I know I said it was final when I last posted my ranking a month-and-a-half ago, but I couldn't help but continue to watch these prospects. My rankings have changed a fair bit since then, and I also decided to try something new with this set of rankings: I gave each prospect a number grade and a letter grade. The number grade, 10 being the highest possible, is the prospect's ceiling, which I describe. The letter grade, A being the highest, is how likely they are to reach that ceiling.
Without further ado,
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[/TBODY]Honourable Mentions
Kasper Simontival, Michael Benning, Sam Colangelo, Vasili Ponomaryev, Justin Sourdif, Jack Finley, Ty Smilanic, Eamon Powell, Ronan Seeley, Theodor Niederbach, Anton Johanneson, Samuel Knazko, Oskar Magnussen, Maxim Groshev, Drew Commesso, , Jesper Blomqvist, Nico Daws, Dylan Garand, Jan Bednar.
Without further ado,
| Rank | Player | Overview | Ceiling | Grade |
| 1 | Alexis Lafreniere | The clear #1 pick in Alexis Lafreniere has a rare blend of skill, smarts, and size to go along with his work-ethic. Almost a sure bet to become a star player in the NHL. | Star top-line LWer. A bigger Marchand is my favourite comparison for him. | 9A |
| 2 | Tim Stutzle | The 1st ranking was the easiest in my list for me; the 2nd may be the toughest. Byfield's package is very difficult to pass on, but I'd take Stutzle at 2. Tim Stutzle is an electrifying player that brings fans out of their seats with his skating, passing, and hands. He produced impressive numbers playing against men in the DEL. | Point-per-game top-line C is his upside; think a Barzal/Aho hybrid. | 9B |
| 3 | Quinton Byfield | Byfield's upside is as high as any in this draft. When was the last time a prospect had his combination of size, skill, and skating? OHL defensemen are simply unable to manage the 6'4, 214 lbs center. | Point-per-game top-line C. I don’t see the Malkin comparison, but he could very well be a star. | 9B |
| 4 | Lucas Raymond | When the puck is on his stick, Raymond is one of the most fun players in the draft to watch. His hands and edgework allows him to make defensemen look silly. His passing is top-notch and his shot is dangerous, even if it could use some more power. | Top-line W in the mold of Panarin/Marner. | 9C |
| 5 | Marco Rossi | Based on his stats alone, Marco Rossi would be up there for 1st overall. Rossi is one of the smartest players in the draft, is an excellent passer, and possesses quick hands. His lack of size and average skating could hold him back, however. | Average top-line C is his ceiling, maybe a similar player to Brayden Point. | 8B |
| 6 | Jamie Drysdale | Smooth is the word to describe Drysdale. His skating and smarts are both elite, and his defensive ability is great for his age. If he manages to bulk up, he's a good bet to become a #1 defenseman. More of a 2-way defenseman than an offensive one. | All-around top-pairing defenseman | 8B |
| 7 | Cole Perfetti | If I was ranking purely based on upside, Perfetti would be a clear top-5 prospect. His vision and shot accuracy are absolutely elite. Apart from Lafreniere, no other 2020 draftee is as dangerous a passer and shooter. His size and skating make him a riskier selection than those ranked above him, though. | Star top-line offensive winger | 9D |
| 8 | Alexander Holtz | Holtz's shot is likely best in the draft. His shot selection, however, leaves a lot to be desired, as does his defensive game. Playmaking and skating aren't stand-out qualities of his but aren't poor either. Better production in the SHL than fellow Swedes Raymond and Gunler. | Top-line goal-scoring winger | 8C |
| 9 | Jack Quinn | Quinn is up there with Holtz for best goal-scorer in the draft. His shot isn't quite as good but he is better at getting open and finding dangerous scoring areas. His defensive game is superior to Holtz's right now and likely has a slightly higher floor, but also a slightly lower ceiling. Something that is interesting to not with Quinn is that he was not playing competitive hockey a few years ago. Even last year, Quinn wasn't on anyone's radar to get drafted at all let alone in the top-10. If his development curve continues along this path, watch out. | Ceiling is a top-line goal-scoring winger | 8C |
