Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2019 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today our 2019 NHL Mock Draft – Lottery Edition.
We are less than a week away from the 2019 NHL Draft, and with that in mind, we are ready to release the annual LWOH NHL Mock Draft. We will go through the first two rounds of the draft, in four parts, breaking up the non-playoff teams and playoff teams.
For those who haven’t read the LWOH mock before here are the rules.
1) No trades except for those that have already been made by NHL teams.
2) A two-round Mock draft will be done in four parts. The first part comes out today. More parts will be added in time.
3) Clicking the Player’s name will bring you to a full scouting report.
So with that out of the way, I present the LWOH 2019 NHL Mock Draft.
You can check out Picks 1-15 here and Picks 16-31 here.
NHL Mock Draft 2019 Second Round – Picks 32-46
32.) Ottawa Senators – Samuel Poulin, Right Wing, Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Ville Heinola
After adding a defender with their first pick, the Sens look for a forward at the start of the second round. Already 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, Poulin plays with power. He drives the net with the puck and forechecks hard without it. Poulin also shows skill, with soft hands which he marries with his skating, size, and power. He has a powerful and accurate wrist shot. His shot features a quick, deceptive release, allowing him to fool goaltenders from the outside. Poulin also has an outstanding one-timer. He has a real knack for getting open without the puck and taking a pass to get off that shot. Poulin can also score with a strong snapshot and a very good backhand. Playing on the wing, he also has the vision and passing skills to be a playmaker.
33.) Los Angeles Kings – Tobias Bjornfot, Left Defence, Djurgardens IF, SHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Picks: Kirby Dach and Spencer Knight
After picking up a centre and a goalie with their first two picks, the Kings look to address the blue line early in round two. Bjornfot could develop into a two-way defenceman with a top-four role at the NHL level. Like most young defenders, he still has some things to learn in his own zone. That said, he is already highly advanced for a draft-eligible player. The question here is the offence. It is rarely seen in Bjornfot’s international appearances (with the exception of the Five Nations tournament). While he puts up points in the domestic junior league, there is also some concern that the points per game did not grow much from last season to this one. If a team can unlock his puck-moving and offensive skill, they could have a gem on their hands.
34.) New Jersey Devils – Ryan Johnson, Left Defence, Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Jack Hughes
After adding Jack Hughes in the first round, the Devils look to build the blueline early in round two. Johnson is an outstanding skater. His first few steps and acceleration are close to an elite level of this draft class. He moves well in both directions, with a silky-smooth stride that looks like he is gliding above the ice. The overall top end speed could improve a bit but is still very good. From here Johnson adds in excellent footwork, strong agility, edgework, and pivots. This gives Johnson the ability to transition quickly from offence to defence or vice-versa. Johnson’s game is based on his skating ability and smarts. He can carry the puck out of dangerous areas in his own end, avoiding forecheckers and starting the rush.
35.) Detroit Red Wings – Mikko Kokkonen, Left Defence, Jukurit, SM Liiga
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Dylan Cozens
The Wings really need to improve their defence, but in the first round of our mock draft, there was not a defender worthy of the sixth overall pick on the board. Instead, they went for a centre. With their second pick, they get a defenceman. It is clear that he has offensive skills. He uses his agility to walk the line and open up passing and shooting lanes. Kokkonen has a hard slap shot. He also has a very good wrist shot and a quick release. Kokkonen can sneak down from the line to get that shot off from the top of the faceoff circles. He keeps his shot low, allowing teammates to create a screen, get a deflection or to pounce on a rebound. Kokkonen is also an effective playmaker both in transition and in quarterbacking the power play.
