:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64048425/usa_today_10127377.0.jpg)
Earlier we published the first half of our 2019 NHL Mock Draft. Now here are the rest of the picks, starting with Colorado's second pick of the first round.
Tom — Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara (OHL)
This kid is good. He led all draft eligible OHLers in even strength scoring this season despite playing down the depth chart on a very deep Niagara team. Expect a huge jump in production this season as the Ice Dogs begin to rebuild. Tomasino is a creative player that drives possession and plays a complete 200ft game. The question will be whether or not he can play center in the NHL.
My Pick: Tomasino
Luke — Matthew Boldy
There is always one or two guys who fall in the draft. This year, and in this mock draft he falls right into the hands of the Avs. Boldy is a very intelligent, 200ft, LW from the NTDP. What I really like about him is he can play a variety of ways. He can play a fast, skilled game or a grinding, physical game. He’s very good at board battles and winning them. He has a great shot and competes very hard. He can play with high end skill and more grinder, wear you down type players and still but up points. The size, skill and vision is right up there with the big boys of the draft.
My pick: Bobby Brink
Tom — Spencer Knight, G, USA U-18 (USHL)
I swear this has nothing to do with the name. Well maybe it is a little. Think about the marketing campaign! He’s the best goalie in the draft and someone is going to draft him too high because of it. I suspect that someone will be Vegas.
My Pick: Thomas Harley
Luke — Knight
The Best goalie in the draft, which in three years could step in after the Flower? I think so. The timeline would be right for Knight and the Golden Knights with his development timetable, so I see the Knights taking a swing on him. Knight is a competitive, athletic and super high IQ goalie, who is perceived as the best goalie to go into the draft in a few years.
My Pick: Ryan Suzuki
18. Dallas Stars
Tom — Moritz Seider
The big German defender is a guy who has seen his stock soar after a great performance at this year’s World Championship. He’s going to end up as a bottom-four shut down defender at the NHL level due to a lack of offensive capabilities, but he’s got the kind the type of still set that a certain kind of NHL scout still loves.
My Pick: Connor McMichael
Luke — Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)
An injection of speed is what the stars need. Suzuki brings a high level of speed and play making to a team that is starting to age a bit. The vision, speed, high hockey sense and being 6’1” will complement the Dallas core that is a very shot first. He can also play both wing and center which is an asset.
My Pick: Cole Caufield
19. Ottawa Senators (from Columbus Blue Jackets)
Tom — Cam York
It would be huge for the Senators if Cam York falls all this way. He was the best defender on the U-18 team this season and showed an ability to QB a powerplay. He’s a very smart kid that doesn’t do any one thing exceptionally but does everything well above average. He would be the perfect addition to a very solid prospect pool they’re building in Ottawa.
My Pick: Matthew Robertson
Luke — Philip Tomasino
Tomasino is and excellent skater, both in speed and elusiveness. He does everything at a fast pace from skating to stick handling. He also has a knack for scoring goals. He had the second most 5v5 goals scored in the OHL this past season. Tomasino will most likely start as Nigeria’s top center this coming year. He will be a great piece for the rebuild Senators to have, as Tomasino could end up being a great 2C for them.
My Pick: Samuel Poulin
20. Winnipeg Jets
Tom — Ryan Suzuki
He’s one of the draft’s top playmaking centers, with elite vision and offensive instincts. The issue is that he plays somewhat of a perimeter game and that’s something that is going to cost him a few draft spots. There is a lot of Alex Nylander in his game. Winnipeg can afford to wait, so if they can develop Suzuki properly, this pick could help make the Trouba trade look a little better.
My Pick: Philip Broberg
Luke — Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City (USHL)
The Jets get there pick back, and take another USHL kid. The jets have had great success in drafting from the USHL in recent years, and take the highly skilled, high IQ great playing right wing brink who will be making his home in Denver this coming fall.
My Pick: Broberg
Tom — Bobby Brink
He averaged 1.58 points per game in the USHL, most among any player with at least 25 games. He’s small and doesn’t have the best high-end speed, but dang can he create offense - that’s the exact same thing people were saying about Mitch Marner at the same age. Give him time to develop properly and Brink could end up being a home run for an organization that needs it.
My Pick: Brink
Luke — Raphael Lavoie, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
The core is basically still there, Kessel is still there, they are still going to go for it every year till they cant. Getting a player like Lavoie who could step into the line up this fall or in 2020 when he ages out of Jr is ideal for them. He's big, can score, skates well. He would be very much a compliment player in their top 9. He stepped up his game in the playoffs showing us he had more skill and speed to burn, which you like to see prospects do in high pressure situations.
My Pick: Kaliyev
22. Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
Tom — Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
After passing on Byram, the Kings take a swing at Robertson with their second first round pick - and it could be a home run. Robertson is built like a big, shut down guy but skates and moves the puck like a high-end offensive defender. He’s got top pair potential and we shouldn’t be surprised if we look back at Robertson as one of those “how did he drop to 22” type players.
My Pick: Victor Soderstrom
Luke — Cole Caufield
The Kings get the best defensemen at #5, now they grab a guy who scored 72 goals for the NTDP. Small, standing at 5’7”, Caufield competes well and has a wicked good shot. He can play with elite talent and is an under rated playmaker as well.
My Pick: Nils Hoglander
Tom — Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas (SWE)
After Noah Dobson fell into their laps a year ago, the Islanders luck out again this year as Soderstrom begins to fall. Mature beyond his years, Soderstrom spent most of the season playing in a top-four role in the top Swedish league - and he excelled at it. He might have the highest up side of any defender in the draft not named Byram.