| 10 | Noel Gunler | Like Holtz, Noel Gunler is a Swedish sniper that had an impressive year in the SHL. He possesses a heavy and accurate shot and makes a lot of smart little plays in transition and in the offensive zone. I don't see an issue with his compete level and am not bumping him down for being left off Sweden's U18 team. | Top-line goal-scoring | 8C |
| 11 | Seth Jarvis | Seth Jarvis exploded in the 2nd half of the season, finishing 2nd in points behind Adam Beckman. His skating is excellent, along with above-average passing and shooting. His work-ethic is remarkable as well. | All-around top-line winger | 8C |
| 12 | Connor Zary | Connor Zary is one of the safest bets to take in this range. While no single attribute really stands out about his game, there are no clear weaknesses either. He is a very good playmaker that can finish off a play effectively as well. | High-end 2C | 7A |
| 13 | Lucas Reichel | Reichel put up 24 points in 42 games against men in the DEL. As a skinny 17-year old. His IQ in the offensive zone is evident every shift. His passing and shot are both dangerous and his ability to get open is remarkable. | Complimentary top-line winger | 8C |
| 14 | Dawson Mercer | I doubt he will become a center in the NHL, but that’s not a bad thing. Dawson Mercer is a dangerous sniper that possesses quick hands and is an effective passer. Skating could use work but it isn’t a weakness. Solid two-way game. | High-end top-6 winger | 7B |
| 15 | Jake Sanderson | Sanderson’s gap control and defensive stick is excellent for a 17 year-old. His skating is smooth and effective though I would not call him explosive. Efficient passer, but I don’t think his offensive upside warrants a top-10 pick. Nevertheless, pretty safe bet to be a quality NHL defensemen. | #2/3D is his ceiling | 7B |
| 16 | Brayden Schneider | Another safe bet to be an effective NHL defenseman. Schneider’s physicality and defensive game paired with great straight-line speed makes him a nightmare for forwards to face. Heavy wrist shot but his slapshot could use work. His edgework, which sometimes allows him to be exposed by quicker forwards, could also use improvement. | #2/3D, similar to Sanderson | 7B |
| 17 | Mavrik Bourque | Bourque creates chances at an insanely high rate. His IQ and vision along with quick hands and a dangerous shot make him one of the better offensive forwards in this range. Needs to improve skating and defensive consistency to get to the level he is capable of in the NHL. | Top line offensive forward | 8D |
| 18 | Jan Mysak | Jan Mysak is a two-way forward that adapted quickly to the OHL. I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say he is almost as dangerous on the penalty kill as he is at even strength. His speed and two-way ability make him a safe bet to be an effective NHL winger, but his offensive IQ isn’t as high as others in this range. He is also more of a north-south player than I’d like. | High-end top-6 two-way winger | 7B |
| 19 | Jacob Perreault | Like Bourque, Perreault possesses lots of upside but is also a risky selection. His shot is unbelievable and his skating in a straight-line is remarkable, but he is often caught trying to do too much offensively or abandoning coverage defensively. I doubt he sticks at center in the NHL. | Top-line goal-scoring forward | 8D |
| 20 | Rodion Amirov | I don’t think Amirov will be a line driver, but he could be a very good play supporter. He's agile, deceptive, owns a good shot, and is one of the top players in the draft at driving possession. He could use to improve his speed, but he is a good overall skater. Very good two-way player already. | 1st/2nd line two-way winger | 7B |
| 21 | Yaroslav Askarov | I don’t know what to think of Askarov. It is very difficult to predict how goalies will turn out. I am not adept at evaluating a goalie’s talent, but he seems sort of frantic in net while someone like Knight last year or Wallstedt next year seems much calmer. His athleticism is certainly noteworthy though. | Quality starting goaltender | 8D |
