2019 NHL 1st Round Mock Draft
If noted hockey philosopher Yogi Berra (who was a big hockey fan) was alive today, he would deem the 2019 NHL Draft to be a case of deja vu all over again – harkening back to the 2016 Draft.
Both drafts featured the dashing high-scoring American center and the flourishing Finnish RW. In 2016, the names were Austen Matthews and Patrik Laine. In 2019, the names are Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko.
The big difference is in 2016 we were certain that it would be Matthews and Laine in that order. In 2019, we are not as sure that it will be the American and then the Finn. Kakko’s rise up the draft charts has put a pause in the #LoseForHughes cause and spurred on the #CrappoForKaapo movement. With the 1st overall pick in 2017 in tow, Devils GM Ray Shero might decide to draft Kakko because of potential contract difficulties with Taylor Hall.
The likelihood is that the Devils organization connection to the USNTDP and Shero’s personal connection to the Hughes family (he was the agent for Jim Hughes, Jack’s dad back in the day) will see a repeat of the 2016 Draft.
Shero might play a big part in the 2019 Draft beyond kicking things off with the 1st overall selection. The Devils have 10 picks in the Draft including three in the second round (including pick #34) and a pair in the third round. Shero can use those extra picks to navigate his team back into the first round to add to the Hughes bounty.
The New York Rangers are another team to keep an eye on in terms of draft day deals. After trading the 20th overall pick back to Winnipeg GM Jeff Gorton might dangle his pair of 2nd round picks and a veteran or two for the chance to jump back into the 1st round. TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted that Pavel Buchnevich, Chris Kreider, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Jimmy Vesey are all in play.
Count Detroit’s Steve Yzerman among those who also might be busy. In addition to the 6th overall pick, the Red Wings own three 2nd round picks and Stevie Wonder could look to make a splash in return to Motown.
The one thing we are certain of is that business will pick up once we get to the third overall pick in the Draft. The Chicago Blackhawks have the third overall pick and a decision to make. Do they zero in on one of the elite centers still on the board or do they follow their precedent from 2017 (Henri Jokiharju) and 2018 (Adam Boquist and Nicolas Beaudoin) and draft another defenseman in the first round?
Each draft pick lists the Central Scouting (CS) ranking {which is broken down by North American skaters (NA), European skaters (E), North American Goalies (NA-G) and European Goalies (E-G)}, the ranking by McKeen’s (McK) and the ranking by The Hockey News (THN) along with THN’s best case scenario for their first 62 players.
1. NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Jack Hughes (C)
CS: # 1NA – McK: # 1 – THN: # 1 (Patrick Kane)
Hughes or Kakko, the Devils can’t lose. Given the connections the Devils have with Hughes in terms of their relationship with the USNTDP and the relationship GM Ray Shero has with the Hughes family (he was the agent for Jack’s father Jim), Hughes seems to be the fit for the Devils. He will give the team a dynamic 1-2 punch at center with former 1st overall pick Nico Hischier.
2. NEW YORK RANGERS – Kaapo Kakko (RW)
CS: # 1E – McK: # 2 – THN: # 2 (Mikko Rantanen)
Kakko or Hughes, the Rangers can’t lose. He proved that this boy could play among men setting a record for U-18 players in Finland’s top league and bypassed the WU-18 tournament to play in the World Championships and scored six goals in nine games. The Rangers rebuild gets a great building block.
3. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Alex Turcotte (C)
CS: # 4NA – McK: # 7 – THN: # 10 (Brayden Point)
This is where the NHL Draft machinations start. Chicago has a couple of centers they can choose from or they can continue to add to their blue line corps. In the end, they go with Chicago-area Turcotte who father Alfie played 112 NHL games and scored 17 goals and 29 assists – numbers his son is sure to pass in his rookie season. He averaged nearly two points per game as the number two center behind Jack Hughes with the USNTDP.
