StevenToddIves
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It’s a done deal, folks. The Devils are taking Jack Hughes first overall. If you don’t believe the Devils GM Ray Shero or their social media feed, you might want to check the U18 tournament record books, as Hughes just flashed an inexplicably brilliant skill set to shatter Alex Ovechkin’s all-time scoring record.
So, since we know that the Devils are taking Jack Hughes, my next question would be: how many of his US-NTDP teammates are they also taking with their four picks in the first two rounds. Would you believe two? Read on, and learn why…
1 New Jersey Devils: C Jack Hughes the Devils draft a marquee superstar. Hughes’ combination of skating, vision and hockey IQ is almost otherworldly. He may need to fill out physically and learn some restraint with the puck in order to fulfill his promise as a “generational player”, but he certainly is possessing of generational skills. Hughes shattered every record imaginable in the best development program on the planet (UD-NTDP), and he’s a very good bet to shatter a ton of records for the NJ Devils in the future.
2 NY Rangers: W Kappo Kakko a preternaturally complete and polished power winger who checks off every tool on the scouting checklist from “great” to “outstanding”, Kakko will be a top-line impact player on Broadway for years to come.
3 Chicago: C Alex Turcotte though many Chicago fans will clamor for Byram, the Hawks have spent five of their last six top-two picks on D (Boqvist, Beaudin, Jokiharju, Mitchell, Krys). Turcotte’s mix of two-way play and compete level is rare; he is an elite skater and dynamic offensive talent. The Chicago-area native would be a worthy heir to Jonathan Toews as the Hawks’ future top pivot.
4 Colorado: LD Bowen Byram the Avs have two pressing organizational needs — secondary scoring beyond McKinnon/Landeskog/Rantanen and talent at LD. Byram is the (runaway) best D in the class of 2019 — an elite skater with jaw-dropping offensive skill; tremendous defensively. He plays with an exuberant compete level and intimidating physicality. The complete package, and a future Norris Trophy candidate.
5 Los Angeles: C/RW Dylan Cozens the Kings would absolutely love Byram to fall to them, but it is unlikely. Cozens would shine as either shotgun-partner for Anze Kopitar on the top line or heir to Jeff Carter’s pivot slot on the second line. Here is is another player lacking discernible flaws — he’s big, physical, skilled, extremely fast and can absolutely launch the puck. He might not be as dynamic as some of the other top 10 prospects, but his floor is extremely high as a top 6 F who plays with pace, grit and a scoring touch.
6 Detroit: C Trevor Zegras born-to-be-Wings GM Steve Yzerman built Tampa Bay into a perennial contender, now it’s his turn to achieve the same with the team he spent his brilliant career playing for. How fitting if he picks a player in Zegras, a dynamic offensive force who plays with similar electrifying offensive skill and style as a young Stevie Y.
7 Buffalo: C Kirby Dach Buffalo has two #1 picks to fill their gaping organizational holes: the blueline and secondary scoring. Dach is a huge, extremely smart two-way center who passes as well as anyone in the draft not named Hughes or Zegras. The idea of a 1/2 at center with Eichel and Dach would be mind-blowing, and could push another incredible scoring talent in Casey Mittlestadt to a more comfortable spot on the wing.
8 Edmonton: W Matthew Boldy what Edmonton desperately needs is to surround their all-world center trio of McDavid/Draisaitl/Nugent-Hopkins with high-skill wingers. Boldy nails that— the silky scorer with elite skill and smarts has shined for the US-NTDP alongside both Hughes and Turcotte. He’s big and versatile — able to play either wing and quickly fit like a glove in any situational line combination.
9 Anaheim: LW/C Peyton Krebs Anaheim traditionally likes big, power players, so Podkolzin would make sense here. But considering the last time Anaheim drafted a Russian skater was June, 2001 — the same month Podkolzin was born — there is reason to doubt this possibility. Krebs is a kid you notice every time he hits the ice — his speed, compete level and two-way play are all elite; he’s ferocious. Krebs may lack the high-end scoring ability of other top 10 picks, but he plays a million miles per hour and is future captain material.
10 Vancouver: C Alex Newhook any questions which were being asked regarding Alex Newhook’s lower level of competition in the BCHL were answered with an eye-opening performance at the U18 tournament. The lightning-fast, supremely skilled scoring stud was the standout performer on a Canada top line alongside Cozens and Krebs, and jolted up his already-formidable draft stock.
11 Philadelphia: W Vasili Podkolzin “Flyers Hockey” used to mean rough and tumble, physical hockey. Now it means “playing golf in April”. Podkolzin would be a big step in getting them back to the intended definition — he’s a big, skilled forward with an intense power game and compete level. Once considered the consensus #3 prospect, Podkolzin was good but not great at the U18, and that combined with a stated lack of imperative in coming to North America will quite possibly drop him on draft day.
