NHL Central Scouting released their Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft. There are 16 Minnesotans on the list, headlined by the talented Chaz Lucius, a University of Minnesota recruit and current member of the NTDP U-18 Team. Lucius was given an ‘A’ ranking by Central Scouting, meaning he’s considered as a potential first round pick. Lucius has not played so far this season as he’s sidelined with a lower body injury.
Jack Peart was rated as a ‘C’ Player on the preliminary list released back in October but is now listed as a ‘B’ Player to Watch. His impressive play with Fargo of the USHL showed he can play at a higher level with success. Peart is currently back playing at Grand Rapids High School. Connor Kelley, Charlie Laurie, and Connor Kurth are Minnesota prospects that are new to the list. All are rated as ‘C’ rated players.
The Minnesota rankings are standard as there tends to be 15-20 players on the list annually. Connor Kelley of UMD (Maple Grove) is the only Minnesotan that is an “over-ager” on the list, as he was not selected in the 2020 NHL Draft. Kelley has displayed his shutdown defense on the Bulldog blueline this season.
| ‘A’ Players to Watch | DOB | TEAM |
| Chaz Lucius | 5/02/2003 | NTDP U-18 |
| ‘B’ Players to Watch | DOB | TEAM |
| Tristan Broz | 10/10/2002 | Fargo (USHL) |
| Justin Janicke | 6/30/2003 | NTDP U-18 |
| Luke Mittelstadt | 1/22/2003 | Eden Prairie HS |
| Jack Peart | 5/13/2003 | Grand Rapids HS |
| ‘C’ Players to Watch | DOB | TEAM |
| Cade Ahrenholz | 11/30/2002 | Lakeville South HS |
| Jackson Blake | 8/3/2003 | Chicago (USHL) |
| Connor Kelley | 1/30/2002 | UMD (NCAA) |
| Kyle Kukkonen | 11/13/2002 | Maple Grove HS |
| Connor Kurth | 7/30/2003 | Dubuque (USHL) |
| Luke Levandowski | 9/26/2002 | Rosemount HS |
| Charlie Laurie | 3/11/2003 | Shattuck St. Mary’s |
| Henty Nelson | 3/25/2003 | Maple Grove HS |
| Joe Palodichuk | 2/26/2003 | Hill-Murray HS |
| Joey Pierce | 10/2/2002 | Hermantown HS |
| Bennett Schimek | 4/15/2003 | Sioux City (USHL) |