Zegras, Knight, Harley, Beecher selected in NHL draft opening round

Trevor Zegras was third on the NDTP last season with 87 points in 60 games. (Kevin Light/Getty Images)

VANCOUVER — Four natives of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut — Trevor Zegras, Spencer Knight, Thomas Harley and John Beecher — were selected in the first round of the 2019 National Hockey League draft, which was held Friday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

The first to come off the board was Zegras, who was taken ninth overall by the Anaheim Ducks.

A 6-foot, 173-pound center, Zegras totaled 87 points (26-61-87) in 60 games last season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team.

“It’s so awesome,” the Bedford, N.Y., native said. “I just ran into Alex Turcotte (NTDP teammate who was selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Kings) outside and gave him a big hug. It’s so surreal.”

Zegras was joined at the draft by his parents, Gary and Julie, his younger siblings, brother Griffin and sister Ava, and another 20-plus family members.

“It’s going to be a pretty fun night,” he chuckled.

Zegras, who has a left-handed shot, entered the draft sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its final rankings.

Under-18 coach John Wroblewski calls Zegras an “A-1 pivot” who has a better shot than Jack Hughes, who was selected first overall in this year’s draft by the New Jersey Devils. However, it’s his playmaking ability that sets him apart from his peers.

“I’m a two-way forward who’s got really good vision and sees the ice really well,” Zegras explained. “I’m not afraid to make pretty cool passes. And I’m really good on the power play.”

In terms of the 18-year-old’s development off the ice, Wroblewski said Zegras came to the NTDP “a boy who didn’t know how good he was and ended up becoming a man who’s ready for professional hockey right away as a player leaving the NTDP.”

“He might be referring to my maturity,” Zegras said. “I grew up a lot at the NTDP. It forces you to grow up, whether you like it or not. That’s something I really improved.”

Zegras will continue his career this fall at Boston University.

“That should be really cool,” he said. “A bunch of my teammates who I’m going there with are here at the draft, so I got to grab lunch with them. It’s a really exciting time.”

Knight, a Darien, Conn., native, was the next local to be selected when the Florida Panthers chose him 13th overall.

Boasting a 6-4, 193-pound frame, Knight, 18, was the top-ranked North American goaltender in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings entering the draft.

“It doesn’t seem real,” Knight said with a wide smile. “It’s what you dream about growing up.”

Knight was joined at the draft by his parents, Chris and Lilly, two sisters, Claire and Hannah, and a “bunch of buddies from back home who made the trip.”

“It’s pretty cool and exciting for everyone,” he said. “It’s surreal.”

Last season in 39 contests with the Under-18 squad, Knight had a 2.36 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and two shutouts as he tied the single-season NTDP record in wins with 32. He set the program record with 59 wins in 78 matches over the past two campaigns with the Under-17 and Under-18 teams.

“You grow up on and off the ice at the NTDP,” Knight explained. “As a player, I became more mature and I slowed things down and learned to be a solid goaltender. Off the ice, they develop you to be a good person, too. They teach you how to do the right thing and good things to be a good role model in hockey.”

Knight, who catches left-handed, grew up watching New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist but now compares his style to Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) and Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets).

He reminds many scouts of Price because of his calm demeanor in the crease and his ability to consistently to be in the right position. He also has the ability to act as a third defenseman with his stickhandling.

Overall, Knight has been regarded by some scouts as the best goaltender the NTDP has ever produced.

Said one scout who was interviewed by The Hockey News: “I don’t know what tools goaltenders need that this guy doesn’t have.”

As for the best goaltending advice Knight has ever received, he said it’s “all the simple ones.”

“Don’t let the highs get too high, or lows get too low,” he elaborated. “Sometimes stopping the puck is all you have to do.”

Knight will be skating for Boston College this fall.

The next local to be drafted was Harley, a 6-3, 193-pound, left-handed shooting defenseman from Syracuse, N.Y.

The 17-year-old, who was ranked 11th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its final rankings, was selected 18th overall by the Dallas Stars.

“It feels amazing,” Harley said. “Joining an organization like Dallas with the great players and coaches they have here is real exciting.”

Harley posted 58 points (11-47-58) in 68 regular-season games and four assists in four playoff matches this past campaign with the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads, a significant boost from his totals as a rookie during the 2017-18 season when he recorded 15 points (1-14-15) in 62 regular-season contests and a pair of assists in six postseason games.

He attributed his improvement to his higher confidence level.

“My first year I got the puck to the forwards and that was it,” Harley explained. “I didn’t have to do much more than that. This past year I was relied upon to create a lot of offense, so I stepped into that role and as I got better my confidence grew and it spiraled.”

What stands out about Harley’s game is his poise and patience. He’s able to make subtle but significant plays, whether he’s making a pass or moving the puck up the ice on his own.

“I’ve always just kind of been that way,” Harley said. “I was super emotional when I was a kid. I got that under control and now it’s the other extreme, I guess. It does help me out there when guys might get riled up or something.”

He quipped, “I see (Boston Bruins left wing) Brad Marchand chirping these guys in the playoffs, and it would just make me laugh. It wouldn’t bug me at all.”

However, the draft experience actually did rattle Harley a little bit.

“The day was nerve-racking,” he revealed. “I didn’t eat much, didn’t do much, besides lay in the bed.”

The final local product chosen in the first round of this year’s draft was John Beecher, who was selected 30th overall by the Bruins.

A 6-3, 212-pound center from Elmira, N.Y., Beecher, 18, totaled 43 points (15-28-43) in 63 games this past campaign with the Under-18 club. He entered the draft 49th overall among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

“I was pretty confident that I would be going (in the first round),” said Beecher, who has a left-handed shot. “I knew it was probably going to be mid to late. I was talking to Boston quite a bit in the past couple weeks and I couldn’t be happier to be going to the organization.”

Beecher was joined at the draft by his parents, Bill and Natasha, his older brother, Bryce, his best friend and his billet family.

Bryce, who’s now the men’s hockey equipment manager at Elmira College, has served as a source of motivation for John since they were kids. Born with hip dysplasia, Bryce was in a full-body cast for some time throughout his young life. He also underwent numerous surgeries.

“Bryce was even more nervous (during the draft) than I was,” John chuckled. “He’s my biggest fan and my best friend. I wouldn’t be here today without him. I love him to death. It’s one of those things where he’s my biggest supporter. Him being here with me today, sitting next to me, it meant the world.”

Beecher, a University of Michigan commit, describes himself as a “big power forward.”

“I use my size and my speed to my advantage, and I think my game really translates well to Boston,” he elaborated. “I’m a guy who gains a lot of momentum for my team. It’s exciting.”

The remaining six rounds of the 2019 NHL draft will take place Saturday, with the second round starting at 1 p.m. ET.