Tag Archives: 2020 NHL Draft Prospects

Beer League Hero, Keith Fries, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

@Keithfries Mid-Season 2020 NHL Draft Rankings WITH Top-15 Mock Draft Included!

Hello, Heroes! Welcome back to another round of draft talk. 

Last time, I promised you guys a top-100 ranking which you can find in the images below.  

Additionally, an early mock lottery draft was promised and here that is, as well. Thanks to the folks at tankathon.com for providing a draft simulator – in which: San Jose, Montreal, and Anaheim moved up into the top-3 spots, respectively. 

1. Ottawa Senators (San Jose Sharks) – Alexis Lafreniere (LW) – Rimouski, QMJHL

This couldn’t have worked out better for Ottawa who are in need of a quick rebuild with a big ol’ Band-Aid to cover up their scars. While teams are always looking to build down the middle, Lafreniere’s potential as a franchise-level talent matches, if not exceeds, that of a first-line center. 

BLH’s Pick: No doubt, the Sens take the elite goal-scoring Lafreniere here and hope he doesn’t turn out like the last one they picked 1st overall… I don’t even know who to compare this guy to. He shoots like Stamkos, handles the puck like Nugent-Hopkins, sees the ice like Crosby, and hits like Tkachuk. He’s also got that “it” factor so many people respect Jonathan Toews for. He’ll be an impact player immediately. 

2. Montreal Canadiens – Quinton Byfield (C) – Sudbury, OHL

Montreal have been looking for a new face of their club and a true #1-Centerman to anchor their top-6, and Byfield is the godsend they’ve been praying for. With ideal NHL size and skill, already, I’d expect Montreal wouldn’t waste time getting him into the line-up – possibly alongside Max Domi. 

BLH’s Pick: If this is how the draft lottery played out, I wonder how hard Marc Bergevin would work to try and get to 1st overall? That said, he has to go with the next Evgeni Malkin here in Byfield. The way that this behemoth controls the ice when he has the puck will leave Habs fans with mouths agape on a nightly basis. Montreal would surely be a team to reckon within three years having Byfield, Suzuki, and Kotkaniemi as part of their spine. 

3. Anaheim Ducks – Tim Stutzle (C/LW) – Mannheim, DEL

I don’t know why but the Ducks seem to always select the player I’d like the Kings to select. Anywho, Stutzle has risen in many rankings and holds a solid billing as a top-5 selection. Anaheim adds another offensive, playmaking, dynamo into their system – a strong 1-2-punch with Trevor Zegras.

BLH’s Pick: I’m not sold Stutzle will get taken this high nor would Anaheim take him. They’ve got lots of talent coming at forward but nothing really on defense. Jamie Drysdale makes a lot of sense here for the Ducks in my opinion. A slick puck-moving defender whose hockey IQ is off the charts. Anybody else reminded of ex-Duck Scott Neidermayer here? 

4. Detroit Red Wings – Yaroslav Askarov (G) – St. Petersburg, MHL

Detroit is still in the midst of a full-on rebuild and it likely won’t be another 3-5 seasons until they’re back to being the club that made the playoffs 25 years in a row. Goaltenders take a bit longer than skaters to develop and, by the time Detroit’s ready to make a run, Askarov will fit in nicely like a custom fit glove.

BLH’s Pick: Now here I could see Steve Yzerman going with another German. Stutzle is flashy and clever like Stevie Y used to be and the Red Wings will be envisioning a 1-2 punch of Zadina and Stutzle driving them to future Stanley Cups. Throw Joe Veleno in there and someday Detroit might have a line that could remind folks of who they’ve got running the show in Boston right now. 

5. Los Angeles Kings – Lucas Raymond (RW) – Frolunda, SHL

The Kings end up with the worst scenario, again, falling from the 2nd-overall slot down to the 5th. But, with Raymond still on the board, the Kings may have found their final piece to their future-forward puzzle. LA hasn’t been shy about their affinity with Swedish-born prospects and Raymond seems like a natural fit.

BLH’s Pick: I agree with Keith here. Raymond terrorizing defenses on the wing alongside Alex Turcotte will provide maximum entertainment for years to come. This guy should probably be a top-3 pick to be honest, but for whatever reason, he’s not been able to stick. He doesn’t get a lot of TOI with his team in the SHL mind you. So I would say that has something to do with it but he sure impresses on the international stage. Such a smart and talented hockey player. 

6. New Jersey Devils – Jamie Drysdale (D) – Erie, OHL

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Devils continue to build up their prospect pool with as much forward talent as they can get their hands on, but Drysdale’s offensive skillset from the backend could prove to be the point producer that New Jersey is seeking.

BLH’s Pick: Alexander Holtz would give the Devils a ridiculous youth core and NJ a bonafide scoring threat from the wing and a target man for Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. If you like Filip Forsberg, you’re going to love Holtz. 

7. Ottawa Senators – Marco Rossi (C) – Ottawa, OHL

It doesn’t matter who Ottawa picks on day two as both the selections of Alexis Lafreniere and Marco Rossi should be enough to reward the Senators with an A+ draft grade. In my early number run, both are leading ALL prospects in points. That should sound like a symphony to the Ottawa contingency. 

