Buffalo Sabres: 2019 NHL Mock Draft

Austin: Steve Yzerman always took high skill, high-impact players with his picks while he was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In his first draft in charge of the Red Wings, he’ll go down the same route.

Zegras did play down the middle at points in the year, but one Turcotte returned from injury, he played most of his games on the wing. He also moved up and down the lineup, playing alongside the No. 1 pick one game and the fourth line in the next.

He’s a playmaker first – and that’s the most exciting part of his game – but he also has a heavy shot that he can use if defenders sag off of him.

He’ll be headed to Boston University next year. Detroit likely won’t try and pry him away from the NCAA before he’s ready. There’s still a lot of building that Yzerman has to do to this team.

Jake: The Buffalo Sabres just locked up their best goal scorer from last season – Jeff Skinner – to a long-term extension. But you can never have enough scoring, and why not take the best pure finisher in the draft to add to your attack?

Caufield is small, yes, but he’s the USNTDP’s all-time leading goal scorer. He passed Phil Kessel for that distinction earlier this season.

His comparable is Alex Debrincat, for obvious reasons. Both are minuscule in size but fill the oppositions’ net.

Buffalo will have to wait at least a year on Caufield, as he heads to Wisconsin to team up with Alex Turcotte.

David: With Dach going at No. 4, that leaves Cozens to possibly fall a bit in the draft. Depending on a team’s preference, he could jump up to Zegras’ spot.

Cozens brings size and elite speed to the table, and that’s a player that Edmonton and its fans can be excited about. He can also make dazzling plays while going at that top speed.

The Oilers need skill as soon as possible to pair with Connor McDavid, but Cozens needs to be given time to grow as a prospect.

Here’s hoping Ken Holland sticks to letting young players develop, cause Cozens could be special in Edmonton’s top six.

Austin: Make it five forwards from The Program in the top 10 of our mock. The group is bookended by Boldy who is one of the most exciting wingers to keep an eye on in the coming years.

The Ducks will be looking to add another solid winger to replace Corey Perry, who they just bought out on Wednesday.

Boldy has the ability to score, but he is a winger who likes to set up teammates for goals. He’s great along the walls and can embarrass defenders with his awesome stickhandling.

He’ll be heading to Boston College for a year, so Anaheim will have to wait for him to make his way to pro hockey. But with their crop of up and coming forwards prospects, there’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a Ducks fan.

Jake: Vancouver knew it was going to be an interesting year after the Sedin brothers retired at the tail end of last season. They did get some solid performances – Elias Pettersson being the obvious one – but still missed out on the playoffs again.

The silver lining is that they’ll be able to snag another top player to help build towards a consistent postseason contender.

Lavoie fell in the rankings in the middle of the year but managed to jump back up to his original billing after tearing up the QMJHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup in his draft year.

With Lavoie, you get size, first and foremost. He needs to show a consistent effort on a nightly basis – something he was knocked for by scouts – but he’s got the entire package otherwise: good skating, a solid power game along the boards, and a heavy and crazy accurate shot.

Vancouver will love this infusion of skill and size when Lavoie makes his way to the NHL in a few years.