Year after year we watch former NHL players’ kids take that next step in their own young hockey careers and get that much closer to following in their father’s footsteps.

At the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, nine kids of former NHL players heard their name called at some point over the two days and some of them went earlier than their father.
 

Mason McTavish - 3rd Overall Pick - Anaheim Ducks
 

The Anaheim Ducks selected Mason McTavish, son of Dale, with the 3rd overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which is something that never happened for his father. Dale was never drafted and played just 9 NHL games with the Calgary Flames during the 1996-97 season before moving on to a long professional career in Finland and Switzerland.
 

Tyler Boucher - 10th Overall Pick - Ottawa Senators

 

You’re probably very familiar with Tyler’s father, Brian, who played 13 NHL seasons and can be found on your TV during specific NHL games. Brian Boucher was also a 1st round pick, going 22nd overall to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1995, but Tyler’s got him beat in that category by going 10th overall to the Ottawa Senators.
 

Cole Sillinger - 12th Overall Pick - Columbus Blue Jackets
 

If only Cole Sillinger heard his name called one pick sooner he would have been able to share his overall draft number with his father, Mike, who was selected 11th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1989. However, Mike spent two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, so all Cole has to do is suit up for a game and they can both say they’ve played for the same NHL franchise.
 

Chase Stillman - 29th Overall Pick - New Jersey Devils
 

Four of the nine players on this list heard their name called in the first round and Chase Stillman was the final of those four. Chase’s father, Cory, was also selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, but he went 6th overall to the Calgary Flames in 1992.
 

Josh Doan - 37th Overall Pick - Arizona Coyotes

 

This one might have been the most special selection of them all considering Shane Down is the most beloved Coyotes player of all-time and now his son will get a chance to suit up for the same franchise his father spent his entire career with.
 

Jackson Blake - 109th Overall Pick - Carolina Hurricanes
 

You’ll see the Carolina Hurricanes on this list again as they ended up taking two former NHL players’ kids in this year’s draft with the first of two being Jackson Blake, son of Jason Blake. Jackson didn’t hear his name called until the 4th round of the draft, but his father was never drafted at all.
 

Red Savage - 114th Overall Pick - Detroit Red Wings
 

A few picks later the Detroit Red Wings selected Red Savage, son of former NHLer Brian Savage. The wait probably seems much longer when you’re a prospect wondering if you’re going to hear their name called at all, but his father had to wait until the 8th round to hear his name called - a round that doesn’t even exist anymore.


Justin Robidas - 147th Overall Pick - Carolina Hurricanes
 

The second of two picks the Carolina Hurricanes made that involving former NHL players’ kids came with the 147th overall pick when they selected Justin Robidas, son of former NHLer Stephane Robidas. Justin ended up going 17 spots earlier than his father, who went 164th overall to the Montreal Canadiens in 1995.
 

Shane LaChance - 186th Overall Pick - Edmonton Oilers
 

Shane LaChance, son of former NHLer Scott LaChance, rounds out this list of former NHL players’ kids who were selected in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Scott spent some time in Canada during his career during stints with the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks, and was selected 4th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.