2019 NHL Draft
2019 NHL Mock Draft 3.0 (Round 1)
Steve Kournianos | 5/22/2019 | Nashville | [hupso]
Round 1 (Picks 1-31)
*Draft order as of 5/22/19
New Jersey Devils | Pos. | Team | League | ||
1. Jack Hughes | C | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
50gp-34g-78a-112pts | 5’10, 170 | 5/14/01 | Shoots Left | Orlando, FL | |||||
Not as easy a choice as it may have been a month ago, but the Devils end up taking the center who can make any teammate a scoring threat. Hughes is an elite playmaker and tireless worker who has already won over New Jersey’s giddy fan base. | |||||
New York Rangers | Pos. | Team | League | ||
2. Kaapo Kakko | RW | TPS Turku | Liiga | ||
45gp-22g-16a-38pts | 6’2, 194 | 2/13/01 | Shoots Left | Turku, Finland | |||||
The Rangers get an absolute beast with their highest draft pick in four decades. Kakko toying with adult-age competition the entire season is just the prelude to what should be an all-star career in Manhattan.
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Chicago Blackhawks | Pos. | Team | League | ||
3. Bowen Byram | LHD | Vancouver | WHL | ||
67gp-26g-45a-71pts | 6’0, 193 | 6/13/01 | Shoots Left | Cranbrook, BC | |||||
The best defenseman in his draft class put on a heroic postseason display, spearheading his team to the brink of a Memorial Cup berth and becoming the first blueliner to lead the WHL in playoff scoring. Strong, aggressive and quick in all directions, Byram will be the centerpiece of Chicago’s elite crop of young defenders. | |||||
Colorado Avalanche | Pos. | Team | League | ||
4. Matthew Boldy | LW | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
64gp-33g-48a-81pts | 6’2, 192 | 4/5/01 | Shoots Left | Milford, MA | |||||
It’s only a matter of time before Av’s fans forget about the disappointing draft lottery results, especially if they grab this cerebral two-way winger who is headed to Boston College. Boldy’s size, soft touch and three-zone effort was on full display during his dominant performance at the under-18 world championship. | |||||
Los Angeles Kings | Pos. | Team | League | ||
5. Trevor Zegras | C | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
60gp-26g-61a-87pts | 6’0, 167 | 3/20/01 | Shoots Left | Bedford, NY | |||||
Add this Boston University-bound center to the short list of elite teenage set-up men who are worth the price of admission. Zegras is a phenomenal playmaker with strong balance and the desire to make every shift count. He spent parts of the season playing alongside Hughes, and at times it was Zegras who drove possession. | |||||
Detroit Red Wings | Pos. | Team | League | ||
6. Alex Turcotte | C | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
37gp-27g-35a-62pts | 5’11, 189 | 2/26/01 | Shoots Left | Elk Grove, IL | |||||
Speed, power and skill are things every team would want in a forward, and this turbo-charged center with NHL bloodlines possesses all three and then some. Turcotte, whose father Alfie was a first-round pick of Montreal in the 1980’s, missed a chunk of the early season with a lower-body injury but returned to annihilate both USHL and NCAA competition. | |||||
Buffalo Sabres | Pos. | Team | League | ||
7. Cole Caufield | RW | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
64gp-72g-28a-100pts | 5’7, 162 | 1/2/01 | Shoots Right | Mosinee, WI | |||||
The draft’s premier sniper serves as another reminder that it’s time we go back to the drawing board and redesign the blueprint for the NHL’s prototypical goal scorer. Blessed with speed, incredibly soft hands and a deadly shot-release combination, Caufield obliterated the competition to a tune of an NTDP-record 72 goals, including 11 at the U18 worlds. He’s headed to Wisconsin in the fall. | |||||
Edmonton Oilers | Pos. | Team | League | ||
8. Dylan Cozens | C/W | Lethbridge | WHL | ||
68gp-34g-50a-84pts | 6’3, 181 | 2/9/01 | Shoots Right | Whitehorse, YT | |||||
A hard-working and infectious attitude is just one of several facets of Cozens’ game that makes him the top Canadian-born forward in this draft. His speed and shot allow him to switch between center and wing, and his crash-and-bang style creates turnover after turnover. | |||||
Anaheim Ducks | Pos. | Team | League | ||
9. Philip Broberg | LHD | AIK | Allsvenskan | ||
