When the hockey world turns its eyes to the 2019 NHL draft on June 21, one thing is for sure: Not everyone is going to agree on every pick made, with the likely exception of the surefire top-two selections of Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. Everyone has their own draft boards, and no two teams' prospect rankings match exactly.
But today, every team nails its picks, at least in my eyes. I played general manager for each team at each pick in the first two rounds of the draft, from No. 1 to No. 62. This is each team's best possible selection given who is still available. I'm not projecting picks, but rather giving the best-case selection for the team at each spot while considering needs, value and availability. Team preferences don't play in here.
Let's run through my picks team by team. And all 62 selections are in order at the bottom to see how the mock draft developed.
Note: Pick Nos. 30, 31, 61 and 62 reflect a Bruins Stanley Cup championship, even though the series is currently tied, 2-2. Call it home-ice advantage, but really it's just because someone has to win. But in the case of a Blues championship, the Sabres and Bruins would make the same selections at Nos. 30 and 31, just in reverse order. Likewise, the Devils and Blues would make the same selections at the end of Round 2, but the order would flip.
Jump to a team:
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI | COL
CBJ | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA | LA | MIN | MTL
NSH | NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ
STL | TB | TOR | VAN | VGS | WSH | WPG
Or jump to all 62 picks in order
Anaheim Ducks
Round 1 (9): Matthew Boldy, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Round 1 (29): Tobias Bjornfot, D, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Round 2 (39): John Beecher, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
The Ducks have a system that's especially deep at forward, and while they could be tempted to go for defense early, I don't think a potential top-six winger in Boldy is worth passing on if he's available. Should the Ducks go after a defenseman at the No. 9 spot, I wouldn't hold it against them, but I like Boldy's pro projection better than the top blueliners remaining (Philip Broberg or Victor Soderstrom).
Plus, there should be a few attractive defensemen later in the first round, and that's where Bjornfot comes in. He has trended up all season and ended on a high note by captaining Sweden to gold at the World U18 Championship. Bjornfot is an excellent defender, and his offensive game is coming along. In the second, the Ducks can add the big, speedy Beecher, whom they can park at the University of Michigan for the next three years before needing him to enter the mix.
Arizona Coyotes
Round 1 (14): Cam York, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Round 2 (45): Robert Mastrosimone, LW, Chicago (USHL)
The Coyotes need to add some talent to their future on the blue line, and this is an especially safe range to go after York. He is the embodiment of the modern-day defenseman, with excellent offensive abilities. He can get the puck up the ice quickly. Then in the second round, the Yotes could add Mastrosimone, a strong two-way forward who has both a good work ethic and some solid skills.
Boston Bruins
Round 1 (31): Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City (USHL)
The Bruins have only one pick in the first two rounds and don't have a ton of glaring needs in their system. There's a chance they could look to add defense here at the end of the opening night of the draft, but I think Brink -- whose middle name is, no joke, Orr -- could be the best available in terms of skill. He's an exceptional playmaker, even though he, as an undersized skill player, doesn't necessarily fit the Bruins' typical player profile.
Buffalo Sabres
Round 1 (7): Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
Round 1 (30): Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (Finland)
Buffalo's last two drafts have been really strong, and it has a chance to really deepen its prospect pool with these picks. If the Sabres are lucky enough that Dach falls, he'd be an easy pick as a potential long-term No. 2 pivot behind Jack Eichel. If Dach isn't around, either Cole Caufield or Matthew Boldy could be there as potential future top-line wingers. And with that second first-rounder, I think Heinola is an extremely smart player with solid puck-moving capabilities. He'd help the Sabres' blue line continue to head in a positive direction.
Calgary Flames
Round 1 (26): Alex Vlasic, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
The Flames have an especially shallow prospect pool but could give it a nice boost on the blue line with an intriguing project in Vlasic. The 6-foot-6 blueliner has good mobility and defensive sense for his size. Give him two or three years to marinate in college hockey, and he could be ready to step into the NHL.
Carolina Hurricanes
Round 1 (28): Patrik Puistola, RW, Tappara Jr. (Finland Jr.)
Round 2 (36): Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Round 2 (37): Simon Holmstrom, RW, HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Round 2 (59): Samuel Bolduc, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Carolina has a very strong prospect pool and can really do some damage with its draft package for 2019. Puistola has trended up over the course of the season and has enough skill to be a late first-round splash. The Canes are pretty well set on defense for the foreseeable future, but Thomson is a safe two-way option.
Meanwhile, Holmstrom is a high-upside forward with good size and scoring ability, and Bolduc is the kind of project that you take a chance on when you've got those extra picks as a cushion. He's one of the best athletes in the draft but remains very raw in terms of hockey sense and skill. But there's some intriguing upside there.
