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Rory Dames said Tuesday’s game against OL Reign was an opportunity to give players a runout in a game setting to see where they are at ahead of the Olympic break

The Red Stars are closing out another challenging stretch, playing three games in eight days, including one on the road. It’s the second time this season that the Red Stars have faced such a tough grind.

Coach Rory Dames said what’s confusing to him is why his team already has played seven games while other teams only have played five.

Scheduling isn’t necessarily being used as an excuse by the Red Stars (2-3-2), but there’s no doubting the impact.

“You have a home game on Saturday, another the next Saturday, and a game across the country on Tuesday,” Dames said. “So you pick your poison on which one you want to go after. We obviously held players out so we have them for Saturday.”

Dames said the game Tuesday against OL Reign was more of an opportunity to give players a runout in a game setting to see where they are ahead of the Olympic break, which isn’t a break for the NWSL.

The starting 11 against OL Reign looked a lot different than it has all season.

Alyssa Mautz, who played on June 5 for the first time since tearing her ACL last year, got her first start since 2019. Nikki Stanton played her first 90-minute game since leaving the Red Stars in 2020 to play overseas. Bianca St. Georges got her first start for the Red Stars this season after suffering a knee injury at training camp with the Canadian National Team.

St. Georges was not selected for the Canadian National Team’s Olympic roster.

Against OL Reign, the Red Stars got behind early, giving up a goal in the first minute. Sofia Huerta assisted the second goal of the night in the 18th minute, a cross headed in by Bethany Balcer.

OL Reign controlled 63.2% of the possession time and gave up just one shot on goal.

“Bianca and Tatumn [Milazzo] need minutes and need games,” Dames said. “So is Sofia as influential if Arin [Wright] or Casey [Krueger] are in? I don’t know.”

The Red Stars had three players — Alyssa Naeher, Tierna Davidson and Julie Ertz —selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team Olympic roster. Krueger was selected as an alternate.

The Olympic team will begin training camp at the end of the month ahead of the Send-Off Series against Mexico on July 1 and 5 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski said he did not see any risk in selecting Ertz to the Olympic roster given her lack of playing time. Ertz suffered a right knee MCL sprain in the Red Stars’ season-opening 5-0 loss to the Portland Thorns.

Andonovski said Ertz’s rehab is progressing well and he expects her to get minutes on the field in closed-door games in Japan. He’s hoping to increase her minutes by the group stage.

Krueger’s selection as an alternate came after she worked herself back into USWNT form following the COVID-19 pandemic and a couple of minor injuries last year that left her sidelined. She missed a few national-team camps in the fall and winter but a replacement invite to the SheBelieves Cup put her back on Andonovski’s radar.

“We know how good she can be,” Andonovski said. “We know her potential. We know she knows the system well. Looking at all the games she’s played in the NWSL has earned her a spot on our team.”

The Red Stars host Racing Louisville (2-3-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

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A 25-year-old was found early Saturday in the 2600 block of West Thomas Street with a gunshot wound to the torso.

A person was killed, and 24 others wounded in citywide gun violence since Friday night.

In the weekend’s only reported homicide, a man was fatally shot early Saturday in Humboldt Park on the Northwest Side.

The 25-year-old was found about 4:35 a.m. in the 2600 block of West Thomas Street with a gunshot wound to the torso, Chicago police said.

He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. He hasn’t been identified.

In nonfatal attacks, a woman was shot Friday in Austin on the West Side.

She was walking about 9:10 p.m. in the 200 block of South Cicero Avenue when someone opened fire, striking her in the leg, police said. The 56-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital, where her condition was stabilized.

Another woman was wounded in a shooting late Friday in Bridgeport on the South Side.

The 28-year-old was traveling in a vehicle as a passenger about 11:25 p.m. in the 2800 block of South Wallace Avenue when three males who were standing outside fired shots at the vehicle, police said.

A bullet struck her in the elbow, and she was taken to Mercy Hospital in good condition, police said.

Minutes later, four people were hurt, two critically, in a shooting in Park Manor on the South Side.

