2019 NHL Mock Draft
1. New Jersey Devils - Jack Hughes
This is a no-brainer. With New Jersey, the are holes everywhere and for them it is about taking the best player available. Hughes is a 5’10, 168 lbs centre who could play on the wing as well. He is a crafty playmaker with an elite skating ability, elite hockey sense and elite puck handling ability. With the US U18 National Team he put up 86 points in just 41 games.
NHL Comparison: Mitch Marner
2. New York Rangers - Kaapo Kakko
Another no-brainer for the New York Rangers here as they also have weaknesses everywhere so once again they are selecting best available. Kakko has been the consensus #2 pick all season as his combination of hockey sense, physicality and skill is unmatched and is ready to make the jump straight to the NHL. Is 6’2, 190 lbs and could play at the wing or center. In the Liiga with TPS he put up 38 points in 45 games.
NHL Comparison: Aleksander Barkov
3. Chicago Blackhawks - Bowen Byram
With the picks 3-10 interchangeable, the Blackhawks look to select a defenceman. Byram is the undisputed best defenceman in the draft and could slot into the Blackhawks top 4 almost immediately. While some say the offensive defenceman are forwards just playing defence, with Byram this is not the case. With a 6’1, 192 lbs frame, Byram has the perfect blend of defensive IQ and offensive skill. Playing for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL he put up 71 points in 67 games, 26 of those being goals.
NHL Comparison: Thomas Chabot
4. Colorado Avalanche - Vasili Podkolzin
The playoff bound Colorado Avalanche get the 4th overall pick from the Ottawa Senators from the Duchene trade. And with that pick they should look to the draft Vasili Podkolzin. Podkolzin is a 6’1, 190 lbs goal scoring winger from Russia. In the MHL (KHL’s minor league), he put up 8 points in 12 games but don’t let those numbers fool you. It is not easy to put up points overseas as a 17 year old in a men’s league. Podkolzin is very skilled, isn’t afraid to battle and has that knack for the net.
NHL Comparison: Corey Perry
5. Los Angeles Kings - Alex Turcotte
At the 5th pick, Turcotte is a wildcard as he missed the first portion of the season due to injury. Regardless, scouts are very high on his two way ability, skill and agile skating. He is able to take on defenders 1on1 an beat with a high rate of success. Listed at 5’11, 194 lbs, Turcotte put up 53 points in just 30 games for the US National U18 Team in the USDP. The centre is committed to play at the University of Wisconsin next season
NHL Comparison: Ryan Johansen
6. Detroit Red Wings - Dylan Cozens
The Red Wings are looking to add to their strong prospect pool. Cozens has a nice blend of skill, IQ and vision. He also very well could be the fastest skater in the draft. He is 6’3, 185 lbs and could play at the wing but his size and skill set suggests he could slot into the Sabres 2nd or 3rd line centre spot. He could thread passes and use his speed to blow by defenders. In the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes he put up 84 points in 68 games.
NHL Comparison: Evgeny Kuznetsov
7. Buffalo Sabres - Kirby Dach
With the 7th pick of the draft, the Buffalo Sabres should look to select Kirby Dach from the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. The 6’4, 185 lbs centre put up 73 points in 62 WHL games. Players like him are rare due to his size and puck protection but unmatched vision of the ice. He could score in scrums in front or make that no look feed from the corner. Only glaring issue with is game in consistency. Some nights he looks like a top 3 pick and then the next night he doesn’t stand out.
NHL Comparison: Ryan Getzlaf
8. Edmonton Oilers - Cole Caufield
The Oilers have been a joke this last decade and their franchise player is allegedly unhappy. Cole Caufield may be that winger that he McDavid needs. While drafting Caufield at 8 is a reach, on McDavid’s wing he could potentially turn into a 40-50 goal scorer. He is the most pure goal scorer in the draft. Standing at only 5’7, 157 lbs, Caufield’s physical attributes don’t sound enticing at all but nowadays, skill is valued more that size. Playing on Hughes line, he scored 54 goals in 55 games, good for a 77 point season. He can score goals anyway he wishes. An accurate shot off the rush or he’ll use his quick hands in tight.
