Le Barron de HF
Justin make me proud
Hello all, with the rumors of a June draft, time is at the essence. I will make the sign up time a bit shorter than usual (4-5 days) before starting. The participants from last year will get dibs.
@le_sean - In
@zaluty - In
@MarkovsKnee - In
@Habs76 - In
@CapSpace - In
@Fozz - In
@calder candidate - In
@OriginalCanadian - In
@76ftw - In
@John WhiteVan - In
@Mrb1p - In
@OB5 - In
@Vachon23 - In
@Pompeius Magnus - In
@The Great Weise - In
@A Loyal Hot Dog - In
@covfefe - In
@jiboy - In
@MrNasty
@WeThreeKings - In
@TT1 - In
@L4br3cqu3 - In
@Janne Niinimaa - In
@Mathletic - In
@Hope Of Glory - In
@Toene - In
@Kobe Armstrong - In
@TGBJackRussell - In
@yoteshot - In
@Schooner Guy - In
Waiting list:
Boston: @Pompeius Magnus
St. Louis: @jiboy
Colorado: @zaluty
TB: @Pompeius Magnus
Washington: @TGBJackRussell
Philadelphia: @The Great Weise
Pittsburgh: @Carl182
Vegas: @CapSpace
Carolina: @OB5
Dallas: @Tomas Tatahhh
Edmonton: @Hope Of Glory
NYI: @OriginalCanadian
Toronto: @A Loyal Hot Dog
Columbus: @Vachon23
Vancouver: @Pompeius Magnus
Nashville: @Habs76
Florida: @Fozz
Calgary: @John WhiteVan
NYR: @Janne Niinimaa
Winnipeg: @Carl182
Minnesota: @Mrb1p
Arizona: @Carl182
Chicago: @L4br3cqu3
Montreal: @TT1
Buffalo: @MrNasty
NJ: @calder candidate
Anaheim: @Kobe Armstrong
LA: @Schooner Guy
SJ: @yoteshot
Ottawa: @MarkovsKnee
Detroit: @WeThreeKings
Please post in this thread to confirm your participation (or PM me). Post if you'd like to be added to the waiting list.
Here's a quick reminder of the rules:
- For teams, I will use a randomizer.
- No trades as always.
- As always, please PM the next guy in the draft once you're done making your selection. Don't forget to tag them in this thread too.
- If you feel you may miss your selection, please PM myself or another active draft member with a list of players. If it's decided that you've taken too long and you're MIA, an auto-pick will be made for you.
- When making your selection, please include a gm or scout-like quote about that player stating why you selected him.
- As with the more recent drafts, we will begin the draft with no set time limit on the picks. We're all reasonably active posters, so let's try to make this a very active draft. We'll see how it goes and then make a decision if we have to. If a poster is taking too long, we'll shoot them a PM to see what's up. If we end up introducing a clock, it'll be a 8 hour one that is not active during midnight (EST) and 8 AM (EST) for the first two rounds, and then we will switch to a 6 hour class for the rest of the draft.
Cheers!
FIRST ROUND
1 - Detroit: Alexis Lafreniere
2 - Ottawa: Tim Stutzle
''Stutzle is an intelligent player with elite skills and a high compete level. A speedy skater with terrific edges and balance, Stutzle has the ability & leadership to be a Yzerman-type player for our franchise. A future captain who will play in all situations and bring skill and determination to the team."
3 - Ottawa (from SJ): Quinton Byfield
''As one of the youngest players in the draft, Byfield has room to grow as a player both physically and mentally. He already has a huge frame but will continue to get stronger. His speed, hands and skill are exceptional. This kid can score. He'll soon be a freight train on ice.''
4 - LA: Jamie Drysdale
''The last time we had a top 4 pick, we hit a home run with another right shooting dman in Drew Doughty. We look forward to Jamie being mentored by Drew and a long career quarterbacking our power play. We hope he's half as successful as another former athlete with the last name Drysdale who starred in LA.''
5 - Anaheim: Marco Rossi
6 - New Jersey: Lucas Raymond
''Has the feet and the stick to generate scoring chance after scoring chance. Smart, fast, smooth winger who always has the puck. Displays terrific jump and stickhandling ability. Has excellent hands, excellent edge control and short area quickness. Terrific vision + high end creativity make him a great playmaker, opportunistic scorer and he plays on both the PP and the PK since he compete to take pucks away from his opposition.''
7 - Buffalo: Cole Perfetti
''Perfetti has an arsenal of offensive weapons sure to bring fans to their feet. Give him the puck in the offensive zone and he will dazzle with his quick hands, shifty moves and lethal shot. A great complement to Eichel or Cozens in the not too distant future.''
8 - Montreal: Alexander Holtz
9 - Chicago: Yaroslav Askarov
Having no noteworthy future netminder, and Crawford nearing retirement, Hawks decidedly need a top young goalie in the system, good thing is, Askarov could be a great one.
"Rare right glove goalie with good size, economy of movements and good concentration. Very cool an calm, and it sometimes seems as if he takes control on games and wins them with is high end abilities. Actually baits shooter with his positioning; gives them an opening he wants them to target and then takes it away as they fire. A reverse hand goalie, and although is a different look to shooters used to left gloves netminders and right handed paddles, it is not the reason for his high success level. Very economic in his movements, and with the play, and reacts with top reflexes when adjusting." (Bill Placzek)
Didn't have a great WJC, but had a very good season against men in the VHL/KHL. Potential is through the roof.
10 - New Jersey (from Arizona): Anton Lundell
''Lundell is a well-rounded centre (great on face off) with good vision, puckhandling savvy and ability to make the soft pass. Plays on both the power play and penalty-kill. Thanks to is his positioning, strong skating stride and being strong on the puck (with or with the puck on is stick), he plays like a big man all over the sheet. Even if he is more of a tank than a water bug he still moves well laterally, Playing in a grown man’s league, he continues to be force down low using his powerful stride to maintain possession plowing through defenders in the attack areas, creating space for his team. Very smart reliable player in all areas, he will crash the front and or use his whole body to lean into a shot. He already has a heavy shot, is responsible in his end and can dominate down low as he continues improve is skating and growing his game he could be an elite two forward and a great compliment to Hughes, Hischier.''
11 - Minnesota: Seth Jarvis
''Minnesota wanted a forward here, and it's got one, a great one to top it all off. It was a hard choice between two high skill players but we chose to go with the better skater, who produced at an elite clip while showing every mental traits a star needs.''
12 - Winnipeg: Noel Gunler
''Gunler is a player with a tantalizing combination of size, speed and skill. A natural sniper with a long reach and great north-south skating. When he is on his game, he will win battles and strip players of the puck by reading plays with his intelligence, and from there creates high danger scoring opportunities. He can also score from any angle and has underrated vision. When he's been given opportunities, he contributes positively - as showcased in his time in the SuperElit (where he performed better than top pick Lucas Raymond) and when injuries hit Luleå. What he needs to do is find more consistency and keep his head in the game. With some time to develop overseas, Gunler will be able to put things together and become a force.''
13 - NYR: Jack Quinn
14 - Calgary: Jake Sanderson
''He plays the game so efficiently, defends so hard and can jump into the play and add offense ... he's the prototypical modern-age defenseman. Sanderson is an outstanding talent capable of taking charge and controlling the play with his elite skating, sharp presence of mind and high-end puck skills''
15 - Florida: Hendrix Lapierre
''While injuries are obviously a concern, there's no denying Lapierre's talent and we feel he's one of the better players in this draft class, if healthy. Our fine medical staff did its due diligence with him and we feel he's taken the necessary steps to get back to full health. He'll look great behind Barkov in a few years.''
16 - Nashville: William Wallinder
"For as long as anyone can remember, MODO has been the driving force of Swedish hockey development, though they now share that with Frolunda. Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Victor Hedman, Mats Zuccarello, William Nylander- all played for the organization. We fully expect to see Wallinder's name on there with them if for whatever reason, someone decides to compile a list of greatest MODO players of all-time ten or fifteen years down the line. That said, Wallinder is one of the most raw prospects in the draft. It'll be years before he's ready for the NHL, as he's hardly ready for the Allsvenskan right now- but he has the makings of a great pick in the long run. I like to compare his toolset to Mattias Ekholm's. He's big, he's fast, he's pretty damn physical. He can get aggressive and confrontational in his own end, and more importantly he's excellent in transition and surprisingly, is one of the best in the draft at activating off the blueline and joining the attack."
17 - New Jersey (from Vancouver): Dawson Mercer
''Sturdily built natural sniper whose stick is always close to the ice surface, displaying strong offensive zone instincts. Creates offense (sometimes after going and taking the puck away) by scoring or acting as a playmaker. Isn't shy in the corner or along the wall and will play with some edge and surprise. Will catch goalies with surprise shots from different areas and angles. Likes to let it rip. Not necessarily a dynamic skater, but a smooth one whose high end anticipation allows him be where the puck will end up. Finds open ice and lets his heavy shot go. Plays in all situations and excels on both penalty kill and power play. Has a strong understanding of all zones and game situations and uses it to his advantage. His head is always up, looking to make his next play. Strong in puck pursuit, his strong three zone hockey IQ fuels his quest to be the best. Has outshined his older teammates. Served a suspense for a head shot he delivered.''
18 - Columbus: Mavrik Bourque
''We need some punch on offense and that’s what we get with Bourque. Great playmaker and a great kid. He was our #1 target before the draft and we think that he has the highest celling between the players still available''
19 - Carolina (from Toronto): Rodion Amirov
''An impressive two-way winger. Competes for every puck and tends to win thanks to his balance and strong core. Makes the subtle plays that add up. Skilled left wing with speed and high hockey IQ who can play all situations, he models his game after forwards Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Talented and quick, Amirov can be deadly in all situations.''
20 - Ottawa (from NYI): Braden Schneider
''Schneider is a fierce competitor who takes care of his own end first, but is more than capable of helping out on offense with quality outlet passes and smart plays at the offensive blueline. Schneider's skating is also strong and he is able to close gaps and maintain defensive positioning because of it. He has top 4 upside and could end up as a #2 beside Chabot.''
21 - Edmonton: Lukas Reichel
22 - Dallas: Jacob Perreault
23 - NYR (from Carolina): Connor Zary
24 - Vegas: Helge Grans
25 - Minnesota (from Pittsburgh): Dylan Holloway
'Holloway is a very typical Minnesota forward that should follow in the footsteps of Koivu, Parise and the likes as smart, hard-working two-way 2nd liner. We see a future where Holloway and Jarvis wreck havoc on teams with their high motor."
26 - Philadelphia: John-Jason Peterka
''Peterkas hands and speed are top notch. Playing in a mens league with a limited role isn't an easy task, but the talented German has displayed his great skill and skating very well in the DEL and more noticeably in the WJC. He's got a great shot and also has above average smarts. Overall, the Flyers are excited to add a talented player like him.''
27 - Washington: Roni Hirvonen
28 - SJ (from TB): Jan Myšák
29 - Colorado: Joni Jurmo
30 - St. Louis: Justin Sourdif
31 - Anaheim (from Boston): Kaiden Guhle
SECOND ROUND
32 - Detroit: Ozzy Weisblatt
"Ozzy took the offensive reins from the once powerhouse team and showed his offensive potential. Ozzy is a swift skater with good hands and a good shot. He's an accurate playmaker as well, making him a well rounded offensive threat. We love the way this kid plays the game, fiercely battling in front of the net and throwing hits. He's a ball of energy on the ice and is the perfect player who you can throw anywhere in your line-up, anywhere on a line, and get results."
33 - Ottawa: Ryan O'Rourke
''A physical two-way defenseman, O'Rourke was made team captain at 17. He's excellent at closing on players and angling them away from dangerous areas. He's still developing his offensive game, but it improved over the season. His outlet game has been great all year. He patterns his game after Duncan Keith, and has top 3 upside. He could end up as a future partner for Brannstrom.''
34 - SJ: Brendan Brisson
''More than the 10% discount on all contracts we're hoping to get from his dad, Brisson brings a ton to the table. He's a super skilled playmaker who can also score thanks to soft hands and he has a very competitive side to his game. We hope he can still work on his skating and strength a bit, but you can't teach hockey sense and this kid oozes it.''
35 - LA: Eemil Viro
''Viro is a terrific skating 2-way defenseman who we expect to slide into our top 4 in a few seasons. He will likely continue his development in Finland this upcoming season.''
36 - Anaheim: Jake Neighbours
''While this pick may be a slight reach, we fell in love with Neighbours' compete level and ability to make plays all over the ice. While he doesn't possess the best stickhandling, he's an underrated playmaker and never quits on a play. While he is only 5"11, he weighs over 200 lbs already and isn't shy about using his body. He has a good one timer and crashes the net hard to score a lot of goals in close.''
37 - Nashville (from NJ): Tyson Foerster
"There are two really intriguing things about Tyson Foerster. The first is his cannon of a slapshot, that I would argue is the best shot of any player in the draft outside the blue-chip prospects at the very top (Perfetti's wrister, Lafreniere's release, Holtz's everything). It makes him a very useful player especially on the powerplay. Though this isn't an intriguing part of his game really, we also like his pro-ready frame. He's basically got the standard build an NHL hockey player needs. The second thing is his development curve. Last year, Tyson Foerster was on no one's radar. He went from a third rounder in the OHL draft, to a middling bottom sixer, to an absolute breakout star this year- each time, exceeding expectations. Hopefully that trend continues."
38 - Buffalo: Justin Barron
"We can't believe Barron was still on the board! Some teams may have been wary of Barron's upside since missing a good portion of the season with a blood clot but we think he is a solid defensemen for us. Barron is a good skater for his size, always in good position and plays a strong 2-way game. He is the type of guy that you don't always notice and that is a good thing; he won't dazzle with his offense, or make a big hit, but he is a guy that helps you win hockey games."
39 - Montreal: Marat Khusnutdinov
40 - Montreal (from CHI): Martin Chromiak
41 - Arizona: Lukas Cormier
''Cormier embodies the modern NHL defenceman. A very good skater with outstanding agility, Cormier broke the QMJHL record of goals by a rookie defender with 15. He's great in transition, either by starting plays out of the zone himself or making crisp first passes. Despite his smaller stature, he has a very good shot, often looking for deflections in front of the net. He's a very smart player and we like the potential he has showcased so far.''
