Draft primer: Answering the 25 greatest last-minute questions

Maybe you have been caught up within the St. Louis Blues’ run to a Stanley Cup championship and have not had an opportunity to check up on the 2019 NHL draft class. Or perhaps you’ve got been proper right here all alongside, scouring all the prospect breakdowns and mock drafts. Both method, we’ve got you coated because the New Jersey Devils go on the clock with the primary decide.

Our NHL staff — Chris Peters, Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan — solutions 25 of the most important ultimate questions. And remember to try the remainder of our pre-draft content material to be as ready because the 31 NHL groups when the draft begins on Friday evening (eight p.m. ET).

Mock draft | Prime 100 rankings
Prime goalies | Late-rounders
Greatest by ability | Scouttakes | Draft order

What defines this draft class?

Chris Peters, NHL draft and prospects author: The shortage of consensus after No. 2 is mostly a standout function. Something can occur after Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko are drafted with these first two picks. That is going to result in disparate draft boards, picks that would appear to be surprises within the first spherical and a common lack of predictability. It is simply so huge open after the second decide.

Is there any likelihood the New Jersey Devils take Kakko over Hughes at No. 1 general?

Peters: There’s all the time an opportunity, but it surely appears wildly unlikely. Hughes is a greater match for the place the NHL goes than Kakko, together with his velocity in transition and skill to create off the push. Kakko could be the most secure decide within the draft, although. He has already proved he is prepared for an even bigger problem. I anticipate him to be a greater rookie than Hughes, however Hughes has the upper ceiling. The Devils will take that tremendous excessive ceiling of Hughes, whereas the Rangers get a dynamic participant who’s already able to make an NHL influence.

How can Hughes assist the Devils rebound?

Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL author: Hughes and Nico Hischier up the intestine for the following decade is a very nice begin when trying to construct a winner. Successful the Hughes lottery additionally gave the Devils a puncher’s likelihood of retaining Taylor Corridor, who turns into an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer time, as a result of they now have some semblance of a path.

What’s going to Kakko do for the New York Rangers’ rebuild?

Emily Kaplan, nationwide NHL reporter: Kakko can have a Patrik Laine-esque influence straight away. He’d be my preseason decide for the Calder Trophy. The Rangers’ rebuild has gone even higher than deliberate and is the template plenty of getting older groups ought to observe.

» Largest questions | Closing mock draft
» The start of the Hughes-Kakko rivalry
» Prime 100 prospects | Greatest by ability
» Prime goalies | Late-round steals
» Draft picks for all 31 NHL groups
» Extra protection of the NHL draft

What number of prospects have an opportunity to make an NHL roster straight away?

Peters: The one two gamers I really feel may comfortably leap into an NHL lineup subsequent season are Hughes and Kakko. However I may additionally see Bowen Byram, Kirby Dach and Dylan Cozens among the many gamers who at the least give groups one thing to consider in coaching camp. Byram would be the first defenseman off the board, probably at No. three to the Blackhawks, and certain no later than No. 6 to Detroit. Loads of what occurs with him this fall is dependent upon the place he finally ends up. Brett Leason, a third-year eligible participant, is a dark-horse candidate to make the speedy NHL leap, too.

Kaplan: Loads of the primary spherical hinges on what Chicago does at No. three. Regardless of having a surplus of defensive prospects, Byram could be too proficient to go up. However may a staff that lucked right into a top-three decide take a danger right here? Most likely not, however would not or not it’s enjoyable to observe Cole Caufield — who scored 72 objectives this season — and Alex DeBrincat within the Hawks’ prime six?

What’s your favourite prospect-to-player comp within the class?

Peters: Caufield to DeBrincat actually does match. Caufield is actually the identical measurement DeBrincat was in his draft 12 months and is a ridiculous aim scorer. I truly suppose Caufield could also be a bit of higher than DeBrincat was on the identical age, however they each have an elite sense of timing and capturing means.

OK, what about the most effective prospect-to-team match?

Peters: I feel the one which most likely strains up finest is Alex Turcotte with Chicago. He is an area child who competes and performs the sport quick. Chicago has a ton of excellent choices, and nobody is kind of certain what it’s going to do, however Turcotte looks like a pure match as a powerful two-way middle with wonderful velocity and flexibility.

