2021 NHL Mock Draft Compilation: Who might the Panthers pick at No. 24?

Is there anything better than scanning through mock drafts?
With the Panthers inching closer to being on the clock with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2), we here at FloridaPanthers.com decided to spice things up just a bit over the final 24 hours or so by compiling a list of mocks from every corner of the web.

Now, it's important to remember that these mocks don't necessarily reflect where writers believe prospective draftees should be ranked, but rather where they think they'll be taken based on the needs of each team and where they expect other players to be selected leading up to that pick.
By virtue of their resurgent season, the Panthers will play the waiting game for a while during the first round of the draft, which will be conducted remotely for the second straight season due to COVID-19. Like last year, the pandemic also limited the amount of exposure for many of the players in this year's class. With that, the divide between pundits on picks is as large as ever.
However, regardless of the situation, mocks don't always hit the nail on the head.
Looking back at our compilation from 2020, only four of the 14 mocks we looked at correctly had the Panthers selecting Anton Lundell. In 2019, it was a bit better with five of 10 hitting the nail on the head with Spencer Knight. But in 2018, exactly zero had Grigori Denisenko ending up in Florida.
Who will get it right this time around? We'll have to circle back on Saturday to find out.
In the meantime, nibble on a grain of salt and check out 13 potential picks for the Panthers in the mocks below.

ESPN

Their Pick:Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Their Take:"Othmann would offer another scoring option on the left side for the Panthers here if they're not sold on Chibrikov."

SPORTING NEWS

Their Pick:Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Their Take:"While the Panthers might lean towards a defender like Lambos here, Bourgault is too good to pass up. The center is an intelligent offensive weapon. He has no problem driving to the middle of the ice and has the creativity to create lanes to get there. At this point, count Bourgault as a steal, as he plays a very mature game. After taking two-way center Anton Lundell last year, Bourgault would help build up the Panthers' prospect pool down the middle for the foreseeable future."

BLEACHER REPORT

Their Pick:Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawinigan
Their Take: N/A

USA TODAY

Their Pick:Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Their Take: "Some see the 5-foot-8 playmaker as a top-15 pick because of his skill and fast-paced style. Others see him as a second-round pick because of his size. The truth probably lies in the middle."

NBC SPORTS

Their Pick: Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL)
Their Take:"While tracking the draft last year, I was pleasantly surprised by how often the Panthers, under new GM Bill Zito, selected players who were almost always right near the top of the McKeens list of available talents. It was almost uncanny. So, who are the top four players on our board right now? Simon Robertsson, a Swedish winger with speed and a bigtime shot; Oskar Olausson, another Swedish winger, who plays a mature game that is currently better off the puck than on, but should improve the latter with additional time in the SHL; Mackie Samoskevich, a playmaking speedster from the USHL who will be joining the three from Michigan next year in Ann Arbor; Peart, the top player from the Minnesota high school ranks last year, who also impressed with his half-season with Fargo of the USHL with his incredibly mature overall game."

TSN

Their Pick:Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga)
Their Take: "Go to Florida and complete the trifecta with Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell."

THE ATHLETIC

Their Pick: Nikita Chibrikov, RW, St. Petersburg SKA (KHL)
Their Take: "There had been some softening on Chibrikov among scouts this season before his U18 worlds performance reaffirmed him as a definite first-rounder. He started the year as a candidate for the front half of the first round for many and there was a time where he probably fit in as more of a 25-to-40 guy. I expect he goes somewhere in between now and the Panthers (at No. 23) are the team that I've most often come back to."

YAHOO!

Their Pick: Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Their Take: "One of the draft's biggest wildcards due to a health concern and an uneven performance across Finland and the WHL, Lambos was originally considered a potential top five pick for a reason. His combination of size, skill, and mobility still gives him a high upside and I am sure the Panthers are hoping that he can turn out as well as Aaron Ekblad did when he fell into their lap."

EP RINKSIDE

Their Pick: Olen Zellweger, D, Everitt Silvertips (WHL)
Their Take: "One of the youngest players in the crop is also one of the most technically beautiful skaters. Zellwegerr's showing at the most recent World U18s shot him up draft boards and the Panthers should be happy to nab him close to the end of the first round."

THE HOCKEY WRITERS

Their Pick:Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Their Take: "The Panthers hit a home run with this pick. Stankoven is going to be one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL in a few seasons, and he will have Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau to play with. Talk about a lethal trio. As Colby stated, he is small, but he definitely does not play to his size. Like Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens, his motor never stops and he doesn't back down when the going gets tough. Amazing pickup by Florida."

THE SCORE

Their Pick:Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Their Take:"Othmann is the eighth-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting, but he could fall to the Panthers on draft night due to concerns about his skating. If he can improve his stride, there's a solid chance he'll blossom into a super-effective top-six NHL winger. After all, Othmann isn't afraid of the rough stuff and has good hands around the net. He registered 16 points in 34 games this past season while on loan in Switzerland's second-tier pro league. He was midget teammates with Clarke and Shane Wright, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft."

Mike Morreale's Pick:Zachary L'Heureux, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
His Take: "The Panthers selected a center with their first pick at the 2020 NHL Draft (Anton Lundell, No. 12), but L'Heureux is a different kind of player. He's at his best when he's playing physical, driving to the net, and using his hands and offensive instincts."
Adam Kimelman's Pick: Fabian Lysell, RW, Lulea HF (SHL)
His Take: "His speed and high-end offensive skills make him a standout prospect. He still needs to get stronger, and another season of development in the Swedish Hockey League, including a boost in ice time, will help him further develop his game. With patience, he could grow into a big-time contributor as a top-six forward."