2021 NHL Draft

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Yeahhh… I don’t read this thread for a day and thought I missed a ton, lol.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I'm never going to pretend that I'm a scout or expert but I do spend a lot of time reading about the draft and watching video and games when I can.
My view of the draft is
- It is primarily weak because it lacks a true #1. The fact that Power is the unanimous #1 pick underscores this. He will be a very good NHLer but more along the lines of a Chris Philips or Erik Johnson. He's not going to change a franchise.
- Following Power there is a clump of really good players that each have some obvious flaws (sometimes only one) that create some risk or lower probability of their ceilings being reached. But what I like is there is a lot of skill and strong hockey sense. The flaws, in many cases, are addressable in my view.
- I think that skill extends into the latest teens, where there is another shelf, where you get into players that have either way larger and harder to overcome flaws, combinations of flaws that make them unlikely to success - or limited upside.

For example there are a number of smallish players who are also not great skaters. Being both small and not a great skater is tough to overcome just looking at historic outcomes. There's a bunch of that stuff littered through the draft.

Summarizing
- The draft lacks a strong #1 overall selection, whoever goes 2 and 3 are likely weaker than normal years too. For the record, if I had #1 I would be drafting William Eklund, but that would also be a weaker #1 than most years.
- From 4 to say 17 I actually think there's a lot of upside and quality players to pick
- From 17-35 I think it's weaker
- From then on...who knows.

I heard a podcast the other day where someone commented that it's going to be interested watching the OHL next year, and some other leagues that didn't play much or at all, because there are going to be players that emerge out of nowhere that are going to look like great steals or ones that didn't go at all. We could see a bumper crop of overagers drafted next year. Right now - we just don't know who those players are.

My thoughts exactly. Do you have a top 17-20 in mind? I’m sure our list would be awfully similar.

Also, if both goalies are drafted before our pick, and there is a consensus top 9, then Cossa makes it 10 picks and we are much closer to picking a solid forward or D if there is a faller.

[sureLoss]

Didn't realize this but apparently Mailloux renounced himself an hour after this story was published:

https://theathletic.com/2716093/2021...tfelt-apology/

The woman who was victimized by NHL Draft prospect Logan Mailloux, who had a photo of her performing a sex act taken without her consent and circulated by Mailloux among some teammates, said she hasn’t forgiven Mailloux because she doesn’t believe he has shown remorse for what he did.

“I do not think that Logan has understood the seriousness of his behavior,” said the woman in an email.

The woman said she asked that Mailloux send her a sincere apology in written form because she did not want to meet with him in person. She said she received “a text that was no longer than three sentences.”

“All I wanted was a heartfelt apology for his behavior,” the woman wrote to The Athletic.

The woman felt that Mailloux’s subsequent attempts to apologize were done at the behest of team officials and the court. SK Lejon’s hockey director, Lars Westermark, has not responded to calls and text messages when asked for comment about how the club handled the situation (Westermark was also, at the time, the chief of area police).

In a Daily Faceoff report, Mailloux was quoted as telling Swedish police investigators that he believed the woman wanted to “ruin his life.” Multiple sources told The Athletic that in interviews with some NHL teams, Mailloux has portrayed the woman as vindictive.

“Logan says that I want to ruin his career. I have never said that. All I have wanted is to get justice for the actions he has taken against me,” the woman wrote. “If his actions ruin his career, it’s up to him. It’s not my fault.”

[Jiri Hrdina]

Just for fun I put together a quick mock. These are not my rankings, but rather my sense of how the 1st could unfold, with a very brief note on each.

