First Round
#1- New York Rangers- Alexis Lafreniere
It’s already been pretty well known how good and how dominant Alexis Lafreniere has been, and after taking home a second CHL player of the year award and leading Canada to a World Junior gold medal, he has practically cemented himself to be the first 1 st overall pick in the NHL Draft out of Rimouski since Sidney Crosby in 2005 and the first Quebec born skater taken 1 st in the draft since Vincent Lecavlier in 1998 (Fleury is a goalie taken 1 st in 2003). Bringing a strong level of compete each game to go along with his high end ability to create plays through his vision and puck skills, Lafreniere will join the Rangers whenever next season is and be able to jump in and make a difference for a team that just missed the
playoffs this year. – Connor Williams
#2- Los Angeles Kings- Tim Stutzle
The tease of selecting Byfield, who would appear to be a great benefactor as a pupil to captain Anze Kopitar seems very appealing, but I believe the Kings may go the Stützle option instead. Why? Stützle offers a great contrast to developing forward prospects Alex Turcotte, Gabe Vilardi, Arthur Kaliyev and Rasmus Kupari. Stützle is the guy that will play at a very fast pace and offers dynamism that those others do not, thus he’s the type of cog missing in the Kings engine room. There is no denying that Byfield may be the guy with the highest ceiling in the draft but for me, Stützle allows for the Kings to be more versatile and draft to compliment what they already have in the stables. – Ash Glover
#3- Ottawa Senators- Quinton Byfield
This was a very obvious pick. Ottawa has already came out and stated that their third overall pick is obvious. They are picking one of Byfield or Stutzle. If Stutzle does go 2nd overall to LA, Byfield will be wearing the Sens jersey in no time and will dominate. The 6’4- 215lbs centre men will be a unit at the next level. – Gavin Chiasson
#4- Detroit Red Wings- Lucas Raymond
Lucas Raymond is a highly skilled winger that I’ve been paying attention to for quite some time. He’s a prolific playmaker with great lateral movement, excellent puck control and smart defensive play. His playmaking is his bread and butter, but don’t underestimate his shooting ability. His work ethic caught my eye as well, as he finds the open space, and is involved in the play in all three zones. He’s a player I could not pass up on. – Patrick Tallon
#5- Ottawa Senators- Jake Sanderson
Everyone in the hockey world knows – the Senators love drafting defence. With a solid prospect pool in defence, it’s possible that the Sens are looking to add one more to this pool. Sanderson is a University of North Dakota commit, which Ottawa already has prospects playing there. The goal was to draft Raymond, but in the chance Raymond is off the boards, picking Sanderson at 5 could be a reality. – Gavin Chiasson
#6- Anaheim Ducks- Jamie Drysdale
The Anaheim Ducks had 2 right-handed defensemen on their roster when the season ended (Manson, Gudbranson) and only have 2 RHD in their system. Adding the best defenseman in this draft class who happens to be a right-hand shot is a no brainer for the Ducks. Drysdale has all the makings of a future NHL all-star and will be a key part of this team’s rebuild. – Tyler Thode
#7- New Jersey Devils- Marco Rossi
It’s no secret the New Jersey Devils like to draft Ottawa 67’s players. So why not take the best of the bunch with Marco Rossi. Although the Devils now have three top tier centers in Hughes, Hischier and Rossi it’s not out of the realm of possibility one of them could shift to the wing. Alexander Holtz was a real possibility here, but Rossi complete style of game was just too much too pass up on. Plus, we already know he looks good in red and black. – Eddy Van Jones
#8- Buffalo Sabres- Anton Lundell
At 8th Buffalo selects Lundell who is an already physically mature player compared to his draft-year peers and could make an entry to the NHL sooner than people think. He’s good with space, loves to compete and understands the game very well. He is a two-way minded player who has shown great abilities without the puck at the high-level that is the Liiga. One down thing about his game is the speed but if it is corrected he will make a big impact in the NHL and be more than just a safe pick. – Louis Troxler
#9- Minnesota Wild- Cole Perfetti
Coming into the mock, my plan for the Wild was to take goalie phenom Yaroslav Askarov, but that was under the assumption that Perfetti wouldn’t be available here. For a team that needs a true 1C, getting the dynamic Perfetti is a dream come true for Minnesota.
