Now that the REAL NHL first round is in in the books - some names from our second round mock are off the board - Ryan Johnson, Lassi Thomson, Brayden Tracey , and Nolan Foote. However, you can add these intriguing names from our first round mock (see link) that are now available - Raphael Lavoie (picked 17th), Arthur Kaliyev (picked 21st), Albert Johansson (picked 26th), Patrik Puistola (Picked 30th)
If you have read round one found here: McKeen’s 2019 NHL Group Mock Draft – Round One of Three you can skip this intro and dive straight into the picks below
Mock NHL Drafts are always fun for those immersed in analyzing eligible prospects all season long, but can also always provide some interesting insights ahead of draft day. The exercise of compiling our McKeen's NHL Draft Rankings are not an attempt to predict the order of the NHL draft but to the rank the prospects by their potential in the NHL. Every NHL team will have a different draft list in Vancouver, reflecting not only team need, but also players they are targeting and feel strongly about.
A group mock draft with a dozen participants representing two or three teams will reflect that dynamic better than an individual picking the players they feel a team will want. That list inevitably reflects that individual's list, hunches and preferences. McKeen's utilizes input from our team in rinks around the world in coming up with our season ending ranking and it will be more balanced as a result. In a mock, the scouts and analysts are free to target the players that impressed them this season, while trying to match the player to an organizational need. As in the NHL on draft day there will be surprises, risers and fallers from the rankings.
Have fun. Subscribers can link to the player page for more detail by clicking on the player's name. If you are not a subscriber you can learn more here.
We will be doing three rounds in total. The participants, in no particular order, in the draft were:
Brock Otten - Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers
Ryan Wagman - Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets
Russ Cohen - New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders
Mike Sanderson - Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres
Jimmy Hamrin - Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning,
Tom Dorsa - Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues
Iain Morrell - Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators
Shaiyena Cote - Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks
Vince Gibbons - Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks
Kevin Olexson - Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes
Robert Howard - New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins
Gus Katsaros - Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs
Benoit Belanger - Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins
Thank you all for an amazing season.
Pick - Team - PLAYER (Rank) - POS - TEAM- HT/WT, DOB - Nation
32. Ottawa Senators - Brett Leason ( 34) - RW - Prince Albert (WHL) - 6-4/200,30-Apr-99 - Canada - In his third year of draft eligibility Leason broke out with 89 points in 55 games, up from 33 in 66 the year before with much improved skating. He can bring immediate help to the line-up with power forward potential at 6'4", 200 lbs with good puckhandling skills and an NHL wrist shot. Upside may not match other picks in this range but perfect for Sens now. - Gus Katsaros
33. Los Angeles Kings - Matthew Robertson (29) - D - Edmonton (WHL) - 6-3/200, 9-Mar-01 - Canada - To continue their bail out of the D position after picking Heinola earlier, Matthew Robertson represents a good safe pick. He is an excellent two-way defenseman, with good gap control and excellent backward skating. He uses his stick well to defend and cut off passing lanes. He possesses good anticipation and doesn’t force the play, jumping in on the rush at the right time. - Benoit Belanger
34. New Jersey Devils - Drew Helleson (62) - D - NTDP (USA) - 6-3/195, 26-Mar-01 - USA - He has size, he's smart and he's a terrific defender. He's the kind of player you don't take in the first round but are more than willing to in the second round. Has no problem skating the puck up the ice. - Russ Cohen
35. Detroit Red Wings - Samuel Fagemo (39) - RW - Frolunda (Swe) - 6-0/195, 14-Mar-00 - Sweden - What Fagemo just did in Sweden this year was pretty remarkable. Top 10 season all time, in terms of point production, for a U19 player in the SHL. Of the other nine players on that list, the vast majority became NHL stars (Sedin x2, Naslund, Forsberg, Sandstrom, Lindholm, Backstrom). He outproduced St. Louis first rounder Dominik Bokk, who had a good season in his own right. This gives the Wings a more NHL ready body who can make an impact and possibly accelerate their rebuild. - Brock Otten