41gp-2g-7a-9pts | 6’3, 199 | 6/25/01 | Shoots Left | Orebro, Sweden | |||||
A big-bodied puck rusher with excellent speed and a physical component, Broberg is the perfect low-risk, high-reward rearguard for a franchise with two first-rounders and a thinned-out pool of defense prospects. Some feel he’s destined to become a top-pairing NHL defenseman. | |||||
Vancouver Canucks | Pos. | Team | League | ||
10. Vasily Podkolzin | RW | SKA-1946 | MHL | ||
12gp-6g-2a-8pts | 6’1, 190 | 6/24/01 | Shoots Left | Moscow, Russia | |||||
There’s always one high-pedigree prospect who spends most of the year near the top of rankings before slipping on draft day. If it’s Podkolzin, the Canucks should jump at the chance to select a complete 200-foot power winger who dominated several international events and earned adult-league minutes despite not turning 18 until late June. Podkolzin is a workhorse with an advanced hockey IQ who plays with snarl and knocks opponents off their game. | |||||
Philadelphia Flyers | Pos. | Team | League | ||
11. Kirby Dach | C | Saskatoon | WHL | ||
62gp-25g-48a-73pts | 6’4, 199 | 1/21/01 | Shoots Right | Ft. Saskatchewan, AB | |||||
Chuck Fletcher’s first draft as Flyers’ GM isn’t all that critical, as he inherited one of the NHL’s best prospect pools thanks to years of hard work from Ron Hextall and staff. In Dach, he’d be acquiring a playmaking center who can run a power play thanks to his superior vision, long reach and advanced puck-control techniques. | |||||
Minnesota Wild | Pos. | Team | League | ||
12. Peyton Krebs | C | Kootenay | WHL | ||
64gp-19g-49a-68pts | 5’11, 180 | 1/26/01 | Shoots Left | Calgary, AB | |||||
A quick two-way center with character and excellent passing skills, Krebs was Kootenay’s heart and soul before lighting it up for Team Canada at the U18’s. He models his game after Jonathan Toews, who Wild fans are all too familiar with. Krebs gives maximum effort on every shift and is an NHL captian in the making. | |||||
Florida Panthers | Pos. | Team | League | ||
13. Spencer Knight | G | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
39gp, 32-4-0, 2.36 GAA, 913 SV% | 6’3, 192| 4/19/01| Catches Left | Darien, Connecticut | |||||
The critical goaltending situation in South Florida finally came to head in a season where the Panthers simply could not stop opponents from scoring. Although Knight may be years away from backstopping them to success, he has the kind of franchise-carrying potential that easily justifies making him the highest drafted goalie in over a decade. Knight is a fierce competitor and student of the game who gives Florida’s talented farm system a critical dimension moving forward. | |||||
Arizona Coyotes | Pos. | Team | League | ||
14. Raphael Lavoie | RW | Halifax | QMJHL | ||
62gp-32g-41a-73pts | 6’4, 196 | 9/25/00 | Shoots Right | Chambly, QC | |||||
It’s quite surprising that this skilled winger with size and speed didn’t garner as much attention as he deserved, especially after he posted consecutive dominant series during Halifax’s run to the QMJHL finals. Although he’s built like a power forward, Lavoie doesn’t play a menacing game, mostly because he’s rather embarrass opponents with his expert puck handling, deceptive speed and laser shot. | |||||
Montreal Canadiens | Pos. | Team | League | ||
15. Pavel Dorofeyev | LW | Stalnye Lisy | MHL | ||
19gp-17g-14a-31pts | 6’1, 167 | 10/26/00 | Shoots Left | Nizhny Tagil, Russia | |||||
While the draft spotlight remains fixated on centers, it’s easy for one or two slick scorers to slip down multiple draft boards. Dorofeyev may pack a slight frame, but he is an assassin on the puck with exceptional hockey sense that helps him beat you with his passing or shooting. The Canadiens went 10 years without taking a Russian-league prospect until drafting defenseman Alexander Romanov in 2018. I think they make it two in row with Dorofeyev, if he lasts that long. | |||||
Colorado Avalanche | Pos. | Team | League | ||
16. Moritz Seider | RHD | Adler Mannheim | DEL | ||
29gp-2g-4a-6pts | 6’4, 183 | 4/6/01 | Shoots Right | Zeil, Germany | |||||
