Follow the entire 2020 NHL draft through all seven rounds. We have all 217 picks as they happen, starting with the first overall selection by the New York Rangers and ending with Wednesday afternoon’s final pick.
Additionally, Chris Peters, Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan provide detailed breakdowns of each first-rounder’s skill set, as well as how he will fit with his new NHL team. And be sure to check out all of our draft-prep content to learn more about this talented class.
ROUND 1
1. New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere, LW
Team: Rimouski (QMJHL)
Ranking: 1 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
Stats: 52 GP, 35 G, 77 A
Scouting report: Over the past 20 years, only two players 18 years old or younger had a points-per-game average higher than Lafreniere’s 2.15 this season: Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Drouin. Lafreniere thinks the game at a high level, with elite anticipation and an understanding of what to do with the puck immediately after he gets it. He has a physical edge and initiates contact more than most top picks of recent years. — Peters
Team fit: The Rangers already have two excellent left wingers in Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider, which relieves some pressure on Lafreniere. The top prospect can transition to the NHL in a middle- or bottom-six role, similar to the way 2019 No. 2 pick Kaapo Kakko did this past season. More importantly, as New York finishes out its rebuild, Lafreniere becomes a key piece of the new 27-and-under core, which includes Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Strome, Kakko, Filip Chytil, Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox, Tony DeAngelo and Igor Shesterkin. — Kaplan
Where Lafreniere is most likely to play in 2020-21: NHL
2. Los Angeles Kings: Quinton Byfield, C
Team: Sudbury (OHL)
Ranking: 2 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 215 | Shot: L
Stats: 45 GP, 32 G, 50 A
Scouting report: Byfield has game-to-game consistency concerns but was fifth in the OHL in terms of points per game (1.82). At his best, he is a dominant force with elite-level speed, especially considering his size. He thinks the game extremely well, with good vision and a playmaker’s touch. Byfield’s defensive game needs maturation, but his instincts with the puck are very strong. If everything goes right in his development, he has a chance to be special. — Peters
Team fit: Byfield is a little farther away from the NHL than Tim Stutzle. But the Kings have been playing the long game with their rebuild, so they can wait. He’s a franchise center, an understudy for and successor to Anze Kopitar. And let’s not discount this point: This is the highest a Black player has ever been selected in the NHL draft. That, plus his personality, could be huge in one of the key NHL markets in the U.S. — Wyshynski
Where Byfield is most likely to play in 2020-21: NHL
3. Ottawa Senators: Tim Stutzle, LW
Team: Mannheim (Germany)
Ranking: 3 | Nationality: GER
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 187 | Shot: L
Stats: 41 GP, 7 G, 27 A
Scouting report: There is a sense of ease in Stutzle’s game. He has high-end puckhandling and skating abilities along with elite vision and hockey sense. He has a nice release and good shot, but his hands work best when he’s snapping passes, especially down low. He uses the ice that’s given to him and often makes the play, but he doesn’t force things. — Peters
Team fit: GM Pierre Dorion didn’t overthink this; Stutzle was the best player available. Ottawa — which no longer has any players from its team that made the 2017 Eastern Conference final — desperately needs playmakers. Stutzle, who has been compared to Patrick Kane, is just that. He’ll hopefully create chemistry with Brady Tkachuk on the Senators’ top line, but there’s no rush for Stutzle’s development, considering Ottawa is still in rebuild mode. — Kaplan
Where Stutzle is most likely to play in 2020-21: AHL
4. Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond, LW
Team: Frolunda (Sweden)
Ranking: 5 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 170 | Shot: R
Stats: 33 GP, 4 G, 6 A
Scouting report: Raymond had 14 points in nine games in Sweden’s under-20 league. His one-on-one skills, skating and willingness to battle for his ice are plus traits. — Peters
Team fit: The Red Wings are in a deep rebuild, from the foundation up. Raymond can easily be a pillar in that reconstruction. An enormously talented winger who has drawn comparisons to Mitch Marner and Artemi Panarin, he is the kind of offensive player GM Steve Yzerman had in his core with the Lightning and clearly wants in his Detroit nucleus. Plus, let’s face it: Yzerman and draft general Kris Draper know their way around a talented Swedish player or two. — Wyshynski
Where Raymond is most likely to play in 2020-21: SHL
5. Ottawa Senators: Jake Sanderson, D
Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Ranking: 8 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | Shot: L
Stats: 47 GP, 7 G, 22 A
Scouting report: An incredible skater and pure two-way defender, Sanderson has risen up the charts this season. His offensive skills are not necessarily the strongest points of his game, but he has a great understanding of how to make plays when they’re available to him. And defensively, Sanderson is one of the more gifted blueliners in this class with good physical strength and a propensity to initiate contact. — Peters
