SARVER, Pa. — For the second consecutive year, Michael Norris outdueled the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series stars on his home dirt in the Friday night feature during Firecracker 100 weekend at Lernerville Speedway.

This time it was a different car, but the same winning ambition and driving skill his Western Pennsylvania fans are so accustomed to seeing, and those family, fans and friends were there again Friday to see him pick up the $6,000 win.

Norris held off a hounding Mason Zeigler and a hard-charging Brandon Sheppard over 30 laps to pick up his second series victory.

“There were a lot of heroes, in my book, behind me, and that’ll get you rattled pretty quick,” a smiling Norris, 27, said. “I just tried to pretend like it was another Friday night, another 25 or 30 laps here, hit my marks and drive as fast as I can.”

In what was almost a mirror result of his big Firecracker victory last year, Norris again set the second-fast time overall in Qualifying, won his Drydene heat race, redrew inside row two and led 26 laps en route to the checkers. But just as it was for him last year, the win did not come easily.

Norris had to survive several restarts after cautions and even one red flag, but he held his ground on the top side of the track, narrowly skating the cushion for most of the green-flag action while defusing the pressure bombs behind him on each restart.

“Restarts were tricky because I didn’t really know where to go,” said Norris. “Once we got rolling, I felt like I got a good enough rhythm that they were really going to have to work to get by me, but I wasn’t sure to go high or low or anything like that. At the end of the day, we’re standing here and super blessed to be here.”

Norris is now two-for-two in the Todd Cerenzia-owned No. 02. Last Friday night, he made his debut behind the wheel of the blue-and-green Rocket XR1 at Lernerville and ran away with the show, picking up his second win of the season.

He’s normally seen behind the wheel of his family-owned No. 72, but that operation went sour after his engine expired in night one of Dirt Late Model Dream competition at Eldora two weeks ago.

Norris said he got in touch with Cerenzia through Brian Daugherty of Integra Shocks, who he spoke with after his Dream weekend came to an early end. Daugherty mentioned Cerenzia’s name and, after some deep thought and conversation, the new team materialized just one week ago.

“At the time, I didn’t think anything of [the partnership], and on the ride home from the Dream I was thinking more about it,” Norris said. “It sounded like it was going to be more of a possibility, and the next thing I know, I was driving up on Tuesday to put my seat in it.”

Zeigler served as the thorn in Norris’s side for much of the race, planting himself on the No. 02’s bumper for almost every restart. He grabbed the early lead but quickly gave it up to Norris after trading slide jobs out front.

“It was all about just slinging it in there, getting the nose pointed straight and trying to keep from pushing,” Zeigler said. “Norris did a really great job of keeping it out front and not making any mistakes.”

Tacking on his 12th top-three finish in 15 World of Outlaws races this year, Brandon Sheppard drove the wheels off of his Rocket1 Racing ride Friday night, coming from the 12th starting spot to finish third.

“All in all, we came from 12th, so we were passing a little bit,” said Sheppard. “A few guys fell out, we passed a few cars and it just worked out for us tonight.”

The finish:

Feature (30 Laps) – 1. O2-Mike Norris [3][$6,000]; 2. 25z-Mason Zeigler [1][$3,000]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard [12][$2,000]; 4. 14-Josh Richards [16][$1,750]; 5. 29-Darrell Lanigan [4][$1,500]; 6. 2-Brandon Overton [8][$1,400]; 7. 22-Chris Ferguson [7][$1,300]; 8. 7-Ricky Weiss [5][$1,200]; 9. 28-Dennis Erb [23][$1,100]; 10. 6m-Tim McCreadie [11][$1,000]; 11. 18-Chase Junghans [15][$900]; 12. 29s-Ken Schaltenbrand [19][$850]; 13. 1T-Tyler Erb [6][$800]; 14. 17M-Dale McDowell [18][$775]; 15. 49-Jonathan Davenport [10][$750]; 16. 25-Shane Clanton [17][$700]; 17. B1-Brent Larson [24][$660]; 18. 97-Cade Dillard [20][$640]; 19. 99B-Boom Briggs [2][$620]; 20. 157-Mike Marlar [14][$600]; 21. 22s-Gregg Satterlee [9][$600]; 22. 111-Max Blair [22][$600]; 23. O-Rick Eckert [13][$600]; 24. 1x-Chub Frank [21][$600]; 25. 6-Blake Spencer [25][$110]; Hard Charger: 28-Dennis Erb[+14]

WAVERLY, Ohio – Mother Nature has had her way with the 37th annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek for the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions.

As a result, tracks have developed a unique and different way to promote and get races in that otherwise would be canceled.

By the time Tuesday rolled around for the fifth race day of Ohio Sprint Speedweek, there had only been two shows completed, at Attica Raceway Park and Muskingum County Speedway.

With a less than good looking forecast, the suggestion was made that if Tuesday’s event at Sharon Speedway rained out, the race would move west down the road to Wayne County Speedway, where the series was rained out on Monday.

“Just from a series standpoint, we know people take vacations for speedweek, and my boss came to me and asked my thoughts on asking other tracks to act on replacements outside of the normal speedweek if we lose a race,” said Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Director Eric Walls. “So I got on the phone and started making phone calls. Jason and Kristen at Wayne County stepped up to the plate first. They want to race as bad as we do, it’s been a bad year, not just here, but all across the country. We know they want to race, and that’s what our racers do, they race.”

Series and track officials didn’t get the chance to test the idea Tuesday as both tracks canceled because of bad weather.

Sticking to their guns, the All Stars and Wayne County announced again that if Wednesday’s race at Atomic Speedway were rained out, the series would shift to Wayne County instead.

This time the rain stayed south of Wayne County while storms struck Atomic, forcing that track to cancel. With 12 hours of notice and promotion through social media, with support and help from surrounding dirt tracks, Wayne County and the All Star Circuit of Champions were able to pull the event off. Fans filled the grandstands while 37 cars showed up to race.

“I am an old school guy, I use some, active, social media, but after seeing what happened at Wayne County it really opened my eyes and I hope it opened other promoter’s eyes for that matter,” Walls said. “It just goes to show you the power of social media to promote an event within 12 hours and see the crowd Wayne County had. The promotions from the race teams and other tracks, it’s a new day in step up promotion. Hats off to social media and the people that use it.

