NHL Draft 2021: Where will the best prospects land?

By: Adamo Marinelli

June 5th, 2021

     With the NHL playoffs well underway, most teams have their eyes on one thing: the Stanley Cup. However, for the teams that did not make the playoffs, or have already been eliminated in round one of the playoffs, they have their sights set on the draft. 

      The draft lottery happened on June 2 and there was not a lot of movement. Only the Anaheim Ducks who were projected to draft second overall and the Seattle Kraken, who were projected to draft third switched. The other teams stayed put. Here is the order of the draft lottery for the top-10 teams. 

1. Buffalo Sabres

2. Seattle Kraken

3. Anaheim Ducks

4. New Jersey Devils 

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

6. Detroit Redwings

7. San Jose Sharks 

8. Los Angeles Kings

9. Vancouver Canucks

10. Ottawa Senators

These top 10 teams all have a chance to select one of the 10 best players in the 2021 draft.

1. Owen Power, D, Michigan (NCAA)

2. Matthiew Beniers, C, Michigan (NCAA)

3. Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL)

4. Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (SHL)

5. Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

6. Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

7. William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (SHL)

8. Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL)

9. Kent Johnson, LW, Michigan (NCAA)

10. Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

The next five best players in this draft are:

11. Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL)

12. Fabian Lysell, LW, Lulea (SHL)

13. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (SHL)

14. Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL)

15. Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea

     

So now the question becomes where do each of these top prospects land? Let’s take a look and try to draft for these lottery teams based on need and best player available. 

     With the first overall pick, the Buffalo Sabres will select Owen Powers, D, Michigan. Despite the large number of number one high first-round picks the Sabres have had in recent history (Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, among others), the Sabres still find themselves in the league’s cellar. Luckily for them, Powers is arguably not only the best defenseman in his draft class but is also arguably the best and most complete player in his draft class. He is a speedy and talented two-way defenseman and plays a physical brand of hockey with his large 6’5” frame. He skates well in both directions, is agile and his quick pivots help him get back on defense or lead an offensive rush the other way. Offensively, Powers has a high hockey IQ, a great vision, and is an excellent playmaker, and can find his open teammates anywhere. His breakout passes are smooth and accurate and start offensive attacks effectively. Powers has an excellent and accurate wrist shot with a quick release and a decent slapshot, but he can continue to work on his power and accuracy for the slap shot. He is effective not only at even strength but can log big minutes and produce in large quantities on the penalty kill and power play. He is a great fit for Buffalo, he will provide a spark on both sides of the puck and you can never have too many defensemen.

     With the second overall pick, the Seattle Kraken will select Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan. The Kraken will have already completed their expansion draft, selecting one player from each team except Vegas for a total of 30 players (14 forwards, 9 defensemen, 3 goalies, and 4 extras). However, you can never have too much offensive talent. Beniers will provide a spark not only on offense but also on defense with his physicality. Beniers is an electric centerman who’s had an amazing season with the University of Michigan. In 24 games, he scored 10 goals and added 14 assists for 24 points: averaging a point per game, which is extremely productive. He has a very powerful and accurate slapshot and a strong, accurate wrist shot with a quick release that can fool goalies. He has great hands and stick handling, which allow him to control the puck in the offensive zone until help arrives so he can pass to his teammate for a scoring chance and which allow him to change the angle of his shot right before he shoots to alter the release to fool goalies. He is speedy, agile, has good hands, and can always make crisp and accurate passes, whether he is passing close range, across the ice, or into a tight lane filled with traffic. He can enter the zone effectively with his excellent skating, his incredible agility, and his explosiveness which starts scoring chances and allows play to develop. He is also a threat on the power play, with his vision, playmaking, and one-timer. However, he is not just a threat in the offensive zone, he is very good on defense too. He is physical, can win puck battles, and closes off passing lanes with his stick checking. He forechecks and backchecks constantly, is very creative in all three zones, and has great vision to set up his teammates and a high hockey IQ. He would be a great fit and provide a lot of offensive talent to Seattle.

     With the third overall pick, the Anaheim Ducks will select William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden. The Ducks need a left-winger who is speedy, who can create plays with his passing, and who can play on special teams. Eklund is the best left winger in the draft. This season, he’s recorded 11 goals, 12 assists for 23 points in 40 games, and has shown that he can play against much older competition. He is a very good skater. His agility, balance, and edgework are spectacular. He has impressive acceleration, has a quick first step, and can change directions quickly, fooling defenders. He has a strong lower body and is tough to knock off the puck but there is potential for his lower body to develop even more to win more puck battles in front of the net. Eklund is a smart player that likes to slow the pace down to find openings in the defense and open teammates. He has good balance, puck control, and stickhandling which allows him to hold the puck until he finds a teammate to pass it to. He is a crisp and accurate passer both in close range and long-range and is not afraid to play in the dirty areas of the ice, getting into battles for the puck. He has a great shot and should not be afraid to shoot more. Both his wrist shot and snapshot are powerful and accurate. His release is smooth and fast, which fools goalies. His slapshot needs to get more powerful though. On defense, Eklund is not afraid to throw the body around, he backchecks well and cuts off passing lanes with his stick. He’s a real two-way threat.

