The 2019 NHL draft proved to be a win both for the league and the Montreal Canadiens. Holding the 15th overall pick, Montreal was surprised to see USNTDP scorer Cole Caufield fall because of concerns about his size. Fans hoped his slide wouldn’t extend past the 15th pick, and their hopes were realized when the Florida Panthers chose Spencer Knight and the Philadelphia Flyers selected Cam Yorke, allowing Montreal to pick Caufield at 15.
Looking back now, with six years of hindsight, some teams may regret their choices, while others clearly capitalized. A notable highlight is the Canadiens, who now boast three players among the top 10 scorers from this draft class. It’s interesting to compare the original top 10 picks to today’s top point producers, revealing some surprising shifts.
Among the Canadiens, forward LJ Mooney shows promise despite his smaller stature, and the team is excited about his potential impact. The 2024-25 season has already delivered some standout moments for the team.
Here’s the top 10 from the 2019 draft:
1. Jack Hughes – New Jersey Devils
2. Kaapo Kako – New York Rangers
3. Kirby Duck – Chicago Blackhawks
4. Bowen Byram – Buffalo Sabres
5. Alex Turcotte – Los Angeles Kings
6. Moritz Seider – Detroit Red Wings
7. Dylan Cozens – Buffalo Sabres
8. Philip Broberg – Edmonton Oilers
9. Trevor Zegras – Anaheim Ducks
10. Vasily Podkolzin – Vancouver Canucks
Interestingly, seven of these top 10 picks no longer play for the teams that originally drafted them. Moves have placed players in places like Seattle, Montreal, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Ottawa. Despite this, six of these players rank among the top 10 scorers from the draft, but only three remain with their original teams.
Here’s a brief rundown of some notable players:
– Jack Hughes took some time to find his footing but now boasts 351 points in 368 games for New Jersey and is expected to continue flourishing.
– Matthew Boldy, picked 12th overall, is the second-highest scorer with 244 points and remains with the Minnesota Wild.
– Cole Caufield, a Canadiens pick at 15th, ranks third among scorers with 219 points and benefited from staying an extra year in the NCAA before turning pro.
– Dylan Cozens has racked up 213 points, mostly with Buffalo and recently in Ottawa, outperforming some higher draft picks.
– Trevor Zegras shines offensively with 186 points, though the fifth pick, Alex Turcotte, has struggled comparatively.
– Moritz Seider, picked sixth and playing defense, has earned 180 points and won the Calder Trophy, living up to expectations.
– Kaapo Kako, drafted second overall, has 161 points and remains one of the healthier players from the class.
– Matthias McKelli, a fourth-round pick, impressed with 130 points despite being traded recently.
– Alex Newhook, the Canadiens’ 16th overall choice, holds 126 points but has room to grow in consistency.
– Kirby Duck, originally third overall, rounds out the top 10 scorers with 121 points, though he faces higher expectations.
Montreal stands out for having three top 10 scorers from this draft, a promising sign for the franchise’s future. Both Newhook and Duck have potential that could elevate the team further, especially as they push to prove themselves.
Fan Take: This look back at the 2019 draft highlights just how unpredictable player development can be, reminding hockey fans that draft success isn’t always about early picks but about how teams nurture talent. For the Canadiens and other teams, these players’ growth could shape the league’s competitive landscape in the years ahead, making the draft outcomes crucial to the sport’s future excitement.