1. Buffalo: Owen Power – I don’t see the Sabres going off the board here
2. Seattle: Matthew Beniers – Ron Francis drafts a guy who seems similar to…Ron Francis
3. Anaheim: William Eklund – Ducks need to continue to re-build their forward base and Eklund fits that
4. New Jersey: Luke Hughes – not just because of the brother connection, but because he has the highest ceiling at this spot and they need what he offers
5. Columbus: Dylan Guenther – Another team that needs to turnover their forward group. Guenther gives them a big weapon up front. I can’t see them going D here but CBJ is hard to predict
6. Detroit: Mason McTavish – A nice compliment to Zadania and Raymond, offering something they don’t.
7. San Jose: Brandt Clarke – nice fit here as Clarke can learn from another rambling offensive dman in Brent Burns
8. LA: Simon Edvinsson – don’t like the upside of the player but he fits with what the Kings need as they are well stocked up front. Could also see the Kings going goalie here.
9. Vancouver: Kent Johnson – Comparisons to Pettersson are just to alluring to pass up for the Nucks.
10. Ottawa: Jesper Wallstedt – I don’t see their future netminder in their system right now. Could easily be Cossa here instead.
11. Arizona: Forfeit – HA HA STUPID YOTES
12. Chicago: Matthew Coronato – Arguably the best pure goal scorer in the draft (or is it Lucius?)
13. Calgary: Cole Sillinger – just seems to fit what they need
14. Philadelphia: Brennan Othmann – Flyers need to prepare for Giroux and Couturier soon moving on or declining.
15. Dallas: Chaz Lucius: bit of a tumble for the sniper, but the slide stops here
16. NYR: Carson Labmos – NYR has a bit of everything but need some help on the blue
17. STL: Fedor Svchkov – Blues grab the 2 way centre
18. WPG: Fabian Lysell – another slider gets grabbed by the Jets who are never afraid to go for skill
19. Nashville: Corson Ceulemans – the d factory grabs another one to develop
20. Edmonton: Sebastian Cossa – they should know him very well and addresses a big need.
21. Boston: Zach L’Heureux – Bruins can’t resist grabbing a kid that has been compared to Brad Marchand
22. Minnesota: Zach Dean – under-rated centre fits Minnesota because he’s kinda dull. Just like them.
23. Detroit: Aatu Ray - 2nd 1st of the round so they can afford to take a gamble, and roll the dice on the kid once thought to be a contender for #1 overall
24. Florida: Nikita Chibrokov – Panthers have never been afraid to draft Russians and he’s arguably the BPA here
25. CBJ: Logan Stankoven - 2nd 1st of the round for the unpredictable Jackets. If Raaty is here they take him, but he’s not so they grab the rising Stankoven.
26. Minnesota: Xaiver Bourgault – the Wild grab another centre, though much different than Dean
27. Carolina: Isak Rosen – A little under-sized but that’s never deterred the Canes
28. Colorado: Francesco Pinelli – at this stage I’m just making stuff up
29. New Jersey: Zach Bodluc
30. Las Vegas: Danil Chayka
31. Montreal: Sasha Pastujov
32. CBJ: Some guy no one has ever heard of

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Just for fun I put together a quick mock. These are not my rankings, but rather my sense of how the 1st could unfold, with a very brief note on each.

1. Buffalo: Owen Power – I don’t see the Sabres going off the board here
2. Seattle: Matthew Beniers – Ron Francis drafts a guy who seems similar to…Ron Francis
3. Anaheim: William Eklund – Ducks need to continue to re-build their forward base and Eklund fits that
4. New Jersey: Luke Hughes – not just because of the brother connection, but because he has the highest ceiling at this spot and they need what he offers
5. Columbus: Dylan Guenther – Another team that needs to turnover their forward group. Guenther gives them a big weapon up front. I can’t see them going D here but CBJ is hard to predict
6. Detroit: Mason McTavish – A nice compliment to Zadania and Raymond, offering something they don’t.
7. San Jose: Brandt Clarke – nice fit here as Clarke can learn from another rambling offensive dman in Brent Burns
8. LA: Simon Edvinsson – don’t like the upside of the player but he fits with what the Kings need as they are well stocked up front. Could also see the Kings going goalie here.
9. Vancouver: Kent Johnson – Comparisons to Pettersson are just to alluring to pass up for the Nucks.
10. Ottawa: Jesper Wallstedt – I don’t see their future netminder in their system right now. Could easily be Cossa here instead.
11. Arizona: Forfeit – HA HA STUPID YOTES
12. Chicago: Matthew Coronato – Arguably the best pure goal scorer in the draft (or is it Lucius?)
13. Calgary: Cole Sillinger – just seems to fit what they need
14. Philadelphia: Brennan Othmann – Flyers need to prepare for Giroux and Couturier soon moving on or declining.
15. Dallas: Chaz Lucius: bit of a tumble for the sniper, but the slide stops here
16. NYR: Carson Labmos – NYR has a bit of everything but need some help on the blue
17. STL: Fedor Svchkov – Blues grab the 2 way centre
18. WPG: Fabian Lysell – another slider gets grabbed by the Jets who are never afraid to go for skill
19. Nashville: Corson Ceulemans – the d factory grabs another one to develop
20. Edmonton: Sebastian Cossa – they should know him very well and addresses a big need.
21. Boston: Zach L’Heureux – Bruins can’t resist grabbing a kid that has been compared to Brad Marchand
22. Minnesota: Zach Dean – under-rated centre fits Minnesota because he’s kinda dull. Just like them.
23. Detroit: Aatu Ray - 2nd 1st of the round so they can afford to take a gamble, and roll the dice on the kid once thought to be a contender for #1 overall
24. Florida: Nikita Chibrokov – Panthers have never been afraid to draft Russians and he’s arguably the BPA here
25. CBJ: Logan Stankoven - 2nd 1st of the round for the unpredictable Jackets. If Raaty is here they take him, but he’s not so they grab the rising Stankoven.
26. Minnesota: Xaiver Bourgault – the Wild grab another centre, though much different than Dean
27. Carolina: Isak Rosen – A little under-sized but that’s never deterred the Canes
28. Colorado: Francesco Pinelli – at this stage I’m just making stuff up
29. New Jersey: Zach Bodluc
30. Las Vegas: Danil Chayka
31. Montreal: Sasha Pastujov
32. CBJ: Some guy no one has ever heard of

If Dallas takes Lucius can we trade Tkachuk for him and channel some "Jerome Who" Chaz magic?

