[text_output]This really is one of the best times of the year to be a sports fan. You have baseball playoffs and the new NHL season in their infancies, the NFL season in full swing and the NBA gearing up for the new season where hope springs eternal. Well, unless you are a Knicks fan like me, in which case you are already doing research on the 2019 draft class because you know there is a better chance of the Islanders turning down the chance to sign another depth player than there is of the Knicks competing for a playoff spot.

Which brings me to the point of this article: 2019 NHL draft prospects. The Rangers are in the midst of a rebuild, and it’s pretty clear that if everything plays out in the NHL as it reasonably could be expected to, the Rangers won’t be a playoff team this year. Given this, and the fact that most fans seem to be onboard with the rebuild approach by the team, I wanted to highlight some draft-eligible prospects that you can keep an eye on this year that could potentially hear their name called with the Rangers first round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, which in all likelihood will be a lottery pick.

Yes, yes, I know, Vegas shocked the world last year with their Stanley Cup run and if they can do it than anyone in theory can. I admire your optimism if this is along the lines of how you think, but this isn’t the time or place for that. The point of this article isn’t to argue about how good the Rangers will be or could be if everything goes right. The point is to discuss some guys that, at this way too early stage in the evaluation process, could potentially be in play for the Rangers first round pick next year.

To be abundantly clear, I’m not saying it is time to give up on the season already and solely focus on next year. However, I do believe that having some prospects to track early on and watch them grow and develop as the draft approaches just adds a fun new wrinkle to the season if you are cheering for a rebuilding team, so hopefully this article can help with that.

Below, I provide a tiered ranking of prospects for Ranger fans to monitor. Each tier simply lists players in alphabetical order, and I define the tier at the beginning of the section before getting into some attributes of each player that led to them being included in that tier. I’m 100% certain that many of you reading this will disagree with the tier that I placed some players on, or you may feel I left off someone that should have been included. Please feel free to hit me up on Twitter to discuss if this is the case. This is not meant to be the end-all-be-all; rather, I hope for this to be more of a conversation starter for fans, so I welcome the input and look forward to engaging with some of you as to your thoughts on the tiers of guys that Ranger fans should be keeping an eye out for.

I don’t want my portion of this piece to be extremely lengthy (yes I say this all the time and all the time end up writing way more than I intended), and because of this I am not writing full profiles on each player. That said, it’s clear to see which players I like the most, as some I went far deeper on than others. Overall, I wanted to at least give you all a sense of why each player is worth monitoring this year. If you have any questions about a guy I only wrote a few sentences on, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Following my portion of this article, George Obremski provides his thoughts on some players to watch as the year goes on, and we will eventually publish our 2019 NHL draft rankings, similar to what we did for the 2018 draft.

One caveat I’d like to place on all of this before we get started here: it isn’t even Halloween yet, the draft is still about nine months away and we are talking about 17 and 18 year old kids. Teenagers can change A LOT in just a short time; they can develop tremendously or regress tremendously due to a variety of factors, many of which have nothing to do with the on-ice portion of the game. When June rolls around, I guarantee you that some of the guys on this list won’t even be considered first rounders, and there will likely be a few guys not on this list in contention for a top-10 spot. That is simply the nature of prospect analysis when you are talking this far out from the draft. So please, do not take this as gospel, simply take it for what it is: a list of prospects that I personally find very intriguing at this stage in the game, that if things continue to progress as is or certain things go right in their development, could be in the discussion for the Rangers first round pick next year, which as of now I believe will be in the middle of the lottery.

All the demographic data provided on each player in bold text is courtesy of the fantastic hockey prospect site eliteprospects.com as of the time of writing this. Again, these are teenagers we are talking about, and the height and weight information is very likely to change as the year progresses. Also, it’s not uncommon for players this age to play multiple positions, and different sites have guys listed as different positions. For simplicity’s sake, I’m sticking with the eliteprospects data on everyone, unless otherwise stated.[/text_output][image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” src=”3188″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]Elite Prospects[/custom_headline][text_output]Barring injury, illness or some other unforeseen event out of the players’ hands, Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko should be the top-2 picks in next year’s draft in my opinion. Jack Hughes has more or less been the unanimous choice for the top player in the 2019 draft for over a year already, and many believe he’s on a similar tier to Auston Matthews in terms of prospect quality. The Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko is a unanimous top-5 pick in the 2019 draft, with many having him slotted in at 2 overall. This may be a bit of a hot take, but in my personal opinion, Kakko is the clear choice at 2 as of right now, and I believe that the gap between Hughes and Kakko is smaller than the gap between Kakko and whomever you feel is the 3rd ranked prospect.

