For 16 teams, the Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing. The other 15 look ahead to the 2019 NHL draft on June 21.
Since our first run through the first round, there has been plenty of movement. We still have the scouting combine, pre-draft team meetings and more ahead of us, so expect more shuffling as draft day in Vancouver approaches.
Let's see how the first round is shaping up with our second mock draft -- and the first post-lottery one -- of the year.
Note: This mock uses the draft lottery results for the opening and the reverse order of the NHL standings after that, alternating between the West and East for the final four picks. As you'll note, the Tampa Bay Lightning are still in the last spot, despite being on the brink of elimination. We'll have more mocks before draft time, but for now, we stick to regular-season point totals for the playoff team draft positions.
1. New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Adding Hughes could significantly change the dynamic of New Jersey's offensive attack. A one-two punch of Hughes and Nico Hischier would give the Devils a formidable duo for years to come. Landing the No. 1 pick should also be a nice enticement for Taylor Hall to hang around as he heads into the final year of his contract.
2. New York Rangers
Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Liiga)
Kakko is a game-changer for the Rangers' rebuild. He'd be more of a cornerstone piece than any prospect currently in their deep system. He brings a scoring threat to the wing and can reach the NHL right away.
3. Chicago Blackhawks
Vasili Podkolzin, RW, SKA (MHL)
The Blackhawks have a world of options available to them with this pick, but the team has to get this one right. Podkolzin is the best player available. If the Blackhawks receive enough assurance that Podkolzin will sign after his next KHL contract expires, I don't think it's that difficult a choice. If they don't, they might have to go in another direction.
4. Colorado Avalanche (via Ottawa Senators)
Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
An explosive skater with the potential to land as the future No. 2 behind Nathan MacKinnon, Cozens is an intriguing option here. He'd make a pretty fast team faster, and I don't think he has a particularly long NHL debut timeline.
5. Los Angeles Kings
Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
The Kings addressed some key needs up front in their last draft, and getting a talent on the blue line such as Byram would do wonders for a team that needs to get younger. Byram dominated in the WHL this season but probably will need more seasoning before he can leave junior.
6. Detroit Red Wings
Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Dach is a big, versatile forward who has high-end playmaking skills. He isn't necessarily explosive, but his hockey sense is high-end, and he can pick teams apart in the offensive zone.
7. Buffalo Sabres
Trevor Zegras, C/W, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
A dynamic offensive performer, Zegras would continue adding skill to the Sabres. He can play down the middle or on the wing, makes a ton of plays and would be a solid asset for the Sabres' attack.
8. Edmonton Oilers
Matthew Boldy, LW, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
A talented wing who combines a solid, strong frame with good puck skills, Boldy can play with high-skill players. If the Oilers want to go back to Leon Draisaitl at center, Boldy might be the winger to get the most out of him, assuming he reaches his full potential.
9. Anaheim Ducks
Alex Turcotte, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Who will replace the likes of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry? Turcotte is a high-end, playmaking center with a good work ethic and vast skill set.
10. Vancouver Canucks
Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay Ice (WHL)
The Canucks might be tempted to take a defenseman in this slot, but I don't think any of those still available move the needle enough to pass on a quality forward such as Krebs. He played extremely well despite Kootenay's struggles and is lauded for his character, hockey sense and vision.
11. Philadelphia Flyers
Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas (SHL)
The Flyers have gone heavy on the forwards in recent drafts, and this might be a good range to pick up a right-shot defenseman. Soderstrom played big minutes in the SHL this season, and though he's an average-size blueliner, his hockey sense is excellent.
12. Minnesota Wild
Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
The Wild desperately need scorers, and Kaliyev scores in bunches. Adding another shooter to the mix now that they have Ryan Donato will go a long way.
13. Florida Panthers
Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
The Panthers have a variety of options here, but they'd likely look to address defense in this range, especially if all of the top forwards are gone. Harley has size, skating ability and terrific offensive sense. He seems like a fit.
14. Arizona Coyotes
Cole Caufield, RW, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
The undersized sniper is going to be one of the hardest players to slot. But if Kaliyev is already off the board, it'd be hard to ignore the value the 5-foot-7 Caufield brings with perhaps the best shot in the draft.
