So, uh, we still dont know which team will (almost certainly) select Alexis Lafreniere initially in general in the 2020 NHL Draft On the intense side, the zany draft lottery did figure out picks 2 through eight of the 2020 NHL Draft. With that in mind, lets consider which players will represent the top eight choices by way of PHTs mock draft.
Keep in mind: These rankings were assembled before the draft lottery game, so yes, this leans toward “finest player available” logic.
As a popular example, TSNs Bob McKenzie surveyed 10 scouts and provided that agreement. So this is a riddle covered in an enigma cooked with bacon, but for mock drafts for the 2020 NHL Draft. Or something like that.
In fact, perhaps you must consider this a mock draft of mock drafts. Maybe call it a consensus of consensuses?
PHT compiled the leading 10 rankings from 11 various mock drafts/prospect rankings/big boards to create a mock draft medley for the 2020 NHL Draft. If that does not supply sufficient of a “consensus of consensuses,” consider how some of those mock drafts were assembled.
Lafreniere the near-unanimous leading pick of 2020 NHL Draft.
For more insight on the procedure behind this mock draft for the 2020 NHL Draft, inspect the bottom of this post. Youll find links to each of those 11 lists, too. What value!
1. MYSTERY PLACEHOLDER TEAM– Alexis Lafreniere
So, will Lafreniere be special, or just really great? A team in the Qualifying Round will be glad to discover.
Second pick arguments could be fascinating.
[Click here for more on the NHL Draft Lottery.]
( Pauses for inescapable tanking jokes.).
The Athletics Corey Pronman tasks Lafreniere to be a “foundational gamer.” Others waffle in between calling him a franchise player or, more modestly, a first-line winger. Maybe right off the bat.
Give credit to Cam Robinson of Dobber Hockey for being the one brave soul who didnt rank Lafreniere first. Prior to you gather pitchforks and torches, recognize that Robinson merely ranked the winger 2nd, and praised Lafreniere effusively.
2. Los Angeles Kings– Quinton Byfield.
( Or somebody else will get a potentially fantastic center.).
Now, not everyone ranks Byfield second amongst prospects. The Athletics Scott Wheeler marvels (sub needed) if some dipping viewpoints come down to overexposure. Wheeler applauded lots of aspects of Byfields video game:.
At times, NHL groups miscalculate Huge Hockey Humans.
Hes substantial, his skating has become enough of a strength that he can really press the speed through the middle of the ice, hes got excellent puck ability for a gamer his size and hes surprisingly imaginative for his size. Hes likewise one of the younger players in the draft, so hes got time to find out the rest.
Byfield stands highest among leading 2020 NHL Draft potential customers– literally and figuratively once you move beyond Lafreniere. Robinson ranked Byfield ahead of Lafreniere, thinking that Byfield has prospective to eventually go beyond the possible top choice.
That stated, its various when that Huge Hockey Human boasts noticeable hockey skill. If Byfield puts it together, who knows what his ceiling can be? He also plays center, so Byfield might possibly make the Kings truly difficult down the middle alongside (an admittedly aging however still effective) Anze Kopitar.
3. Ottawa Senators– Tim Stutzle.
Lets move from size to speed.
Its possible that Stutzle could go as high as second, yet there are some professionals who barely squeeze the speedy German into the leading 7. Well need to see how the Senators view the speedster. For all we understand, Ottawa might attempt something bold with its two high first-rounders.
Room for movement after top 3 prospects in 2020 NHL Draft mocks.
In the eyes of a healthy variety of scouts, Stutzle is the second most luring prospect.
” If theres someone in this draft who could pass Lafreniere in the years to come, its this kid,” A confidential NHL scout informed TSNs Bob McKenzie about Stutzle. “Its since of the skating.”.
4. Detroit Red Wings– Jamie Drysdale.
Mostly thought to be the very best defenseman in the 2020 NHL Draft, Drysdale should draw plenty of attention. Specialists applaud Drysdales skating– not just speed, but strong edge work– as one of his highests. Experts diverge, nevertheless, on just how much of an effect Drysdale can make.
