The 2021 NHL Draft seems to have fantasy owners questioning their entire existence. With the volatile top 10 changing weekly, fantasy owners may relent the responsibility of choosing first. Matthew Beniers? Isaac Howard? Owen Power? William Eklund? I could list five additional draft-eligible skaters who surely could be argued to go 1st. This year’s draft requires extensive homework for a fantasy keeper/dynasty manager. Without proper due-diligence, owners risk losing immense value.
Do not fret, we have you covered. In preparation for the NHL draft, we’ll be infusing massive amounts of information and tidbits directly pertaining to your entry draft. No matter where you pick, there are players to target, avoid, and gamble on. Using our proprietary platform to pull 2021 NHL Draft eligible skaters, we have doctored a short list of players to target in the early, mid, and late first round. If you’re in a dynasty league, this list should be bookmarked.
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Top 2021 NHL Draft prospects, Early First Round
Matthew Beniers, Top NHL Prospect
Beniers has the slightest edge for fantasy drafters choosing first. His all-around game sense and positioning allow him to be an imminent threat on and off the puck. Beniers was a staple for the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA this year – despite their fruitful crop of young skaters, Beniers stood out like a sore thumb (in a good way). You really can’t go wrong locking him up at 1st. There’s reasonable cause for NHL teams to take him first too.
William Eklund, Top NHL Prospect
Eklund’s SHL performance this year was insane, hard stop. Despite being incredibly young, Eklund found ways to produce in a strong international league. Reigning from Sweden, Eklund has been pegged as a possible 1st overall star. Think Filip Forsberg but with wheels and more prowess. Not a bad choice by any means. If you had to flip a coin between Beniers and Eklund, you couldn’t be in a better situation.
Owen Power, Top NHL Prospect
Power towers over skaters, at 6’6 he not only skates like the wind (regardless of his size), but can take over a game the way Victor Hedman can. Before I go on about any Hedman + Power comparison, I must say that those shoes are incredibly difficult to fill. If you need a 1D for the future, Power should be your guy here. While he may not have puck moving abilities that Brandt Clarke or Luke Hughes both possess, he’ll produce a bounty of hits and blocks. If you have a peripheral league, Power could easily fit at 1st. If you need a defender, take him.
Top 2021 NHL Draft prospects, Mid First Round
Cole Sillinger, Great NHL Prospect
Sillinger was an American slated to play for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL this year – before COVID hit. With careful consideration, Sillinger and his advisors decided it was best to play in the USHL. The USHL started playing games only a few months late, so Sillinger continued his player progression without much delay. In 23 games he has amassed a whopping 37 points. On a slightly weaker team, Sillinger has had little issue producing points. Fantasy owners should salivate at the idea of grabbing Sillinger anywhere after 12th. Because of COVID, players who have larger sample sizes likely move up. Sillinger could make his case to sneak into the top 10. He’s not a bad choice at 9 or 10, but you get great value if he drops after 12. Consider moving up if he’s available there.
Brennan Othmann, Good NHL Prospect
While we don’t have an OHL sample size to work with for Othmann this year, we got 34 games in the SL, the 2nd tier league in Switzerland. The OHL continually produces elite talent every year, so if Othmann falls in the mid 14-18 area, he could be a great acquisition. You may feel like you are sticking your neck out to pick him, but continually keep in mind that OHL (and WHL) players will likely fall. Because of his omitted season (in the OHL), you will not see him lace up for your fantasy team for at least 2 years.
Dylan Guenther, Great NHL Prospect
Guenther could be the steal of the draft. He shoots the puck like Boeser, and in a mere 5 WHL games, he’s posted 13 points (and 8 goals!). If you lack scoring, he’s your guy. His hot start may push him into the top 10 (right around Isaac Howard), so unfortunately you won’t find him at 16 or 17. If he falls, though, take him. Over Othmann and Sillinger.
Top 2021 NHL Draft Prospects, Late First Round
Matthew Coronato, Great NHL Prospect
We constantly talk about Coronato on Twitter. It’s really hard for our mind to not compare him as a slower Nathan Mackinnon. We’ll probably get a few Avalanche fans in our Twitter DMs after this one, but its just too easy to make the lite comparison. Coronato does ‘most’ things very well. Theres nothing truly elite about his game, but in fantasy, you only need a few stats to become relevant. Coronato should supersede his draft spot 5 to 7 years down the road. Take him if he’s at 20 or later. We’d still take him at 20 if he fell in the real NHL draft to the 2nd round.
Sean Behrens, Good NHL Prospect
Behrens is probably a name you haven’t heard much of, yet. Playing with the USDP, Behrens plays a shifty head-up game on the blueline. He’s a modern defender – he plays very similarly to Dennis Cholowski and Jackson LaCombe. Although there aren’t many great things to say about the former players mentioned, Behrens could eclipse expectations at 25-30. If you want to shoot for the sky and find a defender who ‘could’ put up 40-50 points one day, Behrens is worth a flyer.
Ayrton Martino, Good NHL Prospect
Martino is a really fun prospect to watch. Heading to Clarkston in the NCAA next year, Martino is by far the fastest, most elusive skater in the draft. If Athanasiou and Hughes morphed into a younger player, Martino would be the output. He has a unique ability to find opportunities that lead to breakaways, and his edgework is 10 out of 10. He could creep into the end of the 1st round, which directly validates the idea for you to take him as well. Keep him in mind if you move up or have a later pick in the 1st.
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