12 Minnesota: RW Cole Caufield in 2018, the Wild made perhaps the most inexplicable first-round pick in recent memory, taking LD Filip Johansson (who very likely would have been available in the third or even fourth round). Here’s hoping they don’t blow it again — Caulfield is an absolutely deadly goal-scorer with better skates than advertised. His rare goal scoring ability more than makes up for his small stature, and he compares to Alex DeBrincat with even greater upside.
13 Florida: LD Cam York the Panthers have not drafted D in rounds 1 or 2 since Aaron Ekblad (#1 overall, 2014). Their blueline needs an injection of youth to compliment a talented stable of young forwards. Though lacking in size (5’11-175) and (while a good skater) not exactly a burner — York plays with off-the-charts intelligence and vision in all three zones, and was easily the best defenseman in the U18 tournament.
14 Arizona: W Arthur Kaliyev the Coyotes were the only team in the NHL this year without a 20-goal scorer. Kaliyev needs work on his 200-foot game, but his goal-scoring talent is unquestioned — matched perhaps only by Caufield in the 2019 draft class. The Staten Island-native is unstoppable with the puck and can shoot the lights out, evidenced by his 51 goals this year for Hamilton in the OHL.
15 Montreal: LD Thomas Harley after addressing need at C in recent drafts, the Habs need to inject youth and talent into the future of defense core. Harley offers rare combination of size (6’3-185), high-end jets, and tremendous offense (58 points for Mississauga, as a 17 year old). He needs work on his defensive game, but he possesses great upside as a top 2 D in the NHL, proven by an excellent performance as Canada’s top defenseman in the U18 tournament.
16 Colorado: C Philip Tomasino the Avs have two major concerns entering the 2019 draft — organizational depth at LD and secondary scoring behind a spectacular top line. Fortunately, they have two first round picks to address these. Tomasino is an explosive skater with dazzling skills, often leading to highlight-reel variety goals. He impressed all year with 34 goals and 72 points for Niagara of the OHL, and then impressed even more as Canada’s third-line pivot at the U18 tournament. His two-way play and compete level were better than advertised, and he was a force on the PK.
17 Las Vegas: RD Victor Soderstrom after dealing their top defense prospect in Erik Brannstrom to acquire Mark Stone, the Knights need to fill that void in the pipeline. Soderstrom is a superlative skater who displays quick thinking and advanced positioning. He will never score 50+ points in a season, but he will be a possession force at the NHL level.
18 Dallas: RD Moritz Seider Miro Heiskanen has solidified the Stars future on the left-side of the blueline, but Julius Honka’s stalled development has really hurt them on the right. Seider is hulking at 6’4-190, very strong/physical, and combines very good skating with intriguing offensive upside. He could be the best Germany-raised defenseman ever drafted (sorry, Uwe Krupp).
19 Ottawa: C Ryan Suzuki the only team nearly as ecstatic as the Devils to see NJ win the Jack Hughes sweepstakes was Ottawa. Can you imagine the cheers in their front office when Colorado was announced as receiving the #4 pick acquired in the Senators’ disastrous Matt Duchene acquisition? Suzuki is a speedy, skilled and smart center who should develop to post some serious offensive numbers as an NHL 2C.
20 Carolina: G Spencer Knight the Canes have amassed a very talented young core and perhaps the best blueline in the Metropolitan. What they’ve lacked for a decade is consistency between the pipes. Though drafting netminders in the first round has become a bit of an NHL taboo, Carolina GM Don Waddell is an old-school executive, and Spencer Knight is the highest-touted goaltending prospect since Carey Price, whom he is most often compared to.
21 NY Rangers: LD Philip Broberg the Rangers rely heavily on their European scouts, in recent years especially out of Sweden. Broberg is the most polarizing rearguard in the class of 2019 — he’s huge, very strong, can fire the puck and absolutely fly. So why the controversy? His hockey sense has been questioned and his persistent penchant for turnovers on often ill-advised rushes has suffered serious criticism.
22 Pittsburgh: RW Rafael Lavoie the last time the Penguins even had a first round pick was 2014. The most recent Pittsburgh first-rounder to make it as regular with the team was (no I’m not kidding) Sidney Crosby (2005). Needless to say, they really need to make this pick work. Lavoie is a big forward with a rocket shot. He skates well and plays a smart, power game. He would look very, very good skating alongside Crosby or Malkin in the imminent future.