Team fit: When the Senators realized how deep this draft class was, they stockpiled picks and kept both No. 3 and No. 5. They ended up with two excellent, albeit different, players. Joining Stutzle is Sanderson, a big physical defenseman — an area of need for the organization. Sanderson is more of a defensive blueliner, compared to the other top defenseman, Jamie Drysdale, who plays a more offensive game. Sanderson’s selection marks the third straight year the Senators have drafted a University of North Dakota player. — Kaplan
Where Sanderson is most likely to play in 2020-21: NCAA
6. Anaheim Ducks: Jamie Drysdale, D
Team: Erie (OHL)
Ranking: 9 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 175 | Shot: R
Stats: 49 GP, 9 G, 38 A
Scouting report: Drysdale is an effortless, deceptive skater who can make a lot of plays with his feet in terms of opening up ice. His defending is adequate, though he still needs to get stronger and have a more consistent detail in his own end. He has excellent offensive tools, with a quick shot and confident puck-moving capabilities. — Peters
Team fit: GM Bob Murray and the Ducks used to reliably select defensemen in the first round. Witness their run of Cam Fowler (2010), Hampus Lindholm (2012), Shea Theodore (2013) and Jacob Larsson (2015). Drysdale is the first one they’ve taken since then, and he’s a great blueliner to lead the next wave for Anaheim, earning some comparisons to Cale Makar. It’s a very strong pick for a position where the franchise needed a blue-chipper. — Wyshynski
Where Drysdale is most likely to play in 2020-21: OHL
7. New Jersey Devils: Alexander Holtz, RW
Team: Djurgarden (Sweden)
Ranking: 10 | Nationality: SWE
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 192 | Shot: R
Stats: 35 GP, 9 G, 7 A
Scouting report: After tacking on muscle last year, Holtz handled the pro grind pretty well in Sweden. He is a natural offensive talent, with an elite release and quick hands. He has vision and offensive sense that challenge opposing defenses, along with the strength to drive the net. His skating is very good, and there’s power in his stride. — Peters
Team fit: With both of the top defenseman off the board, the Devils went with a scoring winger. GM Tom Fitzgerald has said the timeline for his team’s rebuild is whenever Jack Hughes (No. 1 pick of the 2019 draft) and Nico Hischier (No. 1 in 2017) are ready. Both Hughes and Hischier are natural centers, so it makes sense to add a goal scorer to develop with them. Holtz has the creativity to keep up with a player like Hughes. — Kaplan
Where Holtz is most likely to play in 2020-21: SHL
8. Buffalo Sabres: Jack Quinn, RW
Team: Ottawa (OHL)
Ranking: 12 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 176 | Shot: R
Stats: 62 GP, 52 G, 37 A
Scouting report: His scoring ability pops, and his skating has improved quite a bit. Quinn also has really good hands and can wire pucks. He has a really strong sense of the offensive zone and knows how to get to good ice to become more dangerous. — Peters
Team fit: This isn’t a big reach for GM Kevyn Adams and the Sabres but a reach nonetheless, as most mock drafts had Quinn going outside the top 10. Thus, he was not the best player available. That said, he’s a fleet skater with one of the better shots among the top dozen prospects. This is good news for a team that really needed to deepen its prospect pool on the wing, and even better news for Jack Eichel, who would certainly like some dynamic scoring talent on his wing sooner rather than later. — Wyshynski
Where Quinn is most likely to play in 2020-21: OHL
9. Minnesota Wild: Marco Rossi, C
Team: Ottawa (OHL)
Ranking: 7 | Nationality: AUT
Age: 19 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
Stats: 56 GP, 39 G, 81 A
Scouting report: His 2.14 points per game in the OHL ranks fifth among players 18 years old or younger over the past 20 years. Rossi is good in small areas, engages with defenders and can protect the puck fairly well. His skating doesn’t blow you away, but he’s good on his edges and uses high-end hockey sense to make plays under pressure. The power and strength he generates from his lower half alleviates size concerns for me, too. — Peters
Team fit: Ever since taking over as GM in August 2019, Bill Guerin has commented about the lack of No. 1 centers, both on the current roster and in the pipeline. So with two of the top centers still available, it was an obvious pounce for Minnesota. Rossi is more NHL-ready than Cole Perfetti. That makes more sense for the Wild, which were making their first top-10 pick in eight years and are trying to avoid a full-on rebuild. — Kaplan
Where Rossi is most likely to play in 2020-21: OHL
10. Winnipeg Jets: Cole Perfetti, C
Team: Saginaw (OHL)
Ranking: 4 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 177 | Shot: L
Stats: 61 GP, 37 G, 74 A
Scouting report: He can score, he can make plays and his skill is elite. His vision and offensive sense are outstanding, too. He can extend plays and seems to always have a plan with the puck on his stick. Perfetti has a pure release on his shot and snaps passes about as well as anyone else in the class. His skating is closer to average. — Peters