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Just for fun I put together a quick mock. These are not my rankings, but rather my sense of how the 1st could unfold, with a very brief note on each.

1.Buffalo: Owen Power – I don’t see the Sabres going off the board here
2.Seattle: Matthew Beniers – Ron Francis drafts a guy who seems similar to…Ron Francis
3.Anaheim: William Eklund – Ducks need to continue to re-build their forward base and Eklund fits that
4.New Jersey: Luke Hughes – not just because of the brother connection, but because he has the highest ceiling at this spot and they need what he offers
5.Columbus: Dylan Guenther – Another team that needs to turnover their forward group. Guenther gives them a big weapon up front. I can’t see them going D here but CBJ is hard to predict
6.Detroit: Mason McTavish – A nice compliment to Zadania and Raymond, offering something they don’t.
7.San Jose: Brandt Clarke – nice fit here as Clarke can learn from another rambling offensive dman in Brent Burns
8.LA: Simon Edvinsson – don’t like the upside of the player but he fits with what the Kings need as they are well stocked up front. Could also see the Kings going goalie here.
9.Vancouver: Kent Johnson – Comparisons to Pettersson are just to alluring to pass up for the Nucks.
10.Ottawa: Jesper Wallstedt – I don’t see their future netminder in their system right now. Could easily be Cossa here instead.
11.Arizona: Forfeit – HA HA STUPID YOTES
12.Chicago: Matthew Coronato – Arguably the best pure goal scorer in the draft (or is it Lucius?)
13.Calgary: Cole Sillinger – just seems to fit what they need
14.Philadelphia: Brennan Othmann – Flyers need to prepare for Giroux and Couturier soon moving on or declining.
15.Dallas: Chaz Lucius: bit of a tumble for the sniper, but the slide stops here
16.NYR: Carson Labmos – NYR has a bit of everything but need some help on the blue
17.STL: Fedor Svchkov – Blues grab the 2 way centre
18.WPG: Fabian Lysell – another slider gets grabbed by the Jets who are never afraid to go for skill
19.Nashville: Corson Ceulemans – the d factory grabs another one to develop
20.Edmonton: Sebastian Cossa – they should know him very well and addresses a big need.
21.Boston: Zach L’Heureux – Bruins can’t resist grabbing a kid that has been compared to Brad Marchand
22.Minnesota: Zach Dean – under-rated centre fits Minnesota because he’s kinda dull. Just like them.
23.Detroit: Aatu Ray - 2nd 1st of the round so they can afford to take a gamble, and roll the dice on the kid once thought to be a contender for #1 overall
24.Florida: Nikita Chibrokov – Panthers have never been afraid to draft Russians and he’s arguably the BPA here
25.CBJ: Logan Stankoven - 2nd 1st of the round for the unpredictable Jackets. If Raaty is here they take him, but he’s not so they grab the rising Stankoven.
26.Minnesota: Xaiver Bourgault – the Wild grab another centre, though much different than Dean
27.Carolina: Isak Rosen – A little under-sized but that’s never deterred the Canes
28.Colorado: Francesco Pinelli – at this stage I’m just making stuff up
29.New Jersey: Zach Bodluc
30.Las Vegas: Danil Chayka
31.Montreal: Sasha Pastujov
32.CBJ: Some guy no one has ever heard of

I’m starting to wonder if this could be a year where the flames have an opportunity to move up in the draft. May not be a good year to do it because of the unpredictable nature of this draft but if you can figure out which teams are targeting a goalie with their first pick, you can maybe make a move up For example, if the flames knew that the kings wanted a goalie/defenseman with their first pick and they also knew that Vancouver and Ottawa wanted a forward and Chicago wanted a goalie, there could be a trade with LA that allows the flames to jump Vancouver and take Johnson before they can. I have not heard if the flames are especially interested in him but that may be because they are certain he won’t be available at 12th overall. It could work if LA does not have a preference between the top two goalies in the draft.

A lot of “ifs” in that scenario but it could work out. I think it would really irritate Vancouver as well so that’s a bonus.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jiri Hrdina]

I think if the perception of a very clear top 9 is true - moving up into one of those spots will be hard.
Now if a team really like a guy like Sillinger - they MAY be willing to move down. But I think its unlikely.