     With the fourth overall pick, the New Jersey Devils will select Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP. The Devils could use another two-way defenseman to help improve their bottom 5 defense in the NHL. Luke Hughes is the youngest brother of Jack and Quinn Hughes and has incredible playmaking skills, he is a great skater, and his back-checking and decision-making skills are only improving by the day. He is one of the best defensemen in this year’s draft allowing only 0.38 even strength primary points per game. Hughes’ strength lies in his skating, speed, mobility, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ. He has a very smooth stride with great speed, as he’s always a threat when rushing the play. With the puck on his stick, he has great control and his big frame allows him to protect the puck from opponents’ well. He has great stickhandling abilities which allow him to dangle through opponents in high traffic areas. He is a crisp passer and can find his teammates anywhere on the ice. His stretch passes are one of his many strengths and his shot is a threat, especially from close to the net. On defense, he is physical, can block shots with his big frame, can use his stick to limit passing and shooting lanes. His decision-making is improving, but he can sometimes jump on a play too early and get caught out of position. He will be a great addition to the Devils' defensive core.

     With the fifth overall pick, the Columbus Blue Jackets will select Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL). The Columbus Blue Jackets have 3 first-round picks in 2021 and so with their first pick they can select the best player available, then they can focus on their biggest needs. Their defense is in the bottom 10 in the league so they will have to address that later in the draft, however, they have the 3rd worst offense in the league. They traded their superstar, Pierre Luc Dubois who was underperforming for Patrick Laine who has failed to develop chemistry with any of his teammates, Seth Jones has underperformed and their superstar Zach Werenski was injured for most of the year. Also, head coach John Tortorella is losing the locker room a bit more each day. They need to completely start from scratch. Luckily for the Blue Jackets, Guenther is a lethal scorer. He has a powerful slap shot and an accurate wrist shot with a quick release to stun goalies. His speed, agility, puck handling skills, hockey IQ, and vision are stellar. With the puck on his stick, he is deadly. His ability to find open teammates in the slot is impressive. He also excels at getting behind the defense and finding open space on the ice, especially in the slot, to present himself as an option for a shot on goal, a scoring chance, or to screen the goalie to allow his teammates to shoot. He has an excellent breakout pass to find his open teammates in transition, has amazing acceleration to start a break himself, and is great on defense, playing physical hockey, causing turnovers, and not being afraid to get puck battles. He is great at getting into a position to receive a breakout pass from his teammates without going offside. Really the complete package.

     With the sixth overall pick, the Detroit Redwings will select Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda. The strength of the Redwings’ defense is on the right side with guys like Filip Hronek, Troy Stecher, and Moritz Seider who will form the core of the right side of their defense for years to come. Outside of Marc Staal, the left side of their defense is underwhelming. Edvinsson is one of the best left-handed defensemen in his draft class and has a lot of intangibles that will improve the Redwings’ defensive core. Edvinsson is physical and for his size, is an incredible skater. His acceleration is elite and he has long, smooth strides that allow him to cover a lot of ground very quickly and chase down opposing forwards. His ability to skate well backward allows him to get involved offensively and get back on defense. He is physical, wins puck battles, and is good with the puck on his stick. On offense, his hands are very good which allows him to maneuver through defenders and his breakout passes are accurate and powerful which helps his team in transition. His big frame helps him protect the puck and his lateral movement allows him to move around the offensive zone to create passing lanes and scoring chances. He has a good vision, a high hockey IQ, and can always get the puck to his teammates for scoring chances. He’s a great two-way defender and will be a good addition.

     With the seventh overall pick, the San Jose Sharks will select Kent Johnson, LW, Michigan. The Sharks can use an influx of speed, skill, and playmaking ability to add to their top-6 consisting of Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, Kurtis Gabriel, Evander Kane, Marcus Sorenson, and Timo Meier. Johnson is one of many talented prospects from the University of Michigan. Johnson scored nine goals and added 18 assists for 27 points in 27 games this season and is extremely productive with the puck on his stick. Johnson is not only an elite playmaker but is a pure scorer. In 2019-20, he was the CJHL’s top forward and the BCHL MVP after registering 41 goals, 60 assists, and 101 points. He led the league in all three categories. He is so good offensively not just because of his hands, shot, and hockey IQ but also because of his skating. His top-end speed is very good and he reaches it with only a few strides. He has excellent acceleration and a great first step. If he beats a defender, he has the speed to go straight to the net. He wins races to get to loose pucks, is not afraid to battle for pucks anywhere on the ice. He wins quite a few of them, but if he adds a little more muscle, he will be able to win even more puck battles along the boards. His agility and stick handling allow him to carry the puck effectively through the neutral zone, avoid defenders, generate clean zone entries, and good scoring chances for himself and his teammates. He is very creative offensively, with his passes, his dekes and he is not afraid to try lacrosse-style wrap-around goals. Johnson’s vision allows him to see the entire ice and he is able to pass it accurately to teammates even in the tightest of passing lanes. His wrist and snapshot are powerful and accurate and he has a quick release. His ability to change the angle of his stick before hitting the puck fools a lot of goalies. He is also a threat on the powerplay and can log big penalty kill minutes. His slapshot and one-timer accuracy need to improve a bit and he needs to add a bit more muscle to improve his balance to avoid getting knocked off the puck. He understands his role defensively and is able to block shots and passing lanes with his stick. He is efficient at poke-checking his opponents without drawing penalties. He will make a great addition to the Sharks’ offensive core.

