2021 NHL Draft Thread

[Bertuzzipunch]

I would be ecstatic if we got Clarke.

I would lose my **** tbh

 

[CambieKev]

Still not the biggest fan of Powers, I'd have Clarke ahead.

Surprised Bobby Mac's consensus list has Edvinsson so high, considering he's viewed as a "boom or bust" prospect.

Eklund at 7 is music to my ears.

Right now, I firmly have Powers ahead.

Just watching some video of these two from this year -- Powers with Michigan and Clarke with Nove Zamsky --, and the way I would describe Power is that he is quite sound and stable defensively with high-end outlets and quick distribution, whereas Clarke plays an aggressive positional style and is more prone to making mistakes. I think Powers brings the calmness that the Canucks need along with crisp, fast puck movement up the ice and at the point in the o-zone. He uses his big frame to contain the opponent, both in transition and at the end boards, and he doesn't waste time with the puck and risk getting caught.

There's more risk with Clarke, who likes to jump up into the neutral zone more often, sometimes risking a potential turnover and chance the other way, and whose passing is solid but maybe not on Powers' level based on what I've seen so far.

I wrote an analysis of Powers' most recent game over in the Prospects section:

I had the opportunity to watch his Big Ten semifinal performance, so I'll offer a few observations:

He's a smart defenceman. I can understand the appeal. His gap control is quite good, and he closes the distance on the opponent at his own blue line well, using both his stick and body. In the corners and behind the net, he is mobile enough to shift along with the opposing puck carrier and calmly position himself between the carrier and the puck to eventually get possession back. He's big, but he doesn't lumber around. The Minnesota players had a tough time getting around him, primarily because he tracked them well, kept his legs moving, and had an active stick. There was only one play in his 25+ minutes of ice time when he sort of got turned around and lost his place.

Offensively, he didn't show a ton of puck-rushing, but he made a few smart pinches in the offensive zone and joined the rush through the neutral zone a few times. On one carry attempt from his own zone, the opposing forward had a step on him at the Michigan blue line; Power dropped it back to the trailing teammate behind him before the opponent could strip it away. He decided not to attempt to out-skate the opponent, whereas others might have gambled.

One of his standout qualities, besides his poise and positional maturity, is that he is a crisp, clean passer. Outlet passes were quick and snappy, and everything was tape-to-tape, including long-distance passes. His puck distribution at the point in the offensive zone, thus, was very controlled and effective. Fast, precise movement of the puck. He also walked the line a little bit, and came down the left half-wall a couple of times looking for cross-seam pass opportunities.

When he had the puck in his own zone, he never held on to it for too long. He moved it quickly, either chipping it along the boards to the nearest player, or if he was behind the net with pressure deep in the zone, clearing it up the boards and out of the d-zone.

He wasn't all that physical. He's not the type who goes for the body check and gets taken out of the play. Rather, he used his size to pin the opponent and to gain body position. He used his stick a lot to increase his reach. I noticed, a few times when he was looking to make a play, that he would cradle the puck really quickly and in a very controlled fashion.

An NHL team would be extremely happy to have this player. Smart, rangy defending along with high-end passing. He has a very pro-level skill set already.

 

[604]

Just a question:

If Kent Johnson adds 30 pounds, can he be the best centre in this draft?

Seems to me he is the player with the better skillset of the Michigan forwards, kind of a Pettersson vs Horvat debate.

 

[Nuckler]

Just a question:

If Kent Johnson adds 30 pounds, can he be the best centre in this draft?

Seems to me he is the player with the better skillset of the Michigan forwards, kind of a Pettersson vs Horvat debate.

Read a report that he might project more as a winger than centre in the NHL. On Bob's list he's sitting where we're likely to pick and I'd go after him over Eklund. He'd be a great fit with either Bo or Petey down the road being a bit more of a distributor. Also a line with him and Pete would be filthy

 

[canuckking1]

Kent Johnson seems like huge Canucks fan. Going through stuff he liked on twitter and it's stuff you'd see the average canucks homer like

 

[Breakers]

Just a question:

If Kent Johnson adds 30 pounds, can he be the best centre in this draft?

Seems to me he is the player with the better skillset of the Michigan forwards, kind of a Pettersson vs Horvat debate.

Played center for a few games with Beniers gone at World Juniors
wasnt great, he struggled in that role.
Seems more comfortable at wing.

 

[604]

Played center for a few games with Beniers gone at World Juniors
wasnt great, he struggled in that role.
Seems more comfortable at wing.

Petey has also been shuffled to the wing in the past.

Johnson started the season at 160 lbs, same as Petey was.

 

[iceburg]

Good article on the complexities of this year's draft.

Dent in the pipeline: NHL draft-eligible players take a hit - TSN.ca

 

[Orca Smash]

Read a report that he might project more as a winger than centre in the NHL. On Bob's list he's sitting where we're likely to pick and I'd go after him over Eklund. He'd be a great fit with either Bo or Petey down the road being a bit more of a distributor. Also a line with him and Pete would be filthy

Would not go after him over eklund. Personal preference, Kent johnson is interesting, alot of skill, usually i favor highly skilled players, but I just dont see enough of a motor or speed in his game especially compared to someone like eklund.