42 - Minnesota: Jeremie Poirier
''With a lot of safe players, and a lack of high end talent, Minnesota feels Poirier is a perfect pick here. The perfect double-edged sword. Highly skilled, high IQ and high upside kid with a really, really late birthday, and y'all know I like em young.''
43 - Winnipeg: Thomas Bordeleau
''A natural centre with a nice arsenal of shots and slick playmaking, Bordeleau is a skilled player with a lot of potential. He has great hands, allowing him to hold on to the puck and let passing lanes open up. He's quick, reaching top speeds in a few strides. Though he is a bit on the smaller side, he is never afraid to initiate contact and dig for pucks. To be a centre in the NHL he will have to get better defensively. We like that he's going to a top program at the University of Michigan, where he can grow and become a complete player.''
44 - Carolina (from NYR): William Villeneuve
''Villeneuve is one of those "safer" defenders who plays smart and creates offense well ... He's a player who seems to understand what the situation is while he's playing, rarely making poor decisions and getting around the ice smoothly and effectively''
45 - Calgary: Ridly Greig
"Greig is a speedy two-way center who comes from a hockey family. He has very good speed and excellent acceleration, but also competes hard and is willing to make sacrifices for his line mates. Greig’s game is built for the rigors of the NHL and could be closer to an everyday player than some might think.''
46 - Florida: Topi Niemelä.
''Smooth skating, intelligent puck moving defense that plays an effective game at both ends of the ice. Has the ability to quickly process plays and make good decisions at high speed thanks to outstanding awareness and anticipation. Will obviously need to bulk up before coming to this side of the pound.''
47 - Nashville: Alexander Nikishin
"Nikishin really struggled this year, but you can hardly fault him. It's tough for any young player to make the jump to the second best league in the world, playing minimal minutes. Besides, Nikishin more than proved himself last season. He's probably one of the two best hitters in the draft and is very physically developed. In addition, he's very agile and has great hands, and a booming slapshot. Perhaps most important though is his sheer dominance along the boards. Seeing Nikishin lose a puck battle is a rare sight. He's still a raw player and sometimes his brain lags behind the rest of him, but there's a lot to work with."
48 - LA (from Vancouver): Emil Andrae
''Emil is an undersized left shooting defenseman loaded with offensive skills and hockey smarts. Despite his height, he is sturdy, and consistently engages physically and with a nasty streak. He played for HV71 in the top Swedish pro league and also played for the HV71 Junior team where he led all defensemen in the league in points. Emil captained Sweden to a bronze medal in the WU17 Hockey Challenge and scored 4 points in 5 games at last year's U18 Hlinka-Gretzky tourney where he earned another bronze medal. He was expected to quarterback Team Sweden's power play in the recently cancelled WU18.''
49 - Ottawa (from Columbus): Zion Nybeck
''This year's Nils Hoglander/Nick Robertson Nybeck packs a punch in a small body. He's not afraid of getting dirty in the corners and is solid at puck possession. A real puck hound, he has elite speed and great hands, especially as a playmaker.''
50 - Toronto: Nico Daws
''With no real good/great goalie prospects for Toronto, Daws is the right pick to be made here for them. Daws secured the No. 1 ranking among North American goalies in the NHL Central Scouting 2020 Final Draft Prospect Rankings list. In 38 outings with OHL Guelph this year, Daws registered a 23-8-6 record, .924 save percentage and a league-leading five shutouts!''
51 - Ottawa (from NYI): Sam Colangelo
''Colangelo is big power forward who plays hard on the boards and in front of the net. He is strong on his skates and has quick acceleration to beat guys 1 on 1 for pucks. He's pretty accurate in the slot too. Put up more than a PPG in the USHL this season. His overall skating is about average, so it needs a bit of work, which he'll get at Northeastern University next year. Has Josh Anderson middle 6 type upside.''
52 - Detroit (from Edmonton): Theodor Niederbach
"Niederbach suffered a season ending knee injury last season and stepped in this year and produced from the hop. His draft stock was heading for continued ascension if the COVID-19 situation didn't cancel the U18 tournament this year. A gifted skater and a right handed center to boot, Theodor flashes elite level playmaking and the ability to stickhandle at high speed. An exceptional thinker on the ice, he attacks in a variety of ways and can finish in tight around the net with ease."
53 - Ottawa (from Dallas): Carter Savoie
''He dominated the AJHL this past season. He's a battler who has sweet, sweet scoring hands, an elite shot and strong hockey IQ. He needs to get stronger and continue to improve his skating, which he'll do at the University of Denver next year. Has second line upside.''
54 - Carolina: Roby Jarventie
''A big, gun-slinging goal-scorer. Can finish from out high and is deadly in the slot area. Was far and away the best U18 player in Mestis history this past season. Very young for this crop so there’s loads of space to grow.''
55 - LA (from Vegas): Jaromir Pytlik
''In Jaromir we are getting a big center who plays a strong 200 foot game and is one of the most complete players in the draft. He has represented the Czech Republic in many international tournaments including this year's WJC. Jaromir has high hockey IQ and does all the little things needed to win. We believe he's close to pro-ready and one of the more versatile forwards in this draft who will thrive as a checking center and pinch hit as a top 6 forward.''
56 - Chicago (from Pittsburgh): Shakir Mukhamadullin
"At this point, and given the role he played in the KHL so far, he may be more of a defensive defenseman going onward, he uses his size intelligently, he's already strong along the boards against men in a pro league, he loves to clear the crease even though he'll need to bulk up, and is great one-on-one as he anticipates plays very well. He does have a heavy shot, and uses it from time to time, in fact there is offensive potential, but he'll have to find a way to produce more. Having already played vs men, he may be one of the most NHL-ready Dman in the draft, and his overall potential, if his offense develops some more, screams top-pairing, but at worst, he'd be a bottom-4 defensive D. Let's just say that in his case, the reward outweight the risk."
57 - Philadelphia: Luke Evangelista
"We have seen players with average skill and skating be successful in the NHL just because of their high end hockey sense. The Flyers value the incredible hockey sense on Evangelista greatly. Luke put up a good 61 points in 62 games, but what is most impressive is that he did that with very little PP time as only 2 of those points were on the PP. He's an awesome playmaker, and has high-end work ethic.''
58 - Detroit (from Washington): Emil Heineman
''After going to Sweden to take a player who we believed who have gone higher if not for a knee injury, we are going back to Sweden to select a late riser. Heineman is a big bodied winger who nearly scored a goal per game at the SuperElit level and managed 11 games in Swedish Hockey League where he got on the score sheet with two assists. He has high hockey IQ and great skating even if his skating style isn't the prettiest to look at. The biggest part of his game is his shot, he's an elite shooter with every possible shot in his repertoire."
59 - Tampa Bay: Vasili Ponomaryov
"The right winger is a skilled offensive attacker who displays great shiftiness, puck-handling abilities and competitiveness every shift. If his decision-making with the puck needs to be polished, his creativity and ability to spark things offensively are certainly not up to debate. "
60 - San Jose (from Colorado): Kasper Simontaival
"Sure, this is a third forward in as many picks, but we feel that's where the value is at this point in the draft and while we REALLY liked Ponomarev, Simontaival is much more than a consolation prize. He's small, but we love that he's conscious about his own zone in addition to being an absolute offensive dynamo."
61 - Montreal (from STL): Daniil Gushchin
62 - Boston: Veeti Miettinen
''A small goal-scoring winger with a lethal wrist shot and very good playmaking abilities. A very good skater who gives great effort in his play without the puck, he broke the U18 scoring record in his league last year. ''
THIRD ROUND
63 - Detroit: Joel Blomqvist!
"Blomqvist is the next goaltender to come out of Finland. Keeping with tradition, he has active hands, explosive lateral movement and is current on modern goaltending techniques. Like all young goalies, he needs to reduce focus and mental errors that lead to bad goals. However, he shows a propensity to make big saves which we believe speaks to his athleticism. Work to be done but the Red Wings haven't had an elite netminder in a long time, Blomqvist has the profile to become one."
64 - Ottawa: Luke Tuch
"Tuch has the same upside as his brother, a big, power forward who plays a possession game. He's solid on his skates, which allows him to protect the puck well. He'll play USHL next year then head to Boston University in 21-22. Already plays a pro-style game. Three years away from pro. Ottawa can afford to wait.''
65 - Detroit (from SJ): Dmitri Ovchinnikov
"Ovchinnikov is an under the radar prospect in the russian junior league. His point-per-game performance rewarded him with 2 games in the KHL despite his smallish stature. He is committed to the defensive game and we love the flashes of brilliance we see from him. With this many picks, we felt we could gamble on this player and hope for continued evolution in his offensive game."
66 - LA: Ty Smilanic
''Ty is a great skating center with good puck handling and playmaking skills. We see him as a long term project with untapped offensive abilities. He has committed to Qunnipiac University for the upcoming season.''
67 - Anaheim: Jean-Luc Foudy
"Like his older brother, Liam, Jean-Luc has elite speed and is one of the best all around athletes in the draft. He's a pass first center that that could transition to wing as he moves up the ranks. His shot isn't terrible but he rarely ever shoots the puck which is something he'll need to work on. We believe that, with the proper coaching, he has the natural talent to overcome his weaknesses and become a productive NHLer.''
68 - Vegas (from NJ): Alexander Pashin.
''Pashin displays excellent offensive skills. His close-quarter passing is top notch and his skate-to-stick transition when receiving passes is impressive as well. When it comes to firing the puck on net, Pashin has soft hands and a quick release. His combination of superior sense for the offensive side, skating ability, and his hands allow him to generate several high-quality scoring chances a game.''
69 - Carolina (from BUF): Oliver Suni
"Big straight line skating winger who plays a power game and has aggressive offensive instincts. Is also good on the move in setting up plays and attacking the scoring areas near the slot. You are not rafting a finesse guy with him, just one who wins fifity-fifty pucks and is aggressive shift after shift, and is offensively attuned and picking his spots. Feet are in need of more work and you would like to see more wiggle and shake and bake, but you cannot argue with his results as a junior player who knows the game and plays it aggressively."
70 - Montreal: Mitchell Miller
71 - Chicago: Daniel Torgersson
72 - Washington (from ARI): Anton Johannesson
"Getting one of the best defenseman in the draft this late is absolutely incredible for me. There are risks with injuries, but the size is zero issue because his hockey IQ is among the best in the draft. His ability to read the play is top of the class. He has a very real possibility at being one of the best players in this draft if he can stay healthy and gain some strength."
73 - Nashville (from MIN): Antonio Stranges
"With this pick, we're continuing a sequence of draftees each flawed in their own way, each elite in their own way. Wallinder's a bit slow between the ears, but has an amazing toolset. Nikishin is much the same, though more physically developed, and less offensively inclined. Foerster arguably breaks the trend, but his shot is elite, while his lack of even-strength production is his bane. Stranges is no different: he's an amazing skater, able to change direction and weave his way through the defense like few others, but his production struggled this year because he's not overly efficient and he's extremely inconsistent- whether or not he's able to convert his playstyle to the pros is a major concern as a result. Stranges' unique puckhandling tendencies blow away everyone in the crowd and his creativity sets him apart from the rest of the pack, making him an intriguing prospect if things go right down the line."
74 - Ottawa (from WPG): Sean Farrell
"There are a ton of small, speedy, skilled forwards in this draft. Farrell is one of them. He seperates himself from the rest by really understanding how to use his lower center of gravity to create strength and power. He's engaged physically but can also be elusive when he needs to be. He uses back pressure and a smart stick on defense to create turnovers and can kill penalties. He's smart offensively with terrific hands for both scoring and passing, but he's not a top 6 or bust player. Will play at Harvard next season."
75 - NYR: Alex Cotton
76 - Chicago (from CGY): Will Cuylle
"Big, rugged winger who plays a power game, so far he hasn’t yet blossomed as anticipated, but he has untapped potential, including the size, the shot, and the smarts to be a valuable power forward in the NHL. It’s just a matter of bringing the production every game, to find consistency. Good skater who can generate power on his net drives and who protects the puck well through traffic. Cuylle also has a very good release on his shot. His 2-way game is surprisingly good, he can stop plays in the neutral zone pretty often. If his offensive production doesn't develop enough at the next level, he could simply refine his 2-way game instead. Cuylle will need some time to reach his potential."
77 - Florida: Michael Benning
"Benning is dynamic d-man with excellent puck distribution skills and vision. While points don't mean everything, he did match Cale Makar's draft year point total in the AJHL. He has good bloodlines and is committed to U of Denver and will need a few years there to gain some weight and get stronger."
78 - Nashville: Maxim Groshev
"Maxim is your archetypal big, strong winger, and the second KHL player the Preds have taken this draft. He's pretty fast and plays a basic north-south, 'North American' style. His wristshot is among his mostly deadly attributes, though even it isn't particularly outstanding. Being a late-2001 birthday, we feel Groshev is among the most NHL ready prospects available outside a few at the very top."
79 - Vancouver: Tristen Robins
80 - LA (from CBJ): Yan Kuznetsov
"Yan is a 6ft4 defensive blue liner who came to NorthAmerica from Russia two years ago. Yan was the youngest player in the entire NCAA this past season and surprised with his offense by chipping in 11 points. He's an average skater but plays a terrific defensive game and has a cannon shot. He has represented Russia in numerous international tournaments."
81 - Colorado (from TOR): Nils Aman
82 - NYI: Jack Finley
"We decided to go with some NHL bloodlines with our first pick. Jack's father Jeff was an ex-Islander who played over 700 games in the NHL. Jack is one of the youngest players available in this year's draft, we also see a very projectable frame from this young man as he's already 6'5" and 207lbs. He has shown us a good two-way approach to the game, as he easily causes havoc in front of the opposing netminder but also provides a good stick presence on the back check. One of the more surprising parts of his repertoire is his skating, for being such a large man we were impressed by his edgework, he does need some improvement on his overall acceleration however."
83 - Edmonton: Brett Berard
84 - NYR (from DAL): Tyler Kleven
85 - Carolina: Brock Faber
"A player with no weakness, he a six footer whose weight weight is a good 200 pounds. Remarkably strong but doesn’t display any standout characteristic that could be call dynamic or game changing. Is not an offensive player, just a player whose proficient on the defensive side. Calm, steady reliable and more than able to knock good sized attackers off their skates and the puck. Lets most carries be handled by his partner and his touches are mistake-free ones within his toolboxes comfort zone. Does make safe pass out in transition, to his partner and in the attack zone, but keeps it simple. If he doesn’t see a developing play in the attack, he just puts it on net hoping for tip ins. Like most players in the prodigious United States program, they come well school with the possibility of upside as development goes on. Committed to Notre Dame University."