Two women, both 28, and two men, both 31, were standing outside about 11:50 p.m. when a person drove past in a red moped and fired shots in the 7000 block of South Indiana Avenue, police said.

One woman was shot three times on the body and was taken in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. The other was struck in the thigh and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where her condition was stable.

One man was also critically hurt with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. The other man was shot in the thigh and taken to the same hospital, where his condition was stable.

At least 15 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago since 5 p.m. Friday.

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About 5:30 a.m., the group was in the 6100 block of North McCormick Boulevard, when they got into an argument with a man who pulled out a gun and began firing shots.

Four people were shot Sunday morning after getting into an argument in West Rogers Park on the North Side.

About 5:30 a.m., the group was in the 6100 block of North McCormick Boulevard, when they got into an argument with a man who pulled out a gun and began firing shots, Chicago police said.

A 35-year-old man was struck in the chest and leg, and taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, police said. A 25-year-old man was struck in the stomach and took himself to Evanston Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

Two men, between the ages of 20 and 25, were both stuck in the right leg, and went to Swedish Covenant Hospital where their conditions were stabilized, police said.

No arrests have been made as Area Five detectives investigate.

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Chicago Bears: Early, bold predictions for 2021 offensive leaders by Ryan Heckman

Very few fans and media pundits could have predicted the Chicago Cubs‘ success thus far this season. As June is nearly complete, the Cubs find themselves in a tight battle with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in their division despite having recently gone up against some of the premier teams on the west coast (San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers).

The Chicago Cubs need to see a stretch of winning to keep their season alive.

While the Brewers have benefitted from playing over a month’s worth of games against cupcake teams below .500, the Cubs have managed to hover above water in their toughest month of the season. It hasn’t looked pretty at times but the Cubs are driven to make the front office and naysayers think twice about giving up on the rest of the season once the July trade deadline rolls around.

In reality, a lot can happen over the next few weeks before Jed Hoyer and his staff has to decide whether to be buyers or sellers. The Cubs can get on a roll as their schedule starts to ease up again, validating the belief that they are playoff contenders at the very least. On the other hand, it’s possible that the wheels can fall off the bandwagon, depending on how the Cubs perform against the Dodgers and Brewers over the coming days.

One thing that has separated this Cubs’ team from recent years has been their resiliency. Any time the Cubs have gone through a rough patch, they seem to rattle off a string of wins shortly after. Maybe it’s because expectations prior to the season were much lower than normal given that the front office seemed to signal with their actions that they were willing to rebuild rather than try to contend.

The front office’s lack of faith in the Cubs’ roster may be inadvertently created an additional chip on everyone’s shoulder to go out and prove all doubters wrong. So far it has worked better than anyone could have anticipated. The Cubs have been getting contributions from so many unexpected callups. Their bullpen has also been the glue to this team, which in years past was often considered to be a glaring weakness.

Related Story: Chicago Cubs: 1 incredible stat from the combined no-hitter

While the Cubs are continuing to defy the odds placed upon them on paper, it can turn sideways in a blink of an eye if they go through another rough stretch against the Dodgers and Brewers. Hopefully, that’s not the case but with a deadline fast approaching, now is not the time for an unpleasant slump.

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Oddsmakers expect Notre Dame to have usual support despite new-look team, tough schedule 

LAS VEGAS — At a bar the other night, Notre Dame football served as a main course among Golden Nugget sportsbook director Tony Miller and friends.

Three-year starter Ian Book has departed, meaning coach Brian Kelly’s presumptive quarterback is 6-3 senior Jack Coan, a Wisconsin transfer.

“What does Kelly have up his sleeve for quarterback?” says Miller, parroting that tavern chatter.

Five-eleven sophomore Drew Pyne and 6-1 freshman Tyler Buchner are waiting in the Golden Dome wings.

Moreover, nearly the entire offensive line will be new. Overall, nine Notre Dame players were selected in the NFL Draft, a record for Kelly’s 11 seasons in South Bend. That’s a ton of talent to be replaced.

