2020 NHL Draft Results

Round 1 Picks 1-15

The 2020 NHL Draft is the best draft I've ever scouted. This draft is deeper than the 2015 NHL Draft that featured Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel and I've been covering the NHL Draft since 2011.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: October 6, 2020.

1. New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) A+ Grade
   
   
   New York needs a line 1 center in the worst way possible. Unfortunately, they will have to wait until later in the first round when they pick with Carolina's first round pick to address that position of need. Thanks to winning the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery Phase 2, the New York Rangers have the first pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
   Alexis Lafreniere is a 6-1 192 lb left winger. Alexis Lafreniere can play center, left wing, or right wing with his versatility. Alexis Lafreniere had 42 goals, 38 assists, 80 points and a +35 +/- ratio as a rookie. Alexis Lafreniere had 37 goals, 68 assists, 105 points, and a +52 +/- ratio in 2018-2019 as an alternate captain. Alexis Lafreniere had 35 goals, 77 assists, 112 points, and a +41 +/- ratio in 2019-2020 as the team captain of Rimouski Oceanic. Alexis Lafreniere was also the team captain for Team White in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game.
   
   
   
   Alexis Lafreniere is a franchise player and the best prospect that the Rimouski Oceanic got since Sidney Crosby. Lafreniere was drafted first overall in the 2017 QMJHL draft.
   
   
   
   Alexis Lafreniere has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, stick handling, and ability to win faceoffs. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play as well as penalty kill. He's a line 1 left winger on the Rimouski Oceanic, but can also line up as a line 1 center and a line 1 right winger.
   
   
   
   Giving New York a winger tandem with Alexis Lafreniere as the line 1 left winger and Kappo Kakko as the line 1 right winger gives the New York Rangers one of the best first line winger tandems in the entire NHL. By 2024 or 2025, the New York Rangers may have the top winger tandem in the entire NHL once these two guys develop. They will have two cornerstone wingers until at least 2040 now even if though they lost goaltender Hendrik Lundqvist.
   
   
   
   I posted a film cut of Alexis Lafreniere on our Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Los Angeles Kings: Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL) A+ Grade
   
   
   Los Angeles grabs the only center in this draft with a higher ceiling than Anze Kopitar at 2 despite having some good centers in their prospect pool. Quington Byfield was my second best player in this draft.
   
   
   
   Los Angeles gets a line 1 center with this pick. The 6-4 214 lb Quinton Byfield had 29 goals, 32 assists, and 61 points in 64 games during his rookie season in 2018-2019 and won OHL rookie of the year. Quinton Byfield had 32 goals, 50 assists, and 82 points in 2019-2020. Quinton Byfield was team captain for Team Red in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game.
   
   
   
   Quinton Byfield was the first overall pick in the 2018 OHL Draft for a reason. You can honestly make an argument that Byfield has a higher ceiling than Alexis Lafreniere since he's bigger and both players have 100 point potential.
   
   
   
   Quinton Byfield has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, stick handling, and ability to win faceoffs. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play as well as penalty kill. He's a line 1 center on the Sudbury Wolves.
   
   
   
   Los Angeles gets the one player in this draft that can be a successor to Anze Kopkitar. Quinton Byfield should go to the NHL right away and be a line 2 center behind Anze Kopitar in his first season before taking over as the first line center at some point down the road.
   
   
   
   NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Quinton Byfield on their Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Ottawa Senators: Tim Stutzle, LW, Adler Mannheim (DEL) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-11 165 lb Tim Stutzle has the versatility to play left wing, center, or right wing. He is a first line forward on Adler Mannheim in Germany's DEL league.
   
   
   
   Tim Stutzle has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play as well as penalty kill. He's a line 1 left winger on the Adler Mannheim, but can play anywhere at forward with his versatility.
   
   
   
   He's also expected to sign his rookie deal with the team that drafts him and go straight to the NHL. I didn't see Stutzle on Adler's preseason roster which makes me confident he will make the immediate jump to the NHL with Lafreniere and Byfield in 2020-2021.
   
