Welcome to the Blueshirts Breakaway 2019 NHL Mock Draft, which serves as the culmination of the draft prospect research and analysis that Drew Way, George Obremski and Rich Coyle have been conducting all season. Before we get to the actual mock draft, we need to lay out the methodology behind it. In this mock draft WE ARE NOT stating that each pick is what we believe each team will do. None of us are insiders, so it would be a completely futile effort to attempt to project what each team will do. While it may be fun to look at a team from afar and pretend like you have the ability to project what the team will do based on how you perceive their situation to be, fact of the matter is that when it comes to sports franchises, particularly those in the NHL, fan perception is often the furthest thing from the reality of the situation.
Instead, in this mock draft Drew, George and Rich act as if they are the GMs of each team that they are making their pick for, and make the selection based off of what they personally would do. So, if you have an issue with a pick one of us made because you personally would have gone with a different player, please feel free to let us know, we always enjoy engaging with readers about prospect analysis and rankings. Prospect analysis is far from a perfect science, and in many (perhaps most) of the situations there are multiple players that serve as a suitable selection for a team. However, if you take issue with a pick because you believe that particular team wouldn’t take a player for *insert a speculative reason that really only members within the organization know*, well to be perfectly blunt, we don’t really care, because that is not the purpose of this exercise. If you’d like to know how each of the writers values the prospects, please reference our final draft prospect rankings that we published a couple of weeks ago.
In the mock draft, the three writers take turns making selections, with the order of George, Drew then Rich. We more or less maintain the same order throughout both rounds of this two-round mock draft; however, for the sake of having a bit of fun and ensuring each of us got to make a selection for our beloved Rangers, we played with the order in a couple instances just to force it so that each got at least one Rangers selection. To be as transparent as possible, each pick writeup concludes with the individual who made the selection. Further, because we are all Rangers fans and want our voices heard regarding what we’d want the team to do at each slot, each prospect analyst also weighs in with their thoughts on each of the selections.
We also make each pick for each team in their current draft slots, and do not consider trades. While it is a near certainty that there will be a number of trades in the draft this year, it is a fruitless effort to try and predict where they will occur, so we are sticking to who we would select in each draft slot as the draft order currently lies. For reference, this piece was published on June 18, so any trades made after this date are not reflected.
With all that said, below are the picks for each team throughout the first two rounds of the 2018 NHL draft. Each writer provides a bit of analysis for their thoughts behind each pick. All prospect demographic and team information is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
*Editor’s Note – This mock draft was created prior to the Jacob Trouba trade. We’ve adjusted the 20th pick to the Winnipeg selection, but it was too late to adjust any of the analysis*
Round 1
1. New Jersey Devils – Jack Hughes | C, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Still the top prospect in this year’s draft despite Kakko’s insane season in Liiga & International play. Hughes has the elite package of skating, passing, vision, etc. While he might not make the greatest impact in his first year, he will probably have the best career in this draft class. – George
2. New York Rangers – Kaapo Kakko | RW, TPS (Liiga) – Does there really need to be anything said here? For as much as I love Turcotte, Byram and Zegras, this draft has a clear top-tier of 2—Hughes and Kakko—and the Rangers will happily select whomever the Devils do not. Kakko is an absolute force across all areas of the ice and in my opinion falls into the tier of potential franchise-altering prospects. – Drew
