Stars’ 2021 NHL Draft picks: Grades, fit and full scouting reports – The Athletic

Corey Pronman grades how the team performed at the 2021 NHL Draft, and details what to expect from the prospects and how they fit into the farm system.

Complete coverage of the NHL Draft

2021 Draft Grade: B+

Dallas did a lot of things I liked this weekend. Wyatt Johnston could be a top-two-line center. I think Logan Stankoven is a good player, and Artem Grushnikov has the potential to be a good player. I liked some of the Stars mid-to-late-round picks in Ayrton Martino, Conner Roulette, Jack Bar and Albert Sjoberg; but Justin Ertel was high for me. I can see Dallas getting one really good player from this class, the possibility for two; and possibly two or three regular NHL players.

Draft class

Wyatt Johnston, C (No. 23): Johnston didnt get a season last year but was a top-three-line center for Canada at the U18s. Johnston didnt get power-play time there, but he is a skilled forward who can make plays and he kept seeing his ice time go up as the event went along. This built off a strong underage season. He has great in-tight hands, showing the ability to beat defenders one-on-one and move pucks through small areas. Johnston can create chances under pressure and has the ability to run a power play off the flank. He isnt a perimeter player, though. He attacks the hard areas of the ice, shows good second efforts going for loose pucks and is a responsible defensive center. Johnston has legitimately grown in the past season, going from 5-foot-11 to 6-1. He lacks NHL quickness, though, in his skating. In a sentence, Johnston projects as a second-line center.

Pronmans thoughts: Johnston is a player Im a big fan of and I have really loved his development over the past two seasons.

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Stars' 2021 NHL Draft picks: Grades, fit and full scouting reports - The Athletic