86 - Vegas: Ronan Seeley
87 - Pittsburgh: Kasper Puutio
"Right handed defenseman that will need to build muscle and continue to work on his skating but the tools are there. Very good IQ, passing and shooting. One of the youngest llayer of the draft.
Played against best lines with Finland in the international tournaments and played I now of the worst CHL team I have ever witness. Not the transition I anticipated for him coming over after being selected 1st overall in the import draft, but it leaves lot of room for progression."
88 - TB (from PHI): Pavel Novak
'Novák is a good skater who likes to push the pace and get the puck to the middle of the ice. He filters the puck to the slot with efficiency and consistency. He still plays a bit of a perimeter role at times but his passing and vision are effective from the outside at the junior level. He likely needs to find that extra gear to get to the middle more often at the next level. When he does so in the WHL, he is extremely dangerous and has good hands in tight to find daylight.”
89 - Montreal (from WSH): Brandon Coe
90 - TB: Nick Malik
''A butterfly goalie with good size, superb reflexes, good puck skills, plus NHL bloodlines. Has already had success at the men’s level at a young age and came over to north america this year in order to further his development. He has the potential to become a starting goalie at the NHL level when all is said and done.''
91 - Florida (from COL): Evan Vierling
"Vierling is a quick and agile skater with good offensive instincts. However, he plays a solid two-way game and might end up being known more for his defensive abilities at the next level. He took his game to another level after being traded to Barrie."
92 - St. Louis: Blake Biondi
93 - Boston: Ruben Rafkin
''Excellent at taking away space and playing with intensity in the defensive end, he loves to step up on attacking forwards at the blueline or as they cut to the middle. He also shows potential as a puck carrier and powerplay QB and could round out as a very complete pro defenseman in a few years''.
FOURTH ROUND
94 - TB (from DET): Donovan Sebrango
''Donovan is one of the best skaters in this year’s draft out of the OHL. He has the ability to skate by anyone in the neutral zone. He can beat forecheckers by using his speed and edge work and he is a threat whenever he is in the offensive zone. He has good puck skills and can handle pucks at high speed and he is a very high risk high reward type of player. He competes hard all over the ice and won’t back down from anyone. Donovan has the skating ability and skill to be a very good player at the next level''
95 - Ottawa: Eamon Powell
"A smooth, graceful skater, Powell transitions the puck effortlessly. Defensively, he uses his skating to angle players into bad areas and uses an active stick to take the puck away. Offensively, he can walk the blueline and quickly change shooting angles to get pucks on net. A two-way player with solid hockey IQ, he had a solid season for the NTDP and will play for Boston College next season."
96 - Calgary (from SJ): Jack Thompson
"Thompson plays a strong two-way game based on his excellent mobility. He skates well and loves to get forward, joining the rush and even leading it at times through the neutral zone. He is also able to pinch in from the blue line and still get back defensively. Thompson has an excellent slap shot that is a real weapon on the power play. Good lateral agility makes him tough to beat in one-on-one situations, and he uses an active stick to knock pucks away from defenders."
97 - LA: Dylan Peterson
"Dylan is a good skater with size and a good shot. He plays a strong defensive game. We see him as a safe pick who will at some point play a bottom 6 role in the NHL. Dylan has committed to Boston University for the 2020-21 season."
98 - Montreal (from ANA): Samuel Knazko
99 - NJ: Thimo Nickl
"Underrated Austrian import who has continued to improve his entire rookie season, confident as he now has taken over running the Drummondville power play with Dawson Mercer’s departure. Tall with room for growth, he has good feet, showing mobility and agility. His shot continues to get better and on the defensive side he uses his reach, stick and feet to thwart opposing attackers. Not flashy just effective in his outlets and overall demeanor."
100 - Buffalo: Daemon Hunt
"Much like second round pick, Barron; Daemon Hunt missed a good portion of the season due to injury after missing 3 months due to a laceration to his forearm. Hunt has both the skills and the mental toughness to make the NHL. He plays the game very fast and can maneuver the ice with ease to defend and take time and space away from the opposition. He is a very reliable player with high hockey I.Q."
101 - Montreal: Samuel Hlavaj
102 - Chicago: Zayde Wisdom
103 - Arizona: Tyler Tullio
"Really skilled player that is poised for a big offensive breakout next year. A bit on the smaller side but we see a lot of Cam Atkinson in him. Tenacious and in your face with a very high motor."
104 - Minnesota: Wyatt Kaiser
105 - Montreal (from WPG): Yegor Sokolov
106 - NYR: Theo Rochette
107 - LA (from CGY): Dmitri Zlodeyev
"Dmitri is a solid 2-way center who produces points and plays the body hard. Although not a pretty skater, he displays quickness and good puck skills. He can play on both special teams and is very successful in the face-off circle. Dmitri had a good showing at last year's Ivan Hlinka tournament."
108 - Florida: James Hardie
109 - Anaheim (from NSH): Ethan Cardwell
110 - Vancouver: Oskar Magnusson
"Undersized, skilled two way C/W who shredded Swedish juniors this year. Long term project but has potential as a utility type player due to his engagement at both ends."
111 - Columbus: William Dufour
"Player that has size and had a really good progression when he arrived in Drummondville on a bigger role. One of my sleeper who I hope Habs will draft."
112 - Toronto: Alex Laferriere
"Although Laferriere only stands at 5-foot-10, he plays a much bigger game when he steps out onto the ice. Not afraid to get physical, Laferriere can often be seen in the corners battling for the puck and grinding away down low. He battles for position in front of the net and is not afraid of bigger defenders. He sticks up for his teammates and can often be found ensuing opponents after the whistle has gone. Gee, I wonder which team would need a guy like him? Oh wait, that's right: Toronto.
Anyway, Laferriere’s game also revolves around his creativity and skill. He has great hands and uses his skill to create chances for his teammates. His shot is NHL ready and is one of the best features he has. Most of the time, with a quick release, the goalie has no chance of stopping his shot. He has great top-end speed as well."
113 - NYI: Carson Bantle
"Carson Bantle was a man among boys in the USHL this year, while playing for an awfully weak team in Madison he managed to produce at a PPG pace and contributed to 40% of the teams total offence. With a frame already resembling the modern day power winger (6'4" 201lbs) we are excited about his versatility on the ice. He's got a heavy + accurate shot to go along with the physicality and smarts to play a good two-way game. He is commited to Michigan Tech where we hope that he will continue to develop his skating and consistency."
114 - Detroit (from EDM): Connor McClennon
"An undersized player, Connor McClennon started off slow this year and managed to find himself above a PPG before a collarbone injury ended his season early. A former high pick in the WHL, he is a highly skilled player who works hard every shift and isn't afraid to get under his opponents skill. We firmly believe he would have been drafted earlier if not for his size and injury this year. Connor's underlying advanced stats for production per 60 is one of the best among draft eligibles in the CHL."
115 - Dallas: Ryan Francis
116 - NJ (from CAR): Simon Kubicek
"Big strong defenders who uses his size to play his position with zealous. Has nice footwork and a good enough burst to close gaps, be the first to loose pucks or handle attackers in one on one situations. Can and will separate attackers from pucks with open ice hits. Very good on the power play where he lets loose his big time heavy shot. Sees the passing lanes and takes good angle when moving closer in. Is a good outlet passer who is willing to trail the play or create the odd-man rush."
117 - Toronto (from VGK): Colby Ambrosio
"An explosive and hard-charging talent, Ambrosio was Tri-City’s leading scorer and combined with top 2021 draft prospect Matthew Knies to form one of the USHL’s most lethal duos. Committed to Boston College, the Ontario native has game-breaking abilities and can play a tough and abrasive brand of hockey. His 50 points in 48 games was 11th in the league and tied for the lead in power-play points with 24 (13 goals and 11 assists). Ambrosio also closed out his draft season red hot by recording 36 points in his final 28 contests."
118 - Pittsburgh: Juuso Maenpaa
"Maenpaa finished his rookie season with 49 points in 52 games to win Best Rookie Award. He plays center at the junior level because of his good vision, passing skills and his two-way game, but could transition to the wing if needed because of his great skating and effort level.
He if progresses well he could be a force on PK and a guy that can play up and down our lineup to complimente our aging center stars or be a key contributor of our bottom 6."
119 - Philadelphia: Adam Wilsby
"Wilsby is a double overager, but his talent wasn't the issue, his physical maturation simply held him back. This year, he was very dominant in Sweeden's 2nd best league, which is still impressive for his age. He's a good skater and excellent puck mover which makes his offensive upside intriguing."
120 - Washington: Yevgeni Oksentyuk
121 - TB: Rory Kerins
''Kerins plays the game the right way and is an accomplished 200-foot player. He has no fear of getting into the higher danger zone area in the slot area. He can score the dirty goals or beat you with his shot. He’ll battle along the walls, and has surprising strength at 5’10”. He also has very good hockey IQ. He has shown he can be a good playmaker at the OHL level. He can slow down and wait for a play to become available and make a good pass, with a very good ability to lead players with a pass by putting it into areas they can skate into."
122 - Colorado: Daniel Ljungman
123 - St. Louis: Cross Hanas
124 - NJ (from BOS): Jan Bednar
"At 6-foot-4 Bednar has the size that NHL teams are looking for in their goalie. His skating allows him to make the most of this, cutting down angles and challenging shooters. He is almost always on square to the shooter. Bednar tracks the puck extremely well. He anticipates plays well and gets across the crease quickly. Bednar says close to his post and protects the net well when the puck is down low. Bednar has quick legs and gets up and down in the butterfly quickly, his long legs take away the bottom of the net and it is difficult to beat him along the ice. His glove hand is very quick and it is also difficult to beat him on that side. He is extremely athletic and able to make saves even when he is out of position. With his good skating, Bednar is able to come out of his net and retrieve loose pucks. He then makes a pass to start the transition game, make a long pass up the ice if he catches his opponent on a bad line change or clear the puck if his team is in trouble."
FIFTH ROUND
125 - Detroit: Artem Shlaine
"Playing in a prep school, we are hoping the reason he is slipping is due to a lack of exposure and playing against less competition. He did well in a couple games in the USHL this season. Artem has high IQ, plays a power forward game and has some silky mitts as well. He is a long term project and will spend 3-4 years at the University of Connecticut."
126 - SJ (from OTT): Jacob Dion.
"The NHL is all about offense now and this kid showed great vision all year long as well as some impressive defensive play for his size. We think he could become some kind of PP specialist or a regular on a 3rd pairing with PP time. In any case, his playmaking ability and intelligence will certainly make him an interesting prospect to follow."
127 - SJ: Gage Goncalves
"After scoring just once all year last season, the 19 year old had a great season as the first line center in Everett. We think he might be a late bloomer and see the potential for him to follow the same progression curve as Morgan Geekie a few years ago. His best asset is probably his hockey IQ and to us, that's always a great place to start."
128 - LA: Drew Commesso
129 - Anaheim: Matteo Costantini
130 - NJ: Bogdan Trineev
"Bogdan plays a classic power forward game, using his big 6-foot-3 frame to bully his way around the ice, getting into the dirty areas to score goals or laying down hits to give the opponent something to think about. While his skating and shot are still very raw, they are good enough to support his physical gameplan. While his scoring totals are nothing special, he has been able to produce points at the MHL level, as well as with Russia’s U18 team, where he played on the top line. Despite not being the most skilled skater or the strongest forward in the draft, he has that intangible compete level that could make him a future NHLer even without a first-round toolkit. Due to his somewhat raw but developing skillset, he is not expected to break into the NHL immediately, and even if he never reaches his full potential, it would still be a worthwhile attempt. If given that time however, there’s a chance that he could become that 2nd or 3rd line power forward that every team dreams of having on their roster."
131 - Buffalo: Jacob Truscott
"Truscott is a great skater considering his frame. His primary role with the NTDP has been as a shutdown defensemen but he has a lot of untapped offensive upside as evidenced with his offensive vision and ability to move across the offensive blueline to find lanes to the net while working the powerplay. Truscott has the potential to be a solid 4-5 d-man in the NHL."
132 - Montreal: Marko Stacha
133 - Chicago: Pavel Tyutnev
"A player who, on paper, would likely be thrown in the ‘undersized Russian group’, but there is a lot to unpack in his game. Offensively, he’s always a threat on the ice. He uses a mix of skating, strength, and speed to move the puck with ease, and creates danger with his shooting and passing. Think of any offensive tool, and Tyutnev has it. He has no issues getting into the dirty areas of the ice, in fact he loves it, it does cause issues because of his size, but his puck control while being pressured by defenders is something that always stands out. His shot is not particularly strong, but it's a precise one. His 1v1 skill also shines, he reads the opposing movements very well. All in all, a small but gritty center who'll need to bulk up if he wants to continue playing his way at the next level."
134 - Arizona: Michael Krutil
135 - Minnesota: Christopher Sedoff
136 - Winnipeg: Viktor Persson
137 - NYR: Ryan Kirwan
138 - Calgary: Oliver Tarnstrom
139 - Montreal (from FLA): Ian Moore
140 - Nashville: Parker Ford
"Ford was the lone undrafted player to represent the U.S. at this year's World Junior tournament. This year, we're going to change that. Ford's most notable skills are transferable to the NHL: he's fast, he's aware, and has loads of energy. That said, it is highly unlikely Ford ever makes it above the third line."
141 - Vancouver: Tanner Dickinson
142 - Columbus: Jeremie Biakabutuka
143 - Florida (from TOR): Artyom Galimov
"Galimov had a break out season in the KHL in his last year of draft eligibility, being named rookie of the year. Good speed, good shot, good compete and two-way ability. Nice gamble at this point in the draft."
144 - NYI: Zachary Uens
"Last year Zachary was overlooked playing in the weaker OJHL league, his decision to play there was to keep his NCAA eligibility. In his first year as a NCAA freshman he showed poise and a true offensive mindset while carrying the play on the backend. As one of the better skating defenceman available in the NCAA this year we decided to scoop him up because we believe he can progress into a very productive offensive defenseman."
