2020 MOCK DRAFT - RYAN DITTRICK

Ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft, which will be held virtually Oct. 6 and 7, CalgaryFlames.com's Ryan Dittrick took a shot at predicting the first round:
1. New York Rangers - Alexis Lafrenière - LW - Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
No surprise here. The consensus first-overall pick goes right where he should, as the Rangers land a franchise forward with elite offensive talent. Lafrenière's 112 points (35G, 77A) in 52 games led all players in the Canadian Hockey League, and he enters the Draft as a two-time winner of the CHL's Player of the Year Award. The only other player to achieve such a feat? Sidney Crosby. The 6-foot-1, 193-lb. product joins a high-powered cast that includes Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider on the wing on the Big Apple.

2. LA Kings - Quinton Byfield - C - Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Skill. Speed. Size. The 6-foot-4, 215-lb. Byfield has everything you could want in a top-line centre. With Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter in the back-nine of their NHL careers, the Kings will look to the future and have a dynamic, left-shot pivot to build around. Byfield is a responsible, two-way player, with explosive skating abilities and a serious knack for the net, recording 82 points (32G, 50A) in only 45 games this year.
3. Ottawa Senators (via San Jose) - Tim Stützle - LW - Adler Mannheim (DEL)
According to prospect guru Corey Pronman over at The Athletic, it was a "coin flip" on whether the Kings would take Byfield or Stützle with the second pick. So, with Byfield off to La La Land, the Senators are thrilled to bat 'clean-up' and select the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (Germany's top pro league)'s Rookie of the Year, and most of the naturally gifted skaters in the class. Stützle has incredible vision and is lauded for his high hockey IQ. With seven goals and 34 points in a pro league at only 17 years of age, the talented German joins Lafreniere and Byfield as one of the clear frontrunners in this year's draft.
4. Detroit Red Wings - Cole Perfetti - C - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Here's where things get interesting. Perfetti was second in the OHL this year with 111 points (37G, 74A) in 61 games, trailing fellow draft prospect Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67's by nine points. Both players have elite skill and think the game well, but Perfetti wins out in the No. 4 spot because he had less help around him this year, as opposed to Rossi and the powerhouse Ottawa team that ran roughshod on the OHL's Eastern Conference. Five players - including Rossi - had 80 or more points with the 67's this year. That's not a criticism, but it is a reality as Perfetti carried more of the load with Saginaw, with only one other player (20-year-old Cole Coskey) cracking the 80-point barrier.
5. Ottawa Senators - Jamie Drysdale - D - Erie Otters (OHL)
Having already picked up one of the top offensive talents in the draft in Tim Stutzle, the Sens turn their attention to the blueline and select the best defenceman and No. 3-ranked North American skater. Drysdale has elite foot-speed and loves to create offence off the rush, and on the powerplay. The 5-foot-11, 175-lb. rearguard had 47 points (9G, 38A) this year, including 22 on the advantage, in only 49 games. In addition to being named a 2019-20 OHL First-Team All-Star, he had three points (1G, 2A) in seven games while averaging 11:38 in ice time to help Canada win the 2020 World Junior Championship. As a right-shot blueliner, imagine Drysdale lining up on the Senators' top pair with 23-year-old Thomas Chabot one day.

6. Anaheim Ducks - Marco Rossi - C - Ottawa 67's (OHL)
The Ducks are thrilled to see the OHL's leading scorer and Most Outstanding Player of the Year fall to them at No. 6. In addition to his elite offensive instincts and raw talent with the puck, Rossi is an excellent skater that plays with pace and has developed into more of a passer than a pure goal-scorer. He plays an aggressive game that can be an asset on both special teams, and gives you the game-breaking ability you hope to get with a Top-10 pick.
7. New Jersey Devils - Lucas Raymond - RW - Frolunda HC (SHL)
Raymond played the majority of the year with Frolunda's men's team, scoring 10 points (4G, 6A) in 33 games. NHL Central Scouting compares him to Mitch Marner, with his high-end, explosive speed and puck control, and his ability to navigate the play through traffic. Raymond helped Sweden win Bronze at the 2020 World Junior Championship with four points (2G, 2A) in seven games.
8. Buffalo Sabres - Alexander Holtz - RW - Djurgardens IF (SHL)
Like Raymond, Holtz played the majority of the campaign in Sweden's top pro league and showed very well in 35 games. Described as a pure goal-scorer, Holtz registered 16 points (9G, 7A), which was the highest point total by an under-18 player in the SHL last season. While 6-foot-0, 192-lb. winger can distribute the well and make plays off the rush, he loves to shoot, and is one of the premiere snipers available in the draft.
9. Minnesota Wild - Anton Lundell - C - HIFK (Liiga)
Lundell is a mature, two-way centre that has a strong grasp on the pro game. Primarily a playmaker, the 6-foot-1, 185-lb. pivot had 28 points (10G, 18A) in 44 games last year, while earning the trust of the coaching staff to play in all situations and make the 'right' decision with the puck, even under duress.
10. Winnipeg Jets - Jake Sanderson - D - USA U-18 (NTDP)
With Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Ben Chiarot all leaving the Manitoba capital last off-season, the Jets began re-building their blueline with the addition of Neal Pionk, followed by the selection of Finnish blueliner Ville Heinola (14th overall) at the draft, and a mid-season trade that saw UFA Dylan DeMelo earn a primetime spot later in the year. That's a good bit of work, but the Jets can't stop now. In Sanderson, they get an elite skater with excellent puck-moving abilities that led all defencemen USA Hockey's Under-18 National Development Team Program with 29 points (7G, 22A) in 47 games last year. He is committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2020-21 season, where the Jets - geographically speaking - will be able to keep a close eye on his development.

