BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Evander Kane, Jack Hughes, Alexis Lafreniere, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a cancer in the Predators locker room, what the Oilers need to become legit contenders, what happens in Boston if the Bruins start slow, and much more!
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
630CHED: Georges Laraque was on Oilers Now recently and when asked if he thought any team in the NHL would take overpaid Nashville Predators centre Matt Duchene if he was put on waivers, he said no but added that Duchene has a reputation for being a “cancer in the room”.
The former NHL heavyweight also added that he would only pay Ryan Nugent-Hopkins $6Mx6yrs if he was GM of the Oilers citing that he doesn’t think the Oilers star could produce 60pts/yr on another team.
TSN/NHL.com/Twitter: Three budding superstar youngsters out of New York will not be heading to the 2021 World Juniors. Jack Hughes (NJ), Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko (NYR) will continue to prepare for the 2020-21 NHL season instead of being loaned to their respective u20 national teams.
Sportsnet: “‘I’ll do it’: Logan Paul agrees to bout with Sharks’ Evander Kane”
The Score: Former Buffalo Sabres sniper Tomas Vanek doesn’t believe the NHL is tough anymore.
“I don’t know if it was really dirty (in the past), that’s the way it was – if you go in front of the net, you’re taking a punishment,” Vanek said. “Now the game has changed. You’ve got a lot of smaller defensemen who are more mobile. They cross-check a little bit, but those guys are nonexistent really anymore.”
James O’Brien (NBC Sports): Wonders if things don’t start well for the Bruins this season, will they decide to punt on the year and deal some veterans like Tuuka Rask, Jaro Halak, or David Krejci since their contracts are expiring at year’s end.
Rory Boylen (Sportsnet): Ethan Bear is expected to re-sign with the Oilers but another move will have to accompany it.
Josh Wegman (The Score): Predicts where these remaining UFAs will land: Erik Haula (SJ), Mikael Granlund (FLA), Anthony Duclair (LA), Andreas Athanasiou (NSH), Travis Hamonic (WPG), Sami Vatanen (PHI).
Eric Duhatschek (The Athletic): Believes the Oilers are TWO GOOD pieces away from the Western Conference Final/Stanley Cup Final. A goaltender and a difference-maker on defence.
I’ll put it out there right now. I think that a Western Conference team is going to win the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes tonight and the reason for that is simple. Taylor Hall. Now, his team isn’t eligible to win the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery tonight because they actually won their play-in series vs. Nashville (as I predicted they would) but I’m thinking that just his presence in Edmonton could very well be enough to sway the odds to the West a bit…
The 28th place Oilers had an 11.5 per cent chance to win the Connor McDavid draft lottery in 2015.
All joking aside, I’m going to Laf if the Oilers win the right to pick first overall for the 5th time in ten years. I mean, you can’t get angry at them for winning it for the very reason that this is the NHL’s “well thought out” plan to begin with! I love the idea of Edmonton getting Alexis Lafreniere if nothing more than to create even more chaos and angst.
Another reason, aside from him being the perfect partner for Connor, I’d like to see it happen is that I envision the battle of Alberta being even more feisty with Lafreniere involved. This is a kid that doesn’t take any sh*t from anybody and you know that Matthew Tkachuk would have his sights on him from the get-go.
But I don’t want to talk about that today. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think that the Oilers will win the lottery tonight, so I’d like to focus on a few prospects that the scouting pundits are projecting to go at 14th overall where Edmonton will be selecting.
Let’s start with the professional scouts:
Bob McKenzie (TSN) – Kaiden Guhle
Craig Button (TSN) – Dylan Holloway
Corey Pronman (The Athletic) – Brendan Brisson
Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet) – Dawson Mercer
Scott Wheeler (The Athletic) – Jack Quinn
Future Considerations – Rodion Amirov
Hockey Prospect – Ridly Greig
McKeen’s – Kaiden Guhle
ISS – Kaiden Guhle
The Hockey News – William Wallinder
Elite Prospects – Brendan Brisson
Central Scouting – William Wallinder (EUR)/Ridly Greig (NA)
I find it very interesting that Darnell Nurse 2.0, Kaiden Guhle, pops up three times here and this year’s Philip Broberg, William Wallinder, comes up twice. I can’t see the Oilers going for another defenseman here as according to my sources, Edmonton will be looking to spruce up the skill of their wing prospects and all of the forwards mentioned above bring something to the table that Ken Holland could use in 2-4 seasons from now.
The following quotes I’ll be gathering from the draft guides produced by McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, The Hockey News, and The Draft Analyst.
“Among the top playmakers in the USHL, Brisson moves the puck around exceptionally well, and his ability to create movement between the dots is especially impressive.
