Welcome back to The Journey.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been showing off my top-15 2021 NHL draft mock picks. Today, I wrap up the series with my final give picks (11-15) 

Before I go ahead, let’s recap who has been taken this far:

#1 – The Buffalo Sabres select Owen Power – A towering, left-shot defenceman with tremendous reach and strong skating ability. There’s tons of potential for him to translate into a very solid top-four defender behind Rasmus Dahlin.

#2 – The Seattle Kraken select Matty Beniers – With the organization’s inaugural pick, they select a dynamic pivot from the University of Michigan. He brings a pinch of everything and has all of the makings to become an extremely sound second-line center.

#3 – The Anaheim Ducks select Simon Edvinsson – A risk-taking defender, who carries a big frame. His game is raw but shows a ton of upside. 

#4 – The New Jersey Devils select Brandt Clarke – A right-handed shot, who thinks the game better than most. He has the potential to be the top pick among this year’s crop of defenders. 

#5 – The Columbus Blue Jackets select William Eklund – Considered a magician with the puck. He’s got a non-stop motor and a great ability to create offense. Pure excitement.

#6 – The Detroit Red Wings select Jesper Wallstedt – Has the potential to be a savior between the pipes in the Motor City. At the very least, projects to be a very strong starting netminder.

#7 – The San Jose Sharks select Dylan Guenther – A pure trigger man who can play on either wing. He will score goals at any level. 

#8 – The LA Kings select Luke Hughes – An extremely mobile defender with the potential to make GMs look silly for overlooking him. 

#9 – The Vancouver Canucks select Mason McTavish – A meat and potatoes forward who meshes well with the club’s top-nine mold. 

#10 – The Ottawa Senators select Kent Johnson – A razzle-dazzle forward with a strong two-way ability. 

Pick #11: Chicago Blackhawks

The Pick: Fabian Lysell, RW

Much like the majority of teams in this top-15, the Blackhawks are in need of some help in most departments. With longtime performers such as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith aging by the day, their range is wide open. Cue in Fabian Lysell.

The Swedish winger has fallen into a variety of spots with respect to scout's rankings, which indicates that there is some slight risk to this pick. With that being said, if he can properly acclimate to the North American game, his talents have him poised to become a very solid top-six threat down the road. 

Lysell's most pronounced feature is his speed and his ability to create chances with furious pace. When he gets going up the rush, it is tough to stop. He has a soft touch, and high vision to find teammates. While there is still some developing and filling out to be had, his non-stop motor makes him a nuisance to play against, which is something that will carry on with him up the ranks. 

Kickstarting the 2020-21 campaign in the Swedish J20 league, his 13 points in 11 games were enough to grant him a promotion to the SHL. With only three points to show for his 26-game stint, his work on the stat sheet was nothing to brag about. Yet, he never looked out of sort and proved to be a solid fit, especially for an 18-year-old. 

There is a lot to like about Lysell's game, and the Blackhawk have a great opportunity to go with a high-risk/high-reward player at no. 11.

Here are some highlights courtesy of Draft Project:

Pick #12:  Calgary Flames

The Pick: Cole Sillinger, C

Sillinger took an interesting path to seek consistent ice time during the Covid lockdown. Following a strong WHL rookie campaign (2019-20), compiling 53 points in 48 games, Sillinger moved across the border to play in the USHL for the 2020-21 season. He suited up for the Sioux Fall Greyhounds and absolutely shredded his stay with a team-leading 46 points (24G + 22A), while finishing fourth league-wide in points-per-game.

The 6-foot, 201-pound pivot is an offensive dynamo. While his heavy-laced shot serves as his top attribute, he brings a multitude of threats to the table and has a knack for finding dangerous lanes. He shows great hands, solid vision and is not afraid to put his body into the mix. Skating was a slight question mark heading into his 2020-21 season, but most can agree that it has taken good strides this season (no pun). Yet, if comparing, still falls as his most notable downside. 

Sillinger provides a safe and cozy option for the Flames to take at 12, knowing full well what sort of offensive potential is at stake. 

Here are some highlights courtesy of Wolf Hockey:

Pick #13: Philadelphia Flyers

The Pick: Chaz Lucius, C

Lucius missed time to start his draft season but made up for the lost time in a big way. Once healthy, he lit up both the USHL and USNDP, with 18 in 12 and 20 in 13, respectively. 

Equipped with a nice mix of shooting options, Lucius is one of the top trigger men to go in the draft. He’s got very crafty hands and is considered to be an all-around offensive weapon. Of course, his defensive game and skating need some cleaning up before he is to transfer to the pro game. Not to worry, his offensive upside is well worth the risk at number 13. 

The Flyers already boast a nice bag of young talent up front, and Lucius just adds another piece to that puzzle. 

Here are some highlights courtesy of Wolf Hockey:

Pick #14:  Dallas Stars

The Pick: Nikita Chibrikov

Chibrikov is consistent. While he does not excel in any department, he is strong in all. If you need offense, he carries a good shot. If you need physicality, he can bring it from time to time, despite his slightly undersized frame. He brings strong instincts to the game and doesn't give up on plays. 

The Russian winger lived in a suitcase for the 2020-21 season, splitting time between various tiers within the SKA pipeline. This was highlighted by suiting up for 18 KHL matches, chipping in a goal, and an assist in the process – no easy task for an 18-year-old skater. He wrapped his strong season with a marvelous U18 WJC tournament, compiling 13 points while leading the tournament with nine assists. 

Here are some highlights courtesy of Wolf Hockey:

Pick #15: New York Rangers

The Pick: Fyodor Svechkov 

The Rangers' defensive pipeline is fruitful, while they also boast a handful of strong options upfront. So, why not gun for a defensive forward with the 15th overall pick? Look no further than Fyodor Svehckov.

While he is no slouch in the offensive zone – which he reiterated with his point-per-game lace in the MHL – the 6-foot winger is known as one of the – if not the – best defensive player in the draft. He’s not overly flashy, but he certainly gets the job done. One of his biggest knocks is his ability to create chances on his lonesome, as it seems like he needs to be surrounded by talented players. Luckily, the Rangers' are just fine in that department and provide that in spades. 

Svechkov doesn’t project to a top-six player, which is fine considering their current mold. Over time he can grow to be a strong complementary piece to their already impressive core in Manhattan. 

Here are some highlights courtesy of Wolf Hockey:

Please, feel free to catch me on Twitter @hall1289 to let me know discuss my picks. 

See you next week.