2019 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft, Odds, and Betting Predictions
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David Bastl
For a fourth consecutive year a non-Canadian player will be selected first in the upcoming NHL Draft. Connor McDavid (2015) was the last Canadian born player to go number one, and this year it is all about Jack Hughes (USA) and Kappo Kakko (Finland) battling for the top two spots.
Hughes leads an American group of prospects that could dominate the early first round. Some insiders are predicting that as many as 10 US-born players will be selected within the first round.
“When I saw him (Hughes) last July, on the ice, with some of the top players in the game, including Taylor Hall, (John) Tavares and Connor McDavid, he was very much at their pace in terms of his passes, making plays, executing his shot. It was impressive to see how he could keep up with that group.” stated NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr to the media leading up to Friday’s draft.
Hughes registered 112 points in 50 games this season to establish a new National Team Development Program record of 228 points in a two-season career.
Kaapo Kakko has the makings to be the next great Finnish-born player. This past season he dominated Finland’s top men’s professional hockey league in the country, and his play continued through the World Championship. Kakko was the youngest player (18) on the HC TPS roster and led the team in goals (22) and game-winning goals (seven), and finished second in average ice time (18:11) among forwards.
“The last player to have the type of impact Kaapo had for us at HC TPS this season was probably Saku Koivu in the early ’90s,” TPS director of hockey operations and former NHL goalie Antero Niittymaki said. “I think Kaapo is also right there with other players who starred in Liiga before getting drafted like Aleksander Barkov, Patrik Laine, and Sebastian Aho.”
Here’s a look at Sports Interaction’s 2019 NHL Mock Draft based on our Line Management team’s odds and research:
NHL Mock Draft
1. New Jersey Devils C- Jack Hughes (USA) USNTDP
Hughes’ game is built for today’s NHL. Hughes would be the smallest first overall pick since Patrick Kane, as has been compared to the NHL all-star. The two played together for the United States at the World Championship. Hughes is a franchise-changing center.
2. New York Rangers RW- Kaapo Kakko (Fin) HC TPS Finland
Kakko thrives in the offensive zone. He’ll be a top-six forward the minute he arrives on Broadway. The future is bright for this 18 year explosion.
4. Colorado Avalanche D- Bowen Byram (Can) WHL
The best defenceman in this year’s draft. There’s certainly a lot to like about Byram, he’s a pretty complete package in that he can make plays in all zones. Last season he had a a league-leading 26 goals, and 71 points with the Vancouver Giants.
5. Los Angeles Kings C/RW- Dylan Cozens (Can) WHL
Not many NHL players come from an area of Canada that includes the Arctic Circle, but Dylan Cozens will be the exception. The 6-foot-3 center from Yukon Territory plays for Lethbridge in the Western League. In 68 games, he had 34 goals and 84 points, which was tied for 10th in the league. He also served as an alternate captain for Team Canada at the Under-18 World Championships in Russia.
6. Detroit Red Wings C- Kirby Dach (Can) WHL
This 6-foot-4 centre comes as advertised. He is the third ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting’s rankings. Last season, the captain of the Saskatoon Blades registered 25 goals and 48 assists in 68 games.
7. Buffalo Sabres RW- Cole Caufield (USA) USNTDP
Despite being undersized (5-foot-7), Caufield is regarded as the best goal scorer in this draft thanks to elite offensive sense, good timing and a deadly accurate shot. He scored 14 goals in only 7 games at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
8. Edmonton Oilers C- Trevor Zegras (USA) USNTDP
Zegras has been rated the best pure playmaker in the draft and can play either center or wing. He will not fall out of the top 10.
9. Anaheim Ducks LW- Matthew Boldy (USA) USNTDP
The 6-foot-2, 192lb left winger is coming off an 81 point season with the U.S National U18 team in the USDP. He is confident when the puck is in his possession and is very creative in the offensive zone.
10. Vancouver Canucks C/LW- Peyton Krebs (Can) WHL
Krebs has alot of offensive upside and speed to burn. Not only was he the captain of his WHL team, he was also named captain of Team Canada’s U18 team at World Juniors. However, he suffered a torn Achilles during off-season training which may affect where he’s drafted.
11. Philadelphia Flyers D- Philip Broberg (Swe)
Great size, speed, and raw talent. Broberg showcased well at the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. At age 17 there is plenty of time for him to fill out his frame.
12. Minnesota Wild RW- Vasili Podkolzin (Rus)
The draft’s top Russian, Podkolzin is a finisher with a ton of speed and defensive ability. However he is under contract with SKA Saint Petersburg through the 2020–21 season.
13. Florida Panthers D- Victor Soderstrom (Swe)
He’s a right-handed, puck-moving defenseman who initiates quick transitions and uses his top-tier vision in all three zones of the ice.
