The 2019 NHL draft class is marked with exceptional talent but not a lot of consensus on the board beyond Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. There are a handful of polarizing prospects who appear all over team, scout and analyst rankings heading into the June 21 draft.
We picked five especially interesting draft-eligible players -- Arthur Kaliyev, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Nicholas Robertson and Ryan Suzuki -- and asked an anonymous NHL scout for an Eastern Conference team for an honest assessment of their games. Then we gave the players a chance to critique the critiques, and I provided my own analysis to round it out.
Note: Ages are as of the June 21 draft date.
Jump to:
Kaliyev | Byram | Cozens | Robertson | Suzuki
Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton (OHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
Player profile: A projected first-rounder, Kaliyev led the OHL with 51 goals this season and had 102 points, which was good for sixth in the league and most among draft-eligible players in major junior. He is one of the draft's most polarizing prospects, and he ranked No. 12 on my early May board.
What a scout said: "He's an elite goal scorer with size and doesn't need a lot of space to score. He can score from bad angles and doesn't need a perfect pass -- he can shoot from anywhere."
Kaliyev: "I've been working on my shot since I started playing hockey, every day. Before practice, after practice, I practice getting passes. I work on one-timers every time."
Peters: "Kaliyev has the best one-timer in the draft, as far as I'm concerned. He also has incredible net sense, showing he can score from anywhere. He has a shooter's mentality."
Scout: "Skating for him, can he play a high-tempo game? His quickness and his pace need to show up. For a big guy like that, you probably wish he was a little more involved physically and a little grittier. For him, maybe he's looking at us saying I'm not playing a gritty game, and I'm still scoring 50 goals, and I'm big."
Kaliyev: "I think I'm pretty good at full stride and have agility. I need to get better at my first couple of strides at skating forward. NHL pace? I think I'm still working on it, and I'm getting better. I think I'm physical going to the net, getting those rebounds, getting those hits. On the forecheck, I'll go sometimes. But I think I'm more of a skill player than I am a physical guy."
Peters: "Kaliyev is good on his edges, but the concerns about his north-south speed are valid. But the important thing is being able to get to the spots where he can score, and he does that well."
Scout: "He's going to need to play a better 200-foot game. He's going to need to show more drive and more compete in all three zones. Is he a guy who needs the table set, or will he go fight and get pucks for himself? Does he need someone to carry him? He can be a little too pedestrian. But at the same time, he did score 50 goals."
Kaliyev: "I can't get 50 goals and 100 points not trying at all, especially on a really young team that didn't do that well. If I played on a powerhouse team, then you could say that. There are a lot of chances I created myself, stole the puck, had a lot of takeaways. I think I'm making progress [on my defensive game]. I've watched a lot of video with my coaches this season, and I'm trying to become a great 200-foot player."
"I can't get 50 goals and 100 points not trying at all, especially on a really young team that didn't do that well." Arthur Kaliyev on a scout saying he needs to show more drive
Peters: "The effort level is one of the most frequent complaints about Kaliyev in the scouting community. It's a big reason his projections are all over the map. There's a risk that he doesn't find that extra gear, but the quality of his scoring ability is so rare that I don't know if I'd let the relative lack of grit sway me from taking a potential 40-goal man in the NHL."
Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
Player profile: The top-ranked defenseman in the draft, Byram had 26 goals from the blue line and 71 points in the regular season before leading Vancouver on a run to the WHL final. He then had 26 points in 22 postseason contests. He came in at No. 10 for me in my most recent draft ranking.
What a scout said: "Byram put up huge numbers and can move the puck really well. Good first pass, good in transition. He likes to get up in the play. He activates and jumps into holes well and scored a lot of goals that way. But how does he think he's going to score at the NHL level? Can he do it the same way? Can he change his game? Is his shot good enough from the point? Can he score different ways? That's what I wonder."
Byram: "Obviously, the game is a lot tighter in the NHL, but I think the players are unbelievable with their skill. They're able to find everybody wherever they are, so I think I'd still be able to do that in the pros. That's always been part of my game. I think that's the way the NHL is trending right now. You've got to be smart. I think I have a quick shot and not necessarily a hard shot. I've got a pretty good release, so sometimes I can fool a goalie. I think I'm good from mid-to-close range."
Peters: "I thought this was a valid point from the scout. Some of the holes that Byram exploited over the course of the season are not going to be there in the NHL. But I think his offensive sense is such that he'd eventually learn how to pick his spots in the NHL."
