NHL Draft Lottery: Devils to pick 1st for 2nd time in 3 years
The New Jersey Devils won the NHL Draft lottery on Tuesday night to lock up the 2019 first overall selection.
The Devils will make the first pick for the second time in three seasons after drafting Nico Hischier in the top spot in 2017. The pick also marks New Jersey's fourth top-10 selection this decade.
Taylor Hall was part of many draft lottery parties during his time with the Edmonton Oilers, and he had some fun on social media after his team secured yet another top pick.
They talk about Gretzky’s 92 goals or Sittler’s 10 pts in one game as records that may never be broken. But winning 5 draft lotteries in your first 9 years in the league? In 2 different draft lottery eras, no less. That is a record that will stand forever.
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy09) April 10, 2019
The Colorado Avalanche entered the night with the highest odds to land the No. 1 pick (18.5 percent). But Colorado fell to the fourth spot after the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks jumped into the top three.
The Rangers will draft in the top ten for the third consecutive season, but the team hasn't selected this high since 1966. The last time the Blackhawks owned the third overall pick was 2006 when they selected future captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews.
Here's a look at the complete draft order from picks one through 15.
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey Devils |
| 2 | New York Rangers |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 4 | Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa) |
| 5 | Los Angeles Kings |
| 6 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 7 | Buffalo Sabres |
| 8 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 9 | Anaheim Ducks |
| 10 | Vancouver Canucks |
| 11 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 12 | Minnesota Wild |
| 13 | Florida Panthers |
| 14 | Arizona Coyotes |
| 15 | Montreal Canadiens |
Taking a look at the top prospects
With the order officially set, let's take a closer look at some of the best players available in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Jack Hughes: Center, USA Hockey National Development Program
Hughes has been the consensus top pick for much of the year, and for good reason. His dynamic ability to control the puck and make plays at a high speed separates him from the rest of the field.
An elite playmaker, the 17-year-old set the all-time USA Hockey NTDP scoring record with 202 points in 101 career contests. Hughes can be the top player on a Stanley Cup contender in the near future.
Kaapo Kakko: Right wing, TPS (Finnish Elite League)
Despite all the pre-draft hype for Hughes, there's a chance Kakko becomes the first Finnish-born player ever selected first overall. The 6-foot-2 winger receives high praise for his scoring ability, and he possesses a lethal shot that's drawn comparisons to fellow countryman Patrik Laine.
At just 18 years old, Kakko led TPS with 22 goals this season, and he pushed Finland to a gold medal at the 2019 World Junior Championship with five points in seven games.
Vasili Podkolzin: Right wing, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Podkolzin projects as a complete two-way winger with a knack for winning tough one-on-one battles. The young Russian put himself on the map with eight goals and 11 points in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup under-18 tournament in August.
At just 17 years old, Podkolzin is still developing. Adjusting to the NHL may take time, but his future team should be thrilled about the 6-foot-1 forward's potential.
Kirby Dach: Center, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Standing at 6-foot-4, Dach offers an elite combination of size, strength, and skill that's difficult to find, especially at the center position.
In his third season with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, Dach followed up a 73-point campaign with three goals and five points during a first-round series sweep of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Dylan Cozens: Center, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Cozens looks to become just the third player from Whitehorse, Yukon to play in the NHL. The 6-foot-3 center possesses electric skating ability for his size and elite puck sense to match.
At the CHL Top Prospects Sports Testing Combine in January, Cozens ranked second in the 30 meter Forward Skate event and first in the Reaction with Puck event.
Rounding out the top of the draft
Other notable players likely to be selected in the top 10 include defensemen Bowen Byram and Thomas Harley, as well as forwards Alex Turcotte, Matthew Boldy, and Trevor Zegras.