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2019 NHL Mock Draft: Kings, Flames, Oilers in on Spencer Knight?

By Simon Vacca

ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 19: Team Langenbrunner goalie Spencer Knight (30) kicks the puck into the corner during the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game between Team Leopold and Team Langenbrunner on September 19, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Team Leopold defeated Team Langenbrunner 6-4.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 19: Team Langenbrunner goalie Spencer Knight (30) kicks the puck into the corner during the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game between Team Leopold and Team Langenbrunner on September 19, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Team Leopold defeated Team Langenbrunner 6-4.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Spencer Knight — the top goaltending prospect of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft — shall be a subject of widespread rumination as we await June 21 and 22. Which teams should be all-in on the esteemed netminder?

Undoubtedly the most critically acclaimed goaltending prospect of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Spencer Knight of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program promises to serve as one of the most talked about players over the course of the up and coming months.

There’s much to like about Knight. At 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, the highly touted netminder marries athleticism with smarts, as his calm presence between the pipes will almost definitely act as the central avenue through which one team’s dreams of acquiring a franchise player is translated into a reality in the not-so-distant future.

“Squid,” as he’s sometimes called, shall surely be a staple of the June 21st first-round picks. The only question, then, concerns where he’ll wind up. After all, this is a goaltender who can potentially be drafted among the first ten selections in British Columbia — but which team, if any, would be willing to take such a substantial risk?

It’s difficult to predict where goaltenders will end up and who shall seriously consider exploratory options of this variety. The Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames would be wise to entertain the thought of picking Knight, indeed, but lack of certainty concerning management and the ensuing nature of late-round selection all but ensure that neither team will wind up with the upper hand on this particular front.

It’s all the more likely, therefore, that an organization with multiple options in the first-round shall emerge victorious in acquiring Knight. And if this line of inquiry is to be subscribed to, the Los Angeles Kings — set to prepare for the inevitable moment in which franchise netminder Jonathan Quick regresses for good — would serve as an ideal landing spot for the American puck-stopper.

Our March 18th mock draft — considered in conjunction with the league’s reverse standings — is as follows.

  1. Colorado Avalanche — Jack Hughes (C)
  2. Los Angeles Kings — Kaapo Kakko (RW)
  3. Detroit Red Wings — Vasili Podkolzin (RW)
  4. New Jersey Devils — Dylan Cozens (C/RW)
  5. Anaheim Ducks — Trevor Zegras (C)
  6. New York Rangers — Peyton Krebs (C)
  7. Vancouver Canucks — Bowen Byram (D)
  8. Buffalo Sabres — Alex Turcotte (C)
  9. Edmonton Oilers — Thomas Harley (D)
  10. Chicago Blackhawks — Kirby Dach (C)
  11. Colorado Avalanche — Alex Newhook (C)
  12. Florida Panthers — Victor Soderstrom (D)
  13. Minnesota Wild — Matthew Boldy (LW)
  14. Arizona Coyotes — Philip Broberg (D)
  15. Philadelphia Flyers — Arthur Kaliyev (LW)
  16. Dallas Stars — Cam York (D)
  17. Montréal Canadiens — Alex Vlasic (D)
  18. Buffalo Sabres — Cole Caufield (RW)
  19. Ottawa Senators — Connor McMichael (C)
  20. Vegas Golden Knights — Ryan Suzuki (C)
  21. Carolina Hurricanes — Raphael Lavoie (C/RW)
  22. Nashville Predators — Brett Leason (RW)
  23. Pittsburgh Penguins — Jakob Pelletier (LW)
  24. New York Rangers — Moritz Seider (D)
  25. Washington Capitals — Philip Tomasino (RW)
  26. New York Islanders — Samuel Poulin (RW)
  27. Los Angeles Kings — Spencer Knight (G)
  28. Anaheim Ducks — Matthew Robertson (D)
  29. Boston Bruins — Nicholas Robertson (C/LW)
  30. Calgary Flames — Nils Hoglander (LW)
  31. New York Rangers — Ville Heinola (D)

News and notes:

  • No. 1 — As per a three-team deal, the Colorado Avalanche are set to receive the Ottawa Senators’ first-round pick.
  • No. 18 — The Buffalo Sabres will receive the St. Louis Blues’ first-round selection. The Sabres shipped Ryan O’Reilly to the Blues for three forwards and two draft picks.
  • No. 19 — The Ottawa Senators shall get the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round pick as part of the deal that sent center Matt Duchene to Ohio.
  • No. 24 — The New York Rangers will acquire the Winnipeg Jets’ 2019 first-round selection as part of the Kevin Hayes trade.
  • No. 27 — The Los Angeles Kings shall receive the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-rounder as part of the Jake Muzzin deal.
  • No. 28 — The Anaheim Ducks are set to receive a first-rounder from the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Brandon Montour trade.
  • No. 31 — The New York Rangers will acquire a conditional first-round selection from the Tampa Bay Lightning if the latter win the 2019 Stanley Cup (and a second-round pick if they do not). Since the Lightning currently hold the most points in the NHL, the draft order has tentatively considered them Stanley Cup champions.

Next. 2019 NHL Mock Draft -- Kings land talented Russian winger Podkolzin. dark

The 57th NHL Entry Draft shall take place in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 21 and 22. Be sure to check back for more updates.

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