There have been some significant changes, starting in my top 3 and including the Rangers sending the Jets back the 20th overall pick, since my last mock draft on June 6.
This is my final projection for the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, barring any major piece of information I come across in the next couple days.
You can also check out my ranking of the draft-eligible players with profiles of all the prospects.
- New Jersey: Jack Hughes, C, USNTDP-USHL
Every indication I’ve received is Hughes will be the Devils’ pick. There might be some minor debate by scouts with other teams about who is the best prospect, but I believe Hughes in New Jersey’s guy.
- New York Rangers: Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS-Liiga
The Rangers will take whichever of Hughes or Kakko are left on the board, and I have not heard of them seriously considering another name.
- Chicago: Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver-WHL
I’m pretty sure my mock will come apart at this pick because I have not been able to nail down Chicago’s preference at all. I’ve heard from sources who say it will for sure be Byram, sources who say it will for sure be Alex Turcotte and the same for Kirby Dach.
- Colorado: Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDP-USHL
The buzz coming out of Colorado is the Avs want to add a top center talent into their organization. They are high on Turcotte and I believe, if Byram goes No. 3, Turcotte’s their guy. If Turcotte goes No. 3, though, I don’t think it’s a guarantee they select Byram, even if that would be the guy I slot to them. I’ve heard they are very high on Dach and Trevor Zegras.
- Los Angeles: Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon-WHL
I have heard Dach and Dylan Cozens as the players the Kings are debating. I think it will be Dach for the upside, but sources are split on which of the two will be the pick for L.A.
- Detroit: Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge-WHL
Detroit has been linked to Dach, Cozens and Vasili Podkolzin. I heard Zegras during the months of April and May, but less so lately. I don’t think Dach gets past the Wings.
- Buffalo: Trevor Zegras, C, USNTDP-USHL
I have heard Cozens and Zegras as the two names rumored to the Sabres, depending on how the top six goes. Teams have speculated the preference is in that order.
- Edmonton: Philip Broberg, D, AIK-Allsvenskan
I think the top seven picks will be the top prospects selected even if I don’t get the order 100 percent right. Pick No. 8 is where the uncertainty starts. Broberg has been the name rumored to the Oilers for the past few weeks even though his name slid a little in the industry the past few months. I’ve heard the Oilers are interested in Cozens here too in case Podkolzin goes to Detroit and Zegras to Buffalo.
- Anaheim: Peyton Krebs, C, Winnipeg-WHL
I know Anaheim was interested in a lot of the Western kids like Dach, Cozens and Krebs. I had Krebs pegged here but the partially torn Achilles injury may scare off the Ducks. I will still slot him here because teams don’t think it will impact his game in any way. If he’s not their pick, I think they go with Matthew Boldy. If Cozens gets this far, I think this is his floor.
- Vancouver: Cole Caufield, RW, USNTDP-USHL
It’s been reported that Vancouver has interest in Zegras, Krebs and Alex Newhook. I believe the Canucks are interested in Caufield. If Broberg gets to No. 10, I think this is his floor.
- Philadelphia: Matthew Boldy, LW, USNTDP-USHL
Philly has been a hard team to get information on. I’ve heard teams speculate Krebs and Boldy here, as well as Victor Soderstrom.
- Minnesota: Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA-VHL
If the draft goes this way, I think Minnesota’s pick comes down to Podkolzin or goaltender Spencer Knight. I believe they like Knight, so if Podkolzin goes before this slot, it could lead to the goalie landing with the Wild.
- Florida: Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim-DEL
Seider, Soderstrom and Thomas Harley are the names I’ve heard Florida is in on. Seider seems to be the name trending up the most among teams I’m talking to; he may even go higher than this but I haven’t heard of a specific team attached to him higher than No. 13.
- Arizona: Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton-OHL
Teams have speculated Arizona is looking to talent up front and particularly a goal-scorer such as Kaliyev. I believe, if Podkolzin gets this far, this is where he stops .
- Montreal: Cam York, D, USNTDP-USHL
The names linked to the Habs are York, Lassi Thomson and Soderstrom, to a lesser degree. I’ve also heard Jackson Lacombe linked to them, but that might be more of a second-round target. If Caufield somehow gets this far, I think this is his floor, but otherwise I think the Habs are taking a defenseman.
