2019 Entry Draft Thread Part II

[Habs76]

Even ignoring the Canadiens' needs, when there's as many top end C's and dynamic wingers (Kakko, Podkolzin) available as there are, you don't take a D unless they have franchise potential. And I really haven't seen anything from Byram that would lead me to believe that.

You can find quality D throughout the draft; whereas a significant portion of top Cs or Ws are found in the top 10.

I see #1D potential in Byram, and I think it's more likely he becomes a 1D than most of the top centers become a 1C. And frankly, a defenseman is so much more valuable than a winger, it's not close- and wingers can be found throughout the draft too.

Take 2014 for example:
We saw Kasperi Kapanen, David Pastrnak, Nikita Scherbak, Josh Ho-Sang, Christian Dvorak, Ryan Donato, Vladislav Kamenev, Brayden Point, Viktor Arvidsson, Danton Heinen, Ivan Barbashev, Kevin Labanc, Dylan Sikura and Ondrej Kase all get drafted outside the top 20. Most are wingers, with a few exceptions. All are now in the NHL, or on the cusp.

On the flip side, Brandon Montour, Nikita Tryamkin, Louie Belpedio, Gustav Forsling and Anton Lindholm were the top defensemen picked after 20.

 

[Habs76]

My top 31 at this point. Obviously will be subject to A LOT of change over the course of the season

Rank	Player Name	Pos	Team	League	Birthplace	Height	Weight
1	Jack Hughes	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Orlando, FL, USA	5'10"	161
2	Kaapo Kakko	RW	TPS	Liiga	Turku, Finland	6'1"	181
3	Bowen Byram	D	Vancouver Giants	WHL	Cranbrook, BC, Canada	6'0"	179
4	Alex Newhook	C	Victoria Grizzlies	BCHL	St. John's, NL, Canada	5'11"	183
5	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg	MHL	Russia	5'11"	165
6	Alex Turcotte	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Walled Lake, MI, USA	5'11"	194
7	Dylan Cozens	C	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL	Whitehorse, YT, Canada	6'3"	176
8	Cam York	D	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Anaheim Hills, CA, USA	5'11"	165
9	Kirby Dach	C	Saskatoon Blades	WHL	Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada	6'4"	185
10	Ryan Suzuki	C	Barrie Colts	OHL	London, ON, Canada	6'0"	172
11	Raphael Lavoie	RW	Halifax Mooseheads	QMJHL	Montreal, QC, Canada	6'4"	192
12	Anttoni Honka	D	JYP	Liiga	Jyvaskyla, Finland	5'10"	170
13	Victor Soderstrom	D	Brynas J20	SuperElit	Skutskar, Sweden	5'11"	176
14	Trevor Zegras	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Bedford, NY, USA	5'11"	159
15	Martin Hugo Has	D	Tappara	Liiga	Praha, Czech Republic	6'4"	187
16	Matthew Robertson	D	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL	Sherwood Park, AB, Canada	6'3"	196
17	Philip Broberg	D	AIK J20	SuperElit	Orebro, Sweden	6'3"	198
18	Cole Caufield	RW	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Mosinee, WI, USA	5'6"	154
19	Valentin Nussbaumer	C	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL	Switzerland	5'11"	165
20	Michael Vukojevic	D	Kitchener Rangers	OHL	Oakville, ON, Canada	6'2"	201
21	Robert Mastrosimone	C	Chicago Steel	USHL	East Islip, NY, USA	5'10"	170
22	Arthur Kaliyev	LW	Hamiton Bulldogs	OHL	Staten Island, NY, USA	6'2"	190
23	Peyton Krebs	C	Kootenay Ice	WHL	Okotoks, AB, Canada	5'11"	172
24	Vladimir Alistrov	LW	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL	Belarus	6'2"	168
25	Ben Brinkman	D	University of Minnesota-Mankato	WCHA	Edina, MN, USA	6'1"	181
26	Matvei Guskov	C	London Knights	OHL	Russia	6'1"	161
28	Blake Murray	C	Sudbury Wolves	OHL	Uxbridge, ON, Canada	6'2"	179
28	Ilya Mironov	D	Loko Yaroslavl	MHL	Yaroslavl, Russia	6'3"	198
29	Tobias Bjornfot	D	Djurgardens IF J20	SuperElit	Upplands Vasby, Sweden	6'0"	187
30	Albin Grewe	RW	Djurgardens IF J20	SuperElit	Marsta, Sweden	6'0"	176
31	Simon Holmstrom	RW	HV71 J20	SuperElit	Tranas, Sweden	5'11"	172

