2021 NHL Draft: A Pick-By-Pick Scouting Report

BOSTON - After an unprecedented year in the scouting community as a global pandemic wreaked havoc on hockey at every level, the NHL Draft went on as planned over the weekend with all 32 clubs welcoming a bevy of new prospects into their organizations.
Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the Bruins scouting staff found new and innovative ways to evaluate players across the globe. While in-person viewings continued in some areas, the B's staff also incorporated virtual meetings and far more video than they had in the past to make sure that their Draft board was as thorough as ever.

"I think we have a really, really good group," said Bruins Associate Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Nadeau. "There is a lot of communication that went into it all year. We did a lot of Microsoft Teams meetings as a group. Different in a sense that - particularly the crossover [scouts] that weren't able to get into every area - you end up really relying heavily on certain area guys and the views were a little different in that sense where a lot of the live views were simply area-based and the crossover guys were relying a lot on video.
"I think our group has been really good at adjusting, working together on the fly. The end of last year certainly prepared us very well for this year. We took a lot of what we learned last year with some of the video stuff. And our internal staff here did a phenomenal job in helping us navigate some video stuff and some game report stuff that we were able to move forward on that really helped solidify things. And then just a constant communication.
"It's strange because during a normal year with all the travel, it's actually hard to get our group together with different time zones and travel schedules. We don't actually communicate as a group all that often. Maybe in your midseason meetings, maybe a few other conference calls. In the past year and a half, we've actually spent a lot of time together as a big group. Not in person obviously, but a lot more communication as a group just to get together remotely through Microsoft Teams.
"Again, I think our group has handled it really well in adjusting…having kids home from school, at times in meetings, and other things. Again, people just juggled it however they could, and people were really flexible and understanding and just how it impacted all our lives. We just worked around it."

Ultimately, the Bruins made all seven of their selections in the 2021 NHL Draft, their largest haul of picks in six years, as they welcomed a blend of skill and across a number of positions. Swedish winger Fabian Lysell headlined the group as Boston's first-round pick at No. 21 overall and was one of three Sweden natives chosen by the Bruins, joining goalie Philip Svedeback (fourth round) and winger Oskar Jellvik (fifth round).
Third-round pick Brett Harrison is a 6-foot-2 centerman who grew up as a Bruins fan thanks to his grandfather's friendship with former Bruin Gary Doak. Defenseman Ryan Mast (sixth round), center Andre Gasseau (seventh round), and defenseman Ty Gallagher (seventh round) rounded out the B's selections.
"When we go in any draft, you have sort of, best player available type of thinking, especially early," said Nadeau. "And as the draft moves along, we were able to hit a bunch of spots. We went excitement, high-end offense and skill, right away. We got some size in the middle with the second pick. We picked up a goalie with the third pick. Then we went back to maybe a little bit more of some speed and offense with the next pick.
"[We] hit a few different areas - even in terms of leagues. It's not necessarily planned. Last year, it ended up being - I think we went All-American sort of last year. This year, it's just how it goes and how your draft board plays out and where the draft fits.
"I think from an overall standpoint, having seven picks was good too. We haven't been able to always have that many picks. So, it gave us a few more swings and sort of allowed us to round it out a little bit."
Here's a scouting report on Boston's seven newest prospects:

Round 1, 21st Overall | Fabian Lysell

The Bruins were thrilled to see Lysell on the board when it was their turn to pick at No. 21. The Sweden native is considered a dynamic, game-changing type talent with a bevy of offensive skill. Bruins European Scouting Coordinator P.J. Axelsson was among those in the organization that kept a close eye on the 5-foot-11, 175-pound right winger during his time playing for Frolunda.
"I think we do identify with the skill and the game-breaking ability," said Sweeney. "He's got speed, he can shoot the puck. We'll go down and watch him live at the U18's. You saw the pockets of high-end ability.
"Again, now there's details and things that all young players have to learn and assimilate with the North American style, but he has attributes that I think we identified the Boston Bruins need as much of as we possibly can. Scoring and skills are hard to find and Fabian has a lot of those attributes."
Lysell notched three goals and 10 assists in 11 games for Frolunda HC's U-20 team last season, while also suiting up for 26 games with Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League, for whom he collected two goal and an assist. The 18-year-old also helped Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2021 IIHF U-18 Men's World Championship in Texas.
"Exciting player," said Nadeau. "We had talked about him when we were doing our board that there may be a chance that we could get him there. That's it - the word is excitement. That's the style of game that he plays. He likes to attack, he likes to attack with speed and pace. He's got a lot of skill.
"He's just a guy that we targeted. Being able to pick up a high skill kind of offensive, exciting player like that, we haven't really been able to go in that direction in a few Drafts. It just made sense for us. Obviously, he was a pick when he was available that we were very happy to be able to select him and add to our group."
A more in depth look at Lysell is here.
Video: B's First Round Pick Fabian Lysell speaks with media