With the second of their two first rounders, the Av’s would be hitting a home run with this mobile shutdown defender who plays with veteran poise and razor-sharp awareness. Seider not only is Germany’s top defense prospect in NHL draft history, but should become the highest player chosen from a German league since 2001, when Marcel Goc went 21st overall to the Sharks. | |||||
Vegas Golden Knights | Pos. | Team | League | ||
17. Alex Newhook | C | Victoria | BCHL | ||
53gp-38g-64a-102pts | 5’10, 195 | 1/28/01 | Shoots Left | St. Johns, NL | |||||
The top scorer in the BCHL spurned the CHL to maintain his NCAA eligibility for Boston College, which will be getting an elite playmaker with excellent speed and a sniper’s wrist shot. Newhook, who enhanced his draft stock for Canada at the U18’s, is a nice replacement for traded prospect Nick Suzuki on the Golden Knights’ depth chart | |||||
Dallas Stars | Pos. | Team | League | ||
18. Ville Heinola | LHD | Lukko | SM-Liiga | ||
34gp-2g-12a-14pts | 5’11, 178 | 2/3/01 | Shoots Left | Honkajonki, Finland | |||||
When your blueline is patrolled by the likes of John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, it’s understandable if one thinks Dallas is all set in the defenseman department. Outside of Heiskanen, however, the Stars since 2014 have not drafted any other defenseman above the fourth round. Heinola is an outstanding playmaker, puck rusher and power-play quarterback who excelled playing regular minutes in Finland’s elite SM-Liiga. | |||||
Ottawa Senators (CBJ) | Pos. | Team | League | ||
19. Victor Soderstrom | RHD | Brynas | SHL | ||
44gp-4g-3a-7pts | 5’11, 179 | 2/26/01 | Shoots Right | Gavle, Sweden | |||||
A rock on the blue line for Brynas, Soderstrom handled his expanded role against adult-age competition incredibly well while showcasing his breakout abilities and graceful footwork. He’s a very good positional defender, capable of delivering hip checks with authority. The Senators already have blue-chip youngsters on the back end, but none on the right side can move and defend like Soderstrom. | |||||
New York Rangers (WIN) | Pos. | Team | League | ||
20. Cam York | LHD | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
63gp-14g-51a-65pts | 5’11, 175 | 1/5/01 | Shoots Left | Anaheim, CA | |||||
The Rangers for decades have tried (and failed) to find an acceptable replacement for Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch, who was one of the best power-play quarterbacks in NHL history. Although it’s too early to tab him as a future star, York proved he was capable of orchestrating a lethal NTDP power play while handling groups of elite forwards with unselfish play, accurate passes and a quick-strike mentality. | |||||
Pittsburgh Penguins | Pos. | Team | League | ||
21. Ryan Suzuki | C | Barrie | OHL | ||
65gp-25g-50a-75pts | 6’0, 176 | 5/28/01 | Shoots Left | London, ON | |||||
The Penguins are creeping towards that danger zone of becoming too old to contend at the NHL level and not enough bodies, let alone talented ones, in the farm system to facilitate a seamless transition. On the bright side, they will own their highest draft pick in seven years, and selecting a quick playmaker like Suzuki, who isn’t far off from the top tier of draft-eligible set-up men, is a step in the right direction. | |||||
Los Angeles Kings (TOR) | Pos. | Team | League | ||
22. Tobias Bjornfot | LHD | Djugarden J20 | Superelit | ||
39gp-11g-11a-22pts | 6’0 202 | 4/6/01 | Shoots Left | Upplands Vasby, Sweden | |||||
The Kings seem to have their ear to the ground when it comes to Swedish prospects, so it’s a good bet they know about this confident two-way blueliner who distinguished himself as the top defenseman at multiple international tournaments. Bjornfot was Djugardens’ money maker on the back end and can skate nearly as well as Borberg, except the former knows how to maintain a tight gap and distribute the puck unselfishly. | |||||
New York Islanders | Pos. | Team | League | ||
23. Samuel Poulin | LW | Sherbrooke | QMJHL | ||
67gp-29g-47a-76pts | 6’1, 208 | 2/25/01 | Shoots Left | Blainville, QC | |||||
A hard-nosed power winger with agility and high hockey sense, Poulin is versatile to the point where he can impact his shifts whether it’s in a run-and-gun track meet or grind-it-out affair. His style of play falls in line with the types of players traditionally coveted by a Lou Lamoriello-led regime.