With the Rangers 2nd overall pick, they should pick whoever the New Jersey Devils don’t pick. This is probably the easiest pick in the draft and it would be really hard to mess this up as Hughes and Kakko are franchise players that could change the course of a rebuild. – George
If it is anything but Hughes or Kakko here, I am starting a riot. That is all that needs to be said. – Rich
3. Chicago Blackhawks – Alex Turcotte | C, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – The Blackhawks grab the most complete player in the draft in Turcotte, who could eventually replace Jonathan Toews one day. Has the potential to be an ELITE centerman. A match made in heaven for the Blackhawks and the Illinois native. – Rich
4. Colorado Avalanche – Dylan Cozens | C/RW, Lethbridge (WHL) – Closer to the NHL than most think, Cozens might get a spot this season but it would probably be better for his development to take a year in the WHL. Eventually could be the 2C behind MacKinnon and would provide a lethal 1-2 punch down the middle for Colorado. – George
5. Los Angeles Kings – Trevor Zegras | C, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Trevor Zegras is a dynamic playmaker who in in the argument with only Jack Hughes for the most creative and effective passer in this draft class. His vision is unbelievable and he has precision execution, and he also is an underrated two-way player with a bit of a mean streak that I believe will help Kings fans quickly fall in love with him. – Drew
6. Detroit Red Wings – Bowen Byram | D, Vancouver (WHL) – An early run on centers causes Bowen Byram to slip a couple spots. No brainer here for the Red Wings, who take Byram and run. Bowen Byram and Filip Hronek could be a formidable 1-2 punch on defense for a VERY long time. – Rich
7. Buffalo Sabres – Kirby Dach | C, Saskatoon (WHL) – Already has NHL size at 6’4” and can play a physical game with elite vision and has elevated his game in the playoffs. He will eventually slide in as the 2C behind Eichel and this move could allow Buffalo to move Middelstadt to the wing. – George
8. Edmonton Oilers – Peyton Krebs | C/LW, Kootenay (WHL) – It should be noted that we made our mock draft selections before the news about Krebs’ Achilles injury broke, but if I’m being honest I’m not sure that would’ve changed my pick; MAYBE I would’ve gone Newhook here instead. Regardless, Krebs is an excellent playmaker with a fantastic motor and a high hockey IQ, and Oilers fans should be thrilled to add him to their prospect pool. – Drew
9. Anaheim Ducks – Arthur Kaliyev | LW, Hamilton (OHL) – Anaheim adds my best goalscorer in the class in Kaliyev. He displayed his goal scoring prowess by scoring 51 goals for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the OHL this past season. A great piece to add for an Anaheim team deprived of high-end talent. – Rich
10. Vancouver Canucks – Cole Caufield | C/RW, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Arguably the best goal scorer in this year’s draft. Played with 1st overall pick, Jack Hughes, so some might question if he could continue his insane scoring that was shown in the National Development program this past year. Size is an issue but it’s become less of an issue in today’s NHL. Will create a 1-2 scoring punch with Boeser on the wing. – George
11. Philadelphia Flyers – Alex Newhook | C, Victoria (BCHL) – As I mentioned in my Krebs’ writeup, I considered Newhook as high as 8, and it slightly killed me inside to select him for the Flyers here, because I think he will be a very good NHL player. Newhook is a dynamic center with blazing speed, great puck skills and a high-end hockey IQ. While the BCHL is certainly a lesser league than the CHL leagues, so you have to take his point totals with somewhat of a grain of salt, his 102 points led the entire league, becoming the youngest BCHL scoring champion since Scott Gomez in 1997. – Drew
12. Minnesota Wild – Bobby Brink | RW, Sioux City (USHL) – Minnesota is stoked to grab Bobby “Orr” Brink at 12. The Excelsior, MN native was relatively unknown prior to this season, but burst onto the scene after absolutely destroying the USHL this season. Brink has ELITE offensive upside but needs to clean up some aspects of his game. – Rich
13. Florida Panthers – Spencer Knight | G, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – With no goalie of the future in the system and Roberto Luongo’s career nearing his end, Spencer Knight is the future of the net for this team on the rise. Will spend next season in Boston College, he could sign his ELC as soon as this season is over but will need a few more years of development before becoming the starter for Florida. – George