     With the eighth overall pick, the Los Angeles Kings will select Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough. The Los Angeles Kings need scoring and to add more speedy youth to their roster. McTavish was phenomenal for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, flashing his brilliance shooting and passing the puck, recording 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points in 57 games. McTavish has a good first step and accelerates quickly. This helps him to get to loose pucks as well as quickly change speeds to elude a defender. If he beats a defender, he will shoot or find an open teammate for a scoring chance. However, his skating stride is still a little short and this limits his top-end speed. He is not the fastest but with a little bit of work on his technique, his speed can improve. He does have a strong lower body which helps improve his balance, protect the puck from defenders, and win puck battles in tight spaces. He can fight through checks and get in front of the net for a scoring chance. McTavish is a pure goal scorer. He plays a gritty game and gets in front of the net for deflections, to screen the goalie, or for a scoring chance. He has a powerful and accurate wrist shot and a quick release that fools goalies. His snapshot is very dangerous and his one-timer is very powerful, especially on the powerplay where he is able to find open ice and fire a shot on the net, like Alex Ovechkin. He can also score goals in tight, with his backhand that can elevate pucks over the goaltender. He is lethal with the puck with his shot but is good without the puck, always getting open for a shot. He is known for his shot but is also a great playmaker. He has great vision, makes smart decisions, does not turn the puck over, and is always able to get it to his teammates through tight spaces or over the defenders’ stick. His ability to juke defenders with his stickhandling and protect the puck with his body allows him to hold the puck until his teammates get open too. He is a great addition offensively and is very smart.

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     With the ninth overall pick, the Vancouver Canucks will select Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie Colts. Clarke is not the best defenseman in the draft this year but has a lot of skills that will make him an elite top-6 defenseman in the NHL one day. The Canucks should be extremely happy that a player of his caliber fell to number nine overall. The Canucks can use help on both the offensive and defensive side of the puck, but Clarke is the best player available up to this point with good vision, a high hockey IQ, great playmaking skills, and physicality so it’s a no brainer for Canucks’ management. Clarke’s game is made from his outstanding skating ability. He has an outstanding first step and acceleration which allows him to join the rush and blow by opponents. It also helps him win puck battles in open ice or in contested areas like the boards or behind the net. His excellent backward skating allows him to get back on defense and limit passing lanes and shot attempts. On defense, he is physical and is not afraid to throw his body around or battle for the puck. His speed helps him win races for loose pucks and allows him to maintain good gap control. He is hard to beat in one-on-one situations because of his speed and good positioning. His creativity, agility, and athleticism help him cause turnovers, which he then turns into offense with his elite breakout pass. His big frame and strong lower body help improve his balance which gives him good puck control and makes it hard to knock him off the puck. However, his defensive instincts including patience and discipline need some improvement because he tends to be over-aggressive which leads to penalties and getting caught out of position, which leads to opposing scoring chances. Offensively, his speed, elusiveness, and stick handling help him control the puck in the defensive end and bring the puck across the neutral zone to start an attack. Whether he brings the puck into the offensive zone or passes it to his teammates, he creates a lot of odd-man rushes. Clarke can move the puck well with a strong first pass and is effective at gaining the zone, especially on the powerplay. Once in the zone he will use his accurate wrist shot and his great release or control the puck with his size until help arrives and then he will make a crisp pass to his teammate anywhere on the ice. His elite passing skills both in tight lanes or stretch passes and his great vision help set up scoring chances. He will for sure compete for Norris trophies and is a good addition to the Canucks.

     With the 10th overall pick, the Ottawa Senators will select Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits. The Senators have a plethora of young talent at every position on their roster and thus have no major positional needs. However, you can never have enough two-way, physical defenseman. Ceulemans has the potential to become a top-four NHL defenseman able to play big minutes in all situations, both on special teams and at even strength. He is a leader on the ice and plays well in both the defensive, neutral and offensive zones. He asserts himself physically in the defensive zone blocking shots, causing turnovers, winning puck battles, and limiting passing lanes with his length and his stickwork. Ceulemans has elite speed and agility and so he is not afraid to join offensive rushes and he is not afraid of initiating the rush himself with his tremendous playmaking and passing abilities or his excellent puck handling and speed. He is an effective shooter and does not just settle for point shots but gets a lot of quality scoring chances down low thanks to his ability to avoid defenders with his puck handling and his ability to find the open spot on the ice to receive a pass from his teammates for a scoring chance. He is a powerful skater with good size and plays an aggressive offensive game, constantly pushing the pace for his team. Sometimes, his aggressiveness leads to poor decisions, mistakes, and turnovers in the offensive zone which he cannot recover from despite his excellent backward skating, forecheck and backcheck. He plays a physical game and has all the fundamentals and the raw talent and athleticism to be a great defender, but his decision-making both in the offensive and defensive zone, his over-aggressiveness, and his defensive consistency need to be developed. He has all the elements to be a well-rounded defender, he just cannot put them together to play consistent defensive hockey for a large streak of games. This can be addressed by spending a few years in the minors to improve his game and hockey IQ. He has a lot of potential and is a top 10 pick in this draft, however.

     There are a lot of talented players in the 2021 NHL draft, but this is how I see the top 10 picks playing out based on team need and best player available. However, there are many talented players outside the top-10 who could end up being just as good, if not better than the top 10 players one day. Also, if one of these teams trades out of the top 10 and the new team selecting has a different need, a new player that is outside the top 10 could be drafted if that team has him high on their draft board. Either way, this will be an interesting draft and I’m excited to see where each player lands.