Chicago Blackhawks
Round 1 (3): Alex Turcotte, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Round 2 (43): Nathan Legare, RW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
The Blackhawks could definitely consider adding Bowen Byram here, but I think Turcotte is the best bang for the buck at No. 3. His draft stock is on the rise, and he seems like a stylistic fit for the Blackhawks, even if he isn't on the roster to start the season. Chicago will have a litany of options at No. 43, but the most intriguing to me based on what was available in this case is Legare. He's one of the best pure goal scorers in this draft, even though he's not the quickest skater. Chicago lacks higher-end young scorers in their system outside of Alex DeBrincat.
Colorado Avalanche
Round 1 (4): Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)
Round 1 (16): Alex Newhook, C, Victoria (BCHL)
Round 2 (47): Pyotr Kochetkov, G, Ryazan (Russia 2)
Why take Byram with super-prospect Cale Makar already in the system? Well, Colorado is heavy on right-shot defensemen. Byram being a left-shot would give the Avs two cornerstone blueliners around whom to build. On top of that, the Avs would be able to add a high-upside forward at No. 16. Newhook has a combination of speed and skill that would fit right in with the way the Avalanche are trending as a team.
I know there are Colorado fans who would really love to see the team use No. 16 on goaltender Spencer Knight, but if you can land a high-end goalie prospect in the second round, you can maximize the first-round gains. And Kochetkov is a late-blooming prospect who has all of the tools to be an NHL netminder.
Columbus Blue Jackets
No picks in Rounds 1-2
The Jackets went all in this season, trading away their first-rounder to Ottawa as part of the package that acquired Matt Duchene. Their second-rounder was already gone, having been traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before the 2017 expansion draft.
Columbus has only two draft picks: a third- and a seventh-rounder. It will be hard to make a big dent with those picks, but the Blue Jackets have some decent depth in their prospect system despite trading away some pieces near the deadline.
Dallas Stars
Round 1 (18): Raphael Lavoie, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
The Stars so rarely go with consensus in the first round, but I think Lavoie would be the best player available in this range and a sensible fit with them. Lavoie's draft stock has also rallied with an exceptional performance during the QMJHL playoffs; he scored 20 goals in 23 games for the Halifax Mooseheads. We'll see if he remains on the board this long, but he has that mix of size and quickness that I think would speak to the Stars' management.
Detroit Red Wings
Round 1 (6): Cole Caufield, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Round 2 (35): Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton (WHL)
Round 2 (54): Vladislav Firstov, LW, Waterloo (USHL)
Round 2 (60): Mads Sogaard, G, Medicine Hat (WHL)
The Red Wings are one of the real wild cards of the draft. How much will Steve Yzerman coming in as general manager change things? I could see the Wings going a variety of different directions with their highest pick, including nabbing Vasily Podkolzin.
That said, an intriguing splash would be adding the best goal scorer in the draft in Caufield before landing Matthew Robertson early in the second round. Robertson's projections are a bit all over the map, so he could theoretically be available at No. 35. In the latter stages of the second, Detroit could make another bet on skill with Firstov and look to deepen its goaltending pool with the third-best goalie on a lot of boards this draft season, the big 6-foot-8 behemoth Sogaard.
Edmonton Oilers
Round 1 (8): Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge (WHL)
Round 2 (38): Nolan Foote, LW, Kelowna (WHL)
The chips would have to fall just right, but I think Cozens would be a great fit, as he can play center or wing, and plays the game at a high pace. I think he's better offensively on the wing, but he has good defensive sense. Cozens also brings some size to the table, which wouldn't hurt this Oilers team. Also bringing size is Foote. His draft stock has been sagging a bit, but he has good hockey sense and a big frame to handle the rigors of the Western Conference.
Florida Panthers
Round 1 (13): Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Sweden 2)
Round 2 (52): Shane Pinto, C, Tri-City (USHL)
The Panthers have a top-heavy prospect system with a number of high-profile forwards. But they don't have much in terms of defense, and that could be remedied at No. 13. I think if Broberg, Victor Soderstrom or Moritz Seider are there, it's an easy choice to pick one of them. They'd be at least close to best available in that range and would fit a glaring system need. As far as the second-round pick goes, Pinto is an intriguing option as he produced at a high rate in the USHL and brings a good combination of size and athleticism to the fold.