| 22 | Anton Lundell | I just don’t see what others do with Lundell. He’s a very efficient player with good defensive ability but I don't see the offensive upside to justify a top-10 pick. I don’t think his floor is as high as others say either, as his skating needs lots of work. I wouldn't be surprised if he fails to get to the level people are expecting him to. | Strong two-way 2C | 7B |
| 23 | Hendrix Lapierre | He’d be ranked higher than this if it weren’t for concussions. His playmaking is top-10 in the draft and he’s very solid defensively as well. Not a goal-scoring threat, however. | Low-end 1C | 8D |
| 24 | Tyson Foerster | One of the best goal-scorers in the draft. He's got a great release on his wrist shot and has a killer one-timer on the left half-wall. Skating is a weakness but he's got plenty of time to work on that. Foerster was a top-3 player at the Top-Prospects Game. | Top-line goal-scoring winger | 8D |
| 25 | John-Jason Peterka | The 3rd German in my 1st round has speed, a heavy shot, and good two-way ability. He had a very impressive showing at the World Juniors. Not much of a playmaker. Someone like Jason Zucker might be his ceiling. | High-end top-6 all-around winger | 7C |
| 26 | Dylan Holloway | Slightly disappointing season on a very disappointing Wisconsin team. His speed, hands, and work-ethic are his calling traits. While he may not possess top-line offensive upside, he could become a dependable middle/top-6 winger. He isn't afraid to throw a big hit. | 3C or 2nd line winger | 6B |
| 27 | William Wallinder | Very, very raw, but his skating and puck-handling are insane for a guy his size. One of the younger players in the draft so there is lots of room to improve. If his game matures and he cleans up his defensive game, his ceiling is almost limitless. | Top-pairing defenseman | 8D |
| 28 | Marat Khusnutdinov | I'm higher on Khusnutdinov than most. He's very fun to watch and it's even more fun listening to others try to pronounce his last name. Skilled, dynamic center with great skating, passing, and hands while being a very dependable two-way player. Lack of size and "The Russian Factor" are working against him. | High-end energy 2nd line C/W | 7C |
| 29 | Kaiden Guhle | Great skater, good defensively, decent offensively. I like his physicality but don't see anything more than a #3/4D, which would still be a great outcome at 29th overall. | 2nd pairing defenseman | 7C |
| 30 | Jake Neighbours | I love the way Neighbours plays. He isn't afraid to use his body and plays a smart and gritty game. He could be a very effective complimentary winger at the next level. Neighbours was the best player on his line with Byfield and Mercer at the Top Prospects Game. | 2nd line winger | 6B |
| 31 | Topi Niemela | Niemela is a smooth defenseman that does everything at a high-level. Efficient passer and he shoots for tips and rebounds effectively. Won’t stand out too much but that isn’t a bad thing. | 2nd pairing all-around defenseman | 7C |
| 32 | Justin Barron | Everything that could have went wrong for Justin Barron this year did. He missed time with a blood clot and, by his standards, played poorly for the rest of the year. I do believe in his tools, though. He is a smooth skating defenseman that can QB a PP and not be a liability in his own end. | 2nd pairing offensive defenseman | 7D |
| 33 | Helge Grans | Helge Grans is a very good passer that creates with his shot. Good in transition under pressure but tends to break down when he opens up his game more offensively. His lack of strength often costs his team defensively. | 2nd pairing offensive defenseman | 7D |
| 34 | Jeremie Poirier | I’m giving my first “F” with Jeremie Poirier. He is perhaps the most polarizing player in the draft class. His skating and hands are unreal, but his defensive play is a very real concern. His shot is great, his shot selection is not so great. Passing is nothing special. Huge upside, but I don’t think it is likely he reaches it. | Top pairing offensive defenseman | 8F |