Brisson also shows commendable commitment away from the puck. He backchecks hard and has been known to sneak in behind an opposing puck carrier to strip the puck from him and get the game going back the other way again”. – McKeen’s
“Brisson possesses an elite shot and it is one of the more respected weapons in his arsenal. He is very accurate with his slapper and isn’t afraid to use it.” – The Draft Analyst
“He anticipates the play extremely well, and knows how to identify his options rapidly as the result of his vision, in combination with his anticipation and processing ability. It’s on his stick and off his stick before he gets overwhelmed frequently. There’s a significant amount of deception and it’s rare for him to pass up on high-percentage options; both with his shooting and passing.” – Hockey Prospect
“Amirov is a skilled, two-way winger who plays a finesse style of game. What really jumps out is how shifty and slick he is. Rodion is very difficult to pin down or gain a read on.” – Hockey Prospect
“Shifty, aggressive and incredibly smart, Amirov impacts the game in all three zones with or without the puck. He can play either side of center, and his shot accuracy on his off wing is as accurate as it is on his strong side.
Two of the more noticeable aspects of Amirov’s game are his puck control and board play in all three zones. He is extremely elusive in tight spaces and will use multiple pivots or cut-backs with confidence to keep possession alive, specifically during the cycle.
mirov’s straight-line speed is very good, but it’s his anticipation coupled with the power of his stride that helps him create a sizable gap from back-pressure. He has an acute sense of identifying and evading oncoming opponents, and he’s not shy from stopping on a time and recalculating his next move.” – The Draft Analyst
“Quinn has the potential to drive his own line as a winger because he’s so good in the corners or along the boards, plus his escapability for an above-average skater is a tribute to his poise and the timing of his lateral cuts immediately after of zone entries.
Quinn is a tough competitor who is willing to fight for pucks and handle the disc in tight spaces. Defenders who try to contain or fix him into the corner run the risk of getting their ankles broken, but they also have to respect Quinn’s elite shot-release combination, to include his backhander.
You don’t score 52 goals in your first draft year without having some type of plus shot.
The intangibles are plentiful. Quinn will throw bodychecks, stick up for teammates after the whistle, battle hard for low-slot positioning against bigger defenders, and he is one of the league’s craftiest penalty killers in terms of looting pucks and creating scoring chances out of one-on-one scenarios” – The Draft Analyst
“He’s a highly skilled offensive guy who plays all 200 feet.” – The Hockey News
“Greig is a high-octane, two-way winger who can get under an opponent’s skin. He’s one of the younger players in the draft, and he plays with a ton of energy. The energy he consistently brings to the table is complimented by a fearlessness to attack in waves.
What’s even more impressive, is that there’s a maturity and a level of control featured in his game, that allows the grit and determination aspects of him to really thrive
He’s a gifted playmaker who can make high-end passes using a combination of creativity and deception.
One aspect of his shooting that makes him stand out, is that he’s gifted at shooting at top speeds and when using two-to-three step area quickness. He can also rapidly pull the puck and shift his shooting angle, yet also catch goalies off guard with how quick his release point can be.
Another impressive aspect of Greig is that he can attack in a multitude of ways using his aforementioned skills. If he’s moving east-west, he’s dangerous. If he’s moving north-south, he’s dangerous. If he’s stationary or in motion or if he’s attacking directly or making an indirect no look play, he’s dangerous.” – Hockey Prospect
Tell you what, I sure like the looks of Jack Quinn. He’s an older prospect if I’m not mistaken and he’s trending up sharply. He scores goals and he sounds like the kind of player coaches would love! Another guy out of this group of players I could see Edmonton grabbing is Ridly Greig. He’s be skyrocketing up the draft charts since the end of the season and seeing how the Oilers play-in series vs. Chicago just went, they might want to add some grit and determination to their pipeline.
And now the amateur scouts:
Steve Kournianos (The Draft Analyst) – Dylan Holloway
Larry Fisher (The Hockey Writers) – Jan Mysak
Sean Patrick Ryan (The Oiler Knight) – Yaroslav Askarov
Allan Mitchell (Lowetide) – Noel Gunler
Mark Seidel (NACSIB) – Dawson Mercer
Cam Robinson (Dobber’s Prospects) – Seth Jarvis
The players that this fantastic group of pundits is projecting are varied. We’ve even got a goalie in there! Let’s look at a few reports on these players.
“Mercer can play any kind of role on a team. He can play all three forward positions, and he is as good offensively as he is defensively. With his compete level, he’s the type of player you win hockey games with, as he plays like a winner and is very unselfish on the ice. Mercer projects as a top-6 forward at the NHL level. Even if his offense doesn’t translate, he could be a real good 3rd-line player down the road. He’s one of the safest players in this draft class.” – Hockey Prospect
“Mercer ticks off just about every box. He’s determined and hardworking, plays well at both ends of the ice and has complementary offensive skill. He can play up and down the lineup and adapt to almost any style of game.” – The Hockey News
“He could be the perfect complement to higher skilled play creators because of how intelligent he is and how hard he works.” – McKeen’s
“Dylan is a very good playmaker with excellent vision. He is an accurate passer who also can create chances off his backhand, and he plays with his head up at all times.