“I think, without the cooperation of the race tracks, the cooperation of the race teams, I don’t think we could do this,” Walls continued. “A sanctioning body cannot just say we want a race, a lot of stuff has to happen. It takes a lot of people to make that happen. I think this is something like an event like speedweek it works. I certainly hope someone takes something out of this, it’s a lot of work, but it speaks volumes for tracks like Wayne County and Atomic. Attica, Mansfield, those places for instances, sometimes Mother Nature just whont let up. All these tracks have great staff and they want to race. Everybody in this industry is here for a reason, they want to race.

“We have a lot of full time racers, and also guys who work 40 hours a week and race as a hobby. I don’t like to call it a hobby, because racing is a full-time job in itself. Those guys have to maintain, do things themselves, they do not have paid crew members, those guys take vacations for this week to race as well. In the grand scheme of things we were looking at those guys as well. Rain outs does not pay the bills. To travel up and down the road in Ohio to watch it rain does not pay the bills, we want them to keep coming back. The idea was they only get paid if they race, and we are the same way, to get paid we have to race, so we had to figure out a way to get to race.”

MISANO ADRIATICO, Italy – Jonathan Rea romped to a dominant victory in wet conditions during Saturday’s World Superbike race at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Rain forced a nearly 25-minute delay in the start of the event, but the race finally got underway with Alex Lowes leading Rea, Tom Sykes and Alvaro Bautista leading the field.

The riders only got two laps in before the rain intensified, forcing another red flag period. The race resumed with a shortened 18-lap distance, with Rea getting a great start to take the lead from Lowes, followed by Sykes, Chaz Davies and Bautista.

Conditions began to deteriorate and soon, riders began to drop back, with some eventually dropping out. Lowes began to close on Rea and at turn eight with 12 laps left he took the top spot.

With 10 laps left Lowes crashed while leading in turn 12, handing the top spot to Kawasaki’s Rea. Behind Rea, Michele Pirro crashed at the same corner. Sykes was now second, Leon Haslam was third, with Davies and Bautista behind.

The crashes kept coming, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi crashing at turn 13 and Leon Haslam going down in turn eight.

By then Davies was up to third, but a small error allowed Bautista through, whilst Loris Baz was now fifth and Alessandro Delbianco was up to sixth.

A small error from Davies allowed Bautista through into third, whilst Baz eventually closed down on Davies to get fourth. Baz soon hunted down Bautista, though he was not close enough to make the pass.

Out front, it was Rea who took the win, his 74th win and 10 years and one day after his first at the same track. Sykes gave BMW their first podium since 2013 at Jerez and Bautista salvaged a podium after an eventful race.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Formula One is returning to the Netherlands next year as the Dutch Grand Prix makes its first appearance since 1985. That is a fact.

Formula One is returning to Rio de Janeiro, which will host the Brazilian Grand Prix for the first time since 1989. That is pure fantasy.

Starting with the good news — given the legions of Dutch fans that now follow their idol Max Verstappen around the world, it was inevitable that the Dutch Grand Prix had a good chance of getting back on the calendar. And now the event has a confirmed three-year contract at the Zandvoort circuit.

“It’s just an iconic, historic track” Verstappen said. “I have raced there before with F-3 and it was a lot of fun. I compare the track a little bit with Suzuka because it’s designed by the same person (Dutchman John “Hans” Hugenholtz), so I can understand that the characteristics are a bit similar. It’s a pretty quick track and it’s always good and exciting to have new ones on the calendar. I’ve done a few laps and doughnuts in an F-1 car there too and the track was actually pretty challenging because you have a few banked corners, some places are very narrow and there’s no runoff. It’s very cool, and with no runoff, it’s quite hard to find the limit. On some other tracks it’s a bit easier but that also makes it more exciting.”

The 13-turn 2.676-mile Zandvoort circuit is definitely old school – fast, narrow and dangerous. It is also a track that is very difficult on which to overtake on. If there was no passing in the Formula 3 race there, what hope is there for the wider F-1 cars?

But while the actual racing might not be good, the race weekend will be fun and have a great atmosphere with all the Dutch fans there wearing “Dutch orange.”

I went to the Dutch Grand Prix in 1984 and ’85, in my early days of covering F-1 for SPEED SPORT, and really enjoyed it. And I am looking forward to going back next year.

I also covered the Brazilian Grand Prix from 1984 through ’89 when the race was held outside of Rio de Janeiro at the Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet, better known by the marvelous name Jacarepaguá, which is the local neighborhood. Since then the race has been staged at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo.

But in May, with much fanfare, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro signed an agreement with Rio de Janeiro’s mayor and governor for a F-1 track to be built on the outskirts of the city. They announced this new track would host the Brazilian Grand Prix from 2020 onward. It was also stated that no government money would fund the project. The entire track and facility will be funded by private investors.

The cost of building the facility from scratch is said to be $235 million. The fees that the Formula One Group/Liberty charges a country to host a grand prix vary, but the group of private investors headed by J.R. Pereira that will fund the entire Rio project would have to find about $25 million annually.

The general idea about investing is to make money, and F-1 races to not make a lot of money, if any at all, for the local promoter. So how will investors recoup the original $235 million, plus the annual $25 million? And then make a profit on top of that? This is why most F-1 races these days require government funding. Pereira says the track will make money by selling 100,000 to 130,000 grandstand seats annually.

But the Sao Paulo/Interlagos race organizers have a firm contract for the grand prix for 2020. Plus they have stated they want to renew that contract. It is true the Interlagos organizers have had some difficulties paying the fee for the grand prix, but then they also already have a track that is paid for and does not have to be built like the one in Rio.

Sean Bratches, the managing director of commercial operations of the Formula 1 Group, has stated that Sao Paulo has a contract for the Brazilian Grand Prix for 2020. But he also said there are talks with the Rio de Janeiro organizers.

A grand prix in Rio? I’ll believe it when I see it.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Seven U.S.-born players were selected within the first 15 picks of the 2019 NHL draft on Friday, an all-time high for Americans in the modern draft (since 1963). Led by Jack Hughes, who went first overall to the New Jersey Devils, the 2019 crop surpassed the 2016 draft in which six Americans were taken in the top 15.

Also selected in the top 15 were No. 5 Alex Turcotte to the Los Angeles Kings, No. 9 Trevor Zegras to the Anaheim Ducks, No. 12 Matthew Boldy to the Minnesota Wild, No. 13 Spencer Knight to the Florida Panthers, No. 14 Cam York to the Philadelphia Flyers and No. 15 Cole Caufield to the Montreal Canadiens.