BLH’s Pick: I can’t argue with taking Rossi here. Last time they had the chance to pick a hometown boy, it was Cody Ceci. Even with centers like Logan Brown, Josh Norris, and Filip Chlapik on the brink of making the team, you can never have enough high-end pivots but none of the aforementioned have the vision and playmaking abilities that Rossi has. Lafreniere will need someone of equal intelligence and skill to be feeding him the puck too. 

8. Buffalo Sabres – Alexander Holtz (LW) – Djurgardens, SHL

Like LA, Buffalo has a lot of love for the Swedes and is looking to fill the last hole (or two) in their forward core of the future. Holtz would apply to both categories and, as arguably this draft’s best sniper, could bolster Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt, and Dylan Cozens’ points when they hit a scoring slump.

BLH’s Pick: I reckon center Anton Lundell would be a good pick for the Sabres here. In my opinion, he’s going to be a great two-way forward when he achieves his potential and Buffalo will need someone reliable on the 2nd line. On the other hand, it wouldn’t shock me if they traded this pick for immediate help given the disaster they’ve got on their hands right now.

9. Minnesota Wild – Dylan Holloway (C/LW) – Univ. Wisconsin, NCAA

I don’t need to elaborate much further… This just sounds right, doesn’t it?!

BLH’s Pick: Charlie Coyle much, Keith? I’m not sure Holloway goes this early. That said, they like their College boys there. I see them taking Cole Perfetti here though. They’ve already had plenty of looks at him since he’s a teammate of Wild prospect Damien Giroux, so it’ll be a comfortable pick for them. Perfetti will give them a player who’s positionally flexible and can contribute with the shot or the pass. A very smart player here who could help transform this team. 

10. New York Rangers – Noel Gunler (RW) – Lulea, SHL

Every year, you’ll hear/see the word “polarizing” appear next to various prospects’ names and such is the case for Gunler. Still, this offensively gifted Winger has some grit and bite in his game, a solid combination of skills that should make him a favorite amongst the blue shirt faithful. 

BLH’s Pick: Here’s a team that seems tailor-made for forward Dylan Holloway. He’s not as strong and powerful as Chris Kreider right now, but he could get there. I really feel like he could give New York a twin threat with him and Kakko. Now, if Kreider decides to re-sign with the Rangers, he’ll be a perfect mentor for Holloway. 

11. Chicago Blackhawks – Anton Lundell (C) – HIFK, SM-Liiga

Having fallen much further than he should have, the Blackhawks select Lundell in what could be the steal of this draft. The solid, two-way, Centerman’s upside is as high as he wants it to be. With both Lundell and Kirby Dach as their future anchors down the middle, Chicago’s future looks very, VERY, bright.

BLH’s Pick: With Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner offering more question marks than exclamation marks, I think they’ll should take uber-goalie Yaroslav Askarov here and solidify their netminding future. If he can be as good as that guy over in Tampa, the Hawks could return to domination sooner than later. 

12. Winnipeg Jets – Jan Mysak (C/LW) – Hamilton, OHL

The Winnipeg Jets seem to be a cultural melting pot and their winning ways are reflected in their decisions to draft the best player available, in each draft class. Mysak (arguably) is the best player on the board and will be a solid gear to put into the machine once it’s in need of repairs. 

BLH’s Pick: Connor Zary, one of the WHL’s top-scoring centers, would be a dazzling pick for the Jets here. Winnipeg have a nice future set for them down the middle with Scheifele, Roslovic, and Gustafsson, but I think that Zary has a higher offensive ceiling than the latter two gentlemen and he’ll be an NHL player sooner than later.  

13. Nashville Predators – Zion Nybeck (RW) – HV71, SHL

The Predators have established themselves as one of the NHL’s high-powered offenses and Nybeck fits the mold of their play. He can distribute the puck as well as he can bury it – the kind of offensive flexibility that will serve Nashville, well. A country-singer might even write a song about him…

BLH’s Pick: The Predators are finally heading into a rebuild after years of being one of the leagues best teams thanks to its spectacular goaltending and unbelievable defense. Pekka Rinne has slowed down and its defense isn’t what it used to be. For that reason, I see them taking USNTDP blueliner Jake Sanderson. His skating and ability to defend and recover is amongst the best in this draft class. 

14. Carolina Hurricanes (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Roni Hirvonen (C) – Assat, SM-Liiga

If there’s one team in the NHL that the country of Finland roots for, it’s undisputedly the Carolina Hurricanes. They continue to add another highly-skilled Finnish-born prospect to their pool – a legit playmaker with top-6 potential. 

BLH’s Pick: As if Carolina needs another draft pick… LOL! I don’t share Keith’s sentiment that they’ll take another Finn though. Knowing how much they rely on analytics, I think it’s winger Noel Gunler for the Canes here. Fact is, this guy scores at will against his peers and when he’s ready to do so in North America, he’ll provide the Hurricanes with some sublime secondary scoring to complement that of Andrei Svechnikov’s. 

