Draft season is here.
Related: 2019 NHL Draft: Fisher’s Top 350 Final Rankings
With the 2019 NHL Entry Draft right around the corner, it’s time to release my final 250 rankings for this year’s draft class.
There will be hundreds of mock drafts and draft rankings released over the course of any given year. With that in mind, there will never be two identical draft rankings or mock drafts given how many players are eligible to be ranked each and every year.
That’s what makes the scouting process so difficult but also so interesting at the same time.
Related: THW’s Free NHL Draft Guide
For many, even ranking the best players inside the first round is hard as there’s almost never a consensus for the 31 players included, let alone the order they should be ranked. With a list as inclusive as this one, the lines become very blurred about who should even be mentioned and who just fails to make the cut.
This list will include players from all over the world who were given opportunities in their countries, in their own respective leagues, at the international level and beyond.
With the draft order set and teams finally ready to make their decisions, this is the most exciting time of the year.
Without further delay, here is my top 250 rankings for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft:
First Round
1) Jack Hughes (LC, USA, NTDP U18)
2) Kaapo Kakko (RW/LC, Finland, TPS Liiga)
3) Cole Caufield (RW, USA, NTDP U18)
4) Bowen Byram (LD, Canada, Vancouver WHL)
5) Dylan Cozens (RC/RW, Canada, Lethbridge WHL)
6) Alex Turcotte (LC, USA, NTDP U18)
7) Vasili Podkolzin (RW, Russia, SKA St. Petersburgh MHL)
8) Trevor Zegras (LC, USA, NTDP U18)
9) Peyton Krebs (LC/LW, Canada, Kootenay WHL)
10) Kirby Dach (RC/RW, Canada, Saskatoon WHL)
11) Matthew Boldy (LW, USA, NTDP U18)
12) Alex Newhook (LC/LW, Canada, Victoria BCHL)
13) Philip Broberg (LD, Sweden, AIK Allsvenskan)
14) Ville Heinola (LD, Finland, Lukko Liiga)
15) Arthur Kaliyev (LW, USA, Hamilton OHL)
16) Cam York (LD, USA, NTDP U18)
17) Phillip Tomasino (RW/RC, Canada, Niagra OHL)
18) Victor Soderstrom (RD, Sweden, Brynas SHL)
19) Ryan Suzuki (LC, Canada, Barrie OHL)
20) Tobias Bjornfot (LD, Sweden, Djurgardens J20)
21) Raphael Lavoie (RW/RC, Canada, Halifax QMJHL)
22) Moritz Seider (RD, Germany, Adler Mannheim DEL)
23) Spencer Knight (G, USA, NTDP U18)
24) Bobby Brink (RW, USA, Sioux City USHL)
25) Nils Hoglander (LW, Sweden, Rogle SHL)
26) Brett Leason (RW/RC, Canada, Prince Albert WHL)
27) Thomas Harley (LD, Canada, Mississauga OHL)
28) Matthew Robertson (LD, Canada, Edmonton WHL)
29) Jakob Pelletier (LW/RW, Canada, Moncton QMJHL)
30) Simon Holmstrom (RW/LW, Sweden, HV71 J20)
31) Pavel Dorofeyev (LW/RW, Russia, Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL)