Also of note, all seven of those players came from the same team -- the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 squad. Add in John Beecher, who was selected 30th overall by the Boston Bruins, and that team had eight players selected in the first round. That is also a record for most teammates selected from a single amateur team in the first round of the modern NHL draft. The previous record was set in 2000 when four players from Yaroslavl 2 were taken in the first round.

In all, 10 American-born players were selected in the first round, falling shy of the record 12 selected in 2016. Nolan Foote, who was born in Colorado but represents Canada internationally, was selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and California native Ryan Johnson closed out the first round when selected 31st overall by the Buffalo Sabres.

Hughes became the eighth American-born player selected with the No. 1 selection and first since Auston Matthews went first overall in the 2016 NHL draft. Each of the past five American first overall selections have come from the NTDP.

Hughes also joins brother Quinn, who was selected No. 7 in the 2018 draft by the Vancouver Canucks, as the highest-drafted American brothers in back-to-back drafts. They also join Brady and Matthew Tkachuk as the only American brothers to be selected in the top 10.

Friday's first round included four players from Sweden, three from Finland and the host Canucks choosing Russian forward Vasily Podkolzin at No. 10.

"There's good players all over the world now. It's the evolution of our game,'' said Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill, who selected U.S. defenseman Thomas Harley with the 18th pick. "It's good for hockey.''

With Hughes going first, it marked the fourth consecutive draft since a Canadian has been selected No. 1.

Doug Armstrong, general manager of the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, doesn't see a decline in Canada's dominance in the sport.

"We have a lot of Canadians, and we're Stanley Cup champions,'' Armstrong said. "That's not disrespecting the Russians or the Swedes or the Americans. I think what the game is is global. It think it's great for the game to be global.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The New Jersey Devils selected Jack Hughes, an 18-year-old center from Orlando, Florida, with the first overall pick in the NHL draft Friday night.

The pick was announced by Devils Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur, who was taken in the 1990 draft in Vancouver.

Hughes is the eighth American selected first overall in the NHL draft and the first since Auston Matthews was drafted at No. 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016.

Hughes joins his brother Quinn, a rookie defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks, in the NHL. The Hughes brothers join the Tkachuks (Matthew and Brady) as the only pairs of brothers selected in the top 10 of the draft, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Like Matthews, Hughes is a product of the USA Hockey National Development Program. Hughes holds that program's records for career points (154) and goals (228). He represented the U.S. four times in international competition, most recently at the IIHF world championships.

At 5-foot-10, there have been questions about Hughes' size and how his speedy, playmaking game will transfer to the NHL. He has drawn comparisons to another American player who went first overall, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, who is also listed at 5-10.

"I feel like when smaller players come into the league and they have that kind of offensive game, it seems to be easy to compare him to a guy like me. But I think he does a lot of things better than I do, to be honest with you," Kane told ESPN at the Winter Classic. "I love the way he's always moving. He's always skating. Even if he's not near the puck or near the action, he's still got his speed. He's coming into the zone with a lot of movement and speed to his game. Seems like an off-the-charts skater. Seems like he's going to have a good career."

Hughes played with Kane at the world championships, and he was humbled by the praise.

"At first, your reaction is, 'You're lying, man.' He's a guy that has [Stanley] Cups, Hart Trophies, Art Rosses. You name it, he's got it," Hughes said. "For him to be talking about me like that ... it's really nice."

The Blackhawks were one of the final three teams with a shot at drafting Hughes, the most coveted player in this year's draft; fans used the phrase "Lose For Hughes" to describe their teams' attempts at tanking for better lottery odds.

Chicago, New Jersey and the New York Rangers were the final three teams in the lottery. The Devils had the third-best odds to win the lottery (11.5%), and they won it for the second time in three seasons. They drafted Swiss center Nico Hischier in 2017 at No. 1 overall.

Devils general manager Ray Shero said Hughes' selection marked "a special day for our franchise."

The Rangers, who had the sixth-best chance (7.5%) at the first overall pick, moved up to No. 2 overall. The Devils effectively determined whom their rival would select -- either Hughes or Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko, the two most prized players in the draft.

"Obviously, Kaapo Kakko had a great year ... but I was pretty confident and pretty calm, cool, collected through the whole process," said Hughes, who had a lengthy dinner with Shero during the pre-draft combine in Buffalo this month. "I've said this like eight times already, but I'm pumped to be a Devil and I'm so excited."

The Rangers followed the Hughes selection by drafting Kakko, a 6-2 winger who helped Finland complete an international gold-medal sweep at the world championships, world juniors and under-18 tournament. He had 22 goals in the Finnish Elite League, the most by a draft-eligible player.

The Blackhawks went with size in selecting 6-4 center Kirby Dach out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The Detroit Red Wings' selection of German defenseman Moritz Seider at No. 6 was the surprise of the draft. The 18-year-old figured he would land somewhere between Nos. 15 and 20.

"I was just shocked. My hands are shaking. My legs are still shaking," Seider said, adding that Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman told him to be calm and enjoy the moment because "I was so sweaty."

Listed at 6-3 and 208 pounds, Seider had two goals and six points in 29 games playing for Mannheim of Germany's top league, and he scored twice in two games at the world championships.

Seider became the seventh German-born player to be selected in the first round. Only two were selected higher, including Leon Draisaitl, who was selected third by the Edmonton Oilers in 2014.

Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic, who grew up in suburban Vancouver, received a big cheer from the crowd before announcing the fourth pick. He drew an even louder cheer after selecting defenseman Bowen Byram, who played for Vancouver of the Western Hockey League.

The Los Angeles Kings rounded out the top five by selecting American center Alex Turcotte.

With the seventh pick, the Buffalo Sabres selected center Dylan Cozens, who became just the third player born in Canada's Yukon Territory ever drafted -- and the first in the first round. Cozens showed such ability that he was playing against adults as a 13-year-old in Yukon's capital, Whitehorse.

"It always felt like a far reach to me, not really achievable," Cozens said of being drafted. "But I believed it. I believed in myself that I could make this happen one day, and now that it's here, it's a crazy feeling."