36. Carolina Hurricanes (from Buffalo) - Ryan Johnson (25) - *PICKED by BUFFALO 31st - D - Sioux Falls (USHL) - 6-0/175 24-Jul-01 - USA
37. Carolina Hurricanes (from NY Rangers) - Robert Mastrosimone - (27) - LW - Chicago (USHL) - 5-10/160, 24-Jan-01 - USA - It’s not often that one team gets to pick back-to-back, but Carolina gets Buffalo’s pick from the Jeff Skinner trade last summer and the Rangers’ pick from the more recent Adam Fox trade. The Hurricanes are very comfortable drafting from the USHL so neither of these picks should surprise from that end. I could actually see the team trying to package one of these and their first rounder (28th) for a higher pick in the first. But I don’t predict trades. In Johnson, the Hurricanes would get a Jaccob Slavin type who moves the puck well but his understated game shines more brightly in the back end. He needs to fill out, and will get the time to do so with the Golden Gophers. In Mastrosimone, they would be drafting an energetic winger who makes those around him better. He has a high end shot and grew as a playmaker this year. Headed to Boston University, he needs to learn to pick his spots better as he puts himself in dangerous positions frequently, but he has dynamic, top six elements to his game. Fun side note, Johnson and Mastrosimone squared off against one another in this year’s USHL championship round. - Ryan Wagman
38. Edmonton Oilers - Lassi Thomson (45) - D - Kelowna (WHL) - **PICKED BY OTTAWA 19th - 5-11/190, 24-Sep-00 - Finland - Lassi Thomson is a strong skating, puck moving defender who has good puck skills and an excellent shot. He makes smart plays all over the ice and has been a steady riser from the start of the season. He has become the anchor on a young blueline in Kelowna. He is more competitive than his size would indicate. Edmonton is adding a solid blueliner here that can play the modern game. He is a right shot defender which only increases his value as the league moves to lefty/righty pairings and provides them balance with their top picks in this year’s draft which is important for a team that has needs at every position. - Vince Gibbons
39. Anaheim Ducks - Nils Hoglander (41) - RW - Rogle (Swe) - 5-9/185, 20-Dec-00 - Sweden - The further we get into the draft the harder it is to discern what makes each player stand out. However, Hoglander is a player that gets the job done, as simple as that. He brings creativity which seems to be working for him with Rogle in the SHL the Ducks hope he can make his creativity work for him in an NHL system. - Shaiyena Cote
40. Vancouver Canucks - Brayden Tracey - **PICKED BY ANAHEIM 29TH (47) - LW - Moose Jaw (WHL) - 6-0/175, 28-May-01 - Canada - Canucks choose another winger here, as the defensemen available at this point don't seem to have the same flare as some of the forwards available. Tracey took home the WHL's rookie of the year honors and netted himself 36 goals in doing so. Another decent sized winger who can skate and finish plays, with room for improvement, the Canucks are happy to select the Warriors left winger. - Kevin Olexson
41. San Jose Sharks (from Philadelphia) - Nick Robertson (40) - LW - Peterborough (OHL) - 5-9/160, 11-Sep-01 - USA - Using the pick acquired from Philly prior to the draft (along with a 3rd in 2020) for Justin Braun, the Sharks go for the best player available here. Robertson is highly skilled and interesting with top six forward potential. - Jimmy Hamrin
42. Minnesota Wild - Mads Sogaard (65) - G - Medicine Hat (WHL) - 6-7/195, 13-Dec-00 - Denmark - Danish goalie packs an intimidating 6-foot-7 frame plus impressive mix of smarts, poise and compete. First goalie drafted by the Wild since 2015. - Iain Morrell
43. Chicago Blackhawks - Pavel Dorofeyev (31) - LW - Magnitogorsk (KHL) - 6-1/170, 26-Oct-00 - Russia - Did not plan to find skilled Russian available mid-second round. 17 goals in 19 MHL games last season – second highest GPG in Russian juniors. - Iain Morrell
44. Ottawa Senators (from San Jose via Florida) - Nolan Foote - **PICKED BY TAMPA BAY 27TH - (38) - LW - Kelowna (WHL) - 6-3/190, 29-Nov-00 - Canada - Having drafted two centers in Leason and Tomasino with their prior picks Ottawa opts for a winger and another with power forward potential. At 6'3, Foote brings a great work ethic along with NHL bloodlines and a high hockey IQ as a result. He represents a solid pick in the middle of the second round and the Sens are hoping his true potential is hidden after playing through injury this season. He and Leason could be a handful one day. - Gus Katsaros
