With the 2020 NHL draft now in the rearview mirror, amateur scouts are starting to turn their attention to the 2021 NHL draft. Players born between Sept. 16, 2002, and Sept.15, 2003, are in their first year of eligibility. It will be a challenging draft season with less games, tight budgets and less staff among...
With the 2020 NHL draft now in the rearview mirror, amateur scouts are starting to turn their attention to the 2021 NHL draft.
Players born between Sept. 16, 2002, and Sept.15, 2003, are in their first year of eligibility. It will be a challenging draft season with less games, tight budgets and less staff among many NHL organizations.
Just two Americans — North Dakota defenseman Jake Sanderson and Michigan forward Brendan Brisson — were selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Overall, 52 Americans were selected in the virtual draft that took place last Tuesday and Wednesday.
The 2021 draft looks to be more favorable for Americans, as there are several exciting prospects slated to be picked in the first round. NTDP U-18 defenseman and Michigan commit Luke Hughes, the younger brother of NHL stars Jack and Quinn, will follow in his brother’s footsteps as a top-10 pick.
Hingham, Mass., native and Michigan center Matt Beniers projects as another American to go in the first half of the first round. I’m also expecting Tri-City Storm left wing Matthew Knies and NTDP U-18 center Chaz Lucius to be taken in the first round.
There are a couple of other prospects who could play their way into the first round with successful seasons in 2020-21. NHL Central Scouting typically releases a futures list with prospects graded as ‘A,’ ‘B’ or ‘C.’ An ‘A’ rating signifies NHL Central Scouting views that player as a first-round pick. ‘B’ prospects are ones the league’s scouting service believes to be second- or third-rounders. ‘C’ is the grade given for prospects thought to be potential fourth- through seventh-round picks.
NHL Central Scouting hasn’t publicly released its 2021 list yet. Below is my version of the futures list for first-year-eligible American prospects. Players are listed in alphabetical order within the grade level. Later, I’ll take a look at second- and third-year-eligible prospects ahead of the 2021 NHL draft.