15. Philadelphia Flyers – Cole Perfetti (C/LW) – Saginaw, OHL

Like last year, a sniper named “Cole” falls to the 15th-overall slot for reasons that should leave you scratching your head. While the Flyers have been known as the “Broad Street Bullies” and a bunch of rabble-rousers, Perfetti’s scoring touch could be the catalyst for a change on identity, in Philly. 

BLH’s Pick: To me, the Flyers should be looking at defender Jeremie Poirier. His skating and edgework is amazing to watch and the way he moves the puck reminds me a bit of Kris Letang. Shit, if there’s a team who’s seen a lot of that guy over the years, it’s Philly. At some point, they’re going to move on from Shane Gostisbehere and one of Morin, Hagg, and Myers is going to be a miss too. If they’ve got Cam York and Poirier ready to go, they’ll be sorted. 

That’s it for me this week, Heroes. Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @BeerLeagueHeroe/@keithfries and don’t forget to tip your waitresses. Until next time… Cheers! 

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2020 NHL Draft Rankings: BLH October Top-20 w/@Keithfries and @TPEHockey

Welcome back! This post is going to cover our latest draft rankings as well as a Q&A with Keith Fries (Dobber’s Prospects) and Max from TPE Hockey where we cover such topics as who are the best skaters in the draft, who should the Edmonton Oilers draft if they had to today, and much more!

# Beer League Hero Keith Fries TPE Hockey
1 Quinton Byfield (C) Alexis Lafreniere (LW) Alexis Lafreniere (LW)
2 Alexis Lafreniere (LW) Anton Lundell (C) Quinton Byfield (C)
3 Yaroslav Askarov (G) Quinton Byfield (C) Lucas Raymond (W)
4 Anton Lundell (C) Lucas Raymond (W) Anton Lundell (C)
5 Jamie Drysdale (D) Yaroslav Askarov (G) Yaroslav Askarov (G)
6 Alexander Holtz (W) Noel Gunler (W) Alexander Holtz (W)
7 Lucas Raymond (W) Jamie Drysdale (D) Noel Gunler (W)
8 Tim Stutzle (W)  Tim Stutzle (LW) Tim Stutzle (LW)
9 Marco Rossi (C) Alexander Holtz (W) Jamie Drysdale (D)
10 Cole Perfetti (C/W) Cole Perfetti (C/W) Cole Perfetti (C/W)
11 Dylan Holloway (C) Marco Rossi (C) Marco Rossi (C)
12 Noel Gunler (W) Dylan Holloway (C) Dylan Holloway (C)
13 Connor Zary (C) Justin Barron (D) Jan Mysak (LW)
14 Jaromir Pytlik (C) Alexander Nikishin (D) Antonio Stranges (C/W)
15 Kasper Simontaival (C) Kasper Simontaival (C) Hendrix Lapierre (C)
16 Antonio Stranges (C/W) Antonio Stranges (C/W) Kasper Simontaival (C)
17 Justin Barron (D) Jaromir Pytlik (C) Connor Zary (C)
18 Dawson Mercer (RW) Jeremie Poirer (D) Zion Nybeck (RW)
19 Alexander Pashin (RW) Justin Sourdif (D) Rodion Amirov (LW)
20 Zion Nybeck (RW) Zion Nybeck (RW) Jeremie Poirer (D)

BLH: There are three international tournaments coming up. Can you give the readers a few names from each that we should have on our radar for the upcoming drafts?

Fries: The big tournament fans will likely be watching is the World U17 Hockey Challenge featuring mostly 2021 and a handful of 2022 draft-eligible prospects. Analysts are projecting a solid outing from Team U.S.A. whose USNTDP-U17 roster will be on display. But, Canada has more than a handful of top-tier 2021 prospects playing, as well. Logan Stankoven has seen his name circulating, recently, and a nice showing at this tournament could cement him as a first-round projected talent. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing Sean Tschigerl, a solid two-way forward who has the leadership qualities of a captain, and Russian forward Prokhor Poltapov. 2022 top-ranked prospects Matthew Savoie and Shane Wright will also be playing in this tournament, likely challenging one another on the stat sheet every step of the way.

As for the other tournaments, Finland’s U20 team looks really fun, with a great mix of talent already drafted, like Patrik Puistola, Anttoni Honka, and Mikko Kokkonen in addition to some top up-and-coming prospects, Anton Lundell and Aatu Raty – both of which who could be the first Finnish-born players selected in their respective draft classes.

Max: A lot of the top prospects for this year’s draft are at the U20s. Anton Lundell, Alex Holtz, and Lucas Raymond will all ever there. 2021 projected #1 pick Aatu Räty will also be there.

The U18s are a little sparse with much of the top talent off with the U20 squads but I’d have an eye on Zion Nybeck, a top 2020 prospect who’s torn up the U20 league in Sweden. Another Swede to have an eye on is goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. For Finland, Kasper Simontaival is a criminally underrated 2020 prospect. Should go top 15.

At the WHC-U17s the guys to watch are the 2022 top 3 of Matthew Savoie, Brad Lambert, and Shane Wright. Other top players are Dylan Guenther, Brandt Clarke, and Samu Tuomaala.

