With some European leagues weeks into the season and the QMJHL kicking off recently, whether we’re ready or not, it’s time to turn the page from the 2020 NHL Draft to 2021.
In an early survey of NHL scouts of who they thought was No. 1, it was a roughly 50-50 split between Aatu Raty and Owen Power, with a slight tilt to Power, and the odd vote for Dylan Guenther.
The obvious headline is the trio of players who will suit up for Michigan, as the Wolverines currently have three players rated in my top five in what has the potential to be a historic draft for college hockey. Not to mention the possibly fun subplot should the Red Wings finish low in the standings again.
The tiers breakdown as follows:
Special NHL prospect: Projects as one of the very best players in the league.
Elite NHL prospect: Projects as an impact player, someone who is top 10 percent in the NHL at his position.
High-end NHL prospect: Projects as a…