23 Los Angeles: LD Matthew Robertson the Kings have accumulated some very talented young forwards in recent drafts in Rasmus Kupari, Akil Thomas, Gabe Vilardi and Jaret Anderson-Dolan. Unless Bowen Byram somehow falls to them at #5 overall, they will add another with their lottery pick. In that scenario, it is a near certainty that LA uses their pick acquired from Toronto (Jake Muzzin trade) to address a burgeoning organizational need on the blueline. Robertson is the best shut-down, physical D available in the class of 2019 — he’s extremely strong and plays with advanced maturity and intelligence. Though Robertson will never be a top scorer, he is very smart with the puck and is far from an offensive or possession liability. Very underrated player with a very high floor as a minute-munching 3/4 D.
24 Nashville: C Connor McMichael the Predators have not drafted a true center in the first round since David Legwand in 1998. In a 2019 draft deep up the middle, the time to change that is now. McMichael comes from the NHL-factory of the London Knights. He is extremely heady and can really wheel. He ranks as a plus in every tool but size, where he is a solid 5’11-180.
25 Washington: LW Pavel Dorofeyev the Caps have not drafted a forward in the top two rounds since 2014 (Jakub Vrana) and have not drafted a North American in the top two rounds since 2016 (Lucas Johansen). Strong chance they break at least one of those trends with Dorofeyev, a creative, competitive and shifty winger often compared to Filip Forsberg, whom the Washington front office still regrets trading away.
26 Calgary: RW Brett Leason looking for secondary scoring help beyond the Gaudreau/Monahan combination, the Flames take the top overager available in 2019. Leason is huge at 6’5-200 and lives to punish opposing defensemen. He also has the skill to score 25+ goals in a second line role. The question of why he was passed over in two prior drafts was answered, as the power forward made great strides in improving his skating speed for the 2018-19 campaign.
27 Tampa Bay: LD Tobias Bjornfot the Lightning could lose as many as three defensemen to free agency this off-season and have only one legit blueline prospect on the way in Cal Foote. Bjornfot was the best Swedish defenseman in the U18 tourney — he's adept in all three zones, rarely makes mistakes, and skates as fluidly backwards as many opposing forwards skate forwards. He might lack the high-end scoring skill to be a top two D, but he’s a very good bet as a two-way, minute munching mid-pair player with a set of jets.
28 NY Islanders: C John Beecher loaded with young talent in the pipeline at D and on the wing, the Isles need future centers to slot behind Mat Barzal. No player in the 2019 draft screams Lou Lamoriello quite like Beecher, an extremely physical and defensively sound man-beast at center. Combining enormous strength with surprising speed and sneaky sniping skills, Beecher is very reminiscent of a young Ryan Kesler.
29 Anaheim: RD Lassi Thomson the latest stud from the Kelowna Rockets defenseman factory is this underrated Finnish export. Lacking one standout skill, Thomson is simply very good in every aspect of the game. He is an accomplished skater with a hard shot who plays with intelligence and skill in both the offensive and defensive zones. If he just develops on a similar trajectory he will be the ideal mid-pairing rear-guard, but many pundits (myself included) think he can put it all together and exceed those expectations.
30 Buffalo: LD Ville Heinola after getting a stud forward with their lottery pick, expect the Sabres to address a major organizational need at LD with their later pick in the first round. Though not big (5’11-180) nor particularly athletic, Heinola’s finest attribute is his intelligence — he is extremely adept at reading the play, and his positional knowledge is extremely mature for his age. Quite simply, Heinola always makes the right play with the puck and is always in the right place without it.
31 Boston: LW Samuel Poulin the Bruins like tough, physical forwards and Poulin certainly fits that mold. He also has a very good shot and some intriguing puck skills which have many projecting him as a top-6 power forward at the NHL level.
SECOND ROUND:
32 Ottawa: LD Alex Vlasic 6’6” defensemen with very good skating ability don’t grow on trees. Standing on his skates, Vlasic actually resembles a tree.
33 Los Angeles: LD Vladislav Kolyachonok Belarussian export led his countrymen to a surprisingly strong showing at the U18 tourney with a mix of size, skating and skill. A bit of a project, but big upside.
34 New Jersey Devils: RW Bobby Brink in every previous mock draft, I’ve had the Devils going D with the #34 pick. But these things never go as planned, and if Brink were to fall here, how would the Devils pass him up? Brink was born to score — he can shoot the lights out, and his vision and calm with the puck are exemplary. This kid is sorely under-ranked by most and will be a sharpshooting weapon at the NHL level.
35 Detroit: LD Marshall Warren the Red Wings are loaded with talented young forwards in the prospect pipeline, but are very thin with top-4 D candidates. Warren is extremely mobile, thinks the game at an extraordinarily high level, and plays an impressive 200-foot game.