[1qqaaz]

Overall it's a great list. I think you really showed your knowledge of the prospects and the tendencies/needs of the teams.

I'm surprised you think the Flyers are that high on Brennan Othmann.
He's pretty poor with puck control, skating, and size. Didn't produce big numbers either.

[dammage79]

Tod Button was saying on the Firestarter podcast He sees the ledges as top 8. Then 9 to 16. Also said it's going to be wide open after the top 6. So the Flames think the top 6 is locked, a ledge at 8 but wide open after.

Maybe it's misdirection but he's always been pretty forthcoming about this stuff.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Tod Button was saying on the Firestarter podcast He sees the ledges as top 8. Then 9 to 16. Also said it's going to be wide open after the top 6. So the Flames think the top 6 is locked, a ledge at 8 but wide open after.

Maybe it's misdirection but he's always been pretty forthcoming about this stuff.

Just wait until we draft ____ and they say they had in their top 6. Happens every year with every team

[Nelson]

Craig Button just released his mock draft, and he has the Flames taking Cole Sillinger. I hope Tod shared his thoughts with Craig because Sillinger would be an excellent selection.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Sillinger is beginning to be on the top of my list. Just seems like a guy that would stay long term with the Flames, much like Zary (remember when his family was so excited when we selected him)? It’s also another dart at finding our homegrown C. Probably not, but I think we’re due for a miracle.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I will also post my mock draft a little later today. This draft excites me because of its uncertainty, and with soo many teams looking for new direction(s).

Thanks Jiri for your mock!

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Tod Button was saying on the Firestarter podcast He sees the ledges as top 8. Then 9 to 16. Also said it's going to be wide open after the top 6. So the Flames think the top 6 is locked, a ledge at 8 but wide open after.

I think this aligns with the "top 9 are pretty locked in" consensus - some scouts are going to have one of those 9 guys that they're not as high on as everyone else is, thus reducing the list to a top 8 8. But it seems like it's a different "odd man out" from the top 9 depending on which of those scouts you ask.

Most commonly, it appears that one of Mason MacTavish, Kent Johnson or Simon Edvinsson seems to end up being the "odd man out" for any particular scout, with Fabian Lysell or Chaz Lucius sometimes jumping up a few spots as a result. That said, I have seen Lysell as low as 20 as well (I don't agree with it, but I've seen it).

Also, I agree with the above that Sillinger would be an excellent pick given where the Flames are... but regardless there is almost certain to be at least one good value pick still available, whether it's him or someone else who falls (you could easily see Lucius or Coronato available, and for me Lysell works too).

[868904]

I'm pretty set on Sillinger and Lucius. Two good sized shooters.

I like Lucius' character though, but Sillinger has a family pedigree which also helps.

[SuperMatt18]

Wallstedt is the dark horse.

If somebody in the top 8 takes him then I think that could shake up picks 9-12 a little bit.

[Monahammer]

dream draft scenario for me remains somehow acquiring a top 10 pick, and drafting both Guenther and Sillinger.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think this aligns with the "top 9 are pretty locked in" consensus - some scouts are going to have one of those 9 guys that they're not as high on as everyone else is, thus reducing the list to a top 8 8. But it seems like it's a different "odd man out" from the top 9 depending on which of those scouts you ask.

Most commonly, it appears that one of Mason MacTavish, Kent Johnson or Simon Edvinsson seems to end up being the "odd man out" for any particular scout, with Fabian Lysell or Chaz Lucius sometimes jumping up a few spots as a result. That said, I have seen Lysell as low as 20 as well (I don't agree with it, but I've seen it).

Also, I agree with the above that Sillinger would be an excellent pick given where the Flames are... but regardless there is almost certain to be at least one good value pick still available, whether it's him or someone else who falls (you could easily see Lucius or Coronato available, and for me Lysell works too).

For me, it’s top 8 if you’re excluding Wallstedt, top 9 if included. For me personally the top 8/9 is:

Power
Eklund
Beniers
Hughes
Clarke
Edvinsson
Guenther
Johnson
(Wallstedt)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

For me, it’s top 8 if you’re excluding Wallstedt, top 9 if included. For me personally the top 8/9 is:

Power
Eklund
Beniers
Hughes
Clarke
Edvinsson
Guenther
Johnson
(Wallstedt)

I think McTavish could sneak into the top 5.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think McTavish could sneak into the top 5.

I agree. Him and Sillinger could very well bump out Wallstedt
and/or Johnson/Edvinsson.

It’s a pretty crazy draft where someone in the top ten will most likely fall out of it. It’s definitely best for the Flames to draft whoever falls. Our prospect cupboard can improve in any position.