2019 NHL Mock Draft: New Jersey Devils add another franchise center

4. Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa)

Vasili Podkolzin – RW – SKA St. Petersberg (MHL)

If there’s any team who can afford to be patient with their pick, it’s the Colorado Avalanche. The reason for this is because they’re already a playoff team, and are only in the lottery by virtue of a now infamous trade with Ottawa. This is the main reason why the Avalanche are the right team to take a shot at Russian born Podkolzin.

What normally scares teams off from Russian prospects is the KHL teams that prospect plays for. They often times lock up their young players to multi-year deals, and those players stick around in Russia for a while.

This could happen with Podkolzin. His skill, speed, and competitive edge are enticing factors to draft him anyway, despite that. The Avalanche have much more of a leg up on the other teams around here because they’re already in the playoffs. Patience shouldn’t scare the Avs off a gem prospect in Russia.

5. Los Angeles Kings

Dylan Cozens – C – Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

The Los Angeles Kings are firmly on the downswing after a year in which the roof fell in. It wasn’t unpredictable, but the fact that the collapse happened so quickly is really surprising. One thing the Kings could really use is some high powered offensive talent, especially some from guys who can really move. Dylan Cozens fit the bill perfectly.

Cozens is a large center who is also known for exceptional skating ability, as well as his above average skill and smarts. The thought with him fitting in Los Angeles is perfect, considering he looks the part of a franchise center once he’s at full flight.

The Kings desperately need someone who they can lean on, with their current players either aging out or moving on. It’s tough that they fell three spots in the lottery, but they have to take what they can get here, and Cozens is a great consolation prize.

6. Detroit Red Wings

Trevor Zegras – C – US National Team Development Program

The Detroit Red Wings are another rebuilding team who’s bottoming out, and they still have a ways to go before they can get back to contention. The Wings need help everywhere on their roster, and having a high pick here helps. With Detroit, it’s always cool to go for an American player, so we’ll take Zegras from the USNTDP.

Zegras is another creative, dynamic pivot who can run a power play. He’s not big, but he has the quickness and hands to make that more of a moot point, especially when he fills his body out to full size. His best attribute seems to be his vision and IQ, enough to make the tough plays and really get those difficult feather passes into the right place. He’d be a great foil to last year’s #6 pick for Detroit, Filip Zadina. Zegras already committed to Boston University, but give him a year or two and you’ll find him in the pros.