BLH: I feel like the Oilers need more speed in their prospect cupboard. Who are the top-5 best skaters available in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft?

Fries: I had a chance to catch the Bakersfield Condors, a few weeks ago, and their top skaters like Ryan McLeod and Kailer Yamamoto definitely stood out from the pack (in a good way, mind you). They were flying around and pushing the pace of play while others floated around. It definitely could be a problem in the long-term and is certainly one in the short. But, these are who I would suggest keeping an eye on:

– Lucas Raymond
– Tim Stutzle
– Justin Sourdif
– Antonio Stranges
– Jamie Drysdale

Max: 1. Antonio Stranges 2. Juuso Mäenpää 3. Lucas Raymond 4. Jamie Drysdale 5. Zion Nybeck

BLH: We’re more than one month into the season. Who has been your biggest surprise amongst the draft prospects?

Fries: I think Tim Stutzle has become a real household name and a legitimate top-10 pick. I’m very biased in-favor of German-born prospects and would likely support Stutzle whether he was good or garbage, but I’ve always been a fan of his skating and hockey IQ and I’m happy to see more-and-more people talking about him. He’s a true first-round talent, it’s just where he’s selected in the first-round that’s up in the air. But at this point, it’s in the high single digits.

Max: No one has really shocked me so far, but Tim Stützle rose quite a bit for me. It was clear his tools were always there, but this season he’s blown away a lot of expectations. He went from dominating a very weak junior league in Germany (at about the level of the OJHL) to dominating the German professional league. Nobody expected a transition as smooth as his was.

BLH: Piggybacking on the previous question, who has been your biggest disappointment so far?

Fries: Jan Bednar hasn’t had a stellar beginning to the season, but not all hope is lost. He started the season as my #2-ranked goaltender (behind Yaroslav Askarov) and at this point is still holding onto that title – just not so tightly. Keep in mind that he plays in the adult Czech pro-league so he’s being challenged by real challengers, but a 3.84 GAA and a .893 SV% is nothing to write home about.

Max: I was never super high on Justin Barron, but even then he fell off quite a bit for me. My concern last season was that his point totals were inflated by a very good Halifax team, and that his decision making and playmaking abilities weren’t up to snuff. He was flashy and skated fast, got a lot done off the rush, but you can’t play on just that. This season that’s really showed as he’s on a weaker pace than last season.

BLH: Given where the Oilers are sitting in the standings and how different that is from most preseason projections, who would you advise Ken Holland to select if the draft were held tomorrow?

Fries: You always want to select the best player available. You’re right that skating may be a want, but it may not be a need. Honestly, if the Oilers were picking anywhere in that 9-15 range and he’s still on the board, I’m taking Yaroslav Askarov all day! The Oilers have a solid pipeline of goaltenders which means they’re always valuable trade assets. And, for those arguing otherwise, yes, I do believe Askarov would be the best player available in this scenario.

Max: I’d bet Zion Nybeck could fall into their laps based on NHL teams continuous trend of passing on short players that are clearly really good. Been the best player in the SuperElit all season, and a kid that deserves to be in the SHL right now.

How do you feel about our rankings? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks to Max and Keith for their participation in this month’s draft prospects Q&A. You can catch them on Twitter @keithfries and @TPEHockey. Keith has signed on with Dobber Prospects to cover the Florida Panthers and Max is working with The Prospect Network! Both sites are must-visits for your hockey prospect information.

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Keith Fries, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects, TPE Hockey

2020 NHL Entry Draft: BLH September Top-20 Rankings

Apologies for the tardiness on the rankings! I started at a new school and the time has been limited. Add to that the NHL and AHL season starting and things are busy around the BLH household!

One thing you’ll notice is that it’s only a top-20 and the reason I decided to go that route this month is that I think the top-10 are pretty set and selfishly as an Edmonton Oilers fan, I’d like to focus on some of the players that might fall out of that range and give those who are also fans of the team a broad idea of who the Oilers might be drafting next summer!

As always, I tapped into the headbones of my favorite draft gurus, Keith Fries and Max from TPE Hockey. Both of who, I’m proud to say, are playing their crafts at some much larger online institutions than this one. Keith has signed on with Dobber Prospects to cover the Florida Panthers and Max is working with The Prospect Network! Congrats to both of them!

But without delaying this any longer, here are our September rankings for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft!