4. COLORADO AVALANCHE – Kirby Dach (C)
CS: # 3NA – McK: # 4 – THN: # 4 (David Krejci)
The Avs are another team that could go the Bowen Byram way and dazzle the NHL with Byram and Cale Makar. Toss in Conor Timmins and you see why I think Joe Sakic goes for one of the young centers. Dach checks all the boxes skill-wise to be a top center and he has the added bonus of having an NHL-ready body at 6-4/200.
5. LOS ANGELES KINGS – Bowen Byram (D)
CS: # 2NA – McK: # 3 – THN: # 6 (Morgan Rielly)
The Kings will be the team that bites on Byram as they plan for the days when Drew Doughty is gone. The Kings top four prospects are all forwards so the high-scoring d-man makes a perfect addition. Byram saw his point totals jump from 27 in his rookie year in the WHL to 71 last year.
6. DETROIT RED WINGS – Vasili Podkolzin (RW)
CS: # 2E – McK: # 11 – THN: # 5 (Evander Kane)
Steve Yzerman returns home to Motown and looks to stamp his imprint on the franchise. Lots of centers still abound, but it would not surprise me to see Yzerman turn to roots of Red Wings heyday that were powered by the Russian Five. McK calls him “the epitome of a five-tools player.” There are questions as to when Podkolzin will leave Russia to play in the NHL. Yzerman has the time to wait a couple of years and Detroit has the cache (and cash) and connections in Russia to bring him over to the NHL.
7. BUFFALO SABRES – Cole Caufield (RW)
CS: # 8NA- McK: # 13 – THN: # 9 (Alex DeBrincat)
Another team that could look to partake of the depth at center, but the idea of Caufield patrolling Jack Eichel’s RW is too enticing to pass up. The 5-7/157 Caufield owes the Likes of Alex DeBrincat and Mats Zuccarello a root beer for helping paving the way for a player his size to thrive and survive in the NHL.
8. EDMONTON OILERS – Trevor Zegras (C)
CS: # 6NA – McK: # 6 – THN: # 7 (Tyler Seguin)
Zegras is an example of how deep the USNTDP was because he was the third line center behind Hughes and Turcotte – although Zegras did step up when Alex was hurt. Zegras gives the Oilers a potent one-two punch down the middle with all –world Connor McDavid.
9. ANAHEIM DUCKS – Dylan Cozens (C)
CS: # 5NA – McK: # 5 – THN: # 3 (Ryan Getzlaf)
With the two Ryans (Getzlaf and Kesler) nearing the ends of their respective careers, the Ducks will look to the next generation of centers to lead them forward. Cozens has the size to match the two Ryans and could get into action sooner rather than later based on his ability to also play RW.
10. VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Matthew Boldy (LW)
CS: # 9NA – McK: # 12 – THN: # 8 (James Neal)
It is kind of hard to imagine it, but McK is right when they say Boldy got lost in the amazing offensive numbers Hughes (34-78-112) and Caufield (72-28-100) put up for the USNTP. However, Boldy’s numbers were nothing to sneeze at (33-48-81).
11. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Peyton Krebs (C)
CS: # 10NA – McK: # 8 – THN: # (Matthew Barzal)
Krebs is a wildcard in the Draft because of his recent Achilles injury which will cost him training camp and part of the season. Still, the Flyers are a deep organization prospect-wise so they can afford to wait an extra year. Krebs won praise for captaining a subpar Kootenay team that is leaving to play in Winnipeg this coming season.
12. MINNESOTA WILD – Alex Newhook (C)
CS: # 13NA – McK: # 18 – THN: # 15 (Brayden Point)
Newhook will be joining Matthew Boldy at Boston College. Some criticized his numbers (38-64-102) because he played Jr. A hockey in the BCHL – which is the top Jr. A league – as opposed to playing in Major Juniors. He has the ability to be a higher pick, but he is at the tailed among the centers because of his size (5-11/190).
