Montreal Canadiens: Mock Draft for the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft
By Omar L
27th Overall: Tampa Bay Lightning – Jakob Pelletier, LW (Ken)
The Lightning have often gambled on speed and skill above size or physicality and they get an abundance of skill late in the first round. Pelletier is not a huge player at 5’9,” but he scored 39 goals and 89 points for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. He is a smart player and plays well at both ends of the ice. Exactly the type of player the Lightning seem to introduce into their lineup every year.
28th Overall: Carolina Hurricanes – Samuel Poulin, RW (Josh)
The Carolina Hurricanes have a wealth of good young defencemen so I could definitely see them going the forward route with this pick. The Hurricanes are going to need to bring in good young forwards in the next few years to compliment and build off of what they have right now. The Canes are going to need to add some forwards with scoring abilities to their roster, who also have the ability to become a top-6/top-9 scoring forward that the Canes can rely on for scoring depth. Poulin is an offensive player with unbelievable creative instincts. He definitely can carry the puck offensively and distribute the puck to his teammates.
29th Overall: Anaheim Ducks – Lassi Thomson, RHD (Emmanuel)
Although his skating isn’t great and could use some work, Thomson makes up for it in his shooting abilities. Based on videos of his play, teams could use him more as the shooter on the PP more than the playmaker. I would consider him as more of a project compared to the other defensemen available in the draft.
30th Overall: Boston Bruins – Matthew Robertson, LHD (Sebastian)
As much as I was enticed by having the Bruins select a projected undrafted prospect with their first-round selection, I must be unbiased in this mock draft. With that being said, the Bruins should select Karl Alz… I mean Matthew Robertson at 30th overall. He is one of the most complete defensemen in the 2019 draft class. His two-way play caught the eyes of many scouts this season. He was very responsible defensively while putting up 40 points in 52 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL this past season. His mature frame is also a big asset. He stands at 6’4″ and weighs in at 201 lbs. The left-shooting defenseman is a rather safe bet to make the NHL for a prospect available this late in the first round.
Next. Seven Players to Target Outside the First Round. dark
31st Overall: Buffalo Sabres – Tobias Björnfot, LHD (Dom)
After drafting a centre 7th overall in Dylan Cozens, it would be wise for the Sabres to take a d-man with their second 1st round pick. This draft is loaded with defensemen in the latter half, so again it works out perfectly for Buffalo. Bjornfot is a second-year eligible player, going undrafted in 2018. I believe he has shown enough to warrant a 1st round selection. Smooth skating prototypical modern-day rearguard.