# Beer League Hero Keith Fries TPE Hockey
1 Quinton Byfield (C) Alexis Lafreniere (LW) Alexis Lafreniere (LW)
2 Alexis Lafreniere (LW) Anton Lundell (C) Quinton Byfield (C)
3 Yaroslav Askarov (G) Quinton Byfield (C) Lucas Raymond (W)
4 Anton Lundell (C) Lucas Raymond (W) Anton Lundell (C)
5 Alexander Holtz (W) Noel Gunler (W) Yaroslav Askarov (G)
6 Lucas Raymond (W) Yaroslav Askarov (G) Noel Gunler (W)
7 Jamie Drysdale (D) Tim Stutzle (LW) Alexander Holtz (W)
8 Cole Perfetti (C/W) Alexander Holtz (W) Tim Stutzle (LW)
9 Tim Stutzle (W) Cole Perfetti (C/W) Jamie Drysdale (D)
10 Hendrix Lapierre (C) Marco Rossi (C) Cole Perfetti (C/W)
11 Dylan Holloway (C) Justin Barron (D) Marco Rossi (C)
12 Marco Rossi (C) Jamie Drysdale (D) Dylan Holloway (C)
13 Justin Barron (D) Jaromir Pytlik (C) Antonio Stranges (C/W)
14 Alexander Pashin (RW) Alexander Nikishin (D) Hendrix Lapierre (C)
15 Kasper Simontaival (C) Kasper Simontaival (C) Jan Mysak (LW)
16 Antonio Stranges (C/W) Jeremie Poirer (D) Kasper Simontaival (C)
17 Braden Schneider (D) Hendrix Lapierre (C) Justin Barron (D)
18 Jan Mysak (C/W) Antonio Stranges (C/W) Connor Zary (C)
19 Connor Zary (C) Justin Sourdif (D) Zion Nybeck (RW)
20 Zion Nybeck (RW) Theo Rochette (D) Michael Benning (D)

My feeling, as a fan of the Oilers, is that they’ll be looking to add a forward in the first round given the ridiculous amount of talent they have coming on defense. I’m hoping that they’ll be drafting somewhere between 14th and 31st overall and with that, they take a goal-scoring forward. Of course, it’ll depend on where they land but in that role I like Alexander Pashin, Connor Zary, Will Cuylle, Noel Gunler, or Jacob Perreault. Gunler probably being the best of that group but he comes with some baggage and there’s no guarantee he slips…

A few names that you won’t find in more mainstream rankings include Alexander Nikishin, a big Russian defender who can skate very well but might have some work to do with his passing and decision making. The micro-profile below and the highlight will shed some light on the player a bit better.

Antonio Stranges out of London is another player that I think the big draft gurus might be a bit scared of ranking too high because he’s so much flash and dash. He reminds me of Mathew Barzal a bit. Not sure if he’s THAT good, but his hands, skating, and edgework are elite.

Lastly, Michael Benning (Matt’s brother), is lighting up the AJHL right now with another 2020 draft-eligible, Carter Savoie. He’s a smaller defender but his vision and passing are exemplary. Safe to say he’s polar opposite to Matt in terms of skill and playing style. Check out this brief report on him from Daniel Gee and the following video.

What do you think of our top-20s? Considering where your favorite team might end up drafting, who would you like to see them draft? Let us know in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

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Keith Fries, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

2020 NHL Draft Prospects: Five MUST Watch Players from the QMJHL from @keithfries

Alexis Lafreniere – Left Wing – 6’1” – 192 lbs. – Rimouski Oceanic

We know Alexis Lafreniere (at this point) is likely to go first overall in the draft, next June. But, little reasoning has been given as to why. It’s almost as if people see the name “Alexis Lafreniere” and just default to moving him into that discussion without really doing their homework. So, I’m gonna try my damnedest to explain why he’s so good.

First off, let’s look at his production since entering juniors. During the 2017-18 season (his rookie campaign), Lafreniere tallied 80 points (42Gs|38As) in 60 games played. Then last season, he had 105 points (37Gs|68As) in 61 games played. Based on those numbers, he’s projected to total 130 points in 62 games played, this year.

Most prospects are more than thrilled to push 100 points during their draft year, but Lafreniere’s game is ahead of the curve.

A mid-October birthday held Lafreniere back from being selected this past June, where he would’ve rivaled Jack Hughes for the first-overall selection and/or boxed out Kaapo Kakko for #2. Due to his late-birthday, Lafreniere was selected with the first pick in the 2017 QMJHL Draft, while the majority of his NHL draft class wouldn’t be selected until the following year.

The steady hand that is Lafreniere is the kind of quarterback you want in your line-up. Can play any line, contribute on any line, and lead any line he plays on. He’ll be a fixture of power plays and penalty kills, alike. And although he’s a winger, Lafreniere’s mental makeup would rival that of some of the NHL’s best centermen. He’s got a natural approach to the game that almost seems effortless.

It’s going to take a Herculean effort to bump him out of the #1 spot.

Hendrix Lapierre – Center – 5’11” – 172 lbs. – Chicoutimi Sagueneens

Hendrix Lapierre, like Lafreniere, was selected with the #1-overall pick in the (2018) QMJHL Draft. Thusly, he became an immediate target for praise and scrutiny, alike. In his rookie season (this past year), Lapierre recorded nearly 1 PPG in 48 appearances, displaying the high level of skill that propped up his stellar numbers in the QMAAA.

But, there’s a clear distinction between both #1 picks – namely, that Lafreniere’s game is incredibly well-rounded and NHL ready whereas Lapierre is a magician with the puck who needs development in other areas.

With Lafreniere’s absence from this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Lapierre took full advantage of the opportunity to bolster his draft stock, finishing with over 2 PPG in 5 games played.

Speaking of wiggling… Lapierre is most successful when fighting his way into the crease or gaining positioning below the dots. Even with a sub-six-foot listing, Lapierre does an excellent job battling in the physical areas, especially while in the offensive zone.