NBA Draft 2021: Where will the best prospects land?

By: Adamo Marinelli

June 1st, 2021

     With the draft lottery scheduled for June 22 and the draft scheduled for July 29, it is time to look at the best prospects in this year’s draft and predict which teams will be the best fit for them. 

     The draft lottery order is not set in stone yet, as of right now, Houston, Detroit, and Orlando all have a 14% chance at the first overall pick, Oklahoma and Cleveland both have an 11.5% chance, Golden State (via Minnesota) has a 9% chance, Toronto has a 7.5% chance and Orlando (via Chicago), Sacramento and New Orleans all have a 4.5% chance to land the first overall pick according to Tankathon.

     However, to avoid waiting until the draft lottery, I will use the current projected draft order. 

1. Houston Rockets

2. Detroit Pistons

3. Orlando Magic

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

6. Golden State via Minnesota

7. Toronto Raptors

8. Orlando Magic via Chicago

9. Sacramento Kings

10. New Orleans Pelicans

     Here are the top 10 prospects in the 2021 NBA draft, according to NBA.com

1. Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

2. Evan Mobley, C, USC

3. Jalen Green, G, G-League Ignite

4. Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga

5. Jonathan Kuminga, F, G-League Ignite

6. Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State

7. Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee

8. Moses Moody, G, Arkansas

9. Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee 

10. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor

      The next 5 best players are: 

11. Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga

12. Kai Jones, C, Texas

13. Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford

14. Cameron Thomas, G, LSU

15. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke

     Without further ado, let’s get started. 

     With the first overall pick, the Houston Rockets select Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State. The Houston Rockets need a guard who can create his own shot, score frequently and consistently, and move the ball around to create plays for his teammates. Look no further than Cade Cunningham, a dynamic 6’8” guard who is an excellent playmaker, has a great court vision, high basketball IQ, distributes the ball well, has great ball-handling skills, and is a great shooter that can score from close range and from deep. Cunningham’s physical gifts and intangibles make him a can’t miss prospect in this draft. The Rockets should also target another guard later in the draft or in free agency. He will pair well with John Wall during this rebuild. His defense is nothing to scoff at either; he is physical and crafty on the defensive side of the ball. 

     With the second overall pick, the Detroit Pistons will select Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga. The Pistons are one of the worst teams in the league and need all the talent they can get. Therefore, they need to draft the best talent available. Jalen Suggs would form a very talented back-court with Killian Hayes in Detroit. There is a ton to like about Suggs’ game. He is a modern point guard with great size, athleticism, and speed. He can shoot well, has a high basketball IQ, and is an excellent playmaker. His adaptability is one of his biggest assets and he can play multiple roles on the floor. Suggs is at his best in the open floor, using his speed to pressure defenses before finding the open man or getting right to the cup for an athletic finish. He is also very tough defensively and isn’t afraid to go for a rebound.

     With the third overall pick, the Orlando Magic will select Evan Mobley, C, USC. With Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, and Evan Fournier gone, the Magic will need a big man who can run the offense from the high post, be effective on the glass and be a play-maker. They have depth at the guard position with R.J Hampton, Cole Anthony, and Markelle Fultz and they have talent in the front-court with guys like Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac, and Wendell Carter. They need a guy that can set up plays and excel defensively is a must. Mobley is both a force on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He has a high basketball IQ and many intangibles. On offense, he can shoot from deep, score over opponents’ with his large wingspan, and he can attack the rim with either hand. He is an excellent rebounder, has a great court vision, and is a game-changer with his ability to block and change shots. He is a great ball-handler and can always find his open teammates. He is a great addition to this team.

     With the fourth overall pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder will select Jalen Green, G, G-League Ignite. The Thunder’s biggest need is a wing scorer to help out their young pieces like Shai Gilgeous Alexander. Green is an electric athlete with an electric scoring ability that receives comparisons to Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. He is capable of scoring near the basket, from mid-range, and from three-point range. Modern guards all require length, dynamism, ball-handling, and playmaking skills to be successful. Green has all of these intangibles. He is an explosive wing that creates his own shots, sets up his teammates and his defense is pretty good. His size helps block shots and change shooting lanes and he is a threat on the glass and in transition. Green likely will take longer to reach his potential than the rest of the players at the top of this draft, but his potential is high and he can play the 2 or the 3, which speaks volumes about his flexibility, talent, and dependability.

     With the fifth overall pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers will select Moses Moody, G, Arkansas. The Cavaliers have a substantial amount of young talent, but one of their biggest needs is someone who can shoot the ball well from the field and from 3, and who can create their own shots with their tremendous ball-handling skills and playmaking ability. Moody fits that description perfectly. Moody is a 6’6” wing who showcased on-ball and off-ball abilities, as well as incredible defensive potential in his lone season with the Razorbacks. Moody is a true scorer, who can score from anywhere on the court - which makes him dangerous in a half-court offense, he has an excellent shooting technique, great ball-handling skills, is an excellent playmaker, and dangerous on the open floor. In the regular season, he averaged 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.6% from three-point field goals, and 82.8% from the free-throw line. His play dipped in the March Madness tournament but his upside is extremely large. With the current pieces the Cavs have, they can become relevant again soon.