Second Round
32) Lassi Thomson (RD, Finland, Kelowna WHL)
33) Egor Afanasyev (LW, Russia, Muskegon USHL)
34) Ilya Nikolayev (LC, Russia, Loko Yaroslavl MHL)
35) Nick Robertson (LW, USA, Peterborough OHL)
36) Robert Mastrosimone (LC, USA, Chicago USHL)
37) Anttoni Honka (RD, Finland, KeuPa HT Mestis)
38) Kaedan Korczak (RD, Canada, Kelowna WHL)
39) Mikko Kokkonen (LD, Finland, Jukurit Liiga)
40) Nathan Legare (RW, Canada, Baie-Comeau QMJHL)
41) Connor McMichael (LC, Canada, London OHL)
42) Adam Beckman (LW, Canada, Spokane WHL)
43) John Beecher, LC, USA, NTDP U18)
44) Vladislav Kolyachonok (LD, Belarus, Flint OHL)
45) Jamieson Rees (LC, Canada, Sarnia OHL)
46) Marshall Warren (LD, USA, NTDP U18)
47) Alex Vlasic (LD, USA, NTDP U18)
48) Jordan Spence (RD, Canada, Moncton QMJHL)
49) Nolan Foote (LW/LC, Canada
50) Brayden Tracey (LW, Canada, Moose Jaw WHL)
51) Michal Teply (RW, Czech Republic, Bili Tygri Liberec)
52) Samuel Poulin (LW, Canada, Sherbrooke QMJHL)
53) Patrik Puistola (LW, Finland, Leki Mestis)
54) Semyon Chistayakov (LD, Russia, Tolpa Ufa MHL)
55) Albin Grewe (RW/LC, Sweden, Djurgardens J20)
56) Shane Pinto (RW, USA, Tri-City USHL)
57) Samuel Fagemo (LW/RW, Sweden, Frolunda SHL)
58) Valentin Nussbaumer (LW/LC, Switzerland, Shawinigan QMJHL)
59) Ryan Johnson (LD, USA, Sioux Falls USHL)
60) Blake Murray (LC, Canada, Sudbury OHL)
61) Antti Tuomisto (RD, Finland, Assat U20)
62) Karl Henriksson (LC/LW, Sweden, Frolunda J20)
Third Round
63) Daniil Gutik (LW, Russia, Loko Yaroslavl MHL)
64) Artemi Knyazev (LD, Russia, Chicoutimi QMJHL)
65) Daniil Misyul (LD, Russia/Belraus, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL)
66) Samuel Bolduc (LD, Canada, Blainville-Boisbriand QMJHL)
67) Maxim Cajkovic (RW/LW, Slovakia, Saint John QMJHL)
68) Pyotr Kochetkov (G, Russia, Ryazan VHL)
69) Albert Johansson (LW, Sweden, Farjestad SHL)
70) Trevor Janicke (RW, USA, Central Illinois USHL)
71) Matias Maccelli (LW, Finland, Dubuque USHL)
72) Tuukka Tieksola (RW, Finland, Karpat U20)
73) Domenick Fensore (LD, USA, NTDP U18)
74) Billy Constantinou (RD, Canada, Kingston OHL)
75) Drew Helleson (RD, USA, NTDP U18)
76) Vlasislav Firstov (F, Russia, Waterloo USHL)
77) Josh Williams (RW, Canada, Edmonton WHL)
78) Ben Brinkman (LW, USA, Minnesota NCAA)
79) Yegor Spiridonov (RC/LW), Russia, Magnitogorsk MHL)
80) Dmitri Sheshin (RW, Russia, Magnitogorsk MHL)
81) Hugo Alnefelt (G, Sweden, HV71 J20)
82) Hunter Jones (G, Canada, Peterborough OHL)
83) Santti Saarela (LC/LW, Finland, Lukko Liiga)
84) Sasha Mutala (RW, Canada, Tri-City WHL)
85) Ethan Keppen (LW, USA, Spokane WHL)
86) Mikhail Abramov (RW, Russia, Victoriaville QMJHL)
87) Aaron Huglen (F, USA, Fargo USHL)