2 Associated

Wyshynski: The Los Angeles Kings must get youthful, sooner and higher as they take a bit of step again from competition. That begins with their 10 picks on this draft, together with the No. 5 and No. 22 general picks. It could possibly be argued that the Kings have not had a success since Adrian Kempe at No. 29 in 2014. If Kirby Dach is out there at No. 5, that is one logical play. If he isn’t, then the Kings cannot screw this one up. Director of Novice Scouting Mark Yannetti and common supervisor Rob Blake must nail this one.

Kaplan: The Edmonton Oilers have a brand new GM in Ken Holland, and this draft will set the tone for his or her new period. Whereas it will not single-handedly change their trajectory, getting an influence participant at No. eight and hitting on a couple of late-round picks would do wonders.

What are the most well liked names within the class proper now?

Peters: Turcotte and Caufield appear to be getting much more consideration. Moritz Seider, the massive German defenseman, is one other surefire first-round decide who raised his inventory towards the tip of the season. And I’ve additionally heard from groups that view Cam York because the prototype for what trendy defensemen appear to be: Common-sized, however good and wonderful offensively. He may go larger than many anticipate.

Who will likely be overdrafted based mostly on what you’ve got seen?

Peters: Samuel Poulin has plenty of the instruments that groups crave in a first-round expertise, together with an excellent strong body and a few attractive puck expertise. My concern is together with his hockey sense and consistency. I imagine he’ll go within the first spherical, however there are fairly a couple of gamers more likely to go after him who would afford groups extra worth than what I feel Poulin in the end will deliver.

Which prospect will fall farther than he ought to?

Peters: He is a bit of extra beneath the radar, however Patrik Puistola has some first-round talents. I simply do not know if that was showcased sufficient for NHL groups to take an opportunity on him. If he drops out of the primary spherical, a staff could be getting big-time worth within the second.

Is there a staff you suppose may commerce up or down in Spherical 1?

Kaplan: Because the consensus is you will get an important participant from No. three by way of No. 12, maybe somebody proper on the surface (Montreal Canadiens at No. 15) sneaks in. The Dallas Stars do not have second- or third-round picks in every of the following two years, which makes them a trade-down candidate for me.

Wyshynski: The Philadelphia Flyers maintain the No. 11 decide, which may web them a pleasant prospect like defenseman Philip Broberg or middle Peyton Krebs. However with GM Chuck Fletcher being aggressive in phrases and actions, I ponder if that’ll proceed with the Flyers’ decide being in play.

Which Day 1 prospect has the most important vary of the place he could possibly be picked?

Peters: I may see Arthur Kaliyev going within the prime 15, and I may simply as properly see him tumbling into the second spherical. NHL groups should resolve stability an elite scoring means (51 objectives this season) with a perceived lack of labor ethic and defensive effort. His skating can also be suspect. I’ve seen good and unhealthy video games for Kaliyev, so I perceive the priority. However there simply aren’t many gamers on this, or any, draft who’ve that goal-scoring expertise, measurement and legit puck expertise. Kaliyev goes to wish a staff that is affected person but in addition holds him accountable in his improvement.

Vasily Podkolzin additionally appears to be everywhere on draft boards. Why?

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Peters: His contract with SKA St. Petersburg within the KHL, together with the truth that it is with a prime membership, places him at the least two years away from coming to North America. He additionally had underwhelming manufacturing each in membership play again house in Russia and on the U18 World Championships. However he has high-end ability and performs with energy. When he is at his finest, there aren’t many gamers within the class higher.

What’s one player-specific ability that can make that participant very useful in in the present day’s NHL?

Peters: Trevor Zegras’ general creativity, particularly on the subject of gaining the zone and with the ability to make performs on the push, is massively useful. He is top-of-the-line playmakers on this draft.

Which lottery staff will likely be most improved in 2019?

Wyshynski: The New York Rangers aren’t stopping with Kakko. I feel they begin biking again up after two years of rebuilding. They made a savvy transfer for Jacob Trouba and will nonetheless add Artemi Panarin. They’ve greater than $19 million in cap area.