145 - Edmonton: Benjamin Baumgartner
146 - Dallas: Ryder Rolston
147 - St. Louis (from CAR): Wyatt Schingoethe
148 - Toronto (from VGK): Landon Slaggert
"A rugged two-way forward who added a physical component to the NTDP’s top line, Slaggert had a strong second half in which he reinforced his reputation as being more than just a crash-and-bang support player. Not only did he contribute in his own end on a consistent basis, but his 13 tallies ranked fifth while operating in a goal-scoring-by-committee attack. Slaggert, who can play center or wing, also proved his mettle against tough NCAA opposition as well, scoring seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in his final seven games against college competition. The most impressive aspect of his season, however, was his production against his USHL peers — Slaggert registered a point-per-game average (14 points in 14 games) against the 21-and-under crowd."
149 - Pittsburgh: Maksim Beryozkin
"With his large frame and offensive talents, Maksim Beryozkin is hard to miss. Beryozkin is used in all even-strength situations and sees additional ice time on the lead penalty-killing unit and the point or bumper on the power play. Needs to work on his consistency and work ethic and could still improve his acceleration ans foot work. Beryozkin finished the regular season as the league leader among first-year draft eligibles with 25 goals and his 1.06 points-per-game average was second only to Rodion Amirov. Beryozkin also tied for first in the league with four shorthanded goals."
150 - Philadelphia: Elliot Ekmark
"The smart 5'9 forward is a great skater and is also responsible defensively. He is best known for his playmaking, but his shot is also pretty good."
151 - Washington: Davide Fadani
152 - Ottawa (from TB): Calle Clang
153 - Colorado: Cameron Tolnai
"Each month, we saw Tolnai get a little bit better. And when Graeme Clarke returned at the end of the year, giving Tolnai a formidable winger, it was like an awakening. 11 points in his final 10 games, but it was how he was creating those, as 8 of those 11 points were primary points. He was driving play from down the middle by using his size (6'1) and skill package. Putting defenders on his back. Clearing space. And making skilled plays below the hash marks to create time and space. This kid, when he is on, is the complete package and has as much upside as many of the players in my top 20. Power centers with size and skating ability are highly coveted by the NHL."
154 - St. Louis: Ethan Edwards
155 - Boston: Adam Raska
''Under-sized off hander left winger with good feet and effort and a quick wrister. Uses his speed in on the forecheck and it is very rare that he doesn’t finish one of his checks. Night by night one of the hardest worker in the entire QMJHL causing turmoil with his skating ability and willingness to take contact and meet it head on. Not big guy but is continually using his speed to back defenders off the blue line. This is not a goal scorer or generator by way of skill, but one elevates teammates and his play effort and intensity. Tireless workers have a way of making their places on rosters.''
SIXTH ROUND
156 - Detroit: Maximilian Glotzl
"We are excited to step up and add a countryman for Seider in the pipeline. Glotzl was nearly PPG in the junior league as a defenseman in Germany. He saw a couple games in the 2nd german league and the DEL which is a strong statement for a teenager on the blueline. He's a strong skater, has good size and is an excellent passer. He has a big, yet inaccurate shot. A long term project that could boom or become a reliable depth defenseman"
157 - TB (from OTT): Patrick Guay
''He's a small winger who can also play center. A high pick in the 2018 QMJHL Draft, Poulin had 40 points as a second year player this season. He is more of a sniper then a playmaker for now but he's got the offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, and attitude you want a well rounded pro forward to have.''
158 - Ottawa (from SJ): Leo Loof
159 - LA: Dmitry Rashevsky
"Rashevsky is a late bloomer from Russia who led the MHL with 44 goals after only scoring 4 goals the previous season when he went undrafted. Dmitry caught fire in the second half of the season. He has a heavy shot and quick release. He plays RW but shoots left."
160 - Anaheim: Robert Calisti
161 - NJ: Simon Knak
"Swiss winger with good size, he’s a left-handed shot who likes to play on the right side. Good forechecking abilities and is able to turn the puck over through his hustle and grit. He’s a reliable two-way player with good offensive tools. Uses his size, reach and fluid movement, he is also a solid puck handler and passer."
162 - Dallas (from BUF): Pavel Gogolev
163 - Montreal: Hugo Styf
164 - Chicago: Grant Slukynsky
"One of the top all-around centers among North American high schoolers, Slukynsky was the heart and soul of a Warroad squad that returned to state for the first time since 2010. He can beat you in multiple ways — passing, shooting, hitting, checking — but he also brings a no-nonsense approach to every shift. He was the Warriors’ leader both on and off the ice, and his senior season was dominant from wire to wire. Slukynsky does have -great- hands, vision, can pass with aplomb and his shot is deceptively quick. Not a flashy skater, but a powerful one with good balance that allows him to protect the puck well along the boards." (Steve Kournianos)
165 - Arizona: Owen Pederson
"Was part of a great offensive commity in Winnipeg where he was able to score 20 goals
He knows where to go on the ice to score, has good skating for his size and great hands to finish the play."
166 - Minnesota: Isac Andersson
167 - Winnipeg: Ben King
"Ben really took off after being trade of this disaster team that was the Broncos.
Big right hand winger, he has decent skating and good hands around the net to complete the plays.
He knows where to go on the ice to score, has good skating for his size and great hands to finish the play."
168 - NYR: Artur Akhtyamov
169 - Calgary: Hugo Ollas
170 - Colorado (from FLA): Vitali Pinchuk
171 - Nashville: Kristian Tanus
"A double overager, Tanus' selection is long overdue. The undersized Finn shares a lot of similarities with Ruslan Iskhakov, the New York Islanders draft pick: he's fast, but not too fast, quick, but not too quick- it's between the ears where Tanus sets himself apart. He thinks the game ahead of everyone else and makes excellent offensive plays. Given his size, it's no shocker that Tanus struggles with the physical part of the game, though he has managed to stick at the top men's level in Finland. He has some severe flaws and some impressive strengths, a true wildcard pick."
172 - Vancouver: Luke Prokop
''Luke Prokop is a strong player who utilizes his size to his advantage in corner puck battles. The 2017 seventh overall selection in the WHL bantam draft is definitely defensive-minded, however, he exhibits a further offensive upside. Prokop has shown terrific gap control and the ability to make outlet passes to be a strength. While in the offensive zone, Prokop is terrific when it comes to sending hard low shots to the net which are often redirected, the young defender showing all this while playing minimal power play ''
173 - Columbus: Xavier Simoneau
174 - Toronto: Luke Reid
175 - NYI: Axel Rindell
"Axel led all U20 defensemen in Liiga this year with 22pts in 47gp while playing for the low scoring Jukurit squad. We really like the offensive mindset that he brings to the rink every day. He's the type of defenseman that can piggyback a powerplay unit with both his passing ability and a strong shot from the point. He has no problems getting around the ice and his overall speed and footwork is above average. As a U20 player already producing in a men's league it is hard to pass on the potential here."
176 - Edmonton: Joonas Oden
177 - Dallas: Logan Morrison
178 - Toronto (from CAR): Danny Weight
179 - Vegas: Hayden Fowler
180 - Pittsburgh: Maksim Kroviyakov
"Logging significant minutes as a 17 years old center in key situations for one of the better teams in the Russian junior (With my boy Marat) while showing impressive offensive tools.
Krovyakov’s combination of size and skating ability draw attention. His acceleration is very good and he has good foot speed for a his frame, he can still work on his technique and stand.
Krovyakov use his size well in the corners along the board to protect the puck and in front of the net to provide screens and hunt for rebounds.
Show good play making abiilities but he is more of a finisher with a great and quick shot.
He is more a complementary player, augmenting and complementing what is created by his teammates."
181 - Philadelphia: Kyle Crnkovic
"He's a skilled and speedy winger, and at this point in the draft, we would like to gamble on his high end skill."
182 - Washington: David Aebischer
"I'm almost certain I drafted Aebischer last year, but he's an extremely talented defenseman. He'll be playing in Fribourg this season, which is a very good league after spending the last two seasons in Gatineau. Before Gatineau, he was brought up in the Fribourg system, so he should be well equipped to jump right in. Very excited to get him yet again. If he doesn't make the NHL, he'll still be a huge part of the Swiss defensive corps for years to come."
183 - TB: Michal Gut
''Czech centre with good size, feet, and hands. Displays decent hand in tight spaces. Has enough speed to get separation and shows good footwork. He is a goal scorer first and foremost, and puts himself in position to receive pucks and place his shots in small openings. A little too deliberate and might take a bit longer before teeing his shots up. Can handle punishment to succeed offensively. Has a willingness to go head on one to one against defenders, highly confident in his capabilities in that end. ''
''His rookie season in the Dub ended up coming a bit short of expectation, more so since he already had some experience in the senior league back home. We do like his overall potential though and feel he's well worth the late round gamble''
184 - Toronto (from COL): Ethan Bowen
"Big framed centre He is able to compact his frame and gain balance while frequenting small spaces. Good on the cycle on downright deceptive and will step up undetected from the outside. Natural strong and selfishness holds the biscuit in scoring areas and it usually needs up being the right thought. He is a very skilled centre-wing squares up to receive pucks and ramp his tempo up at the proper time. Lean and athletic, and a dangerous shooter who can pick the corners. Was somewhat disappointing after his return from broken wrist injury. Committed to the University of North Dakota. His physical tools and high hockey IQ seem to process well and a bit more momentum might seal the deal on misname being called."
185 - Ottawa (from STL): Charlie Desroches
186 - Boston: Dylan Garand
''Garand does a good job of staying square to the shooter, moving well on his feet with good body control. He is laterally quick and has a solid base when in the butterfly. He needs to get stronger, especially in his core and lower body to help stay upright while getting a good push side to side. He's a bit smaller size wise than what teams are typically looking for nowadays but at 6 ft 1 he's not painfully short either ''
SEVENTH ROUND
187 - Detroit: Oscar Tellstrom
188 - Montreal (from OTT): Billy Constantinou
189 - Toronto (from SJ): Louis Crevier
190 - LA: Jake Ratzlaff
191 - Vancouver (from ANA): Lleyton Moore
''On talent alone, Moore certainly deserves to be ranked higher. His mobility is a major asset, as he's a downright terrific skater. However, the production hasn't quite materialized yet for the former high pick out of the famed Toronto Marlboros minor midget program. Moore defends quite well for a 5'8, 170lbs kid, by using his mobility to stay ahead of attackers . We believe he's worth a late round gamble on the basis of his boom or bust potential ''
192 - NJ: David Ma
"Undersized offense man with light footwork, strong edging, with excellent puck moving and passing ability. Was one of the United States teams best player in the 8 Nations/Hlinka Cup . Activates and frees teammates with good up-ice passes. Fearless shot blocker. Needs plenty of upper body strength. Committed to Princeton University."
193 - Buffalo: Ivan Didkovsky
"Didkovsky is all sizzle when it comes to offense. He is a highly skilled winger with exceptional hands, creativity and agility. Didkovsky can pick corners with ease, with both his wrist shot and one-timer."
194 - Philadelphia: Jack Smith
"Jack is a solid skater that has good smarts who has been very productive. He's got intriguing offensive tools which we feel is the right kind of gamble in the 7th round."
195 - Montreal (from CHI): Victor Mancini
196 - Arizona: Kirill Steklov
197 - Minnesota: Isaak Phillips
198 - Toronto (from WPG): Linus Oberg
199 - NYR: Jackson Van De Leest
200 - Calgary: Nate Schweitzer
201 - Florida: Riley Duran
202 - NYR (from NSH): Jack Works
203 - NYR (from VAN): Eric Engstrand
204 - Columbus: Fabio Iacobo
205 - Carolina (from TOR): Danila Galenyuk
206 - NYI: Brady Burns
"With our 7th rounder we decided to go boom or bust, we selected a fast and creative center who can find all the right places on the ice to score goals. Burns is undersized at 5'8" & 150lbs, but he's also sneaky with the puck. He uses his speed to avoid being taken down by bigger opponents and uses his above average stick handling to get the puck out of the dirty areas. Brady nears the top of every scoring list for '02 born players, so it's hard to ignore his pure offensive output.
The only way that Burns will be able to compete at the next level if if he can build up strength to keep himself upright when facing stronger competition. If is offence doesn't translate, he will need to develop better defensive skills to compensate."
207 - Edmonton: Samuel Johannesson
208 - Buffalo (from DAL): Will Cranley
"Cranley didn't get a lot of exposure as back-up to the strong Ottawa 67's team but he has good potential and should see more time in the crease this year. At 6'4", Cranley has both the size and athleticism to become an NHL goaltender for a team willing to be patient for him to develop."
209 - Carolina: Jackson Kunz
"Although he only played five games for the Gamblers in a shortened season, Jackson had a stellar season with Shattock St. Mary's Midget Prep. He recorded 69 points with them before coming to the Gamblers where he recorded one in five games. Next season, Jackson will play for the University of North Dakota who will provide him with a great platform to continue developing into a more well-rounded prospect."
210 - Vegas: Chase Yoder
211 - SJ (from PIT): Mitchell Smith.
"I went to see a Saginaw game in Ottawa this year to watch #91 (Perfetti) in action. He was as advertised, but he was the only player I noticed more than #22 on the Spirit. I had to look this kid up because as a defenceman, he kept making nice rushes up the ice and seemed to always be looking to jump in the action, yet I didn't see him make many mistakes on D. I Googled him and that's when I noticed he was born on September 15th, the latest he could to be a 2020 draft eligible. Playing behind more experienced defenders, his icetime was limited, but I'm expecting big time progression from his next year as he becomes a true top 4 guy for Saginaw. He's obviously a long term project, but he really stood out for me and I'll be stoked if he ends up being drafted this year as I did see some potential in him."
212 - Philadelphia: Lukas Svejkovsky
"Svejkovsky has tons of talent. He possesses great skills which is complimented with his great vision. He's got a good shot that he uses in dangerous areas, and he also has good speed."
213 - SJ (from WSH): Amir Miftakhov
"We happen to like a lot of late round goalies this year (Hlavaj and Garand are 2 others) so we're happy that we still had one left on our list. Miftakhov is small, but he has already shown to be able to excel in the clutch such as when he had to replace Askarov on short notice. Supremely agile, we feel like his size will not deter him from reaching the NHL, where he could be a solid 1B goalie in the mold of a Jaroslav Halak. If that happens, we'll be more than happy to have it come from a 7th rounder."
