2021 NHL Draft: Michigan Fans Should Thump Their Chests In Potentially Historic Round 1

Can you please rewrite the sentence you want me to rewrite?

Are you a resident of Michigan? Do you take pride in witnessing local boys achieve greatness? If so, the 2021 NHL Draft is tailor-made for you, dear people of Michigan!

Kind of.

It is an extraordinary and significant moment for college hockey as three freshmen from the University of Michigan are expected to be selected among the top 10 picks in the draft. This occurrence is a remarkable anomaly.

However, none of them were actually born in Michigan. In fact, only one of them is American, specifically from Boston. So, if you happen to be a fan of the Wolverines, this news should bring you joy! The only player from Michigan who is predicted to be in the top 10 is also going to Ann Arbor, which is surely a source of great pride for you.

Here is a comprehensive guide to the four prominent Michigan Wolverines players who are expected to be announced early during the ESPN2 broadcast on July 23rd.

Owen Power — D, University of Michigan

Although Power has been widely considered the top pick throughout the season, there remains a possibility of a last-minute draft-day surprise.

Power, a native of Canada, made a verbal commitment to join the University of Michigan at the young age of 15. This decision, which is not commonly taken by highly regarded Canadian prospects, proved to be advantageous as he excelled in the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Steel for two seasons.

Power, standing tall at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 214 pounds, has been likened to Victor Hedman, the former Norris Trophy winner and second overall pick. However, he still has a challenging journey ahead of him. One obstacle is the prospect of beginning his career in Buffalo, a city that has witnessed the transformation of Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick in 2018, into an unreliable defenseman struggling with self-assurance.

Heading into the draft season, the projections for Dahlin and Power are quite contrasting. Power shows great potential as a top-pair defenseman, while Dahlin has received high praise from a scout who compared his defensive skills to the legendary Nicklas Lidstrom and his skating ability to the future Hall-of-Famer Erik Karlsson.

No one is claiming that Power lacks in any aspect of his game. However, the primary critique is that while he excels in many areas, only a select few have the potential to reach an elite level.

And nothing has quite reached that point yet.

While he may be a suitable choice for many teams, the Sabres, on the other hand, seem to have their reservations about Tyler Myers.

Despite initial doubts, Power managed to impress even his harshest critics with his outstanding performance during the World Hockey Championships in June. Playing against experienced adult teams, many of which included NHL players, Power demonstrated exceptional skill and even earned the title of player of the game for Team Canada in the tournament quarterfinals.

Matthew Beniers — C, University of Michigan

It is highly probable that Michigan teammate Matty Beniers would be the one to prevent Power from securing the top spot in the 2021 NHL Draft. Originally committed to Harvard, the Massachusetts native made the decision to switch to Michigan due to the cancellation of the Ivy League season as a result of COVID-19 precautions.

The Wolverines were incredibly fortunate.

During his freshman season, Beniers recorded 10 points and 14 assists in 24 games. His stock rose significantly after delivering an impressive performance that contributed to Team USA’s gold-medal victory at the World Junior Championships. Additionally, he further strengthened his resume by securing a spot on Team USA’s World Championships roster in June.

Prior to the World Championships, Beniers had already proven himself as the most prepared prospect for the NHL draft. His exceptional defensive skills, offensive capabilities, and distinctive contributions in all areas of the game have earned him comparisons to Jonathan Toews, the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. Considering the Sabres are on the verge of losing their franchise center, Beniers would be an excellent choice for them at the No. 1 selection.

If we assume that scenario won’t occur, he remains an equally excellent choice for the Seattle Kraken at No. 2. His exceptional skill level guarantees that the team’s first non-expansion-draft selection won’t be a disappointment. Moreover, if Toews’ talent represents the highest potential for Benier, then Seattle might soon find themselves on a path to similar triumph.

Luke Hughes — D, U.S. National U-18 Team

Luke Hughes, the defenseman from the US Developmental Program, is often found comfortably positioned in the tier just below Power and Beniers in most mock drafts. However, he is not too far off from their level.