I have berniers 1 and eklund 2.

Eklund would also look excellent on any teams wing. His numbers playing in a men's league i think someone said is the best since backstrom's draft year. Without looking maybe even eclipsed him.

 

[VIPettersson]

Would not go after him over eklund. Personal preference, Kent johnson is interesting, alot of skill, usually i favor highly skilled players, but I just dont see enough of a motor or speed in his game especially compared to someone like eklund.

I have berniers 1 and eklund 2.

Eklund would also look excellent on any teams wing. His numbers playing in a men's league i think someone said is the best since backstrom's draft year. Without looking maybe even eclipsed him.

Love Eklund such a smart player.

 

[xtra]

Right now, I firmly have Powers ahead.

Just watching some video of these two from this year -- Powers with Michigan and Clarke with Nove Zamsky --, and the way I would describe Power is that he is quite sound and stable defensively with high-end outlets and quick distribution, whereas Clarke plays an aggressive positional style and is more prone to making mistakes. I think Powers brings the calmness that the Canucks need along with crisp, fast puck movement up the ice and at the point in the o-zone. He uses his big frame to contain the opponent, both in transition and at the end boards, and he doesn't waste time with the puck and risk getting caught.

There's more risk with Clarke, who likes to jump up into the neutral zone more often, sometimes risking a potential turnover and chance the other way, and whose passing is solid but maybe not on Powers' level based on what I've seen so far.

I wrote an analysis of Powers' most recent game over in the Prospects section:

sounds like powers woudl actually be a great partner for Hughes

 

[CanuckleBerry]

sounds like powers woudl actually be a great partner for Hughes

They both play the left side though don't they? If anything Power would be the perfect Edler replacement. All-around minute munching d-man that could be deployed in all situations. I think the hunt for a Hughes partner will continue for a while.

...I miss Tanev

 

[lawrence]

Owen Power the unanimous No. 1 in TSN’s mid-season draft rankings - TSN.ca

Guenther and Eviddson tied for number 2. Luke Hughes moves to number 5, Clarke drops to number 6.

who we got in the early teens? I'm ok with Sillinger in the early teens. Seems like a Bonino, Higgins level player.

 

[swank]

Would be ecstatic if we drafted Tyler Boucher with our 2nd rounder

 

[sting101]

I want the "premium diesel" in the 3rd or 4th round. Cant teach size and hands. He will improve his skating his old man is Shane Doan after all

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Johnson, Lysell, Clarke, Lucius are in our wheelhouse. I think we end up with one of those four.

 

[Bubbles]

Couple of overage kids in the BCHL should get a look in the later rounds:

Ellis Rickwood
Brandon Buhr
Jacob Quillan

and also paging @Melvin, where are you Potato GM?

 

[Knight53]

U18’s start tmrw.

Top 15 rankings:

1. Eklund
2. Beniers
3. Power
4. Hughes
5. Clarke
6. Svechkov
7. Lysell
8. Edvinsson
9. Guenther
10. Johnson
11. Wallstedt
12. McTavish
13. Lambos
14. Chibrikov
15. Svozil

 

[Knight53]

Juolevi, Pettersson, Q. Hughes, and Podkolzin all played in the WJC in their draft season before being selected by the Canucks. A pattern to keep an eye on.

Beniers/Wallstedt/Svozil etc

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Clarke looked money today.

Would be ecstatic if the Nucks drafted him.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

I’m concerned that Benning and Weisbrod could have more influence on a high pick with the departure of Brackett. We’re talking about the same people who spearheaded for Juolevi, Glass, and Jankowski picks.

 

[Get North]

Canadians will rise after the U18s.McTavish, Othmann, Clarke, Pinelli, Stillman are forwards that will be selected in the 1st round IMO.

The defenceman for Canada are all 2 steps behind Clarke which says a lot about Clarke. He's got more elite skill than Power, but scouts love Power's NHL ready game. Hughes/Dobson situation. The best LD on the team is Del Mastro.

Othmann/McTavish make me feel like I'm watching Miller/Horvat. Good size, tough to push off the puck and they always have their head up if they need to make a shot or pass.

Swedes still have good players though, hopefully guys like Robertsson, Stromgren fall because of a 6 game tournament.

Scouts have no choice but to put a lot of weight on a tournament like this. Most of these players won't play again this year.

 

[AppleHoneySauce]

Holy cow bad day for swede recruits. Hyped for the canadians. Shame the Q superstars couldnt come.

 

[canuckking1]

Clarke is playing his way into the lottery and out of Canucks' reach. Realistically we're battling the Flames for the 10 spot.

 

[arttk]

Clarke is playing his way into the lottery and out of Canucks' reach. Realistically we're battling the Flames for the 10 spot.

The team is already gased like 5 games after coming back. The schedule looks crazy brutal, we are going to lose a lot of the up coming games.