COMPLETE 2019 NHL DRAFT COVERAGE
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:54 am
Well, pretty sure this board is dead but I’ll post my analysis here as well:
Our Blackhawks got 4 lucky numbers and jumped from 12 to 3 and while it is certainly a 2 horse draft like some memorable recent drafts (McDavid / Eichel - Matthews / Laine - even Ovi / Malkin) that doesn’t mean we can’t pull a top line guy out of this position. Stan and Mark are going to pick from the second tier a guy that fits us WITH Toews and Kane and have made it known that’s how they will pick. I truly feel that there are only 4 guys that they are looking at right now: Centers Turcotte and Zegras, Blue-liner Byram, and possibly center / winger Cozens.
Kelley and Bowman are consistent: 1 loves the US program kids and the other loves Scandinavian skaters. When it really comes down to it let’s compare their history, the team, and the way this draft is set up. Introducing the class of 2019 prospects.... All opinions are my own and based on their leagues / style of play / history with growth / overall skill / and personal projection. I’ve studied the leagues / their film / and the translations of similar players to the NHL.
I - Injured / Injury concerns , IQ - High level of intelligence, RR - High Risk High Reward, TF - Team First player, HC - High Ceiling, LR - Low Risk NCC - Needs Coaching / Culture, RtP - Ready to Play Immediately, HtW - Have to wait a few seasons
TIER 1 (FRANCHISE CORNERSTONES)
1. C Jack Hughes - RtP / LR / HC / IQ
2. RW Kappo Kakko - RtP / LR / HC
————————————————————
TIER 2 (TOP LINE STAPLE / STAR POTENTIAL )
3. C Trevor Zegras - HtW / HC / TF / IQ
4. D Bowen Byram - RtP / LR
5. RW Dylan Cozens - RtP / LR
6. C Alex Turcotte - LR / TF / I / IQ
7. LW Cole Caulfield - RtP / RR / I
————————————————————-
TIER 3 (TOP LINE CONTRIBUTOR)
8. D Victor Soderstrom - LR / TF / RtP
9. RW Arthur Kaliyev - NCC / I
10. G Spencer Knight - RR / HC
11. RW Matthew Boldy - LR / RtP
12. D Ville Heinola - NCC / IQ / RtP
13. C Alex Newhook - LR / TF / IQ
14. LW Kirby Dach - RR - NCC
—————————————————————
TIER 4 (HIGH REWARD PROSPECTS)
15. D Philip Broberg - RR
16. C Phil Tomasino - LR
17. LW Vasili Podkolzin - RR / HtW / HC /I
18. D Tobias Bjornfot - RR / NCC
19. C Peyton Krebs - I / RR / IQ / HtW
20. LW Nicholas Robertson - RR
21. C Connor McMichael - LR / TF
—————————————————————-
TIER 5 (GOOD RISK IN LATE 1st)
22. G Hunter Jones - RR / NCC / HtW
23. LW Egor Afanasyev - NCC
24. D Thomas Harley - LR / TF
25. LW Nils Hoglander -TF / HC / HtW
26. D Cam York - RR
27. D Matthew Robertson - HC / LR / IQ
28. C Ryan Suzuki - RR / NCC / HtW
——————————————————————
TIER 6 (LATE 1st / EARLY 2nd VALUE)
29. LW Jacob Pelletier - LR
30. LW Sam Poulin - RR / HC
31. G Mads Soggard - RR / HtW
32. C Jamieson Rees - RR / HC
33. D Lassi Thomson - LR / HC / IQ
——————————————————————
TIER 7 (FUTURE INVESTMENTS)
34. RW Nathan Legare - RR / NCC
35. RW Raphael Lavoie - NCC
36. D Moritz Seider - NCC / RR
37. RW Bobby Brink - IQ / RR
38. G Pyotr Kochetkov - HtW / RR
39. RW Brett Leason - RtP / LR / TF / HC
40. D Alex Vlasic - RtP / LR / IQ
——————————————————————-
TIER 8 (2nd ROUNDERS THAT NEED COACHING)
41. LW Pat Puistola - RR / HtW
42. D Toni Honka - IQ / LR
43. D Kaeden Korczak - LR / HtW / IQ
44. D Vlad Kolyachonok - I / HtW
45. C Ilya Nikolayev - RR / HtW / HC
46. LW Samuel Fagemo - NCC / HtW / I
47. C Robert Mastrosimone- HtW/LR /HC
48. D Mikko Kokkonen - HtW / RR / NCC
49. RW Simon Holmstrom - HtW / IQ / HC
50. D Ryan Johnson - HtW / LR / IQ
——————————————————————-
TIER 9 (PATIENCE REQUIRED / HIGH VALUE)
51. C John Beecher - HtW / IQ / LR
52. RW Pavel Dorofeyev - HtW / RR / NCC / I
53. D Albert Johansson - HtW / RR / I
54. LW Dimitri Sheshin - HtW / I / RR / NCC
55. RW Mikhail Abramov - RtP / RR
56. RW Nick Abruzzese - HtW / LR / IQ
57. D Drew Helleson - HtW / LR
———————————————————————