214 - TB: Joe Miller
"The youngest player eligible for the entire 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Miller was born right on the cut-off date for draft eligibility. He's undersized, but he’s also a very elusive skater and fearless with the puck. He's very much a boom or bust project ''
215 - Colorado: Ole Bjorgvik Holm
216 - Toronto (from STL): Trevor Kuntar
217 - Boston: Gunnarwolfe Fontaine
''Fontaine plays with an obvious confidence. He looks to make plays with his top-end speed. He can get a shot off quickly and has accuracy. Fontaine seems to always be around the puck and making plays. Fontaine has his head on a swivel and shows a knack for making simple plays with his line mates. He does not slow down through the neutral zone. When his feet are moving, he is tough to stop offensively. ''
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Waiting list:
Boston: @Pompeius Magnus
St. Louis: @jiboy
Colorado: @zaluty
TB: @Pompeius Magnus
Washington: @TGBJackRussell
Philadelphia: @The Great Weise
Pittsburgh: @Carl182
Vegas: @CapSpace
Carolina: @OB5
Dallas: @Tomas Tatahhh
Edmonton: @Hope Of Glory
NYI: @OriginalCanadian
Toronto: @A Loyal Hot Dog
Columbus: @Vachon23
Vancouver: @Pompeius Magnus
Nashville: @Habs76
Florida: @Fozz
Calgary: @John WhiteVan
NYR: @Janne Niinimaa
Winnipeg: @Carl182
Minnesota: @Mrb1p
Arizona: @Carl182
Chicago: @L4br3cqu3
Montreal: @TT1
Buffalo: @MrNasty
NJ: @calder candidate
Anaheim: @Kobe Armstrong
LA: @Schooner Guy
SJ: @yoteshot
Ottawa: @MarkovsKnee
Detroit: @WeThreeKings
Please post in this thread to confirm your participation (or PM me). Post if you'd like to be added to the waiting list.
Here's a quick reminder of the rules:
- For teams, I will use a randomizer.
- No trades as always.
- As always, please PM the next guy in the draft once you're done making your selection. Don't forget to tag them in this thread too.
- If you feel you may miss your selection, please PM myself or another active draft member with a list of players. If it's decided that you've taken too long and you're MIA, an auto-pick will be made for you.
- When making your selection, please include a gm or scout-like quote about that player stating why you selected him.
- As with the more recent drafts, we will begin the draft with no set time limit on the picks. We're all reasonably active posters, so let's try to make this a very active draft. We'll see how it goes and then make a decision if we have to. If a poster is taking too long, we'll shoot them a PM to see what's up. If we end up introducing a clock, it'll be a 8 hour one that is not active during midnight (EST) and 8 AM (EST) for the first two rounds, and then we will switch to a 6 hour class for the rest of the draft.
Cheers!
FIRST ROUND
1 - Detroit: Alexis Lafreniere
2 - Ottawa: Tim Stutzle
''Stutzle is an intelligent player with elite skills and a high compete level. A speedy skater with terrific edges and balance, Stutzle has the ability & leadership to be a Yzerman-type player for our franchise. A future captain who will play in all situations and bring skill and determination to the team."
3 - Ottawa (from SJ): Quinton Byfield
''As one of the youngest players in the draft, Byfield has room to grow as a player both physically and mentally. He already has a huge frame but will continue to get stronger. His speed, hands and skill are exceptional. This kid can score. He'll soon be a freight train on ice.''
4 - LA: Jamie Drysdale
''The last time we had a top 4 pick, we hit a home run with another right shooting dman in Drew Doughty. We look forward to Jamie being mentored by Drew and a long career quarterbacking our power play. We hope he's half as successful as another former athlete with the last name Drysdale who starred in LA.''
5 - Anaheim: Marco Rossi
6 - New Jersey: Lucas Raymond
''Has the feet and the stick to generate scoring chance after scoring chance. Smart, fast, smooth winger who always has the puck. Displays terrific jump and stickhandling ability. Has excellent hands, excellent edge control and short area quickness. Terrific vision + high end creativity make him a great playmaker, opportunistic scorer and he plays on both the PP and the PK since he compete to take pucks away from his opposition.''
7 - Buffalo: Cole Perfetti
''Perfetti has an arsenal of offensive weapons sure to bring fans to their feet. Give him the puck in the offensive zone and he will dazzle with his quick hands, shifty moves and lethal shot. A great complement to Eichel or Cozens in the not too distant future.''
8 - Montreal: Alexander Holtz
9 - Chicago: Yaroslav Askarov
Having no noteworthy future netminder, and Crawford nearing retirement, Hawks decidedly need a top young goalie in the system, good thing is, Askarov could be a great one.
"Rare right glove goalie with good size, economy of movements and good concentration. Very cool an calm, and it sometimes seems as if he takes control on games and wins them with is high end abilities. Actually baits shooter with his positioning; gives them an opening he wants them to target and then takes it away as they fire. A reverse hand goalie, and although is a different look to shooters used to left gloves netminders and right handed paddles, it is not the reason for his high success level. Very economic in his movements, and with the play, and reacts with top reflexes when adjusting." (Bill Placzek)
Didn't have a great WJC, but had a very good season against men in the VHL/KHL. Potential is through the roof.
10 - New Jersey (from Arizona): Anton Lundell
''Lundell is a well-rounded centre (great on face off) with good vision, puckhandling savvy and ability to make the soft pass. Plays on both the power play and penalty-kill. Thanks to is his positioning, strong skating stride and being strong on the puck (with or with the puck on is stick), he plays like a big man all over the sheet. Even if he is more of a tank than a water bug he still moves well laterally, Playing in a grown man’s league, he continues to be force down low using his powerful stride to maintain possession plowing through defenders in the attack areas, creating space for his team. Very smart reliable player in all areas, he will crash the front and or use his whole body to lean into a shot. He already has a heavy shot, is responsible in his end and can dominate down low as he continues improve is skating and growing his game he could be an elite two forward and a great compliment to Hughes, Hischier.''
11 - Minnesota: Seth Jarvis
''Minnesota wanted a forward here, and it's got one, a great one to top it all off. It was a hard choice between two high skill players but we chose to go with the better skater, who produced at an elite clip while showing every mental traits a star needs.''
12 - Winnipeg: Noel Gunler
''Gunler is a player with a tantalizing combination of size, speed and skill. A natural sniper with a long reach and great north-south skating. When he is on his game, he will win battles and strip players of the puck by reading plays with his intelligence, and from there creates high danger scoring opportunities. He can also score from any angle and has underrated vision. When he's been given opportunities, he contributes positively - as showcased in his time in the SuperElit (where he performed better than top pick Lucas Raymond) and when injuries hit Luleå. What he needs to do is find more consistency and keep his head in the game. With some time to develop overseas, Gunler will be able to put things together and become a force.''
13 - NYR: Jack Quinn
14 - Calgary: Jake Sanderson
''He plays the game so efficiently, defends so hard and can jump into the play and add offense ... he's the prototypical modern-age defenseman. Sanderson is an outstanding talent capable of taking charge and controlling the play with his elite skating, sharp presence of mind and high-end puck skills''
15 - Florida: Hendrix Lapierre
''While injuries are obviously a concern, there's no denying Lapierre's talent and we feel he's one of the better players in this draft class, if healthy. Our fine medical staff did its due diligence with him and we feel he's taken the necessary steps to get back to full health. He'll look great behind Barkov in a few years.''
16 - Nashville: William Wallinder
"For as long as anyone can remember, MODO has been the driving force of Swedish hockey development, though they now share that with Frolunda. Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Victor Hedman, Mats Zuccarello, William Nylander- all played for the organization. We fully expect to see Wallinder's name on there with them if for whatever reason, someone decides to compile a list of greatest MODO players of all-time ten or fifteen years down the line. That said, Wallinder is one of the most raw prospects in the draft. It'll be years before he's ready for the NHL, as he's hardly ready for the Allsvenskan right now- but he has the makings of a great pick in the long run. I like to compare his toolset to Mattias Ekholm's. He's big, he's fast, he's pretty damn physical. He can get aggressive and confrontational in his own end, and more importantly he's excellent in transition and surprisingly, is one of the best in the draft at activating off the blueline and joining the attack."
17 - New Jersey (from Vancouver): Dawson Mercer
''Sturdily built natural sniper whose stick is always close to the ice surface, displaying strong offensive zone instincts. Creates offense (sometimes after going and taking the puck away) by scoring or acting as a playmaker. Isn't shy in the corner or along the wall and will play with some edge and surprise. Will catch goalies with surprise shots from different areas and angles. Likes to let it rip. Not necessarily a dynamic skater, but a smooth one whose high end anticipation allows him be where the puck will end up. Finds open ice and lets his heavy shot go. Plays in all situations and excels on both penalty kill and power play. Has a strong understanding of all zones and game situations and uses it to his advantage. His head is always up, looking to make his next play. Strong in puck pursuit, his strong three zone hockey IQ fuels his quest to be the best. Has outshined his older teammates. Served a suspense for a head shot he delivered.''
18 - Columbus: Mavrik Bourque
''We need some punch on offense and that’s what we get with Bourque. Great playmaker and a great kid. He was our #1 target before the draft and we think that he has the highest celling between the players still available''
19 - Carolina (from Toronto): Rodion Amirov
''An impressive two-way winger. Competes for every puck and tends to win thanks to his balance and strong core. Makes the subtle plays that add up. Skilled left wing with speed and high hockey IQ who can play all situations, he models his game after forwards Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Talented and quick, Amirov can be deadly in all situations.''
20 - Ottawa (from NYI): Braden Schneider
''Schneider is a fierce competitor who takes care of his own end first, but is more than capable of helping out on offense with quality outlet passes and smart plays at the offensive blueline. Schneider's skating is also strong and he is able to close gaps and maintain defensive positioning because of it. He has top 4 upside and could end up as a #2 beside Chabot.''
21 - Edmonton: Lukas Reichel
22 - Dallas: Jacob Perreault
23 - NYR (from Carolina): Connor Zary
24 - Vegas: Helge Grans
25 - Minnesota (from Pittsburgh): Dylan Holloway
'Holloway is a very typical Minnesota forward that should follow in the footsteps of Koivu, Parise and the likes as smart, hard-working two-way 2nd liner. We see a future where Holloway and Jarvis wreck havoc on teams with their high motor."
26 - Philadelphia: John-Jason Peterka
''Peterkas hands and speed are top notch. Playing in a mens league with a limited role isn't an easy task, but the talented German has displayed his great skill and skating very well in the DEL and more noticeably in the WJC. He's got a great shot and also has above average smarts. Overall, the Flyers are excited to add a talented player like him.''
27 - Washington: Roni Hirvonen
28 - SJ (from TB): Jan Myšák
29 - Colorado: Joni Jurmo
30 - St. Louis: Justin Sourdif
31 - Anaheim (from Boston): Kaiden Guhle
SECOND ROUND
32 - Detroit: Ozzy Weisblatt
"Ozzy took the offensive reins from the once powerhouse team and showed his offensive potential. Ozzy is a swift skater with good hands and a good shot. He's an accurate playmaker as well, making him a well rounded offensive threat. We love the way this kid plays the game, fiercely battling in front of the net and throwing hits. He's a ball of energy on the ice and is the perfect player who you can throw anywhere in your line-up, anywhere on a line, and get results."
33 - Ottawa: Ryan O'Rourke
''A physical two-way defenseman, O'Rourke was made team captain at 17. He's excellent at closing on players and angling them away from dangerous areas. He's still developing his offensive game, but it improved over the season. His outlet game has been great all year. He patterns his game after Duncan Keith, and has top 3 upside. He could end up as a future partner for Brannstrom.''
34 - SJ: Brendan Brisson
''More than the 10% discount on all contracts we're hoping to get from his dad, Brisson brings a ton to the table. He's a super skilled playmaker who can also score thanks to soft hands and he has a very competitive side to his game. We hope he can still work on his skating and strength a bit, but you can't teach hockey sense and this kid oozes it.''
35 - LA: Eemil Viro
''Viro is a terrific skating 2-way defenseman who we expect to slide into our top 4 in a few seasons. He will likely continue his development in Finland this upcoming season.''
36 - Anaheim: Jake Neighbours
''While this pick may be a slight reach, we fell in love with Neighbours' compete level and ability to make plays all over the ice. While he doesn't possess the best stickhandling, he's an underrated playmaker and never quits on a play. While he is only 5"11, he weighs over 200 lbs already and isn't shy about using his body. He has a good one timer and crashes the net hard to score a lot of goals in close.''
37 - Nashville (from NJ): Tyson Foerster
"There are two really intriguing things about Tyson Foerster. The first is his cannon of a slapshot, that I would argue is the best shot of any player in the draft outside the blue-chip prospects at the very top (Perfetti's wrister, Lafreniere's release, Holtz's everything). It makes him a very useful player especially on the powerplay. Though this isn't an intriguing part of his game really, we also like his pro-ready frame. He's basically got the standard build an NHL hockey player needs. The second thing is his development curve. Last year, Tyson Foerster was on no one's radar. He went from a third rounder in the OHL draft, to a middling bottom sixer, to an absolute breakout star this year- each time, exceeding expectations. Hopefully that trend continues."
38 - Buffalo: Justin Barron
"We can't believe Barron was still on the board! Some teams may have been wary of Barron's upside since missing a good portion of the season with a blood clot but we think he is a solid defensemen for us. Barron is a good skater for his size, always in good position and plays a strong 2-way game. He is the type of guy that you don't always notice and that is a good thing; he won't dazzle with his offense, or make a big hit, but he is a guy that helps you win hockey games."
39 - Montreal: Marat Khusnutdinov
40 - Montreal (from CHI): Martin Chromiak
41 - Arizona: Lukas Cormier
''Cormier embodies the modern NHL defenceman. A very good skater with outstanding agility, Cormier broke the QMJHL record of goals by a rookie defender with 15. He's great in transition, either by starting plays out of the zone himself or making crisp first passes. Despite his smaller stature, he has a very good shot, often looking for deflections in front of the net. He's a very smart player and we like the potential he has showcased so far.''
42 - Minnesota: Jeremie Poirier
''With a lot of safe players, and a lack of high end talent, Minnesota feels Poirier is a perfect pick here. The perfect double-edged sword. Highly skilled, high IQ and high upside kid with a really, really late birthday, and y'all know I like em young.''
43 - Winnipeg: Thomas Bordeleau
''A natural centre with a nice arsenal of shots and slick playmaking, Bordeleau is a skilled player with a lot of potential. He has great hands, allowing him to hold on to the puck and let passing lanes open up. He's quick, reaching top speeds in a few strides. Though he is a bit on the smaller side, he is never afraid to initiate contact and dig for pucks. To be a centre in the NHL he will have to get better defensively. We like that he's going to a top program at the University of Michigan, where he can grow and become a complete player.''