Next to draft were the Oilers, who selected 6-3 defenseman Philip Broberg at No. 8. With the ninth selection, the Anaheim Ducks took center Trevor Zegras. The host Canucks concluded the top 10 picks by drafting right wing Vasili Podkolzin.

The first round featured only one trade, with the Arizona Coyotes giving up a second-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers and moving up three spots to select Swedish defenseman Victor Soderstrom at 11.

There was a run of USA Hockey National Team Development Program players with picks 12 through 15. The Minnesota Wild selected forward Matthew Boldy, followed by the Florida Panthers taking goalie Spencer Knight. Philadelphia chose defenseman Cameron York at 14, and the Montreal Canadiens drafted Cole Caufield, who at 5-7 scored an NTPD-record 72 goals last season.

Knight became only the third goalie selected in the first round over the past seven years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow the entire 2019 NHL draft, pick-by-pick. Chris Peters, Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan provide detailed breakdowns of each first-rounder's skill set, as well as how he will fit with his new NHL team. And be sure to check out all of our draft-prep content to learn more about this talented draft class.

Best of Round 1 | Draft order
Top 100 | Goalies | Day 2 value
Best by skill | Hughes vs. Kakko

1. New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes, C

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 1 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
Stats: 50 GP, 34 G, 78 A

Scouting report: Hughes has such great burst and an effortless glide in his skating, and he uses his edges to create separation. He sees the ice and processes play development at an elite level. Hughes is an expert at making plays in small areas, which is why his size is less of a bother. Although he definitely needs to continue adding muscle, Hughes is unafraid to go to the hard areas of the ice and protects himself well, thanks to his skating and anticipation skills. He takes care of his own end and uses those anticipation skills to cut down passing lanes, but his defense needs improvement. I have yet to watch a game in which he didn't drive play, shift in and shift out. -- Peters

Team fit: Hughes gives the Devils two young centers around whom to build. He joins 20-year-old Nico Hischier, taken first overall in 2017, to form a formidable one-two punch. His arrival gives the franchise some clear direction, which will be vital if the Devils are to re-sign 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall before next summer's unrestricted free agency. -- Wyshynski

Where Hughes is most likely to play in 2019-20: NHL (Devils)

2. New York Rangers: Kaapo Kakko, RW

Team: TPS (Finland)
Ranking: 2 | Nationality: FIN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 194 | Shot: L
Stats: 45 GP, 22 G, 16 A

Scouting report: Kakko has a great frame and uses it well, as he's hard to take off the puck and uses that ability to create extra time for himself. He has the vision to spot plays and make them quickly, and I think his hand skills have gotten to a fringe elite level. His shot is high-end and heavy; he can beat goalies from distance, but then he also has the skill to make plays in tight at the net front. Although not Hughes-like in his skating, he is powerful and has enough speed to break away from the opposition. His edgework is strong, and his balance makes him so difficult to play against. Kakko battles as well as any player, both in puck pursuit and with it on his stick. There's a definite fire in him to compete, and he will be a cornerstone NHL winger. -- Peters

Team fit: After his performances in Liiga, the pro league in Finland, and the IIHF world championships, anticipation is high that Kakko will make an immediate impact for the Rangers as a goal-scoring winger. The Rangers are in a multiyear rebuild and have amassed a good number of young offensive players. With prospects like Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil at center, Kakko should fit in nicely. -- Wyshynski

Where Kakko is most likely to play in 2019-20: NHL (Rangers)

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Kirby Dach, C

Team: Saskatoon (WHL)
Ranking: 4 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 198 | Shot: R
Stats: 62 GP, 25 G, 48 A

Scouting report: Dach has size, smarts and skill. It's not often that you get a play-driving center at 6-foot-4 who makes the game look as easy as Dach does. Although he lacks explosiveness, he skates smoothly and has a great sense of how to get to where he needs to be efficiently. When he does have the puck, Dach is a shot-pass threat who can score goals in a variety of ways. He's especially successful at driving the net. He can also pick teams apart from the outside, thanks to high-end vision and elite distribution skills. He has dealt with bouts of inconsistency, but when he is on, he is unstoppable. -- Peters

Team fit: The Blackhawks have a surplus of top defensive prospects (not a bad problem to have), so it wasn't necessarily a surprise they bypassed Bowen Byram. They get a center in Dach, which is a huge area of organizational need. Chicago needed any forward, really. Out of the non-Jack Hughes centers in this draft, Dach is the most likely to crack an NHL roster next season, though it would be a surprise to see him in Chicago in 2019-20. -- Kaplan

Where Dach is most likely to play in 2019-20: WHL

4. Colorado Avalanche: Bowen Byram, D

Team: Vancouver (WHL)
Ranking: 7 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195 | Shot: L
Stats: 67 GP, 26 G, 45 A

Scouting report: There is no denying that he has some incredible offensive skill, but I would like to see Byram become a bit more consistent as a defender. I think the skating is excellent, and he has a good sense of how to play efficiently in a boatload of minutes. One scout I spoke to expressed concern that the way Byram scored goals -- popping deep into zones and aggressively jumping plays -- won't translate to the NHL. I think elements of it can, but he will have to become a bit more selective. He's the best defenseman in this draft by a fairly large margin. But the threshold of a future No. 1 defenseman is pretty high, and I'm not sure Byram is there yet for me. -- Peters

Team fit: There was a time, not too long ago, that the Avalanche's defense corps was one of the NHL's most underwhelming groups. That's going to feel like ancient history over the next several years. Byram joins potential 2019 Rookie of the Year Cale Makar, 20, smooth-skating Samuel Girard, 21, and Connor Timmins, 20, to form the backbone of that blue line for years to come. -- Wyshynski

Where Byram is most likely to play in 2019-20: WHL

5. Los Angeles Kings: Alex Turcotte, C

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 3 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 186 | Shot: L
Stats: 37 GP, 27 G, 35 A

Scouting report: He is a smart, two-way forward with an unrelenting motor and an ability to make plays in the offensive end of the ice. Turcotte is dogged in puck pursuit and remarkably strong, despite being average-sized. He is a fierce competitor but does not step over the line very often. He is not always flashy and doesn't always make the eye-popping play, but he makes the right plays. Turcotte goes hard to the net and into the corners, and he has the touch and plus-level vision to make plays under duress and find better options in tougher situations with the puck on his stick. He has deceptive feet, showcasing a good second gear that allows him to beat defenders wide or challenge them inside. -- Peters