Long story short with this tier: even if the Rangers are absolutely atrocious, landing one of these two players is out of their hands, as it will require lottery luck to obtain the top-2 pick that will be most likely be required to have the opportunity to draft one of them. For that reason, please temper your hopes and dreams when it comes to seeing either of these in a Rangers jersey any time soon, as even the best-executed tank resulting in a last place finish results in approximately a 50-50 shot of falling out of the top-3 overall picks.

Jack Hughes: Center | 5’10’’ 165 lbs. | USNTDP (USHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 5/14/2001 | USA

You can simply Google “Jack Hughes” and find dozens of articles gushing about how fantastic of a prospect he is. At this moment, Jack Hughes is the clear choice for the top pick in the 2019 draft, and for good reason. His skill level is quite literally jaw-dropping, and he’s been regarded as one of the best players in the junior circuits for over a year now. At this age, when every year you see tons of growth and development from these kids, it is truly remarkable to be making your competition look silly before your draft-eligible year. In fact, he is so good that perhaps the biggest concern people rightfully had about Oliver Wahlstrom, a highly-touted prospect from the 2018 draft class that went 11th overall to the Islanders, is that people were worried about whether playing on a line with Hughes was pumping his production. Last year Hughes put up 117 points in total for his season with the USNTDP when you combine his U17 and U18 play, one point short of Auston Matthews’ record of 118. Hughes is a legit, blue-chip, no-brainer, top-flight prospect, and I don’t think it is hyperbole to say he is a similar caliber prospect to Auston.

Kaapo Kakko: Right Wing | 6’1’’ 181 lbs. | TPS (Liiga) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 2/13/2001 | Finland

This might sound crazy to say about a guy who is largely considered the second best prospect in his class, but I think that thanks to all of the hyper around Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko is being a bit underrated. Kakko is a fantastic prospect who is putting up great production for a teenager in the Finnish pro league, a league with a very proven track record of this type of production at such a young age translating well to the NHL. He’s not simply putting up numbers on a bad team either; Kakko is producing at a high level for TPS, which is one of the better programs in Liiga. At the time I am typing this, TPS’s season is 8 games old, and Kakko already has 3 goals and 4 assists as a 17-year-old playing against adults. Not only is his production there, but he has the sort of dynamic ability to make opposing defenders look downright silly at times.

He isn’t the fastest skater in the world, but he is a very good all-around skater, as he accelerates quickly, can stop on a dime and is as smooth as they come. He is fantastic with the puck on his stick, and constantly displays smooth hands, high-level stickhandling and consistent ability to create room and opportunities for his linemates. A skill he possesses that I admittedly am incredibly biased towards is that he is extremely patient with the puck. Kids his age often get the puck and want to make a play immediately, but that isn’t the case with Kakko. He has fantastic vision and hockey IQ, and he uses these traits along with his skating and stickhandling to allow the play to develop, and ensure that he makes the best play, instead of settling for the first play. Last but not least, he has a tremendous shot, which couples a quick release with accuracy and power to allow him to consistently beat goaltenders.[/text_output]

Strong Top-5 Pick Contenders

[custom_headline type=”left” level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””][/custom_headline][text_output]This grouping of players, at this point, all have the physical skills, attributes and production to put them in contention for a top-5 pick in the 2019 draft. I have some personal preferences among these guys, and some have, in my opinion at least, a much better chance at being selected in the top-5 than others; however, I think all are reasonably in the argument for top-5 contention right now. This is a group that I think it is reasonable for Ranger fans to get excited about, as the Rangers could very easily be selecting in the 4-10 range next year, allowing them a shot at one of these players.

Bowen Byram: Defense | 6’1’’ 192 lbs. | Vancouver (WHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 6/13/2001 | Canada

Byram is an excellent skater, particularly for a defenseman above 6-foot pushing 200 pounds, and has a well-rounded game that should translate well to the NHL. He is agile, has fantastic edgework and displays great balance, which coupled with his top-end speed makes him one of the best all-around skaters of any defenseman in this draft class. He consistently displays great hockey IQ and both offensive and defensive awareness, and has the abilities to carry the puck up the ice himself or spring a teammate for a clean zone entry. He also has a cannon of a shot, which combined with his skating, stickhandling and vision, should lend itself well to Byram becoming an effective powerplay QB at the NHL level.

