from Corey Pronman of The Athletic,
For the first time since arguably the 2017 NHL Draft, and more convincingly since the 2014 NHL Draft, we have a truly wide-open debate at the very top of the class, with several candidates for the No. 1 pick....
Aatu Raty (C, Karpat-Liiga), is a highly skilled playmaker with slightly above-average feet. He has had a tough start to the season between his Liiga and junior league play, and is in danger of not even making Finland’s world junior team after being part of the team last season.
Owen Power (D, Michigan-NCAA), came into the season as the consensus top 2021 prospect in the scouting community. And in a preseason poll of scouts, Power got the most votes as the top prospect going into the draft. He’s very intriguing as a 6-foot-5 defenseman who can skate and move the puck, but has been outplayed by his teammate Matthew Beniers, (C, Michigan) through the first two weeks.
Beniers isn’t considered the most dynamic player in terms of speed or skill, but he is very smart and his work ethic on the ice is elite. In the early weeks, he’s been noticeable for Michigan almost every shift he’s been on the ice. Most scouts agree he’s been Michigan’s best draft-eligible so far and several said he should be in the mix for the first pick.
Luke Hughes (D, U.S. NTDP-USHL), has only played nine games this season, and no regular season USHL games as the NTDP 18s were recently paused....
more (paid), another name included is William Eklund (C, Djurgarden-SHL).
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