Top ten players the Blackhawks could select in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft

The 2021 NHL Entry Draft could prove to be one of the most consequential selections for the Chicago Blackhawks in years.

The Blackhawks finished 20th in the league standings this year, so they should, at the very least, be able to secure a top-15 pick in the draft. If they get really lucky, it isn’t outrageous to think that they could have a top-ten selection this year. That being said, this year should be a chance for the team to fatten up on their core of young prospects.

The team’s first-round pick last year, forward Lukas Reichel, likely has a year or two left before he sees any NHL action but was still a solid choice given the talent that was left on the board. However, after the season that the ‘Hawks just had, it would be nice to see them grab a player that can make the transition to the NHL a little bit quicker.

This year’s draft class appears to have a good mix of both forwards and defense. The Blackhawks seem to have a decent core of young defenseman, so it wouldn’t be crazy to assume that general manager Stan Bowman takes a forward again. However, Bowman has been known to draft players based on available talent, not necessarily positional needs. This being said, if there is a solid defenseman left on the board, they could very easily wind up in a ‘Hawks jersey.

The 2021 draft processes was also complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus shut down much of junior hockey this year, and the CHL also announced that they had canceled the 2021 Memorial Cup as a result. Due to these circumstances, the NHL’s Scouting Department did not publish a ranking of their top prospects as they normally due. The most recent thing we have this year is a list of the top 32 prospects from NHL.com staff writer Mike Morreale, however, this is not an ‘official’ ranking by scouts, per se.

So, while there is no official ranking list from the NHL, there are still other ways to examine the next generation of NHLers, and a number of great players that the Blackhawks can choose from to help lead the team into the future. Keep in mind that we do not yet know what pick the team will have, so some of these players may or may not be available. I’m aware that some of the players on my list might be top five picks, so it’s unlikely the ‘Hawks will be able to snag them. Why not dream, though?

With all of that being said, let’s take a look at the top ten players that Chicago could select in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

10. Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton Oil Kings

With Kevin Lankinen mostly taking the reigns for the Blackhawks this year, it is hard to imagine that they’d use their first-round pick to grab a goalie.

However, as great as Lankinen played this year, I’d argue that he still hasn’t proven himself as the starting goalie moving forward. While the team did draft Drew Commesso last year, a guy like Sebastian Cossa could also make an impact between the pipes.

If Cossa were to end up in a ‘Hawks sweater, there is the potential for him to eventually form a one-two punch with Commesso. Cossa is a decent sized goalie, at 6’6, 212 pounds, and has absolutely lit up the WHL this year. He currently carries a .941 save percentage and a staggering 17-1-1 record, and is undoubtedly the best goalie in junior hockey right now.

The last goaltender to be chosen first overall in an entry draft was Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003. While Cossa will not share that same distinction, depending on what pick the Blackhawks have, he could add some needed depth to the team’s goaltending situation.

9. Nikita Chibrikov, RW/LW, SKA St. Petersburg

If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to go after a forward, they could use a speedy playmaker who knows how to dish the puck.

That’s exactly what they’d get with Nikita Chibrikov. The 18-year-old has great hockey IQ, and while he is not the biggest guy on the ice, has great hands and excels at both ends of the ice. As mentioned, he also has a ton of speed, and is shaping up to be one of the quicker players available at the draft.

There are a lot of natural centers that are being mentioned to go in the first round this year, but the ‘Hawks already have a lot of that position . If they do indeed select a forward, a winger like Chibrikov seems to be the optimal way to go. However, like I said before, Bowman tends to draft by talent, not position, so it all depends on who is available.

If he is available when the ‘Hawks step up to the podium, then I think that Chibrikov is a guy that Chicago could and should definitely take a chance on. He’s not a guy that will make the jump to the NHL right away, but there’s no reason he couldn’t be an elite playmaker in the league one day.

8. Stanislav Svozil, D, Brno

Defenseman Stanislav Svozil has a ton of experience in both the Czech Extraliga and international play, including the World Junior Championship. While he is not one of the top defenseman available, he may end up being the best choice for the Hawks at the back end, depending on which pick they have.

Svozil is on the smaller side, but as such, is a lanky body who Morreale describes as “an excellent skater capable of moving the puck well with good vision.” That is exactly the type of defenseman the Blackhawks could use given the issues that they had this year with keeping the puck out of the net.

A guy that can quickly move the puck out of the defensive zone and get a speedy breakout going is a valuable commodity in the NHL. With the troubles the Blackhawks had in their own end, especially on the penalty kill towards the end of the year, Svozil might end up being a great option.

Overall, Svozil is probably not one of the more well-known names on the draft board this year. However, if the ‘Hawks end up slipping down the ladder, then he may end up hearing his name called for the Windy City.

7. Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic

While the Blackhawks do have a lot of talent through the middle, there are simply too many talented centers available at the draft this year to pass them up. Zachary Bolduc definitely fits into that category.

Bolduc is a slim player with great hands and really quick feet, who knows how to move the puck through all three zones. He is also a scoring machine, putting up 29 points in 27 games this year for the Rimouski Oceanic. While this is not necessarily the most pressing need for the ‘Hawks, Patrick Kane won’t be around forever, so a guy who could help light the lamp would be a welcomed addition.

Even though he is a natural center, it’s not impossible to think that a player of his talent couldn’t experiment with playing on the wing. We’ve seen it done at the professional level a lot with guys like Dylan Strome, so it is something that could potentially be done with Bolduc as well.

The Blackhawks, historically, have not selected a ton of players from the QMJHL. However, depending on where their draft lottery falls, Stan Bowman might want to consider grabbing Bolduc if he’s on the board. He is, without a doubt, a young gun that would be able to make an impact on almost any team he joins.

6. Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough Petes

Mason McTavish is one of those guys that commands an imposing presence on the ice. At 6’1 and nearly 210 pounds, he is not someone that other players like to mess with, especially at the major junior level.

McTavish isn’t someone that is just out there to throw his weight around, though. A decent offensive talent, he scored 11 points in only 13 games while on loan in Switzerland. He is not a guarantee to be a juggernaut on the scoresheet every night, however, when he does score, he does it with finesse, and is a fun player to watch.

He has also been tapped to play for Team Canada at the upcoming World Championship tournament, so clearly the national team has taken notice of him as well. This is exactly the kind of player that could find a niche within the Blackhawks locker room.

The ‘Hawks were notoriously a ‘speed and skill’ over size team for the majority of their Stanley Cup dynasty. While there were a number of standout big guys, very few players on the team could also find the back of the twine. This could end up being exactly what Chicago needs.

5. Corson Ceulemans, D, University of Wisconsin

While I would like to see the Blackhawks select a player that could make a quick jump to the NHL, that might not necessarily end up happening. If that’s the case, the team should really take a look at defenseman Corson Ceulemans.

He is still very young, having only turned 18 this month. However, what he lacks in age he makes up for with puck prowess and a great hockey IQ in the defensive zone. Again, he is certainly not the biggest defenseman available in this year’s draft. Despite that, he has proven that he has a ton of potential.

Besides some great looks in his own zone, Ceulemans has also contributed offensively, scoring 11 points this year for the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL. In addition, he has also been tapped to play for Team Canada.

Moving forward, Ceulemans has committed to the University of Wisconsin. This will allow him to get some great NCAA experience under a very strong Badgers team. If anything, this should give him more of a jumpstart once he is drafted.

2. Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings

The second Edmonton Oil King to grace this list, Dylan Guenther, like Johnson, is an elite offensive talent that will be able to make a significant impact no matter what NHL team he joins. He is a natural leader as well, having been an alternate captain for the Oil Kings this year.

Guenther is a slim right-handed shot with remarkable prowess with the puck. He absolutely killed it for Edmonton in the shortened 2021 season, putting up 12 goals and 24 points in only 24 games played. Point-per-game players are typically star talents in the NHL, so if Guenther is able to translate his success in juniors to the big leagues, he’ll be in for a great career.

Despite having mid-range size to him, Guenther is also a speedy skater, and is able to play the puck deep into the offensive zone and generate a ton of scoring chances for both himself and his teammates. He is also one of the better natural wingers available in this year’s draft.

The kid is likely a lock to go in the top-five, so the Blackhawks will have to get extremely lucky to be able to get him. That being said, if the team has him in their sights, there is no way that they can pass him up.

1. Owen Power, D, University of Michigan

I am well aware that unless the Blackhawks have the number one draft selection, they are not going to get Owen Power. While there wasn’t really a lock for the top spot this year like Alexis Lafrenière or Connor McDavid, Power has been the consensus number one for a while.

However, the draft order is selected by lottery, so the Blackhawks (theoretically) have a chance to get the first overall pick. While this isn’t going to happen, Power is still worth taking a look at, because he is a fantastic defenseman and someone that is going to be a great NHLer.

Power began his junior career with the Chicago Steel and played this past year for the University of Michigan, where he was one of the best defenseman in the NCAA. At 6’5 and 214 pounds, he is an imposing threat on every shift and is able to clear guys out of the crease with ease. He can also contribute offensively, putting up 16 points in 26 games this season for the Wolverines.

It’s hard to say right now where Owen Power will end up, but unless the ‘Hawks get extraordinarily lucky, it won’t be in Chicago. Despite this, there is no reason for the team to not at least consider how they would develop him, because he will be a career defenseman. It would sure be nice to see him in a Blackhawks sweater.

The first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will be held on July 23, with rounds two through seven being held the next day.