Scout: "His ability to defend would also be a question for me. Gap control, defending the rush and things of that nature need to improve. Is he going to be able to play on the penalty kill? It's so tight at the NHL level, so if a team gets a book on you, can you adapt?"
Byram: "[Having better gap control and defending the rush] is something that I've been told throughout the year, and I've been working on it. Everyone has flaws in their game. It's definitely one area that I'm focusing on this summer."
Scout: "I don't know if he's an elite skater for a 6-foot defenseman. Sneaking down low, the higher you get up, the less chances there are. He likes to go. He wants to go. That's on his mind. Sometimes he gets a little ahead of the play. For him, sometimes he needs to take care of his end a little more. At the same time, that makes him what he is. There are times that he needs to take more on his shoulders in terms of defending. It's not all negative because he had success and the team had success, so why wouldn't you keep doing that? Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson play like that. But are you a two-way defenseman, or are you just an offensive guy?"
Byram: "I'd be the first to admit that we weren't necessarily the best offensively, so sometimes to get things going, I had to maybe take a risk. But in the end, I think I was kind of relied on to create offense. So I sometimes had to do whatever I had to do to create. I think I'd probably say I'm like a B-plus skater. That's another thing I constantly work on, my strength. Skating ability is such a high priority, so the quicker I can get, the faster I can get is only going to help me. I've got a long way to go to be what I want to be in the NHL."
Peters: "I do think Byram was in a position where he had to be an offensive driver. If it wasn't him, the team might not have had as much success. Byram has really good mobility, and I don't view his skating as a hindrance, but I'd agree with him and the scout that he hasn't reached an elite level yet. There are several better skaters among defensemen in this draft."
Byram: "I'd like to play like Morgan Rielly. I think he's so good on both sides of the puck. He kills penalties and plays on the power play. So that's where I want to be at some point in my career. Also, a guy like Drew Doughty, I think he plays with a competitive nature, a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and I feel like I do the same things. I'm a pretty physical player most of the time. I think I do a good job of hitting and pinning guys and using my body to protect the puck."
Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge (WHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
Player profile: Cozens has been one of the top players in the draft class all year. He had 84 points to lead all U18 players in the WHL this season and will become the first player from Canada's Yukon Territory to be drafted in the first round. I have him at No. 9 on my most recent board, but he has top-five upside.
What a scout said: "He is going to be a big horse once he fills out, assuming he gets stronger. And he's kind of a jack-of-all-trades. I think he skates well with pretty good vision, a pretty good shot. Cozens is pretty good away from the puck and comes with pretty good hands. You put that in with his size, and you've got a pretty good player. My concern is, are any of those things high-end? Is he a high-end playmaker or shooter? Everything he does is pretty good. I just don't think I see one thing that puts him over the top or that I could say is elite."
Cozens: "I think I'm a guy who can play any type of style. I want to be a guy who is seen as a top-line producer and who can play power play, penalty kill, trying to hold the lead or when we need to get the lead back. My skating has always been one of my best assets, and it's been better than most guys. It's helped me a lot. The biggest thing I've been working on is my acceleration, getting to full-speed in the first couple steps. I'd say it's powerful, but I want to be better at being explosive and powerful. I'd also say my shot puts me near the top of this class."
Peters: "I think Cozens is one of the better skaters in this draft in terms of pure speed. He does a great job of getting to the outside, and he should be a weapon in transition. If his skating is not elite, it's close. And he does have a good shot but would not describe it as elite."
Scout: "Are you drafting a center or a wing? He's played both. If he's a center, is he highly creative enough? Are any of those skills going to make him a first-line player, or is he a middle-six guy?"
Cozens: "I see myself as a center, but I'm willing to play both. I'm a centerman who can play wing. And I think I could be a top-line player, a playmaker and a two-way player. I can create a lot of chances from nothing, and I think I'm really good defensively. I'm responsible in the D-zone. My hockey sense, anticipation, speed and quickness in getting into areas all help there. I believe I can play in the NHL next year."
Peters: "Cozens is certainly more valuable as a center, but I share some skepticism with the scout in terms of his ability to drive play from the middle. He may be deadlier offensively playing down the wing, but I think there's still time for him to figure things out and be an NHL center."
Nicholas Robertson, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
Age: 17 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 160 | Shot: L
Player profile: Robertson very well could go in the first round, but his size keeps him from being a Day 1 lock. He's a highly skilled player with a ton of upside, registering 55 points in 54 games for the Peterborough Petes. I had him at No. 18 in my most recent ranking.
