NHL Mock Draft 2021: Ottawa Senators Select Fabian Lysell with No. 10 Pick

With the 10th pick in SB Nation’s 2021 NHL Mock Draft, the Ottawa Senators are proud to select —  les Sénateurs d’Ottawa sont fiers de choisir — from Luleå HF of the SHL, Fabian Lysell.

A 5’10 right winger from Gothenburg, Sweden, Lysell spent most of the 2021 season in the top men’s league, scoring three points in 26 games while playing under eight minutes a night as a depth forward. He also took part in 11 games with Frolunda HC’s U20 team, contributing 3 goals and 10 assists.

Ary, our most knowledgeable writer with respect to the NHL Entry Draft, has released another exciting batch of draft profiles today, which does include Lysell. Give it a read once you’re done here, as it’s got everything you need to know about him as a player (Also featured are Oskar Olausson and Matthew Coronato).

For now, know that in Lysell, you’re getting a player who primarily, is a fantastic skater that can move in any direction with ease. The Elite Prospects Draft Guide describes his form as “nearly perfect, with great posture, depth, and flexibility at the ankles, knees, and hips, giving him straight-line speed and two-step quickness to burn”. Basically, he just does stuff like this in the offensive zone:

Fabian Lysell has been Sweden’s best player at the #WorldU17. He’s a terrific shooter, but look at this display of skating and puck control. Kid’s electric.

Lysell is a 1st rounder for the #2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/vmoGGyAtnF

— TPEHockey (@TPEHockey) November 5, 2019

His skating not only serves him well when creating offense off sustained pressure, but it also allows him to be a threat off the rush. According to tracking data from Elite Prospects, Lysell was the top U18 Swedish forward in successful zone exits and entries and was also more efficient when setting up his teammates, relative to his peers. It also helps that he has the tools to score goals himself, and they’re the tools you’ll hate the most if you’re an opposing defender.

FABIAN LYSELL! He answers right back with one hell of a play. 2-1 Sweden! #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/uUeI6JHJsD

— Josh Bell (@JoshuaBell31) May 4, 2021

Despite a strong shot, Lysell’s a bigger threat as a playmaker. He’ll use his skating and stickhandling to create open lanes to high-danger areas, he’s similar to Tim Stützle in that regard, and also in that he puts in the effort at both ends of the ice — though Lysell has more defensive upside. In the following clip, look out for #23 in yellow to thwart an opposing zone entry from behind.

Fabian Lysell wants the puck.

If you have it, he wants it.
Doesn't matter how big the ice is.
He a comin'. #2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/cSnaIyu8w0

— 🌬Joel Henderson💨 (@dathockeydoe) January 2, 2021

It just so happens that in this case, the player we felt was the best available at tenth overall also fills one of the team’s most pressing needs — the right wing. Aside from Drake Batherson and Egor Sokolov, all of the organization’s notable young forwards are either centers or left wingers. Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov are currently holding down the fort with Batherson in the NHL, but reinforcements will be necessary in a few years.

As a right-handed playmaker, I could see him working really well with 2020 second-round sniper Roby Järventie in a few years. Physically imposing forwards such as Brady Tkachuk and Alex Formenton could also complement Lysell, by creating extra space for him to work in the offensive zone.

Here’s how the mock draft has panned out thus far:

1. BUF: D Owen Power
2. SEA: F Matthew Beniers
3. ANA: F Dylan Guenther
4. NJD: D Luke Hughes
5. CBJ: F William Eklund
6. DET: F Mason McTavish
7. SJS: F Kent Johnson
8. LAK: D Simon Edvinsson
9. VAN: D Brandt Clarke
10. OTT: F Fabian Lysell

Let us know whether or not you agree with our selection!

Who should the Ottawa Senators select 10th overall?