| 35 | Daniil Gushchin | One of the more underrated players in the draft. He is a small and speedy winger that is as dangerous a scorer as he is a playmaker. Very good defensive player too. Gushchin was far and away the best player on his team this year. | 2nd line winger, comparable to Cam Atkinson | 6B |
| 36 | Ridley Greig | I really like Greig's game. He's just 5'11 and quite skinny but plays a gritty game that you would expect out of someone much bigger. Keep in mind that he’s an August birthdate, so plenty of time for him to improve. | Jake DeBrusk-esque 2nd line winger | 6B |
| 37 | Ryan O'Rourke | Very smart defensive defenseman that isn't afraid to throw a hit. Not much offensive upside but his no nonsense approach makes him a good bet to be a supportive #4 defenseman. | Defensive #4 defenseman | 6B |
| 38 | Thomas Bordeleau | One of the best offensive players in this range. His vision and playmaking are top-notch, and he has an underrated shot to go along with it. His skating is good but could use some work, as could his defensive game. | 2nd line winger | 6B |
| 39 | Brendan Brisson | Good playmaker with a very heavy one-timer. Skating isn't bad but could use some work. Average size. Defensive game isn't shabby. For a player in this range, he's a good bet to become a top-6 forward | 2nd line forward | 6B |
| 40 | Martin Chromiak | Complimentary scorer that flashes talent every once in a while. He was a perfect fit on a line with Wright and Wisdom, so expect great production from him next year. | 2nd line complimentary scoring winger | 6B |
| 41 | Ozzy Wiesblatt | Wiesblatt plays a feisty game coupled with really good hands. His agility is impressive and his production was great this year on a very good Prince Albert team. He'll need to build up strength. Also notable is that his siblings are named Orca, Oasiz, Ocean, and Oceania. | 2nd line winger | 6B |
| 42 | William Villeneauve | He was better than Poirier this year on the same defensive pairing. Right now he's arguably a top-5 defenseman in the draft but I question how much room there is for him to improve. Very steady in both zones and could become an effective 2nd pairing defenseman. | Two-way #4D | 6B |
| 43 | Roni Hirvonen | Small but skilled, Hirvonen was impressive in his stint in the Liiga. His hands are electric and he's a dangerous passer. Needs to gain strength if he wants to have more of an impact at higher levels. | Dangerous 2nd line forward | 7D |
| 44 | Alexander Pashin | Another “F” here, but that’s just indicative of how high his upside is, even if it’s unlikely he gets there. His hands and skating are high-end, but his lack of size and strength work against him. | Electric top-line winger | 8F |
| 45 | Zion Nybeck | Nybeck is a strong playmaker with a great shot and good 2-way ability. Incredible production in the SuperElit. His size and skating are working against him though. Nybeck’s 2-way game keep him from getting an “F”. | 2-way top-6 forward | 7D |
| 46 | Dmitri Ovchinnikov | Ovchinnikov’s skating is absolutely amazing. Seriously, it almost reminds me of McDavid. He’s a high-end passer as well, but far too often it seems like he doesn’t know what to do with his speed. Get ready to hear that a couple more times with the next two prospects. | Speedy top-line forward | 8F |
| 47 | Jean-Luc Foudy | Foudy had an underwhelming year and is often caught trying to do way too much but his skating and playmaking makes him hard to pass on. Probably the fastest player in the draft. He shouldn't slip much further than this. | Top-six playmaking forward | 7D |
| 48 | Joni Jurmo | Jurmo is the third straight prospect whose calling card is his speed. His quick hands are often on display as well, but he needs lots of work defensively. Offensive decision making can be poor as well. | Top-4 defenseman | 7D |
| 49 | Lucas Cormier | Smooth but undersized defenseman with good mobility and edgework. He has good puck skills and can support offense well but isn't much of a catalyst. His top speed isn't great for a guy his size. Pretty good defensively. | #4 complementary defenseman | 6C |