Team fit: The Perfetti drop ends with the Jets, who snag one of the draft’s better high-end offensive players. He brings great hockey sense, solid playmaking skills, a quick shot and the ability to end up on the wing or at center, which is nice flexibility for the Jets to have. Tumbling down to No. 10 after many had him projected in the top five should be ample motivation for him, too. — Wyshynski
Where Perfetti is most likely to play in 2020-21: OHL
11. Nashville Predators: Yaroslav Askarov, G
Team: Neva St. Petersburg (Russia 2)
Ranking: 6 | Nationality: RUS
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 176 | Catch: R
Stats: 18 GP, 0.92 Save Pct., 2.45 GAA
Scouting report: Askarov is among the best goaltending prospects to enter the draft in some time. He is such a monster in the crease, as good as any goalie I’ve seen at his age going post to post. He never quits on plays, and while he can make the big save, he makes a lot of his work look easy. There’s explosiveness and power in the way he plays the position, but he can keep it quiet and simple, too. — Peters
Team fit: A big trend emerging from the 2020 playoffs: The NHL is becoming a two-goaltender league. The Predators have their tandem for now in Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne, but they saw Askarov — considered the best goalie prospect since Carey Price — as too irresistible of a pick sitting at No. 11, despite the organizational need for scorers. Rinne, 37, comes off the books after next season. — Kaplan
Where Askarov is most likely to play in 2020-21: KHL
12. Florida Panthers: Anton Lundell, C
Team: HIFK (Finland)
Ranking: 11 | Nationality: FIN
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185 | Shot: L
Stats: 44 GP, 10 G, 18 A
Scouting report: Lundell has two professional seasons under his belt already, showcasing high-end vision and playmaking skills while showing a commitment to play defensively. His defensive value is highest among forwards in this range; there’s detail in his game at both ends of the ice. His puck skills are just average, but he makes things happen. — Peters
Team fit: The Finland connection runs deep for the Panthers. Aleksander Barkov is their No. 1 center and only untouchable player. Florida GM Bill Zito worked under Finnish hockey godfather Jarmo Kekalainen with the Blue Jackets, and one assumes they had a conversation or two about Lundell. The center is not too far away from being NHL ready, which is even better news for a team looking to piece together a contender sooner rather than later. It’s a good fit for Lundell, too, as he can learn under one of the best two-way centers on the planet. — Wyshynski
Where Lundell is most likely to play in 2020-21: Liiga
13. Carolina Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis, C
Team: Portland (WHL)
Ranking: 15 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 175 | Shot: R
Stats: 58 GP, 42 G, 56 A
Scouting report: Quick hands and solid north-south speed contributed to Jarvis improving his WHL scoring total by nearly 60 points over the previous season to finish second overall in the league with 98 points. He doesn’t have great size, but the speed and growth in skill suggest a higher ceiling than I previously thought Jarvis had. — Peters
Team fit: It’s the pick that originally belonged to the Maple Leafs, but Jarvis is headed to Carolina thanks to the Canes taking on Patrick Marleau’s salary. GM Don Waddell telegraphed that his team needed offense, so it’s not a surprise they bring in a player with a ton of offensive skill. Jarvis has speed, too, and that should translate to the Canes’ style. — Kaplan
Where Jarvis is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
14. Edmonton Oilers: Dylan Holloway, C
Team: Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Ranking: 21 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 203 | Shot: L
Stats: 35 GP, 8 G, 9 A
Scouting report: Holloway was one of the most anticipated prospects of this class but struggled to adapt to the college game, albeit with a Wisconsin team that vastly underperformed. He is still one of the better skaters in this draft class and the physical tools are there, but his play away from the puck needs to improve. — Peters
Team fit: The Oilers signaled before the draft that they weren’t keen on taking a defenseman because they have depth at that position. This isn’t always the way it works in the NHL, which is very much a “best player available” draft. Is Holloway better than defenseman Kaiden Guhle? That’s arguable. But he is a strong addition as a power forward, earning some Chris Kreider comparisons — no doubt for his NCAA roots and his ability to get to the net like the Rangers’ wrecking ball. — Wyshynski
Where Holloway is most likely to play in 2020-21: NCAA
15. Toronto Maple Leafs: Rodion Amirov, LW
Team: Ufa (Russia)
Ranking: 13 | Nationality: RUS
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 167 | Shot: L
Stats: 21 GP, 0 G, 2 A
Scouting report: An especially skilled and crafty winger, Amirov has some of the best skill in this draft. He has remarkably fluid puckhandling abilities and a deceptive, quick release on his shot. Amirov also competes down low and extends plays along the wall with good skating and creative puck work. — Peters
Team fit: On Monday, GM Kyle Dubas told reporters he thought the 2020 draft is “certainly” a deep one, so he’s hoping he found a diamond in the rough in the left winger. Amirov is already playing in the KHL, which means he should be pro ready as soon as he comes over. While forward isn’t the biggest area of need currently (it’s defense), Amirov fits the Leafs’ brand of hockey extremely well. — Kaplan