36 Carolina: RW Simon Holmstrom many think Holmstrom would be a first-rounder if not for an injury plagued draft year, his skating and offensive skill are certainly high caliber
37 Carolina: C Yegor Spiridonov big, rangy and skilled two-way center showed serious top-6 potential at the U18 in Sweden
38 Edmonton: RW Nathan Legare big and competitive power forward powered his way to 45 goals and 87 points for Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL
39 Anaheim: C Jamieson Rees fierce competitor may have been Team Canada’s best all-around player in U18; jersey-flapping speed and radar-like passing ability make him the potential steal of the 2019 draft
40 Vancouver: RD Kaeden Korczak big, strong and physical shut down D lives to punish opposing forwards and also shows intelligence with the puck
41 Philadelphia: LW Robert Mastrosimone with electrifying offensive skills and relentless energy, many think the USHL sniper should go in the late first
42 Minnesota: LW Nils Hoglander old-school pain in the posterior is freakishly strong for his size and adds the skill to draw Brad Marchand comparisons
43 Chicago: W/C Jakob Pelletier usually described as a “coaches dream”, this versatile whirlwind plays all three forward positions with an infectious combination of brains, energy and heart… and he can also score
44 Ottawa: RD Billy Constantinou your “swing-for-the-fences” draft-day D can absolutely fly and is known for his riverboat gambler rushes, a lot of risk here but a potential home run pick
45 Arizona: G Isaiah Saville the Coyotes need a “goalie of the future”, and many consider Saville the next-best in the class of 2019 after Knight
46 Montreal: LW Brayden Tracey rocketed up draft boards with a tremendous U18 tournament, proving his 81-point campaign in Moose Jaw was no fluke
47 Colorado: LW Nolan Foote son of the former Avs legend, this power forward can also help the organization improve their secondary scoring; needless to say, would be an incredibly popular pick here
48 Montreal: LD Ryan Johnson the California native has some of the best wheels in the draft and, though certainly a project, offers a big-time potential reward for a team with the patience to develop him
49 NY Rangers: C Ilya Nikolayev mixing an outstanding work ethic with plus speed and skill, Podkolzin’s long-time line-mate could have top 6 upside
50 Las Vegas: RW Albin Grewe certain to be a fan favorite, this hell-bent-for-leather RW plays the game with a physical disregard for absolutely anything and is also capable of highlight-reel scoring
51 St. Louis: RD Antti Tuomisto with no first-round pick, the Blues swing for the fences on the enormous upside of this 6’3, slick-skating Finn who shows flashes of tantalizing offensive upside
52 Winnipeg: LW Nicholas Robertson the Jets also have no first-round pick, but their scouts always seem to unearth gems in the second. Robertson may be undersized, but he has dynamic offensive skills, plays with unbridled passion and can downright wire the puck.
53 Florida: C/W Yegor Afanasyev big and versatile forward was simply dominant for Muskegon of the USHL, checks off every tool in the box
54 Toronto: LW Patrik Puistola with the Leafs lacking a pick until here, the #54 selection is certain to be the most scrutinized in the media in the entire 2019 draft. But seriously folks, Puistola was easily the most impressive forward for an underperforming Finnish U18 squad, a threat to score in nearly every shift
55 New Jersey Devils: RD Case McCarthy call it a pipe dream, because everyone on these threads knows how high I am on this kid, and every Devils fan knows how badly NJ needs a physical, shutdown force on the blueline. McCarthy is a physical beast, one of the most punishing D in the draft and nearly impossible to beat along the boards, in the crease, or one-on-one. He is also surprisingly slick on his skates for his style of play, and very smart and efficient with the puck. He may go just under-the-radar enough on a star-studded US-NTDP team to fall into the Devils lap at #55.
56 Washington: LW Vladislav Firstov another USHL sniper with a NHL-caliber rocket and offensive skill set which can make him a real boom pick here. He needs to play with greater consistency and commitment to a 200-foot game.
57 NY Islanders: RW/C Ryder Donovan a very raw prospect from the USHS ranks, but rare to see a 6’4-200 kid with such speed; also can rocket the puck.
58 NY Rangers: RD Drew Helleson very smart defenseman with terrific wheels and excellent two-way acumen will surely be one of the 629 players from this years US-NTDP to go in the 2019 NHL draft
59 Carolina: C John Farinacci speedy and skilled with a blazing shot, the Massachusetts HS product will have a few years at Harvard to develop his enormous upside
60 Detroit: C Blake Murray sorely underrated pivot plays a smart, complete game at high speeds; potted 30 goals for Sudbury; the type of mid-round gem which Yzerman constantly unearthed while in Tampa
61 Detroit: RW Maxim Cajkovic a puck-magician with top 6 skill, his numbers may have suffered in the Q trying to do too much for a woeful Saint John squad
62 New Jersey Devils: LD Mikko Kokkonen much to the chagrin of the HF Boards, the Devils select a player who “plays against men” in the Finnish Liiga. Kokkonen fits neatly into the Devils blueprint — he’s a very strong skater with a penchant for tape-to-tape stretch, outlet passes. Built like a brick box at 5’11-200, he’s very difficult to beat in puck battles and one of those minute-munching mid-pairing players who simply does everything well.