14. Arizona Coyotes – Vasili Podkolzin | RW, SKA-1946 (MHL) – I was torn between Matthew Boldy and Podkolzin here, and I think you can make a strong argument for either. However, given how Arizona is currently set up, I think they could afford to take the bigger home run screen and pull the trigger on Podkolzin here, who if he puts it all together—and that is a big if—could be looked at as one of the better players in this class a few years down the road. – Drew
15. Montreal Canadians – Pavel Dorofeyev | RW, Magnitogorsk (MHL) – Absolute heartbreak here for Drew not getting to select Pavel Dorofeyev. Nonetheless, Montreal is getting a stud in Dorofeyev who is relatively strong in all aspects of the game. He’s a really smart player with a good shot and an elite release but also has a slick playmaking touch. Has the potential to be a high-end scorer for Montreal. – Rich
16. Colorado Avalanche – Victor Söderström | D, Brynäs (SHL) – After drafting potentially a top center with the 4th overall pick, drafting Victor Soderstrom who has the potential to be a top 4 defensemen in the NHL. Soderstrom is arguably the 2nd best defenseman in this year’s draft after Byram. Soderstrom is a very good skater and good in both ends of the ice. As a RHD, he could eventually create a duo in the right side of Cale Makar and Soderstrom. – George
17. Vegas Golden Knights – Villie Heinola | D, Lukko (Liiga) – Again, I was torn between Boldy—who I cannot believe is still on the board—and Heinola here. Honestly, if I were to do it again, I’d go Boldy here, or perhaps go Boldy to Arizona at 14 even, but I largely went with Heinola for Vegas because they just traded away Erik Brännström, and I feel the need for D is great enough to warrant them reaching a bit on Heinola over Boldy. I think Heinola is comfortably in the argument for the 2nd best defenseman in this class, and could make this gamble look very smart a few years down the road. – Drew
18. Dallas Stars – Matthew Boldy | LW, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Boldy is someone I’m a tad bit lower on than other draft pundits, but Dallas getting him at 18 is an absolute steal. Has all the tools you see in a top-10 player, but I have concerns about his ability to drive his own offense. Intrigued to see him away from a loaded NTPD team at Boston College in the fall. – Rich
19. Ottawa Senators – Ryan Suzuki | C, Barrie (OHL) – In need of a prospect with 1C potential, drafting Ryan Suzuki would fit that bill. Suzuki is a highly skilled forward who has soft hands, great vision and decent skating. He has a pass first mentality that could work well with Brady Tkachuk. – George
20. Winnipeg Jets – Nicholas Robertson | C/LW, Peterborough (OHL) – Nick Robertson, in my opinion, is the living embodiment of what the Rangers are looking for in a player. He has high-end offensive ability and brings relentless effort and tenacity on every shift. I think he is a player that David Quinn would LOVE. – Rich
*Editor’s Note – We made this mock draft before the Trouba trade. That said, Nick Robertson is also a great fit in the Winnipeg system, so we stand by this selection*
21. Pittsburgh Penguins – Philip Tomasino | C, Niagara (OHL) – As I just mentioned, Tomasino is the highest guy left on my board, and Pittsburgh fans should be thrilled if they get this multi-faceted and dynamic center. He’s a fast and elusive skater with great buck skills, a fantastic ability to create his own shot and, most importantly, great finishing ability to convert on these chances. – Drew
22. Los Angeles Kings – Moritz Seider | D, Adler Mannheim (DNL) – Not a lot of high end prospects on the back end, the Kings will need a top prospect that could end up being a top pair guy. Seider is a smooth skater for his size and plays a very good 2-way game. Was played exceptionally well for Team Germany in the Men’s World Championships. Will eventually be known for his defensive game as offense is still a work in progress. – George
23. New York Islanders – Cam York | D, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – I considered Höglander and York here, but inevitably went with York. I’m team take the best player available, and Höglander is technically my highest rated guy left. However, my tiers are far more important than the numeric ranks, and I have the two on the same tier; when this occurs, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to then consider fit and need, and I just feel Cam York, who might be the best powerplay QB in this class, fills a far bigger need for the Islanders at this point. – Drew
