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@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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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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Edmonton Oilers: BLH’s 2020 Top-Ten NHL Draft Prospects w/@TPEHockey + @KeithFries

Now that the dust from the 2019 NHL draft has settled and with the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup set to start this week, it’s time we started getting into the 2020 class, right?

Word has it that this draft might be as good or better than the 2015 class and the 2003 class. Just from doing a little bit of digging so far, there’s a group of about 8 players that are basically in everyone’s top-ten lists so far and the top-5 has more or less been set.

So without further adieu, let’s get into our lists!

Name BLH (@beerleagueheroe) Max (@TPEHockey) Keith (@keithfries)
1. Alexis Lafreniere – LW Alexis Lafreniere – LW Alexis Lafreniere – LW
2. Quinton Byfield – C Quinton Byfield – C Anton Lundell – C
3. Lucas Raymond – RW Lucas Raymond – RW Quinton Byfield – C
4. Alexander Holtz – RW/LW Anton Lundell – C Lucas Raymond – RW
5. Anton Lundell – C Noel Gunler – RW/LW Noel Gunler – RW/LW
6. Cole Perfetti – C Alexander Holtz – RW/LW Tim Stutzle – LW
7. Noel Gunler – RW/LW Yaroslav Askarov – G Alexander Holtz – RW/LW
8. Jamie Drysdale – D Cole Perfetti – C Marco Rossi – C
9. Justin Barron – D Marco Rossi – C Justin Barron – D
10. Dylan Holloway – C Jamie Drysdale – D Jaromir Pytlik – C

For shits and giggles, we thought it would be fun to take the latest Stanley Cup betting odds and apply that to a hypothetical scenario that would tell us where the Oilers would be drafting in 2020 and the site we used told us that they will be selecting 9th overall. So who would each of us select in that case?

Max’s Take at #9

With the Oiler’s hypothetical 9th pick in the 2020 draft, I would select goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

Edmonton’s need for a goalie is no secret with 37-year-old Mike Smith and 31-year-old Mikko Kokkonen expected to split the net next year, a top prospect is needed to fill the void. While Shane Starrett and Stuart Skinner are good goalies neither have NHL starter upside. Askarov, on the other hand, can be expected to be a franchise goaltender at around the level of Andrei Vasilevskiy. Although this isn’t a pick based solely on need. Askarov is around my number 5 or 6 ranked player for the 2020 draft. I wrote a full article breaking down his game so I won’t get into that here, but Askarov is certainly worthy of a top 10 pick. He showed last season he was every bit as good as Spencer Knight despite being a year younger. His style and statistics are impeccable, and every aspect of his game is top-notch.

Other good options at #9 could be centers Marco Rossi and Dylan Holloway, but if you want to look to the wing Jan Mysak is a very intriguing guy out of the Czech league.

Keith’s Take at #9

While Justin Barron is my 9th-overall selection – who would be a nice fit for Edmonton, so, I’m not discounting that as a viable option – I’m going to rely solely on my draft list and select Tim Stutzle.

Stutzle’s greatest strength is his skating, which, if you were to rank on a system out of 5, he’d be a 6. Or for you ‘Spinal Tap’ fans out there, his skating can turn up to 11. In one of my viewings, the opposition was closing in to finish a hard check on Stutzle, who quickly recognized the hit coming and did a figure skating 360-degree spin in the air, avoiding contact, and stuck the landing.

He can play at multiple speeds, and with solid heads up play and a high hockey IQ readily on display, it’s not hard for Stutzle to take over games and play at his desired pace.

I can’t see him hitting some rapid growth spurt, so he’ll need to start filling out the frame he has. Playing his draft year in the German pro-league (DEL) should help toughen him up and give him some kind of idea of the level of competition he might be facing in the AHL – where I’m projecting he’ll be for a year-or-so before making a splash on the main roster.

BLH’s Take at #9

Tell ya what. I really like Justin Barron at #9 because he’s such a smooth operator. I like what Draftgeek.com had to say about him,

Barron is a mobile, intelligent defenceman. He’s not extraordinarily flashy, but he transitions the puck and can create offence from his position. He can start a breakout, distribute the puck from the blueline, and run a powerplay, and there’s a lot of value in that that NHL teams will be looking to capitalize on.