   
   
   Tim Stutzle had 7 goals, 27 assists, 34 points, and a +4 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. He also won rookie of the year in the DEL league. If he signs his rookie deal with Ottawa, he could either be a second line left winger behind Brady Tkachuk or a first line right winger next to Brady Tkachuk on that top line in Ottawa. He may end up playing center too on that first line with Tkachuk even though I think his best chance to succeed is at the wing.
   
   
   
   Tim Stutlze was answering questions in both English and German. I never saw a prospect ever show that much charisma and confidence while speaking multiple languages.
   
   
   
   Tim Stutzle is getting compared to Patrick Kaine by most NHL scouts. I see more of a Gabriel Landeskog type of player. Both are very good players though. Landeskog is the team captain for the Colorado Avalanche, and Kaine was the first pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. The bottom line is Sutzle is probably a winger with Gabriel Landeskog's floor and Patrick Kaine's ceiling.
   
   
   
   NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Tim Stutzle on their Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond, RW, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 165 lb Lucas Raymond is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing on the top line. Raymond entered the preseason projected to go ahead of Quinton Byfield on some draft boards, and is still the fourth best player in this draft class. Taking him fourth overall is a no brainer decision for the Detroit Red Wings.
   
   
   
   Lucas Raymond has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play as well as penalty kill. He's a line 1 right winger on the Frolunda Indians. Raymond had 4 goals, 6 assists, and 10 points in the Elitserien league in the SHL in 2019-2020. Detroit will have him as their line 1 right winger next to Filip Zadina at left wing and center Dylan Larkin at some point.
   
   
   
   NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Lucas Raymond on their Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Ottawa Senators: Jake Sanderson, D, USNTDP (USHL) C+ Grade
   
   
   Slight reach by Ottawa. He's a top 10 player in this draft not a top 5 player. He's not better than Jamie Drysdale so to take this guy over guys like Yaroslav Askarov and Marco Rossi is just foolish. Also if he goes to North Dakota in November rather than play in the NHL, you have to fault Ottawa for reaching here.
   
   
   
   The 6-1 185 lb Jake Sanderson is a line 1 defenseman that anchors the blue line on USNTDP with Luke Hughes the younger brother of Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes complimenting Sanderson on the top line. Jake Sanderson had 2 goals, 12 assists, and 14 points with USNTDP in 2019-2020.
   
   
   
   Jake Sanderson has the has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a two-way defender that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play as a quarterback or dominate as a penalty killer. He's a line 1 defender on USNTDP and he will enroll at North Dakota in November.
   
   
   
6. Anaheim Ducks: Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie Otters (OHL) A+ Grade
   
   
   Anaheim takes the best player on the board at 6. Right winger is the Ducks biggest need, but with a top 5 talent like Jamie Drysdale still on the board at 6, in this scenario Anaheim goes with Drysdale who some had as high as fourth overall prior to the first 2020 NHL Draft Lottery when Anaheim found out they'd be picking at 6.
   
   
   
   The 5-11 170 lb Jamie Drysdale had 7 goals, 33 assists, 40 points, and a -24 +/- ratio in 2018-2019. Jamie Drysdale had 9 goals, 38 assists, 47 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Drysdale is an offensive defender who can anchor a blue line. He improved defensively and now looks like a sound two way defender.
   
   
   
   Jamie Drysdale has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play as well as penalty kill.
   
   
   
   Drysdale did well enough to be promoted to alternate captain with the Erie Otters heading into his draft season. Drysdale was a guy that I pegged a front runner to surpass Justin Barron to be the top defender in the 2020 NHL Draft. That has happened, which means Jamie Drysdale is now the top defender in the 2020 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
   The Anaheim Ducks will have a healthy Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler on their blue line. Drysdale could make an immediate jump to the NHL and play on the second line in an easier role rather than having all the perks and pressure of a top line defender or he could return to Erie. Either way, that's a much more favorable position for Drysdale to be in rather than to make the immediate jump to the NHL right away and be on a top line with a team like Los Angeles, Detroit, or Ottawa who are all looking at Drysdale as well as the Ducks.
   