     With the sixth overall pick, the Golden State Warriors will select Jonathan Kuminga, F, G-League Ignite. Next season, the Warriors will have one of the best backcourts in the NBA with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. They have young talent at center with James Wiseman and they have talent at forward with Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson. They have a pretty good roster that is complete with depth all over. Another addition at forward alongside Draymond Green would fully complete this roster. Kuminga is not the most NBA-ready prospect, however, he has the size, speed, length, and athleticism to be a dominant wing forward in the future. His jump shot is shaky at best, and he has a reputation for ball-stopping. However, he is very young at 18 years old and has a lot of time to develop. He will be playing with superstars in Golden State which will only help his development. He’s a big, physical forward with elite athleticism and big-time two-way potential. This move has the potential to be a good one in a few years. 

     With the seventh overall pick, the Toronto Raptors will select Kai Jones, C, Texas. After losing both Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol after the 2019-20 season, the Raptors played most of this season without a true center. Aaron Baynes is a natural forward so his struggles this season made sense. Putting Chris Boucher at the center position worked well and trading for Khem Birch was also a great move, however, he is a free agent and may not be the long-term answer. A center is their biggest need. That is where Jones comes in. He has length, athleticism, good fundamentals, a high basketball IQ, a lot of talent, and is fun to watch. However, he is raw and will need some development before he transforms into a stud in the NBA at center. Jones can block shots, rebound, and run the floor. He plays with a lot of energy and is extremely active. He has good passing and ball-handling skills for a big man, too. He has improved a lot recently, but at 6’11” and only 220 pounds, he will struggle with defending and boxing out bigger centers. But the Raptors have shown they can develop young talent. This is a good pick for the Raptors who need a true center. 

     With the eighth overall pick, the Orlando Magic will select Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee. They already addressed their need for a big man earlier in the first round and with Johnson, they will get a playmaker, who is physical and has a lot of talent. Johnson is a great athlete with a lot of top-end potential. His stock is trending up and he looks like he can make a difference sooner rather than later for an NBA team. He has a ton of natural ability and all the tools NBA teams look for, which makes him a surefire top 10 pick. He needs some time to refine his ball-handling, shooting, and play-making skills but his elite athleticism and rock-solid frame give him a nice NBA ceiling. He may need to bulk up and improve his perimeter shot to be a lethal weapon and drag extra defenders over to him (which opens up shots for his teammates) in a half-court offense, but he has a lot of skill and potential. He is physical on defense and in the paint, is a very good rebounder, and can initiate the offense with his speed and passing ability. He’ll fit in nicely with Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., etc.

     With the ninth overall pick, the Sacramento Kings will select Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State. In the last 10 years, the Kings have drafted nine times in the top 10. This season could be their 10th time in the last 11 seasons. The Kings need all the talent they can get and should draft the best player available. Barnes is a top 10 prospect, and of course, they could draft a guard like Davion Mitchell or Jaden Springer but Barnes is the best player available to this point. At 6’9”, 225 pounds, Barnes is athletic, aggressive, and plays with a lot of fire and physicality. With his 7’2” wingspan, he is an impact defender that can block and change shots, rebound, and has good court vision and a great playmaking ability. Barnes is a work in progress as both a perimeter shooter and scorer and his performance in the NCAA tournament was not as good as most anticipated, however, he has a lot of talent and raw potential and can develop into a starting forward very soon. He’ll pair well with Harrison Barnes and Marvin Bagley III and may even replace Bagley if he leaves as a free agent.

     With the tenth overall pick, the New Orleans Pelicans will select Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga. The Pelicans currently are in an interesting spot. They have a lot of young talent and are led by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. In addition, they have guys like Kira Lewis Junior, Jaxson Hayes, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who all have high ceilings, just need more time to develop. One could argue they have a lot of young talent on their roster and could trade their pick along with Eric Bledsoe’s contract for crafty veterans and more picks in the future. Or they could trade up and try to select Scottie Barnes to fulfill their needs on the defensive end and to make plays with his playmaking ability. However, their biggest need I believe is shooting. After finishing 4th in 3-point percentage in the 2019-20 season, the New Orleans Pelicans have dropped to 26th in the NBA in 2020-21. Corey Kispert is an excellent shooter, who can hit from anywhere on the floor and was a crucial part of Gonzaga’s run in this year’s NCAA tournament. Kispert may not be the best athlete, but he is the best pure shooter in the 2021 draft. He has a compact, quick release, excellent fundamentals, and great awareness, receiving comparisons to Klay Thompson. He is a stellar floor spacer that understands the game and is coming from a system that teaches the fundamentals. Kispert will be ready to compete on day 1 and will help this team contend for a playoff spot. Nice fit for the Pelicans. 

     There are a lot of other talented players in the draft, but this is how I see the top 10 picks of the 2021 draft unfolding. The draft lottery will be on June 22, and the draft will happen on July 29. It will be very exciting to see what teams will pick when and who will end up where.

NHL 2020 Playoff Predictions - Round 2

By: Adamo Marinelli

May 29, 2021

     After a very interesting first round packed full of entertaining matchups, the battle for the Stanley Cup has been reduced to 8 teams. Which teams will move on to the conference finals for a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. In this article, I will analyze all the matchups and predict who will advance to the conference finals.