But I’m not sure that he’s the guy I would take there. My feeling is that there’s a need to select a game-breaking forward in 2020 and since they skipped on Matthew Boldy this past year in favor of Philip Broberg, I’d like to see Holland call the name of Dylan Holloway.

He’s one of the fastest and most powerful players in the draft and he’s got the size to boot (6’1″ 192 and growing). Not only that, but he was the AJHL’s 2nd leading scorer as a 16-year-old… That’s nuts! He’s got the hockey IQ to go with the physical tools and I’ve heard his character isn’t of any question.

Now, I don’t know if he’s close to a Chris Kreider type or if he’s closer to a Dylan Larkin one, but either way, I believe the attributes that he brings to the ice are ones that would benefit the Oilers more so than the likes of a Marco Rossi or a Hendrix Lapierre.

I’ll say this though, it would be awfully hard to pass on Jamie Drysdale if he were around or if Anton Lundell or Noel Gunler dropped.

Who do you have your eyes on for the 2020 NHL draft? Let us know in the comments below!

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Edmonton Oilers: The Ten Best Free Agency Options + 2019 Draft Review from @TPEHockey and @KeithFries

Nothing new on the Jesse Puljujarvi front eh? I know during Mark Spector’s spot on Oilers Now yesterday that he didn’t think that the Finn would be dealt this week and thus speculated that this bit of drama would extend into the summer. Host Bob Stauffer disagreed.

But we did have a bit of news coming out of Switzerland! It’s being reported that the Oilers will be signing a gentleman by the name of Gaëtan Haas from SC Bern in the Swiss league. He’s a right-shot centre who can fly! According to Bob Stauffer, he’s also quite efficient on the faceoff dot and he projects to be the Oilers third line centre.

Here’s his brief scouting report from EliteProspects.com,

Gaetan Haas is an offensive center, who plays a reliable and smart two-way game. An excellent skater, who reaches very good top-speed and can make end-to-end rushes. Has soft hands and strong puck-skills. Haas sees the ice well and can play the point on the Power Play, distributing the puck using his excellent vision. He leads by example by competing hard for the puck, doing solid backchecking and not being afraid blocking shots, rounding out his solid defensive game. Haas can lead a team’s shutdown line. (by Rafik Soliman, November 2015)

Stauffer had spoken to some questions about Haas’ “compete” level, but if we’re going by the report above (it’s nearly four years old mind you), it sounds like his intensity level is fine.

Why don’t we watch a clip of the 27-year-old in action?

Not bad. He’s got some quickness to his game and can certainly shoot the puck well and from those highlights, he could be an option on the 2nd unit PP. I guess the one thing with these Euro signings that we have to ask is, how well will they do on the smaller ice surface and the more aggressive style of play?

Coinciding with how long Stauffer has been hinting at the Oilers signing someone out of Europe is this report from back in May saying that Haas had received an offer from one NHL club. Previously, the Calgary Flames were watching him.

Speaking of signing players, the Edmonton media is REALLY putting the push on for Brett Connolly eh?

If you take out Brett Connolly’s name and replace it with Milan Lucic, how thick is the irony?

Yes, this player did have 21 goals at even strength last year for a powerhouse Washington Capitals team. So would it be safe to say he was probably not getting the other team’s best defense trying to stop him? Let’s figure it out!

According to PuckIQ.com, Brett Connolly’s 2018./19 TOI broke down like this:

  • Gritensity (Bottom 6 TOI) – 256.9
  • Middle (Middle 6 TOI) – 429.7
  • Elite (Top Line TOI) – 305.6

I think it’s pretty accurate to report that he spent most of the time playing away from the opposition’s best players but did he perform the best in this role?

Opposition CF% Rel DFF% Rel 
Elite 6.30 6.20
Middle -0.40 -2.33
Grit -1.20 -2.83

CF% Rel – Shots on goal, missed shots on goal, and blocked shot attempts relative to teammates
DFF% Rel – “Dangerous” unblocked shots (shots determined to be the equivalent to a 29ft wrister) relative to teammates

So from the metrics above, we can see that Connolly actually did quite well when lined up vs the league’s best and got gradually worse as he was played vs average and below average opposition. That would be a plus for the Oilers, right? He would’ve been the best right winger on the team last season in this regard.

