Pick tracker and analysis for every team

8:00 PM ET

ESPN staff

The 2021 NHL draft is here, and we’re tracking all 224 picks over two days and seven rounds, starting with the Buffalo Sabres‘ selection at No. 1 overall of Owen Power. Follow along live Friday and Saturday for each selection. Plus, Greg Wyshynski will take a closer look at how each first-rounder fits with his new team.

This year’s class of prospects comes with little consensus when it comes to rankings and evaluations, thanks to uneven — or nonexistent — seasons for many junior, collegiate and/or international leagues amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But the group is extremely talented, with numerous future impact players at the NHL level.

Following the Sabres in Round 1 were the Seattle Kraken, who just completed their full expansion draft and then made their first ever draft pick at No. 2 overall (Matthew Beniers). A handful of teams are also set to make multiple first-round picks on Friday.

Here are the 2021 NHL draft picks as they happen, along with instant analysis on every Round 1 selection. Watch the first-round picks roll in live on Friday night on ESPN2. Rounds 2-7 will continue on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. ET (NHL Network).

See more: Rankings

ROUND 1

Team: Michigan (Big Ten)
Ranking: 1 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 213 | Shot: L
Stats: 26 GP, 3 G, 13 A

How he fits: It’s not often that a team gets the first overall pick in the draft in two out of four seasons. It’s also not often that a team uses those two No. 1 picks to then select defensemen, but that’s how the draft classes have worked out for the Sabres. Rasmus Dahlin, No. 1 overall in 2018, hasn’t quite leveled up to franchise defenseman status yet, but he’s only 21 years old. Now Power joins him as another left-side defenseman who Buffalo can build around in the next decade — perhaps using the pieces it gets for an eventual Jack Eichel trade, for example. — Wyshynski

Team: Michigan (Big Ten)
Ranking: 3 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 175 | Shot: L
Stats: 24 GP, 10 G, 14 A

How he fits: Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol told me that his general manager, Ron Francis, wanted to acquire players who reminded the Hall of Famer of the way he played. Well, he just drafted a two-way center with great skating ability, dynamic offense and a “leads-by-example” work ethic, which should be familiar to Francis. Beniers is a great building block for the NHL’s newest franchise. He fancied Patrice Bergeron growing up, but Beniers may end up becoming the Kraken’s own version of Jonathan Toews one day. — Wyshynski

Team: Peterborough (OHL)
Ranking: 9 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 207 | Shot: L

How he fits: As the Ryan Getzlaf era fades into memory, the Ducks get themselves another talented center who plays a power game. McTavish’s stock shot up the draft board in the past few weeks, and you can see why: He has an NHL shot, plays strong and has drawn comparisons to Ryan O’Reilly. Anaheim has a solid foundation building with forward Trevor Zegras, defenseman Jamie Drysdale and now McTavish. — Wyshynski

Team: USA U-18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 5 | Nationality: USA
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 184 | Shot: L
Stats: 38 GP, 6 G, 28 A

How he fits: Obviously, the master plan is to collect two Hughes brothers in the hopes that they magnetically attract Quinn Hughes to join the Devils at some point. Just kidding … maybe. Luke Hughes may not have the offensive dynamism that Quinn Hughes does, but his solid two-way game will be an asset to the Devils as he joins Ty Smith among the next-wave defensemen. And if all else fails, the team has a heck of a marketing hook with the Brothers Hughes — and a happy star in Jack Hughes, which is always a good thing. — Wyshynski

Team: Michigan (Big Ten)
Ranking: 7 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 167 | Shot: L
Stats: 26 GP, 9 G, 18 A

How he fits: The Blue Jackets have chased a franchise center for years. They thought they had ones in Ryan Johansen and Pierre-Luc Dubois, before trading both. Now comes Johnson from Michigan, a late-bloomer who had an absolutely tremendous, highlight-generating freshman season at Michigan. One issue: He might be better on the wing, where many draft analysts believe he’ll put up monster numbers in the NHL. Wherever he plays, he’ll be an elite playmaker. — Wyshynski

Team: Frolunda Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Ranking: 8 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 198 | Shot: L
Stats: 14 GP, 1 G, 5 A

How he fits: Talented Swede joins the Red Wings. In other news, water remains wet. Edvinsson gives Detroit a player many feel projects to be a franchise blueliner. The Red Wings now have a foundational 6-foot-5 defenseman on the left side to join their foundational 6-foot-4 defenseman on the right side in Moritz Seider. Hey, the Red Wings know from trying to build from the Swedish defensemen out. Ask Steve Yzerman. — Wyshynski

Team: Djurgarden (Sweden)
Ranking: 2 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 176 | Shot: L
Stats: 40 GP, 11 G, 12 A