2019 NHL Entry Draft: Preview and discussion thread

The hometown draft didn’t get off to a great start as the Canucks didn’t win the lottery. Instead our team gets the 10th overall pick. We have spent the better part of two months dissecting every single player the team could draft, trade for or eject from the roster. Now it’s time to get the next piece to the longest rebuild in sports history.

How to watch

Round 1

Date: Friday, June 21

Start time: 8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT

Venue: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia

TV Channel: Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Canada), NBCSN (USA)

Online stream: Sportsnet Now

Rounds 2-7

Date: Saturday, June 22

Start time: 1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT

TV Channel: Sportsnet (Canada), NHL Network (USA)

Online stream: Sportsnet Now

First round order

1. New Jersey Devils*
2. New York Rangers**
3. Chicago Blackhawks***
4. Colorado Avalanche (via Ottawa Senators)
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
16. Colorado Avalanche
17. Vegas Golden Knights
18. Dallas Stars
19. Ottawa Senators (via Columbus Blue Jackets)
20. Winnipeg Jets
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
22. Los Angeles Kings (via Toronto Maple Leafs)
23. New York Islanders
24. Nashville Predators
25. Washington Capitals
26. Calgary Flames
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
28. Carolina Hurricanes
29. Anaheim Ducks (via San Jose Sharks by way of Buffalo Sabres)
30. Boston Bruins
31. Buffalo Sabres (via St. Louis Blues)

The big question for Canucks fans (apart from the inevitable “Is this gonna be one of those ‘Oh no, Jim Benning! Why would you do that?’ moments?”) is who will they select in the #10 slot. There’s been speculation that they might look to make an actual splash and make a trade, or trades to try and help their draft position as hosts. I’m telling you right now if any of these scenarios involve Milan Lucic, there will be blood.

As we explained in posts from NM’s Michael Beck and Markus Meyer this week, the Canucks being able to grab either Vancouver Giants D Bowen Byram or Victoria Grizzlies F Alex Newhook would be fine additions, both of them addressing needs the Canucks have. With Byram likely to be gone early, and the need for D outweighing other concerns in terms of a player who might be able to step in sooner than later, there’s a chance they could go with Victor Sodorstrom, but if for some reason Matthew Boldy (our pick in the SBN Mock Draft) is still there, that would be a huge win.

This is a decently deep draft and after the first two picks a real guessing game in terms of who will be taken. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed and think positive thoughts. You’re probably saying that those things have never worked, but if St Louis can win a Cup, anything is possible.