The SBNation 2019 Mock Draft continues with two selections today. You voted twice for Bowen Byram in this part of the draw, and today someone finally takes him.

The Draft so Far

  1. NHL Mock Draft 2019: New Jersey Devils Select Jack Hughes with No. 1 draft pick - All About The Jersey
  2. NHL Mock Draft 2019: New York Rangers Select Kaapo Kakko with No. 2 Pick - Blueshirt Banter
  3. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Chicago Blackhawks select Alex Turcotte with No. 3 pick - Second City Hockey
  4. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Colorado Avalanche select Kirby Dach with the No. 4 pick - Mile High Hockey
  5. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Los Angeles Kings select Dylan Cozens with No. 5 pick - Jewels From The Crown

Today’s Picks

NHL Mock Draft 2019: Detroit Red Wings select Bowen Byram with No. 6 pick - Winging It In Motown
We have the Red Wings going defense in the 1st round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

The fans of the rebuilding Red Wings finally picked defender Byram. I’m skeptical he will still be on the board at that point in the real draft, however. He’s fairly universally ranked in the top five, and we already have one player in that top five who is dropping like a stone in Vasili Podkolzin.

WIIM is also surprised he was there, but they took him, considering him the best player available at that spot.

Let’s get this out of the way first — Byram was the best player on his team, and after an excellent 2018-2019 season, he was the lead scorer in the WHL playoffs (8-18—26) — yes, out of all players, not just defensemen. It was before the playoffs began that Byram established himself as the top defensive prospect in the 2019 class. Byram stacked up 71 points (26-45—71) in 67 games.

Among all of the things he’s praised for, his skating ability is perhaps at the top of the list. He’s an explosive, shifty player who plays with a real edge on the backend — something the Red Wings not only love to have in a player, but something they desperately need more of.

NHL Mock Draft 2019: Buffalo Sabres select Cole Caufield with the No. 7 pick - Die By The Blade
Sabres add a dynamic scoring winger to their prospect pool

The Sabres fans make the first totally off the board move, and my first thought was that you know it’s a blogger mock draft, when the little guy goes way higher than anyone has him ranked.

And while that’s true and Caufield is ranked in the 13-16 range on most lists, and did not make the top 15 of Bob McKenzie’s most recent consolidated rankings, he is in there at fifth on Craig Button’s mock draft. Do not confuse that exercise with Button’s actual list of rankings, however, when in his most recent edition, he had Caufield 10th.

Assuming that size bias is underrating a player like Caufield is fine. Assuming it’s got him ranked in the second half of the first round when he should be top 10 might be a stretch, and you’d better be sure if you’re doing this for real.

The 18-year-old is coming off an excellent U18 World Championship performance for Team USA. He scored 14 and 18 points in seven games for the Americans.

Caufield filled the net all season for the U18 US Development program. He scored 72 goals in 64 games for the USDP. Brining his full season goal total to 86 goals when you combine the World Championship and USDP scoring.

One thing is for sure, Caufield is scoring up a storm as a junior.

Today picks 8 - 10 will be announced, and that set takes us back to the western conference for the Oilers, the Ducks and the Canucks.

Is this too much of a reach for Caufield?

Would you pick Cole Caufield this high?

Yes, look at those points records!91
No way, he’s good, but you can’t leave Zegras on the board for a winger.99
NHL Draft