Where Amirov is most likely to play in 2020-21: KHL
16. Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle, D
Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
Ranking: 20 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 186 | Shot: L
Stats: 64 GP, 11 G, 29 A
Scouting report: One of the draft’s most athletic players, Guhle is an especially mobile defenseman who packs a punch. The concern is in his overall offensive upside, though he has a nice quick shot from the point. But his full complement of tools — with skating and hockey sense being among his best — gives me reason to believe he can and will progress offensively. — Peters
Team fit: The Canadiens had a chance to draft a French-Canadian kid named Hendrix Lapierre, who earned favorable comparisons to Patrice Bergeron, and they … didn’t? That’s OK. Guhle is a solid choice at No. 16, as the No. 8-ranked North American skater whose acceleration and offensive skill set earned him comparisons to Ducks defender Cam Fowler. He joins Alexander Romanov as blue-chippers on the blue line in a robust Canadiens prospect system. — Wyshynski
Where Guhle is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
17. Chicago Blackhawks: Lukas Reichel, LW
Team: Eisbaren Berlin (Germany)
Ranking: 17 | Nationality: GER
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
Stats: 42 GP, 12 G, 12 A
Scouting report: Reichel has great hands and creativity. He creates space and can extend plays. He also makes really smart reads with the puck on his stick and processes the game quickly. — Peters
Team fit: The Blackhawks would have been in on Yaroslav Askarov had the goalie been available here; Chicago needs to restock its goalie pipeline. Instead, the Blackhawks got a skilled, high-upside forward (Chicago had selected a defenseman with two of its past three first-round picks). Reichel is the second German to be drafted this year. GM Stan Bowman got a first-hand look at scouting the winger when Reichel’s team played against the Blackhawks last fall during the NHL’s Global Series. — Kaplan
Where Reichel is most likely to play in 2020-21: DEL
18. New Jersey Devils: Dawson Mercer, C
Team: Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Ranking: 14 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
Stats: 42 GP, 24 G, 36 A
Scouting report: Mercer has great character and work ethic, but don’t sleep on his skill level and hockey sense. He is committed to playing at both ends of the ice and can engage physically despite not being the biggest guy. I like his release and ability to create off the rush, too, and he adapts to situations well. — Peters
Team fit: In the eyes of Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, the next decade probably looks like this: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Mercer up the middle. That is if Mercer doesn’t shift over to the wing, where the slippery forward can also be effective. The Devils have a lot of holes to fill, but clearly their general manager, an ex-NHL forward, believes the best options so far have been up front. — Wyshynski
Where Mercer is most likely to play in 2020-21: QMJHL
19. New York Rangers: Braden Schneider, D
Team: Brandon (WHL)
Ranking: 18 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 202 | Shot: R
Stats: 60 GP, 7 G, 35 A
Scouting report: Schneider can control the net front both physically and with excellent anticipation. Schneider always seems to find himself in the right position, making good reads in the defensive zone and keeping a good gap on the rush. The offensive elements of his game are more understated, but he jumps into plays and distributes well. — Peters
Team fit: The Rangers gave up a third-round pick to move up three spots, as they clearly fell in love with drafting an in-your-face, rugged defenseman. He is a nice complement to Alexis Lafreniere, who also plays a physical brand of hockey. Schneider, who has cited Shea Weber as his role model, loves to lay out big hits and should endear himself to fans at Madison Square Garden. — Kaplan
Where Schneider is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
20. New Jersey Devils: Shakir Mukhamadullin, D
Team: Ufa (Russia)
Ranking: 86 | Nationality: RUS
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
Stats: 27 GP, 0 G, 1 A
Scouting report: Mukhamadullin’s decision-making leaves a lot to be desired at this point. But he has a base of tools with which a team can work, especially with that big frame and solid mobility. He got into KHL games this season but had limited usage. — Peters
Team fit: Right before the Devils’ pick, the Rangers traded up to grab Braden Schneider, a physical defenseman with a high compete level. A source said they thought the Devils wanted to draft him, so they hopped the line. The Devils then had the reach of the first round (at that point) in selecting Mukhamadullin, who wasn’t projected to go in the first round as the 17th-rated non-North American skater and sixth-ranked defenseman on that list. Like Schneider, he’s a stay-at-home type. Unlike Schneider, he has experience playing at the pro level. But knowing what was on the draft board at this point, it’s hard to believe the Devils couldn’t have traded down and still had him there. — Wyshynski
Where Mukhamadullin is most likely to play in 2020-21: KHL
21. Columbus Blue Jackets: Yegor Chinakhov, RW
Team: Omsk 2 (Russia Jr.)