Those issues must concern Irish fans, as global a base that exists in college football that has not celebrated a national championship since 1988. Miller, though, expects the usual tsunami of green support.

“Notre Dame is one of the most public wagering teams ever,” Miller said. “The Irish will be included in all the public parlays and teasers every week. I don’t shade the numbers for that reason, but it’s always on my mind.”

IRISH TESTS ABOUND

Those supporters have been making money by blindly betting on the Irish. Cross-referencing two resources reveals that Notre Dame is 42-34 (55.26%) against the spread since 2015.

A win rate of 52.38 percent, of course, is required just to break even, factoring in the vigorish. A $100 bettor, therefore, is ahead 4.6 units, or $460, over that span.

The 2021 schedule is typically tough for the independent Irish, as evidenced by the South Point including nine of their 12 games on the 97 Games of the Year it released in late May.

Alabama, Auburn, Louisville and Ole Miss are each represented six times.

The Irish are an underdog only once, getting four points against Wisconsin on Sept. 25 at Soldier Field.

In fact, over the last five weeks, those Notre Dame lines have either not budged or moved against the Irish, South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews reported Tuesday.

The largest swing has been Nov. 27 at Stanford, in which money has moved the Irish from 6-point favorites to 9, then Sept. 5 at Florida State (from -6 to -8) and Oct. 9 at Virginia Tech (from -2 to -3.5).

Many opponents will be well-rested, too.

Ace college football handicapper Brad Powers notes that an incredible six Irish foes have byes before playing Notre Dame; no other team in the nation plays more than three opponents that are idle before they clash.

Of Wisconsin, Cincinnati (Oct. 2), at Virginia Tech (Oct. 9), USC (Oct. 23) and North Carolina (Oct. 30), only the Hokies do not get a week off before playing the Irish.

EXOTIC BEARCATS

Coan will see familiar faces in the Badgers, but Wisconsin also knows him well. Advantage, Wisconsin, says handicapper Paul Stone, based in Tyler, Texas.

“The Badgers know [his] skill set and will game-plan defensively to take advantage of his vulnerabilities.”

Long Island ’capper Tom Barton senses Kelly could employ a quick hook, so look for Pyne to assume the reins. “But we all know the future is Buchner,” Barton said. He expects Kelly to redshirt Buchner.

The Bearcats, who have never played the Irish, are the most exotic opponent on Notre Dame’s schedule.

Cincinnati is 31-6 in coach Luke Fickell’s last three seasons. It was 9-0 a year ago before losing to Georgia 24-21 in the Peach Bowl. Desmond Ridder, a 6-4 senior quarterback, is a run-pass demon.

Under Kelly, fourth-ranked Cincinnati lost to No. 5 Florida in the 2010 Sugar Bowl. So maybe this isn’t the biggest game in Bearcats’ football history, but it’s in the mix.

“Fickell will have them ready,” San Diego handicapper Jim Schrope said. “A win by Cincinnati wouldn’t shock me. Cincinnati will never be this good.”

At the Golden Nugget, Miller has seen Cincinnati bet from 200-1 to 100-1 as an outside national-champion candidate; the Irish are 30-1.

Schrope says Notre Dame’s move against Virginia Tech is justified, although he has no lean. He likes the Irish -2 against USC. “Maybe not for a full whack [unit], but a half whack.”

Stone isn’t giddy about Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell, a Heisman hopeful who loses elite receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome. “I don’t think [Howell’s] numbers will be as good as 2020,” he said.

HEISMAN KYREN?

Stone pits the Irish regular-season win total at 8.5. DraftKings opened at 9, Under at -125 (risk $125 to win $100), which he favors since 10 victories makes it a loser.

“That’s a tall order against that schedule,” he said, “considering some of their personnel losses.”

Miller believes Kelly could rely on 5-9 junior running back Kyren Williams, who ran for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. “At 100-1,” says Miller, “he might be worth a shot to win the Heisman.”

That dastardly Florida State opener, in which he’s seen the Irish as much as a 10.5-point favorite, scares Miller. The Seminoles were 21-29 in their last four seasons.