24. Nashville Predators – Samuel Fagemo | LW/RW, Frölunda (SHL) – If there is anyone who knows about success with drafting overage Swedish forwards, it’s Nashville (see Arvidsson, Viktor). Fagemo is one of the best goalscorers in the class and may only need one more season in the SHL before he’s NHL ready. – Rich
25. Washington Capitals – Yegor Afanasyev | LW, Muskegon (USHL) – Not afraid of drafting Russians, Afanasyev could become a top 6 forward for the Capitals. Afanasyev is already in North America as he moved here at 15 and joined the Lumberjacks of the USHL. He plays a power forward that plays a hard game with solid skating, and is hard to remove from the front of the net. – George
26. Calgary Flames – Nils Höglander | LW, Rögle (SHL) – Seems to be a theme for me; the guy I strongly consider at my previous pick ends up still being around for my next, making it a no-brainer selection. Nils Höglander might have the best set of hands in this entire draft class, but is also an excellent all-around player with a nonstop motor and high-end hockey sense. Flames fans should be thrilled with the thought of adding Höglander to the prospect pool at 26. – Drew
27. Tampa Bay Lightning – Anttoni Honka | D, JYP (Liiga) – Anttoni Honka’s draft stock has fallen over the course of the season, but there is still an immensely talented player here. There is significant risk, but there is an even greater reward if Honka pans out. Tampa is one of the few teams who can afford to take on a risk like Honka in the first round. – Rich
28. Carolina Hurricanes – Jakob Pelletier | LW, Moncton (QMJHL) – Has the ability to play all 3 forward positions which creates a good versatility for Carolina. Already on a deep prospect pool, adding Pelletier will allow him to take his time to develop. Pelletier plays a 200 foot game, is solid on both ends of the ice and is a creative forward that can score and make solid passes. He drives the play and has one of the highest hockey IQ’s in this year’s draft. – George
29. Anaheim Ducks – Thomas Harley | D, Mississauga (OHL) – This decision came down to Harley vs. Broberg for me, and I really have no preference between the two here. At the end of the day, Harley is in the argument for the best offensive defenseman in this class, and just put up near-historic production for a U18 OHL defenseman. He has a lethal shot and is a terrific skater, and he’d be a very strong addition to the Ducks prospect pool at 29. – Drew
30. Boston Bruins – Phillip Broberg | D, AIK (Allsvenkan) – The Bruins will eventually need to replace Zdeno Chara on the backend. Getting Phillip Broberg at 30 is one of those wonderful scenarios where need and best player available collide. Broberg has some flaws in his game and needs time to develop, but the Bruins can afford to be patient and let him fill out his game. – Rich
31. Buffalo Sabres – Raphael Lavoie | C/RW, Halifax (QMJHL) – A puck possession type player with good speed, size and hockey IQ. He doesn’t play a physical game and has a lot of work to do in the defensive end. Lavoie is a very good offensive player who will go hard to the net and is very good in protecting the puck in the offensive end. – George
Round 2
32. Ottawa Senators – Samuel Poulin | LW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL) – Poulin has a balanced offensive skill set, possessing a very strong wrist shot and a lot of playmaking ability and creativity, helping him finish 3rd among QMJHL skaters in primary points, with 62 in 67 games. He drives high-end scoring chances as well as anyone in this draft class, and has the attitude and skills to out-perform this draft slot. – Drew
33. Los Angeles Kings – Lassi Thomson | D, Kelowna (WHL) – The Kings don’t have any right handed defensive prospect worth mentioning outside of Sean Durzi, so they take Lassi Thomson. The smooth skating Thomson is among the most underrated defenseman in the draft, having had a great season despite being on one of the worst teams in the WHL. – Rich
34. New Jersey Devils – Tobias Björnfot | D, Djurgårdens (SHL) – One of the risers in my rankings in this year’s draft. Had him in the late 50’s/early 60’s at the start of the season only to have him at 27 by season end. Plays a complete 2-way game and is solid in his own end more so than in the offensive end. Has the upside to be a solid top 4 defenseman in the league for years to come due to his smooth skating ability. – George