Ranking: NR | Nationality: RUS
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
Stats: 56 GP, 27 G, 42 A
Scouting report: The Russian is a second-year draft-eligible player. Those types of players don’t typically get long looks, especially when they don’t even play for the Russian national team at the U20 level. That said, Chinakov is off to a ridiculous start to the KHL season with seven points in 12 games. Prior to that, he was one of the top players in Russia’s U20 league. He has a frame he can grow into more and a high-end shot. His ability to score at the pro level is intriguing, but he’s still a player who has a lot of development time ahead. — Peters
Team fit: GM Jarmo Kekalainen has always acted off conviction, so it feels on-brand to pick off the board, like he did with this pick. (Chinakhov at No. 21 was so unexpected that neither the NBC nor Sportsnet broadcast appeared to have much prepared on the player). The 19-year-old winger has been a riser after a hot start in the KHL and could give the Blue Jackets much-needed scoring. Columbus is hoping this isn’t a reach but rather the team landed on a late-bloomer. — Kaplan
Where Chinakhov is most likely to play in 2020-21: KHL
22. Washington Capitals: Hendrix Lapierre, C
Team: Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Ranking: 25 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 179 | Shot: L
Stats: 19 GP, 2 G, 15 A
Scouting report: Concussion and neck problems potentially derailed a season that got off to a spectacular start at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Lapierre is a high-end talent with excellent vision and puck skills, though his QMJHL performance when he was healthy — or at least moderately healthy — was not in line with his previously lofty projections. — Peters
Team fit: The Capitals traded up to select Lapierre, and he’ll be worth the third-round pick they anted up if he can stay healthy. Now, that’s asking a lot, considering his three concussions in a 10-month span in 2019. That’s a little scary. But when a young forward has the playmaking puck skills and skating ability that Lapierre does, with favorable comparisons to a player like Jonathan Toews as a two-way center, it’s worth the shot. This could easily be one of those picks for which hockey scholars in the future wonder how one of the NHL’s better centers could have lasted this long in the draft. — Wyshynski
Where Lapierre is most likely to play in 2020-21: QMJHL
23. Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster, RW
Team: Barrie (OHL)
Ranking: 30 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 194 | Shot: R
Stats: 62 GP, 36 G, 44 A
Scouting report: A solid scorer who gets up and down the ice well, Foerster navigates the offensive zone with great awareness. He led Barrie in scoring by 33 points. He has a good variety of release points on his shot and can make plays off the pass. — Peters
Team fit: Heading into the draft, the Flyers needed forward depth, and they had plenty of decent options available. In Foerster, Philadelphia gets one of the best shooters in the draft. Foerster has high-upside production and great size, and plays with grit, but he needs to work on his skating. That said, Foerster has already proven he can make improvements, nearly quadrupling his point total from 23 points as a rookie in the OHL to 80 last season. If the Flyers believe they can fix Foerster’s skating, they found a gem late in the first round. — Kaplan
Where Foerster is most likely to play in 2020-21: OHL
24. Calgary Flames: Connor Zary, C
Team: Kamloops (WHL)
Ranking: 16 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 19 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
Stats: 57 GP, 38 G, 48 A
Scouting report: One of the best puck distributors in this class, Zary has high-end vision and is especially decisive with the puck on his stick. He wastes few plays. Zary finished fifth in the WHL with 86 points and was a leader on a resurgent Kamloops team. He has some edge, as well. — Peters
Team fit: The Flames traded down twice before making their first pick of the draft, and it ended up being Zary. The Flames don’t have a ton of quality depth at the position in their system beyond Mathias Emilio Pettersen — if he ends up in the middle — so the addition of Zary here makes sense. He’s a solid two-way forward with a competitive streak at both ends of the ice. He fancies his game like that of Canucks star Bo Horvat, though there is some question if he has that level of skill. — Wyshynski
Where Zary is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
25. Colorado Avalanche: Justin Barron, D
Team: Halifax (QMJHL)
Ranking: 28 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | Shot: R
Stats: 34 GP, 4 G, 15 A
Scouting report: Barron’s season was derailed by a blood clot. His hockey sense is exceptional, and Barron can get involved at both ends of the ice, although I’d grade his defensive value more favorably than his ability to produce. — Peters
