2019 NHL Draft: New England Prospects

Several New England prospects will be selected this Friday and Saturday at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In what is expected to be a record year for Americans, some local players will be drafted in what should be a historic first round.

While most hockey fans, especially those who pay attention to draft rankings, know about Matt Boldy, Spencer Knight and Alex Newhook, there are several other New Englanders and players with ties to the region who will go in later rounds.

Here’s a look at all the prospects with ties to New England who could be selected Friday night or Saturday:

Trevor Zegras

USA NTDP U-18, 3/20/01, C, Left Shot, 6-0/174
NCAA Commit: Boston University

Zegras, who played prep hockey at Avon Old Farms before moving onto the NTDP, is a speedy, skilled playmaker. The Bedford, N.Y., native has a great first step and is shifty, which allows him to make plays in small areas as well as hunting pucks. He has great touch on his passes and thinks the game extremely well with the puck on his stick. He put up terrific numbers for the NTDP.

Projection: Zegras will be a top 10 pick.

Matthew Boldy

USA NTDP U-18, 4/5/01, LW, Left Shot, 6-2/192
NCAA Commit: Boston College

Boldy will undoubtedly be the first New Englander off the board on Friday evening. The Millis, Mass., native has a ton of upside with his size, hockey sense, and ability to protect pucks with his length and puck skills. His feet, once considered a detriment, has continued to get better. One thing NHL teams look for is players whose development track are on an upward trajectory. That’s the case with Boldy. The future Eagle put up over a point per game while playing mainly on the second line for the NTDP U-18 team.

Projection: Boldy will a top 10 pick.

Alex Newhook

Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), 1/28/01, C, Left Shot, 5-10/190
NCAA Commit: Boston College

He has elite speed and a terrific skill set overall. He has a good first step and a second gear to blow by defenders. Simply put, the Saint John’s, Newfoundland, native has a terrific motor. His hockey IQ is also very good. His vision and play-making abilities are outstanding and he can also finish. He put up nearly two points per game in the BCHL.

Projection: Newhook will likely be drafted somewhere in the teens during Friday night’s first round.

Spencer Knight

USA NTDP U-18, 4/19/01, G, Catches Left, 6-3/198
NCAA Commit: Boston College

Ever since first seeing Knight before his U-16 year, he’s shown the clear ability to be a first round NHL pick. The Darien, Conn., native has the size, skating, poise, and fundamentals to be a dominant goaltender at the NHL level. He’s the best American-born goaltender in quite a few years.

Projection: Knight is likely to join select company in terms of being a goaltender drafted in the first round.

Alex Vlasic

USA NTDP U-18, 6/5/01, D, Left Shot, 6-6/198
NCAA Commit: Boston University

Vlasic has great size and skates fairly well for a big guy. He has the length to defend and close on opposing forwards. He’ll be a stay-at-home defenseman with body positioning to be efficient at the NHL level.

Projection: The Wilmette, Ill., native will go higher than many of the draft sites have him slotted. Whatever teams get him, most likely late in the first round or early in the second round, will get a steal.

Drew Helleson

USA NTDP U-18, 3/26/01, D, Right Shot, 6-3/194
NCAA Commit: Boston College

Helleson is another defender who is vastly underrated. Finding a mobile, right-shot defenseman with size isn’t an easy task for NHL teams. He has a good stick and skates with his head up. While he’s not an offensive player, he makes good decisions with the puck.

Projection: The Farmington, Minn., native and Shattuck St. Mary’s product will be taken somewhere in the second round.

Robert Mastrosimone

Chicago Steel (USHL), 1/24/01, C/LW, Left Shot, 5-10/170
NCAA Commit: Boston University

Mastrosimone had two terrific seasons with the Chicago Steel, including this year where he was a key offensive cog in bringing the team to the Clark Cup final. The East Islip, N.Y., native has a strong compete level, hunts pucks, and is always around the puck. He seems to impact the game each shift. He has good speed and above average hands while also having the grittiness to kill penalties and be relentless.

Projection: Mastrosimone should be a second round pick, but it wouldn’t be a shock if he went late in the first round.

Domenick Fensore

USA NTDP U-18, 9/7/01, D, Left Shot, 5-7/154
NCAA Commit: Boston University

Fensore will always have to answer questions about his size, but his dynamic puck-moving capabilities cannot be ignored. He’s able to use his mobility to escape trouble on breakouts and jump into the rush. He put up great numbers offensively for the NTDP.

Projection: Fensore will be drafted somewhere in the second round with the remote possibility of slipping to the third round.

