2021 NHL Entry Draft First Round Mock Draft 2.0
Carson Lambos . 17. player. 99. . D. St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues need a defensemen with high potential and Carson Lambos should be a good fit given that he has size and is well-rounded.
Corson Ceulemans . 18. player. 107. . D. Winnipeg Jets
As we projected in our first Mock Draft, we have the Winnipeg Jets drafting Corson Ceulemans with the No. 18 pick. The Jets need a defenseman and Ceulemans is big with a lot of skill and upside.
player. 151. . C. Nashville Predators. Aatu Raty . 19
As we said in Mock Draft 1.0, the Nashville Predators love nothing more than swinging for the fences and going against the grain, and they could do that at No. 19 by taking Aatu Raty.
It seems a bit strange to say given that Raty was the consensus No. 1 overall pick a year or so ago, but his stock has plummeted and he’s now projected to go in the bottom half of the First Round.
However, he has a lot of very good to elite attributes and Nashville could see Raty as being the spark they need as they look to rebuild on the fly.
. RW . Edmonton Oilers. Isak Rosen . 20. player. 148
If a goalie is available by Pick No. 20, then expect the Edmonton Oilers to go in that direction given their need between the pipes. However, if not then they could look to add more speed and skill by taking Isak Rosen.
C . Boston Bruins. Xavier Bourgault . 21. player. 70.
Most other Mock Drafts have Xavier Bourgault going later in the First Round, but I like his game a lot and, if he’s available, then the Bruins should take him given that their top two pivots are closer to the end than they are to the beginning.
Minnesota Wild. Zachary Bolduc . 22. player. 98. . C
The Draft will be a complete crapshoot by this point and, was the case in our first Mock Draft, a lot of the later picks in the First Round are guesswork based on what teams need and any rumors doing the rounds.
The Minnesota Wild need a center and Zachary Bolduc has been linked with the Wild, and he would be a good fit thanks to his perfect blend of goalscoring, size, strength and playmaking.
23. player. 72. . RW . Detroit Red Wings. Fabian Lysell
(Pick from the Washington Capitals)
We had Fabian Lysell going a lot higher in our Mock Draft 1.0, but he seems to be a prospect that splits opinion, so if he ends up in the bottom half of the First Round then it would not be surprising.
Detroit GM Steve Yzerman knows how to spot talent and the Red Wings need just that, so the explosive Lysell could be the perfect fit in the Motor City.
Sean Behrens . 24. player. 97. . D. Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers need a defenseman and Sean Behrens could be a good fit given that he will provide an offensive punch at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
Columbus Blue Jackets. Zachary L'Heureux . 25. player. 113. . LW
(Pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs)
We have the Columbus Blue Jackets taking a defenseman with the No. 5 pick in this Mock Draft, so it would make sense that they would target a forward with the No. 25 selection and Zachary L’Heureux is a power forward who could be a good fit in Columbus.
Danill Chayka . 26. player. 98. . D . Minnesota Wild
Given that we have the Minnesota Wild taking a forward earlier in the First Round, it would make sense that they take a defenseman with their second pick and Danill Chayka has good size and a very long reach.
player. 109. . LW. Carolina Hurricanes. Brennan Othmann. 27
If Brennan Othmann falls this far, then this could potentially be the steal of the Draft for the Carolina Hurricanes.