88) Dustin Wolf (G, USA, Everett WHL)
89) Simon Lundmark (RD, Sweden, Linkoping J20)
90) Ethan Phillips (RC, Canada, Sioux Falls USHL)
91) Mads Sogaard (G, Denmark, Medicine Hat WHL)
92) Marcus Kallionkieli (F, Finland, Sioux City USHL)
93) Henry Thrun (LD, USA, NTDP U18)
Fourth Round
94) Massimo Rizzo (LC/LW, Canada, Penticton BCHL)
95) Alex Beaucage (RW, Canada, Rouyn-Noranda QMJHL)
96) John Farinacci (RC USA, Dexter U.S. High School)
97) Justin Bergeron (LD, Canada, Rouyn-Noranda QMJHL)
98) Kim Nousiainen (LD, Finland, KalPa Liiga)
99) Logan Barlage (RC/RW, Canada, Lethbridge WHL)
100) Graeme Clarke (RW, Canada, Ottawa OHL)
101) Luke Toporowski (LW, USA, Spokane WHL)
102) Michael Vukojevic (LD, Canada, Kitchener OHL)
103) Aliaksei Protas (LC, Belarus, Prince Albert WHL)
104) Nikita Alexandrov (LC, Germany/Russa, Charlottetown QMJHL)
105) Matvei Guskov (LC, Russia, London OHL)
106) Isaiah Saville (G, USA, Tri-City USHL)
107) Layton Ahac (LD, Canada, Prince George BCHL)
108) Egor Serdyuk (RW, Russia, Victoriaville QMJHL)
109) Ronnie Attard (RD, USA, Tri-City USHL)
110) Colten Ellis (G, Canada, Rimouski QMJHL)
111) Leevi Aaltonen (LW, Finland, KalPA Liiga)
112) Jayden Struble (LD, USA, St. Sebastian’s U.S. High School)
113) Yaroslav Likhachyov (RW, Russia, Gatineau QMJHL)
114) Zac Jones (LD, USA, Tri-City USHL)
115) Jake Lee (LD, Canada, Seattle/Kelowna WHL)
116) Owen Lindmark (RC, USA, NTDP U18) v
117) Cameron Rowe (G, USA, NTDP U18)
118) Xavier Parent (LW, Canada, Halifax QMJHL)
119) Mattias Norlinder (LD, Sweden, MODO Allsvenskan)
120) Jackson LaCombe (LD, USA, Shattuck St. Mary’s U.S. High School)
121) Nikola Pasic (LC, Sweden, Likoping J20)
122) Dillon Hamaliuk (LW, Canada, Seattle/Kelowna WHL)
123) Nolan Maier (G, Canada, Saskatoon WHL)
124) Patrick Moynihan (RW, USA, NTDP U18)
Fifth Round
125) Alex Campbell (LW/LW, Canada, Victoria BCHL)
126) Henri Nikkanen (LC, Finland, Jukurit Liiga)
127) Reece Newkirk, LC, Canada, Portland WHL)
128) Marcel Barinka (F, Czech Republic, Halifax QMJHL)
129) Roman Bychkov (LD, Russia, Loko Yaroslavl MHL)
130) Case McCarthy (RD, USA, NTDP U18)
131) Taylor Gauthier (G, Canada, Prince George WHL)
132) Ilya Mironov (LD, Russia, Loko Yarosalvl MHL)
133) Vojtech Strondala (LC, Czech Republic, Kometa Brno)
134) Max Crozier (RD, Canada, Sioux Falls USHL)
135) Nikita Okhotyuk (LD, Russia, Ottawa OHL)
135) Xavier Simoneau (LW/LC, Canada, Drummondville QMJHL)
136) Artyom Galimov (LC, Russia, Bars Kazan VHL)
137) Kirill Slepets (RW/LW, Russia, Loko Yaroslavl MHL)
138) Brady Meyer (LC, USA, Green Bay USHL)
139) Ryder Donovan (RC/RW, USA, Duluth-East U.S. High School)
140) Marc Del Gaizo (LD, USA, UMass Amherst NCAA)
141) Yannick Bruschweiler (LW, Switzerland, Zurich Lions NLA)