John Farinacci

Dexter, 2/14/01, C, Right Shot, 6-0/185
NCAA Commit: Harvard

Farinacci missed a lot of the prep season with an injury, which could hurt his stock among some NHL organizations. He put up over two points per game once he returned from injury and he did it with very little offensive help around him. The Red Bank, N.J., native also showed well in two USHL games with Muskegon. Farinacci has good hockey sense and skill, allowing him to make plays from below the circles, despite his lack of size. He has a knack for the puck. One concern, at least at the prep level, was his seeming lack of intensity away from the puck.

Projection: Farinacci, who played previously for Delbarton and Shattuck St. Mary’s, will likely be a second round pick.

Zachary Jones

Tri-City Storm (USHL), 10/18/00, D, Left Shot, 5-10/176
NCAA Commit: UMass

Jones put up nearly a point per game from the blue line in 2018-19, his first season of junior hockey. While the Glen Allen, Va., native is on the smaller side, he uses his mobility and stick to be efficient in both ends. While his offensive numbers stick, and rightfully so, he defends about as well as any undersized defenseman. He’s the true definition of defending with his stick and feet. With the NHL trending towards smaller and skilled defenders, Jones could be a very coveted player.

Projection: A few teams are very high on Jones and might take him in the second round, but the safest bet is that he ends up as an early third rounder.

Jayden Struble

St. Sebastian’s, 8/9/01, D, Left Shot, 6-0/194
NCAA Commit: Northeastern

Struble is one of the most talked about draft prospects in years due to some of the things he does on the ice, aside from playing the game. The Cumberland, R.I., native and former Little League World Series star has undeniable athleticism. He’s able to play physically in his defensive zone, rush the puck up ice, and contribute to the offense whether on the transition or on the power play. His hockey sense is questionable, due to sometimes rushing the puck right into traffic. He tends to play with a lot of emotion, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. When the game gets out of control, on either side, he sometimes checks out or looks to start fights.

Projection: Some reports have teams considering him for late in the first round. He’s a fascinating prospect as there are other teams who don’t even have him on their board, due to his antics. I’d rather have a player who you needed to reel in than a player whose compete level is lacking. Most likely, Struble goes in the second round, but third or fourth is also a possibility.

Vladislav Firstov

Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), 6/19/01, LW, Left Shot, 6-0/181
NCAA Commit: UConn

Firstov appears to be another solid, European recruit for the Huskies. The Yaroslovl, Russia, native put up nearly a point per game in his first season in North America, playing for P.K. O’Handley in Waterloo. Firstov has a really good shot and he sees the ice well, but one concern is he tends to play a little too much on the perimeter and needs to bulk up.

Projection: Firstov goes somewhere in the second or third round.

Henry Thrun

USA NTDP U-18, 3/12/01, D, Left Shot, 6-2/190
NCAA Commit: Harvard

Thrun has good size, skates well, and makes smart, poised plays. His gaps are typically strong and he can jump into the offense. One concern among NHL scouts is his analytics weren’t strong in 2018-19. NHL teams can be confident in knowing what the Southborough, Mass., native is, but he might not have the upside that others in the draft do. Another positive for teams considering drafting Thrun is his unrivaled character.

Projection: Thrun will likely be picked late in the second round or somewhere in the third round.

Marshall Warren

USA NTDP U-18, 4/20/01, D, Left Shot, 5-11/168
NCAA Commit: Boston College

Warren is a strong, athletic defenseman who has been one of the best at his position among Americans in this age group for quite some time. He has a hard shot and isn’t afraid to throw his weight around, despite measuring in at less than six-feet tall.

Projection: Warren, from Laurel Hollow, N.Y., should be a good college player, but how impactful he can be at the pro level will probably limit him to the third round.

Tyce Thompson

Providence, 7/12/99, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/165

Thompson had a solid freshman campaign for Nate Leaman’s Friars. The Milford, Conn., native had eight goals and 17 assists in 42 games. He played on the first power play for much of the season. He skates well, has strong hockey sense, and can compete in all situations at the collegiate level.

Projection: Thompson is in his third year of draft eligibility and NHL teams know what type of player he is as they’ve seen him against older and stronger competition. A third or fourth round selection is most likely.

Ethan Phillips

Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 5/7/01, C/RW, Right Shot, 5-9/146
NCAA Commit: Boston University

Phillips won a Clark Cup championship with Sioux Falls after leaving Selects Academy in the fall. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native is on the smaller side, but he’s skilled and agile on his skates. He’s able to create offense for his teammates. Phillips had 17 goals and 31 assists with the Stampede.

Projection: His size might scare some teams off. He’s likely a fourth round pick, but it wouldn’t be a shock if he fell to the fifth round or snuck into the third round.