He is also very adept in his own zone, and consistently displays all the traits you look for in a defender playing in his own zone: good gap control, strong stick defender and takes good angles to stay in position when a talented forward tries to get by him. As with any 17-year-old, he still has some room to grow in his own zone, but his overall skillset and two-way game is more than enough to have Byram firmly in the conversation for a top-5 pick, and my personal favorite defenseman in this draft class at this point.

Dylan Cozens: Center | 6’ 3’’ 176 lbs. | Lethbridge (WHL) | Right-Handed Shot | DOB: 2/9/2001 | Canada

In a deep pool of high-end centers competing for the potential 3rd pick in this draft class, Cozens is the early favorite of mine. He can play both on the wing and center and has a well-rounded skillset that could definitely translate to him occupying a top-line role on an NHL club. He has a big, lanky frame which he effectively uses to generate a powerful stride that propels him to true top-end speed. I’ve watch Cozens a good amount myself, but I wanted to share with you a line I read about him from Steve Kournianos’s draft profile that really stood out to me, and that I couldn’t say better myself: “He combines all aspects of skating — quickness, acceleration, balance and agility — into one dynamic package that allows him to dictate things rather than play reactionary.”

In addition to his fantastic skating, Cozens also possess a great shot, sporting a quick release, high-level of accuracy and plus velocity. He also is a more than capable passer, consistently displays a high hockey IQ and has strong defensive instincts which should allow him to be a strong two-way player in the NHL. Last but not least, he always is working his ass off, finishing checks, battling for the puck and is tenacious on the forecheck, all traits that will endear him to the fanbase of the team lucky enough to draft him in June. Not to mention, he consistently grades out as one of the best players in Manny Perry’s NHL draft prospects model, and in Manny’s 2019 NHL draft rankings, included in Cozens’s list of cohorts are Matt Duchene, Brayden Point and Ryan O’Reilly; not bad company to be in at all.[/text_output]

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Long story short, Kirby Dach is a big, powerful center with fantastic vision and passing skills and is firmly within the top-tier of playmaking forwards in this draft class. He is a smart player with two-way instincts that consistently gets involved in puck battles and the forecheck. His style of game should lend itself to allowing Dach to be a strong possession player in the NHL that can consistently make those on his line better.

Peyton Krebs: Center/Wing | 5’ 11’’ 181 lbs. | Kootenay (WHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 1/26/2001 | Canada

Similar to Dach, Krebs is also firmly in the top-tier of playmaking forwards in this draft class. While not as big as Dach, Krebs is just as effective of an all-around player and consistently displays one of the best motors and highest hockey IQs of anyone in this class. He has the ability to excel in all three zones, and can play center and on the wing. He is great with the puck on his stick, but equally strong off the puck and always finds a way to find the open space on the ice to put himself in position to make a play. He also has a good and very accurate wrist shot and isn’t afraid to mix it up down low to create scoring chances for either himself or his teammates.

Alex Newhook: Center | 5’ 11’’ 183 lbs. | Victoria (BCHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 1/28/2001 | Canada

Newhook is a guy that is consistently ranked in the top-10 by draft experts, and I’ve seen as high as second overall. He is incredibly fast and has excellent hands and puck skills that make him one of the more eye-popping players in this draft class. He is a balanced offensive player in terms of shooting and playmaking, and consistently shows the ability to make the right play as opposed to the obvious easy play. While the BCHL is not the best league, he also has shown good defensive instincts to this point in his young career, and has the overall skillset and physical attributes that can translate to becoming a two-way force in the NHL. He has committed to play at Boston College next year, and because of which he will be returning to the BCHL this season where he is expected to dominate once again.

Vasili Podkolzin: Right Wing | 6’ 1’’ 190 lbs. | SKA-1946 (MHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 6/24/2001 | Russia

If a Rangers fan were to ask me for only one draft-eligible player they should be watching this year, Vasili Podkolzin is probably my answer. This isn’t because Podkolzin is the most talented player in the world (although he is fantastically gifted), it’s more because he embodies so many of the traits that the Rangers have shown they value through their recent draft selections. Strong two-way ability: check; adept in all three zones: check; good size: check; strong skater: check; high-end motor: check; leadership qualities: check; European: check (ok this one was a bit of a joke, but hey just look at their last two drafts). Honestly, if the Rangers were to create their own model prospect, he would look a lot like Vasili Podkolzin.