Team fit: Barron might have slipped a bit because of blood clot issues that kept him sidelined for most of last season, but the Avalanche are looking long term here. Barron is a terrific skater and plays a sound game. Colorado has to feel great about the young defensive group it has built. It’s highlighted by Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar, but also includes Bowen Byram, Samuel Girard, Ryan Graves, Drew Helleson and Conor Timmins. The blue line is a huge area of strength for the Avalanche for years to come, which gives GM Joe Sakic plenty of flexibility. — Kaplan
Where Barron is most likely to play in 2020-21: QMJHL
26. St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours, LW
Team: Edmonton (WHL)
Ranking: 31 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 195 | Shot: L
Stats: 64 GP, 23 G, 47 A
Scouting report: Neighbours is a sturdy player who is tough to take off the puck. His skating stride is a bit clunky, but he gets where he needs to be, delivers body checks and makes things more difficult on opposing players in all zones. It’s tougher to project him as a likely top-six player, but he certainly has the versatility to fit into a variety of roles for a team. — Peters
Team fit: The Blues selected a very Blues-esque player in Jake Neighbours. He has a very high compete level, is strong at the net and is tough to take off the puck. GM Doug Armstrong and coach Craig Berube love their sandpaper guys, and Neighbours seems to fit that mold pretty well. A number of the mock drafts had him going early in the second round, so this is a moderate reach but nothing too strenuous. — Wyshynski
Where Neighbours is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
27. Anaheim Ducks: Jacob Perreault, RW
Team: Sarnia (OHL)
Ranking: 19 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 192 | Shot: R
Stats: 57 GP, 39 G, 31 A
Scouting report: Among the best pure goal scorers in this class, Perreault has an elite shot. His one-timers are deadly, and he changes up his release points on his shot often, which makes him much more deceptive for opposing goalies. Consistency of effort and play away from the puck continue to be areas scouts harp on about Perreault’s overall projection, but the scoring ability kept him in my top 20. — Peters
Team fit: This is a pick that the rebuilding Ducks acquired from the Bruins as part of the Ondrej Kase trade. As they did with their earlier pick, the Ducks went for the best available player. Perrault is the son of former NHL player Yanic Perreault, and was one of the best goal scorers in the OHL. Combined with Jamie Drysdale, this is a nice first-round haul for GM Bob Murray. — Kaplan
Where Perreault is most likely to play in 2020-21: OHL
28. Ottawa Senators: Ridly Greig, C
Team: Brandon (WHL)
Ranking: 33 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 163 | Shot: L
Stats: 56 GP, 26 G, 34 A
Scouting report: Greig has been one of the biggest risers in the draft this season, with a strong finish to his WHL campaign. His vision is high quality, as he makes good decisions with the puck in the offensive zone. He has some grit and commits to playing at both ends of the ice. — Peters
Team fit: It’s an interesting trend in the NHL draft: The later it gets in the first round, the more you hear prospects praised for their grit, jam, sandpaper and overall truculence. Such is the case with Greig, as the Senators selected a versatile forward with a high hockey IQ and a propensity for agitation. NHL Central Scouting evoked the name of Brad Marchand; keep in mind that Marchand is also a terrific player on top of all that extracurricular stuff. — Wyshynski
Where Greig is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
29. Vegas Golden Knights: Brendan Brisson, C
Team: Chicago (USHL)
Ranking: 23 | Nationality: USA
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 179 | Shot: L
Stats: 45 GP, 24 G, 35 A
Scouting report: It’s hard to pinpoint any one element of his game that registers as elite, though his skill is on an upper tier. Hockey sense is solid. Vision is solid. The skating is fine. Brisson finished second in USHL scoring with 59 points in 45 games, but he still needs to get stronger and a bit more aggressive in the middle of the ice, though. — Peters
Team fit: There was a lot of speculation about where Brisson would land; his father, Pat, is one of the NHL’s super agents, representing Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews — as well as Jonathan Marchessault and Nicolas Roy, two of his son’s future teammates. In his own right, Brendan Brisson is one of the best Americans in this year’s draft, and he’s a player who has been improving at every level. Brisson is more of a developmental pick, as he’ll spend some time at the University of Michigan before jumping to the NHL. — Kaplan
Where Brisson is most likely to play in 2020-21: NCAA
30. Dallas Stars: Mavrik Bourque, C
Team: Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Ranking: 22 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 178 | Shot: R
Stats: 49 GP, 29 G, 42 A