I’m not really sold on Connolly myself and I wonder how his numbers would react to playing in the West with the kind of travel the Oilers do? Would he be able to replicate his shooting percentage from last year? Adding to that, players that have come from the Eastern Conference to play for Edmonton haven’t always done well and then we have to consider the contract… The other thing that can’t be forgotten is the expansion draft is coming and will Connolly be looking for protection in the form of a Lucic-like contract, no-move clauses and all?

If the Oilers were to sign him, I would like to see him signed for the reported $3Mx3 but I cannot see him doing that at all. I don’t care if he is from Western Canada, he has to be looking at some of these deals being signed and laughing a $3M per year offer off the table.

My top-ten list of preferred free agent signings looks like this:

  • Joonas Donskoi (SJ) – RW – Perfect middle 6 fwd who can help on the PK.
  • Petr Mrazek (CAR) – G – Excellent back-up option and aged right.
  • Alex Chiasson (EDM) – RW – Loved his hustle and fearlessness last season. Bit slow though.
  • Brandon Tanev (WPG) – RW – Annoying waterbug Edmonton has been lacking forever.
  • Pat Maroon (STL) – LW – A better option than Lucic AND he’ll fight. Chirp game solid.
  • Ryan Hartman (DAL) – W – Solid bottom-6 30pt player. Good buy low option.
  • Derrick Brassard (COL) – C – Great middle-6 option down the middle. Might be out of EDM’s price range.
  • Daniel Carr (VGK) – LW – Brendan Gallagher-lite. Too good for the AHL.
  • Brandon Pirri (VGK) – W – Also too good for the AHL. Scores in bunches but disappears.
  • Mario Kempe (ARI) – W – High engine, smart down low. Not much of a point producer though.

What about you? Who’d you like to see the Oilers sign?

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2019 Oilers Draft Review from Max and Keith


Philip Broberg

Keith: If we’re dialing in on specifics, Broberg begins the conversation of “offensive defensemen.” While Bowen Byram put up ungodly numbers, this season, what separates Broberg from Byram is his skating and puck rushing abilities. Between the two, Byram can be flat-footed, at times, especially in his own zone. The same can’t be said of Broberg, who is an elite skater with top-end speed. Will quarterback the play both in 5-on-5 and power play situations, alike. And with an underrated shot and playmaking abilities, it’s enticing to think what Broberg could become when running with speedster like Connor McDavid or Ryan McLeod.

Max: With the 8th pick, the Edmonton Oilers took Philip Broberg. Broberg is a powerful two-way defenseman whose combination of size and speed got him taken at this spot. His straight-line speed is unmatched by any other defensemen in the class and his hands are impressive for a 6’3” d-man.

With that being said Broberg has glaring issues and is a confusing pick when you look at who’s available at this spot. Broberg struggled to replicate the successes he had against U18 competition at the U20 and pro levels. His puck rushing is one example of how his play has been shut down at older levels as he can’t overpower his opponents. The other issue is that Broberg lacks hockey IQ and quick decision making. He often makes confusing or ineffective decisions with and without the puck in the offensive zone.

Personally, Trevor Zegras is the can’t miss player at this spot with Caufield and Newhook also being better options.

Raphael Lavoie

Keith: Seen as a bubble first-round talent, I had Lavoie going early on day 2 and that’s how things panned out. His offensive gifts and size are very enticing, and it’d be hard to pass on those intangibles at this point in the draft. What I think scared off scouts from pulling the trigger in the first-round was Lavoie’s lack of a well-rounded game and maybe some mental focus issues, as well. I didn’t get a chance to watch many Halifax games, this season, and the few I did I wasn’t overly impressed by Lavoie. I see what he can become, but as of right now, he’s just that – a pet project that needs work. Really good piece of playdough to mold.

Max: At 38 Lavoie is a steal. His production in the QMJHL, especially in the playoffs, was staggering. Lavoie is a great puck possession player who, like Kakko, is a hard guy to take the puck away from. His solid skating foundation also allows him to be effective offensively along with his shot. The problem with Lavoie and the reason he fell is that he’s seen as a low ceiling player. Lavoie isn’t going to be a star in the NHL. His outlook is a 3rd liner and anything else is unlikely.