“There’s just something about the first game of the year, playing at home against a top-10 team like Notre Dame, that fires up a team and crowd. I think [10.5 points is] a little high in this spot.

“But the public will still lay it, no matter what.”

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After years of trying to find some consistency in the middle since the days of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, the Bulls found it with Vucevic. Now it’s about adding depth to the position.

Center hasn’t been an easy position to fill since the old Bulls front office pushed out Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol years ago.

This past season alone, the list of candidates were many. Wendell Carter Jr. — under-sized for the spot — earned the starting nod, but his injuries and inconsistency led to Daniel Gafford, Lauri Markkanen, Thad Young and Luke Kornet getting auditions.

The position was unstable enough that Arturas Karnisovas, in his first year as the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations, said enough and began shopping for a big-time talent at that spot.

And big-time talent has big-time cost.

The Bulls felt it when they left Tuesday night’s draft lottery without a first-round pick — the result of a deal with the Magic at the March25 trade deadline in which they got center Nikola Vucevic for a package that included a protected first-round 2021 draft pick and another one in 2023. Had they received the No. 4 pick or better in the draft lottery, they would have kept that selection. Instead they got No. 8 and handed it to the Magic.

Vucevic thinks he was still worth it.

“I’ve said it before — this trade wasn’t just made for this year,” he said last month. “So I think it’s too early to judge it, so we’ll see. Next year will obviously show more, and then the year after that. Obviously, we don’t have five years to figure it out, but it also can’t be judged in two months, so it’s on us now to go into next year and play better, get to where we want to get.”

There are indeed places Vucevic wants to get to. The 6-11double-double machine got a taste of postseason play a few times with the Magic, but now it’s about ending the Bulls’ four-year playoff drought.

He feels confident he and guard Zach LaVine will be capable of doing that once they have an offseason and some serious practice time together.

On paper, it’s a winning formula: LaVine’s playmaking and scoring ability combined with Vucevic’s ability to pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll. Vucevic also is an uncanny passer for his size.

The 26 games Vucevic played in a Bulls uniform this spring just weren’t enough, especially when LaVine spent weeks in the league’s COVID-19 protocols during the last month of the season. But it has to click next season, and Vucevic thinks it will.

“[LaVine is] really about winning,” he said. “That’s something that was very important for me to see when I got here. And I saw it from Day 1. That’s something you want to have from one of your best players. . . . He and I are both motivated to help this franchise win. So that’s the first step you need.”

THE MEN IN THE MIDDLE WHOM THE BULLS HAVE

Nikola Vucevic and Cristiano Felicio.

WHO COULD BE ON THE MOVE

Felicio finally comes off the books after former general manager Gar Forman gave him an ugly four-year, $32 million contract in 2017.

THE DRAFT

Without a first-round pick in next month’s draft, the Bulls would have to get lucky in finding a rotation-type center in the second round with the 38th overall pick. Those centers do exist. The Bulls could kick the tires on North Carolina’s Day’Ron Sharpe or go the Euro route and gamble on Filip Petrusev (Serbia) or Ariel Hukporti (Lithuania).

FREE AGENCY

Expect the Bulls to throw resources at Daniel Theis to return as a power forward/center, but if he walks, there’s a long list of big men who could come in, get backup minutes and play at a solid level. It’s a great summer for mediocre-center shopping.

WILD CARD

The Bulls need physicality and some serious attitude. Soon-to-be free agent DeMarcus Cousins (Clippers) has had many injuries . . . but why not?

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The joy of a painted turtle, a question on a Downstate fish hatchery, a swing in Wisconsin’s ruffed grouse, and a question on southern Lake Michigan charters are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors.

Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Ken “Husker” O’Malley proudly emailed this photo of his daughter with a western painted turtle from a northern Wisconsin trip. “Even at 21, my daughter Hailey still loves to explore just as much as when she was little,” he emailed. “Memories that never get old.”

That’s living right.

WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. To make submissions, email [email protected] or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).