35. Detroit Red Wings – Connor McMichael | C, London (OHL) – McMichael is not the most sexy or dynamic player, but despite this, he produced just as well as any U18 in the OHL this year, finishing behind only Arhtur Kaliyev in primary points with 63. – Drew
36. Carolina Hurricanes – Brayden Tracey | LW, Moose Jaw (WHL) – The Eastern Conference finalists boast a solid prospect pool with no clear weaknesses other than the goalie position, but they pass on a goalie and take the best player on the board in Brayden Tracey. Tracey is a natural goalscorer but his hockey IQ, vision, and playmaking ability make him a dual-threat as a scorer. – Rich
37. Carolina Hurricanes – Brett Leason | C, Prince Albert (WHL) – Due to being an overager, Leason has been passed on the draft not just once but twice. He finally broke out this season with some clutch scoring for Prince Albert Raiders. Skating was an issue for him but he has really worked on it and with that combination of his size and power, he is already strong on the puck in the offensive zone. As a 20 year old, he’s already eligible for AHL time and could make a jump to the NHL sooner rather than later. – George
38. Edmonton Oilers – Albin Grewe | C/RW, Djurgårdens (SHL) – Albin Grewe is a player I could see going higher than many think, because he has a good blend of skill, skating and #toughness that will endear NHL teams. He needs t get more disciplined, and is the king of taking retaliatory penalties in this class, but he is undoubtedly a skilled player ad would be a great fit for Edmonton at this point in the draft. – Drew
39. Anaheim Ducks – Artemi Knyazev | D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL) – Anaheim goes with the exciting Russian defenseman out of the Q. Knyazev is someone I’m a lot higher on than most and wouldn’t fault a team for taking him in the latter part of the first round. I think he’s got tremendous upside as an offensive defenseman. However, he looks to be a boom-or-bust type. – Rich
40. Vancouver Canucks – Matthew Robertson | D, Edmonton (WHL) – Robertson is a strong 2-way defender that is a solid skater for his 6’3” size. He has a great shot and is an excellent passer. Has 1st round talent but still needs a few years to develop in the WHL. Has potential to be a top 4 defenseman and on Vancouver could be used behind Quinn Hughes on the left side. – George
41. Philadelphia Flyers – Patrik Puistola | LW, Tappara (Liiga) – The Flyers should just fire Chuck Fletcher and hire me; I just landed them Alex Newhook at 11 and Patrik Puistola at 41. Flyer fans should be doing backflips out of joy if they come away with those two very skilled and high-octane offensive talents in this draft – Drew
42. Minnesota Wild – Robert Mastrosimone | C, Chicago (USHL) – Robert Mastrosimone is prospect whom I like a lot. He’s got tremendous potential as a goalscorer, but needs to fill the rest of his game out if he is to hit that high ceiling that is there. Coming out of the first two rounds with Bobby Brink and Robert Mastrosimone is a fantastic haul for Minnesota. – Rich
43. Chicago Blackhawks – Jamieson Rees | C, Sarnia (OHL) – Strong on the fore-check and plays with tenacity and determination. Due to his size, he’ll need a few years in Sarnia to bulk up and grow a bit. Projects to be a 3rd liner that could bring some offensive game. – George
44. Ottawa Senators – Nathan Légaré | RW, Bale-Comeau (QMJHL) – Légaré isn’t the flashiest player out there, but at 44 the Senators here would be getting the skater that led all draft-eligible forwards from the QMJHL in primary points, with a very nice 69 in 68 games. That’s 3 more than Jakob Pelletier and 7 more than Sam Poulin, both of which have already been taken in this mock draft. Drew
45. Arizona Coyotes – Maxim Cajkovic | RW/LW, Saint John (QMJHL) – Maxim Cajkovic is a dynamic scoring winger whose stock plummeted this season due to reduced offensive output on a Saint John Sea Dogs team that is in the midst of a rebuild. However, he was the primary driver of offense for that team and still has plenty of upside. Could end up being a steal for Arizona if he pans out the way I think he could. – Rich
46. Montreal Canadians – Mikko Kokkonen | D, Jukurit (Liiga) – After a fantastic start to the season, Kokkonen cooled down quite a bit. Regardless, Kokonen is a well-balanced defenseman with some offensive upside that has a full year of pro hockey with Liiga under his belt. He’d be a very good gamble to take in the mid-2nd round for any team. – Drew