11. Nashville Predators - Jack Quinn - RW - Ottawa 67's (OHL)
It's rare to step to the podium and be able to select a 50-goal scorer with a pick outside the Top-10, but that's precisely the situation Preds general manager David Poile finds himself in. Quinn was one of only two players to score 50-plus goals in the OHL this year (52), with the other being Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and 2019 second-round selection, Nick Robertson. Quinn is a dynamic skater than can flat-out fly with the puck on his stick. NHL Central Scouting describes him as a sniper with "highlight-reel goal-scoring ability," and that assessment is bang-on. Quinn tallied three (!) hat-tricks in 2019-20, and recording a six-point game (1-5-6) on Feb. 9 vs. North Bay.
12. Florida Panthers - Kaiden Guhle - D - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
From the same program that brought you Winnipeg Jets defenceman and Canadian World Junior standout Josh Morrissey, Guhle is the latest innovation from the PA blueliner factory. Guhle is a mobile, puck-moving defenceman that has excellent speed and acceleration, and is highly elusive when breaking the puck out or defending in his own end. At 6-foot-2 and 186 lbs., the Edmonton native is extremely physical as well, and loves to dish out punishing, open-ice hits. Last year, Guhle led all Raiders defencemen and ranked sixth on the team overall with 40 points (11G, 29A) in 64 games.
13. Carolina Hurricanes (via Toronto) - Dawson Mercer - C - Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
Mercer earned some of the highest, pre-draft praise possible when I spoke to a league scout last week: "I would compare him to Patrice Bergeron. Smart, skilled and is a responsible, 200-ft. player that makes a difference every time he's out there." That's Bergeron, alright. Anytime you can be talked about in the same sentence as a four-time Selke winner and, frankly, one of the best two-way centres to ever play the game, that's pretty good company. Mercer split the 2019-20 season between Drummondville and Chicoutimi, recording 60 points (24G, 36A) in 42 combined games.
14. Edmonton Oilers - Seth Jarvis - C - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
The Oilers are in dire need of some goaltending, but the best course of action might be to address that in the form of a trade or free agency for more of an immediate impact. In the meantime, and after wisely investing in defensive prospects Philip Broberg and Evan Bouchard in past years, it's time to address the forward corps and look to add some high-end offensive talent. Jarvis, a Winnipeg native, ranked second in the WHL in points (98 - 60 more than his 2018-19 total) and third in goals (42) last year, while recording multiple, double-digit point streaks (10 and 11 games). He's incredibly smart, plays at a high pace, and can impact a game in all three zones. The Oilers have to make this pick count, because they don't have another until the fifth round.
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh) - Yaroslav Askarov - G - Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)
Here we go - the first goalie! It's a position that's incredibly difficult to project, especially in the first round but Askarov is the top-ranked goalie in the class and is considered by many to be the best puck-stopper available in the draft in the last 20 years. Askarov spent the majority of the year with Neva St. Petersburg in Russia's second division, recording a 12-3-3 record, along with a .920 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average. The 6-foot-3, 176-lb. netminder made his KHL debut on Nov. 27, 2019, becoming the second-youngest goalie in history at the time to do so, stopping 23 shots in a 4-2 win for SKA St. Petersburg.
16. Montreal Canadiens - Braden Schneider - D - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
The complete package. Schneider put up 42 points (7G, 35A) to lead all Brandon blueliners last year, but his offensive instincts are only part of his 200-ft. toolbox. At 6-foot-2, 202 lbs., Schneider is extremely tough to knock off the puck and is a punishing hitter in all three zones. He can be used in all situations and can be relied on to play big minutes.
17. Chicago Blackhawks - Rodion Amirov - LW - Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Amirov split the 2019-20 season with Ufa of the KHL where he had a pair of helpers in 21 games, and their junior club where he averaged more than a point-per-game with 22 (10G, 12A) in 17 tilts. He is a speedy, two-way winger that has great hands, a relentless work ethic, and deceptive shot that he gets off quick and picks the corners at will. According to NHL Central Scouting, he models his game after Nikita Kucherov and Auston Matthews.
18. New Jersey Devils (via Arizona) - Dylan Holloway - C - Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
The Calgary native made a splash in his home province two years ago when he was named the Canadian Junior A Hockey League player of the year in after finishing second in goals (40) and points (88) in his second season with the AJHL's Okotoks Oilers. Last year, he tallied 17 points (8G, 9A) in 35 games in his freshman year with the Badgers. Holloway is known best as a power forward that drives hard to the net by using his 6-foot-0, 203-lb. frame effectively. He plays with an edge, loves to be physical, and competes as hard as anyone in the draft.