Round 3, 85th Overall | Brett Harrison

The big-bodied centerman spent part of the 2020-21 season in Finland with KOOVEE's U-20 club due to the pandemic shutting down the OHL's campaign. Harrison, who checks in at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven games with KOOVEE.
The London, Ontario, native also helped Team Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship in Texas earlier this year, notching two goals in seven games. Harrison will return to the Oshawa of the OHL this season after skating in 58 games with 21 goals and 16 assist for the Generals in 2019-20.
"A big, scoring centerman," said Nadeau. "Maybe an oddity this year in a sense that the Ontario Hockey League didn't play. He went over and played in Finland for a bit where we saw him and then he came back and played in the U-18s, saw him there. They had a very good team. He was able to win a gold medal there.
"In a normal scouting year with the OHL running, we would have seen him a lot more, but so would other teams. I think for us being able to get a big centerman with some strength and scoring upside at that part of the Draft], we're just happy to be able to make the pick there."
***[A more in depth look at Harrison is here.*

Round 4, 117th Overall | Philip Svedeback

The 6-foot-3, 192-pound netminder spent last season with the Vaxjo Lakers U-20 team in Sweden. The Stockholm native had a .912 save percentage in 12 games. Svedeback will play for the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2021-22.
"He's gotten decent size, looks like he's going to go the college route. He's got a few schools talking to him," said Nadeau. "For us, it's a good path, especially for a goaltender."
Svedeback is currently with Team Sweden at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan.
"We sort of talked about whether we were going to call him because of the schedule," said Nadeau, noting that Sweden was set to play a game on Saturday during the second day of the NHL Draft. "I honestly don't know if we got a hold of him. I certainly talked to everybody but him, so I don't know if anyone ended up getting in touch with him. We almost said, 'Hey, knowing how goalies are and it being a game day, I didn't know that we necessarily needed to throw it at him right there.'
"I'm sure he's obviously going to find out and it's an event that we cover, so an amount of our staff is heading there [this week]. I'm in there in the middle of the week and then [Director of Player Development] Jamie Langenbrunner, so we'll be able to communicate and touch base with these guys.
"That was kind of an awkward one, to be honest. I can't remember a situation of a kid playing a game on a Draft day."

Round 5, 149th Overall | Oskar Jellvik

The 5-foot-11 winger was Boston's third selection out of Sweden. Jellvik, considered a shifty and skilled forward, played in 13 games with Djurgardens IF's Under-20 team last season, recording 12 points (six goals, six assists). In 2019-20, Jellvik collected 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) across in 21 games in Sweden's J18 Elite and J18 Allsvenskan leagues.
"He has some high offensive ability," said Nadeau. "A kid with a lot of sense and skill. Good skater. To be able to grab him there, some excitement for our group in terms of just being an offensive upside guy. At that spot in the Draft, we were really happy to add him to our group."
A more in depth look at Jellvik is here.

Round 6, 181st Overall | Ryan Mast

The right-shot blue liner, who was selected from the Sarnia Sting of the OHL, stands at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and models his game after Boston's Brandon Carlo. Mast did not play with the Sting last season after the OHL's campaign was shut down due to the pandemic, but in 2019-20 the blue liner had 11 points (goal, 10 assists) in 58 games for the Sting.
"We were able to catch him in Eerie during a prospects event that a bunch of the players organized," said Nadeau. "It was a real good event for those kids. We saw him as an underage, played quite a bit. He's a big, strong kid who has some ability to play some offense, see him PP time. Just a really big frame and a kid that we're excited about the potential to grow and develop as a player."
A more in depth look at Mast is here.

Round 7, 213th Overall | Andre Gasseau

The California native is a Boston College commit who is set to arrive at The Heights in the fall of 2022. Gasseau was selected out of the United States National Team Development Program and will play for Fargo of the USHL during the upcoming 2021-22 season.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound centerman played in 42 games for the USNTDP last season and notched 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists).
"Gonna play in Fargo this year. They've done a great job. They were in the Clark Cup Final this year," said Nadeau. "They've been able to develop a lot of players. He's going to Boston College after that which we think is a real good route for him in his development."
A more in depth look at Gasseau is here.

Round 7, 217th Overall | Ty Gallagher

The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman was a teammate of Gasseau's at the USNTDP and was the 20th-ranked North American blue liner, according to NHL Central Scouting. Gallagher skated in 20 games with the Development Program's U-18 Team last season and notched 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists). His 14 goals led all blue liners on the club. Across two seasons, he collected 24 goals, the most for a defenseman in USNTDP history.
The 18-year-old Michigan native will attend Boston University in the fall.
"He's already been at BU this summer for a little bit," said Nadeau. "He's home now and then heading back to Boston. A defenseman that we've liked a lot this year. Really likes to get up in the play, likes to shoot the puck. He's an active kid. Obviously we've got a little familiarity there with the staff at Boston University with former Bruins assistant Jay Pandolfo now associate head coach on Comm. Ave.], so a great fit. Another player that we're really excited to add to our group."
When it comes to the familiarity with BU - or BC in Gasseau's case - Nadeau said that the picks were not made solely based on that fact, but that it certainly will make it easier to keep tabs on their progress.
"I think there is more of a path that we're very comfortable with," said Nadeau. "Certainly, we've got a lot of familiarity with both staffs. We know they're in good hands. We know how easy it is for us to keep tabs on them…it certainly gives us a comfort level, but it doesn't necessarily push us to make them the best pick or the next pick.
"They just happen to be two kids that are going to BC and BB - which is a good thing. But in all honesty, they could be going somewhere in the Big 10 or out West and it wouldn't necessarily have mattered that much."
***[A more in depth look at Gallagher is here.
Video: Gallagher, #217 overall pick, speaks with media*