He’s got the highest hockey IQ in the draft to pair with one of the best arsenals of puck skills available. Sure, he could stand to improve his skating, particularly his speed (I think his agility is quite good actually), but I think some of those concerns are a bit overblown. But think about it like this – Perfetti absolutely tore up the OHL this season with these concerns about his skating. Imagine how good he’ll be once his straight-line speed improves. Woof.
The biggest concern here for me is whether or not Perfetti projects as a center or wing in the NHL. He started the year in Saginaw playing center but moved over to left wing after they acquired Ryan Suzuki from Barrie. Many see him as a winger long-term, but I think if he’s able to improve his skating and show some more defensive acumen, Minnesota could finally have the true top line center they’ve been looking for since they entered the league. – Brad Krakowitz
#10- Winnipeg Jets- Alexander Holtz
With the 10 th overall pick, the Winnipeg Jets take the best player available in Alexander Holtz. Holtz is a skilled winger that oozes potential as an elite scorer at the NHL level in the not-so-distant future. His play away from the puck will need to improve as he develops. He notched 16 points (9 goals and 7 assists) in 35 SHL games averaging 15 minutes a game. He will need a solid playmaker to make things happen in the NHL but is one of the best finishers in the 2020 draft class. – Blake Hitch
#11- Nashville Predators- Yaroslav Askarov
With Rinne getting older, it’s wise to look for a goalie to help. What better option than a young goaltender who is already getting comparisons to Carey Price. Askarov tracks the puck extremely well, has quickness in his lateral movement and has quick reflexes. At 18, he has quickness, composure, and great flexibility. There’s no doubt he will be a starter in Nashville and one of the best goaltenders in the league for years to come. – Patrick Tallon
#12- Florida Panthers- Kaiden Guhle
The Panthers defense is in need of a lot of help. It’s pretty bleak both on the roster and off of it. They don’t have a defensive prospect that looks to be pushing for a roster spot amyitme soon, a real problem considering the lack of quality on the roster. Guhle will help them get tougher, smarter and can provide minutes in all situations. Guhle has a high floor, good size and should be able to contribute to the team in some capacity sooner than later. He seems the perfect here at 12, the shoe just fits. Despite a hole at 2C, maximising on Bobrovsky/Knight’s ability in net has to be done by addressing a weak defense. With former Nashville chief scout and Wild GM Paul Fenton on board as an advisor to Bill Zito, don’t be shocked to see Haula re-sign or even Mikael Granlund join in free agency to fill a need at centre. – Ash Glover
#13- Carolina Hurricanes- Rodion Amirov
This just feels like a Carolina Hurricanes type pick. It’s no surprise that Amirov is one of my favourites for this draft. He just does everything well and fits the mould of what the Hurricanes have been looking for in recent years. See Aho, Teravaiven, Svechnikov, etc. Amirov is one of best in the class at sustaining the cycle and could honestly jump right into the Hurricanes lineup and not miss a beat. He’s got the skill to pull of some flashy moves, but saves it for the right moment. Amirov is one of those players who isn’t exceptional in one area, but very good in almost everything. I did compare him to Teuvo Teravainen in my scouting report, so everyone should’ve probably seen this one coming. – Eddy Van Jones
#14- Edmonton Oilers- Jacob Perreault
Edmonton is in need of scoring winger and an elite goalkeeper. With Askarov already being picked and with no other franchise goalie left, it’s obvious Oilers are getting a winger for McDavid. The most common names with this pick are Jarvis and Quinn. I’ve decided to go with a slightly different opinion. There are two true goalscorers available at this point who come into the conversation. Quinn and Perreault. Yes, Perreault did score a less amount of goals but he played in a much worse team and he’s also six-months younger. With that being said, I’ve picked a player with a better shot in my opinion as well. – Jakub Hromada
#15- Toronto Maple Leafs- Braden Schneider
With Liljegren as a big name defensive prospect in the leafs system, and an extremely talented offensive lineup, the Toronto Maple Leafs should definitely be eyeing one of the best two-way defenders in the draft. Braden Schneider can play both ends of the ice at a high pace and is a great shut down defensemen who, in a couple years, could be a great compliment to the Leaf’s lineup. – Gavin Chiasson
#16- Montreal Canadiens- Dawson Mercer
