About the 2021 NHL draft

The draft will be held virtually for the second year in a row.

By Star Tribune

July 20, 2021 at 12:00AM
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2020, file photo, Michigan's Owen Power (22) watches the puck while working against Minnesota's Cullen Munson (13) during an NCAA hockey game in Ann Arbor, Mich. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau has three Michigan players listed among its top six North American prospects, led by 6-foot-6 defenseman Power, the top-ranked player, who is current representing Canada at the World Hockey championships in Latvia. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)
Michigan’s Owen Power watched the puck while working against the Gophers’ Cullen Munson in December. Power, a 6-6 defenseman, is considered the top North American skating prospect available in the draft. (Al Goldis, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

First round: 7 p.m. Friday.

Rounds 2-7: 10 a.m. Saturday.

Where: The draft is virtual for a second year in a row.

TV: ESPN2 (first round), NHL Network (Rounds 2-7).

Michigan connections: Three of the top six North American prospects, according to NHL.com, are from the University of Michigan — No. 1 Owen Power (a 6-6 defenseman), No. 3 Kent Johnson (6-1 center) and No. 6 Matthew Beniers (6-2 center).

All in the family: The No. 4 North American prospect is Luke Hughes, a Michigan native whose brothers Quinn (Canucks) and Luke (Devils) are recent NHL draft picks.

Best of the rest: The No. 2 North American prospect is center Mason McTavish (Peterborough, Ontario Hockey League). No. 5 is right wing Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, Western Hockey League) and No. 7 is defenseman Brandt Clarke (Barrie, OHL). Two Swedish players — Simon Edvinsson and William Eklund — are among the top European prospects.

Wild picks (nine): Two first round (No. 22 and No. 26), one second round, two third round (No. 86 and No. 90), fourth round, fifth round, sixth round, seventh round.

Wild in 2020-21: Went 35-16-5 and finished third in the West Division.

FIRST-ROUND ORDER

1. Buffalo

2. Seattle

3. Anaheim

4. New Jersey

5. Columbus

6. Detroit

7. San Jose

8. Los Angeles

9. Vancouver

10. Ottawa

11. forfeited (from Arizona)

12. Chicago

13. Calgary

14. Philadelphia

15. Dallas

16. N.Y. Rangers

17. St. Louis

18. Winnipeg

19. Nashville

20. Edmonton

21. Boston

22. Wild

23. Detroit (from Washington)

24. Florida

25. Columbus (from Toronto)

26. Wild (from Pittsburgh)

27. Carolina

28. Colorado

29. New Jersey (from N.Y. Islanders)

30. Vegas

31. Montreal

32. Columbus (from Tampa Bay)

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