Mock 2021 NHL Draft: Vitality to Sabres; Kraken salvage Beniers at No. 2

The Buffalo Sabres won the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery and the No. 1 salvage of the 2021 NHL Draft on Wednesday.

NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale agree the Sabres will exercise that salvage on University of Michigan defenseman Owen Vitality.

Their opinions vary broadly on what could presumably well happen after that.

The expansion Seattle Kraken, who originate play next season, won the No. 2 salvage. The Anaheim Ducks will salvage No. 3.

The predominant spherical of the 2021 draft can be held July 23 and rounds 2-7 can be July 24.

The Kraken and the 15 teams that skipped over the Stanley Cup Playoffs took half in the lottery drawing for the first two selections. The closing teams were ordered fixed with the NHL standings.

The Arizona Coyotes were in the drawing nonetheless need to forfeit their 2021 first-spherical salvage for violating the NHL Mix Trying out Policy in the direction of the 2019-20 season.

Picks 16-31 will ensure by the effects of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

1. Buffalo Sabres

Kimelman — Owen Vitality, D, Michigan (NCAA): Defensemen as enormous (6-foot-6, 213 kilos) and as knowledgeable as Vitality don’t come along very veritably, so it wants to be an effortless decision for the Sabres. Vitality has the doable to be a high-pair defenseman who can play in all scenarios. His skating and hockey instincts could presumably well amassed encourage him acclimate swiftly to the straggle of the NHL. He scored 16 parts (three needs, 13 assists) in 26 NCAA video games and has three assists whereas averaging 17: 52 of ice time in seven video games for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.

Morreale — Vitality: A enormous presence with correct imaginative and prescient and energy who has the survey of a first-rate-pair NHL defenseman. The 18-twelve months-veteran led Michigan with 40 blocked shots, used to be plus-18 and scored two vitality-play needs.

Video: Sabres, Kraken perform high two Draft selectons

2. Seattle Kraken

Kimelman — Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan (NCAA): Beniers (6-1, 175) could presumably well amassed change into a fan celebrated swiftly in Seattle as a consequence of how no longer easy he plays in all areas of the ice. He’s an unprecedented skater who’s as relentless on the forecheck as he is on the backcheck. He used to be a key share for the United States winning the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship as the youngest player on the roster and hasn’t regarded out of space twiddling with and against NHL players with the U.S. at the 2021 IIHF World Championship no matter a lower-body hurt sustained against Slovakia in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Morreale — Beniers: He scored 24 parts (10 needs, 14 assists) in 24 video games in his first college season and led first-time NHL Draft-eligible NCAA players in needs, needs per sport (0.42) and shots on blueprint per sport (2.38). He stood out as the 2d-line heart for the U.S. at the WJC, scoring three parts (one blueprint, two assists), killing penalties and averaging 17: 05 of ice time in seven video games.

3. Anaheim Ducks

Kimelman — Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL): The Ducks were last in the NHL this season in scoring (2.21 needs per sport) and on the vitality play (8.9 p.c), so at the side of arguably potentially the most dynamic offensive player in the market is great. Guenther (6-1, 175) averaged 2.00 parts per sport in the Western Hockey League (24 parts in 12 video games) and could presumably well exercise a no longer easy, upright shot to ranking from wherever in the offensive zone.

Morreale — Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR): Edvinsson (6-4, 198) is a physical, left-shot defenseman with a correct region of instruments, at the side of mobility, skating and a real shot. He had one encourage and averaged 5: 48 of ice time in 10 video games with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League and scored four parts (one blueprint, three assists) in seven video games for Sweden at the 2021 IIHF Below-18 World Championship.

4. Original Jersey Devils

Kimelman — Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL): Clarke (6-2, 185) is an unprecedented two-plan correct-shot defenseman able to skating the puck out of trouble in his zone or making a smooth, upright amble. He performed 26 video games in the high expert league in Slovakia and showed a willingness to play physical against older, extra developed players. Clarke also stood out helping Canada earn the 2021 Below-18 World Championship, scoring seven parts (two needs, five assists) in seven video games. His older brother, forward Graeme Clarke, used to be chosen by the Devils in the third spherical (No. 80) of the 2019 NHL Draft.

