2019 USHL Draft Results

Round 1

The 2019 USHL Draft has future NHL talent on display. Find out who went to what USHL team in the strongest USHL Draft in recent memory.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: March 14, 2020.

1. Lincoln Stars: Carter Schade, D, (2021) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 185 lb Carter Schade from Mars, PA has the skill set of a two way defender. He's is fundamentally sound as a two-way defender. He knows how to check and take up space despite being only 16-years-old. He's a great playmaker and quarterback on the power play as well. Lincoln has a future first round pick on their hands if Schade continues to grow and develop as a player. He accepted a scholarship to Penn State.
   
   
   
   Carter Schade got promoted to alternate captain on the Pittsburgh Penguins under 16 Bantam Team despite turning 17-years-old last week. Schade also has 2 goals, 1 assist, and 3 points in 5 USHL games with the Lincoln Stars.
   
   
   
   Carter Schade will probably be a 2021 first round pick. However, he is probably more likely to sign with Penn State than sign his rookie deal in the NHL.
   
   
   
2. Madison Capitols: Luke Mittelstadt, D, (2021) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-11 185 lb Luke Mittelstadt has the skill set of a two way defender. He's is fundamentally sound as a two-way defender. He knows how to check and take up space despite being only 16-years-old. He's a great playmaker and quarterback on the power play as well. Madison has a future first round pick on their hands if Mittelstadt continues to grow and develop as a player. He accepted a scholarship to Minnesota.
   
   
   
   Luke Mittelstadt had 28 points prior to getting drafted by the Madison Capitals. He got promoted to team captain on Eden Prairie HS and is the younger brother of Casey Mittelstadt, the Buffalo Sabres 2017 first round pick.
   
   
   
   Luke Mittelstadt is a guy who will dominate with the Madison Capitals when he is called up. Mittlestadt should end up being a first round pick like his older brother.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Green Bay Gamblers: Ryan Greene, C, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-0 154 lb Ryan Greene is already playing on the Green Bay Gamblers at the age of 15 unlike Luke Mittelstadt and he's not even draft eligible until 2022. Greene has 3 goals, 2 assists, and 5 points in 18 USHL games with the Gamblers. Ryan Greene also has 40 assists on Selects Hockey Academy's Under 16 Team.
   
   
   
   Ryan Greene gives you a fast goal scoring playmaker with a natural tendency to get assists. He is also a great skater with a natural knack for winning face offs.
   
   
   
   Ryan Greene will enroll in Boston University in 2021. Greene will play at Boston University for a year before being draft eligible in the 2022 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
4. Omaha Lancers: Bennett Schimek, C, (2021) F Grade
   
   
   Omaha already traded Bennett Schimek to the Sioux City Musketeers. They spent a top 5 pick on a player that they already traded. That's why Omaha gets an F grade.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Dubuque Fighting Saints: Kenny Connors, C, (2021) F Grade
   
   
   Kenny Connors, like Bennett Schimek went in the top 5 overall and got traded to another USHL team. Kenny Connors showed little production in his brief time on the USNTDP.
   
   
   
6. Sioux City Musketeers: Drew Tsakounis, D, (2021) B Grade
   
   
   The 5-11 165 lb Drew Tsakounis is going to enroll in Penn State with Carter Schade, who went first overall. He did not get called up to the USHL as a rookie, but provides better value at six than the fourth or fifth overall picks. He doesn't line up where most line 1 defenders like Drew Doughty and Kris Letang line up. His ceiling is a number two defender on a top line, but he has the skill set of a two-way defender that you look for. He shoots, passes, and defends well on tape.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Fargo Force: Jack Peart, D, (2021) A Grade
   
   
   The 5-11 174 lb Jack Peart is fundamentally sound as a two-way defender. He knows how to check and take up space despite being only 16-years-old. He's a great playmaker and quarterback on the power play as well. He already has 2 assists in 5 games with the Fargo Force. Peart is a guy that looks like a late first or early second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   Jack Peart does everything well on tape except shoot with accuracy. His wrist shot power and slap shot power is through the roof. He's got three years to improve that area of his game.
   
   
   
8. Des Moines Buccaneers: Paul Davey, LW, (2021) F Grade
   
   
   Paul Davey has not played in the USHL yet. His skating looks very bad on tape and this is a guy that looks like he has the upside of an AHL player rather than an NHL player.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders: Ty Voit, RW, (2021) A+ Grade
   
   
   Ty Voit is from Wexford, PA, my hometown when I lived in Pennsylvania. He played with Carter Schade on the Pittsburgh Penguins Under 16 Team. Voit is someone who signed his OHL Entry Contract as he was also drafted by the Sarnia Sting in the fifth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. His 28 points this season in the OHL are why Cedar Rapids should have offered Voit more money. Voit gets an A+ grade, but Cedar Rapids deserves an F grade for not signing Voit and letting him sign with an OHL team in the CHL.
   
   
   
10. Youngstown Phantoms: Davis Codd, RW, (2021) F Grade
    
    
    Davis Codd was drafted by the Sagniaw Spirit in the fourth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Codd signed with Saginaw instead of Youngstown so this pick gets an F grade.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Chicago Steel: Ryan Ufko, D, (2021) A Grade
    
    
    The 5-9 170 lb Ryan Ufko has 2 goals, 7 assists, and a +17 +/- ratio in 43 games during his rookie season with the Chicago Steel. Ufko accepted a scholarship to UMass Amherst. Ryan Ufko is one of the better two-way defenders in this draft so this pick totally deserves an A+ grade. Ufko will be a second round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the very worst, but has the upside to be a first round pick.
    
    
    
12. Sioux Falls Stampede: Cameron MacDonald, C, (2021) A Grade
    
    
    The 6-2 188 lb Cameron MacDonald had 6 goals, 14 assists, and 20 points in his rookie season with the Sioux Falls Stampede. MacDonald looks like a second round pick, but he has the upside to be a first round pick. MacDonald accepted a scholarship to Boston College.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Waterloo Blackhawks: Matthew Argentina, C, (2021) B Grade
    
    
    The 5-11 179 lb Matthew Argentina had 5 goals, 6 assists, and 11 points with the Waterloo Blackhawks in 43 games. Argentina has a scholarship to Notre Dame.
    
    
    
14. Muskegon Lumberjacks: Dylan Gratton, D, (2021) B Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 174 lb Dylan Gratton had 1 goal, 8 assists, and 9 points with Muskegon. He also has a -8 +/- ratio. This pick gets a B pick because its a solid pick, but Gratton is more of an offensive defender than a defensive defender or a two-way defender for that matter.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Tri-City Storm: Davis Burnside, LW, (2022) B Grade
    
    
    The 5-10 170 lb Davis Burnside had 5 goals, 4 assists, and 9 points in 48 games as a rookie. Burnside accepted a scholarship to Ohio State which begins after the 2022 NHL Draft which Burnside is eligible for.
    
    
    
16. USNTDP: Luke Hughes, D, (2021) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 161 lb Luke Hughes is the younger brother of Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes. He is just as good as his brothers who both went in the top 10 of the 2018 and 2019 NHL Drafts. Luke Hughes is already projected as a top 3 pick for the 2021 NHL Draft and he can do everything that guys like Carter Schade and Luke Mittelstadt do on tape. Luke Hughes will take over for Jake Sanderson as the leader of the blue line for USNTDP next season in 2020-2021 so I expect Hughes to have the experience and versatility to play both sides of the blue line just like his older brother Quinn.