As the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs draw to an end, we begin to look ahead to the 2019 NHL draft. Prospect seasons are either over or ending shortly, leaving interviews and the scouting combine as the last two major steps in the process before the league descends on Vancouver, British Columbia, for the draft on June 21.
Here my top 50 players for the NHL draft, updated from my Feb. 12 version. I've included condensed breakdowns on the top 35 players, along with a key stat or note to know.
Note: Heights and weights are via Central Scouting, stats are from Elite Prospects and ages are representative of how old each player will be on draft day.
1. Jack Hughes, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-foot-10 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
A brilliant playmaker with elite skating ability and hockey sense, Hughes makes everyone around him better.
Key stat: 2.24 points per game in 50 games
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Finland)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 194 | Shot: L
An NHL-ready player who has honed his craft against pros, Kakko is good in all areas of the ice with few noticeable weaknesses.
Key stat: Only Aleksander Barkov (48) and Mikael Granlund (40) had higher point totals in their U18 season against pros in Finland than Kakko's 38
3. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 197 | Shot: R
Dach is both highly intelligent and smooth, which allows him to be one of the more gifted playmakers in the draft despite a lack of explosive skating.
Key stat: 0.89 primary points per game, second among first-year draft-eligibles in the WHL
4. Alex Turcotte, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 185 | Shot: L
When healthy, Turcotte is an absolute beast who plays much bigger than his size. He also has exceptional hockey sense that makes him both a scoring and playmaking threat.
Key note: 1.68 points per game, good for second on the loaded U18 team
5. Cole Caufield, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-7 | Wt: 162 | Shot: R
Despite being undersized, Caufield is the best goal scorer in this draft thanks to elite offensive sense, good timing and a deadly accurate shot.
Key stat: 72 goals
6. Vasily Podkolzin, RW, Neva St. Petersburg (Russia 2)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
An aggressive two-way winger who plays with an edge, Podkolzin mixes power with skill, good hands and a strong shot.
Key note: Podkolzin played at three different levels of Russian hockey and in just about every possible international tournament under the U20 umbrella this year with the Russian national U20 and U18 teams
7. Matthew Boldy, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 192 | Shot: L
A 200-foot winger whose coach compared him to Marian Hossa, Boldy has a unique combination of great puck skills, absurd creativity and exceptional defensive effort.
Key note: 12 points at the World U18 Championship, third in the tournament
8. Trevor Zegras, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 169 | Shot: L
With make-them-miss puck skills and great quickness, Zegras can do a lot with a small amount of space, making him a gifted playmaker.
Key stat: Nine assists at the World U18s
9. Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
One of the more explosive skaters in the draft, Cozens makes plays on the rush and can escape pressure. He lacks the same level of hockey sense of some of the players ahead of him, but he is no slouch in that regard, either.
Key stat: 84 points, most for any U18 player in the WHL in points
10. Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
The class' top defenseman has a particularly intriguing ability to score and drive his team offensively from the blue line.
Key stat: Only 12 defensemen under the age of 18 have scored 26 or more goals in a WHL season, as Byram did this year
11. Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 180 | Shot: L
Krebs is a skilled, play-driving forward who uses special hockey sense and vision to make those around him better.
Key stat: He was captain of both Kootenay and Canada's World U18 Championship team
12. Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton (OHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
With an elite shot, Kaliyev is a natural goal scorer who possesses particularly good puck skills. His lack of north-south speed is viewed as a concern, but it's hard to argue with his special scoring talent.
Key stat: One of just 15 players in OHL history to record 50-plus goals in their U18 season (51)
13. Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Sweden 2)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 199 | Shot: L
A tremendous athlete and the best skater among defensemen in this draft, Broberg steadily improved as the season wore on, showing better offensive awareness, vision and playmaking ability.
Key note: Won the directorate award as the best defenseman at the World U18 Championship with six points in seven games
14. Alex Newhook, C, Victoria (BCHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195 | Shot: L
A highly skilled, silky center who can get around defenders and create space to make plays, Newhook dominated the BCHL ranks. A strong performance at the World U18s showed he can compete with the best of the best in his age group.
Key stat: 102 points, the BCHL lead by 18 points and the seventh most scored by a U18 player in a full BCHL season
15. Cam York, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 175 | Shot: L
York is a confident puck handler and distributor who can pick teams apart from the blue line, while also aggressively jumping into the rush. His defense has improved over the course of the season.
Key stat: 65 points, the NTDP's single-season record for points by a defenseman
16. Raphael Lavoie, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 196 | Shot: R
Lavoie has shown his ability to bully his way to offense and play a strong, aggressive offensive game.
Key stat: 19 goals and 29 points to lead all players in the QMJHL playoffs
17. Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim (Germany)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 183 | Shot: R
Big, mobile and skilled as a right-shot defender, Seider is the kind of blueliner teams are often searching for. The only concern is that he played a somewhat limited role in German pro hockey and didn't get to showcase his talent consistently.
Key note: Seider helped Mannheim claim the DEL title in Germany and was a driving force in Germany earning promotion to the World Junior Championship
18. Nick Robertson, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 160 | Shot: L
Shifty, quick and tenacious, Robertson doesn't have great size, but he has deadly touch that makes him a weapon in the offensive zone and in transition.