Morreale — Luke Hughes, D, USA U-18 (NTDP): Hughes (6-2, 184) could presumably possess a possibility to be a half of his brother, Jack Hughes, with the Devils. Luke is a mountainous skater able to playing a smooth defensive sport with correct poise and reads. He scored 34 parts (six needs, 28 assists), had 68 shots on blueprint, and used to be plus-11 in 38 video games for the United States Hockey Nationwide Group Vogue Program Below-18 team. He lacerated a tendon in his foot from a skate cut March 7 nonetheless has began skating.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

Kimelman — Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR): His excellent mix of dimension, talents and smarts is paying homage to Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones. His skating is efficient in getting pucks out of his zone, and he’s elusive with it in developing offensive potentialities for himself and teammates.

Morreale — William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (SWE): Eklund plays greater than his frame (5-10, 176) with correct straggle, puck talents and imaginative and prescient. He used to be named rookie of the twelve months in the SHL after scoring 23 parts (11 needs, 12 assists) whereas averaging 15: 29 of ice time in 40 video games. He used to be anticipated to play for Sweden at the World Championship, nonetheless an hurt sustained in the direction of an exhibition sport sidelined him for the event.

6. Detroit Crimson Wings

Kimelman — Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (SWE): The Crimson Wings need a goalie so that that you just must add to their construction pipeline and Wallstedt (6-3, 214) is the correct in the market. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman is courageous in phrases of identifying expertise. Two years ago, the Crimson Wings had the No. 6 salvage and went against the grain to make a name defenseman Moritz Seider, who now appears like a future high-pair player. It wouldn’t be a shock to survey a identical transfer by the Crimson Wings here. Wallstedt has a unruffled, controlled vogue, tracks pucks well and already has expertise playing in the high league.

Morreale — Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL): An spectacular skater with balance and real puck-safety talents, McTavish (6-1, 207) scored 11 parts (9 needs, two assists) in 13 video games on mortgage with EHC Olten in the Swiss League, the 2d-most sensible doubtless expert league in Switzerland. He scored 11 parts (five needs, six assists) in seven video games to encourage Canada earn the U-18s.

7. San Jose Sharks

Kimelman — William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (SWE): He showed high-conclude offensive skill blended with the skill to earn battles along the boards and held up well against physical play in the SHL. The Sharks possess to earn younger and extra dynamic as they survey to contend for a pronounce in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Eklund has high-six doable.

Morreale — Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (NCAA): An offensive sniper who plays with straggle, skill and creativity, Johnson (6-1, 167) thrived at left flit this season, scoring 27 parts (9 needs, 18 assists) in 26 video games. He led first-time NHL Draft-eligible NCAA players in assists, parts, and parts per sport (1.04).

8. Los Angeles Kings

Kimelman — Luke Hughes, D, USA U-18 (NTDP): Luke brings the identical high-conclude skating skill that his older brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, nonetheless in a greater bundle. The Kings possess done well stocking up on excessive skill forwards the past few years, at the side of Quinton Byfield (No. 2, 2020) and Alex Turcotte (No. 5, 2019). Hughes is the extra or much less player that could be ready to earn them the puck in the suppose spots to be efficient.

Morreale — Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL):  An elite blueprint scorer with quickness who scored 12 needs in 12 WHL video games this season and helped Canada earn the U-18s with seven parts (four needs, three assists) in seven video games.

9. Vancouver Canucks

Kimelman — Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (NCAA): A excessive-conclude playmaker with mountainous imaginative and prescient and some aptitude to his sport. He’s elusive carrying the puck and real ample to earn battles along the partitions. He also showed his versatility this season, excelling on the flit and at heart in his first college season, and could presumably well amassed get better as he gets stronger.

Morreale — Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL): A mobile, puck-transferring righthanded shot who’s believed of as an supreme passer and playmaker with mountainous imaginative and prescient. He scored 15 parts (five needs, 10 assists) and used to be plus-6 in 26 video games on mortgage with Nove Zamsky in the Slovak Extraliga, the high expert league in Slovakia.

