2019 NHL Mock Draft: Fifth Edition

Here is the fifth edition of my 2019 NHL Mock Draft.

1. New Jersey Devils- Jack Hughes, Center, USNDT: Hughes is somebody people have been talking about since last year in terms of young up and coming impact draft prospects. He's going to come in and have an immediate impact on a team that needs young assets to go with Taylor Hall and former number one overall pick Nico Hischier.

2. New York Rangers- Kaapo Kakko, Right Wing, Liija (TPS): The Rangers have to be thrilled for making this big of a jump in the lottery. Kakko is somebody that will jumpstart this rebuild as he broke a ton of scoring records in Liija. He will also make an immediate impact and would be yet another prospect to add to a suddenly loaded prospect group featuring Vitaly Kravstov and K'Andre Miller.

3. Chicago Blackhawks- Alex Turcotte, Center, USNDT: Turcotte is somebody that is very a dynamic two-way center that's stock is rising. He's playing in the Under-18 World Championship and is thriving in the tournament, which is making people think he could be the third guy off the board on draft night.

4. Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa Senators)- Kirby Dach, Center, Saskatoon (WHL): Dach is one of the fastest risers with a week to go before the draft since he is the most NHL-ready player in the draft other than Hughes and Kakko, so the Avalanche could be getting a great player here. He excels on offense with his instincts and his vision.

5. Los Angeles Kings- Bowen Bryam, Defenseman, Vancouver (WHL): The Kings have options with this pick as they could trade the pick, take a forward, or go defense like I have here. Bryam is the best defenseman in the draft and the Kings need more young defenseman as Drew Doughty is aging.

6. Detroit Red Wings- Cole Caufield, Center/Wing, USNDT: The Red Wings could go in a bunch of different directions here. Caufield is someone who's draft stock is rising due to his versatility he provides and he could pan out into a top six forward.

7. Buffalo Sabres- Dylan Cozens, Center, Lethbridge (WHL): Cozens is somebody I'm very high on and I feel has a ton of potential. He's very dynamic and would give the Sabres a great number two center behind Jack Eichel down the road.

8. Edmonton Oilers- Trevor Zegras, Center/Wing, USNDT: Zegras is somebody who's stock is rising because of his versatility and has smart vision. He's a good two-way player too and he would be someone the Oilers would move around in their lineup because of his versatility.

9. Anaheim Ducks- Vasili Podkolzin, Right Wing, St. Petersburg (KHL): Podkolzin is someone that was outstanding in the World Junior, but wasn't putting up stats offensively in Russia. I can see Podkolzin slipping further than this due to contract concerns with the KHL, but at the same time due to his upside, I can see him being picked in the top three.

10. Vancouver Canucks- Matthew Bodly, Right Wing, USNDT: Bodly is yet another USNDT player taken in the lottery. He has a ton of size and score the puck from both sides of the wing and is someone the Canucks would take a chance on.

11. Philadelphia Flyers- Peyton Kerbs, Left Wing, Kootenay (WHL): Kerbs is somebody that is a dynamic offensive force like some of the other wingers in the top of the draft. He's fast and has a good hockey IQ which the Flyers would like.

12. Minnesota Wild- Victor Sodestrom, Defenseman, Brynas (Superelite): The Wild go defense here as they take Sodestrom to add youth to a defense that needs it. He's someone that is a smart player that could be great offensively and is reliable defensively.

13. Florida Panthers- Philip Brodberg, Defenseman, AIK (SWE): The Panthers could go a number of directions with this pick. Brodberg is someone that is a good offensive defenseman that has good vision as well as controls the game well in all zones.

14. Arizona Coyotes- Arthur Kaliev, Left Wing, Hamilton (OHL): Kaliev is somebody that can flag out score. Some people have concerns with his skating ability and his two-way game, or else he would be in the conversation for a top ten or even a top five pick.

15. Montreal Canadiens- Thomas Hardley, Defenseman, Mississauga (OHL): Hardley is somebody that is an excellent two-way defenseman and is probably a steal with this pick. He is somebody the Habs can have on their top pair down the road.