Team fit: Turcotte follows the speed-based model the Kings have been going with lately. On top of being a skilled player with excellent vision and superior hockey sense, he's a competitive two-way guy. The Kings have been building a stable of fast centers with Rasmus Kupari and Akil Thomas, both selected last year. This prospect pool gets a nice boost with a player with a ton of versatility. -- Peters

Where Turcotte is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Wisconsin)

6. Detroit Red Wings: Moritz Seider, D

Team: Mannheim (Germany)
Ranking: 15 | Nationality: GER
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 208 | Shot: R
Stats: 29 GP, 2 G, 4 A

Scouting report: One of the most intriguing players in this entire draft, Seider is a strong skater for such a big guy and sees the ice particularly well. He can make plays at the offensive blue line and does a good job of absorbing and evading pressure in his own zone. There's some risk because Seider didn't have a ton of reps on special teams and in key situations this season, but he should be able to get those next season. -- Peters

Team fit: The Red Wings do not have a ton of depth among defensemen in their system, but this was a shocker of a pick in Steve Yzerman's first draft. The value among the forwards still on the board is significant. You'd have to think the Red Wings bring him to North America immediately and allow him to develop in their own system in the AHL. -- Peters

Where Seider is most likely to play in 2019-20: AHL

7. Buffalo Sabres: Dylan Cozens, C

Team: Lethbridge (WHL)
Ranking: 10 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 183 | Shot: R
Stats: 68 GP, 34 G, 50 A

Scouting report: A strong skater who has an explosive burst in space, Cozens has that combination of size and speed that tantalizes scouts. There have been some questions about his overall hockey sense and skill level, but it's hard to argue with how his physical tools translate. The lack of high-end puck skills suggests that he might not be a No. 1 pivot down the road. That said, he has some two-way capabilities, with the balance tilting more offensively. -- Peters

Team fit: Cozens brings a lot of speed, and he believes he can play in the NHL next season. I'm not sure I'm there yet for him, though. That said, I've liked his game from start to finish. He gives the Sabres a pretty versatile guy who could be a nice No. 2 center behind Jack Eichel in the long term. -- Peters

Where Cozens is most likely to play in 2019-20: WHL

8. Edmonton Oilers: Philip Broberg, D

Team: AIK (Sweden 2)
Ranking: 14 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 200 | Shot: L
Stats: 41 GP, 2 G, 7 A

Scouting report: One of the best pure skaters in this draft, Broberg has all of the tools to eventually become a top-four defenseman in the NHL. There have been some moderate concerns about his hockey sense and playmaking abilities, but I think those will catch up to his feet eventually. He makes pretty good reads in the offensive zone, distributes well from the defensive zone and can use his feet in transition as well as, or better than, any defenseman in this draft. Broberg has a very good, quick and accurate shot from the point, looking for open lanes and possessing the mobility to find the best option. -- Peters

Team fit: Broberg is an exceptional skater, and that had to be part of Edmonton's reasoning for grabbing him in the top 10. He can play the game at the Oilers' pace. I think he's going to need a little extra time before he's ready to jump into their lineup, but he has remarkable upside. Patience and good coaching will help him unlock it. -- Peters

Where Broberg is most likely to play in 2019-20: SHL

9. Anaheim Ducks: Trevor Zegras, C

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 5 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 173 | Shot: L
Stats: 60 GP, 26 G, 61 A

Scouting report: With elite vision and passing skills, Zegras is excellent in dictating play from the half wall or making plays on the rush. He can play at any speed and can back defenders down coming through the neutral zone. His ability to gain the zone is rivaled only by Hughes' in the draft class, as Zegras has creativity and a good sense of how to find the soft areas to give him the best chance to make plays. He has a quick release and can score goals but is viewed more as a pass-first player. The biggest area of improvement for Zegras is his physical strength. He also seems to force plays sometimes, but I think that became less of a problem as this past season progressed. -- Peters

Team fit: Zegras dropped further than I thought he would or should. He's an exceptional playmaker and will fit right into a prospect pool that already includes Isac Lundestrom, Max Comtois, Troy Terry, Sam Steel and Max Jones. For a rebuilding team, the Ducks have some nice building blocks up front. -- Peters

Where Zegras is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Boston University)

10. Vancouver Canucks: Vasily Podkolzin, RW

Team: Neva St. Petersburg (Russia 2)
Ranking: 9 | Nationality: RUS
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 196 | Shot: L
Stats: 14 GP, 2 G, 3 A

Scouting report: He remains under KHL contract for the next two years, but Podkolzin is an exceptional talent, with high-end skill and power in his game. He has a mean streak, gets on pucks quickly and can finish. Podkolzin wasn't dominating in the same way at the end of the season, and his club play was underwhelming, but I've maintained all year that he was never put in a great position to succeed this season because he played at three different levels in Russia. When Podkolzin is at his best, few in this class are better. He does a little bit of everything and does almost all of it very well. -- Peters

Team fit: Podkolzin is a bit of risk because of that KHL contract, but I've heard from teams that those worries were largely quieted at the combine. Podkolzin won't be around for a couple of years, but he needed a few years to get his pro legs anyway. The Canucks have another high-end forward in their growing crop of young players with boatloads of skill. -- Peters

Where Podkolzin is most likely to play in 2019-20: KHL

11. Arizona Coyotes: Victor Soderstrom, D

Team: Brynas (Sweden)
Ranking: 17 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 182 | Shot: R
Stats: 44 GP, 4 G, 3 A

Scouting report: A remarkably poised and mature defenseman, Soderstrom showcased his puck-moving talent and high-end hockey sense this season. However, I don't know that there's anything in particular that stands out about Soderstrom aside from the way he thinks the game. The skill is fine, the passing is good-to-great, his shot is OK and he gets pucks out of the zone well. He might be a jack of all trades but a master of none. -- Peters

Team fit: The Coyotes needed more defensemen in their system, and Soderstrom has got a lot of upside. Having already played a year of pro hockey may adjust his timeline. I was surprised to see Arizona trade up, but the unexpected run on defensemen early in this draft really changed things and forced the Coyotes' hand to make sure they got their guy. -- Peters

Where Soderstrom is most likely to play in 2019-20: SHL

12. Minnesota Wild: Matthew Boldy, LW

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 8 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 196 | Shot: L
Stats: 64 GP, 33 G, 48 A

