This thread will showcase the Top Prospects of the 2020 NHL Draft.
The rankings will change slightly as the draft approaches.
The rankings will change slightly as the draft approaches.
1) LW Alexis Lafrienere.
Incredibly skilled, and the best passer in this class. Plays with an edge and protects the puck well.
A high-end PP QB, who can also beat goalies with a curl-and-drag wrist shot. He& #39;s Brad Marchand like, and a safe bet to be a 1LW.
A+ playmaker:
Incredibly skilled, and the best passer in this class. Plays with an edge and protects the puck well.
A high-end PP QB, who can also beat goalies with a curl-and-drag wrist shot. He& #39;s Brad Marchand like, and a safe bet to be a 1LW.
A+ playmaker:
2) C Quinton Byfield
6& #39;4" C who can fly. There aren& #39;t many human beings with his size and athleticism. All the tools are there to be a good play-driver.
Impressive point production in the OHL. Young for this class. Size + skill combo gives him a chance to be a beast down low:
6& #39;4" C who can fly. There aren& #39;t many human beings with his size and athleticism. All the tools are there to be a good play-driver.
Impressive point production in the OHL. Young for this class. Size + skill combo gives him a chance to be a beast down low:
3) LW/C Tim Stutzle
Elite skater, and a zone entry machine. Demands the puck, and never stops moving his feet.
Very creative playmaker, but needs to get stronger to score more goals.
I love betting on elite transition players & passers (Hughes brothers, Barzal, etc.).
Elite skater, and a zone entry machine. Demands the puck, and never stops moving his feet.
Very creative playmaker, but needs to get stronger to score more goals.
I love betting on elite transition players & passers (Hughes brothers, Barzal, etc.).
4) RW Lucas Raymond
A Marner-like winger with his size, creativity, and ridiculous skill. Dances around defenders, and has always been a star for Sweden.
His size is a non-issue. He competes well, generates takeaways, and will be good defensively (PK1). Bound to score.
A Marner-like winger with his size, creativity, and ridiculous skill. Dances around defenders, and has always been a star for Sweden.
His size is a non-issue. He competes well, generates takeaways, and will be good defensively (PK1). Bound to score.
5) C Marco Rossi
Rare 5& #39;9" power forward, who out-works his opponents all over the ice.
Outstanding PP QB, and impossible to knock off the puck. Unquestionably skilled and unquestionably smart.
N-S speed is the only thing keeping him out of the top two. Real case to go 3rd.
Rare 5& #39;9" power forward, who out-works his opponents all over the ice.
Outstanding PP QB, and impossible to knock off the puck. Unquestionably skilled and unquestionably smart.
N-S speed is the only thing keeping him out of the top two. Real case to go 3rd.
6) RD Jamie Drysdale
Great four-way skater and puck mover. The best dman in this class by a wide margin, and a consistent standout at international tournaments.
Safe bet to be a play-driving, top-four D. You can dream that he& #39;s close to Quinn Hughes/Makar.
He drives play.
Great four-way skater and puck mover. The best dman in this class by a wide margin, and a consistent standout at international tournaments.
Safe bet to be a play-driving, top-four D. You can dream that he& #39;s close to Quinn Hughes/Makar.
He drives play.
7) G Yaroslav Askarov
A 6& #39;3" goaltender with plenty of athleticism, who consistently dominates against his own age group.
There& #39;s always more risk with goalies, but he& #39;s the best prospect at this position since either Price or Vasilevsky. Possible franchise-changer.
A 6& #39;3" goaltender with plenty of athleticism, who consistently dominates against his own age group.
There& #39;s always more risk with goalies, but he& #39;s the best prospect at this position since either Price or Vasilevsky. Possible franchise-changer.
8) LW/C Cole Perfetti
Should be arrested for embarrassing goalies one-on-one. A magician with the puck. Dominant scorer at Hlinka, and dominant playmaker in the OHL.
N-S skating is the only thing that keeps him out of the top 3-4, but he& #39;s fast enough to be a good NHL scorer.
Should be arrested for embarrassing goalies one-on-one. A magician with the puck. Dominant scorer at Hlinka, and dominant playmaker in the OHL.
N-S skating is the only thing that keeps him out of the top 3-4, but he& #39;s fast enough to be a good NHL scorer.
9) RW Alexander Holtz
High-end scorer with a great wrist shot and one-timer.
His shot turns low danger chances into medium danger chances. More than enough speed for the NHL.
Needs to round out his game and get to the slot more, but he& #39;s bound to put the puck in the net.
High-end scorer with a great wrist shot and one-timer.
His shot turns low danger chances into medium danger chances. More than enough speed for the NHL.
Needs to round out his game and get to the slot more, but he& #39;s bound to put the puck in the net.
10) C Anton Lundell
Intelligent two-way centre who stands out at both ends. He& #39;s a lock to stick at C, and he& #39;s been a standout for Finland for years.
Safe bet to be a pretty good NHL player. Not quite as dynamic offensively as the rest of the top 10, but still quite skilled:
Intelligent two-way centre who stands out at both ends. He& #39;s a lock to stick at C, and he& #39;s been a standout for Finland for years.
Safe bet to be a pretty good NHL player. Not quite as dynamic offensively as the rest of the top 10, but still quite skilled:
11) LW Rodion Amirov
Two-way winger, and a safe pick due to his ability to do a little bit of everything.