NHL Comparison: Cam Atkinson
9. Anaheim Ducks - Peyton Krebs
The Ducks are in a weird spot as they don’t have that great of a prospect pool with a bunch of bad contracts and an aging core. By drafting Peyton Krebs the Kings will have drafted a speedy, crafty playmaker who can play on the wing or at centre. Standing at 5’11 with a 181 lbs frame he may need to get bigger to take his game to the next level but should be a safe pick the Ducks. With a struggling Kootenay Ice team of the WHL, Krebs put up 68 points in just 64 games.
NHL Comparison: Matt Duchene
10. Vancouver Canucks - Peyton Krebs
The Vancouver Canucks should look to the draft Trevor Zegras. He is committed to play at Boston University for next season. Standing at 6’0 with a 192 lbs frame, Zegras can play the centre or on the wing and has mastered the 200-foot game. But don’t let that fool you he has hockey sense as good as anyone and is very skilled. He is versatile and could slot in perfectly on that 2nd line with fellow American Tyler Madden.
NHL Comparison: Sean Couturier
11. Philadelphia Flyers - Matthew Boldy
12. Minnesota Wild - Alexander Newhook
13. Florida Panthers - Victor Soderstrom
14. Arizona Coyotes - Thomas Harley
15. Montreal Canadiens - Raphaël Lavoie
16. Colorado Avalanche - Cam York
17. Vegas Golden Knights - Arthur Kaliyev
18. Dallas Stars - Moritz Seider
19. Ottawa Senators - Philip Broberg
20. Buffalo Sabres - Ryan Suzuki
21. Carolina Hurricanes - Brett Leason
22. New York Rangers - Connor McMichael
23. Pittsburgh Penguins - Samuel Poulin
24. Nashville Predators - Nils Hoglander
25. Los Angeles Kings - Philip Tomasino
26. Calgary Flames - Spencer Knight
27. Tampa Bay Lightning - Ville Heinola
28. New York Islanders - Bobby Brink
29. Washington Capitals - Matthew Robertson
30. Buffalo Sabres - Alex Vlasic
31. Boston Bruins - Nolan Foote
For more check out my website: https://puckprospects.wixsite.com/pucksprospects/nhl-mock-draft
1. New Jersey Devils - Jack Hughes
This is a no-brainer. With New Jersey, the are holes everywhere and for them it is about taking the best player available. Hughes is a 5’10, 168 lbs centre who could play on the wing as well. He is a crafty playmaker with an elite skating ability, elite hockey sense and elite puck handling ability. With the US U18 National Team he put up 86 points in just 41 games.
NHL Comparison: Mitch Marner
2. New York Rangers - Kaapo Kakko
Another no-brainer for the New York Rangers here as they also have weaknesses everywhere so once again they are selecting best available. Kakko has been the consensus #2 pick all season as his combination of hockey sense, physicality and skill is unmatched and is ready to make the jump straight to the NHL. Is 6’2, 190 lbs and could play at the wing or center. In the Liiga with TPS he put up 38 points in 45 games.
NHL Comparison: Aleksander Barkov
3. Chicago Blackhawks - Bowen Byram
With the picks 3-10 interchangeable, the Blackhawks look to select a defenceman. Byram is the undisputed best defenceman in the draft and could slot into the Blackhawks top 4 almost immediately. While some say the offensive defenceman are forwards just playing defence, with Byram this is not the case. With a 6’1, 192 lbs frame, Byram has the perfect blend of defensive IQ and offensive skill. Playing for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL he put up 71 points in 67 games, 26 of those being goals.
NHL Comparison: Thomas Chabot
4. Colorado Avalanche - Vasili Podkolzin
The playoff bound Colorado Avalanche get the 4th overall pick from the Ottawa Senators from the Duchene trade. And with that pick they should look to the draft Vasili Podkolzin. Podkolzin is a 6’1, 190 lbs goal scoring winger from Russia. In the MHL (KHL’s minor league), he put up 8 points in 12 games but don’t let those numbers fool you. It is not easy to put up points overseas as a 17 year old in a men’s league. Podkolzin is very skilled, isn’t afraid to battle and has that knack for the net.
