Anaheim Ducks will select 3rd overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft

The Anaheim Ducks, who had the second best odds at the first overall pick in Wednesday’s draft lottery, will pick third overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

The Buffalo Sabres, who had the highest odds to win, got the first overall pick. The Seattle Kraken, with the third best odds, leapfrogged the Ducks to snag the second selection.

This is the second highest draft position the Ducks have ever had, behind only the 2005 draft where they selected Bobby Ryan at number two. While this draft doesn’t have a generational talent like Sidney Crosby in 2005, there are still plenty of quality players available who will likely be key contributors in future seasons for Anaheim.

Owen Power, a defenseman playing with Michigan in the NCAA, is currently ranked as the top draft-eligible prospect in most rankings, though almost every scout and prospect evaluator agrees that he is far from a sure thing to go with the first selection. Realistically, there are about four or five players who have a chance to go first overall.

Regardless of who the Sabres and Kraken select, a good player will be available to the Ducks at number three.

Below is the top 10 of TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s draft rankings, which are generally considered to be the most accurate rankings due to actual team scout votes factoring into this list:

Stay tuned for more draft coverage and detailed player profiles from the Crash The Pond staff as we get closer to the draft on July 23rd and 24th.

Check out our live reactions and analysis of the draft lottery below!