36.) Carolina Hurricanes (from Buffalo) – Nicholas Robertson, Left Wing/Centre, Peterborough Petes, OHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Brett Leason
Robertson has a non-stop motor and is always involved in the play. He is surprisingly physical for his size, getting in quickly on the forecheck and being an absolute wrecking ball against opposing defenders. His ability to cause turnovers and create havoc helps to create offence. He is also willing to get to the front of the net and create a disruption. Robertson is good at getting tip-ins, burying rebounds, or just causing goaltenders problems with his presence and ability to get under their skin. Robertson is also skilled. He has good hands and can make strong stickhandling moves around a defender. When he creates space, he is able to get off a good wrist shot and quick release. Robertson is shifty and this helps create passing and shooting lanes.
37.) Carolina Hurricanes (from NYR) – Egor Afanasyev, Left Wing/Centre, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL
Afanasyev is a big forward and a good skater for his size. While not a speedster, he more than keeps up with the play. Afanasyev plays a power game. He gets to the front of the net, creating havoc, pouncing on rebounds, getting tip-ins, and making himself available to take a pass and fire a quick shot on the net. He can also score goals from further out and has an excellent arsenal of shots. His snapshot and wrist shot are both powerful, accurate and feature quick releases. He also has a very good slap shot and one-timer. Afanasyev can also play the role of playmaker. He protects the puck extremely well down low.
38.) Edmonton Oilers – Nolan Foote, Left Wing, Kelowna Rockets, WHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Matthew Boldy
Just as they did with their first-round pick, the Oilers again look to improve their depth on the wings, finding players to put with one of their amazing centre group. Foote has very good size and plays with a blend of skill and power in his game. His size helps him to protect the puck on the cycle, and control the puck down low below the hash marks. He keeps the puck moving with smart passes to teammates and moves to get himself open and take it back. Foote has an excellent wrist shot and a very quick release. When teammates have the puck, he finds open areas to get that shot off. He is also quick to get in on the forecheck, causing pressure and creating turnovers. He can also play the role of playmaker.
39.) Anaheim Ducks – Nils Hoglander, Left Wing, Rogle BK, SHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Picks: Trevor Zegras, Matthew Robertson
With their third pick in the top 40, the Ducks improve their offensive depth for the second time. Hoglander is surprisingly physical for his size. He gets in quickly on the forecheck, pressuring defenders into mistakes and creating turnovers. He is also more than willing to play in the dirty areas of the ice, battling hard on the boards and in front of the net. Hoglander has even been known to throw big hits. He controls the puck well below the hash marks, creating plays on the cycle. He can stickhandle and make plays at high speed, making him a deadly threat off the rush. His speed forces defenders to back off, which opens up passing and shooting lanes. Hoglander can take advantage of this with a quick wrist shot and excellent release; though he can stand to add power.
40.) Vancouver Canucks – Anttoni Honka, Right Defence, JYP HT Jyvaskyla, SM Liiga
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Alex Newhook
After adding a centre in the first round, the Canucks look to defence in the second round. Honka makes up for his lack of size with his strong skating ability. His speed and acceleration going forwards are excellent. While his backwards skating is very good, it’s just a step below the forward movement. Honka also has very good footwork. His agility, edgework, and pivots allow him to transition quickly from offence to defence and vice-versa. He can walk the line in the offensive zone, creating passing and shooting lanes. Honka is much more of a playmaker than a shooter. He is good at using his lateral agility to create shooting lanes. However, he lacks power on his slap shot. This could also be something that improves as he adds muscle mass.
41.) Philadelphia Flyers – Brayden Tracey, Left Wing, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Cole Caufield
The Flyers improved their forward depth in the first round and do that again in the second. Tracey is a very smart player. He has a knack for finding openings in the defence. He can convert with a quick wrist shot or one-timer. Tracey’s shot is strong, accurate, and features a quick release. A natural goal scorer, he can also convert in tight. Tracey has good hand-eye coordination as well as the ability to pounce on rebounds. He doesn’t always show the willingness to battle in dirty areas as he prefers to dart in and out of space. If the defenders play physically, he has a tendency to play on the perimeter. Tracey uses his smarts to be a playmaker as well. He anticipates where linemates are going and has the patience to wait for them to get open. He can make tape-to-tape passes through tight areas.
