defenseman Seth Jones in the blockbuster trade with Chicago, but added some nice pieces in both the draft and through other trades. At 5th overall, Columbus selected arguably the most skilled player in the draft Kent Johnson out of Michigan. Johnson finished with 27 points in 26 games at U of M, and could be a player that hits the league in 1-2 years.
The most impressive pick was at 12th overall by selecting WHL and USHL sniper Cole Sillinger. After putting up 53 points in 48 games in 2019-2020 with Medicine Hat, Sillinger continued his scoring touch after moving to Sioux Falls in 2020-2021 due to Covid, finishing with 24 goals and 22 assists in the USHL. Sillinger has a great release, and changes his shot angle in a similar way to Toronto Maple Leaf star Auston Matthews. Throughout the USHL season, Sillinger showcased his knack for finding soft areas in coverage, and getting pucks to the net quickly, often beating goaltenders from distance.
Along with these 2 forwards, Columbus selected Canadian defenseman Corson Ceulemans with the 25th overall selection. Ceulemans, a steady 2 way defenseman out of Brooks in the AJHL was impressive in the IIHF U18 championships in Texas, and was highly rated by Central Scouting throughout the season. Along with the 3 selections in the first, the Blue Jackets made another impressive selection in the third round by selecting Czech defenseman Stanislav Svozil. The defensive defenseman is more of a shut down defender, but has some offensive upside.
Rebuild in Buffalo
Buffalo made move after move leading to the draft, moving key pieces Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen in exchange for picks and prospects. The Ristolainen deal with Philadelphia was an impressive haul for the Sabres, receiving Robert Hagg and the #14th overall selection. With the 1st and 14th overall selections, the Sabres were keen on building with this draft. The selection of Owen Power was no surprise, as Power was the consensus #1 overall pick by most scouting staffs, including our own. The former University of Michigan and Chicago Steel defenseman moves extremely well for his 6’5” frame, receiving comparisons to Hedman in Tampa Bay. Now Powers upside is not as high as Hedman, however his size and skill will be a great compliment to fellow #1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin, who plays a more silky offensive game.
At 13th overall, the Sabres selected Isak Rosen from Sweden, a selection that looks to be a perfect fit. Rosen is a smooth skating, skilled winger who can make defenseman second guess themselves with great ability to fake lateral direction changes, and get to the outside with either skill or speed. Buffalo’s rebuild was clear in the draft, ranking 2nd amongst all teams with a total of 11 total picks in the draft, 6 in the first 3 rounds.
The deal for Reinhart may be the most intriguing, as Devon Levi has been a pleasant surprise after being selected in the 7th round by Florida in 2020. With the Panthers seeming to already have their goaltender of the future in Spencer Knight, the move made sense for the Panthers. But, Levi is a very precise, intelligent goaltender, who was extremely impressive for Team Canada in the 2021 World Juniors. Could Levi be the goaltending prospect Buffalo has been searching for ? If so, this draft will be one to remember, as well as forget, as the Jack Eichel situation continues to loom over the team.
Most Picks By Organization
Carolina - 13
Buffalo - 11
Dallas - 10
Arizona - 10
San Jose - 9
Logan Mailloux Selected by Montreal
The most negative, possibly controversial selection was late in the first round when the Montreal Canadians selected Logan Mailloux at pick 31. Mailloux was charged in Sweden in 2020 for invasion of privacy and defamation after taking a photo of a woman without consent during a consensual sexual encounter and shared with teammates. Prior to the draft, Mailloux publicly removed himself from the 2021 draft, but was still selected by the Canadians with their first selection. The move shocked the hockey world, including commissioner Gary Bettman who stated “I was stunned. Surprised wouldn’t begin to explain my reaction”. The Montreal Canadians addressed the public after a wave of criticism, trying to offer reasoning behind the selection, but did little to ease the minds of the victim, her family, and the rest of the hockey community.
The dehumanizing act by Mailloux is one that needs to have an actual consequence and cannot be chalked up to a “young kid’s mistake”. Second chances are earned, but only after appropriate amount of time and actions are actually made by Logan. Less than a year removed from the incident, Mailloux’s selection sets an inexcusable precedent that these actions are still being accepted for elite athletes.
Family Ties
The 2021 draft was full of family connections. The Devils selected Luke Hughes at #4 overall, brother of 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes. Chicago drafted Colton Dach, brother of Kirby Dach, in the 2nd round at 62 overall. Shane Doan, the legendary Arizona Coyote’s captain and current Chief Hockey Development Officer with the Yotes, had the unique opportunity of watching his son drafted by the same organization when he Coyote’s took Josh Doan with the 37th overall pick.
2nd Round “Steals”
Every draft has surprises in every round, and with the cloud of Covid effecting many draft eligible players, this draft is believed to have more hidden gems than most. One possible selection was Danila Klimovich, selected in the second round by Vancouver. Klimovich’s stock rose after an impressive showing at the IIHF U18 World Championships for Belarus, after scoring 6 goals in the first 3 games of the tournament. The 6’1” winger has an impressive shot, and was the driving force when playing for both club and country, constantly creating chances for himself with impressive off-puck movements throughout the offensive zone and is a creator when entering the zone off the rush.
Another player is Tristan Broz, selected in the second round by Pittsburgh. Broz finished the USHL season with 51 points (19 Goals 32 Assists) in 54 games with Fargo, and was one of the more gifted players offensively in the draft. Broz brings a fluid skating style that allows a quick transition away from the puck to become a scoring threat immediately. His playmaking ability is there as well, with a unique ability to hide his passing intent until the last second, opening lanes with body and eye fakes. Broz will join the University of Minnesota next season, but will be a player that may hit the league within 2-3 years.