44 - Carolina (from NYR): William Villeneuve
''Villeneuve is one of those "safer" defenders who plays smart and creates offense well ... He's a player who seems to understand what the situation is while he's playing, rarely making poor decisions and getting around the ice smoothly and effectively''
45 - Calgary: Ridly Greig
"Greig is a speedy two-way center who comes from a hockey family. He has very good speed and excellent acceleration, but also competes hard and is willing to make sacrifices for his line mates. Greig’s game is built for the rigors of the NHL and could be closer to an everyday player than some might think.''
46 - Florida: Topi Niemelä.
''Smooth skating, intelligent puck moving defense that plays an effective game at both ends of the ice. Has the ability to quickly process plays and make good decisions at high speed thanks to outstanding awareness and anticipation. Will obviously need to bulk up before coming to this side of the pound.''
47 - Nashville: Alexander Nikishin
"Nikishin really struggled this year, but you can hardly fault him. It's tough for any young player to make the jump to the second best league in the world, playing minimal minutes. Besides, Nikishin more than proved himself last season. He's probably one of the two best hitters in the draft and is very physically developed. In addition, he's very agile and has great hands, and a booming slapshot. Perhaps most important though is his sheer dominance along the boards. Seeing Nikishin lose a puck battle is a rare sight. He's still a raw player and sometimes his brain lags behind the rest of him, but there's a lot to work with."
48 - LA (from Vancouver): Emil Andrae
''Emil is an undersized left shooting defenseman loaded with offensive skills and hockey smarts. Despite his height, he is sturdy, and consistently engages physically and with a nasty streak. He played for HV71 in the top Swedish pro league and also played for the HV71 Junior team where he led all defensemen in the league in points. Emil captained Sweden to a bronze medal in the WU17 Hockey Challenge and scored 4 points in 5 games at last year's U18 Hlinka-Gretzky tourney where he earned another bronze medal. He was expected to quarterback Team Sweden's power play in the recently cancelled WU18.''
49 - Ottawa (from Columbus): Zion Nybeck
''This year's Nils Hoglander/Nick Robertson Nybeck packs a punch in a small body. He's not afraid of getting dirty in the corners and is solid at puck possession. A real puck hound, he has elite speed and great hands, especially as a playmaker.''
50 - Toronto: Nico Daws
''With no real good/great goalie prospects for Toronto, Daws is the right pick to be made here for them. Daws secured the No. 1 ranking among North American goalies in the NHL Central Scouting 2020 Final Draft Prospect Rankings list. In 38 outings with OHL Guelph this year, Daws registered a 23-8-6 record, .924 save percentage and a league-leading five shutouts!''
51 - Ottawa (from NYI): Sam Colangelo
''Colangelo is big power forward who plays hard on the boards and in front of the net. He is strong on his skates and has quick acceleration to beat guys 1 on 1 for pucks. He's pretty accurate in the slot too. Put up more than a PPG in the USHL this season. His overall skating is about average, so it needs a bit of work, which he'll get at Northeastern University next year. Has Josh Anderson middle 6 type upside.''
52 - Detroit (from Edmonton): Theodor Niederbach
"Niederbach suffered a season ending knee injury last season and stepped in this year and produced from the hop. His draft stock was heading for continued ascension if the COVID-19 situation didn't cancel the U18 tournament this year. A gifted skater and a right handed center to boot, Theodor flashes elite level playmaking and the ability to stickhandle at high speed. An exceptional thinker on the ice, he attacks in a variety of ways and can finish in tight around the net with ease."
53 - Ottawa (from Dallas): Carter Savoie
''He dominated the AJHL this past season. He's a battler who has sweet, sweet scoring hands, an elite shot and strong hockey IQ. He needs to get stronger and continue to improve his skating, which he'll do at the University of Denver next year. Has second line upside.''
54 - Carolina: Roby Jarventie
''A big, gun-slinging goal-scorer. Can finish from out high and is deadly in the slot area. Was far and away the best U18 player in Mestis history this past season. Very young for this crop so there’s loads of space to grow.''
55 - LA (from Vegas): Jaromir Pytlik
''In Jaromir we are getting a big center who plays a strong 200 foot game and is one of the most complete players in the draft. He has represented the Czech Republic in many international tournaments including this year's WJC. Jaromir has high hockey IQ and does all the little things needed to win. We believe he's close to pro-ready and one of the more versatile forwards in this draft who will thrive as a checking center and pinch hit as a top 6 forward.''
56 - Chicago (from Pittsburgh): Shakir Mukhamadullin
"At this point, and given the role he played in the KHL so far, he may be more of a defensive defenseman going onward, he uses his size intelligently, he's already strong along the boards against men in a pro league, he loves to clear the crease even though he'll need to bulk up, and is great one-on-one as he anticipates plays very well. He does have a heavy shot, and uses it from time to time, in fact there is offensive potential, but he'll have to find a way to produce more. Having already played vs men, he may be one of the most NHL-ready Dman in the draft, and his overall potential, if his offense develops some more, screams top-pairing, but at worst, he'd be a bottom-4 defensive D. Let's just say that in his case, the reward outweight the risk."
57 - Philadelphia: Luke Evangelista
"We have seen players with average skill and skating be successful in the NHL just because of their high end hockey sense. The Flyers value the incredible hockey sense on Evangelista greatly. Luke put up a good 61 points in 62 games, but what is most impressive is that he did that with very little PP time as only 2 of those points were on the PP. He's an awesome playmaker, and has high-end work ethic.''
58 - Detroit (from Washington): Emil Heineman
''After going to Sweden to take a player who we believed who have gone higher if not for a knee injury, we are going back to Sweden to select a late riser. Heineman is a big bodied winger who nearly scored a goal per game at the SuperElit level and managed 11 games in Swedish Hockey League where he got on the score sheet with two assists. He has high hockey IQ and great skating even if his skating style isn't the prettiest to look at. The biggest part of his game is his shot, he's an elite shooter with every possible shot in his repertoire."
59 - Tampa Bay: Vasili Ponomaryov
"The right winger is a skilled offensive attacker who displays great shiftiness, puck-handling abilities and competitiveness every shift. If his decision-making with the puck needs to be polished, his creativity and ability to spark things offensively are certainly not up to debate. "
60 - San Jose (from Colorado): Kasper Simontaival
"Sure, this is a third forward in as many picks, but we feel that's where the value is at this point in the draft and while we REALLY liked Ponomarev, Simontaival is much more than a consolation prize. He's small, but we love that he's conscious about his own zone in addition to being an absolute offensive dynamo."
61 - Montreal (from STL): Daniil Gushchin
62 - Boston: Veeti Miettinen
''A small goal-scoring winger with a lethal wrist shot and very good playmaking abilities. A very good skater who gives great effort in his play without the puck, he broke the U18 scoring record in his league last year. ''
THIRD ROUND
63 - Detroit: Joel Blomqvist!
"Blomqvist is the next goaltender to come out of Finland. Keeping with tradition, he has active hands, explosive lateral movement and is current on modern goaltending techniques. Like all young goalies, he needs to reduce focus and mental errors that lead to bad goals. However, he shows a propensity to make big saves which we believe speaks to his athleticism. Work to be done but the Red Wings haven't had an elite netminder in a long time, Blomqvist has the profile to become one."
64 - Ottawa: Luke Tuch
"Tuch has the same upside as his brother, a big, power forward who plays a possession game. He's solid on his skates, which allows him to protect the puck well. He'll play USHL next year then head to Boston University in 21-22. Already plays a pro-style game. Three years away from pro. Ottawa can afford to wait.''
65 - Detroit (from SJ): Dmitri Ovchinnikov
"Ovchinnikov is an under the radar prospect in the russian junior league. His point-per-game performance rewarded him with 2 games in the KHL despite his smallish stature. He is committed to the defensive game and we love the flashes of brilliance we see from him. With this many picks, we felt we could gamble on this player and hope for continued evolution in his offensive game."
66 - LA: Ty Smilanic
''Ty is a great skating center with good puck handling and playmaking skills. We see him as a long term project with untapped offensive abilities. He has committed to Qunnipiac University for the upcoming season.''
67 - Anaheim: Jean-Luc Foudy
"Like his older brother, Liam, Jean-Luc has elite speed and is one of the best all around athletes in the draft. He's a pass first center that that could transition to wing as he moves up the ranks. His shot isn't terrible but he rarely ever shoots the puck which is something he'll need to work on. We believe that, with the proper coaching, he has the natural talent to overcome his weaknesses and become a productive NHLer.''
68 - Vegas (from NJ): Alexander Pashin.
''Pashin displays excellent offensive skills. His close-quarter passing is top notch and his skate-to-stick transition when receiving passes is impressive as well. When it comes to firing the puck on net, Pashin has soft hands and a quick release. His combination of superior sense for the offensive side, skating ability, and his hands allow him to generate several high-quality scoring chances a game.''
69 - Carolina (from BUF): Oliver Suni
"Big straight line skating winger who plays a power game and has aggressive offensive instincts. Is also good on the move in setting up plays and attacking the scoring areas near the slot. You are not rafting a finesse guy with him, just one who wins fifity-fifty pucks and is aggressive shift after shift, and is offensively attuned and picking his spots. Feet are in need of more work and you would like to see more wiggle and shake and bake, but you cannot argue with his results as a junior player who knows the game and plays it aggressively."
70 - Montreal: Mitchell Miller
71 - Chicago: Daniel Torgersson
72 - Washington (from ARI): Anton Johannesson
"Getting one of the best defenseman in the draft this late is absolutely incredible for me. There are risks with injuries, but the size is zero issue because his hockey IQ is among the best in the draft. His ability to read the play is top of the class. He has a very real possibility at being one of the best players in this draft if he can stay healthy and gain some strength."
73 - Nashville (from MIN): Antonio Stranges
"With this pick, we're continuing a sequence of draftees each flawed in their own way, each elite in their own way. Wallinder's a bit slow between the ears, but has an amazing toolset. Nikishin is much the same, though more physically developed, and less offensively inclined. Foerster arguably breaks the trend, but his shot is elite, while his lack of even-strength production is his bane. Stranges is no different: he's an amazing skater, able to change direction and weave his way through the defense like few others, but his production struggled this year because he's not overly efficient and he's extremely inconsistent- whether or not he's able to convert his playstyle to the pros is a major concern as a result. Stranges' unique puckhandling tendencies blow away everyone in the crowd and his creativity sets him apart from the rest of the pack, making him an intriguing prospect if things go right down the line."
74 - Ottawa (from WPG): Sean Farrell
"There are a ton of small, speedy, skilled forwards in this draft. Farrell is one of them. He seperates himself from the rest by really understanding how to use his lower center of gravity to create strength and power. He's engaged physically but can also be elusive when he needs to be. He uses back pressure and a smart stick on defense to create turnovers and can kill penalties. He's smart offensively with terrific hands for both scoring and passing, but he's not a top 6 or bust player. Will play at Harvard next season."
75 - NYR: Alex Cotton
76 - Chicago (from CGY): Will Cuylle
"Big, rugged winger who plays a power game, so far he hasn’t yet blossomed as anticipated, but he has untapped potential, including the size, the shot, and the smarts to be a valuable power forward in the NHL. It’s just a matter of bringing the production every game, to find consistency. Good skater who can generate power on his net drives and who protects the puck well through traffic. Cuylle also has a very good release on his shot. His 2-way game is surprisingly good, he can stop plays in the neutral zone pretty often. If his offensive production doesn't develop enough at the next level, he could simply refine his 2-way game instead. Cuylle will need some time to reach his potential."
77 - Florida: Michael Benning
"Benning is dynamic d-man with excellent puck distribution skills and vision. While points don't mean everything, he did match Cale Makar's draft year point total in the AJHL. He has good bloodlines and is committed to U of Denver and will need a few years there to gain some weight and get stronger."
78 - Nashville: Maxim Groshev
"Maxim is your archetypal big, strong winger, and the second KHL player the Preds have taken this draft. He's pretty fast and plays a basic north-south, 'North American' style. His wristshot is among his mostly deadly attributes, though even it isn't particularly outstanding. Being a late-2001 birthday, we feel Groshev is among the most NHL ready prospects available outside a few at the very top."
79 - Vancouver: Tristen Robins
80 - LA (from CBJ): Yan Kuznetsov
"Yan is a 6ft4 defensive blue liner who came to NorthAmerica from Russia two years ago. Yan was the youngest player in the entire NCAA this past season and surprised with his offense by chipping in 11 points. He's an average skater but plays a terrific defensive game and has a cannon shot. He has represented Russia in numerous international tournaments."
81 - Colorado (from TOR): Nils Aman
82 - NYI: Jack Finley
"We decided to go with some NHL bloodlines with our first pick. Jack's father Jeff was an ex-Islander who played over 700 games in the NHL. Jack is one of the youngest players available in this year's draft, we also see a very projectable frame from this young man as he's already 6'5" and 207lbs. He has shown us a good two-way approach to the game, as he easily causes havoc in front of the opposing netminder but also provides a good stick presence on the back check. One of the more surprising parts of his repertoire is his skating, for being such a large man we were impressed by his edgework, he does need some improvement on his overall acceleration however."
83 - Edmonton: Brett Berard
84 - NYR (from DAL): Tyler Kleven
85 - Carolina: Brock Faber
"A player with no weakness, he a six footer whose weight weight is a good 200 pounds. Remarkably strong but doesn’t display any standout characteristic that could be call dynamic or game changing. Is not an offensive player, just a player whose proficient on the defensive side. Calm, steady reliable and more than able to knock good sized attackers off their skates and the puck. Lets most carries be handled by his partner and his touches are mistake-free ones within his toolboxes comfort zone. Does make safe pass out in transition, to his partner and in the attack zone, but keeps it simple. If he doesn’t see a developing play in the attack, he just puts it on net hoping for tip ins. Like most players in the prodigious United States program, they come well school with the possibility of upside as development goes on. Committed to Notre Dame University."
86 - Vegas: Ronan Seeley
87 - Pittsburgh: Kasper Puutio
"Right handed defenseman that will need to build muscle and continue to work on his skating but the tools are there. Very good IQ, passing and shooting. One of the youngest llayer of the draft.
