The strong pivot will likely be a second-line center at the NHL level, and with Dylan Larkin as the top guy, McTavish would give the Red Wings an exceptional 1-2 punch. After standing out in Switzerland, and a strong 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship, McTavish seems to have cemented himself as a top-10 option. The Wallstedt-Red Wings connection seems very real, but one should expect the unexpected with general manager Steve Yzerman. Detroit Red Wings: Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
MOCK DRAFT: Build your own at FCHockey 6. He’s already proven himself against men in Sweden and Columbus should be ecstatic to land him here. By picking Edvinsson, Columbus is landing a potential No. With the Blue Jackets on the board for the first of three potential selections, and barring any of the above slipping, the pick looks to be one of the two top-defenders left, Brandt Clarke and Edvinsson. Columbus Blue Jackets: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (SHL) The Devils have some strong forwards in the system and the new Hughes will help boost the back end.
The younger Hughes is arguably the highest-ceiling defender in the class, with impressive skating and intelligence. Uniting Hughes with his brother Jack, the 2019 first-overall pick, New Jersey instantly gets a boost in team chemistry. Given how the top three picks play out here, Hughes is the best option for the Devils. Then, it appears to be one of Eklund, Hughes, or Dylan Guenther for that third selection. In all likelihood, Power and Beniers are both off the board. This selection comes down to who is already gone. New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL) After taking Jamie Drysdale with their first selection last year, the Ducks prospect pool is looking excellent. Beniers' competitiveness, two-way ability and well-rounded game make him a great fit to help lead the Ducks back to contention. Having seen what the one-two punch of Trevor Zegras and Beniers can do at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship en route to a gold medal, the Ducks should be champing at the bit to select the promising two-way centerman. The Ducks have Beniers fall into their laps here. Anaheim Ducks: Matthew Beniers, C, University of Michigan (NCAA) MEET THE KRAKEN: Dave Hakstol | Expansion draft 3. Beniers and Hughes are strong considerations here as well, but Eklund’s potential might just be too good to pass up. He excelled in the SHL this season playing serious minutes and impressing game-in and game-out despite undergoing an appendectomy and a bout with COVID-19. The forward might just own the highest-ceiling among prospects in the draft. It seems like the common choice here is Beniers, but considering that the Kraken are just starting to build their prospect pool, Eklund fits the mold here best. Seattle Kraken: William Eklund, LW/C, Djurgardens (SHL) It looks like this will be a busy summer for the Sabres, and adding Power is a strong first step. There may be some prospects that fans would rather scoop up at this spot as there are flashier options out there, but Power will be a piece that should help solidify Buffalo’s blue line for years to come. With Power’s size and skill, there’s no questioning just how much NHL teams value what the defender brings. While there are rumours that the Sabres might go another way, it’s likely just that - a rumour. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D, University of Michigan (NCAA) (Getty Images) NHL Mock Draft 2021, version 3.0 1. For the last time this season, here’s how the top-32 could shape up in just a few days. But, no matter what happens in the draft, it’s gearing up to be an unpredictable, exciting draft. This draft has long been referred to as wide-open, and it'll likely start to see that come to fruition in the 10 to 20 range. Based on fit, they could both be gone by the 12th selection however, teams could be hesitant to bite and they could slide further than expected. One of the other big questions from the first round will be where the goaltenders fall. It seems likely that both Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa will be selected in the first round and look to be potential top-20 picks. While the pair look to be top prospects in the class, it’s always hard to predict where goalies will go. From the 12th pick down, however, expect some surprises. The remainder of the top-10 should fall into place after that, and the top three picks will dictate how those selections go.