Islanders vs Bruins: The Islanders and Bruins are both very complete teams and won their first-round series in six games and five games respectively. The Islanders are talented on both sides of the puck but rely on their defense to win hockey games. They allowed only 125 goals against in the regular season, the 2nd fewest in the league. That equates to allowing 2.23 goals against per game, 2nd fewest in the league, and they only allow 28.39 shots against per game. They win games by limiting opponents’ chances and shots on goal; causing turnovers in the neutral zone and in their defensive zone; controlling possession time; and finally, being very effective in the faceoff circle. Against the Penguins, they showed their tremendous offensive skill. Like at the beginning of the regular season, they got scoring from all of their lines. They have a lot of depth and it helped them control play. They are not the best offensive team but still recorded 2.85 goals per game and averaged 29.19 shots per game, they can get lots of shots to the net. The Islanders’ penalty kill and powerplay have both been good all season. The Islanders scored on 18.75% of their power plays this season, a top-10 mark in the league. Their penalty kill was 2nd best in the league, killing a whopping 83.70% of their penalties. Their dominance on special teams continued in the playoffs. They only allowed 3 powerplay goals, killing 75% of the Penguins’ power plays against a very strong Penguins’ power play. It will need to remain top-notch to beat the Bruins in round 2. The Bruins beat the Capitals thanks to an excellent special teams unit, great play from Tukka Rask, and their depth. They needed to get scoring from not only their superstars: Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pasternak, but also secondary guys like Taylor Hall, Jake Debrusk, David Krejci, and Curtis Lazar among others. The Bruins struggled to get scoring from their depth guys and struggled to get scoring at even strength earlier in the season, but have since improved very much. The Bruins are another great defensive team, allowing 136 goals, the 4th fewest in the league. That equates to 2,39 goals against per game, tied for 4th best in the league. They also only allow just over 27 shots a game, they have a strong defense that limits opposing offenses’ chances and attacking zone time. They control possession time, create turnovers, and have a great transition game to turn defense into offense. Like the Islanders, the Bruins are in the middle of the pack in terms of goals scored, but they do have the talent on their roster to score goals. They score 3.02 goals per game (13th best) and average 33.43 shots per game while scoring on 22.35% of their power plays, a top 10 figure in the NHL. They are a fast and creative team in the offensive zone. Both teams are very well-coached with Barry Trotz and Bruce Cassidy, are solid in net, play very good defense, have a lot of offensive talent and goal-scoring capabilities, and have a top 10 power play (Bruins have the 5th best and the Islanders have the 8th best) and the Bruins have the 5th best penalty kill, the Islanders have the 11th best. Honestly, this series will be a close, defensive battle and will come down to who is more effective on special teams, who can play better defense, who can control possession time more effectively, and which team can win the goalie battle. I believe the Islanders will beat the Bruins in 7 games with their slight defensive edge, despite having a slightly worse special teams unit.

Canadiens vs Jets: The Montreal Canadiens have completed an epic comeback. After being down 3 games to 1, everybody figured the Toronto Maple Leafs had finally exorcised their round 1 demons. But typical Maple Leafs, their lack of killer instinct was their Achilles heel and the Leafs could not close out the series, despite being the much better team, despite being favored to win, and despite having three games to try to eliminate the Habs. Now, arguably the worst team in the playoffs - no disrespect to the Habs, they played very well - will move on to face the Jets, who exposed the Oilers’ lack of depth behind their superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and swept the Oilers 4-0. The Jets have had a lot of rest and are ready for the Canadiens. However, after the Habs dismantled the Leafs, they are looking to make headlines again, for causing another playoff upset and for the chance to play in the final four. The Jets are favoured to win this series, rightfully so, as they are the more talented team, but as we saw with the Leafs, you cannot take the Habs for granted, because they have a lot of grit and do not give up. The Jets finished the regular season with the 10th best defense in the NHL. They gave up only 2.71 goals against per game, 30.59 shots per game, they’ve given up 29 powerplay goals against on 149 opponents’ power-play attempts, killing an impressive 80.54% of their power plays, which is the 13th best PK in the league. The Montreal Canadiens are a middle of the pack defensively, ranking 18th in the league. They are giving up 2.95 goals against per game, 28.20 shots per game, and they’ve allowed 37 power-play goals against on 172 attempts, killing about 78.49% of their penalties. The Jets and Canadiens both play a physical style of defense that controls the pace, the time of possession, and limit opponents' shots against and chances. The Jets have more talent and have the better defense and penalty kill, but both teams are capable. The Jets shut down the Oilers, even McDavid, and Draisaitl, and the Habs shut down the Leafs’ stars. On offense, the Jets were the 12th best offense in the league. They had the 7th best power play in the league, converting on 23.39% of their power plays. They scored 3.07 goals per game, and recorded almost 30 shots per game. They have a talented offense that wins puck battles, generates a lot of chances, is good on the faceoff circle, and can get scoring from everyone. They have a lot of depth, and some of their depth guys like Adam Lowry, Matthew Perreault, Mason Appleton look like 1st and 2nd liners sometimes. The Habs are the 22nd best offense in the league. They convert on 18.34% of their power plays, on average, they score 2.74 goals per game, and average almost 31 shots per game. They have a lot of talent offensively and are a fast, creative team. They generate a lot of chances and turn defense into offense with their strong transition game. Both Connor Hellebuyck and Carey Price had phenomenal seasons. Hellebuyck finished 24-17-3, with a 2.58 GAA, a .912 SV%, and 4 shutouts. Price finished 25-12-7, with a 2.64 GAA, a .901 SV%, and 1 shutout. In the playoffs, both goalies have been amazing too. Price was amazing all series long and kept the Habs alive in the series. He allowed 16 goals in 7 games, had a 2.24 GAA and a .932 SV%. Hellebuyck was great too and made short work of the Oilers. He allowed 8 goals in 4 games, had a 1.60 GAA and a .950 SV%. Both teams are well-coached as well. However, the Jets have the better defense, the better offense, the better special teams unit, and the better coach. The Habs will keep it close (like they did en route to upsetting the Leafs) especially with stellar play from Carey Price, but the Jets will win the series in 6 games.  