So, since we know that the Devils are taking Jack Hughes, my next question would be: how many of his US-NTDP teammates are they also taking with their four picks in the first two rounds. Would you believe two? Read on, and learn why…
1 New Jersey Devils: C Jack Hughes the Devils draft a marquee superstar. Hughes’ combination of skating, vision and hockey IQ is almost otherworldly. He may need to fill out physically and learn some restraint with the puck in order to fulfill his promise as a “generational player”, but he certainly is possessing of generational skills. Hughes shattered every record imaginable in the best development program on the planet (UD-NTDP), and he’s a very good bet to shatter a ton of records for the NJ Devils in the future.
2 NY Rangers: W Kappo Kakko a preternaturally complete and polished power winger who checks off every tool on the scouting checklist from “great” to “outstanding”, Kakko will be a top-line impact player on Broadway for years to come.
3 Chicago: C Alex Turcotte though many Chicago fans will clamor for Byram, the Hawks have spent five of their last six top-two picks on D (Boqvist, Beaudin, Jokiharju, Mitchell, Krys). Turcotte’s mix of two-way play and compete level is rare; he is an elite skater and dynamic offensive talent. The Chicago-area native would be a worthy heir to Jonathan Toews as the Hawks’ future top pivot.
4 Colorado: LD Bowen Byram the Avs have two pressing organizational needs — secondary scoring beyond McKinnon/Landeskog/Rantanen and talent at LD. Byram is the (runaway) best D in the class of 2019 — an elite skater with jaw-dropping offensive skill; tremendous defensively. He plays with an exuberant compete level and intimidating physicality. The complete package, and a future Norris Trophy candidate.
5 Los Angeles: C/RW Dylan Cozens the Kings would absolutely love Byram to fall to them, but it is unlikely. Cozens would shine as either shotgun-partner for Anze Kopitar on the top line or heir to Jeff Carter’s pivot slot on the second line. Here is is another player lacking discernible flaws — he’s big, physical, skilled, extremely fast and can absolutely launch the puck. He might not be as dynamic as some of the other top 10 prospects, but his floor is extremely high as a top 6 F who plays with pace, grit and a scoring touch.
6 Detroit: C Trevor Zegras born-to-be-Wings GM Steve Yzerman built Tampa Bay into a perennial contender, now it’s his turn to achieve the same with the team he spent his brilliant career playing for. How fitting if he picks a player in Zegras, a dynamic offensive force who plays with similar electrifying offensive skill and style as a young Stevie Y.
7 Buffalo: C Kirby Dach Buffalo has two #1 picks to fill their gaping organizational holes: the blueline and secondary scoring. Dach is a huge, extremely smart two-way center who passes as well as anyone in the draft not named Hughes or Zegras. The idea of a 1/2 at center with Eichel and Dach would be mind-blowing, and could push another incredible scoring talent in Casey Mittlestadt to a more comfortable spot on the wing.
8 Edmonton: W Matthew Boldy what Edmonton desperately needs is to surround their all-world center trio of McDavid/Draisaitl/Nugent-Hopkins with high-skill wingers. Boldy nails that— the silky scorer with elite skill and smarts has shined for the US-NTDP alongside both Hughes and Turcotte. He’s big and versatile — able to play either wing and quickly fit like a glove in any situational line combination.
9 Anaheim: LW/C Peyton Krebs Anaheim traditionally likes big, power players, so Podkolzin would make sense here. But considering the last time Anaheim drafted a Russian skater was June, 2001 — the same month Podkolzin was born — there is reason to doubt this possibility. Krebs is a kid you notice every time he hits the ice — his speed, compete level and two-way play are all elite; he’s ferocious. Krebs may lack the high-end scoring ability of other top 10 picks, but he plays a million miles per hour and is future captain material.
10 Vancouver: C Alex Newhook any questions which were being asked regarding Alex Newhook’s lower level of competition in the BCHL were answered with an eye-opening performance at the U18 tournament. The lightning-fast, supremely skilled scoring stud was the standout performer on a Canada top line alongside Cozens and Krebs, and jolted up his already-formidable draft stock.
11 Philadelphia: W Vasili Podkolzin “Flyers Hockey” used to mean rough and tumble, physical hockey. Now it means “playing golf in April”. Podkolzin would be a big step in getting them back to the intended definition — he’s a big, skilled forward with an intense power game and compete level. Once considered the consensus #3 prospect, Podkolzin was good but not great at the U18, and that combined with a stated lack of imperative in coming to North America will quite possibly drop him on draft day.