TIER 10 (HIGH TALENT / LATE 2nd STEAL)
58. LW Leevi Aaltonen - I / RR / NCC
59. D David Aebischer - LR / RtP / IQ
60. LW Brayden Tracey - RR / I / RtP / NCC
61. C Nikita Alexandrov - RtP / NCC
62. RW Shane Pinto - LR / HtW / IQ
I love Zegras (Zeeee GRAS not Zeg-ras btw) and truly hope our Hawks take him... He is the new version of the NHL, more slight more clever. He is the best passer in this draft and no one can argue you this. He is committed to Boston for likely 3 years though and that to me is a deal breaker for Stan.
Turcotte, local kid, is a complete hockey player and is equally as good on D as he is on the rush. He has said, “the plan right now is to be in Wisconsin to train” as he is scheduled to attend college.... but most believe that wouldn’t happen if he goes 3rd. I view him as a very good player that will be a top 2 line center that takes on a teams best lines on both ends. He will a solid point producer for sure but his real impact will come in face offs / back checks / and all the little things.
Byram is a short version of Brett Burns... in every way. He is tremendous adding to the rush and his wrister is better than 99% of the wingers in this draft. He also gets out of position, over commits, and is a good but not spectacular skater. Byram has a great frame and is tough, his production has been amazing too. There is a ton to like with him and I believe he is a day 1 top 4 defenseman. In the past 2 drafts each of our first 2 picks have been defense.... Jokiharju / Mitchell and Boqvist / Beaudin and each one of them have shown they are NHL players.... in the end I just don’t think you pass on a center at 3.
Cozens has an amazing frame and plays the crease to perfection. He is tough, seasoned, and has an extremely high floor. Cozens will go in the top 7 picks but he is not a true leader out there in terms of getting a team going. I love Cozens in that role we currently see Strome in... one where he is surrounded by veterans and goal scorers. I don’t think his ceiling is too high but he is an extremely reliable and safe pick in that 5-7 range he will go in.
For me it’s got to be Zegras or Turcotte and I’m sure they are leaning Turcotte. I would take Zegras as I just don’t think passers like him come around too often... either player, the Hawks will get a true next gen guy for Colliton.
Here is my non-trade 1st round on how I think it will go:
1. Devils - C Jack Hughes
2. Rangers - RW Kappo Kakko
3. Blackhawks - C Alex Turcotte
4. Avalanche - D Bowen Byram
5. Kings - C/LW Dylan Cozens
6. Redwings - C Trevor Zegras
7. Sabres - LW Cole Caulfield
8. Oilers - D Victor Soderstrom
9. Ducks - RW Matthew Boldy
10. Canucks - C Alex Newhook
11. Flyers - G Spencer Knight
12. Wild - C Phil Tomasino
13. Panthers - LW Nils Hoglander
14. Coyotes - C/LW Kirby
15. Canadians - C/LW Bobby Brink
16. Avalanche - LW Arthur Kaliyev
17. Knights - D Ville Heinola
18. Stars - LW Vasili Podkolzin
19. Senators - D Tobias Bjornfot
20. Rangers - G Hunter Jones
21. Penguins - D Lassi Thomson
22. Kings - D Matthew Robertson
23. Islanders - C Ryan Suzuki
24. Predators- C Connor McMichael
25. Capitals - LW Egor Afanasyev
26. Flames - D Phillip Broberg
27. Lightning - D Moritz Seider
28. Hurricanes - C Peyton Krebs
29. Ducks - LW Sam Poulin
30. Sabres - RW Brett Leason
31. Bruins - RW Raphael Lavoie
Our Blackhawks got 4 lucky numbers and jumped from 12 to 3 and while it is certainly a 2 horse draft like some memorable recent drafts (McDavid / Eichel - Matthews / Laine - even Ovi / Malkin) that doesn’t mean we can’t pull a top line guy out of this position. Stan and Mark are going to pick from the second tier a guy that fits us WITH Toews and Kane and have made it known that’s how they will pick. I truly feel that there are only 4 guys that they are looking at right now: Centers Turcotte and Zegras, Blue-liner Byram, and possibly center / winger Cozens.