Skating definitely is a strong suit and his escapability near the boards while taking hard shoves makes his balance impressive.
Holloway is a hound off the puck who consistently applies pressure with physicality, especially on the penalty kill. He gets involved on the forecheck and creates turnovers thanks to smart reads, proper stick positioning and quick turns towards the direction of puck travel.
Blessed with ideal size and excellent balance, Holloway is a jack of all trades who can play either center or wing; serve as a playmaker or finish around the net; and most importantly, be matched up against opposing top players.” – The Draft Analyst
“Mysak is not an explosive skater, but once he gets his feet moving he’s capable of creating separation. He can beat defenders by going wide and has a danger- ous shot. Mysak is seen as more of a scorer than playmaker, but some scouts noted that his assist total would have been much higher if teammates had been able to capitalize on his passes.” – The Hockey News
“Mysak is a scoring winger with some line driving instincts, who uses a combination of skill and speed to generate points. He has a takeover approach that you can’t teach a player, and the speed necessary to take advantage of his mentality.” – Hockey Prospect
“The skills set starts off with unparalleled athleticism, above and beyond any other goalie in this year’s draft class, and even more impressive than Spencer Knight was last year. His post-to-post movement is explosive, and his skating ability also allows him to play aggressively, telescoping out of his crease to cut down angles from long range shots. His athleticism also shows itself when he is forced to scramble when the play gets too hairy near his crease.” – McKeen’s
“Askarov has superstar potential. Much like Knight last season, he has done more than enough to cement his standing as not only the top goaltending prospect in the draft, but one worthy of being a high first-round pick.” – The Draft Analyst
“Askarov’s movement for his age is the best we’ve ever seen for his size, and it’s due to how seamless he can transition between different technical-movements.” – Hockey Prospect
“Gunler is actually more natural as a finisher than as a creator. His wrist shot is his primary weapon. He can read goalies well, knowing when the best time is to fire and he doesn’t need to be in tight to pick his spot either, as he has the power to connect for long range.” – McKeen’s
“Gunler is a cerebral – sniper, who is one of the most gifted scorers featured in this draft. It is Noel’s offensive abilities that really makes him stand out as he is gifted with a superb offensive toolkit to create and score goals. Gunler’s wrist shot is elite, featuring fantastic mechanics.” – Hockey Prospect
I started out the year really loving Holloway’s game. What he did in the AJHL as a 16-year-old was mindblowing to me but then his year didn’t start that well despite playing on the same team as Alex Turcotte and Cole Caufield. So I turned my attention to Mysak. I thought he was outstanding at the World Junior’s and even better in the OHL. But now, I’m torn. Is this the time in Edmonton’s build to take the safe player or risk it on a potential generational goaltender? Mercer or Askarov? Yet, there’s a possible 30-goal-scorer in Noel Gunler sitting there too…
If it was my choice this is how I’d rank the players mentioned above,
Jack Quinn
Yaroslav Askarov
Noel Gunler
Ridly Greig
Dawson Mercer
Jan Mysak
Dylan Holloway
Rodion Amirov
Brendan Brisson
I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that I think the Oilers should consider trading down with teams like the Devils, who have picks 18 and 21 (I think), Montreal (16th), or Ottawa (22nd) in an attempt to recoup some early-round draft picks that they lost at the deadline. A lot of the players I showed you today will most likely still be around by the 16th to 22nd selection. I feel like it just makes a lot of sense and Ken Holland has a history of trading down.
What do you think? Do you have your eyes on any specific players for this upcoming draft? Have your targets changed since the Oilers have moved up? Let us know in the comments below!
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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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
Nikishin is a unique blend of raw power, skill, and skating ability, and despite some mental blemishes, is among the most entertaining players in the #2020NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/HpESqQggHK
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.
Antonio Stranges, continuing to prove why he’s the BEST Skater in the 2020 NHL Draft, absolutely INSANE.
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.
This is 2020 NHL Draft prospect Michael Benning, in the finals of the JCWC. Benning has the ability to run power plays from the point. His right handedness opens up shot options. His vision allows him hit teammates through bodies and sticks. Makes him a good PP QB.
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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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, 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.
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.
#44 Jérémy Poirier with two quick toe drags to get a shot to the net in today's game vs Moncton. The 2020 draft eligible defensemen is looking really good. pic.twitter.com/2rdm15Y9ft
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.
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.
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