Pretty good (but not elite) size, speed, carrying, playmaking, goal scoring, strength, and forechecking. Formed a great 1-2 punch with Podkolzin at last year& #39;s U18.
Two-way winger, and a safe pick due to his ability to do a little bit of everything.
Pretty good (but not elite) size, speed, carrying, playmaking, goal scoring, strength, and forechecking. Formed a great 1-2 punch with Podkolzin at last year& #39;s U18.
12) LD Jeremie Poirier
Fast and skilled defencemen who generates plenty of entries. Regularly goes end-to-end with ease.
Finished second on his team in both G and A.
Below average defensively, but he& #39;s one of the younger players in this class. Patience required.
Fast and skilled defencemen who generates plenty of entries. Regularly goes end-to-end with ease.
Finished second on his team in both G and A.
Below average defensively, but he& #39;s one of the younger players in this class. Patience required.
13) C Connor Zary
Human highlight reel who has the puck on a string. He& #39;s fairly strong, sees the ice well, and sets up tap-in goals.
He& #39;s older, but was good against his own age group at the U18.
Needs to get one step faster to have 2C upside. If he does, he& #39;ll be a steal.
Human highlight reel who has the puck on a string. He& #39;s fairly strong, sees the ice well, and sets up tap-in goals.
He& #39;s older, but was good against his own age group at the U18.
Needs to get one step faster to have 2C upside. If he does, he& #39;ll be a steal.
14) LD Jake Sanderson
Shutdown defender who keeps up with top forwards.
His skating and reach makes him a good defender in transition. Wins battles and outmuscles his opponents.
Bound to have a long NHL career. The only question is how high he plays in the lineup.
He& #39;s #8:
Shutdown defender who keeps up with top forwards.
His skating and reach makes him a good defender in transition. Wins battles and outmuscles his opponents.
Bound to have a long NHL career. The only question is how high he plays in the lineup.
He& #39;s #8:
15) RW Seth Jarvis
Undersized scorer with impressive point production in the WHL.
Quick and elusive carrier. Good (but not elite) playmaker with a good (but not elite) shot.
Some risk involved given his size, but he& #39;s quick and skilled enough to have 55+ point upside.
Undersized scorer with impressive point production in the WHL.
Quick and elusive carrier. Good (but not elite) playmaker with a good (but not elite) shot.
Some risk involved given his size, but he& #39;s quick and skilled enough to have 55+ point upside.
16) RW Noel Gunler
6& #39;2" scorer who held his own in the SHL this year. Wins battles, retrieves pucks, and generates plenty of power through his shot.
Gets to the high-danger area quite well.
He& #39;s on the older end for this class, but has the tools to be a scoring winger.
6& #39;2" scorer who held his own in the SHL this year. Wins battles, retrieves pucks, and generates plenty of power through his shot.
Gets to the high-danger area quite well.
He& #39;s on the older end for this class, but has the tools to be a scoring winger.
17) RW Jack Quinn
Second leading goal scorer in the OHL. A+ wrist shot that& #39;s bound to translate well. Good one-timer and scoring touch around the net.
Crafty puck carrier, which helps him to create his own shot.
Potential 30+ goal scorer if he gets one step faster.
Second leading goal scorer in the OHL. A+ wrist shot that& #39;s bound to translate well. Good one-timer and scoring touch around the net.
Crafty puck carrier, which helps him to create his own shot.
Potential 30+ goal scorer if he gets one step faster.
18) C Hendrix Lapierre
Outstanding Hlinka, before playing just 19 games due to injury.
High-end playmaker who can QB a top PP unit. Noticeable carrier who adds value in transition. Never shoots, but racks up assists.
Borderline top 10 pick if we ignore the injury concerns.
Outstanding Hlinka, before playing just 19 games due to injury.
High-end playmaker who can QB a top PP unit. Noticeable carrier who adds value in transition. Never shoots, but racks up assists.
Borderline top 10 pick if we ignore the injury concerns.
19) C/RW Jacob Perreault
Dangerous scorer with tons of speed. He& #39;s heavy for his size, and will be able to beat NHL defenders out wide.
High-end shooter who can beat you in multiple ways. Shooting talent, combined with transition skill, is a great combination. Likely plays RW.
Dangerous scorer with tons of speed. He& #39;s heavy for his size, and will be able to beat NHL defenders out wide.
High-end shooter who can beat you in multiple ways. Shooting talent, combined with transition skill, is a great combination. Likely plays RW.
20) C/LW Dylan Holloway
Physically mature forward who wins battles, while also being an above average skater.
He& #39;s older for this class, but has always been good for Canada against his own age group. His two-way game really stands out.
Safe bet to be a middle-six forward.
Physically mature forward who wins battles, while also being an above average skater.
He& #39;s older for this class, but has always been good for Canada against his own age group. His two-way game really stands out.
Safe bet to be a middle-six forward.
21) LD Lukas Cormier
5& #39;10" dman who reminds me of Sandin.
Strong for his size, great on his edges, protects the puck well, will QB a PP1 in the NHL. Eludes forecheckers, and tilts the ice with his puck-moving skill.
Could fall due to height + N/S skating. Possible steal.
5& #39;10" dman who reminds me of Sandin.
Strong for his size, great on his edges, protects the puck well, will QB a PP1 in the NHL. Eludes forecheckers, and tilts the ice with his puck-moving skill.
Could fall due to height + N/S skating. Possible steal.