1- New Jersey Devils- Jack Hughes

Position: Center

Team: US National U18 Team

Stats: 50 GP, 34 G, 78 A, 112 PTS

Country: USA

Summary: The younger brother of top Canucks prospect Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes has held onto the number 1 spot ever since the rankings came out despite challenges from Kaapo Kakko. The elite center dazzled for the US National Team and he has phenomenal offensive abilities which will be invaluable for the Devils for years to come. 

2019-20 Role: 2nd Line Center for the New Jersey Devils

2- New York Rangers- Kaapo Kakko

Position: Right Wing

Team: TPS (Liiga)

Stats: 45 GP, 22 G, 18 A, 40 PTS

Country: Finland

Summary: Kaapo Kakko has been giving Jack Hughes a challenge this year. The versatile Finnish winger defeated Aleksander Barkov’s record for most goals by a first-year draft eligible player. The Rangers have undergone one of the fastest rebuilds ever and Kakko will be a key piece in bringing the playoffs back to Broadway. 

2019-20 Role: 1st Line Winger for the New York Rangers

 

3- Chicago Blackhawks- Bowen Byram

Position: Defenseman

Team: Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Stats: 67 GP, 26 G, 45 A, 71 PTS

Country: Canada

Summary: The Chicago Blackhawks got lucky at the draft lottery and have an opportunity to help their aging defense core. The Blackhawks D needs to get younger and a guy like Bowen Byram is a perfect opportunity as the Hawks transition away from their aging D of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook to a younger core led by Bowen Byram, Henri Jokijarju and Erik Gustafsson. 

2019-20 Role: 2nd or 3rd Pairing Defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks

 

4- Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa)- Alex Turcotte

Position: Center

Team: US National U18 Team

Stats: 37 GP, 27 G, 35 A, 62 PTS

Country: USA

Summary: The Avalanche will boost their center depth with Alex Turcotte. Despite being overshadowed by Jack Hughes, Turcotte had an impressive year with the US Team and managed to become a top prospect. Look for Turcotte to become an important part of the Avalanche when he reaches the bigs joining an impressive young core containing Nathan Mackinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Tyson Jost and Cale Makar along with veterans Gabriel Landeskog, Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie. 

2019-20: Turcotte will attend the University of Wisconsin

NHL Arrival: 2020-21

 

5- Los Angeles Kings- Dylan Cozens

Position: Center

Team: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

Stats: 68 GP, 34 G, 50 A, 84 PTS

Country: Canada

Summary: The LA Kings need a rebuild and the first step of the process is adding a young center to the team. This comes down to two options Trevor Zegras or Dylan Cozens. Cozens offensive ability overshadows Zegras and the Kings need offense. 

2019-20: Lethbridge

NHL Arrival: 2020-21

 

6- Detroit Red Wings- Trevor Zegras

Position: Center

Team: US National U18 Team

Stats: 60 GP, 26 G, 61 A, 87 PTS

Country: USA

Summary: Zegras is an elite two-way center. The Red Wings are in the middle of a long rebuild and they need another center along with Dylan Larkin. Zegras is the answer. Zegras also has the versatility to move over to winger if Joe Veleno impresses. 

2019-20: Boston University

NHL Arrival: 2021-22

 

7- Buffalo Sabres- Cole Caufield

Position: Forward

Team: US National U18 Team

Stats: 64 GP, 72 G, 28 A, 100 PTS

Country: USA

Summary: That is not a typo. Cole Caufield scored 72 goals in 64 games for the US U18 Team which has helped him emerge as a top prospect. A pure sniper with a high risk high reward stock, the Sabres should role the dice and pick him. Jeff Skinner will not be an elite sniper forever even though they signed him to that awful contract. Caufield is a pure sniper and look for him to become a 40 goal scorer with Jack Eichel fielding him passes (as long as the Sabres horrible development doesn’t rush him) as he will be the 4th pick from the USNTDP in the top 7. 