My favorite player available at this position is Jarvis but I will let my bias out of the way here. I think Montréal picks Dawson Mercer, a player that has a bit more size and scoring touch that Montréal needs in their Top-6. He has an ability to score that can translate to the NHL and shows excellent competitiveness. Mercer can help on both the PP and the PK as he’s a very polyvalent forward. – Louis Troxler
#17- Chicago Blackhawks- Seth Jarvis
To say I was stunned when Seth Jarvis was still on the board at 17 would be putting things lightly. With Kaiden Guhle and Jacob Perreault jumping inside the top 15, Jarvis surprisingly fell down the board and right into Chicago’s lap. Over the past three drafts, Chicago has taken just one forward (Kirby Dach) inside the first two rounds, making this an easy selection based on the prospect pool. Chicago has also taken WHL players with two of their past three first-round picks, including Henrik Jokiharju who also played for the Portland Winterhawks. The Blackhawks add a high potential forward here that could form a fantastic partnership with Dach in the future. – Kyle Cushman
#18- New Jersey Devils- Noel Gunler
We passed on the goal-scorer at seventh, but we head to Sweden to take one at #18 with Noel Gunler. He’s got one of the best shots in the draft, and when you can have one of Hughes, Rossi or Hischier feeding you all night it’s a frightening proposition for incoming opponents. He’s got the skill to make space for himself in tight and he reads the ice exceptionally well. There are some negatives to his game, whether it’s consistency issues, attitude problems, or his defensive acumen. It’s still not enough for me to pass up on his offensive upside in the Devils’ system. – Eddy Van Jones
#19- Calgary Flames- Hendrix Lapierre
Calgary seems to be the team headed straight for mediocrity. Not good enough to seriously compete in the Western Conference, but not bad enough to get high draft picks. It doesn’t seem like general manager Brad Treliving is going to go the rebuild route quite yet, so it’s time for the Flames to take a swing. And there’s no bigger swing at this range of the draft than Hendrix Lapierre.
Lapierre’s elite playmaking ability was on full display at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, where he and Cole Perfetti put on a show for Team Canada. Couple that playmaking ability with his very high IQ in all three zones and there’s a player with an extremely high ceiling. And to top it all off, he’s looked much stronger and shown a willingness to shoot in the QMJHL preseason, so there’s a lot to like about Lapierre’s game.
The concern here is the durability. He’s already had multiple head/neck injuries in his short career, and that’s playing in the QMJHL. What happens when he graduates to the AHL or the NHL and is taking hits from bigger, stronger competition? One more hit to the head could end his career altogether. It’s a big risk for Calgary, but if there’s any team that needs to take the chance, it’s them. – Brad Krakowitz
#20- New Jersey Devils- Dylan Holloway
I really wanted to go for a defenseman with one of these three picks, but with Kaiden Guhle and Braden Schneider going in the top 15 it was hard to leave a player of Dylan Holloway’s quality on the board. Versatility comes to mind here, as the Devils’ will now have another option at center if they want to play him there. However, he could just as easily be effective on the wing as well. His speed coupled with an exceptional awareness on the defensive side make him a nice complement to the Gunler pick. His offensive production could be a problem for some, but with the Devils’ now boasting a plethora of options up front, Holloway becomes a nice compliment to the rest of the roster. – Eddy Van Jones
#21- Columbus Blue Jackets- Jack Quinn
The GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jarmo Kekalainen will be racing up to the podium to select Jack Quinn at 21 st overall. Quinn put up 52 goals and 89 points with the Ottowa 67’s in the OHL. Quinn is a hard-working winger, with one of the better shots in the draft class. His hockey IQ is excellent which helps him in all areas of the ice. He can generate dangerous plays at even strength and aid his team in all situations. He will need to work on his skating to become elite at the NHL level, but is a very safe pick and a steal at 21. – Blake Hitch
#22- New York Rangers- Mavrik Bourque
After picking Alexis Lafreniere with the 1st pick in the draft, the Rangers could have options with how to use this pick, with the option to trade or keep the pick. If they keep the 22 nd pick they look to go with high scoring centreman Mavrik Bourque who put up 71 points in just 49 games in the Q last season. With great passing ability and a high IQ, Bourque lacks some speed but can also produce enough speed to get by the opposition, while also displaying great vision and anticipation to make him so dangerous.