He’s got some flash and dash in his game, yes, but Lapierre knows not every goal is pretty and does a nice job playing whack-a-mole to clean up loose rebounds.

His skating speed could stand to improve, a bit. Lapierre gets to the right places and anticipates the play getting there, but looks slow of foot when heading out on a breakaway or trying to rush the puck out of his own zone.

In a stacked class like 2020, it’s going to be very hard for Lapierre to crack the top-10 and damn near impossible to crack the top-3. Realistically, a lottery selection may be Lapierre’s highest ceiling, so let’s pencil him in in the 12-25 range. That’s not a knock on him, more as it is a reflection of just how deep this year’s draft class is.

Justin Barron – Defense – 6’2” – 187 lbs. – Halifax Mooseheads

If you had asked scouts, even as early as 3 months ago, who would be their top-Canadian defenseman in this class, you would’ve likely heard Justin Barron’s name come up more than once.

From a classification standpoint, there’s no denying that Barron’s an offensive defenseman. His greatest strength is putting the puck on net, even while heavily manning the blue line. He peppers the opposition with shot-after-shot-after-shot, whether he’s intentionally looking to score or create rebounds for his linemates to bury.

With excellent heads up play, Barron can quickly identify his shooting target and unload a heavy, accurate, wrist shot. He also does an exceptional job or quickly recognizing where his linemates are, and can make a seamless, tape-to-tape, no-look, pass for a primary assist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34c67DO73_M

In today’s NHL we like to compartmentalize “offensive defensemen” into anything Erik Karlsson-esque. But, Barron isn’t the same puck rushing offensive defenseman that Karlsson is; and Karlsson isn’t the same shooter that Barron is.

However, both are phenomenal skaters and Barron shows both speed and agility in his stride. Additionally, his crossover technique is outstanding and displays his dancer-like feet whether he’s skating forwards or backwards.

At 6’2”, Barron could stand to play to his size, a bit more. There’s an unspoken race happening between himself and Jamie Drysdale, with many analysts leaning toward the latter for defensive stability – and Drysdale is 5’11”. If Barron starts putting the body on and checking guys or playing more along the boards battling in scrums, his draft stock could be through the roof by the time we get to next June.

Jeremie Poirier – Defense – 6’0” – 192 lbs. – Saint John Sea Dogs

Another defenseman nipping at Barron’s heels is Jeremie Poirier. I was first told about Poirier, last season, by my good friend, Andy Lehoux, an amateur scout based in Quebec City. On a personal note, there is no scout I trust more than Andy, as his recommendations are essentially guarantees.

My viewings of Poirier have been limited but from what I’ve seen I’ve been impressed; particularly with his stickhandling and overall control with the puck. He can easily deke the opposition out of their skates and shows excellent skill with his toe drags. When being chased or shadowed by a defender, Poirier is hard to strip the puck from due to his strength and security.

Poirier has a variety of speeds he likes to play at. He can slow the game down or speed it up, and quickly adapts to all rates of play. His skating is such that he can blow past the opposition or, as I alluded to with the dekes, casually dance around them. He’s finesse without the showmanship.

I would categorize Poirier as a two-way defender – reliable in his own end with a really intriguing offensive skill set. He’s not overly flashy but his dekes and shifty skating do make your eyes pop.

According to Lehoux, Poirier’s biggest knock is his top-end speed. It’s not non-existent, it just lacks consistency. But, not everyone is Connor McDavid and nor should they be. When you’ve got slick mitts like Poirier, sometimes playing TOO fast can be a detriment and lead to costly turnovers.

Yet, Poirier’s high hockey I.Q. and confidence settles any doubts. Poirier’s ceiling is, at least, a top-4 defender and whichever team pulls the trigger on drafting him will ultimately be the benefactor.

Mavrik Bourque – Center – 5’10” – 165 lbs. – Shawinigan Cataractes

Finally, there’s Mavrik Bourque – or as I’m calling him, “Mr. One-Timer.”

Bourque is a solid two-way forward who I would categorize as: a playmaker with a little extra. A Swiss Army knife, if you will. And that all-situations style of play is exactly what his junior club is in desperate need of.

We saw a similar situation in last year’s class with Peyton Krebs and the Kootenay/Winnipeg Ice. And all-positions type player who was tasked with more responsibilities than the average 17-year-old prospect. Bourque could be facing that same challenge and that’s important to keep in mind when evaluating him amongst the rest of the 2020 class.

In that same vein, however, when given a chance to shine at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup alongside his top-Canadian piers, Bourque was a ghost on the stat sheet, finishing with just 1 assist in 5 games played.

That’s a bit surprising when you think about his elite scoring touch. Bourque can absolutely bury the biscuit and his one-timer is his best and most effective weapon. While he plays down center, the right shot Bourque, in my opinion, is most successful on the left wing where the ice opens up for a larger target range. His release is quick and highly accurate and he can go far side with ease.

At this point, I have Bourque ranked in the 25-40 range. He’s got the makeup of a first round prospect. But, even in the worst-case scenario that he falls out of the top-31, Bourque would be a hot commodity on day 2.

