By: Clare McManus
A couple of 2021 NHL draftees put pen to paper and signed with their respective NHL clubs.
The Anaheim Ducks signed three players from their 2021 draft class. Those players are Sasha Pastujov, Mason McTavish, and Olen Zellweger.
The Ducks 66th overall selection, Sasha Pastujov, recently made a big decision after decommitting from the University of Notre Dame and choosing to go the OHL route, playing with the Guelph Storm, who had owed his rights. Pastujov, who was drafted 276th overall by the Storm in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, played the past two seasons with the US National Team. In 90 games with the USDP, Pastujov posted 44 goals and 71 assists for 115 total points.
Pastujov is a 4.75 star rated player for Neutral Zone.
“In the offensive zone, he loves to find space on the backside where he will look to quickly rip wrist shots on the net or attempt to fire one-timers if his teammates can find him,” said NZ scouts. “He is a volume shooter and any time he is given the opportunity or lane to the net, Pastujov never hesitates to put a puck on the net. This was evident after he registered seven shots on the net in this game and likely had another five or so shots miss the net or get blocked. Pastujov is a goal scorer and puts volume on the net, always eager to take a shot lane if presented to him.”
Mason McTavish is a big name prospect after being the third-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
The 18 year-old forward currently stands at six-foot-two, 207 pounds. He currently plays a with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, but due to Covid shutting down the league this season, he played on a loan to EHC Olten of the Swiss Hockey League. In 13 games played with the team, McTavish posted nine goals and two assists for 13 total points. McTavish and his draft stock grew after a strong showing at the U18 tournament, scoring five goals and six assists for 11 points in seven games played, leading the team as the capitan.
McTavish is a 4.75 star rated player for Neutral Zone.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran notes, “In my mind Mason has played like an NHLer for a long long time. He’s responsible in both ends and does not cheat. He’s strong as a bull and leadership just oozes off him. It’s a little thing, but he handles rocket passes to his backhand so easily that he makes it look like he’s playing pick up with his buddies. He finishes his checks with a purpose and always beats his man back to the important areas of the ice. Mason has a powerful stride, can stop on a dime and shows excellent acceleration when coming out of tight turns. He plays the game with his eyes up looking for the next opportunity to impact the game and his shot is flat out deadly.”
The next player the Anaheim Ducks signed from their 2021 draft class is defenseman Olen Zellweger.
Zellweger was drafted in the second round, 34th overall, by the Ducks. The five-foot-ten, 174 pound defenseman played the past two seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. This season, Zellweger posted two goals and 11 assists for 13 total points in 11 games played. The WHL season was shortened due to Covid. Zellweger also suited up for seven games at the U18 tournament with team Canada, posting a goal and seven assists.
Zellweger is a 4 star rated prospect for Neutral Zone.
Neutral Zone scouts say that “Zellweger is a fantastic skater. He has electric feet. He’s light on his feet, he’s quick in his acceleration. On his edges, he is tremendous. He is an elusive target. He turns really tight, can shift his momentum seamlessly, and he transitions smoothly from forwards to backwards skating. His straight line speed is very good. He wins a lot of foot races. In his own zone defensively, he covers a ton of ground. Zellweger is like a water bug in that regard, bouncing all over the ice, disrupting plays and putting pressure on puck carriers with his aggressive attack and active stick. In the defensive zone if he does struggle it is in the physical side of things.”
The Los Angeles Kings signed two of their 2021 NHL draft prospects.
Defenseman Brandt Clarke inked his signature with the Kings. The Nepean, Ontario native currently plays with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. Last season, Clarke listed six goals and 32 assists for 38 points in 57 games played. This year, Clarke played on loan to HC Nove Zamky of the Slovakian league. In 26 games played, he posted five goals and 10 assists. Clarke also made an impact on team Canada at the U18s, posting two goals and five assists.
Clarke is a 4.75 star rated prospect for Neutral Zone.
Neutral Zone says Clarke is a “smooth skater, powerful stride and always had his head up. Jumped into offense when it was there and had good closing speed to get back on attacking forwards. Made smart decisions with the puck. Ran top of the power play unit well using head fakes and deception with crisp passing to pick apart PK units. Excellent vision with a big point shot.”