Los Angeles Kings
Round 1 (5): Trevor Zegras, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Round 1 (22): Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara (OHL)
Round 2 (33): Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)
The Kings have clearly been focused on adding speed and could make a massive dent in those efforts with this particular draft package. Zegras, Tomasino and Johnson are all high-end skaters who can play the game at a pretty fast pace. Zegras is also one of the best playmakers in the draft, and Tomasino is a good pass-shot threat. Johnson is a bit of a homegrown kid, with his dad, Craig, serving on the Kings' development staff. Some teams have him as a first-rounder on their boards, but his offensive game needs work. Defensively, Johnson is high-end and one of the best skating blueliners in the draft.
Minnesota Wild
Round 1 (12): Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton (OHL)
Round 2 (42): Brayden Tracey, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
The Wild could use some offensive help, and it would be hard to do better at No. 12 than adding a player who had 51 goals and 102 points in the OHL this season. Kaliyev has good size and agility, even though he's not the best skater. With the second-round pick, the Wild could do a lot worse than Tracey, who has been rising up draft boards over the second half of the season. He was the WHL's Rookie of the Year and has a good mix of skill and speed.
Montreal Canadiens
Round 1 (15): Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas (Sweden)
Round 2 (46): Ilya Nikolaev, C, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia Jr.)
Round 2 (50): Alex Beaucage, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
The Habs had a massive draft haul in 2018 and can add to it with their three top-50 picks this June. Soderstrom is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft, with superior puck-moving skills and quality defensive capabilities. Nikolaev is a very strong playmaker with size, and Montreal hasn't shied away from drafting Russians. Lastly, Beaucage is an intriguing player who has good puck skills. He won the QMJHL and Memorial Cup with Rouyn-Noranda this season.
Nashville Predators
Round 1 (24): Spencer Knight, G, USA U18 (NTDP)
If Knight lasts this long, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Predators look to shore up goaltending for the future. Juuse Saros is the heir apparent to Pekka Rinne, but it's still hard to know if he's a long-term No. 1 goalie. Knight is probably the best goaltending prospect since Andrei Vasilevskiy, at least in terms of predraft projections (sorry, Carter Hart fans). He is an incredible athlete but also has superior technical skills and hockey sense. He's also perhaps the best puck-moving goalie prospect in the past few draft classes.
New Jersey Devils
Round 1 (1): Jack Hughes, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Round 2 (34): Egor Afanasyev, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
Round 2 (55): Kaedan Korczak, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Round 2 (62): Patrick Moynihan, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
It'd be hard for the Devils not to earn an "A"' with the No. 1 overall pick. Hughes is the best option for them, or anyone, for the long term. His superior skating and elite hockey sense will make him a weapon in the NHL.
With an early second-round pick, Afanasyev is an especially intriguing option in that range given his size and power combined with excellent offensive sense. Late in the second round, the Devils would be wise to address defense, especially if Korczak is there. He's one of the purest defenders in the draft but lacks offensive upside. Still, this might be a pie-in-the-sky option at No. 55, as I'm a bit lower on Korczak than other projections. Finishing out Round 2, Moynihan's stock fluctuated throughout the season, but he's a sneaky-skilled forward who can play center or wing. He and Hughes were teammates this season.
New York Islanders
Round 1 (23): Brett Leason, RW, Prince Albert (WHL)
Round 2 (57): Henry Thrun, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
The Islanders had such a tremendous 2018 draft haul that this year's could just be icing on the cake. With the way the board shook out, Leason looks like a good late option. He has size and speed and gets to the net extremely well, which fits with the Islanders continuously getting quicker. The late second round should be defense rich, leaving a good puck-mover like Thrun available.
New York Rangers
Round 1 (2): Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Finland)
Round 1 (20): Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)
Round 2 (49): Yegor Spiridonov, C, Magnitogorsk 2 (Russia Jr.)
Round 2 (58): Albin Grewe, RW, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
With four picks in the top 60, the Rangers have a great rebuild package available to them. Kakko is the obvious choice at No. 2, but there's a ton of intrigue in the potential of No. 20. I don't think it's worth reaching for a defenseman if one isn't there, though Thomas Harley and Moritz Seider are potential options if they are still on the board. The way things shook out, Suzuki made the most sense as a high-upside skilled center who still needs to build some strength. There's no one like him in the system right now.
The Rangers have had some success with Russians of late, and Spiridonov might be a good project at No. 49. He's big, and he produced at a high clip this season in the MHL. Lastly, Grewe is a rough-and-tumble winger who is still figuring out his game. His two-way skills are very good, and I think his offensive game will come, though it has a ways to go right now.
