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Who the Rangers may pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft

By Steve Paulus

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: A general view of the draft board following the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: A general view of the draft board following the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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RIGA, LATVIA – JUNE 05: Owen Power #25 of Canada in action during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Semi Final game between USA and Canada at Arena Riga on June 5, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. Canada defeated the United States 4-2. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
RIGA, LATVIA – JUNE 05: Owen Power #25 of Canada in action during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Semi Final game between USA and Canada at Arena Riga on June 5, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. Canada defeated the United States 4-2. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) /

Consensus top 10 picks

This year there are a number of players who are expected to go top ten and it would be a miracle if any of them were to drop into the Rangers laps at 15th.   Here are the consensus top picks.

Owen Power, D – University of Michigan (NCAA)

If Owen Power doesn’t go first to Buffalo, the entire hockey world will be surprised. The 18-year-old is 6’5″, 214 pounds and he was the pick to go first by 10 of our 12 prognosticators.  Sam Cosentino or Sportsnet highlighted his “great frame” and agility and only sees more improvement.

Matty Beniers, C – University of Michigan (NCAA)

Most have Beniers going second in the draft, though Eliteprospects.com had him ranked first with Powers dropping to third.  Beniers drew a lot of attention from his play at the WJC and he and Powers form a fearsome twosome at Michigan.  Eliteprospects.com cited his “polished two-way game” and the fact that he has consistently played up in age groups.

Brandt Clarke, D – HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)

Clarke is ranked from second overall to eighth  with Craig Button of TSN rating him the highest.  He got some high praise from Button who said  “His game combines elements of Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns.”  Clarke is acknowledged to the best offensive defenseman in the draft.

Luke Hughes, D – USA National U18 Team

Luke is the last of the three Hughes brothers to make it to the NHL draft.  He is ranked second overall by ISS Hockey, but also slips as far down as 11th by Eliteprospects.com.  Most  have him ranked somewhere in the top ten. The question is whether the New Jersey Devils, picking fourth overall, will pass on some higher rated prospects to unite Jack and Luke.

William Eklund, C – Djurgardens (SHL)

According to NHL Central Scouting, the highest ranked European skater is William Eklund and most experts have him going in the top ten.  Eliteprospects.com ranked him second overall, calling him “the draft’s most gifted offensive forward and most credible dual-threat scorer.”   Chris Peters of ESPN had him ranked 22nd in October, but in the latest ESPN rankings, he is listed as second overall.

Kent Johnson, C – University of Michigan (NCAA)

Nine of our experts have center Kent Johnson in the top ten, with Central Scouting ranking him the third best North American Skater.   He is the third player from powerhouse Michigan expected to go in the top ten.

Mason McTavish, C – Olten (Switzerland)

Ranked the second best North American skater by Central Scouting, McTavish’s stock has been rising. Seven of our experts see him as a top ten choice with him moving up to fifth in the Eliteprospects.com rankings.  NHL.com had him ranked the lowest at 17th overall.

The rankings

If you want to check out the  draft rankings, here are links to some of the top sources for information about prospects in the upcoming draft.  Click on the website name to see their full rankings.

Elite Prospects.com – The top 31 prospects ranked.  Elite Prospects also has published the 2021 Elite Prospects NHL Draft Guide for EP Premium users.

ESPN+,  Victoria Matiash – Last week ESPN weighed in with the top 50 prospects, though content is restricted to ESPN+ subscribers.

The Hockey News, Ryan Kennedy – The top 120 players in the draft, ranked in June

ISS Hockey – June 9 finals rankings of the top 32 players

NHL.com, Mike Morreale –  These rankings are from January.

McKeen’s Hockey, Ryan Wagman  – The top 32 picks ranked in late June.

NHL Central Scouting – The official final draft rankings divided between North American and European skaters and goalies.

FC Hockey/The Sporting News  -Top 300 picks ranked along with numerous unranked prospects.

Sportsnet, Sam Cosentino – He ranked the top 32 picks in May.

TSN, Craig Button – The TSN prospect guru revealed his top 32 picks in May

TSN, Bob McKenzie – He ranked the top 100 prospects in  April.

The Athletic (subscription required) –  Corey Pronman ranked the top 151 draft picks in June.

How to watch the draft

This year, the draft will be virtual television production as it was last year.  The first round of the expansion draft will be televised live at 8pm on Friday, July 23 on ESPN2.

You can watch Rounds 2-7 on the NHL Network on Saturday, July 24 starting at 11 am.

Blue Line Station will provide full coverage and analysis of all Rangers transactions and picks.

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