Anyway, that’s it for me this week, Heroes. Cheers! Follow me on Twitter @keithfries!

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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL

Edmonton Oilers: Should Oilers Fans Even Bother With the 2019/20 Season?

Most years I’m chomping at the bit for the Oilers season to get going but for some reason, I’ve got very little to be excited about this year. That’s kinda weird, right? Given Edmonton has the best duo in the world in McDavid and Draisaitl as well as the acquisition of James Neal, you’d think there’d be more reason to be jacked up. But I’m not. In fact, I’m thinking about just being a casual follower this year and perhaps focusing my efforts on Bakersfield and the draft (the first round is so f*cking good this year).

To compound the dark cloud hovering over me, I’ve got a strange feeling that McDavid’s knee was a lot worse than previously thought or it’s not healing as fast as the doctors had previously anticipated it would. I’m going to go as far as saying that I think he won’t lead his own team in scoring let alone the NHL. I think that honor will go to Leon Draisaitl.

The impression I’m getting from my sources, what Ken Holland has been preaching and with his actions over the last couple of months, is that this is a transition year. Just look at how he’s been signing players this summer, mostly to one or two-year deals. He’s doing his best to improve the penalty kill and the Oilers’ bottom-six on the short term with one move that has a chance at improving the top-6.

Looking at the roster as it currently stands, does it really have your heart racing?

Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Nygard-RNH-Neal
Granlund–Haas–Archibald
Khaira-Gagner-Chiasson
Cave, Jurco

I suppose there’s a little bit of intrigue when it comes to Nygard and Haas… But nothing to get hard over. I don’t think Brodziak makes it this year. It might make more sense to send him to Ference Island or to Bakersfield. No kids from the Condors either. One more year of marination and domination in the AHL.

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Benning
Russell-Persson
Lagesson

I’m still adamant that Jones/Bear will be running the show in Bakersfield and I think that’s the right thing to do. There’s no sense in having them up in Edmonton sitting in the press box when they could be getting 20-22 minutes a night for the Condors.

Koskinen
Smith

How will Mike Smith’s puckhandling ability impact the opposition’s zone entries and his team’s exits?

Isn’t it obvious, he’s going to go for broke in the summer of 2020 when the UFA class could be staggering.

  • Taylor Hall
  • Alex Pietrangelo
  • Niklas Backstrom
  • Braden Holtby
  • Mikael Granlund
  • Tyson Barrie
  • Justin Schultz
  • Torey Krug
  • Mike Hoffman
  • Jared Spurgeon
  • Brayden Schenn
  • Robin Lehner
  • Alex Galchenyuk
  • Chris Kreider
  • Tyler Toffoli
  • Evgeni Dadonov

There are a shite ton more but these are the cream of the crop.

Ken Holland, with enough cap room, could add a proper difference-making player to each forward line, defensive pair, and in the net, if he so chooses to and in a single off-season no less. The Oilers would be contenders not just for the playoffs, but the Stanley Cup!

Look at the projected roster for 2020-21

Draisaitl-McDavid-Neal
XXX-RNH-XXX
XXX-XXX-XXX
XXX-Khaira-Chiasson
XXX-XXX

Klefbom-Larsson
Russell-Bouchard
Samorukov-XXX
XXX

Koskinen
XXX

Now, by then, the likes of Marody, Yamamoto, Benson, McLeod, Maksimov, Safin, or Gambardella might be off the farm and playing for the Oilers, but I have to say only Benson and maybe Yamamoto have a real shot. If Marody’s skating has improved immensely by then, he could be an addition, but I don’t get the feeling that’s something he’s concerned about. As for Gambardella, his skating also concerns me and he’s aging out, to be honest.

One wildcard addition to the team in 2020 could be that of Jesse Puljujarvi. If the team doesn’t trade him and he has an excellent season, surely it’d be incumbent on both parties to re-visit a conversation themed around Pulju coming back to Edmonton. He’d be 22 years old and on a cheap contract, possibly only one or two years long too.

So what would that forward group look like if we threw in some free agents and prospects?

Draisaitl-McDavid-Neal
Hall-RNH-Puljujarvi
Benson–Pageau–Karlsson
Watson-Khaira-Chiasson
Carr–Yamamoto

So how much do you think it would cost to sign Jesse Puljujarvi, Taylor Hall, JG Pageau, Melker Karlsson, Austin Watson, and Daniel Carr? $18M-$20M? I’ve got Hall taking under $10M, Pageau asking for over $4M but under $5M, Puljujarvi taking $1M-$2M, Karlsson around $2M-$2.5M, and Watson/Carr

If the cap stays the same, the Oilers might have around $25M to play with, that’s not too bad. It won’t leave them with a lot to help the defense though. As usual, I’m most likely blue-skying this… #Wishin’

The defense in 2020 is an interesting conundrum. Darnell Nurse is coming along nicely and he’d be great on the 2nd pair as the clean-up man with a mobile right-shot defender who can move the puck. A player like Tyson Barrie or Jared Spurgeon would be ideal in my opinion. But this is predicated upon Doc signing a team-friendly contract and I don’t think that’s going to happen. Add to that the impression I’m getting from sources close to the team that Nurse could be trade bait if his ask is too high. He’s not going to have a lot of leverage with the crop of talented defenders coming out of Bakersfield and Sweden…