   
   
   CambieKev posted a film cut of Jamie Drysdale on their Youtube channel. Dobber Prospects also deserves some credit for producing this film cut. You can watch it below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. New Jersey Devils: Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien) A+ Grade
   
   
   New Jersey gets their line 1 right winger of the future at seven with Jamie Drysdale off the board. Alexander Holtz is a huge bargain here.
   
   
   
   The 6-0 183 lb Alexander Holtz can play right wing or left wing with his versatility. He's bigger and a better scorer than Lucas Raymond. Alexander Holtz had 9 goals, 7 assists, and 16 points in 2019-2020.
   
   
   
   Alexander Holtz has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play, but realistically is probably a line 2 winger on the penalty kill. His defensive awareness is not a liability, but its not a strength to his game either. He's a line 1 right winger on Djurgardens IF.
   
   
   
   New Jersey would have P.K. Subban, Mirco Mueller, Damon Severson, and Ty Smith even without Drysdale so now you got your future line 1 right winger, a team that has two good lines of defenders to compliment their four stud centers Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Travis Zajac, and Pavel Zacha. New Jersey also has Corey Schneider and Mackenzie Blackgood at goalie.
   
   
   
   NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Alexander Holtz on their Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Buffalo Sabres: Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa 67's (OHL) F Grade
   
   
   Taking Jack Quinn, who admitted that Marco Rossi works harder than him is a bad decision by Buffalo. Especially with Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti on the board. Taking Yaroslav Askarov here would have been a reach, but the Russian goalie would have been a way better pick than Jack Quinn. I know they traded for Eric Staal, but Quinn seemed like someone who lacked passion for the game during his interview with the media. Also Quinn was a second line right winger while Marco Rossi was a top line center on the Ottawa 67's.
   
   
   
   The 5-11 176 Jack Quinn led the Ottawa 67's in goals. Jack Quinn worked his way up from being a fourth line player in 2018-2019 to being the line 2 right winger that compliments center Marco Rossi in the CHL Prospects Game. Despite seeing more minutes, Quinn was a second line right winger on the Ottawa 67's and he led the team in goals despite not being on the same line as Marco Rossi in 5 on 5 situations. Howver, Quinn did play with Rossi on the Ottawa 67's line 1 power play unit.
   
   
   
   Jack Quinn had 52 goals, 37 assists, 89 points, and a +43 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Jack Quinn is someone who be a line 2 right winger at some point on Buffalo. I'm trying to figure out why the Sabres took Jack Quinn over Marco Rossi.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Minnesota Wild: Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa 67's (OHL) A+ Grade
   
   
   Bill Guerin needs to send Buffalo a thank you basket. He trades Eric Staal their first line center to Buffalo. He still gets Marco Rossi at 9 which I did not see Rossi falling this far.
   
   
   
   The 5-9 179 lb Marco Rossi had 29 goals, 36 assists, 65 points, and a +51 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2018-2019 getting line 1 center time in his rookie season. Marco Rossi had 39 goals, 81 assists, 120 points, and a +69 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Marco Rossi had an assist to his Ottawa teammate Jack Quinn in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game.
   
   
   
   Marco Rossi has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play or dominate as a penalty killer despite his size.
   
   
   
   Minnesota traded Staal and two of their other three centers are Free Agents. I think its possible that Rossi ends up as the first line center on the Minnesota Wild on opening day in 2021 since this pick is a huge steal for the Wild.
   
   
   
10. Winnipeg Jets: Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Winnipeg loses every center not named Mark Scheifele to Free Agency. Winnipeg also loses three of their top six defenders not named Dustin Byfuglien to Free Agency with Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, and Tucker Poolman being the only three defenders returning for the 2020-2021 season. A replacement to fourth line right winger Mason Appleton is needed as well as a backup goalie. If Cole Perfetti makes the move to center this could be a great pick. Perfetti was the best player on the board at 10.
    