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I expect my Krebs ranking to get a lot of hate, but I mean, he's of average size, and was probably the worst skater on Team Canada at the Hlinka. He made a few blind passes and got lucky, but truth be told I think he's largely feeding off the WHL 1st overall hype.

 

[G0bias]

My top 31 at this point. Obviously will be subject to A LOT of change over the course of the season

Rank	Player Name	Pos	Team	League	Birthplace	Height	Weight
1	Jack Hughes	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Orlando, FL, USA	5'10"	161
2	Kaapo Kakko	RW	TPS	Liiga	Turku, Finland	6'1"	181
3	Bowen Byram	D	Vancouver Giants	WHL	Cranbrook, BC, Canada	6'0"	179
4	Alex Newhook	C	Victoria Grizzlies	BCHL	St. John's, NL, Canada	5'11"	183
5	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg	MHL	Russia	5'11"	165
6	Alex Turcotte	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Walled Lake, MI, USA	5'11"	194
7	Dylan Cozens	C	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL	Whitehorse, YT, Canada	6'3"	176
8	Cam York	D	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Anaheim Hills, CA, USA	5'11"	165
9	Kirby Dach	C	Saskatoon Blades	WHL	Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada	6'4"	185
10	Ryan Suzuki	C	Barrie Colts	OHL	London, ON, Canada	6'0"	172
11	Raphael Lavoie	RW	Halifax Mooseheads	QMJHL	Montreal, QC, Canada	6'4"	192
12	Anttoni Honka	D	JYP	Liiga	Jyvaskyla, Finland	5'10"	170
13	Victor Soderstrom	D	Brynas J20	SuperElit	Skutskar, Sweden	5'11"	176
14	Trevor Zegras	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Bedford, NY, USA	5'11"	159
15	Martin Hugo Has	D	Tappara	Liiga	Praha, Czech Republic	6'4"	187
16	Matthew Robertson	D	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL	Sherwood Park, AB, Canada	6'3"	196
17	Philip Broberg	D	AIK J20	SuperElit	Orebro, Sweden	6'3"	198
18	Cole Caufield	RW	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Mosinee, WI, USA	5'6"	154
19	Valentin Nussbaumer	C	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL	Switzerland	5'11"	165
20	Michael Vukojevic	D	Kitchener Rangers	OHL	Oakville, ON, Canada	6'2"	201
21	Robert Mastrosimone	C	Chicago Steel	USHL	East Islip, NY, USA	5'10"	170
22	Arthur Kaliyev	LW	Hamiton Bulldogs	OHL	Staten Island, NY, USA	6'2"	190
23	Peyton Krebs	C	Kootenay Ice	WHL	Okotoks, AB, Canada	5'11"	172
24	Vladimir Alistrov	LW	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL	Belarus	6'2"	168
25	Ben Brinkman	D	University of Minnesota-Mankato	WCHA	Edina, MN, USA	6'1"	181
26	Matvei Guskov	C	London Knights	OHL	Russia	6'1"	161
28	Blake Murray	C	Sudbury Wolves	OHL	Uxbridge, ON, Canada	6'2"	179
28	Ilya Mironov	D	Loko Yaroslavl	MHL	Yaroslavl, Russia	6'3"	198
29	Tobias Bjornfot	D	Djurgardens IF J20	SuperElit	Upplands Vasby, Sweden	6'0"	187
30	Albin Grewe	RW	Djurgardens IF J20	SuperElit	Marsta, Sweden	6'0"	176
31	Simon Holmstrom	RW	HV71 J20	SuperElit	Tranas, Sweden	5'11"	172

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I expect my Krebs ranking to get a lot of hate, but I mean, he's of average size, and was probably the worst skater on Team Canada at the Hlinka. He made a few blind passes and got lucky, but truth be told I think he's largely feeding off the WHL 1st overall hype.