14. Phoenix Coyotes C- Alex Newhook (Can) BCHL
The poor BCHL was really no match for Newhook this season. The Grizzlies captain crushed the league for 102 points in 53 games. Newhook has been compared to Matt Duchene.
15. Montreal Canadiens D- Cam York (USA) USNTDP
A leader on the USNTDP’s power play, York finished the 2019 WJC with the fifth-most points by a defenseman in the tournament’s history.
16. Colorado Avalanche G- Spencer Knight (USA) USNTDP
Slated to become the third goalie taken in the first round since 2015, Knight will have time to develop into a starting goaltender. He had an impressive 32-4-1 record with the USNTDP. He is likely to be the only goaltender drafted in the first round.
17. Vegas Golden Knights LW- Arthur Kaliyev (USA) OHL
The 17-year-old for the Hamilton Bulldogs had a monster year in the OHL with 51 goals and 51 assists. The next closest player had almost 30 fewer points. He was one of the OHL’s best 5-on-5 point-getters of 2018.
18. Dallas Stars C/RW- Raphael Lavoie (Can) QMJHL
The winner of the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL’s best pro prospect, a 6-foot-4, 198-pounder, played all three forward positions this season and excelled in the Q. He tallied 32 goals and 73 points, with a plus-36 rating in 62 games.
19. Ottawa Senators D- Moritz Seider (Ger)
Seider did it all this past season. He was named rookie of the year, claimed a DEL championship, and then suited up for his home country at the World Championship. He is built like a pro already, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at over 200 pounds.
20. Winnipeg Jets D- Thomas Harley (Can) OHL
The Steelheads rearguard finished eighth among OHL defensemen with 11 goals and 58 points. Harley was named the 2018-19 winner of the Bobby Smith trophy, presented annually to the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins C- Ryan Suzuki (Can) OHL
Two years ago in Chicago, Ryan Suzuki watched his older brother Nick picked in the NHL draft. He outscored his brother’s rookie season and was productive as a sophomore, recording 25 goals and 75 points on a Barrie team that missed the post-season.
22. Los Angeles Kings D- Ville Heinola (Fin) Fin
Heinola is a smart puck-moving defenceman who played pro hockey last year in the Finnish SM-liiga and was a member of the Gold Medal-winning Finnish team at the World Juniors.
23. New York Islanders C- Philip Tomasino (Can) OHL
He seems to have few weaknesses and while he might not have any elite skills, his well-roundedness makes Tomasino a total package. He was a point-per-game player in the OHL.
24. Nashville Predators C- Bobby Brink (USA) USHL
Brink had a hand in 50 percent of all of his team’s goals last season. He’s ranked 19th among North American skaters, and has been compared to Bruins sniper David Pastrnak.
25. Washington Capitals LW- Pavel Dorofeyev (Rus) Rus
Dorofeyev is a very creative winger. He has outstanding hands and is very difficult to defend in one-on-one situations, both off the rush and in the cycle game. He can also play either wing positions.
26. Calgary Flames D- Matthew Robertson (Can) WHL
Robertson competed with Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, putting up four points in five games en route to a gold medal win. Robertson is the 26th-ranked North American skater. At 6-foot-4, 195lbs he is still growing into his frame.
27. Tampa Bay Lightning LW- Samuel Poulin (Can) QMJHL
Poulin is not a flashy player, but plays solid two-way game. The winger could realistically be the best QMJHL player in this draft class. He is the type of player that organizations identify as having an already pro-ready game.
28. Carolina Hurricanes LW- Jakob Pelletier (Can) QMJHL
One scout described Pelletier as “Lightning quick hands, tight edges, and a flair for the dramatic. Despite his size, he’s not afraid to cut into the dirty area of the rink. Already a deft two-way threat and can play all three forward positions.”
29. Anaheim Ducks D- Alex Vlasic (USA) USNTDP
At 6-foot-6, Vlasic’s height is his biggest asset. Vlasic is a bit raw and in need of refinement but is surprising mobility given that size. He’s one of the better pure defenders the program has had, but by NHL standards, will be a project.
30. Boston Bruins LW-Nils Höglander (Swe) Swe
Höglander is undersized at just 5-foot-9, but is fearless on the ice. He likes to get his nose dirty in front of the net, and he loves to throw big open ice hits. Höglander is projected to be a top-nine forward for an NHL club.
31. Buffalo Sabres LW- Nicholas Robertson (USA) OHL
Robertson had a strong second season in the OHL. He put up 27 goals and 28 assists for 55 points in 51 games for the Peterborough Petes. A native of Arcadia, California, Robertson played for Team USA at last summer’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, putting up a goal and four assists for five points in five tournament games.