2020 NHL Draft

Updated Draft Rankings: Top 125 (March)

Winter showcases and stretch runs sharpen draft picture
Steve Kournianos  |  03/02/2020 |  Nashville  |  [hupso]

NASHVILLE (The Draft Analyst) — A critical period of hockey for most of the world’s premier draft-eligible prospects is over, which means it’s time to update my rankings from early January.  Compiling this specific list centered on reports and production from the following blocks of competition — league Top Prospects games, the under-18 and under-19 Five Nations tournaments, and the stretch run in league play for both North American and European circuits. For prospects playing in European men’s leagues, it was a good time to see how they were utilized once the standings tightened and contenders started separating themselves from pretenders (league playoff performance can have a profound impact on draft stock). In terms of Canadian major junior hockey, we’re witnessing the greatest offensive explosion the Ontario Hockey League has seen in over 20 years. Prospects playing in the OHL are putting up video-game numbers and doing so in a short period of time, thus making it difficult to gauge how they would perform in tougher leagues when games are tightly checked, defensemen are less risk averse, and the bulk of the goaltenders aren’t made out of Swiss cheese. Nonetheless, this 2020 draft class looks pretty good when it comes to scoring wingers and two-way centers but thin on franchise-caliber defenders and goalies with cornerstone potential.

Below is an updated list of notable first-year eligible draft prospects for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. This ranking is a follow-up to my preseason draft rankings and watch list that was released in August. Players born between September 16, 2001 and September 15, 2002 are in the zone for consideration. The top-300 rankings and those for draft “overagers” (prospects passed over in previous drafts) will be published later this month.

Rank +/- Name POS TM LG DOB HT WT S NAT
1 E Lafreniere, Alexis LW Rimouski QMJHL 11-Oct-01 6’1 196 L CAN
2 E Byfield, Quinton C Sudbury OHL 19-Aug-02 6’4 215 L CAN
3 +2 Stutzle, Tim LW/C Mannheim DEL 15-Jan-02 6’1 185 L GER
4 E Perfetti, Cole LW/C Saginaw OHL 1-Jan-02 5’10 177 L CAN
5 +1 Rossi, Marco C Ottawa OHL 23-Sep-01 5’9 183 L AUT
6 -3 Holtz, Alexander RW Djurgarden SHL 23-Jan-02 6’0 192 R SWE
7 +2 Amirov, Rodion LW/RW Tolpar MHL 2-Oct-01 6’0 167 L RUS
8 -1 Drysdale, Jamie RHD Erie OHL 8-Apr-02 5’11 175 R CAN
9 -1 Raymond, Lucas LW Frolunda SHL 28-Mar-02 5’11 170 R SWE
