2021 NHL Draft – By The Numbers
The 2021 NHL Draft is in the books. And not without some interesting trends to develop.
A total of 223 players from 14 countries and 38 leagues were selected between the two days at the 2021 draft.
Defensemen, understandably, led the way with 83 selections, while centers followed up with 53. But, in total, there were 121 total forwards taken. Goaltenders, at 21, finished fifth among all positions.
Canada paced all NHL Draftees with 82 of 223 selections. The United States finished second with 50 picks, and Russia nabbed third with 29 selections.
The Western Hockey League (WHL) was the most fruitful with 32 selections. Surprisingly, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) — which did not skate a single game in 2020-21 after a cancellation as a result of COVID-19 protocols — finished second with 26 picks hailing from the league. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), with 24, and the United States Hockey League (USHL), with 19, finished third and fourth respectively. The USHL’s figure does not include the 11 players selected from the U.S. National Team Development program.
The day was ruled by 6-foot-2 skaters, too. That height, as logged by NHL.com, accounted for 50 of 223 picks made on Friday and Saturday. Those standing 6-foot-1 logged 36 selections, and those at an even 6-feet counted 33 picks.
A draft-leading 57 players weighed in between 170 and 179 pounds. The range between 190 and 199 pounds was second-most plentiful, with 49 eligibles tipping the scales there. Forty-seven draftees logged a weight between 180 and 189 pounds.
Here’s the full breakdown of the 2021 NHL Draft, by the numbers:
| POSITION | No. of Picks |
| Defensemen | 83 |
| Centers | 53 |
| Left Wings | 35 |
| Right Wings | 33 |
| Goaltenders | 21 |
| BIRTH COUNTRY | No. of Picks |
| Canada | 82 |
| United States | 50 |
| Russia | 29 |
| Sweden | 24 |
| Finland | 14 |
| Czech Republic | 8 |
| Germany | 4 |
| Switzerland | 3 |
| Belarus | 1 |
| Great Britain | 1 |
| Kazakhstan | 1 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Ukraine | 1 |
| LEAGUE | No. of Picks |
| WHL | 32 |
| OHL | 26 |
| QMJHL | 24 |
| USHL | 19 |
| RUSSIA-JR | 16 |
| SWEDEN-JR | 12 |
| NTDP | 11 |
| FINLAND-JR | 10 |
| SWEDEN | 9 |
| USHS | 9 |
| RUSSIA | 8 |
| FINLAND | 6 |
| OTHER | 38 |
| TEAM | No. of Picks |
| National Team Development Program | 11 |
| Chicago – USHL | 6 |
| Edmonton – WHL | 5 |
| London – OHL | 5 |
| St. Petersburg (KHL) | 5 |
| CSKA-2 (MHL) | 4 |
| Gatineau (QMJHL) | 4 |
| Moose Jaw (WHL) | 4 |
| OTHER | 179 |
| HEIGHT | No. of Picks |
| 6’2″ | 50 |
| 6’1″ | 36 |
| 6’0″ | 33 |
| 5’11” | 25 |
| 6’4″ | 22 |
| 6’3″ | 20 |
| 5’10” | 16 |
| 6’6″ | 7 |
| 6’5″ | 6 |
| 5’9″ | 4 |
| 5’8″ | 2 |
| 5’6″ | 1 |
| 6’7″ | 1 |
| WEIGHT | No. of Picks |
| 170-179 | 57 |
| 190-199 | 49 |
| 180-189 | 47 |
| 200-209 | 25 |
| 160-169 | 20 |
| 210-219 | 14 |
| 150-159 | 7 |
| 220-229 | 2 |
| 230+ | 1 |