Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks: 2019 First Round NHL Mock Draft

By Jonathan Maxfield

KELOWNA, CANADA - DECEMBER 2: Peyton Krebs #19 of the Kootenay Ice skates to the bench against the Kelowna Rockets on December 2, 2017 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
KELOWNA, CANADA - DECEMBER 2: Peyton Krebs #19 of the Kootenay Ice skates to the bench against the Kelowna Rockets on December 2, 2017 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Anaheim Ducks
BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 20: Raphael Lavoie #50 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

15th Overall: Montreal Canadiens

Scouting Report. Center/Winger. Canada -- Halifax (QMJHL). 15. Pick Analysis. Raphael Lavoie. player. 152

The Canadiens took a step in the right direction this past year. However, they hey still have a long way to go, and while they have a need for defense, I think the prospect of taking a hometown boy who has a dynamic skillset will be too much to pass up.

A high energy player with a blistering shot, a big body with a lot of strength on and off the puck, Lavoie has a lot of potential and adding a player like that to your already impressive stable of forward prospects is always a benefit.

16th Overall: Colorado Avalanche

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 16. player. RW. USA -- Hamilton (OHL). Arthur Kaliyev. 103

Back to the Avalanche, if the Avs take a defender with their first pick like I predicted here, then I think they go forward with the second, and vice versa (Thomas Harley is who I’d predict were the Avs to pass on Byram) and I think the Avs will hit another potential home run here. Kaliyev is one of the biggest risers in the draft and for a big reason. He has special goal scoring talent surpassed only by Cole Caufield in my eyes. The biggest issue I’ve seen levied against Kaliyev to this point in his career is his compete level.

Touched on by several analysts, there’s some belief that he doesn’t have that “win at all costs” mindset, playing a bit of a “softer” game not trying to engage in gritty puck battles and not the most active defensive player. If the Avs can get him to become fully devoted to being the best hockey player he can be, he has the skillset to be something special.

When you have two picks in the first round I find that it’s more palatable to take a riskier player with one of them, Byram is not a high-risk pick in my eyes and it opens up the chance for the Avs to take a very high ceiling player with some questions regarding his play.

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