Patrick Moynihan

USA NTDP U-18, 1/23/01, C/RW, Right Shot, 5-11/183
NCAA Commit: Providence

Moynihan is a great player to watch because of how hard he plays. He’s able to hunt pucks and win battles below the dots. He’s an efficient, 200-foot player who hasn’t produced as much offensively at the NTDP, due to playing a lot of bottom six minutes. 

Projection: The Millis, Mass., native is likely to be a very good four-year college player. While he might not have a ton of upside as far as a pro goes, he’s better than a lot of players ranked above him in the various draft rankings. He’s likely a fourth round pick, but should be a third.

Cade Webber

Rivers, 1/5/01, D, Left Shot, 6-6/194
NCAA Commit: Boston University

The Worcester, Mass., native will play in the BCHL next season after playing the last three in prep school with Shawn McEachern’s team at Rivers. His size and skating ability are huge positives. His compete level and turnovers are concerns. There were numerous times where he’d look good rushing the puck, but not be able to make a play. Being fair, Webber looked better and more engaged in his call-ups with the NTDP than he did at the prep level.

Projection: With his size and skating, he might get taken in the second round. If I was calling the shots with a NHL team, I’d draft him somewhere in the sixth round, due to his potential upside.

Marc Del Gaizo

UMass, 10/11/99, D, Left Shot, 5-9/170

Del Gaizo, from Basking Ridge, N.J., scored 13 goals in college, including the overtime game winner that sent the Minutemen to the NCAA Championship game. He’s proven he can produce offensively at the collegiate level. Many NHL scouts expressed concern whether he could be as successful away from the Mullins Center’s olympic sheet.

Projection: Del Gaizo should be drafted in the fourth or fifth round. After all, he’s proven he can play against older and better competition than most of his peers in this draft.

Case McCarthy

USA NTDP U-18, 1/9/01, D, Right Shot, 6-1/198
NCAA Commit: Boston University

McCarthy, from Clarence Center, N.Y., has seen his stock fall some over the past year or two. He’s a solid two-way defender, but he hasn’t gotten better, which is a concern among NHL organizations.

Projection: Expect McCarthy to be a fifth or sixth round pick.

Matej Blumel

Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), 5/31/00, LW, Left Shot, 6-0/198
NCAA Commit: UConn

Blumel, from Tabor Czech Republic, scored over a point per game in his second season in the USHL. His improvement from one season to the next has to be a positive among NHL teams. 

Projection: Blumel should be taken somewhere in the last few rounds.

Nick Abruzzese

Chicago Steel (USHL), 6/4/99, LW, Left Shot, 5-9/163
NCAA Commit: Harvard

A third-year eligible player, Abruzzese put up monster numbers in the USHL for the Eastern Conference champion. He sees the ice well and he can skate. A late bloomer trending upward, the Slate Hill, N.Y., native could be intriguing for that reason.

Projection: Opinions on Abruzzese vary greatly among NHL organizations. Anywhere from fourth through seventh rounds along with not being selected at all are possible. 

Max Crozier

Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 4/19/00, D, Right Shot, 6-2/190
NCAA Commit: Providence

Crozier had a nice first year in the USHL with the Clark Cup winners. The Calgary, Alberta, native has a good stick and sees the ice well, which allows him to jump into the offense. He racked up 132 penalty minutes in the USHL. His defensive play and his foot speed are two issues that will concern NHL teams.

Projection: Crozier will likely be a fifth or sixth round pick, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he went without being selected.

Jérémie Bucheler

Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), 3/31/00, D, Right Shot, 6-4/194
NCAA Commit: Northeastern

Bucheler has good size and put up solid numbers in the BCHL this season. I haven’t seen him since his time in the USHL with Chicago, so it’s hard to give much of an opinion here. The St-Laurent, Quebec, native always put up good offensive numbers in midget hockey.

Projection: Bucheler is a right-shot defenseman who put up good offensive numbers. He could be taken in the sixth or seventh rounds.

Ben Meehan

Dexter, 4/20/01, D, Left Shot, 6-0/163
NCAA Commit: UMass Lowell

Meehan doesn’t have any elite qualities, which is a key component that NHL teams are looking for during the draft process. However, he’s a strong skater who is hard to knock off his feet. He makes simple and smart outlet passes while limiting mistakes. He has a good stick and competes extremely hard. 

Projection: I’d take Meehan over many other local players in this draft class, but he doesn’t have the potential upside. What he does have is the consistency and knowing what you’ll get. A team might take a flyer on him in the last round. If he doesn’t get drafted, he might next year after a season in the USHL with Cedar Rapids or be a free agent signing out of college.

