Winner: USNTDP Program
The first round of the 2019 NHL Draft was all about the USNTDP program. For the second time in four years, a graduate got drafted with the first overall pick. It was Auston Matthews in 2016 and Jack Hughes in 2019.
Seven players from the USNTDP went in the top 15 and eight overall went in the first round. Three of them went in the top 10.
- 1st: Jack Hughes (Devils)
- 5th: Alex Turcotte (LA Kings)
- 9th: Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks)
And then it happened. Four straight USNTDP players got drafted.
- 12th: Matthew Boldy (Minnesota Wild)
- 13th: Spencer Knight (Florida Panthers)
- 14th: Cam York (Philadelphia Flyers)
- 15th: Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens)
When the Boston Bruins called John Beecher’s name with the 30th overall pick, that made it eight. That’s more players than the USNTDP program had drafted in the first round from 2016 to 2018 (seven). There will probably never be an under-18 team more stacked than the 2018 USNTDP team, other than in international tournaments.
Loser: The Fans
Going into the first round, there was a ton of trade chatter. It amounted to one trade and that one involved no players. The NHL Draft is a time for trades, as it’s the last time the general managers will all be together before the start of the league’s new year on July 1.
Granted, the teams still don’t know what the salary cap ceiling is. Maybe if it’s revealed on Saturday before the second day of the draft, fans will see some action. But this had to be the most boring, uneventful first round in the history of the NHL Draft.