DraftBuzz Hockey’s 2019 NHL Draft Final Ranking – DB100

#1. Kaapo Kakko, F, TPS (LIIGA)

#2. Jack Hughes, C, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#3. Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver (WHL)

#4. Alex Turcotte, C, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#5. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

#6. Matthew Boldy, F, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#7. Peyton Krebs, LW, Kootenay (WHL)

#8. Vasili Podkolzin, F, SKA-1946 (MHL)

#9. Trevor Zegras, F, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#10. Cole Caufield, F, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#11. Alex Newhook, F, Victoria (BCHL)

#12. Moritz Seider, D, Adler Mannheim (DEL)

#13. Dylan Cozens, LW, Lethbridge (WHL)

#14. Spencer Knight, G, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#15. Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)

#16. Cam York, D, NTDP U18 (USDP)

#17. Philip Tomasino, C, Niagara (OHL)

#18. Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Allsvenskan)

#19. Nils Höglander, LW, Rögle BK (SHL)

#20. Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton (WHL)

#21. Brayden Tracey, LW Moose Jaw (WHL)

#22. Lassi Thomson, D, Kelowna (WHL)

#23. Victor Söderström, D, Brynäs IF (SHL)

#24. Samuel Poulin, LW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

#25. Raphaël Lavoie, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

#26. Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie (OHL)

#27. Vladislav Kolyachonok, D, Flint (OHL)

#28. Ryan Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)

#29. Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City (USHL)

#30. Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (LIIGA)

#31. John Beecher, C, NTDP U18 (USDP)

Attention:

DraftBuzz Hockey is launching DraftBuzz Hockey’s 2019 Draft Guide Series which is a complimentary email series including a DB93 Final Ranking, combine assessment, and a few proprietary metrics. I am unable to produce a Draft Guide this year, but still want to share a product offline.

Email info@draftbuzzhockey.com with the subject as ‘Opt In’ to get on the distribution list.

Already Circulated: 

DGS #1 – CHL 2019 NHL Draft Analytics

DGS #2 – 2019 NHL Draft Combine Breakdown

 

The Prospect Volatility Index, shortened to PVI, was created in 2015 in an attempt to quantify a prospect’s growth potential, and more specifically, probability of personal change and development at the time of their NHL Draft. The index is a composite ranking designed to combat relative age effect as well as balance dynamic physical development amongst prospects.

This index attempts only to give some objective framework for viewing a prospect’s long-term upside – it doesn’t replace a ranking nor guarantee certain development curve. It was constructed by using the 2018 NHL Draft Combine attendees, NHL CS top 62 skaters for NA, and NHL CS top 31 skaters for EUR. An age and size “position” were calculated for each prospect and combined to establish a composite PVI score.

Essentially, the learnings from this exercise come from the extreme ends of the spectrum. It can split out the younger, more physically underdeveloped players from the older, more physically mature ones. This index is meant to be combined with many other metrics to create a wholistic picture on a given prospect. Very generally, it’s a supremely positive indicator if a ‘subjectively’ elite prospect shows up with a top rank in PVI. Conversely, if a prospect is not billed as a top pick and he shows up with a low PVI rank, odds are said prospect has probably seen his development curve spike already and is much closer to being a finished product. It can be very good for projected top 5-10 picks, as it may mean they are more NHL ready than their peers.

Take a look at historical top PVI prospects***:

2015: #2 Troy Terry @1.90; #3 Anthony Cirelli @1.89; #15 Mitchell Marner @1.67; #16 Sebastian Aho @1.66; #27 Brendan Guhle @1.50; #30 Mathew Barzal @1.44

2016: #6 Jordan Kyrou @1.82; #9 Clayton Keller @1.74; #22 Samuel Girard @1.55; #29 Jesper Bratt @1.51

2017: #1 Alex Formenton @1.94; #27 Filip Chytil @1.55

Here’s the 2018 NHL Draft Top Ten in DraftBuzz PVI:

PVI RK	PLAYER	NHL CS RK	LEAGUE	POS	PVI
1	Olivier Rodrigue	NA1G	QMJHL	G	1.98
2	Kevin Mandolese	NA2G	QMJHL	G	1.94
3	Jan Jenik	EUR16	CZE2	RW	1.91
4	Jackson Perbix	NA96	USHS	RW	1.77
5	Adam Boqvist	EUR2	SUPERELIT	D	1.76
6	Lukas Dostal	EUR1G	CZE2	G	1.75
7	Ruslan Ishakov	EUR31	MHL	C	1.73
8	Ryan Merkley	NA45	OHL	D	1.72
9	Luke Henman	NA83	QMJHL	C	1.71
T10	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	EUR6	LIIGA	C	1.70
T10	Filip Hallander	EUR13	ALLSVENSKAN	C	1.70

Here’s the 2018 NHL Draft Bottom Ten in DraftBuzz PVI:

