> 1. Buffalo Sabres: LHD Owen Power >>Actual draft pick: No. 1 (change: none) to Buffalo >>My final ranking: No. 1 (change: none) >>Though there was a general consensus among NHL scouts that Power was the No. 1 prospect in the draft in 2021, there were some in the public sphere who ranked Matty Beniers at No. 1 that year. Power was No. 1 on my board from start to finish, though, and he was the right pick. His offense hasn’t popped playing behind Rasmus Dahlin, but Power has back-to-back 30-plus point seasons, was a Calder Trophy finalist and has averaged 23:18 since entering the league (from age 19-21) to strong goal-differential results on middling Sabres teams. While you could probably make a case for any of the first five names on this list, I don’t think any of them are as strong as Power’s and certainly none of them play a bigger role than he does. He’s a top-four stud and I think maybe quietly underrated. He’s got another level to find still, too.
>2. Seattle Kraken: LHD Luke Hughes 3. Anaheim Ducks: C Wyatt Johnston 4. New Jersey Devils: C Mason McTavish 5. Columbus Blue Jackets: C Matty Beniers 6. Detroit Red Wings: RHD Brandt Clarke 7. San Jose Sharks: C Logan Stankoven 8. Los Angeles Kings: LW Kent Johnson 9. Arizona Coyotes: LHD Simon Edvinsson 10. Ottawa Senators: RW Dylan Guenther 11. Arizona Coyotes (forfeited) 12. Columbus Blue Jackets: C William Eklund 13. Calgary Flames: G Jesper Wallstedt 14. Buffalo Sabres: LHD Olen Zellweger >>Actual draft pick: No. 34 (change: +19) to Anaheim >>My final ranking: No. 47 (change: +32) >>Zellweger’s another player whose sample size made him a complex evaluation but who also had a late push and who I probably should have given more of a boost. He’s a player I’ve been very high on since the draft but should have given more of a bump on pre-draft. He’s also the kind of D I think the game is trending toward and one I’m surprised I wasn’t higher on honestly. I expect him to take a big jump at the NHL level next season.
>Honorable mentions RW/LW Isak Rosen Actual draft pick: No. 14 to Buffalo My final ranking: No. 25
BurgerFeazt
The Rosen hate is real. I honestly just don’t think people watch him in the AHL. Also, #neverforget the Eklund over Power group of posters lol
Accurate_Fee710
Rosen was a free lottery ticket after the risto trade, if he doesn’t make the team that’s okay we hit on other drafts
4 Comments
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1. Buffalo Sabres: LHD Owen Power
>>Actual draft pick: No. 1 (change: none) to Buffalo
>>My final ranking: No. 1 (change: none)
>>Though there was a general consensus among NHL scouts that Power was the No. 1 prospect in the draft in 2021, there were some in the public sphere who ranked Matty Beniers at No. 1 that year. Power was No. 1 on my board from start to finish, though, and he was the right pick. His offense hasn’t popped playing behind Rasmus Dahlin, but Power has back-to-back 30-plus point seasons, was a Calder Trophy finalist and has averaged 23:18 since entering the league (from age 19-21) to strong goal-differential results on middling Sabres teams. While you could probably make a case for any of the first five names on this list, I don’t think any of them are as strong as Power’s and certainly none of them play a bigger role than he does. He’s a top-four stud and I think maybe quietly underrated. He’s got another level to find still, too.
>2. Seattle Kraken: LHD Luke Hughes
3. Anaheim Ducks: C Wyatt Johnston
4. New Jersey Devils: C Mason McTavish
5. Columbus Blue Jackets: C Matty Beniers
6. Detroit Red Wings: RHD Brandt Clarke
7. San Jose Sharks: C Logan Stankoven
8. Los Angeles Kings: LW Kent Johnson
9. Arizona Coyotes: LHD Simon Edvinsson
10. Ottawa Senators: RW Dylan Guenther
11. Arizona Coyotes (forfeited)
12. Columbus Blue Jackets: C William Eklund
13. Calgary Flames: G Jesper Wallstedt
14. Buffalo Sabres: LHD Olen Zellweger
>>Actual draft pick: No. 34 (change: +19) to Anaheim
>>My final ranking: No. 47 (change: +32)
>>Zellweger’s another player whose sample size made him a complex evaluation but who also had a late push and who I probably should have given more of a boost. He’s a player I’ve been very high on since the draft but should have given more of a bump on pre-draft. He’s also the kind of D I think the game is trending toward and one I’m surprised I wasn’t higher on honestly. I expect him to take a big jump at the NHL level next season.
>Honorable mentions
RW/LW Isak Rosen
Actual draft pick: No. 14 to Buffalo
My final ranking: No. 25
The Rosen hate is real. I honestly just don’t think people watch him in the AHL. Also, #neverforget the Eklund over Power group of posters lol
Rosen was a free lottery ticket after the risto trade, if he doesn’t make the team that’s okay we hit on other drafts
Can’t open and see list if someone can post