10 +4 Lundell, Anton C HIFK SM-Liiga 3-Oct-01 6’1 185 L FIN
11 +7 Jarvis, Seth C/W Portland WHL 1-Feb-02 5’10 179 R CAN
12 +5 Khusnutdinov, Marat C SKA-1946 MHL 17-Jul-02 5’11 176 L RUS
13 -1 Holloway, Dylan LW/C Wisconsin Big-10 23-Sep-01 6’1 192 L CAN
14 +2 Zary, Connor C Kamloops WHL 25-Sep-01 6’0 177 L CAN
15 +17 Sanderson, Jake LHD U.S. U18 NTDP 8-Jul-02 6’1 186 L USA
16 -3 Mysak, Jan C Hamilton OHL 24-Jun-02 5’11 180 L CZE
17 -6 Bourque, Mavrik C Shawinigan QMJHL 8-Jan-02 5’10 168 R CAN
18 -8 Askarov, Yaroslav G SKA-Neva VHL 16-Jun-02 6’3 176 R RUS
19 +1 Perreault, Jacob RW Sarnia OHL 15-Apr-02 5’11 200 R CAN
20 +3 Andrae, Emil LHD HV71 J20 Superelit 23-Feb-02 5’9 181 L SWE
21 +14 Quinn, Jack RW Ottawa OHL 19-Sep-01 6’0 179 R CAN
22 -1 Sourdif, Justin RW Vancouver WHL 24-Mar-02 5’11 173 R CAN
23 -4 Ponomarev, Vasiliy C Shawinigan QMJHL 13-Mar-02 5’10 178 L RUS
24 +12 Mercer, Dawson C Chicoutimi QMJHL 27-Oct-01 6’0 181 R CAN
25 +9 Reichel, Lukas LW Eisbaren Berlin DEL 17-May-02 5’11 170 L GER
26 +2 Guhle, Kaiden LHD Prince Albert WHL 18-Jan-02 6’2 188 L CAN
27 +6 Bordeleau, Thomas C U.S. U18 NTDP 3-Jan-02 5’9 179 L USA
28 +3 Brisson, Brendan C Chicago USHL 22-Oct-01 5’11 177 L USA
29 +2 Colangelo, Sam RW Chicago USHL 26-Dec-01 6’2 205 R USA
30 -5 Simontaival, Kasper RW Tappara U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 11-Jan-02 5’9 177 R FIN
31 -1 Neighbours, Jake LW Edmonton WHL 29-Mar-02 6’0 197 L CAN
32 +6 Nybeck, Zion RW HV71 J20 Superelit 12-May-02 5’7 182 L SWE
33 +26 Hirvonen, Roni C Assat SM-Liiga 10-Jan-02 5’9 164 L FIN
34 +11 Gunler, Noel RW Lulea SHL 7-Oct-01 6’1 176 R SWE
35 +19 Jurmo, Joni LHD Jokerit U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 19-Apr-02 6’3 190 L FIN
36 +4 Gushchin, Danil LW Muskegon USHL 6-Feb-02 5’8 165 L RUS
37 -15 Mukhamadullin, Shakir LHD Tolpar MHL 10-Jan-02 6’4 178 L RUS
38 -9 Farrell, Sean LW Chicago USHL 2-Nov-01 5’9 175 L USA
39 +24 Foerster, Tyson RW Barrie OHL 18-Jan-02 6’1 194 R CAN
40 +7 Wallinder, William LHD MODO J20 Superelit 28-Jul-02 6’4 191 L SWE
41 -4 Schneider, Braden RHD Brandon WHL 20-Sep-01 6’2 202 R CAN
42 -16 Cormier, Lukas LHD Charlottetown QMJHL 27-Mar-02 5’9 167 L CAN
43 -19 Poirier, Jeremie LHD Saint John QMJHL 2-Jun-02 6’0 199 L CAN
44 E Smilanic, Ty C/W U.S. U18 NTDP 20-Jan-02 6’1 177 L USA
45 -30 Foudy, Jean-Luc C Windsor OHL 13-May-02 6’0 174 R CAN
46 -4 McClennon, Connor RW Winnipeg WHL 25-Jun-02 5’8 163 R CAN
47 -8 Miettinen, Veeti RW Espoo U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 20-Sep-01 5’9 161 L FIN
48 +12 Tuch, Luke LW U.S. U18 NTDP 7-Mar-02 6’2 203 L USA