Kelley and Bowman are consistent: 1 loves the US program kids and the other loves Scandinavian skaters. When it really comes down to it let’s compare their history, the team, and the way this draft is set up. Introducing the class of 2019 prospects.... All opinions are my own and based on their leagues / style of play / history with growth / overall skill / and personal projection. I’ve studied the leagues / their film / and the translations of similar players to the NHL.
I - Injured / Injury concerns , IQ - High level of intelligence, RR - High Risk High Reward, TF - Team First player, HC - High Ceiling, LR - Low Risk NCC - Needs Coaching / Culture, RtP - Ready to Play Immediately, HtW - Have to wait a few seasons
TIER 1 (FRANCHISE CORNERSTONES)
1. C Jack Hughes - RtP / LR / HC / IQ
2. RW Kappo Kakko - RtP / LR / HC
————————————————————
TIER 2 (TOP LINE STAPLE / STAR POTENTIAL )
3. C Trevor Zegras - HtW / HC / TF / IQ
4. D Bowen Byram - RtP / LR
5. RW Dylan Cozens - RtP / LR
6. C Alex Turcotte - LR / TF / I / IQ
7. LW Cole Caulfield - RtP / RR / I
————————————————————-
TIER 3 (TOP LINE CONTRIBUTOR)
8. D Victor Soderstrom - LR / TF / RtP
9. RW Arthur Kaliyev - NCC / I
10. G Spencer Knight - RR / HC
11. RW Matthew Boldy - LR / RtP
12. D Ville Heinola - NCC / IQ / RtP
13. C Alex Newhook - LR / TF / IQ
14. LW Kirby Dach - RR - NCC
—————————————————————
TIER 4 (HIGH REWARD PROSPECTS)
15. D Philip Broberg - RR
16. C Phil Tomasino - LR
17. LW Vasili Podkolzin - RR / HtW / HC /I
18. D Tobias Bjornfot - RR / NCC
19. C Peyton Krebs - I / RR / IQ / HtW
20. LW Nicholas Robertson - RR
21. C Connor McMichael - LR / TF
—————————————————————-
TIER 5 (GOOD RISK IN LATE 1st)
22. G Hunter Jones - RR / NCC / HtW
23. LW Egor Afanasyev - NCC
24. D Thomas Harley - LR / TF
25. LW Nils Hoglander -TF / HC / HtW
26. D Cam York - RR
27. D Matthew Robertson - HC / LR / IQ
28. C Ryan Suzuki - RR / NCC / HtW
——————————————————————
TIER 6 (LATE 1st / EARLY 2nd VALUE)
29. LW Jacob Pelletier - LR
30. LW Sam Poulin - RR / HC
31. G Mads Soggard - RR / HtW
32. C Jamieson Rees - RR / HC
33. D Lassi Thomson - LR / HC / IQ
——————————————————————
TIER 7 (FUTURE INVESTMENTS)
34. RW Nathan Legare - RR / NCC
35. RW Raphael Lavoie - NCC
36. D Moritz Seider - NCC / RR
37. RW Bobby Brink - IQ / RR
38. G Pyotr Kochetkov - HtW / RR
39. RW Brett Leason - RtP / LR / TF / HC
40. D Alex Vlasic - RtP / LR / IQ
——————————————————————-
TIER 8 (2nd ROUNDERS THAT NEED COACHING)
41. LW Pat Puistola - RR / HtW
42. D Toni Honka - IQ / LR
43. D Kaeden Korczak - LR / HtW / IQ
44. D Vlad Kolyachonok - I / HtW
45. C Ilya Nikolayev - RR / HtW / HC
46. LW Samuel Fagemo - NCC / HtW / I
47. C Robert Mastrosimone- HtW/LR /HC
48. D Mikko Kokkonen - HtW / RR / NCC
49. RW Simon Holmstrom - HtW / IQ / HC
50. D Ryan Johnson - HtW / LR / IQ
——————————————————————-
TIER 9 (PATIENCE REQUIRED / HIGH VALUE)
51. C John Beecher - HtW / IQ / LR
52. RW Pavel Dorofeyev - HtW / RR / NCC / I
53. D Albert Johansson - HtW / RR / I
54. LW Dimitri Sheshin - HtW / I / RR / NCC
55. RW Mikhail Abramov - RtP / RR
56. RW Nick Abruzzese - HtW / LR / IQ
57. D Drew Helleson - HtW / LR
———————————————————————
TIER 10 (HIGH TALENT / LATE 2nd STEAL)
58. LW Leevi Aaltonen - I / RR / NCC