Bob Stauffer (Oilers PxP colorman) said not too long ago that the Oilers are going to have a “mechanism” to open up salary next summer. Is that a buyout in Kris Russell’s case? Not much savings in 2020/21 ($1M) but the next season they’re only paying 500k and that’s the year that the salary cap is expected to spike. I reckon just sending him to the minors would be a better move as it costs them only $2.5M to put him there as opposed to spending $3.5M over two years on a buyout. That or trade him…

However the Oilers choose to open up the cap space, there is going to be a push to have younger players overperforming on their ELC contracts but they do have to be careful of who they play and how much they play him as the expansion draft for the new Seattle franchise will be in the summer or 2021. They could play their cards right and give someone 35 games in each season and then leave him exposed. Say William Lagesson?

How does their defense look if updated in 2020? Maybe Nurse signs a friendly contract (that is easily traded down the road) but Russell is traded for picks.

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Spurgeon
Lagesson-Bouchard
Samorukov

I think William Lagesson would cost the Oilers less than what Matt Benning is being paid right now. So that would put the gritty Swede at around $1M-$1.5M. But Jared Spurgeon is a whole other bucket of balls. He’s going to be around $7M or $8M. So how do you fit that in with only $5M or less in space available?

You have to ask yourself if it came down to JG Pageau and Jared Spurgeon, who would you sign? The local lad or the guy that will anchor your 3rd line and PK for the foreseeable future? Or possibly forget about Pulju coming back, would you be comfortable filling the hole on right-wing internally with one of Kiril Maksimov of Kailer Yamamoto? Would Raphael Lavoie be ready by then?

As for the goalies, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Oilers found a way to move Koskinen on and have a completely different tandem in net for the season after this upcoming one. Maybe one of those is Shane Starrett? He’s definitely paid his dues.

Anyways, I think you get the point of that exercise. Holland is gearing up for a big swing but not this season. He’s going to watch a few pitches go by this season before digging in and hittin’ that dinger in 2020/21.

THE 2020 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

Another reason for the Oilers to just ice a sub-par team is the 2020 NHL entry draft. This might be one of the best drafts in NHL history. The battle for first overall today is looking like it belongs to Rimouski winger Alexis Lafreniere, but I’m here to tell you that it could go as deep as four or five players.

  • Quinton Byfield – C – (Sudbury) – The 6’5″ centre reminds me of Rick Nash with his size, skating, and soft hands. He’s also one of the youngest players in the draft…
  • Lucas Raymond – RW – (Frolunda) – If you’re a fan of Carolina’s Sebastian Aho, you’ll love this crafty winger!
  • Anton Lundell – C – (HIFK) – Being called the next Barkov. Highly intelligent two-way centre.

I’d add possibly the purest goal-scorer in the draft, Swedish winger Alexander Holtz (Djurgarden), and the next great Russian~ neh! NHL goalie Yaro Askarov (SKA) to that list of players who could challenge Lafreniere. It’ll all depend on the Oceanic winger’s season really. If he slips one bit, those players I mentioned above are poised to pounce.

Even if they didn’t wind up with a top-5 pick in the draft, there’s literally a great player at every position for them to select should they miss the playoffs.

  • Cole Perfetti – C – (Saginaw) – Will rival Holtz as purest goal-scoring forward available.
  • Dylan Holloway – LW – (Wisconsin) – As balanced-a-player as you’re going to get. AJHL MVP as a 17-year-old last year.
  • Noel Gunler – RW – (Lulea) – Talented sniper but comes with concerns re attitude.
  • Hendrix Lapierre – C – (Chicoutimi) – The silkiest of hands and one of the best playmakers in the draft. Elite vision.
  • Kaiden Guhle – D – (Prince George) – Hard-nosed defender that can skate and make a play.
  • Jamie Drysdale – D – (Erie) – A fantastic skater, maybe best skating defender in 2020. Very smart, poised, and confident with the puck.
  • Justin Barron – D – (Halifax) – Built in the Thomas Chabot/Shea Theodore molding. Might be better.
  • Rodion Amirov – LW – (Tolpar) – Another flashy Russian you don’t say? He scores in bunches too.
  • Tim Stutzle – C – (Adler) – Outstanding shooter. Quite dynamic.  Very fast with great edges.
  • Marco Rossi – C – (Ottawa) – Short, stocky, and very strong. Very effective down low. Great shooter. Excellent two-way game.
  • Kasper Simontaival – RW – (Tappara) -Quick, deadly release, high-octane offensive skill.

There is SO MUCH (small) skill available in 2020. You can’t tell me the Oilers couldn’t do with one more high-end pick… My feeling is that they need to focus their attention on the centres slated to go in the first round. They don’t really have any high-end pivots in the system, do they? I mean centres who are projected to be top-6 players.

So Oilers fans, what do you think? Is there much to watch for this year or should you hold off, like the Oilers are poised to, until 2020/21?

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