19. Calgary Flames - Mavrik Bourque - C - Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Bourque is a skilled centre that reads the game well and has the vision to make high-end plays in traffic. His offensive instincts are off-the-charts good, and he uses his quick feet to create chances for himself and his teammates. Last year, he tied for the team lead in scoring with 71 points (29G, 42A) in 49 games, and his 1.45 points-per-game average ranked ninth among all QMJHL skaters. Bourque, who won a silver medal with Canada at the 2019 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, had his 2019-20 season cut short with a wrist injury in early February, but is expected to be ready for the 2020-21 season.
20. New Jersey Devils (via Tampa Bay, via Vancouver) - Jacob Perreault - RW - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Could be one of the best 'value' picks in the first round, as Perreault is ranked 17th (North American skaters) by NHL Central Scouting, 22nd by Elite Prospects and Future Considerations and 27th by ISS Hockey. The son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault, Jacob possesses one of the best shots in the draft, as proven by his 39-goal, 70-point campaign this year with the Sting. According to draft expert Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet, there may be some "question marks about his play away from the puck," but as one of the most naturally gifted goal-scorers in this crop, it could be a home-run pick for the Devils.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets - Tyson Foerster - C - Barrie Colts (OHL)
Talk about a sophomore BUMP! Foerster led the Colts with 80 points (36G, 44A) this year - a 57-point improvement over his rookie campaign - and paced the OHL with 15 powerplay markers. He also played a starring role in the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, scoring twice and adding an assist to help his team to a 5-3 victory. Foerster has excellent puck skills and, as evidenced by his effort in the annual prospect showcase, has the kind of release that will make scouts drool. He's an extremely gifted offensive talent who has the vision and playmaking ability of someone well beyond his years.
22. New York Rangers (via Carolina) - Brendan Brisson - C - Chicago Steel (USHL)
Brisson was named the USHL Rookie of the Year after leading all first-year players (and ranking second in the entire league) with 59 points (24G, 35A) in 45 games. This, after cracking the 100-point plateau only one year ago with Shattuck St. Mary's - a program that, over the years, has the produced the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and more. The theme of this year's first round is explosive offensive ability, and Brisson is no different. He has unbelievable vision, a high hockey IQ, and the acceleration and top-end speed that combines to form an elite package.
23. Philadelphia Flyers - Justin Barron - D - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Another 'value' pick comes into play here, as Barron - the No.16-ranked North American skater - falls to the Broad Street Bullies. The 6-foot-2, 195-lb. defenceman was considered by many to a shoo-in as an early-to-mid first-rounder at the beginning of the season, but a tough start to the campaign, followed by a blood clot that forced him to miss almost three months of action, has taken him out of that conversation. Still, the Halifax native led the Mooseheads D corps with 19 points (4G, 15A) this year, despite being limited to only 34 games. In 2018-19, he had 41 points (9G, 32A), so that should give some indication as to where his totals could be if a medical/injury scare had not hampered this pivotal year.