Played against best lines with Finland in the international tournaments and played I now of the worst CHL team I have ever witness. Not the transition I anticipated for him coming over after being selected 1st overall in the import draft, but it leaves lot of room for progression."
88 - TB (from PHI): Pavel Novak
'Novák is a good skater who likes to push the pace and get the puck to the middle of the ice. He filters the puck to the slot with efficiency and consistency. He still plays a bit of a perimeter role at times but his passing and vision are effective from the outside at the junior level. He likely needs to find that extra gear to get to the middle more often at the next level. When he does so in the WHL, he is extremely dangerous and has good hands in tight to find daylight.”
89 - Montreal (from WSH): Brandon Coe
90 - TB: Nick Malik
''A butterfly goalie with good size, superb reflexes, good puck skills, plus NHL bloodlines. Has already had success at the men’s level at a young age and came over to north america this year in order to further his development. He has the potential to become a starting goalie at the NHL level when all is said and done.''
91 - Florida (from COL): Evan Vierling
"Vierling is a quick and agile skater with good offensive instincts. However, he plays a solid two-way game and might end up being known more for his defensive abilities at the next level. He took his game to another level after being traded to Barrie."
92 - St. Louis: Blake Biondi
93 - Boston: Ruben Rafkin
''Excellent at taking away space and playing with intensity in the defensive end, he loves to step up on attacking forwards at the blueline or as they cut to the middle. He also shows potential as a puck carrier and powerplay QB and could round out as a very complete pro defenseman in a few years''.
FOURTH ROUND
94 - TB (from DET): Donovan Sebrango
''Donovan is one of the best skaters in this year’s draft out of the OHL. He has the ability to skate by anyone in the neutral zone. He can beat forecheckers by using his speed and edge work and he is a threat whenever he is in the offensive zone. He has good puck skills and can handle pucks at high speed and he is a very high risk high reward type of player. He competes hard all over the ice and won’t back down from anyone. Donovan has the skating ability and skill to be a very good player at the next level''
95 - Ottawa: Eamon Powell
"A smooth, graceful skater, Powell transitions the puck effortlessly. Defensively, he uses his skating to angle players into bad areas and uses an active stick to take the puck away. Offensively, he can walk the blueline and quickly change shooting angles to get pucks on net. A two-way player with solid hockey IQ, he had a solid season for the NTDP and will play for Boston College next season."
96 - Calgary (from SJ): Jack Thompson
"Thompson plays a strong two-way game based on his excellent mobility. He skates well and loves to get forward, joining the rush and even leading it at times through the neutral zone. He is also able to pinch in from the blue line and still get back defensively. Thompson has an excellent slap shot that is a real weapon on the power play. Good lateral agility makes him tough to beat in one-on-one situations, and he uses an active stick to knock pucks away from defenders."
97 - LA: Dylan Peterson
"Dylan is a good skater with size and a good shot. He plays a strong defensive game. We see him as a safe pick who will at some point play a bottom 6 role in the NHL. Dylan has committed to Boston University for the 2020-21 season."
98 - Montreal (from ANA): Samuel Knazko
99 - NJ: Thimo Nickl
"Underrated Austrian import who has continued to improve his entire rookie season, confident as he now has taken over running the Drummondville power play with Dawson Mercer’s departure. Tall with room for growth, he has good feet, showing mobility and agility. His shot continues to get better and on the defensive side he uses his reach, stick and feet to thwart opposing attackers. Not flashy just effective in his outlets and overall demeanor."
100 - Buffalo: Daemon Hunt
"Much like second round pick, Barron; Daemon Hunt missed a good portion of the season due to injury after missing 3 months due to a laceration to his forearm. Hunt has both the skills and the mental toughness to make the NHL. He plays the game very fast and can maneuver the ice with ease to defend and take time and space away from the opposition. He is a very reliable player with high hockey I.Q."
101 - Montreal: Samuel Hlavaj
102 - Chicago: Zayde Wisdom
103 - Arizona: Tyler Tullio
"Really skilled player that is poised for a big offensive breakout next year. A bit on the smaller side but we see a lot of Cam Atkinson in him. Tenacious and in your face with a very high motor."
104 - Minnesota: Wyatt Kaiser
105 - Montreal (from WPG): Yegor Sokolov
106 - NYR: Theo Rochette
107 - LA (from CGY): Dmitri Zlodeyev
"Dmitri is a solid 2-way center who produces points and plays the body hard. Although not a pretty skater, he displays quickness and good puck skills. He can play on both special teams and is very successful in the face-off circle. Dmitri had a good showing at last year's Ivan Hlinka tournament."
108 - Florida: James Hardie
109 - Anaheim (from NSH): Ethan Cardwell
110 - Vancouver: Oskar Magnusson
"Undersized, skilled two way C/W who shredded Swedish juniors this year. Long term project but has potential as a utility type player due to his engagement at both ends."
111 - Columbus: William Dufour
"Player that has size and had a really good progression when he arrived in Drummondville on a bigger role. One of my sleeper who I hope Habs will draft."
112 - Toronto: Alex Laferriere
"Although Laferriere only stands at 5-foot-10, he plays a much bigger game when he steps out onto the ice. Not afraid to get physical, Laferriere can often be seen in the corners battling for the puck and grinding away down low. He battles for position in front of the net and is not afraid of bigger defenders. He sticks up for his teammates and can often be found ensuing opponents after the whistle has gone. Gee, I wonder which team would need a guy like him? Oh wait, that's right: Toronto.
Anyway, Laferriere’s game also revolves around his creativity and skill. He has great hands and uses his skill to create chances for his teammates. His shot is NHL ready and is one of the best features he has. Most of the time, with a quick release, the goalie has no chance of stopping his shot. He has great top-end speed as well."
113 - NYI: Carson Bantle
"Carson Bantle was a man among boys in the USHL this year, while playing for an awfully weak team in Madison he managed to produce at a PPG pace and contributed to 40% of the teams total offence. With a frame already resembling the modern day power winger (6'4" 201lbs) we are excited about his versatility on the ice. He's got a heavy + accurate shot to go along with the physicality and smarts to play a good two-way game. He is commited to Michigan Tech where we hope that he will continue to develop his skating and consistency."
114 - Detroit (from EDM): Connor McClennon
"An undersized player, Connor McClennon started off slow this year and managed to find himself above a PPG before a collarbone injury ended his season early. A former high pick in the WHL, he is a highly skilled player who works hard every shift and isn't afraid to get under his opponents skill. We firmly believe he would have been drafted earlier if not for his size and injury this year. Connor's underlying advanced stats for production per 60 is one of the best among draft eligibles in the CHL."
115 - Dallas: Ryan Francis
116 - NJ (from CAR): Simon Kubicek
"Big strong defenders who uses his size to play his position with zealous. Has nice footwork and a good enough burst to close gaps, be the first to loose pucks or handle attackers in one on one situations. Can and will separate attackers from pucks with open ice hits. Very good on the power play where he lets loose his big time heavy shot. Sees the passing lanes and takes good angle when moving closer in. Is a good outlet passer who is willing to trail the play or create the odd-man rush."
117 - Toronto (from VGK): Colby Ambrosio
"An explosive and hard-charging talent, Ambrosio was Tri-City’s leading scorer and combined with top 2021 draft prospect Matthew Knies to form one of the USHL’s most lethal duos. Committed to Boston College, the Ontario native has game-breaking abilities and can play a tough and abrasive brand of hockey. His 50 points in 48 games was 11th in the league and tied for the lead in power-play points with 24 (13 goals and 11 assists). Ambrosio also closed out his draft season red hot by recording 36 points in his final 28 contests."
118 - Pittsburgh: Juuso Maenpaa
"Maenpaa finished his rookie season with 49 points in 52 games to win Best Rookie Award. He plays center at the junior level because of his good vision, passing skills and his two-way game, but could transition to the wing if needed because of his great skating and effort level.
He if progresses well he could be a force on PK and a guy that can play up and down our lineup to complimente our aging center stars or be a key contributor of our bottom 6."
119 - Philadelphia: Adam Wilsby
"Wilsby is a double overager, but his talent wasn't the issue, his physical maturation simply held him back. This year, he was very dominant in Sweeden's 2nd best league, which is still impressive for his age. He's a good skater and excellent puck mover which makes his offensive upside intriguing."
120 - Washington: Yevgeni Oksentyuk
121 - TB: Rory Kerins
''Kerins plays the game the right way and is an accomplished 200-foot player. He has no fear of getting into the higher danger zone area in the slot area. He can score the dirty goals or beat you with his shot. He’ll battle along the walls, and has surprising strength at 5’10”. He also has very good hockey IQ. He has shown he can be a good playmaker at the OHL level. He can slow down and wait for a play to become available and make a good pass, with a very good ability to lead players with a pass by putting it into areas they can skate into."
122 - Colorado: Daniel Ljungman
123 - St. Louis: Cross Hanas
124 - NJ (from BOS): Jan Bednar
"At 6-foot-4 Bednar has the size that NHL teams are looking for in their goalie. His skating allows him to make the most of this, cutting down angles and challenging shooters. He is almost always on square to the shooter. Bednar tracks the puck extremely well. He anticipates plays well and gets across the crease quickly. Bednar says close to his post and protects the net well when the puck is down low. Bednar has quick legs and gets up and down in the butterfly quickly, his long legs take away the bottom of the net and it is difficult to beat him along the ice. His glove hand is very quick and it is also difficult to beat him on that side. He is extremely athletic and able to make saves even when he is out of position. With his good skating, Bednar is able to come out of his net and retrieve loose pucks. He then makes a pass to start the transition game, make a long pass up the ice if he catches his opponent on a bad line change or clear the puck if his team is in trouble."
FIFTH ROUND
125 - Detroit: Artem Shlaine
"Playing in a prep school, we are hoping the reason he is slipping is due to a lack of exposure and playing against less competition. He did well in a couple games in the USHL this season. Artem has high IQ, plays a power forward game and has some silky mitts as well. He is a long term project and will spend 3-4 years at the University of Connecticut."
126 - SJ (from OTT): Jacob Dion.
"The NHL is all about offense now and this kid showed great vision all year long as well as some impressive defensive play for his size. We think he could become some kind of PP specialist or a regular on a 3rd pairing with PP time. In any case, his playmaking ability and intelligence will certainly make him an interesting prospect to follow."
127 - SJ: Gage Goncalves
"After scoring just once all year last season, the 19 year old had a great season as the first line center in Everett. We think he might be a late bloomer and see the potential for him to follow the same progression curve as Morgan Geekie a few years ago. His best asset is probably his hockey IQ and to us, that's always a great place to start."
128 - LA: Drew Commesso
129 - Anaheim: Matteo Costantini
130 - NJ: Bogdan Trineev
"Bogdan plays a classic power forward game, using his big 6-foot-3 frame to bully his way around the ice, getting into the dirty areas to score goals or laying down hits to give the opponent something to think about. While his skating and shot are still very raw, they are good enough to support his physical gameplan. While his scoring totals are nothing special, he has been able to produce points at the MHL level, as well as with Russia’s U18 team, where he played on the top line. Despite not being the most skilled skater or the strongest forward in the draft, he has that intangible compete level that could make him a future NHLer even without a first-round toolkit. Due to his somewhat raw but developing skillset, he is not expected to break into the NHL immediately, and even if he never reaches his full potential, it would still be a worthwhile attempt. If given that time however, there’s a chance that he could become that 2nd or 3rd line power forward that every team dreams of having on their roster."
131 - Buffalo: Jacob Truscott
"Truscott is a great skater considering his frame. His primary role with the NTDP has been as a shutdown defensemen but he has a lot of untapped offensive upside as evidenced with his offensive vision and ability to move across the offensive blueline to find lanes to the net while working the powerplay. Truscott has the potential to be a solid 4-5 d-man in the NHL."
132 - Montreal: Marko Stacha
133 - Chicago: Pavel Tyutnev
"A player who, on paper, would likely be thrown in the ‘undersized Russian group’, but there is a lot to unpack in his game. Offensively, he’s always a threat on the ice. He uses a mix of skating, strength, and speed to move the puck with ease, and creates danger with his shooting and passing. Think of any offensive tool, and Tyutnev has it. He has no issues getting into the dirty areas of the ice, in fact he loves it, it does cause issues because of his size, but his puck control while being pressured by defenders is something that always stands out. His shot is not particularly strong, but it's a precise one. His 1v1 skill also shines, he reads the opposing movements very well. All in all, a small but gritty center who'll need to bulk up if he wants to continue playing his way at the next level."
134 - Arizona: Michael Krutil
135 - Minnesota: Christopher Sedoff
136 - Winnipeg: Viktor Persson
137 - NYR: Ryan Kirwan
138 - Calgary: Oliver Tarnstrom
139 - Montreal (from FLA): Ian Moore
140 - Nashville: Parker Ford
"Ford was the lone undrafted player to represent the U.S. at this year's World Junior tournament. This year, we're going to change that. Ford's most notable skills are transferable to the NHL: he's fast, he's aware, and has loads of energy. That said, it is highly unlikely Ford ever makes it above the third line."
141 - Vancouver: Tanner Dickinson
142 - Columbus: Jeremie Biakabutuka
143 - Florida (from TOR): Artyom Galimov
"Galimov had a break out season in the KHL in his last year of draft eligibility, being named rookie of the year. Good speed, good shot, good compete and two-way ability. Nice gamble at this point in the draft."
144 - NYI: Zachary Uens
"Last year Zachary was overlooked playing in the weaker OJHL league, his decision to play there was to keep his NCAA eligibility. In his first year as a NCAA freshman he showed poise and a true offensive mindset while carrying the play on the backend. As one of the better skating defenceman available in the NCAA this year we decided to scoop him up because we believe he can progress into a very productive offensive defenseman."
145 - Edmonton: Benjamin Baumgartner
146 - Dallas: Ryder Rolston
147 - St. Louis (from CAR): Wyatt Schingoethe
148 - Toronto (from VGK): Landon Slaggert
"A rugged two-way forward who added a physical component to the NTDP’s top line, Slaggert had a strong second half in which he reinforced his reputation as being more than just a crash-and-bang support player. Not only did he contribute in his own end on a consistent basis, but his 13 tallies ranked fifth while operating in a goal-scoring-by-committee attack. Slaggert, who can play center or wing, also proved his mettle against tough NCAA opposition as well, scoring seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in his final seven games against college competition. The most impressive aspect of his season, however, was his production against his USHL peers — Slaggert registered a point-per-game average (14 points in 14 games) against the 21-and-under crowd."