142) Arseni Gritsyuk (LW, Russia, Omskie Yastreby MHL)
143) Henry Rybinski (LW/RW, Canada, Seattle WHL)
144) Mike Koster (LD, USA, Chaska U.S. High School)
145) Christopher Merisier-Ortiz (LD, Canada, Baie-Comeau QMJHL
146) Martin Hugo Has (RD, Czech Republic (Tappara Liiga)
147) Grant Gillianoff (LF, USA, Cedar Rapids USHL)
148) Quinn Schmeimann (LD, Canada, Kamloops WHL)
149) Cole Moberg (LD, Canada, Prince George WHL)
150) Trent Miner (G, Canada, Vancouver WHL)
151) Ilya Morozov (LD, Russia, Sibir Novosibirsk KHL)
152) Elmer Soderblom (LW, Sweden, Frolunda J20)
153) Samuel Hlavaj (G, Sloavkia, Lincoln USHL)
154) Ilya Konovalov (G, Russia, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL)
155) Albin Sundsvik (LC, Sweden, Skelleftea J20)
Sixth Round
156) Oleg Zaytsev (LC, Russia, Red Deer WHL)
157) Luke Bast (LD, Canada, Brooks AJHL)
158) Kalle Loponen (RD, Finland, Hermes Mestis)
159) Vladimir Alistrov (LW, Belarus, Edmonton WHL)
160) Michael Gildon (LW, USA, NTDP U18)
161) Eli Zummack (RW/RC, Canada, Spokane WHL)
162) Jonathan Brinkman (LW, Denmark, Aalborg Pirates)
163) Matias Mantykivi (LC, Finland, SaiPa U20)
164) Gianni Fairbrother (LD, Canada, Everett WHL)
165) Harrison Blaisdell (LW, Canada, Chilliwack BCHL)
166) Santeri Hatakka (LD, Finland, Jokerit U20)
167) Quinn Olson (LW, Canada, Okotoks AJHL)
168) Joonas Oden (F, Finland/USA, KooKoo Liiga,)
169) Cade Webber (LD, USA, NTDP U18)
170) Mikko Petman (RW, Finland, Lukko Liiga)
171) Lukas Parik (G, Czech Republic, Bili Tygri Liberec U19)
172) Taro Jentzsch (LW/RC, Germany, Sherbrooke QMJHL)
173) Aku Raty (RW, Finland, Karpat U20)
174) Alex Brannstam (LD, Sweden, Djurgardens J20)
175) Lucas Feuk (LC/LW, Sweden, Sodertalje J20)
176) Yegor Chinakhov (LF, Russia, Omskie Yastreby MHL)
177) Nick Porco (LW, Canada, Saginaw OHL)
178) Josh Nodler (RC, USA, Fargo USHL)
179) Filip Lindberg (G, Finland, UMass Amherts NCAA)
180) Adam Liska (LW, Slovakia, Slovan Brastislava KHL)
181) Rhett Pitlick (LW, USA, Chaska U.S. High School)
182) Evgeny Oxentyuk (RW/LC, Belarus, Team Belarus U20)
183) Judd Caulfield (RW, USA, NTDP U18)
184) Maxim Denezhkin (LC, Russia, Loko Yaroslavl MHL)
185) Jacob Gronhagen (LC, Sweden, HV71 J20)
186) Tag Bertuzzi (LW, Canada, Hamilton OHL)
Seventh Round
187) Max Wahlgren (LC/LW, Sweden, MODO J20)
188) Roope Taponen (G, Finland HIFK U20)
189) Austen Swankler (LC, USA, Sioux Falls USHL)
190) Trevor Kuntar (LC, USA, Youngstown USHL)
191) Wiljami Myllyla (RF, Finland, HIFK U20)
192) Arvid Costmar (RC, Sweden, Linkoping J20)
193) Roman Basran (G, Canada, Kelowna WHL)
194) Anthony Romano (RW, Canada, Sioux Falls USHL)
195) Ondrej Psenicka (RW/LW, Czech Republic, Sparta Praha U19)
196) Juuso Parssinen (LW/LC, Finland, TPS U20)