12 Minnesota: RW Cole Caufield in 2018, the Wild made perhaps the most inexplicable first-round pick in recent memory, taking LD Filip Johansson (who very likely would have been available in the third or even fourth round). Here’s hoping they don’t blow it again — Caulfield is an absolutely deadly goal-scorer with better skates than advertised. His rare goal scoring ability more than makes up for his small stature, and he compares to Alex DeBrincat with even greater upside.
13 Florida: LD Cam York the Panthers have not drafted D in rounds 1 or 2 since Aaron Ekblad (#1 overall, 2014). Their blueline needs an injection of youth to compliment a talented stable of young forwards. Though lacking in size (5’11-175) and (while a good skater) not exactly a burner — York plays with off-the-charts intelligence and vision in all three zones, and was easily the best defenseman in the U18 tournament.
14 Arizona: W Arthur Kaliyev the Coyotes were the only team in the NHL this year without a 20-goal scorer. Kaliyev needs work on his 200-foot game, but his goal-scoring talent is unquestioned — matched perhaps only by Caufield in the 2019 draft class. The Staten Island-native is unstoppable with the puck and can shoot the lights out, evidenced by his 51 goals this year for Hamilton in the OHL.
15 Montreal: LD Thomas Harley after addressing need at C in recent drafts, the Habs need to inject youth and talent into the future of defense core. Harley offers rare combination of size (6’3-185), high-end jets, and tremendous offense (58 points for Mississauga, as a 17 year old). He needs work on his defensive game, but he possesses great upside as a top 2 D in the NHL, proven by an excellent performance as Canada’s top defenseman in the U18 tournament.
16 Colorado: C Philip Tomasino the Avs have two major concerns entering the 2019 draft — organizational depth at LD and secondary scoring behind a spectacular top line. Fortunately, they have two first round picks to address these. Tomasino is an explosive skater with dazzling skills, often leading to highlight-reel variety goals. He impressed all year with 34 goals and 72 points for Niagara of the OHL, and then impressed even more as Canada’s third-line pivot at the U18 tournament. His two-way play and compete level were better than advertised, and he was a force on the PK.
17 Las Vegas: RD Victor Soderstrom after dealing their top defense prospect in Erik Brannstrom to acquire Mark Stone, the Knights need to fill that void in the pipeline. Soderstrom is a superlative skater who displays quick thinking and advanced positioning. He will never score 50+ points in a season, but he will be a possession force at the NHL level.
18 Dallas: RD Moritz Seider Miro Heiskanen has solidified the Stars future on the left-side of the blueline, but Julius Honka’s stalled development has really hurt them on the right. Seider is hulking at 6’4-190, very strong/physical, and combines very good skating with intriguing offensive upside. He could be the best Germany-raised defenseman ever drafted (sorry, Uwe Krupp).
19 Ottawa: C Ryan Suzuki the only team nearly as ecstatic as the Devils to see NJ win the Jack Hughes sweepstakes was Ottawa. Can you imagine the cheers in their front office when Colorado was announced as receiving the #4 pick acquired in the Senators’ disastrous Matt Duchene acquisition? Suzuki is a speedy, skilled and smart center who should develop to post some serious offensive numbers as an NHL 2C.
20 Carolina: G Spencer Knight the Canes have amassed a very talented young core and perhaps the best blueline in the Metropolitan. What they’ve lacked for a decade is consistency between the pipes. Though drafting netminders in the first round has become a bit of an NHL taboo, Carolina GM Don Waddell is an old-school executive, and Spencer Knight is the highest-touted goaltending prospect since Carey Price, whom he is most often compared to.
21 NY Rangers: LD Philip Broberg the Rangers rely heavily on their European scouts, in recent years especially out of Sweden. Broberg is the most polarizing rearguard in the class of 2019 — he’s huge, very strong, can fire the puck and absolutely fly. So why the controversy? His hockey sense has been questioned and his persistent penchant for turnovers on often ill-advised rushes has suffered serious criticism.
22 Pittsburgh: RW Rafael Lavoie the last time the Penguins even had a first round pick was 2014. The most recent Pittsburgh first-rounder to make it as regular with the team was (no I’m not kidding) Sidney Crosby (2005). Needless to say, they really need to make this pick work. Lavoie is a big forward with a rocket shot. He skates well and plays a smart, power game. He would look very, very good skating alongside Crosby or Malkin in the imminent future.
23 Los Angeles: LD Matthew Robertson the Kings have accumulated some very talented young forwards in recent drafts in Rasmus Kupari, Akil Thomas, Gabe Vilardi and Jaret Anderson-Dolan. Unless Bowen Byram somehow falls to them at #5 overall, they will add another with their lottery pick. In that scenario, it is a near certainty that LA uses their pick acquired from Toronto (Jake Muzzin trade) to address a burgeoning organizational need on the blueline. Robertson is the best shut-down, physical D available in the class of 2019 — he’s extremely strong and plays with advanced maturity and intelligence. Though Robertson will never be a top scorer, he is very smart with the puck and is far from an offensive or possession liability. Very underrated player with a very high floor as a minute-munching 3/4 D.
