Svechkov, 18 (4/5/03), was the sixth-rated European skater in NHL Central Scouting's pre-draft rankings and becomes the second consecutive Russian-born player selected in the first round by the Predators after the team picked goaltender Iaroslav Askarov at No. 11 overall in 2020. The 6-foot, 179-pound forward spent most of the 2020-21 campaign with Lada Togliatti of the Russian second league, where he tallied 15 points (5g-10a) in 38 games; he also produced at a point-per-game pace for Togliatti's squad in the Russian junior league, tallying 15 points (4g-11a) in 15 contests. Internationally, the Togliatti, Russia, native helped his country earn a silver medal in the 2021 World U-18 Championship. Playing at center in the tournament, Svechkov was fourth on his team in points with 10 (4g-6a) in seven contests. He is expected to skate for the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg alongside Askarov in the 2021-22 season.
"We saw Fedor play at the World U-18 Championship and felt like that was his coming out party," Poile said. "His play at that tournament really solidified our liking of him. He looks like a complete player who can play with top players in the NHL. We like his chances of developing into a very good centerman for us."
L'Heureux, 18 (5/15/03), is a product of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads, where in the 2020-21 campaign was second among team skaters in points (39), goals (19) and penalty minutes (47) and and was fourth in assists (20). It was the 5-foot-11, 196-pound center's second full QMJHL season; he tallied 53 points (20g-33a) in 55 games as a rookie in 2019-20 with the Moncton Wildcats. In addition to skating for Canada at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, the Montreal, Que., represented his province at the 2019 Canada Winter Games and scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship game vs. Ontario.
"We were very high on Zachary, and the reason is simple - he brings something different to the game," Predators North American Amateur Scout J-P Glaude said. "He has got a unique package of skill, grit and character. He's hard to play against and he'll be there for his teammates. We felt players like him are hard to find, and when you add in the skills he has, we are pretty excited to have been able to draft him."
Rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Draft continue Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CT with the Predators holding five selections: No. 83 (third round); No. 115 (fourth round), No. 124 (fourth round), No. 147 (fifth round) and No. 179 (sixth round).