WILD TIMES

ILLINOIS PERMITS

Wednesday, June 30: Final day, applications for firearm and muzzleloader deer permits, second lottery

FISH GATHERING

Wednesday, June 30: Guide Doug Ide on Geneva Lake muskies, Walleyes Unlimited, Gurnee American Legion, 7 p.m., walleyesunlimitedusa.org

DALE’S MAILBAG

“Do you know of any perch fishing charters off shore, seems like salmon and trout only?” Jeff Kantor

A: Because perch fishing in southern Lake Michigan is so variable, very few do perch charters. The one captain I know focused on it is Capt. Douglas Stremplewski of Doug’s Charter Service–(219) 218-3357—out of Indiana. Some other captains will do it if requested.

BIG NUMBER

-6: Percentage of decline in the roadside ruffed grouse surveys by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (no surveys done in 2020). “Ruffed grouse typically follow a ten-year population cycle with cyclic highs occurring in years that end in 9, 0 or 1. It is likely that during this cycle, the grouse population peaked in 2019 or 2020 and it is likely that abundance will begin to decrease in the coming years as we enter the `down phase’ of the cycle.” Complete survey results are available on the Wisconsin DNR website here.

LAST WORD

“The Division of Fisheries is currently evaluating options that would allow the division to increase fish production for stocking multiple statewide programs and potentially initiating new programs over time.”

IDNR fisheries chief Mike McClelland, when asked if the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was considering buying or leasing the former Logan Hollow Fish Farm. He also noted a vendor was found to “supply sunfish to the Chicago Urban Fishing program for 2021 programs.”

Provided by a reader (name withheld)

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Defensive back projects as a future NFL first-rounder, perhaps as soon as the spring of 2022

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — As a way to break up the early-summer doldrums for Notre Dame football followers, one could hardly have done better.

Kyle Hamilton, the uber-talented junior safety with the otherworldly ball skills, recently retweeted a meme from a writer for the Irish-oriented website “One Foot Down.” It depicted a torn-out sheet of notebook paper above a photo of a quizzical-looking Tommy Rees.

“Play Kyle on offense,” read the four-word message.

Hamilton tagged Rees, second-year offensive coordinator for the Irish, along with a shrug emoji.

This simple gesture received 575 likes on Hamilton’s Twitter account (@kham316), which has nearly 6,000 followers. Considering Hamilton was recently named a first-team selection to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America team, that number is surprisingly modest.

Rees, the Lake Forest product who played quarterback for Notre Dame as recently as 2013, played along. He tagged Hamilton in his response from @T_Rees11, adding “(Y)ou know we’ve been on this way before now … talk to your man!”

And then Rees tagged recently hired defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman (@Marcus_Freeman1).

Freeman, who was playing linebacker at Ohio State as recently as 2008 and was a fifth-round pick of the Bears in 2009, quickly got in on the act. Freeman posted a GIF of pro wrestling’s “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

At first SCSA tosses his head back in laughter. Then he closes his mouth and turns, well, stone-cold serious.

Freeman, the big-ticket offseason addition after a fast rise at the University of Cincinnati, tagged his fellow coordinator and added both thumb’s up and thumb’s down emojis with a lengthy ellipsis in between.

Let the record show all of that horseplay took place on June 9, nearly three full months before Notre Dame’s season opener on Labor Day weekend at Florida State. Fall camp for the Irish probably won’t start until around Aug. 1, so that leaves plenty of time for rampant speculation about how much time (if any) Hamilton could see this year on offense.

A seasoned skeptic might point out if there were anything to the message-board fodder, Notre Dame’s hip coordinators wouldn’t be joshing about the possibility on social media. What’s more, Hamilton missed all of spring practice after undergoing ankle surgery in January, so the last thing Notre Dame needs is to add extra strain by prepping him on both sides of the ball.

Then again . . .

Hamilton was a menace in all phases while becoming a four-star recruit at Marist School in suburban Atlanta. As a senior, Hamilton had 38 receptions for 804 yards (21.2-yard average) and seven touchdowns.