10. Ottawa Senators

Kimelman — Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago (USHL): Coronato (5-10, 183) used to be a dominant offensive force who blended high-conclude blueprint scoring, real skating, and a physical plan equivalent to United States Hockey Hall of Popularity forward John LeClair. He led the United States Hockey League with 48 needs in 51 video games and the league in scoring in the playoffs with 13 parts (9 needs, four assists) in eight video games.

Morreale — Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (SWE): Central Scouting director of European scouting Goran Stubb said Wallstedt is the correct Sweden-born goalie prospect he’s considered in as a minimal five years. The 18-twelve months-veteran can read the game well, has correct quickness and plays a hybrid butterfly/athletic vogue. He used to be 11-8 with three ties, a 2.23 needs-against common, .907 keep percentage and two shutouts in 22 SHL video games.

11. Chicago Blackhawks

Kimelman — Chaz Lucius, C, USA U-18 (NTDP): Lucius’ skating is as correct now as it used to be sooner than he skipped over the first four months of the season with a knee hurt. The forward (6-1, 185) is real around the net in the offensive zone and has an NHL-caliber shot that he archaic to ranking 13 needs in 13 video games this season.

Morreale — Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg (WHL): Lambos (6-1, 197) is a two-plan defenseman who has showcased correct patience in the defensive zone and in transition. He performed two video games in the Western Hockey League sooner than sustaining a lower-body hurt. The 18-twelve months-veteran scored 11 parts (two needs, 9 assists) in 13 video games on mortgage with JYP in Finland’s junior league.

12. Calgary Flames

Kimelman — Cole Sillinger, F, Sioux Falls (USHL): The Flames can proceed to stockpile talented young forward potentialities with Sillinger (6-0, 197), who led Sioux Falls with 46 parts (24 needs, 22 assists) in 31 video games. He’s a real skater able to controlling the straggle of the game with the puck on his stick and has correct bloodlines. His father, Mike Sillinger, performed 1,049 NHL video games.

Morreale — Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago (USHL): The forward used to be 2d in the USHL with 85 parts in 51 video games and led the league with 19 vitality-play needs and eight sport-winning needs. He’ll proceed his construction at Harvard next season.

13. Philadelphia Flyers

Kimelman — Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL): The forward used to be one amongst the extra spectacular players at the U-18s, after a real tenure in the Swiss League. McTavish blends a talented sport with feistiness. He showed energy in battles along the boards and a willingness to face his ground in front of the opposition salvage.

Morreale — Cole Sillinger, F, Sioux Falls (USHL): He’s a talented offensive player with a mountainous originate on his shot, a excessive hockey IQ and supreme imaginative and prescient and playmaking skill. 

14. Dallas Stars

Kimelman — Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL): The extensive (6-2, 198) correct-shot defenseman is an unprecedented skater who can lead the frenzy and exercise his straggle to fabricate potentialities in transition and the offensive zone. He also knows fetch out how to make exercise of his mobility and lengthy attain to raise opposing forwards to the skin. With John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen already established NHL defensemen and high prospect Thomas Harley conclude to NHL ready, Ceulemans would give the Stars extra high-conclude depth at a key space.

Morreale — Nikita Chibrikov, RW, St. Petersburg (RUS): The 18-twelve months-veteran forward (5-10, 170) is a playmaker with mountainous straggle and real edges, able to going thru the puck and real on the backcheck. Chibrikov scored two parts (one blueprint, one encourage) in 16 video games in the Kontinental Hockey League and led 2021 draft-eligible players at the U-18s with 13 parts (four needs, 9 assists) for 2d-space Russia.

15. Original York Rangers

Kimelman — Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint (OHL): Othman (6-0, 175) is a real forechecker as a consequence of his straggle and willingness to play physical and has a rapid originate on a real shot. The Rangers possess several talented young forwards, at the side of Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov. Othmann would raise a diverse component that can give them extra starting up ice to work with.

Morreale — Othmann: A two-plan distinction-maker with very correct puck talents and the skill to have confidence himself in the market in unhealthy scoring areas. He scored 16 parts (seven needs, 9 assists) in 34 video games on mortgage with EHC Olten in the Swiss League and 6 parts (three needs, three assists) in seven video games to encourage Canada earn the U-18 World Championship. He scored one blueprint and had seven shots on blueprint in a 5-3 earn against Russia in the championship sport.

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Hear: Original episode of NHL Draft Class