Hurricanes vs Lightning: The Hurricanes and Lightning both won their first-round series in 6 games and are both very good teams that are competing for a Stanley Cup. Both teams had a top-5 defense in the regular season and both of these teams have a top 10 defense so far in the playoffs. Both of these teams are also very strong offensively. The Hurricanes ranked 11th in the league in goals per game with 3.13 while averaging over 32 shots per game. Their real talent is on the powerplay. The Hurricanes have the 2nd best power play in the NHL this season, scoring 42 powerplay goals, and converting on 25.61% of their power play opportunities. The Tampa Bay Lightning have also been incredible on offense this year despite being without their best offensive player Nikita Kucherov all season long and Steven Stamkos for a portion of the year. The Lightning offense averaged 3.21 goals per game, which is tied with the Minnesota Wild for 7th best in the league and they also averaged 30.21 shots per game, and scored 40 powerplay goals, converting 22.35% of their powerplay chances, which is 9th best in the league. The Lightning offense only got better in the playoffs with Stamkos and Kucherov back. The Lightning have been the 2nd best playoff offense averaging 4 goals per game, 31.17 shots per game, and scoring on 40% of their power-play chances in the postseason. Both Stamkos and Kucherov had an excellent first round. Kucherov finished with 3 goals, 8 assists, and 11 points and was huge on special teams, registering 7 of his 11 points on the powerplay. Stamkos had 3 goals, 5 assists, and 8 points. Unlike most teams in the playoffs, who rely on their defense to win, these two teams rely on the plethora of offensive talent and their excellent power plays to win games. However, both their defenses are still good. The Hurricanes allowed only 2.39 goals against, tied with the Bruins for 4th best in the league, allowed 28.23 shots against, allowed 26 powerplay goals and killed an impressive 85.23% of their penalties, which ranks third-best in the NHL, which will be huge against a very talented Lightning power play that ripped the Panthers’ defense apart in round one. The Lightning allow only 2.59 goals per game, 5th best in the league, 28.27 shots against per game, allowed 29 powerplay goals against and their penalty kill is also good, killing 84.15% of their penalties. In addition, both teams have elite goaltending. Andrei Vasilesvskiy is still one of the best goalies in the league for Tampa Bay and the Hurricanes can rely on both Petr Mrazek and Alex Nedeljkovic who have both had great seasons. Nedeljkovic was solid in round one, but will need to be even better against the electric Lightning offense in round 2, which doesn’t generate a ton of chances, but can score because of their depth. Vasilesvskiy will need to be solid too, as the Hurricanes have a lot of offensive talent, depth and get scoring from their entire roster. Both teams are incredibly well-coached as well, with Rod Brind’amour behind the bench for the Hurricanes and John Cooper behind the bench for the Lightning. Both of whom can adapt to any situation their team finds themselves in and are very creative. With Stamkos and Kucherov, the Lightning are the slight favourites. However, with the Hurricanes’ excellent scoring abilities, their physical defense that does not allow a lot of chances and creates turnovers, their excellent powerplay and penalty kill units, and their goaltending - which is just as good as the Lightning’s - the Hurricanes will win a close, evenly matched series in 7 games. Game 7 will be decided in double overtime.