49 +4 Faber, Brock RHD U.S. U18 NTDP 22-Aug-02 6’0 193 R USA
50 -2 Blomqvist, Joel G Karpat U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 10-Jan-02 6’1 182 L FIN
51 -5 Niemela, Topi RHD Karpat SM-Liiga 25-Mar-02 5’11 156 R FIN
52 -9 Kleven, Tyler LHD U.S. U18 NTDP 10-Jan-02 6’4 200 L USA
53 +46 Niederbach, Theodor C Frolunda J20 Superelit 25-Feb-02 5’11 172 R SWE
54 +7 Greig, Ridly C Brandon WHL 8-Aug-02 5’11 164 L CAN
55 -6 Peterka, J.J. RW Munchen DEL 14-Jan-02 5’10 192 L GER
56 +60 Jarventie, Roby LW KooVee Mestis 8-Aug-02 6’2 184 L FIN
57 +8 Viro, Eemil LHD TPS SM-Liiga 3-Apr-02 6’0 165 L FIN
58 -7 Barron, Justin RHD Halifax QMJHL 15-Nov-01 6’2 195 R CAN
59 -1 Wiesblatt, Ozzy RW Prince Albert WHL 9-Mar-02 5’10 183 R CAN
60 +9 Tyutnev, Pavel LW Loko Yaroslavl MHL 25-Jul-02 5’10 185 L RUS
61 +56 Torgersson, Daniel LW Frolunda J20 Superelit 26-Jan-02 6’3 199 L SWE
62 +41 Berard, Brett LW U.S. U18 NTDP 9-Sep-02 5’9 152 L USA
63 +13 Cuylle, William LW Windsor OHL 5-Feb-02 6’3 204 L CAN
64 -9 Francis, Ryan RW Cape Breton QMJHL 2-Dec-01 5’9 174 R CAN
65 +26 Zlodeyev, Dmitri C MHK Dynamo MHL 15-Feb-02 5’11 185 L RUS
66 -10 Suni, Oliver RW Oshawa OHL 13-Feb-02 6’1 188 R FIN
67 -1 Kuznetsov, Yan LHD U.Conn HE 21-Mar-02 6’3 207 L RUS
68 -6 Tullio, Tyler RW Oshawa OHL 5-Apr-02 5’10 165 R CAN
69 -28 Lapierre, Hendrix C Chicoutimi QMJHL 9-Feb-02 6’0 179 L CAN
70 -20 Pytlik, Jaromir C Sault Ste. Marie OHL 25-Sep-01 6’2 201 R CZE
71 E Didkovsky, Ivan LW MHK Dynamo MHL 20-Jan-02 5’11 187 L RUS
72 -4 Groshev, Maxim RW Nizhnekamsk KHL 14-Dec-01 6’2 194 L RUS
73 +11 O’Rourke, Ryan LHD Sault Ste. Marie OHL 16-May-02 6’0 173 L CAN
74 -2 Slaggert, Landon C/W U.S. U18 NTDP 25-Jun-02 6’0 182 L USA
75 -23 Desroches, Charlie RHD Saint John QMJHL 24-Apr-02 5’10 170 R CAN
76 +22 Chromiak, Martin RW Kingston OHL 20-Aug-02 5’11 179 R SVK
77 +12 Evangelista, Luke RW London OHL 21-Feb-02 5’11 172 R CAN
78 +16 Trineyev, Bogdan RW JHC Dynamo MHL 4-Mar-02 6’3 198 R RUS
79 -1 Shlaine, Artem C Muskegon USHL 7-Mar-02 6’1 165 L USA
80 -7 Novak, Pavel RW Kelowna WHL 16-Apr-02 5’9 170 R CZE
81 +6 Laferriere, Alex RW Des Moines USHL 28-Oct-01 5’11 172 R USA
82 -8 Kubicek, Simon RHD Seattle WHL 19-Dec-01 6’2 205 R CZE
83 -3 Finley, Jack C Spokane WHL 2-Sep-02 6’6 213 R CAN
84 -2 Benning, Michael RHD Sherwood Park AJHL 5-Jan-02 5’9 177 R CAN
85 -21 Rochette, Theo C Quebec QMJHL 20-Feb-02 5’10 161 L CAN
86 -7 Maenpaa, Juuso C Jokerit U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 29-Apr-02 5’5 141 L FIN
87 +55 Peterson, Dylan C/W U.S. U18 NTDP 8-Jan-02 6’4 192 R USA