Braden Doyle

Lawrence, 8/24/01, D, Left Shot, 6-0/168
NCAA Commit: Boston University

Doyle, from Lynnfield, Mass., has always been a terrific, skilled, puck-moving defenseman at the bantam, midget, and prep levels. Concerns have been his defensive play, skating, and proneness for turnovers.

Projection: Some teams have Doyle as a draft while others do not. His skill is intriguing. He’s one of the most skilled defensemen in the draft. He could go un-drafted, but he could also be taken in the final two rounds.

Cooper Moore

Brunswick, 2/16/01, D, Left Shot, 6-1/181
NCAA Commit: North Dakota

Moore's feet and ability to get shots through from the point stick out immediately when watching the skilled defenseman. He had several games at the prep level where he was able to take over offensively, including at the Exeter Showcase when he scored seven goals. He'll need to improve his hockey sense, especially in the defensive end and limit turnovers. He'll play in the BCHL during the 2019-20 season before heading to North Dakota.

Projection: Moore is a wildcard as his physical tools indicate a sure draft pick. The more scouts watched him, the more concerned they became with his hockey sense. He'll likely be taken late, due to his skill set.

Zachary Uens

Wellington Dukes (OJHL), 5/13/01, D, Left Shot, 6-1/179
NCAA Commit: Merrimack

Uens is another strong recruit out of Canada for the Warriors. Uens is a good, two-way defenseman who can create offense and play in his own end. He skates well and has above average size.

Projection: Uens could be taken late in the proceedings, but playing in the OJHL might hurt his draft chances.

Parker Ford

Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), 7/20/00, C, Right Shot, 6-0/176
NCAA Commit: Providence

Ford always heard questions about his size, but he’s gotten used to proving doubters wrong. Simply put, he’s just a hockey player. The Wakefield, R.I., native is going to be fun to watch over the coming years in a Friars’ uniform. He hunts pucks and makes plays.

Projection: Ford could be taken in the draft, especially with the trend of the selection process going older over the past few years.

Tomas Mazura

Kimball Union, 9/23/00, C, Left Shot, 6-3/181
NCAA Commit: Providence

Mazura has a little bit of a hitch in his stride, but he gets around the ice. He sees the ice well and makes plays. He was the top line center for the Wildcats, who won the prep school title once again. A former JV player from Czech Republic, Mazura has improved greatly under Tim Whitehead at KUA.

Projection: A few NHL teams like Mazura so he could be fifth or sixth round pick or go un-drafted.

Henry Wilder

Hotchkiss, 3/19/01, G, Catches Left, 6-1/181
NCAA Commit: Boston College

Wilder, from Needham, Mass., was undoubtedly the most valuable player for the Bearcats. He guided a struggling team to several big wins. He has decent size and strong fundamentals. A strong athlete, there’s a lot to like in Wilder’s potential upside.

Projection: Wilder could be selected in one of the final two rounds.

Aidan McDonough

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), 11/6/99, LW, Left Shot, 6-2/201
NCAA Commit: Northeastern

McDonough scored 25 goals in his first season of junior hockey with Mark Carlson’s team in the USHL. His footwork, specifically his first step, was always a concern at the prep level. However, the Milton, Mass., native has gotten better in that regards. It’s still not great, but his size, shot, and ability to use his body to protect pucks are all assets. 

Projection: McDonough might get taken in the last round. If he can drive the net more and improve his feet, he’ll likely get a NHL contract out of Northeastern.

Bobby Trivigno

UMass, 1/19/99, LW, Left Shot, 5-8/146

Trivigno, from Setauket, N.Y., had an impactful freshman season at UMass. He had 28 points in 39 games. Suspended twice for hits that were deemed illegal, he plays with an edge. His coach called him a rat on several occasions. He’ll hang around the net and go to all the greasy areas, especially for a smaller player. He can skate well, which is always an asset teams are looking for.

Projection: He could be drafted, but the guess here is he doesn’t. It’s hard to see him having the same kind of success in a similar role at the pro level, due to his size.

Lynden Breen

Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL), 5/31/01, C, Left Shot, 5-9/165
NCAA Commit: Maine

From the Maritimes, Breen played prep hockey at New Hampton before making the move to the USHL. His lack of size is a concern, but he’s a smart, play-making center. 

Projection: He’s going to be a really good college player, but his pro potential is less certain. He doesn’t get drafted is mostly outcome, but he could be taken late.

Carter Berger

Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), 9/17/99, D, Left Shot, 6-0/201
NCAA Commit: UConn

Berger put up over a point per game from the blue line while in his third season in the BCHL.