16. Colorado Avalanche- Bobby Brink, Right Wing, Sioux Falls (USHL): The Avalanche take the fast rising winger here. Brink isn't the fastest skater, but has good footwork and agility, allowing him to weave in and out of traffic and around defenders.

17. Vegas Golden Knights- Ryan Suzuki, Center, Barrie (OHL): The younger brother of former Knights first rounder Kurt, Ryan may end up being the better prospect. He's a great skater and has good vision for the game as well as great playmaking skills.

18. Dallas Stars- Cam York, Defenseman, USNDT: The USNDT dominance continues as the Stars take York. He's somebody that could be a top four D-man on someone's roster and he is someone was thought out to be a lottery pick a few weeks ago, but his stock has dropped.

19. Ottawa Senators (from Columbus Blue Jackets)- Raphael Lavoie, Center/Wing, Halifax (OHL): Lavoie is someone who's draft stock is rising that could be a immediate contributor for the Senators. He is a physical player, but also someone with speed and can wire a heavy shot.

20. New York Rangers (from Winnipeg Jets)- Moritz Seider, Defenseman, Adler (SEL): The Rangers go defense here with their second first rounder to continue building their defense depth. Seider is somebody that is a great-two way defenseman and is a force to be reckoned with.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins- Nils Hoglander, Right Wing, Rogle (SHL): The Penguins take the forward with their first rounder. Hoglander is a small player that is very fineness with and without the puck and a team like the Pens could use a player like this.

22. Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Matthew Robertson, Defenseman, Edmonton (OHL): Robertson is somebody that provided very good two-way play this past season. He seems like somebody a rebuilding team like the Kings would take a chance on.

23. New York Islanders- Phil Thomasino, Center/Wing, Niagara (OHL): Thomasino is somebody that is versatile and has a knack of making plays with a ton of speed. That's something that the Islanders like in players.

24. Nashville Predators- Samuel Poulin, Left Wing, Sherbrooke (QMJHL): Poulin is someone who's stock is falling to the point where he could drop into the second round. His size, combined with above average puck handling, shooting, and play-making skills makes him an attractive ‘power forward’ NHL prospect.

25. Washington Capitals- Patrik Puistola, Left Wing, Tappara-U20 (SM-Liiga): Puistola is one of the fastest risers as the draft is nearing us. He is someone that is fast and has excellent offensive skills and instincts, but his defensive game is a work in progress.

26. Calgary Flames- Tobias Bjornfot, Defenseman, Djurgarden (Superelit): Bjornfot is one of the faster risers with about a month to go until the draft. He's a fluid skater with escapability who can log big minutes. His quick release on his wrister helps create rebounds of seemingly harmless attempts.

27. Tampa Bay Lighting- Ville Heinola, Defenseman, Lukko (SM-Liiga): Heinola is somebody that is very good at attacking and making odd-man situations. His moves make people remind him of Rasmus Dahlin.

28. Carolina Hurricanes- Spencer Knight, Goalie, USNDT: There hasn't been a goalie with the fire and intensity like Knight drafted this high in a long time. The Hurricanes really don't have a long term solution in goal with Petr Mrazek's future uncertain and Knight certainly is capable of being that guy.

29. Anaheim Ducks (from San Jose Sharks via Buffalo Sabres)- Jakob Pelletier, Center/Wing, Moncoton (QMJHL): The Ducks take a versatile forward here with their first rounder. Pelletier is somebody that has great tenacity and skill as well as generating chances off the forecheck.

30. Boston Bruins- Brett Leason, Center/Wing, Prince Albert (WHL): Leason is somebody rare in the sense he was undrafted last season and now projected to be a late first or second round pick and that says a lot on how much he has improved as a player. He can flat out score and has good size and plays a power game.

31. Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis Blues)- Connor McMichael, Center, London (OHL): McMichael is somebody that is very crafty and a type of player that the Sabrss add to what could be a contender sooner rather than later. He's also great at finishing and he stood out among a London Knights team that's loaded with scorers.