While I do like the Lavoie pick, if I was picking at this spot my pick would be Nils Höglander.

Ilya Konovalov

Keith: As I suggested in one of the final draft mailbag’s we conducted, here at BLH, there were three goaltenders that stood out to me, in this class, as a step above the rest: Spencer Knight, Dustin Wolf, and Ilya Konovalov. A double-overager, Konovalov performed incredibly well, this season, in the KHL, posting an unreal 1.89 GAA and .930 SV% in 45 games played. While the Oilers have both Olivier Rodrigue and Stuart Skinner in their pipeline, it may be the change of management and coaching that led to this decision – where Rodrigue and Skinner may be seen as picks under the old regime that may-or-may not pan out.

Max: With the 85th pick the Oilers made my favorite pick of their class. Konovalov has had a stellar season with Lokomotiv in the KHL last year. He put up a .930 Sv% as a 20-year-old on a very large workload. Konovalov put up similar numbers to that of Igor Shestyorkin and Ilya Sorokin when they were his age. His issue is that he’s only 6’0” tall, but other than that there are few issues in his game. If he pans out than Edmonton could have their starter.

For me I had Domenick Fensore ranked higher and he went at #90, but Konovalov is the right guy for Edmonton. He’s probably the perfect pick here.

Matej Blumel

Keith: Blumel was a shining light in the USHL, and made the most of his opportunities after returning to Waterloo as an overager. An effective two-way forward, with a very nice shot, Blumel was ranked by most scouting services, on average, right around 100, so this pick isn’t a reach it’s a reality. On the international stage, Blumel has been a contributing factor for the Czech Republic, and with a commitment to U. Conn, next season, will be paired up with fellow countrymen Jachym Kondelik and Tomas Vomacka – and I suspect, if he settles in comfortably, he could have a very good 2019-20 season.

Max: In the 4th round and on you’re pretty much just using lottery tickets. At pick 100 they spend one on an overager who was just over a point per game in the USHL. Blümel is a Czech national heading to UConn in the NCAA. They’re historically a very good program for European prospects. Blümel put himself on the map with a strong World Jr. A Challenge.

At 100 there aren’t a ton of great players left. Although Ethan Keppen falling this far was shocking. He was one of few bright spots on an awful Flint Firebirds team. @Scouching put together a great feature piece not long ago.

Tomas Mazura

Keith: The Oilers double-down on Czech-born prospects by taking Mazura at #162. He took a big step forward, statistically, from the 2017-18 season, finishing with 1.46 PPG in 37 games played. For my own projections, the USHS-Prep league is a great place to develop, but takes a hit when evaluating the level of competition when compared to the USHL and CHL. Committed to Providence College beginning in the 2020-21 season, it’ll be interesting to see where Mazura plays, next season. A nice fit might be the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. As for the player himself, the Oilers are getting a creative playmaker with really intriguing size.

Max: Mazura is a player I haven’t really heard anything about. He wasn’t a player that was supposed to be drafted but the Oilers take him at 162 anyway. He had a strong season at Kimball Union, a US prep school. He’s committed to play with Providence in the NCAA in 2020-21.

At this point in the draft, I have no clue how they pass up on Marshall Warren. Ranked in my early 2nd round he fell all the way to 166. This guy scored at a PPG in his time against NCAA competition with the NTDP.

Maxim Denezhkin

Keith: This could be a swing-and-a-miss or a homerun when all’s said and done. Really undersized forward that put up average numbers in the Russian junior league (MHL). So you might be thinking, why would the Oilers draft him? Well, when you’re 5’10” – closer to 5’9” – and you put up ANY points, it’s intriguing. His upside is more promising than his downside when you look at the little parts of his game like his willingness to attack down the middle of the ice and play with his heads up. This will take some time, and we might have a career AHLer, here, but if you can get the most out of him I think Denezhkin could be an effective bottom-6 role player.

Max: I’ve never heard of this guy so I’ll keep it quick. Played with Lokomotiv in the Russian jr. league. He had an ok season and got a shot in the KHL playing one game.

Here I’d take Dustin Wolf who’s one of my favorite players in this draft. Led the WHL in Sv% at 17 and won his conference’s goaltender of the year award. Wolf played almost every game for Everett and was dominant. The problem? He’s 5’11”.

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