45. Philadelphia Flyers - Bobby Brink (33) - RW - Sioux City (USHL) - 5-10/165, 8-Jul-01 - USA - Flyers select Brink who has a high offensive skill set, is great with the puck on the stick, and makes things happen. He is a smart player with a great shot and vision, who knows how to get himself in the right positions to succeed and excel. Brink can be somewhat underrated here, as he could be billed a mid-to-late first round pick, making this a nice pick at 45. - Kevin Olexson
46. Montreal Canadiens - Marshall Warren (35) - D - NTDP (USA) - 5-11/170, 20-Apr-01 -USA - Another Habs pick and another left defender, but when needs and best-player-available meet, it is a beautiful thing. Warren is a bit undersized at the moment, but shows excellent offensive potential from the blueline and he’s another solid skater. 34 points and eight goals this season with the U.S. NTDP with potential for more in the coming seasons. He also wore an alternate captain letter for the U.S. at the world under-18s, where he had three points. He is not afraid to jump into the play off the rush and be an option off the wing, and that is a skillset Montreal will love with their speed. He also loves the back door play on offence, and has shown the skillset to be a powerplay player at the next level. His gap control could use work, but his skating is good enough to adapt. Warren is committed to Boston College next season. - Mike Sanderson
47. Colorado Avalanche - Egor Afanasyev (36) - RW - Muskegon (USHL) - 6-3/205, 23-Jan-01 - Russia - I feel like the late second-round to third-round portion of the NHL Draft is always time for the "This guy has some obvious flaws but also some unteachable skills, so I'm gonna draft him and see what happens" section of the order. So yeah, a big dude who isn't a top-notch skater, but has a wicked shot and physical potential. - Tom Dorsa
48. Vegas Golden Knights - Jamieson Rees (42) - C - Sarnia (OHL) - 5-10/175, 26-Feb-01 - Canada - Rees is a bit more of a project pick, but one that could pay massive dividends for the Knights. A small forward with a heart of a lion, Rees often hits players bigger than him and comes out with the puck in situations against bigger players. He plays with a solid pace and can put points on the board. He will need to fill out in his frame and show he can handle the pro game, but he already has great balance and solid puck pursuit skills. His tenacious work ethic will make him a fan favourite with his ferocity in pursuit of the puck and his desire to live in the danger areas, but his size may make him a tweener, and likely a winger in the pro ranks. He will not make an immediate impact, but could impose himself into the lineup down the line. - Mike Sanderson
49. New York Rangers (from Dallas) - Antti Tuomisto (44) - D - Assat Pori (Fin Jr) - 6-4/190, 20-Jan-01 - Finland - After drafting Kappo Kaako with their first pick the Rangers return to Finland for a player they hope has been a little under the radar. Rapidly rising in the rankings all season the long and lanky (6'4) defender has advanced hockey sense, a cannon of a shot, and smooth hand. A project with work needed on his skating, but with recent trades for Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba, the Rangers can be patient on a late bloomer's potential upside. - Robert Howard
50. Montreal Canadiens (from Columbus via Vegas) - Mattias Norlinder (50) - D - MoDo (Swe Jr) - 5-11/180, 12-Apr-00 - Sweden - A left-shooting defender with pro experience, Norlinder showed great promise with six points in 14 games in his call up to the Allsvenskan this season with Modo. He is a great skater with solid offensive instincts, and while he is not physical, he is a sold defender using his positioning and stick. He is a calming defender who can work his way out of situations using his skating, and possesses a great first pass and a solid point shot. Montreal will hope for Norlinder to be an Andrei Markov-type going forward, and he has the skillset and ability to show that potential. Montreal adding Norlinder in this draft would improve their left-handed shooting defence corps significantly. - Mike Sanderson
51. Winnipeg Jets - Ronnie Attard (64) - D - Tri-City (USHL) 6-3/210 20-Mar-99 - USA - The Jets are a team still with their window of contention wide open. With only two picks in the first three rounds, the Jets would be well served to take a player who has a small bust potential. In his third year of eligibility, Attard has already passed the stages of development many of the young players being taken around here still hope to pass. He has great size, a big right handed shot, and does not neglect duties in his own zone to put up the crazy numbers he did last year. The Jets are also known to be admirers and just moved Trouba prior the draft to the Rangers - Ryan Wagman