Podkolzin is a well-rounded player that can skate, shoot, pass and defend all at a high level. However, don’t take him for a jack of all trades but master of none type, as he has very high-end skill that I believe can translate to him becoming a top-line winger in the NHL. He has an extremely high-end motor and in my viewings of him I don’t think I’ve ever seen him take a shift off. Perhaps his most impressive attribute is his ability to stickhandle at high speeds in tight quarters, allowing him to make opposing defenders look foolish on his way to a scoring chance. One line I read from Cam Robinson’s draft rankings that stood out was, “I don’t love comparisons, but I see enough Nikita Kucherov in him to say it out loud.”[/text_output]

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If it weren’t for Jack Hughes, there would probably be a lot more buzz around the talented Alex Turcotte, who is the second line center for the USNTDP. While only 5’ 11’’, he is already pushing 200 pounds of solid muscle, and constantly puts that power on display in all zones. He is among the best playmakers and best two-way forwards in this draft class and couples his raw talent with great speed and acceleration, making him extremely difficult to play against. Similar to Kevin Hayes, he possesses a very good shot but is a bit too pass first-oriented, leaving me wishing he would shoot more at times. That said, his overall skill set is one of the best in this draft class, and he undoubtedly has NHL top-line potential.[/text_output][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””] Others to Keep a Close Eye On [/custom_headline][text_output]This final, large group of players consists of 12 players that I believe, if they have strong seasons, could reasonably make their way into the top-10 of the 2019 draft, and therefor are all guys the Rangers should be aware of. As I said in the intro, there are absolutely guys in the grouping that will underwhelm this year and fall out of the first round, and there are probably a handful of guys not included here that either deserve to be here, or that will have strong seasons to vault them up into top-10 consideration in June. That said, I think this is a good starting point if you want to go deeper than the 9 players I’ve already discussed, and all of them possess traits that can help them become a lottery pick in the 2019 NHL draft.

Matthew Boldy: Wing | 6’ 0’’ 174 lbs. | USNTDP (USHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 4/5/2001 | USA

Posted 76 points in 61 games with the U17 USNTDP, Boldy has excellent stickhandling and is patient with the puck, and as I’ve said before I’m always very high on teenagers with this sort of poise and patience with the puck on their stick. Has great hands and excellent vision, but needs to improve ono his skating, which appears clunky at times. The talent is there, and if he can improve his skating, he could certainly contend for a top-10 pick.

Philip Broberg: Defense | 6’ 3’’ 198 lbs. | AIK (Allsvenskan) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 6/25/2001 | Sweden

Broberg is a favorite of mine in this group of prospects, part of that is due to the fact that his game is so raw still. Despite having a lot of work to do, Broberg has the raw tools and skills to compete for a top-10 pick in the 2019 draft if he develops properly. The big, strong defenseman is a fantastic skater, and seems to be able to rush up the ice with ease due to his long, powerful strides. He is comfortable with the puck on his stick, and has no issues taking it up the ice himself and leading the rush. He has a solid shot and good vision from what I’ve seen, and he is an adept defender with good gap control and defensive instincts. He does have much room for improvement however with his stickhandling and hands, but if he can improve there he will definitely be in contention for a very high draft pick.[/text_output]

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A shoot-first winger with an excellent release and a heavy and accurate shot. Maxim is comfortably in the conversation for one of the better pure shooters in this draft class. Also is a great skater and has a good sense for the game, and rarely is caught trying to force the play too much.

Cole Caufield: Right Wing | 5’ 7’’ 154 lbs. | USNTDP (USHL) | Right-Handed Shot | DOB: 1/2/2001 | USA

Cole is one of the most intriguing players in this draft class, as he possesses elite level talent, but is tiny in stature, at only 5’ 7’’, 154 pounds at the time of writing this. While the NHL certainly favors skill over size now, once you get to this small, it does become a bit harder to have an impact at the NHL level. He is an excellent skater with a wicked wrist shot and looks like the energizer bunny out there on the ice; he keeps going and going and going… He also consistently displays excellent hockey IQ and has terrific hands. If he is still only 17, and if he can perhaps grow a couple of inches this year and can measure in around 5’ 9’’ at the draft combine, I’d bet he starts popping up in conversations for a top-10 pick, because his skill level is that high.

