This years draft is widley going to be known as a dark horse draft as for the lack of play and ability to scout these young kids. Outside of the top 8 picks no one really knew where to expect most of these plaers to fall due to covid. so lets dive into the more notable picks from this year.

1st Overall Pick Owen Power

The Buffalo Sabres may have gotten a generational talent with this pick. Power is 6 foot 6 inches at 214 lbs already and only 18 years of age. His hockey IQ is through the roof with the ability to see the open lanes for passing in transition, while make very few mistakes. Power uses his long legs to his advantage for effortless quick agile skating. all complimented with a slap shot thats enough to keep teams honest and not allow him to just tee off a shot. Power eventually being paired wih Rasmus Dahlin in the future should be quite the dynamic duo.

2nd Overall Pick Matty Beniers

With Seattle’s first ever draft pick the Kraken select 6 foot 1 inches 174 lbs two way forward from Michigan University. Beniers is an agile quick first step skater who never gets caught cheating and plays stout team defense. Beniers has great eye for playmaking with soft hands to make any pass through traffic. Even with the ablitlty to change his pace of transitions to make it unpredictiable to what his intentions on the ice are. This was very good and smart pick by the Kraken and should prove to be a great cornerstone for the franchise moving forward.

Moving Forward to 4th Overall Pick Luke Hughes

The Devils selected the last of the Hughes brothers making both Jack and Luke teamates for years to come setting this young Jersey team up for incredible success to come. Luke has what many call a perfect skating posture which turns into quick long strides as he moves around the ice quick and easy. He has all the weapons and habbits of a steallar offensive defenseman in this league.

6th Overall Pick Simon Edvinsson

The Red Wings as we are all aware are extremely comfortable taking swedish hockey players and who could blame them right? But this is no shot at Edvinsson considering he stands at stout 6 foot 5 inches tall and 207 lbs. He is considered a detailed defender with elite level insticts and the ablility to read a play before it even happens. he plays physical but smart not to give up to much in the process. keeps good control of the puck with is stick always kept tight to his hip with his top hand always in control. The Red Wings may ae found their next kronwall or even Chelios.

9th Overall Pick Dylan Guenther

The Coyotes weren’t supposed to have a 1st round pick as it was forfeited duet to illegal testing at last years combine. But with huge trade of OEL to the Canucks they moved back in and took this incredible sniper RW. A pure shot with explosive power while always protecting the puck while its on his stick. Guenther also has an inate ability to find the open soft spots on the ice in the offensive zone and is always ready snap it in the net.

15th Overall Pick Sebastian Cossa

The first goalie taken in this draft was by the Red Wings and Yzerman is sticking to his blue print he made while in Tampa as you build from within and take your goalie for the future. Cossa is the definition of todays goaltender at 6 foot 6inches 212 lbs. a big body precences who is ready to learn and build apon the skills he already has. Cossa posted a 17-1-1 record with 1.57 GAA and .941 SV%. He draws a lot of comparisions to Vasilevsky and has a great road ahead of him and the Red Wings.

20th Overall Pick Jesper Wallstedt

Minnasota traded up to get the second goalie taken in this draft as they seem to be building for the future as well with the buy outs of Parise and Suter. Wallstedt is another big body goalie at 6 foot 3 inches 212 lbs with good crease movement. Tracks the puck well and stays focused even whe he makes mistakes he just moves on and stays in the game. Last season he posted a 2.23 GAA and .908 SV% while playing in the SHL.

26th Overall Pick Carson Lambos

Lambos was picked by the Wild in the later picks of the draft after falling due to injury concerns. Lambos for the most part was widley condsidered a top 8 pick until he suffered an undisclosed leg injury requireing a “medical procdure”. by the sounds of it if i was to venture on the suggestive side it would be a ligamant in his knee. Until his injury Lambos was a potent shooter with skill to manipulate defenses for many different things like creating passing lanes or opening up better shots.

Other Notable Picks:

  • 10th overall Ottawa Tyler Boucher (son of Brian Boucher former NHL goalie and current ESPN anylist)
  • 27th overall Nashville Zach L’Heureux LW from Halifax (a personal favorite of mine)
  • 37th overall Arizona Josh Doan (son of franchise great Shane Doan)
  • 46th overall Philly Samu Tuomaala RW from Finland
  • 52nd overall NYI aatu Raty C (originally considered 1st round talent
  • 62nd overall Chicago Colton Dach (Brother of soon to be teammate Kirby)
  • 64th overall Montreal Oliver Kapanen (nephew of Sami Kapanen and cousin of kasperi Kapanen)
  • 178th overall Vancouver Connor Lockhart (very promising young forward who fell due to the OHL not playing cause of COVID)
  • Undrafted Ryan St. Louis the son of Martin St. Louis will remain elligible for the 2022 NHL entry level draft due to his young age