NHL 2019 Entry Draft: Mock Selections 10-1

With the 57th NHL Entry Draft just a few days away in Vancouver, we are going to do a quick mock-up of the entire first round. With both top talents Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko NHL ready, it’s very difficult who will be selected in that overall number one selection. However, where either one lands both teams will be receiving a very special player who can make an impact as soon as next season.

Now let's finish off this mock and see who ends up where. Here are picks 10-1.

10. Vancouver Canucks – Peyton Krebs, C/5’11 180lbs/WHL 
Vancouver only has three center prospects in their entire system, so in this mock, we are going with WHL center Peyton Krebs. Peyton just isn’t a highly skilled forward who is great with the puck he also plays the dangerous and dirty areas. With his vision, he is able to predict plays before they happen thus putting himself in the right position which is always beneficial. He definitely has the potential to be a first line player down the road as he progress’.

9. Anaheim Ducks – Cole Caufield, RW/5’6 162lbs/USNTDP 
With Anaheim’s first pick in this year’s draft, I have the team taking right winger Cole Caufield. This selection is pretty obvious, the club just bought out Corey Perry and don’t have many prospects on that side. Just three as a matter of fact. Once Cole gets more weight and height to him he is going to become a serious offensive dynamo. He has all of the offensive tools one can possess.

8. Edmonton Oilers – Dylan Cozens, C/6’3 181lbs/WHL Once Colby Cave and Kyle Brodziak get moved by Edmonton, they would have an extremely talented middle ice lineup, something they haven’t had in quite some time. Dylan Cozens already has the NHL potential from the get-go due to his elite speed, accurate and hard shot, top end passing and his tendency to win the majority of his one on one battles. Could you imagine their center core if he is selected by them on Friday? Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan McLeod, and Dylan Cozens. Now that is a very solid and skilled top four down the middle.

7. Buffalo Sabres – Visili Podkolzin, RW/6’1 190lbs/VHL 
Buffalo’s first pick in the first round definitely needs to go to an immediate cause, their right-hand side. Visili Podkolzin is an absolute beast of a player, he has lightning for hands, an awareness that is off the charts, thus leading to the potential of being a high-end point producer down the road.

6. Detroit Red Wings – Kirby Dach, C/6’4 199lbs/WHL 
Besides Michael Rasmussen, Joe Veleno, and Dominic Turgeon the Wings are rather stale down the middle. This is why a 6’4 200lb Kirby Dach would be an excellent choice. Dach is the pass first shoot later type of guy which isn’t too bad given the visual awareness he possesses. Another thing he likes to do is use his body to protect the puck along the boards and find seams for those nice cross passes. He doesn’t have the fastest first step but that can be worked on during the off-season or back in the WHL.

5. Los Angeles Kings – Bowen Byram, D/6’1 193lbs/WHLHere is another defenseman who can help out the Kings backend, only Byram is way more skilled and NHL ready than their second choice Philip Broberg. Byram is basically a one-man army on skates, he can control a breakout due to his acceleration and speed, has a heavy and accurate shot, extremely quick hands for a defenseman, and can quarterback a power play.

4. Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa) – Trevor Zegras, C/6’0 168lbs/USNTDP 
For a breakdown on how the Avalanche acquired this pick refer back to pick 16. With Vladislav Kamenev, Shane Bowers, and Brandon Saigeon Colorado has some solid center prospects. But since all of the other top players are now taken, why not add another one with their first of two picks this round.

3. Chicago Blackhawks – Alex Turcotte, C/5’11 189lbs/USNTDP
One of the most complete two-way players in the entire draft, Alex Turcotte is the perfect consolation prize for the Hawks who landed at third. He has great offensive awareness, quick legs, battles all game in every area of the ice, with outstanding puck skills.

2. New York Rangers – Jack Hughes, C/5’10 170lbs/USNTDP 
The Rangers have two, just two prospects in the system when it comes to players down the middle. So if Jersey ends up taking the top winger, Jack Hughes will fit perfectly. We already know everything about him as well as the fact he is indeed NHL ready.

1. New Jersey Devils – Kaapo Kakko, RW/6’2 194/LIIGA 
The choice for Jersey to take Kakko is as simple as this, Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, Kaapo Kakko. That is a first line comparable to Colorado’s and Tampa Bay’s. With no holes at all in his game and the most prolific U18 goal scorer in Liiga history, him and Taylor Hall will do nothing but light the lamp while Hischier sets them up on almost every single goal.