88 -18 Biondi, Blake C Hermantown HS-MN 24-Apr-02 6’0 191 R USA
89 +17 Magnusson, Oskar C Malmo J20 Superelit 31-Jan-02 5’10 166 L SWE
90 +66 Commesso, Drew G U.S. U18 NTDP 19-Jul-02 6’2 180 L USA
91 -24 Pashin, Alexander RW Tolpar MHL 28-Jul-02 5’8 154 L RUS
92 +22 Savoie, Carter LW Sherwood Park AJHL 23-Jan-02 5’9 192 L CAN
93 +35 Powell, Eamon RHD U.S. U18 NTDP 10-May-02 5’11 165 R USA
94 -19 Knazko, Samuel LHD TPS U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 7-Aug-02 6’1 191 L SVK
95 +15 Ekmark, Elliot C Linkoping J20 Superelit 29-Jan-02 5’9 162 L SWE
96 +181 Beryozkin, Maxim RW Loko Yaroslavl MHL 12-Oct-01 6’2 201 R RUS
97 -40 Stranges, Antonio LW London OHL 5-Feb-02 5’11 172 L USA
98 -10 Grans, Helge RHD Malmo J20 Superelit 10-May-02 6’3 206 R SWE
99 -2 Malik, Nick G Sault Ste. Marie OHL 26-Apr-02 6’2 181 L CZE
100 +124 Johannesson, Anton LHD HV71 J20 Superelit 26-Mar-02 5’9 144 L SWE
101 -30 Rolston, Ryder RW Waterloo USHL 31-Oct-01 6’1 175 R USA
102 +17 Hanas, Cross LW Portland WHL 5-Jan-02 6’1 167 L USA
103 -13 Gut, Michal C Everett WHL 16-Aug-02 6’0 187 L CZE
104 -2 Ambrosio, Colby C Tri-City USHL 7-Aug-02 5’9 170 R CAN
105 -20 Krutil, Michael RHD Sparta U20 DHL Cup 3-Jun-02 6’2 196 R CZE
106 -29 Nikishin, Alexander LHD Spartak KHL 2-Oct-01 6’3 196 L RUS
107 +41 Nickl, Thimo RHD Drummondville QMJHL 4-Dec-01 6’2 176 R AUT
108 +3 Yoder, Chase C U.S. U18 NTDP 28-May-02 5’10 174 L USA
109 +191 Johansson, Pontus LHD Djurgarden J20 Superelit 23-Oct-01 5’11 170 L SWE
110 -1 Villeneuve, William RHD Saint John QMJHL 20-Mar-02 6’1 175 R CAN
111 -16 Smith, Jack C Cathedral HS-MN 6-Jul-02 5’11 182 L USA
112 +9 Puutio, Kasper RHD Everett WHL 3-Jun-02 5’11 184 R FIN
113 +90 Ljungman, Daniel C Linkoping J20 Superelit 3-Apr-02 6’1 166 L SWE
114 +71 Kaiser, Wyatt LHD Andover HS-MN 31-Jul-02 6’0 173 L USA
115 -23 Styf, Hugo LHD MODO J20 Superelit 25-Aug-02 6’1 188 L SWE
116 -9 Thompson, Jack RHD Sudbury OHL 19-Mar-02 6’0 180 R CAN
117 +23 Ramberg, Lucas LHD Lulea J20 Superelit 30-Jun-02 6’1 183 L SWE
118 -14 Raska, Adam RW Rimouski QMJHL 25-Sep-01 5’10 178 R CZE
119 +14 Kondyrev, Kirill RW Russkie Vityaz MHL 29-Jun-02 6’1 194 L RUS
120 +180 Heineman, Emil LW Leksand J20 Superelit 16-Nov-01 6’0 178 L SWE
121 +11 Truscott, Jacob LHD U.S. U18 NTDP 12-Apr-02 6’1 172 L USA
122 +2 Bednar, Jan G Karlovy Vary Extraliga 26-Aug-02 6’4 196 L CZE
123 +177 Nordlund, Theo LHD Frolunda J20 Superelit 20-Jul-02 6’0 183 L SWE
124 +35 Rychkov, Ilya RW SKA-1946 MHL 30-Mar-02 5’9 176 L RUS
125 +175 Aho, Karri LHD Ilves U20 Jr. SM-Liiga 6-Sep-02 6’0 172 L FIN