With the 2019 NHL Draft around the corner, we created our own a mock draft of the first round including making the Montreal Canadiens selection at 15.
1st Overall: New Jersey – Jack Hughes, C (Dom)
While the battle for 1st overall has been a much talked about topic, Hughes seems to be the best player available. Even though he may not be more NHL ready than Kappo Kakko, he is a centre and in this league, nothing is more valuable than a centreman.
2nd Overall: New York Rangers – Kaapo Kakko, RW (Omar)
The New York Rangers hit the jackpot winning the second lottery and the chance to draft this incredible player. Kakko is one of the most NHL-ready players in the draft based on his playing style and production playing overseas with men in Liiga (the same league Jesperi Kotkaniemi was drafted out of in 2018). He’s a very strong player who rarely loses the puck and has the IQ to make something happen with it whenever it lands on his stick.
The Rangers have done a good job in stockpiling first-round talent over the years with Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, Vitali Kravtsov, K’Andre Miller, and Nils Lundkvist. Kaapo is another piece that can help them change the scope of the organization likely being able to see time with the likes of Mika Zibanejad sometime next season.
3rd Overall: Chicago Blackhawks – Bowen Byram, LHD (Ken)
The Blackhawks continue to build what will one day be the best blue line in the league. In the past two drafts they have taken Adam Boqvist, Henri Jokiharju and Nicolas Beaudin. With Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook unable to handle the minutes they once did, it will soon be time to pass the torch. A top four of Byram with Boqvist, Erik Gustafsson and Jokiharju will make the Blackhawks a dynasty once again in the near future.