The Kings also signed Finnish forward Samuel Helenius to an entry level deal. The six-foot-six centerman played this past season with JYP of the Liiga. In 54 games played, Helenius scored seven goals and seven assists for 14 total points. He also played in seven games with team Finland at the U18 tournament, scoring two goals and two assists.
Helenius is a 3.75 star rated prospect for Neutral Zone and is known to be a good two-way player on the ice.
The next prospect to sign with a team was Czech defenseman Stanislav Svozil.
Svozil fell a little further than he was projected to go. But lucky for the Columbus Blue Jackets, they could have quite the prospect on Svozil, selecting him in the third round, 69th overall. Stanislav has played most of his hockey career with HC Kometa Brno in Czech Republic, dating back to U16. Over the years he has put up solid numbers, recently scoring a goal and three points in 30 games with Kometa Brno in the Czech pro league. He also suited up for three games on a loan to HC Prerov, scoring a goal and an assist. Svozil played in multiple international games this season. He was another prospect to appear at the U18 tournament, playing five games for the Czech team, posting one point.
“Svozil is a smart defenseman who is effective on both sides of the puck. Svozil is also effective on the breakout and moving pucks up ice. He isn’t fancy when doing this but makes the right play consistently and makes it hard. On the powerplay, he is calm at the point and runs the first unit for his team. He makes confident plays with the puck and everything runs through him. Defensively, he is sound in his game and does a good job not overextending. Svozil plays within himself and makes.”
The New York Rangers signed their first-round pick to an entry level contract. Scarborough, Ontario native, Brennan Othmann, put pen to paper. Othmann currently plays for the Flint Firebirds of the OHL, scoring 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 55 games last season. This year with the OHL being shut down, Othmann suited up for EHC Olten of the Swiss league, scoring seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 34 games played. Othmann also played seven games for team Canada at the U18 tournament, posting three goals and three assists.
Othmann is currently a 4.75 star rated player for Neutral Zone.
Neutral Zone Ian Moran says “I love how this kid plays. How he competes. He’s been able to find the scoring area and put the puck home since he was a young player with Don Mills, but all you really need to know about him and the impact he can have on a game or team…He shows an explosive start, an active stick and a mature willingness to be poised & patient in the defensive zone away from the puck.”
Swedish winger Fabian Lysell signed with the Boston Bruins. The 21st overall pick played this past season split between Frölunda HC and Luleå HF. In 12 games with Frolunda, Lysell scored three goals and 10 assists. In 26 games with Lulea, Lysell scored two goals and one assist. He did well at the U18 worlds, posting three goals and six assists in seven games played with team Sweden.
Lysell is a 4.75 star rated player for Neutral Zone.
“Lysell is an extremely skilled player for Sweden who does his best work on the rush and skating through the neutral zone with space. He is creative with the puck on his stick, and once he got going in this game, stood out each time he had the puck on his stick and was able to get his head up. Carrying the puck up ice he is a smooth skater and has quick hands. He relies on his edges and hands to navigate through tight spaces with the puck, which allows him to make effective plays when entering the offensive zone.”
The Avalanche signed left-shot Swedish winger, Oskar Olausson to a contract. The 18 year-old has played the past few years in HV71’s system. This year, Olausson posted 14 goals and 13 assists in 16 games in the J20 Nationell. He suited up for 16 games in the SHL, posting three goals and an assist. On a loan to Södertälje SK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, Olausson scored three goals and three assists in 11 games. Olausson will either go to the Avalanche’s farm system in the AHL or the Barrie Colts in the OHL, as they own his rights.
An A rated prospect from Neutral Zone, “Olausson has a versatile skill set as a tall, athletic, two-way forward who has speed, puck carrying ability and a quick, accurate, powerful release. He’s a late ‘02 who has really ascended this season and put himself in the discussion for a first round selection. He has the size and fame that he can grow into, he’s athletic and moves well across the ice with a fluid stride and his hands are both quick and poised. He can stickhandle around defenders or he can beat them wide with speed.”
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images