Nice list. Cajkovic and Gutik outside the 1st jumped out for me. Cajkovic isn't the game-breaking winger he was hyped to be after the WJCs, he's still a first round talent, who'll most likely light up the Q this year.

Aware me on Has, liked him at the Hlinka but not sure how high his ceilling is.

 

[Goldenhands]

Tvasports have thier own early top 10, interesting list with honorable mentions... I agree with them with Cozens at 2 but I have no prob with people having kakko there instead...

Les 10 meilleurs joueurs en vue du repêchage 2019 de la LNH - TVA Sports

god that draft looks so amazing, perfect year to tank and add another first...

 

[Habs76]

Nice list. Cajkovic and Gutik outside the 1st jumped out for me. Cajkovic isn't the game-breaking winger he was hyped to be after the WJCs, he's still a first round talent, who'll most likely light up the Q this year.

Aware me on Has, liked him at the Hlinka but not sure how high his ceilling is.

I've only seen Has at the Hlinka too, my friend. But what I've seen so far is a huge, incredibly poised defenseman, responsible at both ends of the rink, can skate like the wind and reads plays exceptionally well. I was tempted to put him even higher.

Cajkovic is a two spots outside the first round for me at #33 behind the 31 I've already posted and Harrison Blaisdell. He's sneaky, and has good hands but there were just too many players I liked more. He really didn't get the puck on his stick much at the Hlinka, which of course is tough when your team sucks.

Gutik also looks good, great hands around the net, a real threat with the puck on his stick, but he's a very awkward skater. I have him in my top 45.

 

[QuebecPride]

My top 31 at this point. Obviously will be subject to A LOT of change over the course of the season

Rank	Player Name	Pos	Team	League	Birthplace	Height	Weight
1	Jack Hughes	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Orlando, FL, USA	5'10"	161
2	Kaapo Kakko	RW	TPS	Liiga	Turku, Finland	6'1"	181
3	Bowen Byram	D	Vancouver Giants	WHL	Cranbrook, BC, Canada	6'0"	179
4	Alex Newhook	C	Victoria Grizzlies	BCHL	St. John's, NL, Canada	5'11"	183
5	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg	MHL	Russia	5'11"	165
6	Alex Turcotte	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Walled Lake, MI, USA	5'11"	194
7	Dylan Cozens	C	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL	Whitehorse, YT, Canada	6'3"	176
8	Cam York	D	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Anaheim Hills, CA, USA	5'11"	165
9	Kirby Dach	C	Saskatoon Blades	WHL	Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada	6'4"	185
10	Ryan Suzuki	C	Barrie Colts	OHL	London, ON, Canada	6'0"	172
11	Raphael Lavoie	RW	Halifax Mooseheads	QMJHL	Montreal, QC, Canada	6'4"	192
12	Anttoni Honka	D	JYP	Liiga	Jyvaskyla, Finland	5'10"	170
13	Victor Soderstrom	D	Brynas J20	SuperElit	Skutskar, Sweden	5'11"	176
14	Trevor Zegras	C	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Bedford, NY, USA	5'11"	159
15	Martin Hugo Has	D	Tappara	Liiga	Praha, Czech Republic	6'4"	187
16	Matthew Robertson	D	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL	Sherwood Park, AB, Canada	6'3"	196
17	Philip Broberg	D	AIK J20	SuperElit	Orebro, Sweden	6'3"	198
18	Cole Caufield	RW	US National U18 Development Program	NTDP	Mosinee, WI, USA	5'6"	154
19	Valentin Nussbaumer	C	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL	Switzerland	5'11"	165
20	Michael Vukojevic	D	Kitchener Rangers	OHL	Oakville, ON, Canada	6'2"	201
21	Robert Mastrosimone	C	Chicago Steel	USHL	East Islip, NY, USA	5'10"	170
22	Arthur Kaliyev	LW	Hamiton Bulldogs	OHL	Staten Island, NY, USA	6'2"	190
23	Peyton Krebs	C	Kootenay Ice	WHL	Okotoks, AB, Canada	5'11"	172
24	Vladimir Alistrov	LW	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL	Belarus	6'2"	168
25	Ben Brinkman	D	University of Minnesota-Mankato	WCHA	Edina, MN, USA	6'1"	181
26	Matvei Guskov	C	London Knights	OHL	Russia	6'1"	161
28	Blake Murray	C	Sudbury Wolves	OHL	Uxbridge, ON, Canada	6'2"	179
28	Ilya Mironov	D	Loko Yaroslavl	MHL	Yaroslavl, Russia	6'3"	198
29	Tobias Bjornfot	D	Djurgardens IF J20	SuperElit	Upplands Vasby, Sweden	6'0"	187
30	Albin Grewe	RW	Djurgardens IF J20	SuperElit	Marsta, Sweden	6'0"	176
31	Simon Holmstrom	RW	HV71 J20	SuperElit	Tranas, Sweden	5'11"	172