Scouting report: Boldy is a wing who plays more like a center, a true 200-foot player who is as valuable defensively as he is offensively. He could afford to improve his skating some -- he does not have breakaway speed -- but he still gets around the sheet effectively. In the offensive end, Boldy has higher-end puck skills and creativity. He can make the plays in small areas and has an excellent, heavy, accurate shot. Boldy also possesses excellent vision and an ability to make accurate passes off the backhand and forehand. -- Peters

Team fit: Boldy probably needs a few years in college, but he would have been so hard to pass on here. He brings size and versatility to the table and instantly becomes a top prospect in a shallow system. If the Wild ever convince Kirill Kaprizov to leave the KHL, they'd have some excellent pieces to keep building on. -- Peters

Where Boldy is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Boston College)

13. Florida Panthers: Spencer Knight, G

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 31 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 193 | Catch: L
Stats: 33 GP, 0.913 Sv%, 2.36 GAA

Scouting report: The things that makes Knight exceptional among his goaltending peers is elite hockey sense, tremendous athleticism balanced with controlled play, great footwork and size and elite puck-moving abilities. I don't put huge value on a goalie's puckhandling skills, but Knight's are so good it's hard not to mention. Knight has really grown a lot in his confidence and poise in the net. There's such little flash in Knight's game, and that's a good thing. He's just always in the right spot because he tracks and anticipates as well as any goalie prospect I've seen in the past few years. -- Peters

Team fit: Knight is the top-ranked goalie in the draft, and now the future of the Panthers' net. And he would have some time to develop if the Panthers end up landing Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency to man their crease for the next several seasons. Per ESPN Stats & Information, Knight is the highest draft pick at the goalie position since Jack Campbell in 2010, who was drafted 11th by the Stars. -- Wyshynski

Where Knight is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Boston College)

14. Philadelphia Flyers: Cam York, D

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 13 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 172 | Shot: L
Stats: 63 GP, 14 G, 51 A

Scouting report: York is often described as the modern-day defenseman. He jumps into plays with relative ease and has good instincts for when he has to get back. I thought his defensive game improved greatly over the past two seasons without sacrificing offense. His puck retrievals and sense for getting out of his own zone are among the best in this draft because he follows that first touch with decisive play. He still has to round out his game more and continue to build strength as an average-sized defenseman, but there's a lot to like in what he's done and how he progressed this season. -- Peters

Team fit: The Flyers did extremely well in trading down to get an extra asset (No. 45 overall) while still getting a defenseman who plays the game the way the NHL is going. The Flyers have been loading up on prospects in recent years and have some really good forwards, so why not nab a high-end offensive defensman to get the puck to them? -- Peters

Where York is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Michigan)

15. Montreal Canadiens: Cole Caufield, RW

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 6 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-7 | Wt: 163 | Shot: R
Stats: 64 GP, 72 G, 28 A

Scouting report: It isn't just that Caufield scored 72 goals this season, the most by any draft-eligible player in junior hockey by 21 goals. It's also how he scores them. Yes, Caufield is slight, but he has elite offensive sense. I haven't seen a prospect who has as keen a sense of time and space, and opponents have a hard time tracking Caufield on the ice. He's always moving, finding openings before anyone knows they're there. Combine that skill with an elite shot that isn't as heavy as it is ridiculously quick and accurate. -- Peters

Team fit: Caufield's draft slide ends here, and the Canadiens get the best pure goal scorer in the draft. Other teams were clearly deterred by Caufield's size, but he'll spend his career trying to prove them wrong. It will take some seasoning for Caufield to make Montreal's roster, though. -- Kaplan

Where Caufield is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Wisconsin)

16. Colorado Avalanche: Alex Newhook, C

Team: Victoria (BCHL)
Ranking: 12 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 192 | Shot: L
Stats: 53 GP, 38 G, 64 A

Scouting report: Newhook has high-end skills with skating that is probably just shy of elite. He can dance on the ice at times, using quick hand skills to beat defenders one-on-one while always knowing his next play. He gets shots off quickly and finds teammates well under pressure. Newhook requires patience because he needs to get stronger and needs to be harder to play against in more physical, tightly checked games, but that skill is tantalizing. -- Peters

Team fit: After snagging the draft's best defenseman with the No. 4 pick, Colorado gets a highly skilled center in Newhook. He will be an especially good fit with the team's speed. The Avs may have wanted to go with a goalie in Knight here, but he wasn't available. -- Kaplan

Where Newhook is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Boston College)

17. Vegas Golden Knights: Peyton Krebs, C

Team: Kootenay (WHL)
Ranking: 11 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
Stats: 64 GP, 19 G, 49 A

Scouting report: Krebs played on a bad Kootenay team this season but still managed to produce. A play-driving center, Krebs does a lot of little detail things well and can adequately take care of his own zone. Krebs can really survey the ice with excellent vision and above-average distribution skills in finding his teammates. The hockey sense is a separating skill. Krebs unfortunately did just sustain a serious Achilles injury during training this summer, but he is expected to be available for the beginning of the season. -- Peters

Team fit: Another center for the Golden Knights to let percolate in their system. Vegas has Cody Glass and Jake Leschyshyn, both 20, down in the AHL. In theory, they'll have some time to develop, with Paul Stastny signed through 2021 and William Karlsson expected to sign an extension as a restricted free agent -- provided neither of them is moved this offseason. -- Wyshynski

Where Krebs is most likely to play in 2019-20: WHL

18. Dallas Stars: Thomas Harley, D

Team: Mississauga (OHL)
Ranking: 22 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
Stats: 68 GP, 11 G, 47 A

Scouting report: A higher-end offensive defenseman with size and mobility, Harley has plenty of upside in his game. He uses his skating to let things open up offensively and has the poise to be patient enough to find the right play. Sometimes he can get caught a little deep, but usually picks his spots pretty well. He comes with just average defensive-zone play, but he has a decent stick and can close on forwards decently well. Some scouts have wondered about his defensive sense. I think he has the know-how, but just hasn't figured out the balance between offense and defense yet. -- Peters

Team fit: The Stars have only four picks in the draft (including none in the second or third round), so they can't really afford a miss here -- especially considering it's a system with a lot of needs. The Stars went heavy on forwards last year, so Harley's selection was no shock. He has good size and is exceptional offensively. -- Kaplan