42.) Minnesota Wild – Jamieson Rees, Centre, Sarnia Sting, OHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Philip Broberg
The Wild added a defender in the first round and look to fill a need at centre here. Undersized, Rees makes up for it with outstanding skating ability. Rees creates offence by combining his outstanding skating with his excellent hands, and relentless work ethic. He is a very good stick-handler and can make plays while moving at top speed. This allows him to open up passing and shooting lanes, especially off the rush. He has good vision and the passing ability to find teammates in good scoring areas. He works hard to win battles along the boards, creating turnovers, and quickly getting the puck to a teammate in front of the net. Rees is always in the middle of the action, no matter where it is on the ice. He does not let his lack of size prevent him from playing a gritty and physical game.
43.) Chicago Blackhawks – Mads Sogaard, Goaltender, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Alex Turcotte
Corey Crawford has had recent injury issues and it is time that Chicago thinks about putting an eventual succession plan in place. At 6-foot-7, Sogaard is a huge goaltender. He takes up large portions of the net and gives shooters little to look at. Even when he is down in the butterfly his chest reaches the crossbar. Sogaard tracks pucks well and moves side-to-side quickly. However, he isn’t always under control and can sometimes overslide. With his long legs, he can also give up a big five-hole when he is moving side-to-side. He is very good at stopping the first shot. For his age, he shows good rebound control, but like most young goalies there is still room to improve. His legs are also powerful and quick. He has a good glove hand and strong blocker. Sogaard also likes to get out of his net and play the puck.
44.) Ottawa Senators (from Florida via San Jose) – Robert Mastrosimone, Left Wing/Centre, Chicago Steel, USHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Picks: Ville Heinola, Samuel Poulin
A pure sniper, Mastrosimone has an extremely heavy wrist shot and excellent release. His shot is already close to NHL ready. He also has a great one-timer. Mastrosimone is smart enough to find the soft spots in the opponent’s defence and set himself up to take a pass from a teammate and take that shot. Mastrosimone is also good at using his hands to change the angle on his shots, creating issues for goaltenders. He absolutely loves to shoot and will let it fly on the net from anywhere. The only question here is his accuracy as he can have a tendency to put a lot of shot attempts wide. Mastrosimone has very good stickhandling ability and uses this to beat defenders in one-on-one situations. He also uses it down low to protect the puck in the cycle game.
45.) Arizona Coyotes – Marshall Warren, Left Defence, US NTDP, USHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Peyton Krebs
The Coyotes added a centre in the first round. They look to add defensive depth with their second-round pick. Warren is an outstanding skater. He might be undersized for a defender, but his skating ability more than makes up for it. Warren handles the puck very well. This allows him to skate the puck out of dangerous areas in his own end, as well as to lead the rush through the neutral zone. He is poised and patient at the opponent’s blueline and can quarterback a power play unit. Warren has good vision and passing skills, allowing him to start the breakout with a good first pass, as well as to create in the offensive zone. His lateral movement allows him to walk the line and open up both passing and shooting lanes.
46.) Montreal Canadiens – Vladislav Kolyachonok, Left Defence, Flint Firebirds, OHL
Previous NHL Mock Draft Pick: Moritz Seider
The Habs have built a deep prospect pool. However, one area of clear need is left defence. They take a step to address that need with Kolyachonok. An outstanding skater, Kolyachonok uses this as the basis of a strong two-way game. He has very good speed both moving forwards and backwards. However, his first few steps and his acceleration really stand out. His skating can be described as explosive, as he can power into a hit, or win a short race for a loose puck, or turn on an extra gear to carry the puck past a forechecker or a defender in the neutral zone. He combines this with really good footwork and agility. Kolyachonok’s pivots are crisp, giving him the ability to transition quickly from offence to defence and vice-versa. He is strong on his skates. His balance allows him to protect the puck when carrying it as well as to win battles in the corners and in front of the net.