Ottawa Senators
Round 1 (19): Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)
Round 2 (32): Jamieson Rees, C, Sarnia (OHL)
Round 2 (44): Vladislav Kolyachonok, D, Flint (OHL)
As the Senators' prospect pool continues to deepen, Harley would be a longer-range add. I think he needs to get stronger and work on his defensive game, but his offensive tools are excellent. With so many quality forwards in the system, the Sens shouldn't think twice about continuing to build out the blue line. And then Rees is a good combination of skill and grit, making him a nice value add early in the second, and Kolyachonok is a brilliant skater with size, despite being another longer-range project.
Philadelphia Flyers
Round 1 (11): Vasily Podkolzin, RW, Neva St. Petersburg (Russia 2)
Round 2 (41): Samuel Poulin, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
If Podkolzin slips to No. 11, I'd gamble on drafting a Russian. He'd be the best available there, and the Flyers have enough depth in their system to wait the two years before Podkolzin's KHL deal is up. At No. 41, the Flyers can also bet on huge upside, as Poulin has good skill for a big player.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Round 1 (21): Nicholas Robertson, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
The Penguins have a pretty shallow prospect pool because they just haven't had the draft picks to add to it lately. Robertson is one of those guys who might slip lower than No. 21, but I think he gives the Pens skill and tenacity. He also has a high-end release on his shot. The winger is one of my favorite prospects in this class.
San Jose Sharks
No picks in Rounds 1-2
The Sharks are without picks in the first two rounds, as they were both sent away as part of trades. Their first-rounder was initially part of their trade with the Sabres to acquire Evander Kane. That pick is now owned by the Ducks from the Brandon Montour trade with Buffalo. And their second-rounder was packaged for Gustav Nyquist this season.
San Jose only has four picks in this draft, which will make it difficult to address a middle-of-the-pack prospect pool.
St. Louis Blues
Round 2 (61): Michael Vukojevic, D, Kitchener (OHL)
With nothing until the second round, the Blues are going to be low on options. But Vukojevic offers them a big, physical defenseman with good hockey sense. While he lacks offensive upside, he has a style that fits with the way the Blues play.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Round 1 (27): Connor McMichael, C, London (OHL)
McMichael has seen his draft stock trend up throughout the season and is looking more and more like a first-rounder. He produced at a high clip on a good London Knights team and already plays the up-tempo style of the Lightning.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Round 2 (53): Nikita Alexandrov, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Alexandrov doesn't have overly inspiring numbers, but he does have a good skill set and a slipperiness to him that would make him a nice value get in the late second round. The Maple Leafs don't have great depth in their prospect system these days, as so many of their young guys have graduated to the NHL club. And they're particularly shallow up front.
Vancouver Canucks
Round 1 (10): Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay (WHL)
Round 2 (40): Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton (QMJHL)
I think there's major temptation to go defense here for the Canucks, but if Krebs is still available at No. 10, the decision won't be challenging. He is a play-driving center who makes plays and competes, and I think he offers more value here than a defenseman would. The pick at No. 40 is a little more difficult because there could be some depth defensemen available, but the Canucks could land a little more value with the forwards in this range. Pelletier is one option, but a handful of others -- Samuel Poulin, Brayden Tracey and John Beecher -- could all make sense at this spot.
Vegas Golden Knights
Round 1 (17): Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim (Germany)
Round 2 (48): Pavel Dorofeyev, LW, Magnitogorsk (Russia)
The Golden Knights have maintained remarkable prospect pool depth despite trading away two former first-round picks. They could now land a solid long-term, top-four defenseman in Seider. He's big, a right shot and only just beginning to realize his potential. Additionally, the Knights might have some holes to fill at the AHL level, and Seider could be ready for that challenge. Vegas has shown no shyness toward drafting Russians, so Dorofeyev is a high-upside second-round pick with some tremendous puck skills.
Washington Capitals
Round 1 (25): Nils Hoglander, LW, Rogle (Sweden)
Round 2 (56): Semyon Chistyakov, D, Ufa 2 (Russia Jr.)
The Caps have been building up the defense in their prospect pipeline of late, but it might be time to go back to looking at forward. Hoglander is an exceptionally skilled winger who can make a lot of plays. He played 50 games in the SHL as an 18-year-old, which suggests he might have a shorter timeline to get to the NHL. Late in the second round, Chistyakov would be a bit against the typical for the Caps, as they've gone with bigger blueliners in the past, but he moves the puck well.
Winnipeg Jets
Round 2 (51): Drew Helleson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
The Jets are in contender mode and shed their first-round pick, so you want to find as much value as possible with that second-rounder. Winnipeg has had some great success going after U.S.-based defensemen, and Helleson could be one of the more underappreciated, steady players in the class. He was part of that fantastic U.S. National U18 Team and played big minutes against a lot of top lines while also showcasing an ability to get the puck out of the zone quickly.