47. Colorado Avalanche – Ryan Johnson | D, Sioux City (USHL) – Johnson is a strong skater that is strong in both ends of the ice. Due to his strong skating ability and footwork, he is able to escape from forecheckers in his own end. Going to the University of Minnesota this fall, he will need 2 to 3 years to develop and could end up being a strong 2nd pairing guy for Colorado. – George
48. Vegas Golden Knights – Vladislav Kolyachonok | D, Flint (OHL) – The first Belarusian off the board, Kolyachonok is a young and raw defenseman with fantastic skating ability and a skillset that can translate to him being a two-way defender at the pro level. If he puts it all together, he could be looked at as a steal here for the Golden Knights – Drew
49. New York Rangers – Simon Holmström | RW, HV71 J20 (SuperElit) – A prospect with 1st round talent but due to an injury filled season, he didn’t play much this season. Holmstrom is an excellent playmaker and also has a strong shot from the wing. He has top 6 potential and at 49th overall, he could be a steal. – George
I will be over-the-moon happy if the Rangers land Simon Holmström at 49, a player I personally have ranked on my 5th tier and 30th overall. He’s a highly talented Swedish winger who this time last year was widely considered a no-brainer first round talent, but three injuries—hip surgery, torn thumb ligament and concussion—have caused his stock to drop a lot. He’s talented enough where I won’t be upset if the Rangers swing for the fences and take him at 20, but at 49 his talent is too great to pass up, despite the injury risk. He is a smooth skater and strong playmaker who can also put the puck in the net himself, possessing a quick release and accurate shot. He has a good motor and is a capable defender, and I believe he will translate into a strong two-way player at the NHL level. – Drew
I love the pick George made for the Rangers at 49, Simon Holmstrom. He was garnering first round consideration earlier this season but dealt with some injuries this season which caused him to slip. He’s a good skater with creative playmaking ability and has clear top-6 upside if he can remain healthy. However, a hip injury at such a young age might scare the Rangers and other teams off. I’d probably make the same pick. – Rich
50. Montreal Canadians – Domenick Fensore | D, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Domenick Fensore is perhaps the most underrated defenseman on the NTDP. He’s a diminutive (5’7) offensive defenseman — I have even seen some call him Quinn Hughes life. He needs to bulk up and work on some of his defensive deficiencies, but there is some great upside with Fensore. If I was Bergervin and Montreal came away with this haul of Dorofeyev and Fensore, there would be some euphoric feelings flowing through me. – Rich
51. Winnipeg Jets – John Beecher | C, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Beecher is a guy that admittedly I originally thought was all size and grit and not enough talent. However, the more I watched him and dug into some of his transition and shot generation data, the more I realized his relative lack of standard production had more to do with his role than ability, and that there is ample ability there to supplement his size and physicality. – Drew
52. Florida Panthers – Daniil Misyul | D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) – Daniil Misyul isn’t talked about as much as other defenseman in the draft due to being an October 2000 birthday, but he’s fits the prototypical mold that teams look for in defenseman. He’s a mobile defenseman with size but needs to improve in most of the other aspects of his game. Florida gets him as the best player available on my board and he immediately becomes the top defensive prospect in their system. – Rich
53. Toronto Maple Leafs – Matvei Guskov | C, London (OHL) – Plays a hard-nose game with a strong forecheck and strong in the defensive zone. Guskov will need a few years in London to improve his game and get stronger but he could end up being the 3C for Toronto behind the Matthews and Tavares. – George
54. Detroit Red Wings – Albert Johansson | D, Färjestad (SHL) – Johansson has been among the larger risers on my rankings, and the more I see of him the more I love him. At 54 the Red Wings would be getting a high-upside, athletic and aggressive defenseman who is a very strong skater and possesses great hands. Drew