Former Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly, who starred at Marist School three decades ago and saw Hamilton play several times in high school, has made no secret of where he thinks Hamilton could make the biggest impact at Notre Dame.

“I truly think his best position is wide receiver,” Mannelly said late in Hamilton’s freshman season. “He would be fantastic in the red zone.”

At 6-4 and 219 pounds with speed, agility and deceptive strength, Hamilton projects as a future NFL first-rounder, perhaps as soon as the spring of 2022.

Why not take full advantage of his game-changing ability while he’s still on campus? Especially for an offense that must replace not only three-year starting quarterback Ian Book but his bookend receiving combo of Ben Skowronek and Javon McKinley.

Jordan Johnson, the much-hyped receiving prospect from St. Louis, transferred to Central Florida after getting little opportunity this spring. That leaves Rees scheming about ways to split tight end Michael Mayer and running back Kyren Williams out wide to create big-play ability on the perimeter.

Even if it’s just in the red zone, where Notre Dame has struggled in recent years, Hamilton could be a valuable weapon for likely starting quarterback Jack Coan, the grad transfer from Wisconsin.

“It’s about playmakers, not plays, in the red zone.”

How many times has Brian Kelly said that the past few years? Well, in Hamilton, the Notre Dame coach has the sort of skeleton key that could mask any number of deficiencies on a roster that must compensate for the loss of nine NFL draftees this past spring.

Why not play the Hamilton card on offense here and there and see what happens?

Shrug emoji, indeed.

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As the Chicago Bears get ready for training camp next month, a tough season awaits them later on in the fall. The Bears have the third-toughest schedule in 2021 as we now know, but the group they have right now could end up being a special one. Sure, a tough schedule may seem daunting. But, […]

Chicago Bears: Early, bold predictions for 2021 offensive leaders – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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As a consensus group of top-nine prospects emerges — with only two goalies complicating matters — the Blackhawks may end up choosing their favorite prospect of the second-tier group.

The Blackhawks’ 11th pick in the upcoming 2021 NHL Draft may end up being the de facto first pick of the second tier.

There’s a growing consensus on the top nine skaters, and that group will likely form the top nine picks unless one of the top two goalies interjects. The bad news about that for the Hawks is they’ll miss out on all of those top-tier players unless both goalies are chosen before their pick arrives.

But the good news is the Hawks will have a relatively clear idea — in planning for the draft — who will be available at 11th and will be able to pick their favorite out of that bunch. Instead of navigating a mid-round domino effect leading up to their selection, as they did at 17th last year, they may start the domino effect this year.

Here’s a rough guess at how the first round might play out.

Lottery picks

1. Sabres: Owen Power, D, Michigan (NCAA)

Power isn’t the slam-dunk No. 1 pick that Alexis Lafreniere was last year, but he’s still widely expected to be the Sabres’ selection. At 6-6, 213 pounds and well-rounded both offensively and defensively, Power is the first of many pieces the Sabres need in their latest rebuild attempt.

2. Kraken: Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan (NCAA)

The draft looks murky from No. 2 to No. 9, but with centers hard to acquire in the expansion draft, it makes sense the Kraken would choose one with their first-ever draft selection. Power and Beniers could make the University of Michigan the first U.S. college program ever to produce the first- and second-overall picks in a single draft.

3. Ducks: Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

Many players in the Canadian junior leagues experienced little to no 2021 season but Guenther made the most of his, scoring 24 points in 12 games. The Ducks are picking in the top 10 for the third consecutive year.

4. Devils: Luke Hughes, D, U.S. N.T.D.P.

The reunion of Luke Hughes with older brother Jack in New Jersey would be a perfect draft storyline, since Luke is unlikely to slip to oldest brother Quinn Hughes’ Canucks at No. 9. Luke Hughes has the same elite skating ability his brothers share.

5. Blue Jackets: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (Sweden)

A Seth Jones trade would plunge the Blue Jackets into a rebuild, of which Edvinsson could become a big part. Power, Hughes and Edvinsson could make 2021 the first draft with three defensemen in the top five since 2012.