PVI RK	PLAYER	NHL CS RK	LEAGUE	POS	PVI
111	Riley Sutter	NA80	WHL	RW	0.44
112	Kyle Topping	NA59	WHL	C	0.42
113	Jachym Kondelik	NA48	USHL	C	0.41
114	Krystof Hrabik	EUR29	CZE2	C	0.33
115	Filip Zadina	NA3	QMJHL	RW	0.33
116	Jack Gorniak	NA87	USHS	LW	0.32
117	Philipp Kurashev	NA61	QMJHL	C	0.28
118	Sean Durzi	NA37	OHL	D	0.27
119	Milos Roman	NA41	WHL	C	0.25
120	Ryan McLeod	NA16	OHL	C	0.18

Download the full DraftBuzz 2018 NHL Draft Prospect Volatility Index

 

*combine data pulled from here –> @markscheig

**non-combine attendees data as well as did not test attendees pulled from here

***please note, historical ranks and scores from 2015-2017 were against the final DraftBuzz NHL Draft Rankings

Dear DraftBuzz readers,

With diminished published content this year, I unfortunately have to give you all confirmation of the bad news things have been trending towards: sadly, I will not be able to produce a 2018 NHL Draft Guide this June.

After 4 years of working extremely hard individually to give a detailed and comprehensive look at the game’s brightest talent pre-draft, I do not have the ability to create something similar this year despite scouting the class and future draft years. There are a lot of great prospect outlets out there right now, and I am not afraid to say that for a fee my stuff would not be competitive at the moment due to lack of time.

I do plan on releasing some free content leading up to the draft; I will want to keep a timestamped ranking going as well as I will not be able to resist the urge to compile the same proprietary metrics that I have spent so much time investing in over the last few years.

In spirit of the draft, consider this a rebuilding year! Scouting is in my blood and I do not plan to let DraftBuzz go…I want to thank all of my followers who have supported me over the years and hope to build DB up again in the coming months/years!

Thank you all,

Anthony

 

vs. Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

2018 NHL Draft top prospect Filip Zadina has trouble opening himself up for a shot for most of the clip at the right circle, until Max Fortier finds him sneaking towards the crease. Zadina finishes off a beautiful backhand pass by Fortier by being ready with a sure shot.

Zadina doesn’t score on this effort, but he shows his possession ability on the perimeter and doesn’t stop there. Watch how he drives to the slot and goes after the play. With two Titan all over him, he’s relentless and won’t stop getting that second backhand shot off. A supremely skilled kid with that type of intense determination makes a star.

Zadina finishes off a play he started deep in the defensive zone. It wasn’t a clear solo push by Zadina in his own zone, but there’s no mistaking his posture when he first picks up the puck. He’s going to be an elite forward who can provide great defensive support over the year. A great play all around sees New York Islanders prospect Arnaud Durandeau thread a pretty tape-to-tape pass and sharp snipe on the go by Zadina.

More Zadina being a hound on the puck and causing a turnover with his effort and stickwork.

 

vs. Barrie Colts (OHL)

Undrafted 98DOB Justin Brazeau has shown to be a threat on the PK with ample size at 6’5”, reach, a lot of effort, and a little bit of skill. On this PK break, he shows competency with the puck in open ice to drive to the middle and create a shot.

On this play, Brazeau accents all of his positive traits with excellent hockey sense. He opens this clip up by intercepting a pass and immediately translating it into a scoring chance. Then, he goes after his rebound and closes in on not one, but two Colts in the same sequence. Brazeau gets after the last Colt to have the puck and swiftly takes it from him. Surrounded by four Colts, he loses the war, but not after he drains about :20 from the other team’s PP. Look for further development from this overage prospect as he has some nice qualities, in a pro frame, and most important of all work-rate.

vs. Barrie Colts (OHL)

Arizona Coyotes 2016 NHL Draft pick Cam Dineen is shown being chased down behind his net while on the PP by the Colts Andrei Svechnikov. The play ultimately gets progressed out of the zone, but that is not what you want to see out of a highly acclaimed puck mover.

Shown here is a fairly positive sequence where Dineen displays escapability from his own end, as well as being able to flip a play in the reverse direction fluidity with pressure on his back. Not the cleanest execution, but gets the job done.

In this clip, Dineen starts the play afraid to go after the puck with Colts monster forward Curtis Douglas bearing down on him, loses the battle, gains the puck back by luck, and then half asses it up the boards because of Douglas again. This resulted in extended possession by Barrie where we see Dineen completely dwarfed in front of the net and in the corners.

vs. Omaha Lancers (USHL)

On the PP, 2018 NHL Draft prospect K’Andre Miller shows some mobility with the puck and uses his long reach to keep a play from escaping the offensive zone.

Miller owns no shortage of confidence, as a massive blueliner who you don’t expect to lug the puck up ice. This play essentially doesn’t pan out, but his raw skating power and interest to drive the attack might point to future development in this area.