NHL Comparison: Corey Perry
5. Los Angeles Kings - Alex Turcotte
At the 5th pick, Turcotte is a wildcard as he missed the first portion of the season due to injury. Regardless, scouts are very high on his two way ability, skill and agile skating. He is able to take on defenders 1on1 an beat with a high rate of success. Listed at 5’11, 194 lbs, Turcotte put up 53 points in just 30 games for the US National U18 Team in the USDP. The centre is committed to play at the University of Wisconsin next season
NHL Comparison: Ryan Johansen
6. Detroit Red Wings - Dylan Cozens
The Red Wings are looking to add to their strong prospect pool. Cozens has a nice blend of skill, IQ and vision. He also very well could be the fastest skater in the draft. He is 6’3, 185 lbs and could play at the wing but his size and skill set suggests he could slot into the Sabres 2nd or 3rd line centre spot. He could thread passes and use his speed to blow by defenders. In the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes he put up 84 points in 68 games.
NHL Comparison: Evgeny Kuznetsov
7. Buffalo Sabres - Kirby Dach
With the 7th pick of the draft, the Buffalo Sabres should look to select Kirby Dach from the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. The 6’4, 185 lbs centre put up 73 points in 62 WHL games. Players like him are rare due to his size and puck protection but unmatched vision of the ice. He could score in scrums in front or make that no look feed from the corner. Only glaring issue with is game in consistency. Some nights he looks like a top 3 pick and then the next night he doesn’t stand out.
NHL Comparison: Ryan Getzlaf
8. Edmonton Oilers - Cole Caufield
The Oilers have been a joke this last decade and their franchise player is allegedly unhappy. Cole Caufield may be that winger that he McDavid needs. While drafting Caufield at 8 is a reach, on McDavid’s wing he could potentially turn into a 40-50 goal scorer. He is the most pure goal scorer in the draft. Standing at only 5’7, 157 lbs, Caufield’s physical attributes don’t sound enticing at all but nowadays, skill is valued more that size. Playing on Hughes line, he scored 54 goals in 55 games, good for a 77 point season. He can score goals anyway he wishes. An accurate shot off the rush or he’ll use his quick hands in tight.
NHL Comparison: Cam Atkinson
9. Anaheim Ducks - Peyton Krebs
The Ducks are in a weird spot as they don’t have that great of a prospect pool with a bunch of bad contracts and an aging core. By drafting Peyton Krebs the Kings will have drafted a speedy, crafty playmaker who can play on the wing or at centre. Standing at 5’11 with a 181 lbs frame he may need to get bigger to take his game to the next level but should be a safe pick the Ducks. With a struggling Kootenay Ice team of the WHL, Krebs put up 68 points in just 64 games.
NHL Comparison: Matt Duchene
10. Vancouver Canucks - Peyton Krebs
The Vancouver Canucks should look to the draft Trevor Zegras. He is committed to play at Boston University for next season. Standing at 6’0 with a 192 lbs frame, Zegras can play the centre or on the wing and has mastered the 200-foot game. But don’t let that fool you he has hockey sense as good as anyone and is very skilled. He is versatile and could slot in perfectly on that 2nd line with fellow American Tyler Madden.
NHL Comparison: Sean Couturier
11. Philadelphia Flyers - Matthew Boldy
12. Minnesota Wild - Alexander Newhook
13. Florida Panthers - Victor Soderstrom
14. Arizona Coyotes - Thomas Harley
15. Montreal Canadiens - Raphaël Lavoie
16. Colorado Avalanche - Cam York
17. Vegas Golden Knights - Arthur Kaliyev
18. Dallas Stars - Moritz Seider
19. Ottawa Senators - Philip Broberg
20. Buffalo Sabres - Ryan Suzuki
21. Carolina Hurricanes - Brett Leason
22. New York Rangers - Connor McMichael
23. Pittsburgh Penguins - Samuel Poulin
24. Nashville Predators - Nils Hoglander
25. Los Angeles Kings - Philip Tomasino
26. Calgary Flames - Spencer Knight
27. Tampa Bay Lightning - Ville Heinola
28. New York Islanders - Bobby Brink
29. Washington Capitals - Matthew Robertson
30. Buffalo Sabres - Alex Vlasic
31. Boston Bruins - Nolan Foote
For more check out my website: https://puckprospects.wixsite.com/pucksprospects/nhl-mock-draft