Key note: OHL coaches voted Robertson the best stick handler in the Eastern Conference in their annual coaches poll
19. Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara (OHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 5-12 | Wt: 179 | Shot: R
One of the more interesting skaters in the draft in terms of his fluidity and speed, Tomasino matured a lot over the course of the season and showed that he can beat teams with a clever pass or accurate shot.
Key stat: 72 points, tied for fourth among the OHL's U18 players
20. Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 188 | Shot: L
A strong skater with good mobility, Harley is offensive-minded but can be effective on both ends of the ice. He still has a lot of potential to unlock.
Key stat: 58 points, ninth among OHL defensemen this season and tops among U18 blueliners
21. Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 176 | Shot: L
Consistency issues have dropped Suzuki on a lot of boards, but there's little denying his talent with the puck on his stick. He has high-end vision and puck skills that make him difficult to defend, but there are legitimate concerns that he stays on the perimeter too much.
Key stat: 75 points, 16 more than his next closest teammate
22. Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas (Sweden)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 179 | Shot: R
A mature defender who skates well and plays a solid two-way game despite average size, Soderstrom impacts the game in simple, subtle ways while making his team better when he is on the ice.
Key stat: 17:06 minutes per game
23. Brett Leason, RW, Prince Albert (WHL)
Age: 20 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | Shot: R
The third-year draft-eligible was an explosive player for Prince Albert this season. His skating is powerful, and his in-close skill makes him a consistent scoring threat.
Key stat: 1.36 primary points per game, third in the WHL, according to prospect-stats.com
24. Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle (Sweden)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 185 | Shot: L
Hoglander has skill and vision that allow him to excel despite a smaller frame. He has yet to unlock vast potential.
Key stat: 14 points, fifth most among U20 players in the SHL and tops among first-year draft-eligibles
25. Alex Vlasic, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 199 | Shot: L
He is not flashy and his numbers don't pop, but Vlasic plays a game that fits the modern NHL. He defends at a high level, has excellent feet and sees the ice remarkably well.
Key note: 27 points, including 23 assists from the blue line
26. Patrik Puistola, RW, Tappara Jr. (Finland Jr.)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 174 | Shot: L
With the kind of skill that allows him to make great plays under pressure, Puistola has been a major riser this season. He has good speed.
Key stat: 1.18 points per game
27. Spencer Knight, G, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 192 | Catch: L
The top goalie in the draft by a wide margin, Knight is confident between the pipes. He has such a big frame and plays the position so big that it's rare to see him waste any movement in the crease.
Key note: Knight is headed to Boston College next season, where he is expected to carry a heavy load as the team's No. 1 goalie
28. Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 201 | Shot: L
Another mobile defenseman who doesn't possess a ton of flash in his game, Robertson has good two-way skills that have only gotten better as the season has progressed.
Key stat: 0.63 points per game, second among U18 defensemen in the WHL
29. Connor McMichael, C, London (OHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 174 | Shot: L
A high-end skater, McMichael shows excellent touch and an ability to be a threat to shoot or pass.
Key stat: 72 points, most on the London team
30. Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City (USHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 5-8 | Wt: 159 | Shot: R
A remarkable playmaker who has elite vision and high-end offensive sense, Brink sees the game at a high level. That alleviates some of the concerns about his skating.
Key stat: 1.58 points per game
31. Tobias Bjornfot, D, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 202 | Shot: L
He is better at the defensive side, but there were flashes of solid skill from Bjornfot throughout the season. He is a mature defender who moves well and makes smart plays.
Key note: Captained Sweden to its first gold medal at the U18 World Championship
32. Egor Afanasyev, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 201 | Shot: L
A power winger who has the skill to finish, Afanasyev was often dominant in USHL games this season after taking a big step forward in his development.
Key stat: 48-point difference between his rookie total of 14 points in 2017-18 and his 2018-19 total of 62 points in 58 games
33. Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (Finland)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
An intelligent puck mover who defends adequately, Heinola played big minutes in Liiga this season, showcasing his outstanding hockey sense and vision.
Key stat: 18:54 per game to lead all rookies in Liiga
34. Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 160 | Shot: L
A quick, jittery forward who can apply pressure on opposing defenses with his skill, Pelletier put up big numbers in the QMJHL.
Key stat: 89 points, trailing only 2020 super prospect Alexis Lafreniere for the scoring lead among U18 players in the QMJHL
35. Jamieson Rees, C, Sarnia (OHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 172 | Shot: L
Another draft riser, Rees plays with speed and snarl while adding a good dose of puck skills to the mix. A season limited by injury might have ultimately hurt his stock, but there's a lot to like here.
Key note: 0.86 points per game
36. Nolan Foote, LW, Kelowna (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
37. Simon Holmstrom, RW, HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
38. Samuel Poulin, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 208 | Shot: L
39. John Beecher, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 | Shot: L
40. Nathan Legare, RW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-12 | Wt: 205 | Shot: R
41. Kaedan Korczak, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 192 | Shot: R
42. Robert Mastrosimone, LW, Chicago (USHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 158 | Shot: L
43. Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-12 | Wt: 190 | Shot: R
44. Ilya Nikolayev, C, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia Jr.)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
45. Henry Thrun, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
46. Vladislav Kolyachonok, D, Flint (OHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 184 | Shot: L
47. Drew Helleson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 193 | Shot: R
48. Kirill Slepets, RW, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia Jr.)
Age: 20 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 165 | Shot: L
49. Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 173 | Shot: L
50. Brayden Tracey, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 177 | Shot: L