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Nashville Predators | Pos. | Team | League | ||
24. Jakob Pelletier | LW | Moncton | QMJHL | ||
65gp-39g-50a-89pts | 5’9, 160 | 3/7/01 | Shoots Left | Quebec, QC | |||||
A lackluster effort in a disappointing opening-round loss to Dallas (in which Rocco Grimaldi was Nashville’s best forward) may necessitate a desire to ice more competitive players. Enter Pelletier, a hard-working winger with a nonstop motor and dynamic traits with the puck. | |||||
Washington Capitals | Pos. | Team | League | ||
25. Arthur Kaliyev | LW | Hamilton | OHL | ||
67gp-51g-51a-102pts | 6’2, 190 | 6/26/01 | Shoots Left | Staten Island, NY | |||||
A deadly goal scorer with the kind of shot that strikes fear into the minds of goalies, Kaliyev smoked the OHL by slinging home 51 goals in a 102-point season for a depleted Hamilton team. Scary to think that this 6-foot-2, 190-pound winger would be receiving tips from Alex Ovechkin. | |||||
Calgary Flames | Pos. | Team | League | ||
26. Thomas Harley | LHD | Mississauga | OHL | ||
68gp-11g-47a-58pts | 6’3, 188| 8/19/01| Shoots Left | Syracuse, NY | |||||
Harley is easily one of the best, if not THE best passer among all draft-eligible defenseman. Practically every dish is served on a silver platter, and from distances both far and near. He is the ideal candidate to run the power play, and his smooth, effortless skating style is reminiscent of a young Alex Pietrangelo, who like Harley was knocked in his draft year for lacking intensity. | |||||
Tampa Bay Lightning | Pos. | Team | League | ||
27. Brett Leason | RW | Prince Albert | WHL | ||
55gp-36g-53a-89pts | 6’4, 200| 4/30/99| Shoots Right | Calgary, AB | |||||
Time to give credit to one of the few draft prospects in recent years to make his date of birth just a bunch of numbers. Leason, a 1999-born power winger, produced a remarkable pre-draft campaign for a powerhouse squad in Prince Albert. He was named to Team Canada’s under-20 world junior team for several reasons, such as his speed, balance, superior penalty killing and playmaking skills. What really makes Leason valuable is his hockey sense — you rarely see him make a mistake with the puck. | |||||
Carolina Hurricanes | Pos. | Team | League | ||
28. John Beecher | C | U.S. U18 | NTDP | ||
63gp-15g-28a-43pts | 6’3, 210 | 4/5/01 | Shoots Left | Elmira, NY | |||||
The resurgent Canes own one of the league’s top prospect pools in addition to posting their best NHL season since 2009, so they can take a gamble on a throwback power center like Beecher, who is a Michigan recruit. He’s a high-flying pivot with a laser shot who is a top penalty killer and hard-hitting presence. He plays a mean, rugged North-South game while toeing the line between physical intimidation and rule breaking. | |||||
Anaheim Ducks (BUF-SJS) | Pos. | Team | League | ||
29. Ilya E. Nikolayev | C | Loko Yaroslval | MHL | ||
41gp-10g-15a-21pts | 6’0, 190 | 6/26/01 | Shoots Left | Yaroslavl, Russia | |||||
The Ducks like two-way forwards who play with a competitve fire, and you can make the argument that Nikolayev is the best European-trained two-way center. Still only 17, Nikolayev is often a mismatch for opposing pivots and uses his sturdy frame to protect the puck effectively. He was Russia’s top-line center and several international competitions. | |||||
St. Louis Blues | Pos. | Team | League | ||
30. Nils Hoglander | RW | Rogle | SHL | ||
50gp-7g-7a-14pts | 5’9, 185 | 12/20/00 | Shoots Left | Bocktrask, Sweden | |||||
A pesky waterbug who consistently plays with intensity, Hoglander earned a job with Rogle after an impressive preseason and stayed there for the duration of the campaign. The Blues have speed and skill in their system, so adding Hoglander’s intangibles provides them with a different option at wing. | |||||
Boston Bruins | Pos. | Team | League | ||
31. Ryan Johnson | LHD | Sioux Falls | USHL | ||
54gp-6g-19a-25pts | 6’0, 173 | 7/24/01 | Shoots Left | Newport Beach, CA | |||||
The Bruins seem set with young defenseman, but Johnson is an effortless skater who can play a physical game under any conditions. He’s consistently earmarked for shutdown duties against opposing top lines, and he was a key cog in Team USA winning gold at the World Jr. “A” Challenge before leading Sioux Falls to a USHL championship. |