Kaplan: The Florida Panthers ought to have been a playoff staff this season. They employed a legendary coach in Joel Quenneville, and so they have the cap area (and audacity) to spend this summer time. They’re favorites to land Sergei Bobrovsky and/or Panarin. How will they not be higher?

How do the Colorado Avalanche, with their two first-rounders, stroll away completely happy on Friday evening?

Wyshynski: The No. four decide continues to be the No. four decide. That is the place Seth Jones and Alex Pietrangelo have been taken in 2013 and 2008, respectively, and that is why somebody like Byram could possibly be greater than only a comfort prize for the Avs. Apart from, let’s face it, they’re enjoying with discovered cash with that Senators decide anyway, and they’re going to be capable to add a possible future contributor in the midst of the primary to enrich that top-four choice.

What are the probabilities a goaltender goes on opening evening of the draft?

Peters: I feel it is just about a lock at this level. Spencer Knight is the consensus No. 1 goalie by a large margin, and plenty of groups I’ve talked to anticipate him to be picked within the first spherical. The one query is how early. It is a pretty deep 12 months for goaltenders specifically, and it could possibly be a place for groups to search out choices on Day 2, as properly.

Spencer Knight is the highest goalie within the draft class, however how excessive will he be drafted? Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire

An NHL participant you are watching to probably be dealt on draft day?

Kaplan: Because it seems Phil Kessel might stay in Pittsburgh in spite of everything, I will go along with the man he was presupposed to be traded for: Minnesota’s Jason Zucker. The winger has now been concerned in superior talks for 2 separate trades that fell by way of — the opposite being with Calgary on the commerce deadline — so I’ve a tough time imagining him in Minnesota for for much longer.

Which prospect staff will dominate the draft?

Peters: The U.S. nationwide staff improvement program is usually a giant provider to the draft, however this 12 months goes to be distinctive even by its requirements. That staff may have as many as seven gamers go within the prime 15 of the draft and as many as eight first-rounders, together with Knight. Nineteen gamers from that staff have been ranked by NHL Central Scouting, and I’ve 15 in my prime 100.

Which staff missing a first-rounder will miss it probably the most?

Kaplan: The Columbus Blue Jackets. They’ve solely two picks in complete, within the third and seventh rounds. GM Jarmo Kekalainen can have a pleasant weekend in Vancouver lounging on a patio.

Wyshynski: The San Jose Sharks. The window continues to be open for them to compete for the Stanley Cup, however stockpiling some future belongings would not harm at this level, particularly contemplating subsequent season’s first-rounder already belongs to Ottawa.

Any fascinating groups relating to how they strategy this 12 months’s draft?

Wyshynski: The Vegas Golden Knights have 9 (!) picks within the first 5 rounds and an proprietor with an insatiable lust for the Stanley Cup. It is laborious to imagine that they will not be aggressive. The Anaheim Geese additionally must make some good picks, together with their pair of first-rounders. They’ve eight gamers on their present roster who’re 27 years previous or older.

Who’s your favourite Day 2 sleeper?

Peters: That is most likely a deep sleeper, however I am a giant fan of the best way Spokane Chiefs middle Luke Toporowski performs. He is a max-effort-at-all-times participant. There’s physicality, grit and work ethic all packed into an average-sized body. I feel he could possibly be had particularly late on this draft, too, maximizing his worth.

To shut, how a few daring prediction for the 2019 draft?

Peters: That is one I might slightly not see come true, however I’ve a sense Caufield slips to the late phases of the lottery, or maybe even to the second half of the primary spherical. I nonetheless imagine he is a top-10 caliber expertise and top-of-the-line pure aim scorers I’ve seen, however I ponder if the NHL overcorrects after the Blues gained a Stanley Cup with a premium on measurement.

Wyshynski: The Panthers purchase at the least one participant Joel Quenneville has beforehand coached in Chicago, maybe even from the present Blackhawks roster.

Kaplan: Regardless of the thrill and hoopla, there are no massive NHL names traded on draft weekend. It was all a tease!