2019 NHL Draft

[Derek28]

Seems like a good time to get this up with the draft next week.

Here are our selections: (rd) pick number

(1) 27
(3) 89
(4) 120
(6) 182
(7) 198
(7) 213

[aapbolt]

Extra

C’mon JBB try to grab a few more picks if you can!

[dannybolt]

C’mon JBB try to grab a few more picks if you can!

Yeah, I think we're gonna be doing the opposite in our quest for cap space.

[pete]

Both of RLR's mock drafts had the Lightning taking mobile two-way d-men with their first rounder.

They need to get another goaltender in the system soon, though.

[dannybolt]

Both of RLR's mock drafts had the Lightning taking mobile two-way d-men with their first rounder.

They need to get another goaltender in the system soon, though.

Top-end D, but especially RHD with size, Center with size, Goalie are all needs I think.

[WaiverWire]

In the mock draft in The Athletic they had us taking Alex Vlasic from USNTDP-USHL. He just turned 18 and should grow into his 6'6" frame. He is listed as a left shot.

[Kizman]

C’mon JBB try to grab a few more picks if you can!

Would seem like moving down from 27 to acquire additional pick(s) might make most sense....Seems like a decent crop in the first 40 picks...also a few teams with multiple second rounders may wish to move up.

[pete]

In the mock draft in The Athletic they had us taking Alex Vlasic from USNTDP-USHL. He just turned 18 and should grow into his 6'6" frame. He is listed as a left shot.

RLR speaks highly of him for his poise and two-way game. They compare him to Brandon Carlo, although they say he's a string bean who will take time to fill out.

RLR's first mock had us taking Matthew Robertson from Edmonton in the WHL. 6'3" 200 lbs. Lefty Colton Parayko type the said would be a steal they doubt actually slides to us.

Their second mock had us taking Tobias Bjornfot out of Djurgardens. 6'0" 196 lbs. lefty d-man they compared to Ivan Provorov. I'm skeptical they'd be that high on this guy because they do have a size range they prefer. He ain't it.

Top goaltender in the class is 31st ranked Spencer Knight of the USNTDP, who they compare to Martin Jones. He does fit the profile of what Frantz Jean likes, size-wise.

My knee-jerk prediction? A trade back into the second round to select goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov. 6'3" 205 lbs who they comp to Robin Lehner. The Lightning aren't scared off by Russians and aren't scared off by overagers, and he's both. Stepping up from the Sochi organization to SKA St. Petersburg's organization next year.

[Kizman]

Pete, that scenario makes sense as Knight most likely gone by 27 from what I read and couple that with the Bolts are short on picks. I say they move down into early second and pick up an additional pick...I also would expect a goalie drafted early, but haven't researched this years crop much at all. As a side note, maybe the Lightning ask for younger depth goaltenders in any trades they make leading up to/through the draft.

[Kizman]

Carolina, New Jersry and Detroit all have multiple second round picks as well as early second round picks. If they had interest in moving up to 27, Bolts could slide down a little, and hopefully grab Kotchekov there, but no guarantee the guy you want is there when you trade down, right?

My quick goalie research makes me feel like Kotchekov would be the only other guy that stands out close to Knight and then there are a bunch of potential guys with most being smaller guys.

My only slight disagreement with the Bolts going early on a goalie is that Vasy is young....and most likely we will have him in next for next 7-10 years barring injury. So, do they take a guy with tremendous upside to be a number one or do they grab a guy later who has upside but needs time to develop. The more I think about it, the more I think they draft a couple of goalies, but in rounds 3-7 and work to acquire depth via trades and free agent signings. Nice to have Domingue backing up Vasy, but need better 3rd and 4th options for immediate future, IMO

[Donnie D]

Unless he gets inj (can’t say it) or wants stupid money.

[pete]

You always need to be cultivating the next wave of players at every position and especially goaltender, IMO.

RLR is high on a couple of other goalie prospects in this draft, but they’re undersized for Frantz’s ideal. He’s shown he’ll take them smaller than ideal and work with them, though.

I just look at Kochetkov as filling what the Lightning need pretty neatly. Russian to mesh with Vasiy. Overage to make up in timeline for the gap we now have with Ingram bouncing out of here. If they could get him out of his deal with SKA they could bring him into Syracuse immediately even, although it seems like maybe he’d stay in Russia 1-2 more years. Perfect size for what Frantz Jean coaches. Need position. I know Murray swears that’s not how he makes decisions, but it’s kind of perfect.

[Kizman]

In looking at Detroit generous supply of draft picks, I cannot help but think they would be the ideal trade partner for the Lightning, even without all the familiarity of management.

But TB holds pick 27

Detroit hold picks 35, 54, 60, 66

so it would seem that if Detroit had interest in moving up to 27, the Lightning could slide down to 35 and pick up say pick 60. Just a thought. But it seems like a possibility to me, just not sure what value you can put on moving up 8 picks...

[aapbolt]

Thoughts

Any thoughts on Ville Heinola of the Finnish team?

[Kizman]

Only know what I read. It would seem that the Bolts would be better off stockpiling RHD versus adding more LHD...A drop down into early second round to acquire additional pick/s would make sense as was stated before. A guy like Lassi Thompson could be there in round 2, and he is another Finn if I'm correct and is RHD.