Anttoni Honka: Defense | 5’ 10’’ 170 lbs. | JYP (Liiga) | Right-Handed Shot | DOB: 10/5/2000 | Finland

I am a fan of Dallas Stars defenseman Julius Honka, and I am in the camp that he has been misused to this point in his career. Despite my belief that Julius is a very talented defenseman, I think that his younger brother Anttoni is the more gifted of the two. Anttoni plays a similar style game to his older brother, but I feel he has a more well-rounded skillset. Personally, I like Honka a lot, and I think if we are talking pure upside, he could contend for a top-5 selection in the draft. However, I do think he has a few more thing to work on with his game to get to that point, which is why I grouped him here instead of the above section.

Anttoni isn’t the most adept defender in this draft class, but he is no slouch either. In my viewings of him (which admittedly may be a small sample size issue here) I found he chased the play a bit too much in his own zone for my liking and was fairly easily outmuscled by even modest-sized opposing forwards, but these are things I believe can easily be corrected with another year in Liiga under his belt. While he is not a physical defender, he has shown the ability to consistently use his stick well to suppress shots and to get into passing lanes to disrupt the play. He is great with the puck on his stick, and is adept in both the neutral and offensive zones. He is a great puck mover, and consistently helps his team efficiently transition the puck up the ice and into the offensive zone. He is also strong passer and has a quick release of a shot, which coupled with his other attributes should lend itself well to Honka being a good power play contributor at the NHL level.[/text_output]

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The Staten Island native Kaliyev also belongs in the conversation for best pure goal scorers in this class. In addition to his proclivity for putting the puck in the net, he is an underrated passer in my opinion. He has speed to burn and drives to the net in a manner that reminds me of Chris Kreider. Had an excellent showing in last season’s OHL championship which placed him firmly in the first-round discussion, and if he can have another strong goal-scoring season for the Hamilton Bulldogs he should be firmly in consideration for a lottery pick in June.

Raphaël Lavoie: Center/Wing | 6’ 4’’ 192 lbs. | Halifax (QMJHL) | Right-Handed Shot | DOB: 9/25/2000 | Canada

Lavoie is another early favorite of mine from this group and I think he has a very good shot at cracking the top-10 in the draft if he continues on his current development arch. At 6’ 4’’ and a wide frame, he has plenty of length and room to add strength, and he uses his size to protect the puck and force his way into the dirty and high danger areas of the ice. His best gift however is definitely his shot, as he has a quick release, high velocity and good accuracy. I know I’ve said this about a few guys already, but Lavoie is in that conversation with the like of Kaliyev and Cajkovic as the best snipers in this class outside of the top-3 or so picks. He is a decent all-around skater and has good top-end speed; however, it takes him a while to get to his dull speed and he does have a tendency to float around a bit. If he can improve his pace and acceleration, I think he will absolutely be hearing his name called very early in this upcoming draft.

Valentin Nussbaumer: Center/Wing | 6’ 0’’ 168 lbs. | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 9/25/2000 Switzerland

Nussbaumer is a bit more of a darkhorse pick here if we are talking about guys that could sneak their way into the top-10, but I do think he is a guy to keep an eye on. He’s one of the oldest players in this class, which should help his performance this year. He can play both center and wing, has a high hockey IQ and motor, is a strong overall skater and has excellent vision. He’s not the most dynamic player, but he’s an adept playmaker, great with the puck on his stick in traffic and consistently shows the ability to make something out of seemingly nothing. He also is a true two-way player, who has shown strong defensive instincts and ability to exit the zone with possession and carry it through the neutral zone for a clean entry. He will need to add strength this year however, and I believe he needs to shoot a bit more; he owns a good shot, and could improve his stock by showing it off more often.

Victor Söderström: Defense | 5’ 11’’ 176 lbs. | Brynas IF Junior (SuperElit) |Right-Handed Shot | DOB: 2/26/2001 Sweden

Admittedly, Söderström plays the exact style that I’ve noticed I’m biased towards, but I firmly believe he is a guy Ranger fans should keep an eye on. He is an top-notch puck-mover and a swift, balanced skater. He is excellent with the puck on his stick, and has great distributing skills and vision. He is a guy I can see running a power play at the NHL level as he has a shot that is good enough to keep the opposition honest, and is a fantastic playmaker from the blue line. I think he is decent in his own zone, and from what I’ve seen he is a good stick defender and does a good job of taking away the high danger passing lanes, but he does have a tendency to chase the play a bit and will need to improve on his decision making in his own zone if he really wants to push for top-10 consideration.

