2021 NHL Entry Draft - Round 1: July 23 (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW, TVA Sports)

[King'sPawn]

Ok draft gurus. What do you know about these guys?
Who would you pick? And who do you think we will pick?

My views (listing them as McKenzie does, not my rankings)
1. Owen Power - A combination of size and skill. He skates very well. However, he doesn't use his size that well at all (doesn't use reach, doesn't play very physically, etc)
2. Dylan Guenther - He honestly reminds me a bit of Tyler Toffoli. He doesn't exhibit any specific skills, but the puck always just finds him. I haven't had a good look at him though.
3. Simon Edvinsson - Another blueliner who has a great deal of size and skill. He has excelled at lower levels. As expected for most young players, he struggles as the challenge increases.
4. Matthew Beniers - A bit of a buzzsaw, with pure energy. I hate to make the comparison, as people will take it out of context, but he's like Alex Iafallo where he's a workhorse in the corners.
5. Luke Hughes - A lot like his brother, Quinn, but with more size. Exceptional skater. Very good at controlling the pace.
6. Brandt Clarke - One of the most complete players, in my opinion. His skating gets criticized, but he uses his size well, moves the puck, solid defensively.
7. William Eklund - A smaller player who's an exceptional skater and playmaker.
8. Kent Johnson - He is very skilled with puck control. He's less flashy than Zegras, but similar style of play.
9. Chaz Lucius - Honestly my favorite forward of the group. Responsible 200 foot player, but has an NHL shot now. The biggest downside is his skating - I see him a lot like Vilardi.
10. Jesper Wallstedt - I haven't watched him, because I'm convinced the Kings won't take him.

As far as who the Kings will take, I believe Hoven when he said the Kings are trying to move up to try to grab a defenseman. So my guess is Hughes, Edvinsson, or Power on the left hand side. I'm not as big on Edvinsson, but it's just me being more excited for other players.

In no particular order, I think my list would be Power, Hughes, Clarke, Eklund, Lucius

 

[kilowatt]

Kings have never picked 8th overall, so this is new territory. They did pick 7th a few times.

Some recent 8th overall picks and their 9th overall counterparts listed in parentheses:

- Jack Quinn (Marco Rossi)
- Phillip Broberg (Trevor Zegras)
- Adam Boqvist (Vitali Kravtsov)
- Casey Mittelstadt (Michael Rasmussen)
- Alexander Nylander (Mikhail Sergachev)
- Zach Werenski (Timo Meier)
- William Nylander (Nikolaj Ehlers)
- Rasmus Ristolainen (Bo Horvat)
- Derrick Pouliot (Jacob Trouba)
- Sean Couturier (Dougie Hamilton)

This year especially, with all of the uncertainty, we've got a pretty good chance of landing a good player. One unsettling trend I did see is that a lot of very good players were chosen at 9. With the exception of Boqvist and Werenski, I'd pretty much rather have pick 9 across the board. Hope we don't screw it up!

 

[Herby]

Don't sleep on Johnson, I think he could be in line for a huge breakthrough season next year. He has offensive instincts that are probably better than anyone else in the draft. There are obvious concerns about compete level and two-way play, but for a team like the Kings who need future point producers on the wing it could make some sense. Although I'd rather have a finisher than a playmaker.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Going along the lines of what KP did, I'd say my wish list at this stage is Power-Hughes-Clarke-Beniers-Guenther-Johnson-Wallstedt

There are some guys just outside 10 who could be big swings if we can trade up, could see one of Lysell-Lambos-Raty-Coronato falling to the late teens and I'd love to see a move on them unless the Kings are super confident in their 2nd round (can't blame the staff here that's for sure)

Rosen-Cossa-Ceulemans also late 1st early 2nd, like Svozil, Stankoven. Some of my random favorites that are land-able. Hreschuk has the LA and NDTP ties. Conner Roulette is intriguing to me.

Finally, Zach L'Heureux played w/Spence last year and tore it up and he's kind of a dick, got suspended several times this year.

 

[King'sPawn]

Don't sleep on Johnson, I think he could be in line for a huge breakthrough season next year. He has offensive instincts that are probably better than anyone else in the draft. There are obvious concerns about compete level and two-way play, but for a team like the Kings who need future point producers on the wing it could make some sense. Although I'd rather have a finisher than a playmaker.

One thing I feel is an issue with Johnson and Hughes: they have different strengths, but the same "problem." Hughes through skating, and Johnson with puck handling, is they try to outskill their way out of trouble. It's good to be confident with the puck, and I'm not a fan of "coaching out talent", but the question remains if they can always make a big enough gap in talent to make it work.

Zegras has shown the ability so far. If they can't though, or in tight checking games, they can be neutralized. Which is why I shy away from raw skill players.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Don't sleep on Johnson, I think he could be in line for a huge breakthrough season next year. He has offensive instincts that are probably better than anyone else in the draft. There are obvious concerns about compete level and two-way play, but for a team like the Kings who need future point producers on the wing it could make some sense. Although I'd rather have a finisher than a playmaker.

I've wavered a lot on him this year but truth is he was putting up video game numbers before college, I can see him absolutely blowing up. He's got that Zegras-lite thing going on. You don't really need a killer shooter if your playmaker is that insane.

 

[King'sPawn]

Going along the lines of what KP did, I'd say my wish list at this stage is Power-Hughes-Clarke-Beniers-Guenther-Johnson-Wallstedt

There are some guys just outside 10 who could be big swings if we can trade up, could see one of Lysell-Lambos-Raty-Coronato falling to the late teens and I'd love to see a move on them unless the Kings are super confident in their 2nd round (can't blame the staff here that's for sure)

Rosen-Cossa-Ceulemans also late 1st early 2nd, like Svozil, Stankoven. Some of my random favorites that are land-able. Hreschuk has the LA and NDTP ties. Conner Roulette is intriguing to me.