Scouting report: Among U18 players in the QMJHL, no player had more points than Bourque’s 71 — and his 1.45 points per game led his age peers by a substantial margin. He has some natural offensive ability, with an excellent shot, especially off the pass. Bourque doesn’t have an imposing frame, but he has quick hands and a good idea of how to spin the wheels offensively for his team. I think his skating could stand to improve, but it’s not a major drawback for him. — Peters
Team fit: A lot of mock drafts had Bourque going a few picks before the Stars got a chance to get him at No. 30. Given his offensive upside, and natural instincts, it could be a big mistake if Dallas develops him as well as they’ve developed some of their other recent prospects such as Denis Gurianov, Roope Hintz and Jason Dickinson. — Wyshynski
Where Bourque is most likely to play in 2020-21: QMJHL
31. San Jose Sharks: Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW
Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
Ranking: 40 | Nationality: CAN
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 183 | Shot: R
Stats: 64 GP, 25 G, 45 A
Scouting report: Wiesblatt has quick hands and can make plays with a good amount of speed. Despite not being a big body, he gets engaged physically and certainly competes at a high level. His hand skills are in the upper tier of this draft, and he has some creativity. — Peters
Team fit: The Sharks might be looking at a transitional season in 2020-21 before they can really contend again, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they end up using all seven of their picks to help restock the pipeline. In this selection — acquired from Tampa Bay in the Barclay Goodrow trade — the Sharks targeted a playmaking forward. If we’re looking at recency bias, that’s not a surprise for a team that finished last season ranked 27th in the NHL in scoring. — Kaplan
Where Wiesblatt is most likely to play in 2020-21: WHL
ROUND 2
32. Detroit Red Wings: William Wallinder, D, Modo Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
33. Ottawa Senators: Roby Jarventie, LW, Koovee (Finland 2)
34. Buffalo Sabres: John-Jason Peterka, RW, Munchen (Germany)
35. Los Angeles Kings: Helge Grans, D, Malmo Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
36. Anaheim Ducks: Sam Colangelo, RW, Chicago (USHL)
37. Minnesota Wild: Marat Khusnutdinov, C, SKA St. Petersburg 2 (Russia Jr.)
38. San Jose Sharks: Thomas Bordeleau, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
39. Minnesota Wild: Ryan O’Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
40. Winnipeg Jets: Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
41. Carolina Hurricanes: Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (Sweden)
42. Nashville Predators: Luke Evangelista, RW, London (OHL)
43. Florida Panthers: Emil Heineman, LW, Leksand Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
44. Ottawa Senators: Tyler Kleven, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
45. Los Angeles Kings: Brock Faber, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
46. Chicago Blackhawks: Drew Commesso, G, USA U18 (NTDP)
47. Montreal Canadiens: Luke Tuch, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
48. Montreal Canadiens: Jan Mysak, C, Hamilton (OHL)
49. Arizona Coyotes: Pick forfeited
50. Calgary Flames: Yan Kuznetsov, D, UConn (Hockey East)
51. Detroit Red Wings: Theodor Niederbach, C, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
52. Pittsburgh Penguins: Joel Blomqvist, G, Karpat Jr. (Finland Jr.)
53. Carolina Hurricanes: Vasiliy Ponomarev, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
54. Philadelphia Flyers: Emil Andrae, D, HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
55. Detroit Red Wings: Cross Hanas, LW, Portland (WHL)
56. San Jose Sharks: Tristen Robins, RW, Saskatoon (WHL)
57. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jack Finley, C, Spokane (WHL)
58. Boston Bruins: Mason Lohrei, D, Green Bay (USHL)
59. Toronto Maple Leafs: Roni Hirvonen, C, Assat (Finland)
60. New York Rangers: William Cuylle, LW, Windsor (OHL)
61. Ottawa Senators: Egor Sokolov, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
62. Tampa Bay Lightning: Gage Goncalves, C, Everett (WHL)
The second round did not waste time getting wild. The utter lack of consensus after the top 12 picks of Round 1 really showed itself over the glacial second round, where several teams were content to trade back. Some of the best value picks of the round include Jan Mysak to Montreal at No. 48, Vasiliy Ponomarev to Carolina at No. 53 and Roni Hirvonen to Toronto at No. 59. — Peters
ROUND 3
63. Detroit Red Wings: Donovan Sebrango, D, Kitchener (OHL)
64. Toronto Maple Leafs: Topi Niemela, D, Karpat (Finland)
65. Minnesota Wild: Daemon Hunt, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)
66. Los Angeles Kings: Kasper Simontaival, RW, Tappara Jr. (Finland Jr.)
67. Anaheim Ducks: Ian Moore, D, St. Mark’s School (High School)
68. Vegas Golden Knights: Lukas Cormier, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
69. Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Nikishin, D, Spartak (Russia)
