2020 Draft: Lafreniere, Mercer, Barron among top prospects from QMJHL

The 2020 NHL Draft will be held virtually Oct. 6-7. The first round will be Oct. 6 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 are Oct. 7 (11:30 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN1). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects and other features. Today, a review of the top prospects eligible for the draft from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Alexis Lafreniere of Rimouski isn't the only player from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League expected to hear his name in the early stages of the first round in the 2020 NHL Draft.
In addition to Lafreniere (6-foot-1, 193 pounds), the projected No. 1 pick in the draft, forward Dawson Mercer (6-0, 180) of Chicoutimi and defenseman Justin Barron (6-1, 195) of Halifax are also expected to go among the top 31 selections.
RELATED: [Top OHL prospects | Top WHL prospects | Top International prospects]
Mercer, No. 10 in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, is hoping to become the sixth player born in Newfoundland to go in the first round of the NHL Draft and Barron (No. 16), a right-handed shot, is still considered a top-20 pick despite missing three months with a blood clot issue this season.
Lafreniere, No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 112 points (35 goals, 77 assists) in 52 games this season and has scored 297 points (114 goals, 183 assists) in 173 QMJHL games.
"The fact he's played three full seasons in the QMJHL before turning pro is going to help, he has the experience," Central Scouting's Jean-Francois Damphousse said. "He's physically mature and is going to have a pretty good frame [by] next season. I wouldn't say the transition will be easy, because anytime you go from junior to pro there's an adjustment. But he's a mature kid, has a strong work ethic and understands what it takes to get to the next level.
"When you look at his situation, I think he could step into the NHL and have somewhat of an impact."

If the left wing goes No. 1, he'd become the first Quebec-born player chosen first since goalie Marc-Andre Fleury by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Draft, and the first skater from his province to be selected first since Vincent Lecavalier by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Draft.
The New York Rangers hold the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft after winning the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery on Aug. 10. What would Lafreniere say to Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton if asked why he should be chosen first?
"I think just the way I'm a leader and I always want to win when the game's on the line," Lafreniere said. "I think I can make a difference. I think that's a strong asset that I have."
Lafreniere is the first of 32 QMJHL players in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters.
To break down the QMJHL prospects, here are five questions with Damphousse:
Q: Lafreniere said he likes to pattern his game after Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane. Do you agree?
"Lafreniere has the puck skills, the creativity, and playmaking skill ... so you can see Patrick Kane in his game. But I think there's a little bit of (Florida Panthers forward) Jonathan Huberdeau as well because of his physical aspect. He's a 6-foot-1 player who'll get stronger, and he likes that aspect of the game. He doesn't mind finishing checks. He battles hard on both sides of the puck and I think he can bring a little bit of both. The skill set that Patrick Kane brings and maybe a little bit of the sandpaper that Huberdeau has."

Q: What has made Mercer such a dynamic and impactful prospect for this draft?
"He's a true competitor. He's passionate and loves playing the game. He's got a wicked release and can score from different angles. He can score on his one-timer, beat goalies from a distance with his wrist shot and he battles with his two-way game. I don't like to compare, but he could become a (Boston Bruins center) Patrice Bergeron, someone that can bring a lot of offense (60 points; 24 goals, 36 assists in 42 games this season) but also be reliable in his own zone by winning face-offs and battling down low for loose pucks. I think he brings a little bit of all those things. And the fact he made Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in his first year of eligibility really shows the type of player and character he has."
Q: What is it about Barron that enabled him to remain so high in Central Scouting's final ranking despite the time missed?
"The fact he's such a good skater makes him automatically a great prospect. The way he skates, forward and backward, in transition, with his mobility and footwork. Anytime you see him on the ice, you know right away this kid has tremendous potential (19 points; four goals, 15 assists in 34 games this season). The fact he missed a lot of games this year, maybe it's a little negative when you look at the big picture. But you have to remind yourself that he had a tremendous underage season in Halifax in 2018-19. He gained experience in the Memorial Cup and had 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 23 QMJHL playoff games [last season]. Most teams recognize that aspect and the fact that he has so much potential that, for me, automatically make him a high-end prospect."

Q: Everyone has heard about the top Austria-born player on the draft board in Ottawa center Marco Rossi, No. 6 in the final ranking. But there's another Austria-born player who could also hear his name in the middle rounds of the draft in Drummondville defenseman Thimo Nickl (No. 74). What makes the right-hand shot such an intriguing option?
"He brings a combination of physical play and puck-moving ability and he has good size (6-2, 176). He'll be intriguing for a lot of teams. In the games I saw him play, I wouldn't say he dominated, but made a huge impact (39 points; 10 goals, 29 assists in 58 games), whether it was playing physical, boxing out in front of his net or playing good 1-on-1 with his stick. He's good on the power play and has a cannon of a shot."
Q: Can you give us two players from the QMJHL outside Central Scouting's top 31 who you feel could be great finds in this draft?
"The first is not far from the top 31; he's No. 32 on our list, defenseman Lukas Cormier of Charlottetown (36 points; six goals, 30 assists in 44 games). He's a great skater, a puck-moving defenseman that a lot of teams look for. A lot of people compare his game to Samuel Girard of the Colorado Avalanche. He's a great offensive mind, makes plays, has a hard shot and I think he could be a nice pick for a team somewhere in the first or second round. The second player is No. 69 (right wing) William Dufour of Drummondville. He started the year in Chicoutimi and really turned his season around when he got traded to Drummondville. He finished the year with 28 goals (55 points in 59 games). He's a right wing and is 6-foot-2, 195 pounds; 25 of his 28 goals were 5-on-5 and in the QMJHL this year, as far as first-year NHL Draft eligible players, he was third behind Lafreniere and (Shawinigan center Mavrik) Bourque in goals. There's something to work with there. Some questioned his skating, but it did improve and I think he'll be a really good pick somewhere in the second or third round for sure."
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