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I expect my Krebs ranking to get a lot of hate, but I mean, he's of average size, and was probably the worst skater on Team Canada at the Hlinka. He made a few blind passes and got lucky, but truth be told I think he's largely feeding off the WHL 1st overall hype.

*bookmarks for future use at the mock draft*

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

I've been away from this draft talk for a while and haven't read this thread very much but from what I have seen, I share @Habs76 enthusiasm about Byram. For me, he's right up there with Kakko, Cozens, Newhook and Turcotte (Hughes being above them). Those guys along with Dach, Podkolzin, Suzuki and Lavoie make for a very interesting early top 10.

Will be interesting to see if York, Broberg and Robertson can catch up to Byram.

As of now, I'm not very high on Honka, Krebs, Caufield, Foote, Pelletier or Poulin.

Good to be back.

 

[Habs76]

I've been away from this draft talk for a while and haven't read this thread very much but from what I have seen, I share @Habs76 enthusiasm about Byram. For me, he's right up there with Kakko, Cozens, Newhook and Turcotte (Hughes being above them). Those guys along with Dach, Podkolzin, Suzuki and Lavoie make for a very interesting early top 10.

Will be interesting to see if York, Broberg and Robertson can catch up to Byram.

As of now, I'm not very high on Honka, Krebs, Caufield, Foote, Pelletier or Poulin.

Good to be back.

I'm with ya on Byram and Caufield. Hell, Honka too.

Pelletier, Poulin and Krebs? Hell nah

 

[G0bias]

I'm not as high on Matthew Robertson, personally. Thought his decision-making and play with the puck under heavy pressure looked shaky. He and Schneider got exposed by the speedy US forwards in the semis. More of a late 1st to me.

Otherwise I like the Podkolzin rating. I still have the four C's ahead of him by the slightest of margins but I have no issues with him up there.

 

[NeptunesTrident]

I could see them taking Byram especially if they pick between 7-10. He fills a need but with all the centers and wingers available I think it would be a reach to take him sooner. I would love to add a Hughes, Cozens, Dach or Newhook. Maybe look at a Bjornfot or Robertson at the end of 1st or early 2nd(depending on Patches trade)?

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I think Byram is gonna be a stud. Assuming we don't pick top 3, he's my target. I think he's going to be a star in the Drew Doughty mold. Plug him in next to Weber and he's going to be a monster.