52. Florida Panthers (from Pittsburgh) - Albin Grewe (56) - RW - Djurgardens (Swe Jr) - 5-11/190, 22-Mar-01 - Sweden - Pesky Swedish winger who compares himself to Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins. This is the type of player that the Florida Panthers need more of and the type that helps you achieve success in the playoffs. - Brock Otten
53. Toronto Maple Leafs - Nikola Pasic (53) - RW - Linkopings (Swe Jr) - 5-10/185, 16-Oct-00 - Sweden - Toronto's first pick in the draft stays the course with speed and skill in a hard working, pace pushing winger. An excellent skater he scored at more than a point per game in his age 18 season in the SuperElit, but also owns strong hockey sense off the puck. - Gus Katsaros
54. Detroit Red Wings (from NY Islanders via Vegas) - Vladislav Kolyachonok (52) - D - Flint (OHL) - 6-1/185 26-May-01 - Belarus - Few players work as hard in this draft class as Kolyachonok. This is a kid who takes his training and progression seriously and as such, you have to feel confident that his game will continue to improve. Has size, mobility and an improving offensive skill set. - Brock Otten
55. New Jersey Devils (from Nashville) - Alex Vlasic (54) - D -NTDP (USA) - 6-6/200, 5-Jun-01 - USA - Do you want to create some chemistry at the NHL level? I've seen both of these defenseman play on the top pair for the NTDP. Vlasic on the left side and Helleson on the right. Vlasic battles, has safe clears and skates very well. - Russ Cohen
56. Washington Capitals - Yegor Spiridonov (59) - C - Stalnye Lisy Mag. (Rus Jr) - 6-2/195, 22-Jan-01 - Russia - As comfortable as Washington is drafting out of Sweden (see their first round pick) they are extra comfortable drafting out of Russia. Spiridonov is a rangy center who had a great year in the Russian junior ranks. He is the type of player who can be a positive contributor to his team even if he is not scoring. He has high hockey IQ and vision and has some playmaking potential in the offensive end as well suggesting some possibility of a second line output as the two-way centerman between two more offensive wingers. - Ryan Wagman
57. New York Islanders (from Calgary) - Trevor Janicke (57) - C - Central Illinois (USHL) - 5-10/195, 25-Dec-00 - USA - Trevor Janicke left the NTDP and shined even more. Something that players have done in the past. He's fast, smart. A good center (or wing) who is good at face-offs. A real 200-foot player who can be physical and is a great penalty killer. - Russ Cohen
58 . New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay) - Michal Teply (46) - LW - Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze) - 6-3/185, 27-May-01 - Czech - Once again replenishing the prospect pool on the wing the Rangers add to the left side with Teply to complement Kakko on the right. He brings a lot of skill in an ideal NHL frame (though not overly physical) and made an impression in the year-ending U18 Worlds. Displaying impressive hands he can make things with very little room to manouever. A deft quick touch game that should translate to the pros. - Robert Howard
59. Carolina Hurricanes - Mikko Kokkonen (70) - D - Jukurit (Fin) - 5-11/200, 18-Jan-01 - Finland - Carolina has drafted at least one player out of Finland for each of the last four drafts and I will not be the one to break that streak. Even in a draft class not long on Finnish talent (after the one at the top), Kokkonen stands out for his mature game from the blueline. Shorter yet stocky, he plays a physical game and is a composed puck distributor. His ceiling is limited, but he fits on an NHL team structure. - Ryan Wagman
60. Detroit Red Wings (from San Jose) - Nikita Alexandrov (133) - C - Charlottetown (QMJHL) - 6-0/180, 16-Sep-00 - Germany - Slippery forward who didn’t have a ton of support in Charlottetown this year. But he has a good motor and some offensive skills that could see him drafted earlier than projected on a lot of lists. - Brock Otten
61. New Jersey (from Boston) - Nick Abruzzese (208) - C - Chicago (USHL) - 5-9/160, 4-Jun-99 - USA - Nick is a classic late bloomer. He's told me, teammates have, and other players. An overage center, who can play the wing as well, led the USHL in scoring and is going to Harvard. He's a pass-first player who gets situational goals. Worth it. - Russ Cohen
62. St. Louis Blues - Karl Henriksson (51) - C - Frolunda (Swe Jr) - 5-9/165, 5-Feb-01 - Sweden - Might be a stretch to see him here, but I like his hockey IQ, his ability to impact the flow of the game with and without the puck, and how his unimposing physique doesn’t limit him in creating chaos with his body. Isn’t outright chaos just what the Blues want? - Tom Dorsa