197) Jack Malone (RF, USA, Youngstown USHL)
198) Alexander Popovic (LD, Sweden, MODO J20)
199) Otto Latvala (RD, Finland, LeKi Mestis)
200) Jami Krannila (LC, Finland, Sioux Falls USHL)
201) Nick Abruzzese (LF, USA, Chicago USHL)
202) Matt Brown (LF, USA, Des Moines USHL)
203) Martin Lang (LW, Czech Republic, Kamloops WHL)
204) Kristian Tanus (LC/LW, Finland, LeKi Mestis)
205) Jeremy McKenna (RW, Canada, Moncton QMJHL)
206) Nikita Rtishchev (RW, Russia, Zvezda Moskva VHL)
207) Albert Lyckasen (RD, Sweden, Linkoping J20)
208) Raphael Harvey-Pinard (LW, Canada, Rouyn-Noranda QMJHL)
209) Connor Horning (RD, Canada, Swift Current WHL)
210) David Aebischer (RD, Switzerland, Gatineau QMJHL)
211) Lundvig Hedstrom (LD, Sweden, Djurgardens J20)
212) Carter Berger (LD, Canada, Victoria BCHL)
213) Iivari Rasanen (LD, Finland, Tappara U20)
214) Carl Jakobsson (LW/RW, Sweden, Farjestad SHL)
215) Jan Bambula (LW/RW, Czech Republic, AZ Havirov)
216) Bryce Brodzinski (RW, USA, Blaine High School)
217) Filip Koffer (RW, Czech Republic, Pardubice U19)
Honorable Mentions
218) Adrei Pribylsky (RD, Russia, Dynamo Mokva KHL)
219) Ethan Anders (G, Canada, Red Deer WHL)
220) Lynden Breen (LC, Canada, Central Illinois USHL)
221) Maxence Guenette (RD, Canada, Val-d’Or QMJHL)
222) Vladimir Sartakov (G, Russia, Avto Yekaterinburg MHL)
223) Brooklyn Kalmikov (LW, Canada, Cape Breton QMJHL)
224) Simon Jellus (LC/LW, Slovakia, Lulea J20)
225) Joe Carroll (LW, Canada, Sault Ste. Marie OHL)
226) Brett Chorske (RC, USA, Edina U.S. High School)
227) Cole Mackay (RW, Canada, Sault Ste. Marie OHL)
228) Logan Stein (G, USA, Waterloo USHL)
229) Brandon Doyle (LD, USA, Lawrence Academy U.S. High School)
230) Conner McDonald (Rd, Canada, Edmonton WHL)
231) Clay Hanus (LD, USA, Portland WHL)
232) Cole Schwindt (RW, Canada, Mississauga OHL)
233) Krystof Hrabik (LC, Czech Republic, Tri-City WHL)
234) Ty Jackson (LC, Canada, Dubuque USHL)
235) Brett Budgell (LC, Canada, Charlottetown QMJHL)
236) Lukas Rousek (LC/LW, Czech Republic, Spara Praha Czech)
237) Will Francis (RD, USA, Cedar Rapids USHL)
238) Will Francis (RD, USA, Cedar Rapids USHL)
239) Jakin Smallwood (RW, Canada, Kootenay WHL)
240) Tarun Fizer (RW, Canada, Victoria WHL)
241) David Kope (RW, Canada, Edmonton WHL)
242) Aleks Haatanen (LW/RW, Finland, Pelicans U20)
243) Ryan Siedem (RD, USA, Central Illinois USHL)
244) T.J. Lloyd (RD, Canada, Spruce Grove AJHL)
245) Linus Nyman (LW/RW, Finland, Lukko Liiga)
246) Jacob LeGuerrier (RD, Canada, Sault Ste. Marie OHL)
247) Kevin Wall (F, USA, Chilliwack BCHL)
248) Amir Garayev (LW, Russia, Kapitan Stupino MHL)
249) Michael Mrazik (LW, Slovakia, Rogle BK J20)
250) Sean Larochelle (RD, Canada, Victoriaville QMJHL)