First things first, I’d like to give credit to Billy for doing the 2018 NHL ReDraft. He did this a while back and this blog still gets views to this day so I thought to myself, as a Rangers fan, where would the Rangers be if they hadn’t taken Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick? At the time, the top 3 picks were set in stone. Now, 6 seasons later, we’ll go back with what we know now and redo the top 10 picks of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. New Jersey, you’re on the clock.
1. New Jersey Devils – Jack Hughes
I’m sure this wasn’t a surprise. Other than getting hurt from time to time, Jack Hughes has been every bit as advertised. In 314 games, Hughes has 115 goals 171 assists and 286 points. In 12 playoff games, Hughes has 6 goals 5 assists for 11 points.
Jack Hughes not only is an elite skater but he also sees the game in a way that very, very few other NHL players see it. New Jersey hammers their pick and has a franchise player for years to come.
New Jersey 2019 Pick : Jack Hughes
2. New York Rangers – Moritz Seider
If the Rangers hadn’t picked Kaapo Kakko then there would’ve been hell to pay. He was the consensus number 2 selection in a group where it was thought the talent was an immediate drop off after Hughes and Kakko. Knowing what we know, how dangerous would the right side of the Rangers defenseman crew would be with Fox, Seider, and Trouba and or Schneider? Seider has the ability to punch you in the face, hammer one home from the point or scare any forward even thinking about entering his corner in the zone. What could’ve been.
New York 2019 Pick : Kaapo Kakko
3. Chicago Blackhawks – Matt Boldy
A line having Bedard and Boldy on it would’ve been bad news bears for the rest of the National League. In 208 games played Boldy has put the puck in the net 77 times while helping out the boys another 100. He can skate well for his size, wants the puck and has really been a great player for Minnesota – I can only imagine what’d he’d do playing with 98.
Chicago 2019 Pick : Kirby Dach
4. Colorado Avalanche – Cole Caulfield
Players like Cole Caufield are my favorite for the fact that he can tell whatever scout who said he was too small to shove it up his hoop. Cole Caulfield should be playing under Martin St. Louis but if we were to redraft 2019 then he would be in Colorado. Playing with the likes of MacKinnon or Landeskog, Caulfield would certainly be a fan favorite in Colorado. As if that team needs another potential 40 goal scorer. Yikes.
Colorado 2019 Pick: Bowen Byram
5. Los Angeles Kings – Bowen Byram
Outside of Drew Doughty, has there been another premiere defenseman in LA? Byram handles the puck with the best of them and although undersized, he does not back away from a battle. Oh, he also won a Stanley Cup. Pedigree, baby.
Los Angeles 2019 Pick: Alex Turcotte
6. Detroit Red Wings – Dylan Cozens
I can’t be the only one who thinks Cozens would’ve been an Yzerman wet dream. He plays hard, he plays the right way, he can put pucks in the back of the net and he’s annoying as shit to play against. A line with a combination of him and Dylan Larkin would drive teams crazy on a nightly basis.
Detroit 2019 Pick: Moritz Seider
7. Buffalo Sabres – Trevor Zegras
This would’ve been such a classic Buffalo Sabres pick. Why? Because he would’ve Michiganed 3 times – Buffalo would’ve been calling for a statue and then they would be eliminated from the playoffs mid November and probably demanded a trade year 2. Think Jack Eichel but without any dog in him what so ever.
Buffalo 2019 Pick: Dylan Cozens
8. Edmonton Oilers – Matias Maccelli
Anyone going to Edmonton with a chance to play with McJesus is going to have padded stats. Maccelli has 115 points in 175 games played with the Phoenix, No Arizona, No the Utah No Names – Can you imagine the bump playing with the two horsemen? Sheeeeesh.
Edmonton 2019 Pick: Philip Borberg
9. Anaheim Ducks – Kaapo Kakko
I don’t know if Kaapo will be anything more than a defensively sound, bottom 6 player. I believe his confidence was buried his rookie season and hasn’t really been around the right players to make his game take off. Maybe a change of scenery would be nice but if you ask any Rangers fan – they’d say their none too pleased with their second overall pick stick handling the puck directly into the corner, stop and start two times, just to have the puck go the other way.
Anaheim 2019 Pick: Trevor Zegras
10. Vancouver Canucks – Alex Newhook
Alex Newhook actually makes sense for Vancouver. You need players like this on your squad to make deep runs into the playoffs. Newhook can play up and down the lineup, has good wheels and would help out the penalty kill as well.
Vancouver 2019 Pick: Vasili Podkolzin
Other notable honorable mentions include: Kirby Dach, Nils Hoglander, Shane Pinto and Arthur Kaliyev.
The Morning Skate 
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