24. Washington Capitals - Ozzy Wiesblatt - RW - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Here's a name that might be familiar to local hockey fans, as Ozzy's brother, 20-year-old Orca, played the 2019-20 season with the Calgary Hitmen. While NHL Central Scouting has Ozzy ranked 19th among North American skaters, most prognosticators have the Calgary native pegged as a second- or third-round selection. Only TSN's Craig Button has him going in the first round, at 29th overall. However, I'm here to make a case for the do-it-all winger. Wiesblatt, who played more of a depth role with the Raiders in 2018-19, embraced an increased in minutes and responsibility this year, and really broke out offensively, scoring 70 points (25G, 45A) for a 31-point bump over the previous campaign. Wiesblatt is a threat at both ends of the ice, has excellent speed and plays much bigger than his 5-foot-10, 183-lb. frame would suggest.
25. Colorado Avalanche - Ridly Greig - C - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Greig had one of the biggest surges of anyone in the draft class, having risen from a 25th ranking (among North American skaters) at the midterm, to 14th at year-end. And deservedly so. Scouts LOVE him. At 5-foot-11 and 163 lbs., he certainly has room to grow, but he has a bite to his game and is - by far - one of the most competitive players in the draft. His offensive totals won't pop off the page with 60 points (26G, 34A) in 56 games, but he did finish third in team scoring and lead the Wheaties with 26 powerplay points. If you're a team looking for a hard-working, relentless presence on the forecheck that loves to get his hands dirty, Grieg is the man for the job.
26. St. Louis Blues - Noel Gunler - RW - Lulea (SHL)
This might be a swing-for-the-fences-type move for the Blues, but the 26th pick is like a 3-and-oh count with a fastball arriving dead centre over the plate. Gunler has the talent to be a Top-10 pick, but there are some questions/concerns about his defensive game and is effort and consistency. He's not the most naturally gifted skater in the draft, but he has decent, top-end speed and is willing to drive to the net. Overall, he's an elite offensive weapon that can burn you on raw talent alone. Gunler had 13 points (4G, 9A) in 45 games in Sweden's top league last year.
27. Anaheim Ducks (via Boston) - Jan Myšák - C/LW - Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
Myšák arrived in Hamilton after spending the first half of the season in the Czech Republic. He made an immediate with the Bulldogs, notching 25 points (15G, 10A) in only 22 games - including a pair of hat tricks. Myšák is one of the fastest skaters with first-round potential, is relentless on the forecheck and in retrieving loose pucks, and is equal parts playmaker and goal-scorer. He has excellent offensive instincts and contributes in all situations.
28. Ottawa Senators (via New York Islanders) - Ryan O'Rourke - D - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
As captain of the Greyhounds, the 6-foot-0, 178-lb. defenceman had a splendid sophomore season, scoring 37 points (7G, 30A) while leading the team with a +16 rating. O'Rourke is a strong skater that moves the puck well in transition, is extremely hard to play against, and can handle a heavy workload, night after night.
29. Vegas Golden Knights - William Wallinder - D - MODO Hockey J20 (SuperElit)
His favourite player growing up was Erik Karlsson. But at 6-foot-4 and 191 lbs., he more closely resembles another Swedish phenom - Bolts captain Victor Hedman. Wallinder is a mobile, puck-moving defenceman that enjoys jumping up in the rush and getting involved on offence. And, like Hedman, he has a cannon of a shot and does a great job of finding the lanes and getting it through traffic.
30. Dallas Stars - John-Jason Peterka - LW - EHC Munchen (DEL)
Clearly, hockey is booming in Germany right now. Peterka is an excellent skater who has the flashy, offensive instincts that make him was one of the most well-rounded wingers in the draft. He loves to go to the net and unleash his powerful shot, and isn't afraid to mix things up and make a play for the highlight reel. At 5-foot-11 and 192-lbs., Peterka skated in Germany's top league last year, potting 11 points (7G, 4A) in 42 games, and played a starring role in his country's World Junior entry, with six points (4G, 2A) in seven contests.

31. San Jose Sharks (via Tampa Bay) - Jake Neighbours - LW - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
In his third season with the Oil Kings, Neighbours took it to a new level offensively, recording 70 points (23G, 47A) in 64 games for a 46-point improvement over the previous year. He competes hard in all three zones, has excellent top-end speed and can absolutely fly through the neutral zone, and is extremely difficult to knock off the puck. Neighbours, who hails from Airdrie and played his minor hockey with the Calgary Buffaloes AAA program (among others), loves to get under the skin of his opponents - like Matthew Tkachuk, who just happens to be his favourite player.
Torie Peterson's Mock Draft
|
Alex Medina's Mock Draft