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2020 NHL Draft: Final top 31 rankings

by Chad DeDominicis - 1

We’re just days away from the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. It looked like back in June the NHL was going to try to jam this in amid the pause during to COVID-19. Thankfully, teams fought the league’s desire to keep it in the summer.

Now, that the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, we can officially begin the offseason starting with the draft. I put together a top 40 list back in June when it looked like this was happening. A lot has changed since then, therefore, I’ve decided to put out a final top 31 ranking of the 2020 NHL Draft prospects. I’ll note where I had the players ranked back in June with the abbreviation for previous rank (PR) in the heading.

Let’s get to the fun.

1. Alexis Lafreniere – Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) | F | PR – 1

The French-Canadian forward remains at the top. He’s the unquestioned top pick in this draft class. The New York Rangers won the ridiculous NHL Draft Lottery and will have the pleasure of grabbing this exciting player. Back to back years now that the Rangers have been able to pick a dynamite winger in the top two of the draft.

2. Quinton Byfield – Sudbury Wolves (OHL) | F | PR – 2

There has been some chatter that Byfield may not be the pick at second overall, which is surprising to me. In my opinion, he’s the second-best player in this draft and it’s not even that close. A center with his combination of speed, size, and skill is hard to pass on at the top of the draft.

He’s my second-rated prospect, but he doesn’t fall any later than the third pick in this draft.

3. Marco Rossi – Ottawa 67’s (OHL) | F | PR – 4

Now, we start to get some movement in the rankings from what I had back in June. Rossi jumps up to third for me. I feel as though he can step right into the NHL and being one of the older players in this draft helps.

I always say Rossi as a winger, but Will Scouch opened my eyes to the possibility of him playing center during our conversation on Expected Buffalo | The Podcast. That solidified him at this spot.

4. Lucas Raymond – Frolunda (SHL) – F | PR – 5

Raymond has been one of my favorite prospects in this draft. His numbers last year in the SHL didn’t jump off the page, but you have to remember that he was playing limited minutes with Frolunda.

With how odd this year is, prospects are starting their D+1 season in Europe before they’re drafted. Raymond has been getting increased minutes and power play time in Sweden during the preseason, which has allowed him to showcase his dynamic ability.

5. Tim Stutzle – Adler Mannheim (DEL) | F | PR – 3

The German drops two spots from my rankings in June. It’s not that I’ve soured on Stutzle, it’s that I’ve jumped on the Raymond and Rossi hype train. Stutzle still has the ability to turn out to be a dynamic forward and it’s still possible he’s the third player selected.

6. Jamie Drysdale – Erie Otters (OHL) | RD | PR – 6

Drysdale remains my top defenseman in the draft, but Jake Sanderson closed the gap considerably from June. The Canadian-born defender is an elite two-way blueliner. It’ll be interesting to see where he comes off the board.

7. Anton Lundell – HIFK (Liiga) | F | PR – 7

Lundell is one of my favorites and sticks in the top 10. He’s another player, like Raymond, that may benefit from Liiga starting up before the draft. He’s wearing a letter at 19-years-old of HIFK and there are reports of his skating looking improved over last year.

He may be the best two-way forward at the top of this draft and can also step into the NHL soon.

8. Jake Sanderson – U18 US National Development Program | LD | PR – 16

My view has completely changed on Sanderson from back in June. I don’t think I fully appreciated his upside coming out of the US National Development program. Scouch put together a real nice breakdown on Sanderson that started to change my mind on him.

9. Alexander Holtz – Djurgarden (SHL) | F | PR – 8

I’m not as high as some others on the Swedish winger. There’s no denying that he has perhaps the best shot in the draft and he has tremendous upside. However, there are some other areas in his game that concern me such as his defensive game. I know he’s young and that can improve.

At the end of the day, I’m just not sure if he can be a play-driving winger like the others I’ve mentioned here in the top 10.

10. Cole Perfetti – Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | F | PR – 9

Perfetti is another player in the draft where people have wide-ranging opinions on the player. Some see him as a top-five pick and one of those teams may be the Detroit Red Wings. Others see him as a back-end of the top 10 player, which is where I fall.

11. Yaroslav Askarov – SKA (KHL) | G | PR – 12

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I can evaluate goalies against forwards. There’s no question he’s the top goalie in this draft, but where does he go will be interesting to see. The 19-year-old has a .974 save percentage in three starts this season for SKA in the KHL.

12. Seth Jarvis – Portland Winterhawks (WHL) | F | PR – 11

Jarvis is a darkhorse player that I could live with the Sabres selecting at eighth overall, depending on how the board falls. He’s also a player they can trade back for to pick if another prospect they like is gone in the top 10.

13. Jacob Perreault – Sarnia Sting (OHL) | F | PR – 14

I’m a big fan of Perreault. He’s not a complete player by any means, but I love his offensive upside. He has one of the best shots in this draft.

14. Jack Quinn – Ottawa 67’s (OHL) | F | PR – 13

When a player scores 52 goals in their draft year it catches your attention.

15. Rodion Amirov – Salavat Yulaev (KHL) | F | PR – 18

Amirov is moving up draft boards as the draft approaches. He’s off to a good start in the KHL with two goals four points in seven games.

16. Dawson Mercer – Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) | F | PR – 15

Mercer is the first Sagueneens forward that will likely be picked, but another one that could go in the first round may have a higher ceiling.

17. Jan Mysak – Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) | F | PR – 17

Mysak is a player that a lot of draft people like as a potential steal in the mid to late part of the first round this draft. Put up impressive numbers in the OHL when he came over to Hamilton on loan.

18. Noel Gunler – Lulea (SHL) | F | PR – 10

Gunler is a scoring winger that I think is underrated by some. He’s still not getting a ton of minutes for Lulea and I feel that is going to drop him down the board here, but someone could get a gem if he reaches his potential.

19. John-Jason Peterka – Munchen Red Bull (DEL) | F | PR – 29

JJP is one of three German-born forwards we could see go in the top 50 picks. If he somehow slips to the second round the Sabres should be all over him.

20. Connor Zary – Kamloops Blazers (WHL) | F | PR – 19

Zary put up some nice numbers in juniors and he may very well go in the 12-15 range in this draft.

From this point on I’ll just be listing the players without comments

21. Dylan Holloway – University of Wisconsin (NCAA) – F | PR – 20

22. Mavrik Bourque – Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) | F | PR – 21

23. Hendrix Lapierre – Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) | F | PR – 25

24. Helge Grans – Malmo (SHL) | RD | PR – 24

25 – Emil Andrae – HV71 (SHL) | LD | PR – 37

26. Tyson Foerster – Barrie Colts (OHL) | F | PR – 38

27. Roni Hirovnen – Assat (Liiga) | F | PR – 22

28. Braden Schneider – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | RD | PR – 26

29. Marat Khusnutdinov – SKA (MHL) | F | PR – NR

30. Jeremie Poirier – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) | LD | PR – 23

31. Zion Nybeck – HV71 (Superelit) | F | PR – 32

Photo Credit: Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images
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