My Pick: Ville Heinola
Luke — Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Adding Noah Dobson last year was a great pick, adding another defensemen to there prospect pool won’t hurt either. Thomson is a great skater and has an excellent shot. He uses his speed to close gaps really well and to skate out of trouble. Offensively he can find open areas and is selective in when he jumps in to the play. He missed last year’s draft by nine days, so he was a 18-year-old playing in the WHL, so it was expected he put up point which he did. Would like to see him dominate lower opponents more often and raise his game when in the games get tougher.
My Pick: Ville Heinola
Tom — Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton (QMJHL)
Pelletier’s 89 points this season put him behind only Alexis Lafreniere for points by an under-18 player in the QMJHL. He might be small, but Pelletier is quick, flashy and brings a dynamic element to his team’s offense while remaining responsible at the defensive end. It might seem early but this is the kind of player that David Poile loves to take a flier on.
My Pick: Moritz Seider
Luke — Connor McMichael, C, London Knights (OHL)
With an aging core, the Predators take London Knight McMichael. The left handed center will be relied upon next year in London, getting coached by Dale Hunter. He is a great playmaker, good skater and can score. He was on a loaded London team and put up points.
My Pick: Spencer Knight
Tom — Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (FIN)
A great skater with amazing vision, the Capitals could have their own Samuel Girard on their hands with this young Finn.
My Pick: Raphaël Lavoie
Luke — Vasili Podkolzin
He’s going to fall, could he fall this far? It’s a definite possibility.
My Pick: Pavel Dorofeyev
26. Calgary Flames
Tom — Robert Mastrosimone, C, Chicago (USHL)
Given his size, offensive ability and desire to play on the edge, many are comparing Mastrosimone to Bruins forward Brad Marchand - and that’s a terrifying thought when you consider he could end up being teammates with another super pest in Matthew Tkachuk. Heading to BU in the fall, Mastrosimone will likely need at least three years in the NCAA until he is ready for the NHL.
My Pick: Spencer Knight
Luke — Hunter Jones, G, Peterborough (OHL)
This pick is very left field, but Calgary has much of its core signed and has a good prospect pool, but they really need a goalie prospect. Hunter Jones, to most is the second best goalie in the draft. He played on a mediocre Peterborough Petes team this past year, playing 57 of the Petes 68 game. He has great size, 6’4”, 195 lbs and he uses all of that frame. He is very athletic for his size and has great rebound control. He is a good puck mover also, not with his deflections but with his stick.
My Pick: Ryan Johnson
Tom — Connor McMichael
After striking gold with Anthony Cirelli, the Lightning go back the OHL for another underappreciated two-way center. McMichael won’t wow you with his play, but he is one of the smartest players in the draft and brings a skill set that is perfect for a middle-six NHL forward.
My Pick: Nathan Légaré
Luke — Nolan Foote, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
The second Foote to end up in Tampa. He played much of the year hurt, which pulled his numbers down, but was great on the PP. He has the size and IQ to be a solid power winger. He has a heavy shot and he is a good playmaker, from seeing the ice quite well. He also is a great defensive player. He knows when to attack and battles hard to fish pucks out.
My Pick: Tobias Bjornfot
Tom — Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle (SWE)
He’s got a motor that won’t quit and an elusiveness that will allow him to overcome his lack of size when playing against bigger competition. He is a good skater and has tremendous hands. He’s already playing against men in Sweden but it will likely still be a few years before we see him make his NHL debut.
My Pick: Tobias Bjornfot
Luke — Brayden Tracey, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Though just a WHL rookie, he managed to put up 81 points in 66 games. The extra year of development in AAA was the best thing for the left wing goal scorer, scoring 36 goals this season. He has good speed, IQ and a shot first mentality as well as some sneaky play making ability. In the offensive zone he is a killer
My Pick: Patrik Puistola
29. Anaheim Ducks
Tom — Egor Afanasyev, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
He’s a big, heavy winger that is a throwback to the last decade of Western Conference hockey. Afanasyev has a big shot and will be a very useful presence in front of the net on the power play.
My Pick: Nils Hoglander
Luke — John Beecher, C, USA U-18 (USHL)
Beecher is a big, strong, 200ft center, who was pushed down the line up thanks to a loaded NTDP. He is a great 200ft player who has speed, size and is a great passer. If the Ducks take him, he will be another player, who might look like a reach here (he’s not) but will turn into a fantastic player for them. Do you want to play against a 210 lbs speedy center with an edge to him?
My Pick: John Beecher
30. Boston Bruins
Tom — Raphael Lavoie
Lavoie is a big, two-way center that doesn’t necessarily have the same upside of some of the prospects around him. That said, he’s a safe pick that could be quick to help out in the bottom-6 of an NHL lineup.
My Pick: Samuel Poulin
Luke — Jamieson Rees, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Rees is a great skater who has speed to burn with some great skill to go along with him. He is a work horse in all three zones and plays a hard game for a guy who is only 5’10”, 175 lbs. Durability will be the thing that hold him back, but if he can get healthy, he will be a great mid 6 guy for Boston, who plays like the a Boston player would.
My Pick: Connor McMichael
31. Buffalo Sabres
Tom — Brett Leason, RW, Prince Albert (WHL)
Having shot for the stars with Cole Caufield in the top-10, the Sabres take the opposite route with the last pick of the first round. After being passed over in the previous two drafts, Leason had a breakout season putting up 89 points in only 55 games. He is ready for professional hockey next year and while he is going to start in the AHL, the Sabres have enough holes in their lineup that he could be up in the NHL before too long.
My Pick: Jamieson Rees
Luke —Tobias Bjornfot, D, Djurgarden Jr. (SWE-JR)
Buffalo dip into the defense pool again and take Bjornfot, a great puck moving defensemen, who can skate and has really high IQ. He ate lots of minutes for the Swedish U-18. That will be three first round picks used to build their defense in the past two years.
My Pick: Brayden Tracey