Hughes was raised in a neighboring city to USA Hockey Arena in Canton. Witnessing his two brothers successfully navigate the program and become top-10 picks, Hughes is now ready to follow in their footsteps.

Luke, who will not reach the age of 17 until September, will continue the family tradition by joining his brother Quinn and playing defense for the University of Michigan. However, fans of the Detroit Red Wings may hope that any similarities end there. Quinn was drafted just after the Red Wings selected Filip Zadina at the sixth spot, leading to a competitive season where the eldest Hughes brother narrowly missed out on winning the rookie of the year title in 2020. On the other hand, Jack, a forward, was chosen as the first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in 2019.

And now, the moment you’ve all been eagerly anticipating: Luke could very well be the finest one yet!

However, I’m being sincere.

Luke Hughes possesses an exceptional offensive skill set, with his standout skating ability, especially when carrying the puck during transitions. His talent for creating unexpected paths in the neutral zone is a formidable asset. However, his slender physique and tendency to take risks have led to some defensive vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, being one of the youngest players in his class, he has ample time for further development and improvement.

It is unlikely that Jack will be chosen by Detroit, as he has shown interest in New Jersey, who has the fourth pick, and he would also be a great choice for the Columbus Blue Jackets at No. 5.

Kent Johnson — C/W, University of Michigan

During a certain period in the season, Kent Johnson appeared to be a potential contender alongside two other Michigan players for the top spot in the 2021 NHL Draft. However, it seems that opportunity has passed, yet there are ample grounds to believe that he could still emerge as one of the finest, if not the finest, players in this year’s class.

Johnson typically falls within the range of Nos. 6-10 in most mock drafts. This is primarily due to his performance in terms of possession and turnovers during his freshman year at Michigan, which further emphasized the contrast between his potential and the risk associated with his skill set.

When Johnson is at the top of his game, his creativity is incredibly seamless, resembling that of a machine. He managed to execute the Michigan Move (also known as the “lacrosse goal” these days) twice in his last season in the British Columbia Hockey League, and his remarkable goal against Minnesota in December earned him the second spot on the SportsCenter Top 10 list.

He is truly authentic. While the concerns regarding his skills are legitimate, he made a significant improvement between his two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League.

If Johnson’s scoring numbers in his first year resemble those from his initial season at Michigan, the teams that overlooked him will undoubtedly regret their decision.

2021 NHL Draft

The schedule for the event is as follows: Round 1 will take place on Friday, July 23, while Rounds 2-7 will be held on Saturday, July 24.

The TV schedule for this event is as follows: on Friday at 8 p.m. ET, it will be aired on ESPN2, and on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET, it will be broadcasted on the NHL Network.

Please take note that the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, and will be broadcasted on ESPN2.

2021 NHL Draft Order

Pick	Team	Notes
1.	Buffalo Sabres
2.	Seattle Kraken	(Expansion team)
3.	Anaheim Ducks
4.	New Jersey Devils
5.	Columbus Blue Jackets
6.	Detroit Red Wings
7.	San Jose Sharks
8.	Los Angeles Kings
9.	Vancouver Canucks
10.	Ottawa Senators
11.	Chicago Blackhawks
12.	Calgary Flames
13.	Philadelphia Flyers
14.	Dallas Stars
15.	New York Rangers
16.	St. Louis Blues
17.	Winnipeg Jets
18.	Nashville Predators
19.	Edmonton Oilers
20.	Boston Bruins
21.	Minnesota Wild
22.	Detroit Red Wings	(from Washington)
23.	Florida Panthers
24.	Columbus Blue Jackets	(from Toronto)
25.	Minnesota Wild	(from Pittsburgh)
26.	Carolina Hurricanes
27.	Colorado Avalanche
28.	New Jersey Devils	(from New York Islanders)
29.	Vegas Golden Knights
30.	Montreal Canadiens
31.	Columbus Blue Jackets	(from Tampa Bay)

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