    
    
    Cole Perfetti had 37 goals, 37 assists, 74 points, and a +36 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2018-2019. The 5-10 185 lb center moved to left wing this season where he had 37 goals, 74 assists, 111 points, and a +49 +/- ratio in 2019-2020 on the second line with the Saginaw Spirit. He also played right wing on the power play meaning he's versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing giving him versatility to play anywhere at forward.
    
    
    
    Cole Perfetti also scored a goal in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game despite being a third line left winger in that game. Winnipeg got the best player on the board at 10.
    
    
    
    NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Cole Perfetti on their Youtube channel. Cole Perfetti did not take off in this game against the Erie Otters until defenseman Jamie Drysdale left the game injured. In fact he played a line 1 right winger role on the power play with Sagniaw showing he's got the upside to be a top line player despite being put on the first, second, or third line in various situations with the Saginaw Spirit. You can watch Cole Perfetti below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Nashville Predators: Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Nashville has Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros. I'm honestly a little surprised that Nashville decided to draft the top goalie in the 2020 NHL Draft at 11 in Yarsolav Askarov.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 176 lb Yaroslav Askarov had a 2.37 GAA and .921 save percentage in 2018-2019. He started one KHL game and had a 2.00 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 2019-2020. Yaroslav Askarov could be Carolina's version of Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was also drafted out of Russia by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Yaroslav Askarov went 33/33 on saves in his 2020-2021 KHL debut with SKA Saint Petersburg. He had a 0.74 GAA and a .975 save percentage in the KHL even winning KHL player of the week as an 18-year-old goalie against pros in Russia.
    
    
    
    NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Yaroslav Askarov on their Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Florida Panthers: Anton Lundell, C, Helsingfors IFK (SM Liiga) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 183 lb Anton Lundell is a two way forward that can play left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. He is the line 1 center for Helsingfors IFK in SM Liiga's Liiga league in Finland.
    
    
    
    Anton Lundell had 9 goals, 10 assists, 19 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 38 games in 2018-2019. Lundell had 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, and a +11 +/- ratio in 2019-2020.
    
    
    
    Anton Lundell has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play or dominate as a penalty killer. He's not a 100 point player, but he's talented enough to play on his teams top line. You can also make Lundell your line 2 center on penalty killing behind Aleksander Barkov in Florida.
    
    
    
    NHL Prospect Center posted a film cut of Anton Lundell on their Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Carolina Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis, RW, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 5-9 165 lb Seth Jarvis is versatile enough to play anywhere at forward whether it be at left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. Seth Jarvis had 42 goals, 56 assists, 98 points, and a +53 +/- ratio in 2019-2020.
    
    
    
    Seth Jarvis has the has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do a lot of things you want a first line player to do on tape. If his penalty killing improved, he'd probably be a top 10 pick. He played on the first line in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game making him an ideal player for Carolina to draft at 13.
    
    
    
14. Edmonton Oilers: Dylan Holloway, LW, Wisconsin D- Grade
    
    
    Edmonton was targeting Yaroslav Askarov, Jack Quinn, Seth Jarvis, and Dylan Holloway as options at 4. Holloway was the only one of those players left at 14. This doesn't change the fact that the Oilers reached big time here.
    
    
    
    Dylan Holloway was the line 1 left winger next to Alex Turcotte the Los Angeles Kings fifth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft who committed to Wisconsin. Holloway only had 8 goals, 9 assists, and 17 points in 2019-2020 in 35 games. Holloway can stay in the NCAA and continue to develop as long as he doens't sign with the Oilers. Holloway has three more years at Wisconsin. Huge reach by Edmonton, being on the first line at Wisconsin is the only thing keeping this pick from getting our second F grade of the evening.
    
    
    
15. Toronto Maple Leafs: Rodion Amirov, LW, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) D Grade
    
    
    Huge reach by Kyle Dubas at 15. At the same time this is a deep draft for defenseman on the blue line.
    
    
    
    Rodion Amirov has 2 assists in the KHL. I'm lower on Amirov, then most. I've seen other mocks put this guy in their top 15 and top 20, and I'm trying to figure out why. Toronto certainly reached here.