- Colorado: Spencer Knight, G, USNTDP-USHL
Knight feels like a logical landing spot for the Avs given their need for a top goalie prospect and how high the NHL scouting industry is right now on Knight. If Turcotte goes No. 3, though, and the Avs get Byram at No. 4, they might not be as likely to add a goalie instead of a center like Alex Newhook or Ryan Suzuki.
- Vegas: Alex Newhook, C, Victoria-BCHL
I’ve heard from more teams that have Newhook top 10 than outside the top 15, so him getting to No. 17 is not a guarantee. I could see Suzuki as Vegas’ pick if Newhook is gone by this point.
- Dallas: Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas-SHL
I’ve heard from a source who claimed there’s no way Soderstrom gets past Dallas. I’ve also heard from another source there’s no way Raphael Lavoie gets past Dallas. Nobody told me what happens if both are there! Soderstrom seems to be a stronger rumor and there’s more momentum for him generally, so I think that’s the safer bet.
- Ottawa: Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga-OHL
Ottawa’s system has high-end prospects at each position except goalie (but it has some talent there, too), so best player available is the best route, and Harley is the best player available in the industry at this point. Knight could be a good landing spot if he manages to get to No. 19.
- Winnipeg: Ville Heinola, D, Luukko-Liiga
It’s not a typical Jets pick, as they have opted for more size in recent years, but the rationale for Heinola is that they haven’t used a true high pick on a puck-moving defenseman in a few years. Lavoie and Harley, if available, would be more par for the course if the Jets stick to their more recent drafting trends.
- Pittsburgh: Tobias Bjornfot, D, Djuargarden-J20 SuperElit
The Penguins need everything, be it forward or defense, in the pipeline, so the most talented player should be their pick. Teams have speculated they are in on the two European defensemen in Bjornfot and Heinola. Bjornfot has some momentum right now following his strong U18s; I’ve heard of a few teams slotting him in the top 20.
- Los Angeles: Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City-USHL
Brink to the Kings was speculated by some other teams. It would be a pick against their typical drafting tendencies for size, though.
- New York Islanders: Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara-OHL
I had Tomasino mocked at No. 20 to the Rangers in my previous mock (and that would have been my pick again prior to the Jacob Trouba trade) so as a result of the trade, Tomasino gets to No. 23. He ticks a lot of boxes in terms of the skill the Islanders look for and what they need in a top center.
- Nashville: Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie-OHL
Nashville has a thin system and is in need of talent, particularly help down the middle for the farm system. If Tomasino and Suzuki are there at No. 23, I think it would make the Predators’ lives simple.
- Washington: Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax-QMJHL
Lavoie could go earlier than this, but if he gets this far, Washington would likely be happy. Lavoie has appeal as a late 2000 birth date with one year left of junior who could be two years away to help extend the contending window of a team like Washington – or Pittsburgh earlier.
- Calgary: Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton-WHL
The name I’ve heard with Calgary the most is the big rearguard from the Oil Kings. There’s a part of me that wonders if it’s legit, given how many young defensemen are already in the Flames’ system, but at this point of the draft, there are never firm rumors. I’ve also heard Brayden Tracey mentioned here.
- Tampa Bay: Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton-QMJHL
Pelletier and Tracey are the two names I’ve heard speculated as Tampa’s pick. I think, looking at their system, they could really use a puck-moving defenseman like Thomson or Ryan Johnson, but I haven’t heard any defensemen mentioned to the Bolts.
- Carolina: Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle-SHL
Tom Dundon has made it clear he wants to draft a forward in the first round, and he wants that player to deliver some fun. Hoglander is very fun, and a forward, so he checks off those boxes.
- Anaheim: Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls-USHL
Johnson to the Ducks is something I’ve heard for about a month, which I’m not sure is an actual team interest rather than people pushing a human-interest story as he’s a local California kid. Regardless, he ended his season very well and I’ve heard teams with higher draft slots have interest in him.
- Boston: Jayden Struble, D, St. Sebastian’s School-U.S. High School
Struble to the Bruins and, in general, in the first round was a rumor that emerged in the past few weeks, but I do hear there’s serious momentum for him right now in this range of the draft.
- Buffalo: Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna-WHL
Teams have speculated the Sabres would have interest in adding skill on the back end given their organizational need, which Thomson would be the best player in fit and talent. I’ve also heard teams speculate their interest in Heinola.
(Top graphic: The Athletic)