6. Red Wings: Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (NCAA)

It’d be a shame if Michigan’s banner year of top-10 prospects didn’t result in one being drafted by the in-state Red Wings. Johnson — a flashy, dynamic center trying to get his consistency to match his highlight reel — surprisingly finished No. 3 in the Central Scouting Service’s final North American rankings.

7. Sharks: William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (Sweden)

Draft-eligible teenage Swedes rarely score many points against men in the SHL, but Eklund — with 23 points in 40 games — broke the trend. The Sharks need a youth movement as soon as possible and Eklund, the CSS’s top-ranked European skater, would help that.

8. Kings: Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL)

McTavish was the other surprise in the CSS’s North American rankings, coming in second — behind only Power — despite playing his entire season in Switzerland with the OHL cancelled. He plays an aggressive north-south game with his husky 6-1, 207-pound frame. The Kings are building a quietly impressive prospect pool.

9. Canucks: Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL)

Clarke, a reliable 6-2 defenseman, rounds out the increasingly clear group of top nine prospects. The Canucks need defensive help, so they’ll happily accept him falling to the bottom of the tier.

10. Senators: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (Sweden)

Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa are the clear top two goalies this year. Both are likely top-20 picks, but there might not be another goalie taken until the third round. The Senators are a prime candidate to chose one, although the Wings at No. 6 and Sharks at No. 7 may also consider them — potentially complicating the top nine.

11. Blackhawks: Chaz Lucius, C, U.S. N.T.D.P.

If all goes as expected, the Hawks will choose between any of the second-tier skaters, or Wallstedt or Cossa if one or both are still around. Lucius, Matthew Coronato and Cole Sillinger seem like the most appealing forwards.

Lucius, a 6-1 Minnesota native, is a shoot-first forward who makes sense as a complement to Kirby Dach and Lukas Reichel down the road. He scored 20 points in 13 appearances with the U.S. national program this season despite struggling with injuries, which dropped his stock enough to make him attainable for the Hawks.

12. Flames: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL)

If Cossa isn’t chosen in the top 11, it’ll be interesting to see where he lands. Both Cossa and Wallstedt are huge — 6-6, 210 pounds and 6-3, 214 pounds, respectively — but Cossa relies on his athleticism and reflexes while Wallstedt relies on his puck-tracking and positioning.

13. Flyers: Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago (USHL)

Coronato, the local Chicago Steel product, would be a fitting selection for the Hawks but won’t last long if they pass on him. His well-roundedness, work ethic and proven production make him a safe top-20 pick.

14. Stars: Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL)

Sillinger, much like Coronato, is a well-rounded forward and therefore a safe pick. He’s bigger than Coronato but doesn’t skate quite as well. Sillinger scored 46 points in 31 USHL games; Coronato scored 85 points in 51 USHL games.

15. Rangers: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (Alberta)

The projected 10th-to-30th range lacks defensemen, boosting the stock of the three defensemen — Ceulemans, Carson Lambos and Daniil Chayka — who do fall in it. Ceulemans is the most naturally talented but least NHL-ready of the bunch.

Non-lottery picks

16. Blues: Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg (WHL)

17. Jets: Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint (OHL)

18. Predators: Fabian Lysell, RW, Lulea (Sweden)

19. Oilers: Daniil Chayka, D, Moskva (Russia)

20. Bruins: Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

21. Wild: Fedor Svechkov, C, Togliatti (Russia)

22. Red Wings (from Capitals): Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Finland)

23. Panthers: Xavier Bourgault, C, Shawnigan (QMJHL)

24. Blue Jackets (from Maple Leafs): Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA (Russia)

25. Wild (from Penguins): Isak Rosens, RW, Leksands (Sweden)

26. Hurricanes: Francesco Pinelli, C, Kitchener (OHL)

27. Avalanche: Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor (OHL)

28. TBD: Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

29. TBD: Sasha Pastujov, RW, U.S. N.T.D.P.

30. TBD: Oskar Olausson, RW, HV71 (Sweden)

31. TBD: Zach Dean, C, Gatineau (QMJHL)

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