24 Nashville: C Connor McMichael the Predators have not drafted a true center in the first round since David Legwand in 1998. In a 2019 draft deep up the middle, the time to change that is now. McMichael comes from the NHL-factory of the London Knights. He is extremely heady and can really wheel. He ranks as a plus in every tool but size, where he is a solid 5’11-180.
25 Washington: LW Pavel Dorofeyev the Caps have not drafted a forward in the top two rounds since 2014 (Jakub Vrana) and have not drafted a North American in the top two rounds since 2016 (Lucas Johansen). Strong chance they break at least one of those trends with Dorofeyev, a creative, competitive and shifty winger often compared to Filip Forsberg, whom the Washington front office still regrets trading away.
26 Calgary: RW Brett Leason looking for secondary scoring help beyond the Gaudreau/Monahan combination, the Flames take the top overager available in 2019. Leason is huge at 6’5-200 and lives to punish opposing defensemen. He also has the skill to score 25+ goals in a second line role. The question of why he was passed over in two prior drafts was answered, as the power forward made great strides in improving his skating speed for the 2018-19 campaign.
27 Tampa Bay: LD Tobias Bjornfot the Lightning could lose as many as three defensemen to free agency this off-season and have only one legit blueline prospect on the way in Cal Foote. Bjornfot was the best Swedish defenseman in the U18 tourney — he's adept in all three zones, rarely makes mistakes, and skates as fluidly backwards as many opposing forwards skate forwards. He might lack the high-end scoring skill to be a top two D, but he’s a very good bet as a two-way, minute munching mid-pair player with a set of jets.
28 NY Islanders: C John Beecher loaded with young talent in the pipeline at D and on the wing, the Isles need future centers to slot behind Mat Barzal. No player in the 2019 draft screams Lou Lamoriello quite like Beecher, an extremely physical and defensively sound man-beast at center. Combining enormous strength with surprising speed and sneaky sniping skills, Beecher is very reminiscent of a young Ryan Kesler.
29 Anaheim: RD Lassi Thomson the latest stud from the Kelowna Rockets defenseman factory is this underrated Finnish export. Lacking one standout skill, Thomson is simply very good in every aspect of the game. He is an accomplished skater with a hard shot who plays with intelligence and skill in both the offensive and defensive zones. If he just develops on a similar trajectory he will be the ideal mid-pairing rear-guard, but many pundits (myself included) think he can put it all together and exceed those expectations.
30 Buffalo: LD Ville Heinola after getting a stud forward with their lottery pick, expect the Sabres to address a major organizational need at LD with their later pick in the first round. Though not big (5’11-180) nor particularly athletic, Heinola’s finest attribute is his intelligence — he is extremely adept at reading the play, and his positional knowledge is extremely mature for his age. Quite simply, Heinola always makes the right play with the puck and is always in the right place without it.
31 Boston: LW Samuel Poulin the Bruins like tough, physical forwards and Poulin certainly fits that mold. He also has a very good shot and some intriguing puck skills which have many projecting him as a top-6 power forward at the NHL level.
SECOND ROUND:
32 Ottawa: LD Alex Vlasic 6’6” defensemen with very good skating ability don’t grow on trees. Standing on his skates, Vlasic actually resembles a tree.
33 Los Angeles: LD Vladislav Kolyachonok Belarussian export led his countrymen to a surprisingly strong showing at the U18 tourney with a mix of size, skating and skill. A bit of a project, but big upside.
34 New Jersey Devils: RW Bobby Brink in every previous mock draft, I’ve had the Devils going D with the #34 pick. But these things never go as planned, and if Brink were to fall here, how would the Devils pass him up? Brink was born to score — he can shoot the lights out, and his vision and calm with the puck are exemplary. This kid is sorely under-ranked by most and will be a sharpshooting weapon at the NHL level.
35 Detroit: LD Marshall Warren the Red Wings are loaded with talented young forwards in the prospect pipeline, but are very thin with top-4 D candidates. Warren is extremely mobile, thinks the game at an extraordinarily high level, and plays an impressive 200-foot game.