149 - Pittsburgh: Maksim Beryozkin
"With his large frame and offensive talents, Maksim Beryozkin is hard to miss. Beryozkin is used in all even-strength situations and sees additional ice time on the lead penalty-killing unit and the point or bumper on the power play. Needs to work on his consistency and work ethic and could still improve his acceleration ans foot work. Beryozkin finished the regular season as the league leader among first-year draft eligibles with 25 goals and his 1.06 points-per-game average was second only to Rodion Amirov. Beryozkin also tied for first in the league with four shorthanded goals."
150 - Philadelphia: Elliot Ekmark
"The smart 5'9 forward is a great skater and is also responsible defensively. He is best known for his playmaking, but his shot is also pretty good."
151 - Washington: Davide Fadani
152 - Ottawa (from TB): Calle Clang
153 - Colorado: Cameron Tolnai
"Each month, we saw Tolnai get a little bit better. And when Graeme Clarke returned at the end of the year, giving Tolnai a formidable winger, it was like an awakening. 11 points in his final 10 games, but it was how he was creating those, as 8 of those 11 points were primary points. He was driving play from down the middle by using his size (6'1) and skill package. Putting defenders on his back. Clearing space. And making skilled plays below the hash marks to create time and space. This kid, when he is on, is the complete package and has as much upside as many of the players in my top 20. Power centers with size and skating ability are highly coveted by the NHL."
154 - St. Louis: Ethan Edwards
155 - Boston: Adam Raska
''Under-sized off hander left winger with good feet and effort and a quick wrister. Uses his speed in on the forecheck and it is very rare that he doesn’t finish one of his checks. Night by night one of the hardest worker in the entire QMJHL causing turmoil with his skating ability and willingness to take contact and meet it head on. Not big guy but is continually using his speed to back defenders off the blue line. This is not a goal scorer or generator by way of skill, but one elevates teammates and his play effort and intensity. Tireless workers have a way of making their places on rosters.''
SIXTH ROUND
156 - Detroit: Maximilian Glotzl
"We are excited to step up and add a countryman for Seider in the pipeline. Glotzl was nearly PPG in the junior league as a defenseman in Germany. He saw a couple games in the 2nd german league and the DEL which is a strong statement for a teenager on the blueline. He's a strong skater, has good size and is an excellent passer. He has a big, yet inaccurate shot. A long term project that could boom or become a reliable depth defenseman"
157 - TB (from OTT): Patrick Guay
''He's a small winger who can also play center. A high pick in the 2018 QMJHL Draft, Poulin had 40 points as a second year player this season. He is more of a sniper then a playmaker for now but he's got the offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, and attitude you want a well rounded pro forward to have.''
158 - Ottawa (from SJ): Leo Loof
159 - LA: Dmitry Rashevsky
"Rashevsky is a late bloomer from Russia who led the MHL with 44 goals after only scoring 4 goals the previous season when he went undrafted. Dmitry caught fire in the second half of the season. He has a heavy shot and quick release. He plays RW but shoots left."
160 - Anaheim: Robert Calisti
161 - NJ: Simon Knak
"Swiss winger with good size, he’s a left-handed shot who likes to play on the right side. Good forechecking abilities and is able to turn the puck over through his hustle and grit. He’s a reliable two-way player with good offensive tools. Uses his size, reach and fluid movement, he is also a solid puck handler and passer."
162 - Dallas (from BUF): Pavel Gogolev
163 - Montreal: Hugo Styf
164 - Chicago: Grant Slukynsky
"One of the top all-around centers among North American high schoolers, Slukynsky was the heart and soul of a Warroad squad that returned to state for the first time since 2010. He can beat you in multiple ways — passing, shooting, hitting, checking — but he also brings a no-nonsense approach to every shift. He was the Warriors’ leader both on and off the ice, and his senior season was dominant from wire to wire. Slukynsky does have -great- hands, vision, can pass with aplomb and his shot is deceptively quick. Not a flashy skater, but a powerful one with good balance that allows him to protect the puck well along the boards." (Steve Kournianos)
165 - Arizona: Owen Pederson
"Was part of a great offensive commity in Winnipeg where he was able to score 20 goals
He knows where to go on the ice to score, has good skating for his size and great hands to finish the play."
166 - Minnesota: Isac Andersson
167 - Winnipeg: Ben King
"Ben really took off after being trade of this disaster team that was the Broncos.
Big right hand winger, he has decent skating and good hands around the net to complete the plays.
He knows where to go on the ice to score, has good skating for his size and great hands to finish the play."
168 - NYR: Artur Akhtyamov
169 - Calgary: Hugo Ollas
170 - Colorado (from FLA): Vitali Pinchuk
171 - Nashville: Kristian Tanus
"A double overager, Tanus' selection is long overdue. The undersized Finn shares a lot of similarities with Ruslan Iskhakov, the New York Islanders draft pick: he's fast, but not too fast, quick, but not too quick- it's between the ears where Tanus sets himself apart. He thinks the game ahead of everyone else and makes excellent offensive plays. Given his size, it's no shocker that Tanus struggles with the physical part of the game, though he has managed to stick at the top men's level in Finland. He has some severe flaws and some impressive strengths, a true wildcard pick."
172 - Vancouver: Luke Prokop
''Luke Prokop is a strong player who utilizes his size to his advantage in corner puck battles. The 2017 seventh overall selection in the WHL bantam draft is definitely defensive-minded, however, he exhibits a further offensive upside. Prokop has shown terrific gap control and the ability to make outlet passes to be a strength. While in the offensive zone, Prokop is terrific when it comes to sending hard low shots to the net which are often redirected, the young defender showing all this while playing minimal power play ''
173 - Columbus: Xavier Simoneau
174 - Toronto: Luke Reid
175 - NYI: Axel Rindell
"Axel led all U20 defensemen in Liiga this year with 22pts in 47gp while playing for the low scoring Jukurit squad. We really like the offensive mindset that he brings to the rink every day. He's the type of defenseman that can piggyback a powerplay unit with both his passing ability and a strong shot from the point. He has no problems getting around the ice and his overall speed and footwork is above average. As a U20 player already producing in a men's league it is hard to pass on the potential here."
176 - Edmonton: Joonas Oden
177 - Dallas: Logan Morrison
178 - Toronto (from CAR): Danny Weight
179 - Vegas: Hayden Fowler
180 - Pittsburgh: Maksim Kroviyakov
"Logging significant minutes as a 17 years old center in key situations for one of the better teams in the Russian junior (With my boy Marat) while showing impressive offensive tools.
Krovyakov’s combination of size and skating ability draw attention. His acceleration is very good and he has good foot speed for a his frame, he can still work on his technique and stand.
Krovyakov use his size well in the corners along the board to protect the puck and in front of the net to provide screens and hunt for rebounds.
Show good play making abiilities but he is more of a finisher with a great and quick shot.
He is more a complementary player, augmenting and complementing what is created by his teammates."
181 - Philadelphia: Kyle Crnkovic
"He's a skilled and speedy winger, and at this point in the draft, we would like to gamble on his high end skill."
182 - Washington: David Aebischer
"I'm almost certain I drafted Aebischer last year, but he's an extremely talented defenseman. He'll be playing in Fribourg this season, which is a very good league after spending the last two seasons in Gatineau. Before Gatineau, he was brought up in the Fribourg system, so he should be well equipped to jump right in. Very excited to get him yet again. If he doesn't make the NHL, he'll still be a huge part of the Swiss defensive corps for years to come."
183 - TB: Michal Gut
''Czech centre with good size, feet, and hands. Displays decent hand in tight spaces. Has enough speed to get separation and shows good footwork. He is a goal scorer first and foremost, and puts himself in position to receive pucks and place his shots in small openings. A little too deliberate and might take a bit longer before teeing his shots up. Can handle punishment to succeed offensively. Has a willingness to go head on one to one against defenders, highly confident in his capabilities in that end. ''
''His rookie season in the Dub ended up coming a bit short of expectation, more so since he already had some experience in the senior league back home. We do like his overall potential though and feel he's well worth the late round gamble''
184 - Toronto (from COL): Ethan Bowen
"Big framed centre He is able to compact his frame and gain balance while frequenting small spaces. Good on the cycle on downright deceptive and will step up undetected from the outside. Natural strong and selfishness holds the biscuit in scoring areas and it usually needs up being the right thought. He is a very skilled centre-wing squares up to receive pucks and ramp his tempo up at the proper time. Lean and athletic, and a dangerous shooter who can pick the corners. Was somewhat disappointing after his return from broken wrist injury. Committed to the University of North Dakota. His physical tools and high hockey IQ seem to process well and a bit more momentum might seal the deal on misname being called."
185 - Ottawa (from STL): Charlie Desroches
186 - Boston: Dylan Garand
''Garand does a good job of staying square to the shooter, moving well on his feet with good body control. He is laterally quick and has a solid base when in the butterfly. He needs to get stronger, especially in his core and lower body to help stay upright while getting a good push side to side. He's a bit smaller size wise than what teams are typically looking for nowadays but at 6 ft 1 he's not painfully short either ''
SEVENTH ROUND
187 - Detroit: Oscar Tellstrom
188 - Montreal (from OTT): Billy Constantinou
189 - Toronto (from SJ): Louis Crevier
190 - LA: Jake Ratzlaff
191 - Vancouver (from ANA): Lleyton Moore
''On talent alone, Moore certainly deserves to be ranked higher. His mobility is a major asset, as he's a downright terrific skater. However, the production hasn't quite materialized yet for the former high pick out of the famed Toronto Marlboros minor midget program. Moore defends quite well for a 5'8, 170lbs kid, by using his mobility to stay ahead of attackers . We believe he's worth a late round gamble on the basis of his boom or bust potential ''
192 - NJ: David Ma
"Undersized offense man with light footwork, strong edging, with excellent puck moving and passing ability. Was one of the United States teams best player in the 8 Nations/Hlinka Cup . Activates and frees teammates with good up-ice passes. Fearless shot blocker. Needs plenty of upper body strength. Committed to Princeton University."
193 - Buffalo: Ivan Didkovsky
"Didkovsky is all sizzle when it comes to offense. He is a highly skilled winger with exceptional hands, creativity and agility. Didkovsky can pick corners with ease, with both his wrist shot and one-timer."
194 - Philadelphia: Jack Smith
"Jack is a solid skater that has good smarts who has been very productive. He's got intriguing offensive tools which we feel is the right kind of gamble in the 7th round."
195 - Montreal (from CHI): Victor Mancini
196 - Arizona: Kirill Steklov
197 - Minnesota: Isaak Phillips
198 - Toronto (from WPG): Linus Oberg
199 - NYR: Jackson Van De Leest
200 - Calgary: Nate Schweitzer
201 - Florida: Riley Duran
202 - NYR (from NSH): Jack Works
203 - NYR (from VAN): Eric Engstrand
204 - Columbus: Fabio Iacobo
205 - Carolina (from TOR): Danila Galenyuk
206 - NYI: Brady Burns
"With our 7th rounder we decided to go boom or bust, we selected a fast and creative center who can find all the right places on the ice to score goals. Burns is undersized at 5'8" & 150lbs, but he's also sneaky with the puck. He uses his speed to avoid being taken down by bigger opponents and uses his above average stick handling to get the puck out of the dirty areas. Brady nears the top of every scoring list for '02 born players, so it's hard to ignore his pure offensive output.
The only way that Burns will be able to compete at the next level if if he can build up strength to keep himself upright when facing stronger competition. If is offence doesn't translate, he will need to develop better defensive skills to compensate."
207 - Edmonton: Samuel Johannesson
208 - Buffalo (from DAL): Will Cranley
"Cranley didn't get a lot of exposure as back-up to the strong Ottawa 67's team but he has good potential and should see more time in the crease this year. At 6'4", Cranley has both the size and athleticism to become an NHL goaltender for a team willing to be patient for him to develop."
209 - Carolina: Jackson Kunz
"Although he only played five games for the Gamblers in a shortened season, Jackson had a stellar season with Shattock St. Mary's Midget Prep. He recorded 69 points with them before coming to the Gamblers where he recorded one in five games. Next season, Jackson will play for the University of North Dakota who will provide him with a great platform to continue developing into a more well-rounded prospect."
210 - Vegas: Chase Yoder
211 - SJ (from PIT): Mitchell Smith.
"I went to see a Saginaw game in Ottawa this year to watch #91 (Perfetti) in action. He was as advertised, but he was the only player I noticed more than #22 on the Spirit. I had to look this kid up because as a defenceman, he kept making nice rushes up the ice and seemed to always be looking to jump in the action, yet I didn't see him make many mistakes on D. I Googled him and that's when I noticed he was born on September 15th, the latest he could to be a 2020 draft eligible. Playing behind more experienced defenders, his icetime was limited, but I'm expecting big time progression from his next year as he becomes a true top 4 guy for Saginaw. He's obviously a long term project, but he really stood out for me and I'll be stoked if he ends up being drafted this year as I did see some potential in him."
212 - Philadelphia: Lukas Svejkovsky
"Svejkovsky has tons of talent. He possesses great skills which is complimented with his great vision. He's got a good shot that he uses in dangerous areas, and he also has good speed."
213 - SJ (from WSH): Amir Miftakhov
"We happen to like a lot of late round goalies this year (Hlavaj and Garand are 2 others) so we're happy that we still had one left on our list. Miftakhov is small, but he has already shown to be able to excel in the clutch such as when he had to replace Askarov on short notice. Supremely agile, we feel like his size will not deter him from reaching the NHL, where he could be a solid 1B goalie in the mold of a Jaroslav Halak. If that happens, we'll be more than happy to have it come from a 7th rounder."
214 - TB: Joe Miller
"The youngest player eligible for the entire 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Miller was born right on the cut-off date for draft eligibility. He's undersized, but he’s also a very elusive skater and fearless with the puck. He's very much a boom or bust project ''
215 - Colorado: Ole Bjorgvik Holm
216 - Toronto (from STL): Trevor Kuntar
217 - Boston: Gunnarwolfe Fontaine
''Fontaine plays with an obvious confidence. He looks to make plays with his top-end speed. He can get a shot off quickly and has accuracy. Fontaine seems to always be around the puck and making plays. Fontaine has his head on a swivel and shows a knack for making simple plays with his line mates. He does not slow down through the neutral zone. When his feet are moving, he is tough to stop offensively. ''
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