| 50 | Emil Andrae | Another undersized defenseman. I think he is pretty similar to Cormier in that he also has good puck skills but isn't very fast. More of a standout offensively than Cormier but more of a project defensively. | #4 offensive defenseman | 6C |
| 51 | Luke Evangelista | Creative offensive catalyst with great vision. Lots of skill and creativity. He completely outperformed expectations this year in London, jumping up the depth chart ahead of guys like Antonio Stranges. | 2nd line offensive winger | 6C |
| 52 | Evan Vierling | Vierling is someone I think is ranked way too low on most lists I see. His vision and puck protection are great, and he plays a responsible two-way game. I suspect he’ll have a huge year playing as the Colts’ 1C with Foerster next season. | 2nd/3rd line 2-way C | 6C |
| 53 | Tristen Robins | Well-rounded center with good compete level but no standout qualities. Very intelligent player though, and I think he can carve out an NHL career as a guy that can play anywhere in the lineup. | Swiss-Army knife type forwar | 6C |
| 54 | Roby Jarventie | Big, scoring winger that put up great numbers in the Mestis despite being an August birthdate. Great shot, but needs to improve compete level in the defensive zone if he wants to make it in the NHL. Very good skater. | Top-6 scoring winger | 7D |
| 55 | Tyler Tullio | Small, hard-working winger who is a good skater and has an exceptional wrist shot. He crashes the front of the net often and effectively and his work-ethic seems to rub off on his teammates. | Buzzsaw scoring winger that can play anywhere in the lineup | 6C |
| 56 | Brett Berard | The 5'9 forward models his game after Brad Marchand with good skating, skill, and work-ethic. Quite creative and very willing to go to the dirty areas. His production was amazing in the USHL, but mediocre elsewhere. | Feisty 2nd/3rd line winger | 6C |
| 57 | Emil Heinamen | Heinamen makes his first appearance on my list at 57th here. He plays a great defensive game to go along with his size and skating. His lack of offensive tools might prevent him from being anything more than a bottom-6er. | 2-way complimentary winger | 6C |
| 58 | Brandon Coe | Big winger with a good shot and above average speed. Very intelligent player. His production is very impressive when you consider he played on the worst team in the CHL. | 2nd/3rd line winger | 6C |
| 59 | Alexander Nikishin | Nikishin played the majority of his season in the KHL. The 6’3 defenseman plays with a mean streak and throws open-ice hits like no other. Possesses surprisingly soft hands too. His main flaw is that he can be too aggressive, and his willingness to play the body gets him out of position. | Physical #4D | 6C |
| 60 | Veeti Miettinen | Small forward that absolutely dominated the SM-Liiga this year. Great playmaking abilities and wrist-shot, and I've seen him display nice hand-eye coordination as well. I think his decision to play in the NCAA next year is a good one for his development. | Skilled top-6 playmaking forward | 7D |
| 61 | Carter Savoie | It's tough to gauge Savoie’s talent level since he plays in the AJHL, but his hands and shot are undeniable. Good vision and very high hockey IQ as well. Next season will be key for him as he moves to the NCAA. Size and skating could limit him. | Top-6 offensive forward | 7D |
| 62 | Zayde Wisdom | One of my favourite players in the draft. Wisdom grew up in a poor family and was picked on as a kid for his weight. He went from 250 lbs to 200 in one year and managed to get to where he is today. His compete level is incredible every shift and he is a great compliment to Shane Wright and Martin Chromiak on the Frontenacs top line. Get ready for some increased production from Wisdom next year as Shane Wright continues to improve. | Hard-working complimentary winger that can play anywhere in the lineup | 5B |
Kasper Simontival, Michael Benning, Sam Colangelo, Vasili Ponomaryev, Justin Sourdif, Jack Finley, Ty Smilanic, Eamon Powell, Ronan Seeley, Theodor Niederbach, Anton Johanneson, Samuel Knazko, Oskar Magnussen, Maxim Groshev, Drew Commesso, , Jesper Blomqvist, Nico Daws, Dylan Garand, Jan Bednar.