Golden Knights vs Avalanche: At the beginning of the season, both of these teams were Stanley Cup favourites. As the top 2 seeds in the league, this series has the potential to be the best in the entire playoffs. This series is going to be very close as these are two of the best, most well-rounded, and evenly matched teams in the NHL. Vegas has been the best defensive team this season, allowing only 2.18 goals against per game, 27.27 shots against per game and they have a fantastic penalty kill, killing a whopping 86.81% of their penalties, only allowing 19 powerplay goals to their opponents. They have also been the 3rd best defense in the playoffs. In their 7 game series in round 1, they allowed only 1.86 goals per game, the 3rd lowest among all playoff teams, 24.86 shots per game, the fewest among all playoff teams, and they've allowed 2 power-play goals against, killing almost 82% of their penalties. They play a physical type of defense that wins loose puck battles, limits opponents’ time of possession and shot opportunities, they cause a lot of turnovers ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in that category, and aren’t afraid to lay their body around. The Avalanche are also very talented defensively. They were the 3rd best team defensively during the regular season. They’ve allowed only 2.36 goals against per game, and 25.41 shots against per game, the fewest in the league. Their penalty kill is pretty efficient as well, killing just over 83% of their penalties and allowing only 30 powerplay goals to opponents on 177 chances. In the playoffs, their defense is just as sharp, allowing 1.75 goals against per game, 27.50 shots against per game, and allowing 2 power-play goals against on 9 attempts, killing 77.78% of their penalties. They also play a gritty style of defense, controlling the time of possession, the pace of the game, the neutral zone, limiting opponents’ offensive zone time and shot attempts, causing turnovers, winning loose puck battles, and turning defense into offense with their strong transition game. On offense, the roles are reversed. The Avalanche have the best offense in the regular season, scoring a whopping 3.62 goals per game, averaging 34.70 shots per game, and scoring on 24.20% of their power plays, 4th best in the league behind Edmonton, Carolina, and Tampa Bay. They have so much talent on their roster, including Nathan MacKinnon - who had an amazing season with 20 goals, 45 assists, and a great first round of the playoffs, with 6 goals and 3 assists - Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Alex Newhook, Brandon Saad. They have a lot of talent offensively, guys who can score, set up plays and they get scoring from their all-stars and their reserve guys as well. The Golden Knights have the 3rd best offense in the league, averaging 3.35 goals per game, 32.60 shots per game, and they have a good powerplay, scoring on 17.46% of their power plays. They are an elite offensive team with many superstars like Marc Stone, Max Pacioretty, Alex Tuck, Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and many capable depth guys like Ryan Reaves, Mattias Janmark, Keegan Kolesar, and Cody Glass, among others. They can get scoring from all four lines, not just their first line which shows their immense depth. They are a fast, smart, and skilled team that can set up plays with their creativity, get a lot of chances, and score frequently. Finally, both teams are evenly matched in the net. Vegas has Marc Andrei Fleury and Robin Lehner, two goaltenders with lots of playoff success and the Avalanche have Philip Grubauer and Devan Dubnyk, both are very talented and good under pressure. This series will be close, as both of these teams are very talented on offense and defense, well-coached but I will take the President’s trophy-winning Avalanche to win in 7 games.

     Like I said at the end of my last article, my Stanley Cup champion is still the Avalanche, who will defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in a close, tough 7 game series. My conference finals predictions article will be up before the series start.

UEFA EURO 2021 - Italy’s Roster and Outlook

By: Adamo Marinelli

May 25, 2021

     Italy went a perfect 10-0-0 in their EURO qualifiers and looked like a very well-rounded team. Of course, the competition in their group was not elite, but it was nothing to scoff at. They look very good and are a serious contender to win the EUROs for the first time since 1968.

     For the last few decades, Italy’s international squad has relied on a strong defense - which limits opponents’ chances and causes turnovers - and a strong transition game to generate plenty of quality offensive chances. Their 4-3-3 scheme focuses on defense which leads to turnovers, a plethora of shots, and controlling the time of possession.  

     They do not necessarily always start fast but they are a team that feels out their opponents in the first half and then has a strong second half, taking advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses. Antonio Conte relied on this strategy and now Roberto Mancini does the same thing. It has proven successful for many years, in friendly matches, qualifying matches, and on the international stage.

     The Italian team has undergone a rebuild in the past few years, getting younger at every position. Only 7 of the 33 players on the roster are 30 years old or above. The youth on the team provides speed, versatility, skill, and playmaking. The veterans on the team have a high soccer IQ, can defend well, can shoot well, and pass well. They play the role of on-field coaches, who help the younger guys develop their skills and play well day-in and day-out. 

     Notable players include Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been phenomenal in net throughout his entire young career; Leonardo Bonucci, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Florenzi, and veteran Giorgio Chiellini on defense; and Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Insigne, Nicolo Barella, and Federico Chiesa among others in the midfield and upfront.  

     Italy’s coaching staff is also one of the best in football. Roberto Mancini, the current manager, and Antonio Conte, the previous manager, play a similar style that focuses on defense first. Conte used to run a 5-3-2 with wing-backs and speedy players along the sides; Mancini runs a 4-3-3, which relies on defense to shut down opponents, to control time of possession, and to get offensive opportunities in transition. 

     Their group for the EURO 2021 tournament has many favorable opponents. They are in Group A and will play against Turkey, Wales, and Switzerland in the group stage. Realistically speaking, Italy is the best team in their group and should be able to go 3-0-0 in the group stage with their only real competition coming against Switzerland. How will they win those three games? Let’s turn to their recent World Cup qualifier matches.

     So far, Italy has played three World Cup qualifier matches against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania winning all three of them 2-0. In all of those games, like in their EURO qualifier matches in 2019, they started slow, but their strong defensive play limited their opponents’ shots, shots on target, and possession time. Italy dominated possession time, recording 67%, 68%, and 66% respectively. Their dominance in time of possession helped them control the pace of the game, dominate their opponents in shots, shots on target and pass accuracy. Their defense also causes turnovers which helps their offense and they capitalize on their opponents’ weaknesses and normally adjust their scheme depending on their opponents’ personnel. 

     However, starting slow will not necessarily work against opponents of a higher caliber. Offensive-oriented teams like France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Croatia attack early and often. If Italy wants to be successful against those teams, their defense will have to be at its best, and they cannot afford to make any mistakes, especially early in games when they are feeling out their opponents. 

     To recap, Italy is a young team with talent all over their roster, who has a great coaching staff and a great defense that limits opponents’ offensive chances and possession time. However, against stronger opponents’ they cannot make any mistakes. They have the potential to win, but will they get it done? I think they can get to the semifinals, maybe even the Finals. Forza Azzurri.