Where Harley is most likely to play in 2019-20: OHL

19. Ottawa Senators: Lassi Thomson, D

Team: Kelowna (WHL)
Ranking: 38 | Nationality: FIN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 186 | Shot: R
Stats: 63 GP, 17 G, 24 A

Scouting report: Thomson is a good two-way defenseman who uses smarts over skill. His skating is good enough to get him up the ice and he's sturdy in his own zone, but there's not a lot in terms of overall puck skills or dynamicism. He is very decisive, making confident plays with the puck and allowing himself to get into space. There's not a lot of forcing it with him, and his offensive reads are pretty strong. -- Peters

Team fit: Thomson was a bit of a reach here, but just because I'm not sold on his offensive game yet. The Senators have just about the deepest prospect pool in the league right now. I'd put Thomson behind Erik Brannstrom and Jacob Bernard-Docker on the D prospect depth chart. -- Peters

Where Thomson is most likely to play in 2019-20: Liiga or WHL

20. Winnipeg Jets: Ville Heinola, D

Team: Lukko (Finland)
Ranking: 30 | Nationality: FIN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
Stats: 34 GP, 2 G, 12 A

Scouting report: Having spent the entire season playing quality minutes in Finland's top pro league, Heinola is especially intriguing. I think his skating is only average for a player his size, which keeps him from ranking a bit higher. There are more sub-6-foot defensemen in the NHL, but you still need to be able to skate at a high level. However, he makes up for it in his hockey sense. Coaches won't have to worry about him too much because he's so poised and moves the puck with incredible efficiency, even though his offensive skills are not necessarily dynamic. He defends decently well, closing on opposing forwards quickly. -- Peters

Team fit: For the third time in the last four drafts, the Jets selected a Finnish player in the first round. Another Finn, Sami Niku, is a defenseman who has been shuttling back and forth from the main roster. The Jets don't have a lot of blue-chippers on the blue line in their system. Heinola is a smart defenseman who can develop. -- Wyshynski

Where Heinola is most likely to play in 2019-20: Liiga

21. Pittsburgh Penguins: Samuel Poulin, RW

Team: Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
Ranking: 40 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 212 | Shot: L
Stats: 67 GP, 29 G, 47 A

Scouting report: There are times when you see a player showing what he can do with his size and skill. There are other times when he disappears. The effort needs to be better. Aside from that, the skill he has in that sturdy frame of his is tantalizing. -- Peters

Team fit: I listed Poulin as my player most likely to be overdrafted. The Penguins have a fairly shallow pool and don't get to pick in the first round very often. I view this as a high-risk, high-reward pick in this range just because I question Poulin's overall hockey sense and consistency of effort. An intriguing prospect nonetheless. -- Peters

Where Poulin is most likely to play in 2019-20: QMJHL

22. Los Angeles Kings: Tobias Bjornfot, D

Team: Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Ranking: 29 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
Stats: 39 GP, 11 G, 11 A

Scouting report: Bjornfot is one of the smarter players in this draft. His ability to read plays in all zones is exceptional, and he always puts himself in a good spot. Despite a relative lack of high-end skill, he's a good passer and has shown flashes of more offensive capabilities. Bjornfot keeps it simple when he has to, allowing his vision and mobility to do the work for him. With elite defensive sense, he is so hard to play against in his own zone and limits mistakes when he has the puck. He can get it up ice quickly, too. -- Peters

Team fit: This was the pick Los Angeles acquired in the Jake Muzzin trade, so one defenseman in, one defenseman out I guess. The Swede is the first defenseman they've drafted in their past 10 picks, and the first defenseman the Kings have taken in the first round since Derek Forbort at No. 15 in 2010. Side note: The arena is playing "regionally appropriate" music when each pick walks to the stage, including Abba for Bjornfot. Hopefully the Kings don't look back and exclaim "Mamma Mia" at this pick in the next few years. -- Wyshynski

Where Bjornfot is most likely to play in 2019-20: SHL

23. New York Islanders: Simon Holmstrom, RW

Team: HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Ranking: 37 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
Stats: 21 GP, 7 G, 13 A

Scouting report: Good size and hockey sense have helped Holmstrom lift his draft stock throughout the season. He has a very good shot that he can get off from anywhere. The puck really zips off his stick. His puck skills are OK, and pretty average in terms of one-on-one stick skills, but he gets himself into good positions and helps create space for his linemates. Holmstrom has good physical strength which helps him protect the puck well, and he has a little power element to his game. But does he have enough skill to create on his own? -- Peters

Team fit: Holmstrom has been projected all over the place during the draft process. The Isles have really bolstered their defensive pipeline, so Lou Lamoriello & Co. taking a forward here was not much of a surprise. Holmstrom has been a hard guy on whom to get a read, but he finished the season strong and the Isles won't need him for a few more years anyway. -- Peters

Where Holmstrom is most likely to play in 2019-20: SHL

24. Nashville Predators: Philip Tomasino, C

Team: Niagara (OHL)
Ranking: 21 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 183 | Shot: R
Stats: 67 GP, 34 G, 38 A

Scouting report: Tomasino is an exciting player because of his elite-level skating ability. He looks like a gazelle on ice with his fluidity and quickness. With a quick release and solid vision, he's a true shot-pass threat in the offensive zone, too. Tomasino can play in a variety of situations and handles the flow of games very well. The important element, however, is the speed at which he plays the game. He's fast both up and down the ice, and quick in small areas. He has a good work ethic, a willingness to go to the hard areas of the ice and a competitiveness on the puck when he gets there. -- Peters

Team fit: I think this is one of the more perfect player-to-team fits. Tomasino plays the game at a high pace and is one of the better skaters in the draft. The Preds want to push the pace and that's exactly what he does as a pass-shot threat down the middle or on the wing. -- Peters

Where Tomasino is most likely to play in 2019-20: OHL

25. Washington Capitals: Connor McMichael, C

Team: London (OHL)
Ranking: 26 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 182 | Shot: L
Stats: 67 GP, 36 G, 36 A

Scouting report: McMichael is one of the fastest players in the draft. His shot really improved this season with a good, quick release. He competes, too, playing with tenacity, and his ability to create on the rush is among his more important attributes. As he gets stronger, he's going to be difficult to handle down low. -- Peters

Team fit: The good news for McMichael is that the past six forwards the Capitals have selected in the first round all made a considerable impact in the NHL: Jakub Vrana, Andre Burakovsky, Tom Wilson, Filip Forsberg, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson. The good news for the Capitals is that they got a center from the London Knights who made a huge leap forward in production this season. -- Wyshynski