 

[G0bias]

I think Byram is gonna be a stud. Assuming we don't pick top 3, he's my target. I think he's going to be a star in the Drew Doughty mold. Plug him in next to Weber and he's going to be a monster.

Hopefully Weber's moved for another 1st by that time

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Hopefully Weber's moved for another 1st by that time

Hell no. If we move Weber, better be for a hell lot more than just a first rounder...

 

[NotProkofievian]

I think Byram is gonna be a stud. Assuming we don't pick top 3, he's my target. I think he's going to be a star in the Drew Doughty mold. Plug him in next to Weber and he's going to be a monster.

Look out NHL, we've got Bowen Byram next to 34 year old Shea foot surgery knee surgery played 50 gamesin the last 2 years Weber.

It'll be monstrous.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Look out NHL, we've got Bowen Byram next to 34 year old Shea foot surgery knee surgery played 50 gamesin the last 2 years Weber.

It'll be monstrous.

Perfect guy for Byram to develop beside, ya know, if you are interested in developing your young Ds and all...

 

[NotProkofievian]

Perfect guy for Byram to develop beside, ya know, if you are interested in developing your young Ds and all...

He's a rapidly depreciating asset, and nothing more.

 

[G0bias]

Hell no. If we move Weber, better be for a hell lot more than just a first rounder...

Is this old-man-recovering-from-double-surgeries Weber or prime p r o n g e r we're talking?

Why trade him for a future building block now when we can watch his legs and value disintegrate while we compete for the October cup.

 

[The Great Weal]

Anyone know much about Zegras?

 

[NotProkofievian]

Is this old-man-recovering-from-double-surgeries Weber or prime p r o n g e r we're talking?

Why trade him for a future building block now when we can watch his legs and value disintegrate while we compete for the October cup.

18 year olds can't put on significant amounts of muscle mass. 34 year olds recovering from multiple surgeries are probs good for the next 10 years tho.

 

[G0bias]

Anyone know much about Zegras?

Doesn't get talked enough.
Got overshadowed by Hughes and Turcotte until late in the season when he got the spotlight as the 1C with the U-17s.
Not the biggest or the strongest nor is he a two way, puck hound like Turcotte, so he plays more of a finesse game, using excellent speed and puck skills to set up plays. But he's every bit as skilled offensively and perhaps even shiftier. I'm a fan.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I heard Byram is the long lost brother of Doughty and when they asked Drew about it he said that Byram was a meaner version of him.

 

[Mrb1p]

I see #1D potential in Byram, and I think it's more likely he becomes a 1D than most of the top centers become a 1C. And frankly, a defenseman is so much more valuable than a winger, it's not close- and wingers can be found throughout the draft too.

Take 2014 for example:
We saw Kasperi Kapanen, David Pastrnak, Nikita Scherbak, Josh Ho-Sang, Christian Dvorak, Ryan Donato, Vladislav Kamenev, Brayden Point, Viktor Arvidsson, Danton Heinen, Ivan Barbashev, Kevin Labanc, Dylan Sikura and Ondrej Kase all get drafted outside the top 20. Most are wingers, with a few exceptions. All are now in the NHL, or on the cusp.

On the flip side, Brandon Montour, Nikita Tryamkin, Louie Belpedio, Gustav Forsling and Anton Lindholm were the top defensemen picked after 20.

Id probably pick Pasta above like 99% of the draft so

 

[Andrei79]

18 year olds can't put on significant amounts of muscle mass. 34 year olds recovering from multiple surgeries are probs good for the next 10 years tho.

You're wrong.

18 year olds can put up more than 15 pounds in 2 months.

It just "depends on the frame" and if they were a north american player in the NCAA.

 

[NotProkofievian]

You're wrong.

18 year olds can put up more than 15 pounds in 2 months.

It just "depends on the frame" and if they were a north american player in the NCAA.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi confirmed framecel.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I heard Byram is the long lost brother of Doughty and when they asked Drew about it he said that Byram was a meaner version of him.

Guess which Tkachuk got drafted higher...