Projection: One team might value his production, but he’s in his third season of eligibility. He doesn’t get drafted is the safe prediction.

Ryan Siedem

Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL), 2/25/01, D, Right Shot, 6-2/192
NCAA Commit: Harvard

Siedem’s stock fell and he left the NTDP after being relegated to a limited role in his U-17 year. A former Boston College commit, Siedem is still going to be an adequate defenseman in the ECAC.

Projection: The Madison, N.J., native doesn’t hear his name called.

Filip Lindberg

UMass, 1/31/99, G, Catches Left, 6-0/187

Lindberg had a terrific post-season run for the Minutemen. The Espoo, Finland, native has international experience and certainly has proven he can stop pucks at a high level. 

Projection: His lack of size could keep him off the draft board. However, teams could do worse than taking him.

Jackson Pierson

New Hampshire, 9/10/99, C/LW, Left Shot, 5-10/170

Pierson, from Zionsville, Ind., skates really well and has very good habits. He seems to always be on the right side of the puck. 

Projection: His lack of production and injury troubles this season will likely keep him off the draft board.

Tyler Young

Lawrence, 5/8/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-1/165
NCAA Commit: Providence

Young has good pedigree with his father Scott being a very good player in the NHL for many years. He is a smart winger who can get to pucks and make plays. While his skating isn’t technically poor, he can sometimes struggle with the pace when it picks up.

Projection: Young is more than likely a player who could earn a free agent contract down the road with the Friars.

Malik Alishlalov

Westminster, 1/7/01, D, Left Shot, 6-2/194
NCAA Commit: UConn

Alishlalov, from Moscow, Russia, has upside with his size and skill moving pucks up ice. His hockey sense and compete level were lacking at times in prep school action.

Projection: Alishlalov doesn’t get drafted.

Tyler Spott

Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), 6/17/00, D, Left Shot, 5-11/174
NCAA Commit: Northeastern

Spott has had two solid seasons in the USHL with Green Bay. Another player with a solid pedigree, he has upside and should be a good addition to the Huskies’ lineup.

Projection: Spott doesn’t get drafted, but late in the proceedings, it’s possible a team takes a chance.

Alex Steeves

Notre Dame, 12/10/99, LW, Left Shot, 5-11/185

Steeves, hailing from Bedford, N.H., is on NHL Central Scouting for a second straight season. He had nine points in 39 games for the Fighting Irish this season.

Projection: Steeves doesn’t get drafted.

Nikita Nesterenko

Lawrenceville, 9/10/01, LW, Left Shot, 6-0/157
NCAA Commit: Brown

Nesterenko, from Brooklyn, N.Y., has high skill and agility, allowing to put up huge numbers at the prep and midget levels. However, his inability to play in the middle or go to the dirty areas are concerns.

Projection: Despite being ranked 121st by NHL Central Scouting, Nesterenko doesn’t get drafted.

Derek Mullahy

Dexter, 3/20/01, G, Catches Left, 6-1/176
NCAA Commit: Harvard

Mullahy, from Scituate, Mass., is a very good prep school goalie and will likely have a solid college career. However, his lack of size will hurt his stock among NHL teams.

Projection: Mullahy doesn’t get drafted.

Alex Aslanidis

Avon Old Farms, 1/20/01, G, Catches Left, 6-5/220
NCAA Commit: Providence

There’s no denying Aslanidis has the size and takes up a lot of net. However, he has a tendency to give up soft goals.

Projection: A NHL team might take a flyer in the last round, but the safe bet is him going un-drafted out of prep school.

Cade Alami

Berkshire, 3/13/01, D, Right Shot, 6-7/190
NCAA Commit: Providence

Alami, from Bedford, N.Y., missed significant time due to injury this season. He has the size and pretty decent mobility and hands for his size.

Projection: He’s the ultimate definition of a project. He doesn’t get drafted, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he does in his second or third year of eligibility or signs as a free agent down the road.

Jack Ring

Boston Advantage U-18, 12/18/00, C/LW, Left shot, 6-4/183
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire

Ring has size and can skate. He converted to forward after previously playing defense. He was a late addition to NHL Central Scouting.

Projection: A lot of NHL teams never saw him play, due to his playing U-18 hockey. The Hingham, Mass., native doesn’t get drafted.

Gabriel Carriere

Kanata Lasers (CCHL), 11/5/00, G, Catches Left, 6-1/163
NCAA Commit: Vermont

Carriere is ranked 15th among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting. He put up solid numbers in the CCHL and has good size.

Projection: Carriere doesn’t get drafted, but it’s tough to know with goaltenders.