2019-20: University of Wisconsin

Arrival: 2021-22

 

8- Edmonton Oilers- Vasili Podolzkin

Position: Right Wing

Teams: SKA-St Petersburg (KHL); SKA-Neva St Petersburg (VHL); SKA- St Petersburg 1946 (MHL)

Stats: KHL- 3 GP: 0,0,0  VHL: 14 GP, 2,3,5  MHL: 12 GP, 6,2,8

Country: Russia

Summary: With Vasili Podkolzin, the Oilers must learn from their past mistakes. Patience. They rushed over Jesse Puljujarvi who has struggled in North America. The rushed over Nail Yakupov who went back to Russia and had a solid season (maybe a possible NHL return in the future???) but the Oilers need to let Podkolzin develop. If they let him have the right development, they may have found the answer to who to play with McDavid.

2019-20 Team: St-Petersburg

Arrival: 2021-22

 

9- Anaheim Ducks- Kirby Dach

Position: Center

Team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Stats: 62 GP, 25-48-73

Country: Canada

Summary: The Ducks need a youth rebuild. Guys like Getzlaf, Kesler and Perry are too old now. It’s time to hand over the reigns to guys like Sam Steel, Max Jones and Richard Rakell. Picking Kirby Dach is the 1st step on the way to a youth rebuild in Anaheim.

2019-20: Saskatoon (WHL)

NHL Arrival: 2021-22

 

10- Vancouver Canucks- Matthew Boldy

Position: Left Wing

Team: US National U18 Team

Stats: 64 GP, 33-48-81

Country: USA

Summary: Another product of the USNTDP, Matthew Boldy has been an elite two-way winger for the US team. The Canucks have an impressive young core in Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes. Adding Boldy will help them as Boldy can both be a shut down winger and a scoring threat.

2019-20: Boston College

NHL Arrival: 2021-22

 

11- Philadelphia Flyers- Peyton Krebs

Position: Left Wing/Center

Team: Kootenay Ice (WHL)

Stats: 64 GP, 19-49-68

Country: Canada

Summary: Despite recently tearing his Achillies, Krebs is still a top prospect. The three-zoned threat is a speedy skater and can provide some value to the Flyers. However, the Achillies will likely delay his development.

2019-20: Recovering from an Achillies tendon tear. Once recovered he will rejoin Kootenay

NHL Arrival: 2022-23

 

12- Minnesota Wild- Philip Broberg

Position: Defense

Team: AIK (Allvensekan)

Stats: 41 GP, 2-7-9

Country: Sweden

Summary: I honestly have no idea what the Wild are doing right now. Broberg will help boost the Wild defense in the future but he will take a while to develop.

2019-20: Sweden

NHL Arrival: 2022-23

13- Florida Panthers- Spencer Knight

Position: Goalie

Team: US National U18 Team

Stats: 32 GP, 27-3-0, 2.50 GAA, .906 SVPCT

Country: USA

Summary: The Florida Panthers are a team hopefully on the rise. This pick is a hard one. Sam Montembeault proved that he could be a legitimate NHL goalie this past season and Ryan Bednard is on the rise. The Panthers also have been linked to Sergei Bobrovsky too. The Panthers need defensive help. However, Knight is simply too good to be passed on. Being described as the best goalie to enter the draft since John Gibson, Knight would be a nice pick. It also will help the Panthers see how Sam Montembeault really performs under pressure and give them a valuable trade chip if need be. 

2019-20: Boston College

NHL Arrival: 2023-24

 

14- Arizona Coyotes- Alex Newhook

Position: Center

Team: Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)

Stats: 53 GP, 38-64-102

Country: Canada

Summary: The Coyotes barely missed the playoffs and after losing Dylan Strome, the Yotes need a center. Alex Newhook is a solid pick for them. A phenomenal skater, Newhook will be attending Boston College.

2019-20: Boston College

NHL Arrival: 2022-23

 

15- Montreal Canadiens- Ryan Suzuki

 

Position: Center

Team: Barrie Colts (OHL)

Stats: 65 GP, 25-50-75

Country: Canada

Summary: The brother of fellow Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki, I think the Habs will try to unite the brothers. It would be a nice story and the Habs are a decent team already.

2019-20: Barrie

NHL Arrival: 2023-24