15. Montreal Canadiens
Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Allsvenskan)
Size, athleticism and speed are all hallmarks of Broberg's game. He also seems to fit the mold of blueliners Montreal tends to target earlier in the draft.
16. Colorado Avalanche
Spencer Knight, G, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
Having already added a quality forward to the mix with their first pick at No. 4 (Cozens), I could see the Avs jumping at the top-ranked goalie in the draft. They don't have a lot in their pipeline, and Knight might be the best goaltending draft prospect since Andrei Vasilevskiy.
17. Vegas Golden Knights
Alex Newhook, C, Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
The Golden Knights traded dynamic forward Nick Suzuki earlier in the season. They might be tempted to land Nick's younger brother, Ryan, in this range, but Newhook is rising back up draft boards. He put up cartoonish numbers in the BCHL this season.
18. Dallas Stars
Cam York, D, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
The Stars have their cornerstone defenseman, Miro Heiskanen, but it wouldn't hurt to add more offensive firepower on the blue line. York is a skilled, offensive-minded defenseman who would make a nice complementary piece down the road.
19. Ottawa Senators (via Columbus Blue Jackets)
Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (Liiga)
The Sens are loaded at forward but have a relatively thin defensive pipeline. That could be addressed without giving up value: Heinola is an average-sized, smart defenseman who played much of the season professionally in Finland.
20. Anaheim Ducks (via St. Louis Blues)
Brett Leason, C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Another quality forward who has a shorter timeline to reach the NHL as a third-year-eligible player, Leason has power forward tendencies that fit well with the style the Ducks have traditionally played.
21. Carolina Hurricanes
Philip Tomasino, C/W, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
The Hurricanes can continue adding to a young group of forwards. Tomasino has been rising up charts all year, as he is one of the better skaters in this draft class.
22. New York Rangers (via Winnipeg Jets)
Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Suzuki's dip on draft boards this season -- due to others rising rather than anything he did -- could be the Rangers' gain. He's a playmaking center with fantastic vision and shifty puck skills.
23. Pittsburgh Penguins
Moritz Seider, D, Adler Mannheim (DEL)
The Penguins have among the shallowest prospect pools in the league, so maybe they aren't interested in taking a riskier swing here. That said, Seider is a talent on the blue line with a big frame and a lot of poise. You don't see a ton of draft picks out of the German pro ranks, but Seider is worth a shot.
24. Nashville Predators
Raphael Lavoie, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Lavoie's draft stock has dropped a bit from the beginning of the season, but he does a little bit of everything. He'd fit right in with what Nashville is building, as he can play with pace.
25. Los Angeles Kings (via Toronto Maple Leafs)
Nicholas Robertson, LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
A quick, darty forward who has a devastating release on his shot, Robertson goes a little against what you'd traditionally expect from the Kings. He isn't the biggest player, but if the team is starting to trend toward speed and skill, Robertson has that in spades.
26. New York Islanders
Connor McMichael, C, London Knights (OHL)
The Isles have gone heavier on the defensemen in their past few drafts. How about adding a quality forward such as McMichael who can play the game with speed?
27. Washington Capitals
Yegor Afanasyev, LW, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
The Caps have focused so much on drafting defensemen that you'd have to think they start to look at forwards. In this range, the Caps would certainly be interested in a power winger with a lot of scoring potential such as Afanasyev.
28. Buffalo Sabres (via San Jose Sharks)
Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
The Sabres have built a better blue-line prospect pool, but getting Robertson is smart here. He isn't the flashiest player, but he is effective and has a lot of raw potential left to unlock.
29. Boston Bruins
Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Moving up draft boards much of the season, Thomson is an intriguing right-shot defenseman who defends quite well. His offensive upside might be a little more limited, but he moves the puck well.
30. Calgary Flames
Samuel Poulin, RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
With a good, solid frame and physical strength, Poulin has soft hands for a bigger player. I think Western Conference teams are going to key on him in the latter stages of the first round.
31. Tampa Bay Lightning
Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
A shifty, smaller player who put up some great numbers in the Q this season, Pelletier seems like he's right up Tampa's alley. But it's starting to look like the Bolts could have more options earlier in the first round.