Ryan Suzuki: Center | 6’ 0’’ 172 lbs. | Barrie (OHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 5/28/2001 | Canada

By now, everyone is aware of Nick Suzuki, who is widely considered a top-50 drafted prospect (many have him in their top-30) and was the centerpiece in the Max Pacioretty trade. Ryan is his younger brother, and in my opinion is even slightly more talented than Nick, who is among the favorites in this grouping to challenge for a top-10 pick in June. Ryan is one of the best playmakers in this draft class, as he consistently displays excellent vision, decision making and passing abilities. He has speed to burn and can playmake while at high speeds on the rush, helping him to really jump off the screen while you watch him. He also has a good shot; it isn’t the heaviest in the world but he has a quick release and good accuracy.[/text_output]

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Cam York is so calm and smooth that it honestly looks like he isn’t even trying that hard at times; to be very clear, he has a good motor, and this observation is a compliment, and a testament to his abilities. He is one of the better puck movers among the 2019 crop of defenseman and is great with the puck on his stick. He consistently displays good vision and playmaking ability, which coupled with his other skills allows him to be an effective power play producer. He will need to get stronger and improve on his decision making in his own zone if he wants to hear his name called in the top-10 in June, but he also has tantalizing upside and possesses the raw skills to warrant a very high draft choice.

Trevor Zegras: Center | 5’ 11’’ 159 lbs. | USNTDP (USHL) | Left-Handed Shot | DOB: 3/20/2001 | USA

Zegras, coupled with Jack Hughes and Alex Turcotte, gives the USNTDP an embarrassment of riches down the middle. He is an adept playmaker and has fantastic puck skills. Zegras also is a smooth and fast skater, and can change directions incredibly quickly. He is great through the neutral zone, and consistently is able to enter the opposing zone with possession. While he isn’t afraid to play physical, he absolutely will need to add strength, which hopefully help him add more power to his accurate shot as well.[/text_output][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]George’s Players to Watch[/custom_headline][text_output] Jack Hughes : The hands down #1 pick in this year’s draft and it’s not even close. I believe that if Hughes doesn’t play this season, he would still be the 1st overall pick in the 2019 draft. He almost matched Matthews point totals last year with 117 points (Matthews 118). He already plays a great 200 foot game and his offensive numbers speak for itself. His playing style is similar to Patrick Kane in that he has great vision, just like Kane, and is similar in size. Once in the NHL, he will be in a tier below McDavid and will be in the same conversation as Matthews once in the NHL.

Kaapo Kakko: Kaapo is the best goal scorer in this year’s draft. With the Finnish league underway, Kaapo has already produced at a PPG rate (7 points in 8 games). He is similar to Jagr in that it’s tough to get the puck when he has it in the corners. His edge work is really good and is a very good skater. I think he is the 2nd overall pick in the early stages of the season and it’s his position to lose. His shot is similar to fellow Finn, Patrick Laine.

Dylan Cozens : Dylan probably has the best chance of knocking Kaapo out as the #2 prospect in this year’s draft. He’s already ranked ahead of Kaapo by some like Craig Button. He scored a clutch, yet controversial goal for team Canada in the semifinals of the Ivan Hlinka tournament in late July/early August. He’s the 2nd best center of the draft with good size, shot, skating, and playmaking ability. His work ethic is off the charts as it looks like he doesn’t take a shift off.

Philip Broberg : Arguably the 2nd best defenseman of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft behind Bowen Byram. Broberg is a very good skater and has top 10 talent. That being said, based off pre-season rankings, he’s been all over the place. I’ve see him in the 30’s and in the top 15 in rankings. He is similar to Boqvist of the 2018 draft with high end talent and great skating ability.

Alex Vlasic: The cousin of one of the best defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Alex is similar to his older cousin in that he plays a very good 2-way game. At 6’6” he has NHL size and will turn out to be a solid shut-down defenseman. His skating is solid who doesn’t give opponents a lot of room and is very good at closing the gap. I think if he could improve on his 16 year old season, he could sneak his way into the top 15.