55. New Jersey Devils – Alex Beaucage | RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) – In my opinion, the Devils grabbing Alex Beaucage at 55 could be a steal if he can improve his skating. He’s a high IQ player with a good shot and has playmaking ability, but his skating holds him back from being a player in consideration any higher than this. If he can improve his speed, agility, and edgework, the Devils could be looking like geniuses with this pick. – Rich
56. Washington Capitals – Ilya Nikolayev | Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) – Well-rounded center that plays a solid 2-way game. A big riser in this year’s rankings (had him in the 90’s mid-season), consistency is the only issue with him and once he figures that out, he could be a solid player for the Capitals. – George
57. New York Islanders – Marshall Warren | D, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Despite me having the Isles take Cam York at 23, I have them going with another USNTDP defenseman at 57 because I believe the value is too good to pass up. Warren is a gifted skater and puck mover who routinely drives possession for his team. – Drew
58. New York Rangers – Shane Pinto | LW/RW, Tri-City (USHL) – Shane Pinto is admittedly one of “my guys” in this draft, which means he’s almost surely going to get taken by the Devils or Islanders, but I have him going to the Rangers. The Nassau County native is a consistent scorer who has a relatively high skill level and can score in more ways than one — either scoring the goals or setting them up. He’s pretty raw and will need time to develop in the NCAA, but I think he will become an effective middle-6 scoring forward. – Rich
Pinto would be a fine pick here for the Rangers at 58, and I agree with Rich’s assessment of him. While Pinto didn’t make it into my top-62, I have him on my 7th tier, which extends from 51 all the way through 80. The highest guy I had left on my board here was Jordan Spence, so he would’ve been my selection for the Rangers, especially after going with two wingers at 2 (Kakko) and 49 (Holmström). Spence made an appearance in one of the Rangers’ draft videos, so we know he’s on their radar—and for good reason. He possesses a great combination of vision and puck skills that allowed him to effectively QB the powerplay for Moncton, which helped him comfortably lead all QMJHL first-year draft-eligible defensemen in primary points by a comfortable margin, with 32 in 68 games. He also is good in transition and smart and responsible in his own zone, and I believe he can develop into a reliable two-way player at the NHL level. – Drew
59. Carolina Hurricanes – Nolan Foote | LW, Kelowna (WHL) – Had the potential to be a 1st round pick earlier this season but his stock continued to fall after a 19 goal season as a 16 year old. There’s questions about his struggle this year with a late birthday and being a bit older than the competition as well as his skating. Still has the talent but consistency is an issue. – George
60. Detroit Red Wings – Jordan Spence | D, Moncton (QMJHL) – As I just stated when giving my two cents on the Rangers pick of Pinto at 58, I think Jordan Spence is a gifted defenseman with the skills to play and two-way game and QB a powerplay at the NHL level if he develops properly. – Drew
61. New Jersey Devils – Lucas Feuk | C/W, Södertälje SK J20 (SuperElit) – The Devils use the third of their three second round picks on Lucas Feuk, a Swedish playmaking center who isn’t afraid to play physical. He posted great numbers in the SuperElit and even got some time in Allsvenskan this season. Needs to fill out the rest of his game (like almost every prospect drafted past the top-10) but there is some solid upside with Feuk. One of my favorite sleepers in the draft. – Rich
62. St. Louis Blues – Alex Vlasic | D, U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) – Isn’t a “flashy” defenseman but he gets the job done. Will be a solid add to the Blues prospect pool on the back end. Will need a few years to develop and will do so at Boston University. Plays a lot like his cousin, Marc-Edouard Vlasic in that he’s stronger in the defensive end. – George
Author: BSB Staff
This Article is presented to you in High Definition Surround Sound by some or all of the Blueshirts Breakaway Staff. At least whoever wasn’t lazy enough to contribute.