What a scout said: "He's undersized but doesn't play small. Robertson is competitive and gets to hard areas. He has a really good motor and is always moving his feet, playing both sides of the puck and scoring big goals. And he's not afraid. He's not just a perimeter guy, he'll get to the front of the net. I believe, for him, it's his compete, drive and motor that can get him to the NHL."
Robertson: "I've always been a smaller guy, and I'm not worrying about it. For a scout to say I'm very competitive and I get to the hard areas, that's a big compliment to me. That's what I try to get noticed for. So for scouts to know that I can bring that no matter what, it feels very good to notice that."
Scout: "His release on his shot is elite. I like that he uses a long stick for a smaller guy. I think that plays to his advantage, makes him better. I'm a big fan. He can make plays and score goals."
Robertson: "I've always had a good shot, and this year, I had more confidence. I still don't think I've reached my full potential there. My style of play, I don't just try to shoot from anywhere. I like to take the best option possible."
Peters: "The shot is one of the special attributes in Robertson's arsenal. He has to be in the top five in this class in terms of release. It's devastating. What I like best about it is that it's so compact. He can get it off from a lot of different angles, but he also has the stick-handling capability to escape pressure and give himself a better look."
"I've always been a smaller guy, and I'm not worrying about it. For a scout to say I'm very competitive and I get to the hard areas, that's a big compliment to me." Nicholas Robertson on a scout saying he doesn't play small
Scout: "I like his skating, but I don't know if it's elite or high-end for a guy his size. I'd say it's pretty good, and I don't think it will hold him back. He's got the motor. He's got little, quick, short bursts."
Robertson: "I would agree to some point with him on my skating. I don't judge a skater by how fast he goes, and I would say I'm high-end in terms of my quickness and turns and how deceptive I am with my feet. As far as top speed, I heard that a lot in my combine interviews. I think it will come with strength, time and age. I don't think skating will have an impact on me for the draft."
Peters: "Robertson missed some time at the beginning of the season with an injury and didn't necessarily get off to the best start production-wise. He built as the season went on, and the skill set he has suggests he's only going to get better as he gets older when it comes to production."
Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 176 | Shot: L
Player profile: Suzuki has been highly touted for years but saw his draft stock trend down just a bit toward the end of the season as a top player on a poor team. He had 50 assists and 75 points for Barrie this season. Ryan has a lot of similar attributes to his brother, Montreal Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki. In my early May ranking, Ryan came in at No. 21 overall.
What a scout said: "What comes to mind first is skill, vision and playmaking ability. I see him as a playmaking center and a good one. He makes big-time plays on his forehand, backhand, on the rush and out of cycles. And he's deadly on the power play, making plays other guys just can't make."
Suzuki: "I think the best part of my game is my hockey IQ. The way I process the game is a lot better than a lot of the players in this draft class. That's what makes me the player I am: Being able to recognize where my teammates are or where they're going to be and figuring out a way to play with anybody. I feel like I see a lot more on the ice than other players do, and being able to make plays that others can't see is big for me. That's kind of always how I've been. I love passing and love seeing my teammates score. Sometimes I need to be a little more selfish. But being able to make those plays that others don't see, that's good to hear."
Peters: "I think Suzuki has one of the best playmaking skill sets in the draft. He handles the puck well, and the vision is at an elite level. He's one of the best distributors in the draft."
Scout: "My concerns are compete level and willingness to go to hard areas. Is he going to pay the price? Does he want to play the easy pond hockey-type game, or is he going to be willing to play a hard gritty game? I saw games in Barrie when he'd pull you out of your seat with a play, and then you won't find him for two periods. But he doesn't need a lot of space, and a lot of guys don't have that ability. It'll be a high-upside pick with high risk."
Suzuki: "I think that's something that people get confused about. They might look at me and say, 'Oh, this guy doesn't work hard or compete, but I think it's a case of me trying to think the game. Sometimes I'll overthink it maybe, I'll stop my feet moving, and it'll look like I'm not skating hard. But I know I'm competing mentally. I think sometimes people want to see me be more aggressive and physical, but I'm working hard in different areas. And I feel I do have grit in my game. I'll go in and give a guy a shot. I'm not going to take stuff from other guys, but I'm not going to go lay guys out 24/7. I definitely have a side of my game that's a little more on edge. If that comes out more, maybe they'll say I compete more, but I definitely know I'm competing."
Peters: "The areas of compete and grit are two concerns I hear a lot from scouts about Suzuki. He can hang on the perimeter a little bit, but he makes plays too. The NHL requires a lot of middle-ice play to score, and that's where Suzuki needs to improve. I appreciate his answer about why it looks the way it does, but at the NHL level, he's going to have to process things a bit quicker to have success."