70. Detroit Red Wings: Eemil Viro, D, TPS (Finland)
71. Ottawa Senators: Leevi Merilainen, G, Karpat Jr. (Finland Jr.)
72. Calgary Flames: Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
73. Nashville Predators: Luke Prokop, D, Calgary (WHL)
74. Florida Panthers: Ty Smilanic, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
75. Colorado Avalanche: Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Windsor (OHL)
76. San Jose Sharks: Danil Gushchin, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
77. Pittsburgh Penguins: Calle Clang, G, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
78. Columbus Blue Jackets: Samuel Knazko, D, TPS Jr. (Finland Jr.)
79. Chicago Blackhawks: Landon Slaggert, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
80. Calgary Flames: Jake Boltmann, D, Edina (High School)
81. Chicago Blackhawks: Wyatt Kaiser, D, Andover (High School)
82. Vancouver Canucks: Joni Jurmo, D, Jokerit Jr. (Finland Jr.)
83. Los Angeles Kings: Alex Laferriere, RW, Des Moines (USHL)
84. New Jersey Devils: Nicolas Daws, G, Guelph (OHL)
85. Tampa Bay Lightning: Maxim Groshev, RW, Nizhnekamsk (Russia)
86. St. Louis Blues: Dylan Peterson, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
87. Florida Panthers: Justin Sourdif, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
88. St. Louis Blues: Leo Loof, D, Farjestad Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
89. Boston Bruins: Trevor Kuntar, C, Youngstown (USHL)
90. New York Islanders: Alexander Ljungkrantz, RW, Brynas Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
91. Vegas Golden Knights: Jackson Hallum, C, St. Thomas (High School)
92. New York Rangers: Oliver Tarnstrom, C, AIK Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
93. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jack Thompson, D, Sudbury (OHL)
There was plenty of value to be had in the third round with several highly-ranked players still available. Jeremie Poirier looks to be one of the best value adds of the draft, Calgary’s pick at No. 72. We also saw three goaltenders go, including Nicolas Daws. The 84th overall pick by the Devils was the No. 4 netminder on my board. — Peters
ROUND 4
95. Florida Panthers: Michael Benning, D, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
96. Calgary Flames: Daniil Chechelev, G, Chekhov 2 (Russia Jr.)
97. Detroit Red Wings: Sam Stange, RW, Sioux Falls (USHL)
98. San Jose Sharks: Brandon Coe, RW, North Bay (OHL)
99. New Jersey Devils: Jaromir Pytlik, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
100. Edmonton Oilers: Carter Savoie, LW, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
101. Nashville Predators: Adam Wilsby, D, Sodertalje (Sweden 2)
102. Montreal Canadiens: Jack Smith, C, St. Cloud Cathedral (High School)
103. New York Rangers: Dylan Garand, G, Kamloops (WHL)
104. Anaheim Ducks: Thimo Nickl, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)
105. Florida Panthers: Zachary Uens, D, Merrimack (Hockey East)
106. Toronto Maple Leafs: Artur Akhtyamov, G, Ibris Kazan (Russia Jr.)
107. Detroit Red Wings: Jan Bednar, G, Sokolov (Czech 2)
108. Pittsburgh Penguins: Lukas Svejkovsky, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
109. Montreal Canadiens: Blake Biondi, C, Hermantown (High School)
110. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Krutil, D, Sparta Jr. (Czech Jr.)
111. Arizona Coyotes: Mitchell Miller, D, Tri-City (USHL)
112. Los Angeles Kings: Juho Markkanen, G, Saipa Jr. (Finland Jr.)
113. Vancouver Canucks: Jackson Kunz, LW, Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep (High School)
114. Columbus Blue Jackets: Mikael Pyyhtia, LW, TPS Jr. (Finland Jr.)
115. Carolina Hurricanes: Zion Nybeck, LW, HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
116. Tampa Bay Lightning: Eamon Powell, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
117. Washington Capitals: Bogdan Trineyev, RW, Dynamo Moscow 2 (Russia Jr.)
118. Colorado Avalanche: Colby Ambrosio, C, Tri-City (USHL)
119. St. Louis Blues: Tanner Dickinson, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
120. New Jersey Devils: Ethan Edwards, D, Spruce Grove (AJHL)
121. New York Islanders: Alex Jefferies, LW, The Gunnery (High School)
122. Toronto Maple Leafs: William Villeneuve, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
123. Dallas Stars: Antonio Stranges, LW, London (OHL)
124. Montreal Canadiens: Sean Farrell, C, Chicago (USHL)
A few of the players who I was particularly high on that had slid down the board didn’t make it past the fourth round. Brandon Coe and Zion Nybeck had second-round grades from me and are on opposite sides of the size spectrum. Minnesota Mr. Hockey Blake Biondi also got taken in the fourth, as Montreal selected him at No. 109. This is a round where the depth of the draft really seemed to shine. There were still some good upside players available. — Peters
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