Carolina had 3 selections in the 2nd round, and Scott Morrow is continuing to look like a home run offensive defenseman. Morrow split the season with Shattuck St Mary’s and Fargo of the USHL, and has been impressive this summer at the World Juniors Summer Showcase in Michigan for Team USA. Morrow, a 6’2” right handed defenseman has great offensive instincts, but covers a large amount of ice in all situations. The smooth skating defenseman has the ability to dangle through defenders coming down from his point, as well as making simple shot plays from the point. At times, Morrow is caught out of position while trying to make the offensive play, but these corrections can be made as he continues to mature. Morrow is committed to UMass for the 2021-2022 season.
Canucks Land Two Key Pieces
The Canucks acquired Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland from Arizona in exchange for the 9th overall selection, and veteran forwards Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. The Coyotes had to forfeit their 11th overall selection due to violating the NHL Combine Testing Policy last year, and have been on the market for dealing both Ekman-Larsson and Garland this off-season.
For the Canucks, this trade adds so much to their lineup. Ekman-Larsson brings skill in all areas of the rink, as well as in the locker room. Most importantly, the steady Swedish defenseman will allow breathing room for offensively gifted Quinn Hughes by handling more of the defensive responsibilities. And for Garland, the undersized winger is fresh off 39 points in 49 games, and was the Coyotes best player night in and night out. The 5th round pick in 2015 adds an offensive flair that can match up well with either Pettersson or Horvat in the middle for Vancouver. The acquisition does put Vancouver in a tight spot financially, but is a vast improvement on the ice. Time will tell if the risk will pay off.
Vezina Finalist Grubauer Heads to Seattle
A surprise of the off season (so far) was Philip Grubauer’s move to the Seattle Kraken. Coming off an incredible season with the Colorado Avalanche, reports were swirling stating the 2 sides were not as aligned as some thought in both term and dollar amount on a new contract, with Grubauer looking to receive around $6 million per year vs the $5 million Colorado was looking to spend. The surprising part is this : after Nathan McKinnon publicly stated he would take less on his contract for a chance to win with this current group, you would think the trend would continue for other key pieces for the Avs. Even if the dollar amount was slightly less than Grubauer wanted, electing to play for an expansion team for more money instead of remaining with a cup contender is an interesting choice by the 29 year old goaltender.
The Avs picked up Darcy Kuemper on a one year deal after a trade with Arizona to fill the void.
Rangers Bring in the Muscle
The New York Rangers were pushed around at times last season, but quickly addressed the issue by bringing in arguably the toughest player in the NHL, Ryan Reaves, from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2022 3rd round pick. Along with Reaves, the Rangers acquired 3rd line forward Barclay Goodrow from Tampa Bay in exchange for a 2022 7th round pick.
Watching Reaves in MSG will be a treat for all hockey fans, and with the Rangers opening up against Tom Wilson and the Capitals, look for Reavo to set the new standard that no one will be pushing around the up and coming Rangers.
New Goaltending Tandem in Carolina
When the Carolina Hurricanes moved on from goaltending prospect Alex Nedeljkovic by trading him to Detroit for a 3rd round pick, some were wondering who would be the replacement. But the acquisitions of Frederick Anderson and Anti Raanta are arguably an upgrade to an already deep, playoff ready roster. Nedeljkovic did have some questionable goals against during Carolina’s 2021 playoff run, and both Anderson and Raanta have both been impressive in recent years, when healthy.
Philly’s New Blue Line
The Philadelphia Flyers have made multiple changes to their blue line, looking to have a more steady, heavy defending style. The Flyers first received Ryan Ellis from Nashville, and later received Rasmus Ristolainen from Buffalo. In return, the Flyers did loose former #2 overall pick Nolan Patrick, as well as Robert Hagg, a 2021 first round pick and a 2023 second round pick. The loss of Patrick is not terrible for the Flyers, as receiving Ellis is a vast improvement on the defensive side of the puck. For Ristolainen, did the Flyers give up a little too much ? Possibly, but the large framed Finnish defenseman adds serious size, as well as some offensive upside to the blue line.
The Flyers also added NHL veteran Keith Yandle in free agency, who brings a load of leadership to the locker room, as well as a dynamic personality who will be fun to watch interacting with buddy Kevin Hayes.
Dougie Hamilton Gets Paid
The New Jersey Devils landed one of the top defenseman on the market, locking up Dougie Hamilton for 7 years at $9 million per year. The contract is a serious pay day for the offensive defenseman, but the Devils have the cap room, with little contract concerns in the near future. Franchise center Jack Hughes is due to get paid after next season, but with P.K. Subban’s $9 million cap hit coming off the books after next season, it seems that money will just be “transferred” over to Jack. The real question is will the Devils play any defense next year ? The blue line needs were obvious, but the Hamilton signing does not exactly help them on the defensive side of the puck. Hamilton is a great defenseman, with some defending skill, but for a young defense core, the Devils needed to bring in a defensive minded defenseman as well.
Hope Mackenzie Blackwood is ready for another season of constant 35+ shots against per game.
Other Notable Trades & Signings
Tyler Johnson and a 2023 second round pick to Chicago in exchange for Brent Seabrook to Tampa Bay
Pavel Buchnevich to St Louis for Sammy Blais and a 2022 second round pick to New York
Cam Atkinson to Philly for Jakub Voracek to Columbus
Nikita Zadorov to Calgary for a 3rd round pick to Chicago
Corey Perry Signs 2 year deal with Tampa Bay
Zach Werenski resigns with Columbus for 6 years, $9.58 million per
Mike Hoffman signs with Montreal for 3 years, $4.5 million per
Braden Holtby signs with Dallas for 1 year, $2 million