13. FLORIDA PANTHERS – Victor Soderstrom (D)
CS: # 3E – McK: # 10 – THN: # 12 (Duncan Keith)
This could be a spot for Spencer Knight, but with UFA rumors swirling that Sergei Bobrovsky will be heading south for the Winter (possibly bringing Artemi Panarin with him), but the Duncan Keith comparison will hit home with GM Dale Tallon. As a 17/18-year-old, he was seeing major minutes in the Swedish Elite League,
14. ARIZONA COYOTES – Arthur Kaliyev (RW)
CS: # 7NA – McK: # 21 – THN: # 18 (Patrik Laine)
Born in Uzbekistan, Kaliyev moved to Staten Island when he was two. He showed the natural progression you want to see out of a player. In rookie year in the OHL, he scored 31 goals and 17 assists. Last year those totals were raised to 51 goals and 51 assists. One scout told THN, “He’s maybe the purest goal-scorer in the entire draft.”
15. MONTREAL CANADIENS – Raphael Lavoie (RW)
CS: # 20NA – McK: # 14 – THN: # 14 (Alex Tuch)
Lavoie fits the bills of being a homegrown player from Montreal. While his numbers didn’t much of a jump from last year to this year (63 to 73), he saved his best for the QMJHL playoffs. Lavoie roared to life with 20 goals and 12 assists in 23 playoff games and added two goals and an assist in four Memorial Cup games.
16. COLORADO AVALANCHE – Spencer Knight (G)
CS: # 1NA-G – McK: # 32- THN: # 19 (Tuuka Rask)
I know the conventional wisdom abhors the idea of taking a goalie in the 1st round unless he is a special talent – and Knight is. It also doesn’t hurt that the Avs have two 1st round picks. The 6-3/200 goalie is yet another recruit for Boston College. One scout told THN, “I don’t know what tools goaltenders need that this guy doesn’t have.”
17. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Cam York (D)
CS: # 12NA – McK: # 17 – THN: # 16 (Torey Krug)
Welcome to the NHL Cam York. In a league that favors puck moving skills with skating ability, York can overcome any reservations about his size (5-11/176). With Vegas sending Erik Brannstrom to Ottawa in the Mark Stone deal, York helps bring some of the same attributes back to the Vegas organization.
18. DALLAS STARS – Ville Heinola (D)
CS: # 4E – McK: # 37 – THN: # 20 (Miro Heiskanen)
Who better to draft a player that one scout (to the THN) called him a “poor man’s Miro Heiskanen.” Heinola is another “undersized” d-man (5-11/176) who has a chance to make a big name in the new NHL.
19. OTTAWA SENATORS – Ryan Suzuki (C)
CS: # 18NA – McK: # 22 – THN: # 17 (Matt Duchene)
Speaking of former Vegas draft picks, Ryan is the brother of former Vegas draft pick, and current Montreal prospect, Nick Suzuki. It is entirely possible that the Habs could reunite the Suzuki brothers. His numbers and overall play suffered as he played for a rebuilding Barrie team in the OHL, but Suzuki brings big-time playmaking skills.
20. WINNIPEG JETS – Moritz Seider (D)
CS: # 6E – McK: # 15 – THN: # 22 (Marc-Edouard Vlasic)
It turns out that the Rangers were just renting this pick from the Jets. Interestingly enough, the Jets trade Jacob Trouba and end up with the opportunity to draft his replacement – albeit a few years down the line. The right-handed shooter is 6-4/200 and is a mobile puck mover. He captained Germany’s U-20 team back to main WJC for 2020. He played major minutes as an 18-year-old in the top German league, but he is going to need time to develop.
21. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Thomas Harley
(D) CS: # 11NA – McK: # 24 – THN: # 13 (Alex Pietrangelo)
The Syracuse, NY native was born to Canadian parents and represents Canada internationally. He is a solid two-way defenseman who elevated his play after his Junior team were sellers. Harley is developing his offensive game and had a strong showing at the WU-18 tournament.
22. LOS ANGELES KINGS – Philip Broberg (D)
CS: # 5E – McK: # 9 – THN: # 21 (Rasmus Ristolainen)
Broberg brings NHL size (6-3/203) to a package that includes a good hockey IQ and skating ability. He is not as developed as fellow Swede Tommy Soderstrom. His draft status and play seemed to lag after he was hit by a flu bug while a member of the Swedish WJC team.
23. NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Samuel Poulin (LW)
CS: # 22NA – McK: # 23 – THN: # 23 (Dustin Brown)
Poulin is the kind of player Isles GM Lou Lamoriello loved when he was the GM of the Devils. At 6-1/207, Poulin is a power forward whose offense picked up from 45 points as a QMJHL rookie to 76 points last season. His father Patrick played in 634 NHL games and was a similar type of player.
24. NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Jakub Pelletier (LW)
CS: # 27NA – McK: # 43 – THN: # 25 (Yanni Gourde)
Unless you are a dynamic offensive threat (see Cole Caufield), lack of size can still be a detriment. If Pelletier were bigger than 5-9/161 he would easily be in the top half of this Draft. He is a smart player with good hockey sense and is steady in all three zones. Saw his point totals increase from 61 to 89 and has shown the ability to score at each level he has played.
25. WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Egor Afansayev (RW)
CS: # 16NA – McK: # 36 – THN: # 34 (Jamie Benn)
While Alex Ovechkin might be a machine, eventually he will wear down. Afansayev would be a nice replacement part to have in reserve. At 6-3/203, he has the physical presence and ability to be a power forward in the NHL. His future is up in the air after originally committing to Michigan State and then decommitting. His Junior rights were traded to Windsor from Ottawa. It is expected that he will follow his NHL team’s advice as to which road to take.
26. CALGARY FLAMES – Connor McMichael (C)
CS: # 24NA – McK: # 28- THN: # 24 (Mika Zibanejad)
If Spencer Knight were to drop this far, I would expect the Flames to sprint to the podium to draft him. With that unlikely, the Flames draft McMichael who was a teammate of Columbus 1st round pick Liam Foudy. McMichael led London in scoring, besting Foudy by four points.
27. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – Vladislav Kolyachonok (D)
CS: # 31NA – McK: # 52 – THN: # 30 (Ivan Provorov)
The Lightning face the possible loss of three UFA d-men this year with only Cal Foote on the horizon. Kolyachonok was set to be a teammate of McMichael in Juniors, but London brought in 2018 1st rounder Adam Boqvist and 2019 draft prospect Matvei Guskov. Vlad finally ended up playing for a struggling Flint team, but he showed an ability to play PP, PK as well 5v5.
28. CAROLINA HURRICANES – Philip Tomasino (C)
CS: # 14NA – McK: # 20 – THN: # 41 (Ondrej Palat)
With Jordan Staal getting on in years, the Hurricanes will need to look to give Martin Necas some help in the pivot. Tomasino is not as big as Staal (6-0/181) and needs to work on getting stronger, you can’t hit what you can’t catch. His hands and his puckhandling skills are able to keep up with his speed.
29. ANAHEIM DUCKS – Ryan Johnson (D)
CS: # 33NA – McK: # 25 – THN: # 29 (Kris Letang)
Ryan’s father Craig played 557 games in the NHL (75-98-173) mostly with the L.A. Kings – although Pops did play 39 games for Anaheim. Craig coached his son’s high school team in California and Ryan spent three years for the, wait for it, Anaheim Jr. Ducks program. His game is built on being an outstanding skater which allows to excel in transition.
30. BOSTON BRUINS– Brayden Tracey (LW)
CS: # 21NA – McK: # 47- THN: # 40 (Jake Guentzel)
Tracey was named the WHL Rookie of the Year thanks to his 36 goals and 45 assists. He has the ability to handle the puck well. He still needs to use the body more and the big test will be this coming season because his two regular linemates (both 100-point players) will graduate from the WHL.
31. BUFFALO SABRES – Bobby Brink (RW)
CS: # 19NA – McK: # 33 – THN: # 27 (Jake Guentzel)
Brink is not the biggest player (5-10/165) and he is not the fastest player in the USHL, but he was the most productive as he averaged 1.58 points per game and would have likely led the USHL in scoring if injuries didn’t limit him to 43 games. What he lacks in size and speed he makes up for with hockey IQ and determination. He is one of those players that the puck almost always seems to find.
rangerramblings 