Finally, Zach L'Heureux played w/Spence last year and tore it up and he's kind of a dick, got suspended several times this year.

In the second round, I am very high on Hreschuk (have an article pending on him). I also love what I've read of Peart, but I want to see for myself.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

In the second round, I am very high on Hreschuk (have an article pending on him). I also love what I've read of Peart, but I want to see for myself.

Keep seeing that name too, but it's been so much harder for obvious reasons to do my usual dives on guys outside the top 10-20.

 

[Steve Zissou]

 

[Herby]

Beniers at 6 for NA skaters is lower than everyone has him. For a team like Anaheim who is looking to fill that 2C spot I think it's a reasonable pick. If I'm Seattle and assuming Power goes #1 I am looking elsewhere, trying to get a higher upside guy with the 1st pick in franchise history.

If Beniers were to fall out of the Top 5 I wonder if the Kings would try and move up a spot or two to get him. I feel like this is a player that the Kings scouting staff probably loves, maybe more than any other player in the draft.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[Lt Dan]

It's going to be a long 8 weeks until the draft

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Great read. Can't post all of it, of course. If these 6 are off the board: Power, Beniers, Hughes, Ecklund, Clarke, Guenther are off the board (and SJ does not take him) I'm taking
Lucius.

Skills coach Nick Quinn of Power Edge Pro, who has also worked with top 2021 NHL Draft prospects Owen Power and Cole Sillinger, thinks Lucius’ skill makes him a top 5-10 pick in 2021 “all day long.”
“Nothing surprises me with him because his work ethic is incredible. You just watch him play this electrifying, offensive, upbeat style and he has grown into his body over the years and he’s a force,” Quinn said. But there’s something else that does too.
“When you talk to him, you get the impression very quickly that he’s not your average teenager by any stretch,” Quinn said. “Chaz is all business.”

 

[kovacro]

Got to take Chaz if he is there.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

With what we have on D, from Roy & Bjornfot on the roster, to guys like Faber etc in the system..... aaannnddd, Doughty is still playing well..... I really don't see them moving up in this draft. I'm much more inclined to believe we move some of these pieces for and established "veteran" LHD. I would love to be wrong though haha.

 

[Schrute farms]

If we trade up, i'd much prefer that we do so with our 2nd rounder into the mid/late 1st round.....versus moving #8 up to get a top D.
I have a feeling there might be several surprise picks 1-7 before us. Someone we really want might fall in our laps.

 

[SmytheKing]

Lysell reminds me of a lower-tiered version of Stutzle. He has that skating and hustle but he's lacking the polish and some of the agility. The videos I've seen sure do have a lot of similarities though. Whoever gets him might get a gem.

 

[Lt Dan]

Got to take Chaz if he is there.

Indeed the jokes are also endless

Chaz Reinhold
Lucius Jackson
Mom! The Meatloaf!!!
Grief is nature's most powerful aphrodisiac, look it up.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Damn, what a great read about Lucius. Easy kid to root for, oozing character, definitely fits what Blake has been looking for in past drafts

 

[LAKings88]

Michigan Mock: Button has Power to Sabres; Beniers to Seattle, Johnson a Canuck

Has Hughes at 8 to LA.

 

[Telos]

Michigan Mock: Button has Power to Sabres; Beniers to Seattle, Johnson a Canuck

Has Hughes at 8 to LA.

He would be quite the pickup. I'd be surprised if he made it to 8th, but the same could have been said for Zegras. This will be an interesting draft, so many options and there is a good chance someone very good will be available when the Kings make their selection. Here's hoping they choose wisely... Assuming they keep the pick of course...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If Hughes drops, he is PERFECT

COME ON HOCKEY GODS

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Damn, what a great read about Lucius. Easy kid to root for, oozing character, definitely fits what Blake has been looking for in past drafts

Other connections - played for Wrobo in 19-20 and he's committed to U of Minnesota, where Faber is. I am tired of not having players capable of netting 30 goals. With Kaliyev,
there's one hopeful of that threshold. From watching Lucius and reading about him, seems like the best goal scorer in the draft. Only downside is the skating...but with his work
ethic and working with pros, should get somewhat better. Plus, he's 6'1" 185 and will probably be 6'2" 200 in 2 or 3 years. Also, can let him play at least 2 years in college.

He can certainly play. lots of good clips here on a Dobber video, with stop-image commentary. He makes a ton of passes, that his teammates do nothing with or miss. Good vision - quick hands!
A goal scorer's mentality...in 3 years, Byfield to Kaliyev, to Lucius...back to Arty - GOAL!

 

[Docgonzo]

More I think about it, more I’m perfectly happy with any of Hughes, Clarke, Johnson, Eklund or Guenther. I won’t be disappointed with any of those. I’m fine stocking some draft karma for next season for a giant jump to #1.

 

[Brodeur]

Michigan Mock: Button has Power to Sabres; Beniers to Seattle, Johnson a Canuck

Has Hughes at 8 to LA.

I'd be mildly surprised if Detroit passed on Hughes for Wallstedt. Button didn't go beyond the lottery teams in the mock, but Detroit also has Washington's first rounder (currently 24th, could end up as high and 22nd). Could see a scenario where they trade up from that spot to get Sebastian Cossa, granted Cossa could go in the top 15.