Where McMichael is most likely to play in 2019-20: OHL

26. Calgary Flames: Jakob Pelletier, LW

Team: Moncton (QMJHL)
Ranking: 36 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 165 | Shot: L
Stats: 65 GP, 39 G, 50 A

Scouting report: Pelletier has quick, shifty skills that have served him well in one-on-one situations and getting pucks into the zone. His skating is fine, but perhaps not overly dynamic for a player of his size. But he makes up for that with his energetic, fearless style of play. His game needs work away from the puck, as there are some concerns he's a tad too one-dimensional. -- Peters

Team fit: It was a bit of a surprise the Flames didn't take one of the two big defensemen available, considering that they used all five of their picks in last year's draft on forwards. However, the productive winger adds much-needed skill into Calgary's prospect pool. -- Kaplan

Where Pelletier is most likely to play in 2019-20: QMJHL

27. Tampa Bay Lightning: Nolan Foote, LW

Team: Kelowna (WHL)
Ranking: 34 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 195 | Shot: L
Stats: 66 GP, 36 G, 27 A

Scouting report: Foote had a pretty strong season, scoring 36 goals, even though he played much of it with a fractured wrist. He is a good, not great, skater who uses his body well and can win along the boards. His puck skills are average, but he has exceptional hockey sense and can make good passes in all zones, and whether or not there's pressure. Foote also has enough edge in his game to win a lot of battles down low. -- Peters

Team fit: The Lightning put their second Foote forward in the NHL draft. They selected Cal Foote, a defenseman from the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) in 2017 at No. 14 overall. Now they have his younger brother Nolan Foote, a wing, at No. 27 this season. A bit of a reach? Very much, as he was projected by most as a second-round pick. But what were they going to do with just one Foote? Hop around? -- Wyshynski

Where Foote is most likely to play in 2019-20: WHL

28. Carolina Hurricanes: Ryan Suzuki, C

Team: Barrie (OHL)
Ranking: 20 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | Shot: L
Stats: 65 GP, 25 G, 50 A

Scouting report: Suzuki is one of the better playmakers in the draft. He has elite vision and anticipates exceptionally well. One of the primary complaints among scouts is a relative lack of intensity and compete level, and there are some issues with consistency that arose when he wasn't getting to the middle of the ice enough. He's a cerebral player who could afford to make quicker decisions, but there's very little questioning his puck skills and his ability to find teammates. -- Peters

Team fit: The Hurricanes picked center Ryan Suzuki, the brother of Nick Suzuki, a Canadiens prospect (and first-round pick of Vegas in 2017). The knock on Ryan is that he's too much of a perimeter player, which clashes a bit with what we've seen from the Hurricanes lately, as they try to become a heavier team. -- Kaplan

Where Suzuki is most likely to play in 2019-20: OHL

29. Anaheim Ducks: Brayden Tracey, LW

Team: Moose Jaw (WHL)
Ranking: 44 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
Stats: 66 GP, 36 G, 45 A

Scouting report: The WHL's Rookie of the Year and one of the fastest risers in this draft class, Tracey has really good puck skills and vision, with an ability to make plays under pressure. His skating is probably closer to average, but I don't view it as a hindrance. He gets to the hard areas well enough and can make some decent plays on the rush. -- Peters

Team fit: Tracey has been one of the real rising prospects in this draft class. I came around late on him and still couldn't put him over some of the other guys I had on my board. I also thought the Ducks might focus on defense, but clearly they didn't like what was left enough to pass on a guy who had 81 points in the WHL this season. More depth for their forward group. -- Peters

Where Tracey is most likely to play in 2019-20: WHL

30. Boston Bruins: John Beecher, C

Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 41 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 212 | Shot: L
Stats: 63 GP, 15 G, 28 A

Scouting report: An exceptional athlete, Beecher has high-end speed. He's one of the best-graded skaters in this draft, even at his size. He could use a little bit more in the puck-skills department, and his offensive sense is average at best. He gets behind, around and through defenses very well with his wheels. -- Peters

Team fit: The Bruins didn't have a first-round pick last year, and they've had mixed results drafting in the first round over the past few years. Boston went with a bit of a surprise in Beecher, a big forward with incredible speed but average skill. -- Kaplan

Where Beecher is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Michigan)

31. Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Johnson, D

Team: Sioux Falls (USHL)
Ranking: 42 | Nationality: USA
Age: 17 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
Stats: 54 GP, 6 G, 19 A

Scouting report: Johnson is one of the best skating defensemen in this entire class. He's an exceptional defender who performed at his best in big games this season. But he is a pretty raw talent when it comes to ability to make plays in the offensive zone. In faster-paced games, he focuses a lot more on defending, and I don't know that he has the offensive sense to make effective plays up ice. -- Peters

Team fit: Johnson is an elite skating defenseman who defends at an especially high level. He's also a winner, having won titles at the World Junior A Challenge and the Clark Cup with Sioux Falls. That's got to speak to an organization that's trying to turn the tide. The offensive upside is limited, but I think there could be a bit more to give there. After all, this was only his first season in junior hockey after playing Triple-A youth hockey in California. He's just scratching the surface. -- Peters

Where Johnson is most likely to play in 2019-20: NCAA (Minnesota)

We saw it all in Round 1 of the 2019 NHL draft. Two generational talents were drafted atop the board. Seven Americans went in the opening 15 picks. The Coyotes traded up. A goaltender was the 13th prospect to be selected. And a 51-goal scorer fell to Day 2.

So which teams had especially strong first rounds? Which picks leave more to be desired? Let's look at the biggest winners and losers of Round 1, and answer some of the biggest questions coming out of the first 31 picks. Then we will peek at Round 2 and beyond, with the best remaining talent still on the board.

Jump to:
Winners | Losers | Biggest questions
Best remaining | Pick-by-pick analysis

WINNERS

Philadelphia Flyers

Pick: Cam York (No. 14)

Trading back from No. 11 to No. 14 and picking up a second-rounder along the way, while still acquiring a potential game-breaking defenseman, was a particularly smart move from general manager Chuck Fletcher. He gambled that York would still be there, and sure enough, he was. Meanwhile, Philly gets an especially valuable pick at No. 45 in a draft that's pretty deep through two rounds.