59. D David Aebischer - LR / RtP / IQ
60. LW Brayden Tracey - RR / I / RtP / NCC
61. C Nikita Alexandrov - RtP / NCC
62. RW Shane Pinto - LR / HtW / IQ
I love Zegras (Zeeee GRAS not Zeg-ras btw) and truly hope our Hawks take him... He is the new version of the NHL, more slight more clever. He is the best passer in this draft and no one can argue you this. He is committed to Boston for likely 3 years though and that to me is a deal breaker for Stan.
Turcotte, local kid, is a complete hockey player and is equally as good on D as he is on the rush. He has said, “the plan right now is to be in Wisconsin to train” as he is scheduled to attend college.... but most believe that wouldn’t happen if he goes 3rd. I view him as a very good player that will be a top 2 line center that takes on a teams best lines on both ends. He will a solid point producer for sure but his real impact will come in face offs / back checks / and all the little things.
Byram is a short version of Brett Burns... in every way. He is tremendous adding to the rush and his wrister is better than 99% of the wingers in this draft. He also gets out of position, over commits, and is a good but not spectacular skater. Byram has a great frame and is tough, his production has been amazing too. There is a ton to like with him and I believe he is a day 1 top 4 defenseman. In the past 2 drafts each of our first 2 picks have been defense.... Jokiharju / Mitchell and Boqvist / Beaudin and each one of them have shown they are NHL players.... in the end I just don’t think you pass on a center at 3.
Cozens has an amazing frame and plays the crease to perfection. He is tough, seasoned, and has an extremely high floor. Cozens will go in the top 7 picks but he is not a true leader out there in terms of getting a team going. I love Cozens in that role we currently see Strome in... one where he is surrounded by veterans and goal scorers. I don’t think his ceiling is too high but he is an extremely reliable and safe pick in that 5-7 range he will go in.
For me it’s got to be Zegras or Turcotte and I’m sure they are leaning Turcotte. I would take Zegras as I just don’t think passers like him come around too often... either player, the Hawks will get a true next gen guy for Colliton.
Here is my non-trade 1st round on how I think it will go:
1. Devils - C Jack Hughes
2. Rangers - RW Kappo Kakko
3. Blackhawks - C Alex Turcotte
4. Avalanche - D Bowen Byram
5. Kings - C/LW Dylan Cozens
6. Redwings - C Trevor Zegras
7. Sabres - LW Cole Caulfield
8. Oilers - D Victor Soderstrom
9. Ducks - RW Matthew Boldy
10. Canucks - C Alex Newhook
11. Flyers - G Spencer Knight
12. Wild - C Phil Tomasino
13. Panthers - LW Nils Hoglander
14. Coyotes - C/LW Kirby
15. Canadians - C/LW Bobby Brink
16. Avalanche - LW Arthur Kaliyev
17. Knights - D Ville Heinola
18. Stars - LW Vasili Podkolzin
19. Senators - D Tobias Bjornfot
20. Rangers - G Hunter Jones
21. Penguins - D Lassi Thomson
22. Kings - D Matthew Robertson
23. Islanders - C Ryan Suzuki
24. Predators- C Connor McMichael
25. Capitals - LW Egor Afanasyev
26. Flames - D Phillip Broberg
27. Lightning - D Moritz Seider
28. Hurricanes - C Peyton Krebs
29. Ducks - LW Sam Poulin
30. Sabres - RW Brett Leason
31. Bruins - RW Raphael Lavoie