Still needing to develop as a centreman with only about 50% of his faceoffs won, as well as needing to improve on the defensive end, with consistency being an issue. However, with the right development, Bourque could be a strong addition to the Rangers forward group. – Connor Williams
#23- Philadelphia Flyers- Lukas Reichel
Flyers are getting old and they don’t have the biggest prospect depth in the league as well. Their only safety is Hart in goal. They have a decent young D-core with Provorov, Myers, York, Zamula, and Sanheim and Farabee-Frost-Konecny in front. Lukas Reichel is the best player available in terms of the offensive ceiling. – Jakub Hromada
#24- Washington Capitals- Connor Zary
Zary, who is one of the older guys, in my opinion is the second best two-way centre available. He’s more so known for his passing and compete, but he’s very sound over most aspects of the game of hockey. Zary isn’t an elite skater, but he has a quick first step that sees him gain the separation that he needs to be able to create. He has an incredible work ethic and is constantly hounding the puck trying to force turnovers. For a guy that isn’t huge, he does get physical and isn’t afraid to get to the net front and battle, besides being under-strength. I question his top-end skill-set and high end skating but for a team that soon will be in need of younger bodies, he’ll compliment the offensive minded Connor McMichael nicely down the middle as building blocks for the future. – Ash Glover
#25- Colorado Avalanche- William Wallinder
With an already deep forward group, and strong defensive core with last year’s 4 th overall Bowen Byram still waiting in the wings to play with the big club in a game, there are multiple ways the Avs can go with their 25 th pick in the draft. However, we believe Sakic and his staff stick to a similar trend of the past drafts and takes another offensive minded defenceman in Swede William Wallinder. After a strong season in the Swedish U20 league putting up 21 points in 25 games, Wallinder is set to play his first season in the SHL. A big 6’4” puck moving defenceman who likes to join the rush, Wallinder has plenty to improve defensively, but in the future could slot in to replace an aging middle pair defenceman in Colorado. – Connor Williams
#26- St. Louis Blues- Thomas Bordeleau
Bordeleau is a solid player that has a very complete skillset. He is not often the hardest worker on the ice, but he is smart enough to compensate for it. He has an excellent vision that allows him to create space for himself on the ice at anytime. He is also the kind of players that can dictate the pace of play as he wishes. Tremendous! – Jean-Sebastien Lecomte
#27- Anaheim Ducks- Jan Mysak
Mysak is a winger that can play all situations. He is capable of being dominant in all zones. He is going to play top 6 minutes in the NHL one day and will be another great wing player going forward alongside Ducks 2019 first rounder Brayden Tracey. – Tyler Thode
#28- Ottawa Senators- John-Jason Peterka
The Ottawa Senator’s scouted Germany heavy this year, and for good reason. Since Ottawa picks 3rd, 5th and 28th overall, they would have the chance to draft two of the three talented German boys. Since Ottawa picked Byfield 3rd, and took a defence at 5, they have the room to add J.J. Peterka as a late first. A heart and soul player, Peterka would make another great fit on an upcoming Ottawa team. – Gavin Chiasson
#29- Vegas Golden Knights- Helge Grans
Glass, Krebs. That’s it. These two are the only prospects who are expected to be NHL-studs. They have some young talent who are already playing in the NHL as Tuch or Theodore but they need to build their prospect-core really badly. They are desperate for defenders a little bit more than for forwards and I believe Helge Grans is best available at this pick. He will immediately become the best defensive prospect in the system. – Jakub Hromada
#30- Dallas Stars- Brendan Brisson
Brendan Brisson is a terrific forward who is really good at creating offense. He has a sense of play that can’t be taught which allows him to play the puck at an incredibly fast level. He loves to shoot the puck and his one-timers are deadly even when the goalies know they’re coming. Really smart kid that should be able to work his way to the NHL! – Jean-Sebastien Lecomte
#31- San Jose Sharks- Marat Khusnutdinov
The San Jose Sharks have made their interest in Russian prospects widely known over the past 18 months. In addition to drafting Yegor Spiridonov and Timur Ibragimov out of the MHL in the 2019 Entry Draft, the Sharks have also signed Danil Yurtaikin, Nikolai Knyzhov, and Alexei Melnichuk out of Russia as undrafted free agents in the past year and a half. With this clear emphasis on talent out of Russia, nobody falling to this selection, and a lack of centres in the pipeline, Marat Khusnutdinov makes too much sense for the Sharks here at the end of the first round. – Kyle Cushman