The Red Wings selected Moritz Seider throughout the 2019 NHL Draft, so perhaps they d choose a forward. … honestly, they require a bit of everything after a profoundly dreadful season. The Red Wings just need to pick who they believe is the best gamer available.
5. Ottawa Senators– Marco Rossi.
Count Rossi as one of those smaller sized forwards you may refer to as tough. Even so, Pronman and others are worried that Rossi may not be quick relative to his size.
Will we see another smaller sized, proficient gamer slip? That depends upon how the Senators and other teams (above/below them?) view Rossis potential. Ottawa may end up only being ready to (slightly) gamble on one of Stutzle or Rossi. Well see.
From Cole Caufield to Alex DeBrincat, it feels like each draft sports a minimum of one polarizing, undersized forward possibility. Rossi wants to fit that expense for the 2020 NHL Draft. The 5-foot-9 forward influences a series of rankings, with some choosing Rossi as high as third.
( Also, the space in between Drysdale and Rossi was small, despite the fact that theyre quite various players.).
6. Anaheim Ducks– Lucas Raymond.
More than one professional ranked Raymond as high as 4th. Amongst those, Robinson applauds Raymond as” an explosive winger who is similarly harmful with his shot or pass” who boasts rare “escapability.”.
The Ducks need all the offensive punch they can get, so Raymond– or another forward– would make overall sense.
7. New Jersey Devils– Cole Perfetti.
Sportsnets Sam Cosentino explains Perfetti as “a magician in the offensive zone with his capability to change rate and discover colleagues.”.
Personally, I believe Perfetti needs to get bumped up a letter grade for having a remarkable name.
That said, Perfetti inspires a variety of rankings, as some are concerned about his skating (a minimum of for a 5-foot-11 gamer slightly on the smaller sized side).
8. Buffalo Sabres– Alexander Holtz.
Selfishly, Im pulling for Jack Quinn to join Jack or Quinn Hughes during his profession. Team up all 3.
McKenzie made an intriguing contrast in between Holtz and fellow Swedish prospect Lucas Raymond:.
James OBrien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.
To reiterate, PHT gathered the top 10 rankings from 11 mock drafts/draft boards. Every list came out in April at the earliest, while numerous were released this week.
Holtz, who plays both the left and right sides, has one of the very best shots in the draft and is amongst the finest natural goal-scorers. If Raymond sometimes gets questioned for being on the boundary, Holtz gets high marks for getting to the inside and playing a harder game.
MORE: Lafreniere head of the 2020 possibility class.
–.
Yaroslav Askarov (sometimes spelled Iaroslav)– Goalies do not enter the first round very typically. Despite that trend, Askarov has a chance to crack the top 10. Hey, if a goalie looks about as cant- miss out on as goalie potential customers can look, then it could be worth the danger?
The Devils have locked down some high-end forward skill, however Holtz might be the sniper who truly enhances a playmaker like, state, Jack Hughes. That said, the Devils likewise truly require defense (and great deals of other things), so it may boil down to whether they believe Holtz is a prospective 40-goal scorer (as Robinson thinks).
You can see the results in this cumbersome spreadsheet. Here are the staffs and/or authors who produced such lists (note: some short articles might require memberships):.
( As a side note … there were some close arise from this experiment, however Perfetti and Holtz finished in a dead heat.).
Respectable mock draft points out for 2020 NHL Draft.
Lundell accounted well against older hockey players. When he showed well in rankings, Lundell normally peaked in the No. 9 or No. 10 spots.
On the bright side, the zany draft lottery game did figure out choices 2 through 8 of the 2020 NHL Draft. For more insight on the procedure behind this mock draft for the 2020 NHL Draft, check the bottom of this post. Mainly thought to be the finest defenseman in the 2020 NHL Draft, Drysdale ought to draw plenty of attention. The Red Wings selected Moritz Seider during the 2019 NHL Draft, so perhaps they d choose a forward. Rossi looks to fit that expense for the 2020 NHL Draft.
Jake Sanderson– A team trying to find a defenseman might prefer Sanderson to Drysdale. Hes generally thought about the second-best blueliner by mock drafters, but that can differ.
Approach for mock draft for 2020 NHL Draft, and more reading.