36 Carolina: RW Simon Holmstrom many think Holmstrom would be a first-rounder if not for an injury plagued draft year, his skating and offensive skill are certainly high caliber
37 Carolina: C Yegor Spiridonov big, rangy and skilled two-way center showed serious top-6 potential at the U18 in Sweden
38 Edmonton: RW Nathan Legare big and competitive power forward powered his way to 45 goals and 87 points for Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL
39 Anaheim: C Jamieson Rees fierce competitor may have been Team Canada’s best all-around player in U18; jersey-flapping speed and radar-like passing ability make him the potential steal of the 2019 draft
40 Vancouver: RD Kaeden Korczak big, strong and physical shut down D lives to punish opposing forwards and also shows intelligence with the puck
41 Philadelphia: LW Robert Mastrosimone with electrifying offensive skills and relentless energy, many think the USHL sniper should go in the late first
42 Minnesota: LW Nils Hoglander old-school pain in the posterior is freakishly strong for his size and adds the skill to draw Brad Marchand comparisons
43 Chicago: W/C Jakob Pelletier usually described as a “coaches dream”, this versatile whirlwind plays all three forward positions with an infectious combination of brains, energy and heart… and he can also score
44 Ottawa: RD Billy Constantinou your “swing-for-the-fences” draft-day D can absolutely fly and is known for his riverboat gambler rushes, a lot of risk here but a potential home run pick
45 Arizona: G Isaiah Saville the Coyotes need a “goalie of the future”, and many consider Saville the next-best in the class of 2019 after Knight
46 Montreal: LW Brayden Tracey rocketed up draft boards with a tremendous U18 tournament, proving his 81-point campaign in Moose Jaw was no fluke
47 Colorado: LW Nolan Foote son of the former Avs legend, this power forward can also help the organization improve their secondary scoring; needless to say, would be an incredibly popular pick here
48 Montreal: LD Ryan Johnson the California native has some of the best wheels in the draft and, though certainly a project, offers a big-time potential reward for a team with the patience to develop him
49 NY Rangers: C Ilya Nikolayev mixing an outstanding work ethic with plus speed and skill, Podkolzin’s long-time line-mate could have top 6 upside
50 Las Vegas: RW Albin Grewe certain to be a fan favorite, this hell-bent-for-leather RW plays the game with a physical disregard for absolutely anything and is also capable of highlight-reel scoring
51 St. Louis: RD Antti Tuomisto with no first-round pick, the Blues swing for the fences on the enormous upside of this 6’3, slick-skating Finn who shows flashes of tantalizing offensive upside
52 Winnipeg: LW Nicholas Robertson the Jets also have no first-round pick, but their scouts always seem to unearth gems in the second. Robertson may be undersized, but he has dynamic offensive skills, plays with unbridled passion and can downright wire the puck.
53 Florida: C/W Yegor Afanasyev big and versatile forward was simply dominant for Muskegon of the USHL, checks off every tool in the box
54 Toronto: LW Patrik Puistola with the Leafs lacking a pick until here, the #54 selection is certain to be the most scrutinized in the media in the entire 2019 draft. But seriously folks, Puistola was easily the most impressive forward for an underperforming Finnish U18 squad, a threat to score in nearly every shift
55 New Jersey Devils: RD Case McCarthy call it a pipe dream, because everyone on these threads knows how high I am on this kid, and every Devils fan knows how badly NJ needs a physical, shutdown force on the blueline. McCarthy is a physical beast, one of the most punishing D in the draft and nearly impossible to beat along the boards, in the crease, or one-on-one. He is also surprisingly slick on his skates for his style of play, and very smart and efficient with the puck. He may go just under-the-radar enough on a star-studded US-NTDP team to fall into the Devils lap at #55.
56 Washington: LW Vladislav Firstov another USHL sniper with a NHL-caliber rocket and offensive skill set which can make him a real boom pick here. He needs to play with greater consistency and commitment to a 200-foot game.
57 NY Islanders: RW/C Ryder Donovan a very raw prospect from the USHS ranks, but rare to see a 6’4-200 kid with such speed; also can rocket the puck.
58 NY Rangers: RD Drew Helleson very smart defenseman with terrific wheels and excellent two-way acumen will surely be one of the 629 players from this years US-NTDP to go in the 2019 NHL draft
59 Carolina: C John Farinacci speedy and skilled with a blazing shot, the Massachusetts HS product will have a few years at Harvard to develop his enormous upside
60 Detroit: C Blake Murray sorely underrated pivot plays a smart, complete game at high speeds; potted 30 goals for Sudbury; the type of mid-round gem which Yzerman constantly unearthed while in Tampa
61 Detroit: RW Maxim Cajkovic a puck-magician with top 6 skill, his numbers may have suffered in the Q trying to do too much for a woeful Saint John squad
62 New Jersey Devils: LD Mikko Kokkonen much to the chagrin of the HF Boards, the Devils select a player who “plays against men” in the Finnish Liiga. Kokkonen fits neatly into the Devils blueprint — he’s a very strong skater with a penchant for tape-to-tape stretch, outlet passes. Built like a brick box at 5’11-200, he’s very difficult to beat in puck battles and one of those minute-munching mid-pairing players who simply does everything well.
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