2020 NHL Draft: 5 North American Skaters to Watch for Panthers Fans

With the 2020 NHL Draft on the horizon, it's time to brush up on some prospects.
By virtue of their finish to the 2019-20 campaign, the Florida Panthers will enter the draft, which will be held digitally Oct. 6-7, with the 12th overall pick in the first round. Picking 12th for just the second time in franchise history, the club previously selected Denis Shvidki in that spot in 1999.
Overall, Florida owns seven picks in the draft, including a pair of selections in the third round.

For the purpose of this article, however, we'll just be looking at players that could be available for the Panthers at No. 12. And while there's always mystery heading into any draft, the hockey-related hurdles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a bit more than usual this year.
With no end-of-season tournaments or NHL combine to provide organizations with a final look at players, it seems like there's a chance for there to be more fluidity than ever in the first round. In fact, taking a peek at a couple mock drafts, nearly a dozen players could be in play for the Cats.
Leading up to the draft, we'll be looking at 10 of those players over the course of two articles, with additional insights provided for each prospect by the crew over at EliteProspects.com.
So, in no particular order, here are five North American skaters to keep an eye on at No. 12.

1. Seth Jarvis

Position:Center / Right Wing
DOB: Feb. 1, 2002
Birthplace:Winnipeg, MB
Height:5'10''
Weight:175 lbs.
Shoots:Right 2019-20
Team:Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking: No. 11 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Few players are heading into the draft on the heels of a hotter finish than Jarvis.
Leading Portland and ranking second in the WHL with a career-high 98 points (42 goals, 52 assists) in 58 games, the 18-year-old forward produced at better than a two-points-per-game clip during the second half of the season just before the pandemic brought everything to a halt.
From Jan. 3 through March 8, Jarvis recorded 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) in 26 games. In that span, he notched nine multi-goal games, including a pair of hat tricks. When it comes to his scoring ability, the main thing scouts point to the quick release and sharp accuracy of his shots.

Projecting as either a center or a winger in the NHL (it depends who you talk to), Jarvis can do a lot of damage both in tight areas and in open ice. He's both fast and agile, with vision that allows him to either find cracks in opposing defenses or thread smooth cross-ice passes to teammates.
On the international stage, Jarvis competed for Team Canada at the 2019 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Winning a silver medal, he tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in five tournament games.
In terms of current connections to the Cats, Jarvis has been a teammate of defenseman John Ludvig, who Florida selected in the third round in last year's draft, for the past three seasons.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "His ability to work in tight spaces seems as good a place as any. Jarvis is one of the best attackers in the draft with a defender on his back; he seeks out pressure with gear-changes or stops-and-starts, then creatively pulls away with an arsenal of moves. As a gifted passer and shooter, he's the type of player who wants the puck on his stick."

2. Dylan Holloway

Position: Center / Left Wing
DOB:Sept. 23, 2001
Birthplace:Calgary, AB
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 203 lbs.
Shoots: Left
2019-20 Team: Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Pre-Draft Ranking: No. 12 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Holloway is the type of player that brings the same amount of effort to every shift.
In fact, he was actually named the "Most Consistent Player" at Wisconsin after posting 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) over 37 games during his freshman season with the Badgers in 2019-20. Catching fire to close out the season, five of his eight goals came over his final 10 contests.
Although you'd never guess it given his size, Holloway, an 18-year-old with a late-2001 birthday, was actually the second-youngest player competing in the NCAA this past season. Putting that size to good use, he excelled at protecting the puck and also winning battles in the dirty areas.
A versatile skater, Holloway can play at both center and wing, but projects as a two-way pivot in the NHL. And although his size lends itself to a cycle game, his skating also makes him lethal on the rush. He also has great edgework, which allows him to move freely throughout the zone.

As for his offensive game, Holloway's lack of production as a freshman shouldn't raise many alarm bells. After all, he's only one season removed from being named the AJHL's most valuable player after recording 88 points (40 goals, 44 assists) in 53 games with the Okotoks Oilers in 2018-19.
Internationally, Holloway most recently competed for Team Canada at 2019 IIHF Under-18 World Championships, where he tallied two goals and two assists in four tournament games.
Another prospect with a current connection to the Cats, Holloway's freshman class at Wisconsin also features forward Owen Lindmark, who Florida picked in the fifth round of last year's draft.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "Holloway consistently applies pressure on the backcheck, pickpockets puck-carriers, makes timely hits, wields a disruptive stick -- you name it. He never flees the zone early and is a capable east-west attacker who shields the puck from opposing defenders really well."

3. Kaiden Guhle

Position:Defense
DOB:Jan. 18, 2002
Birthplace: Sherwood Park, AB
Height: 6'3''
Weight:187 lbs.
Shoots: Left
2019-20 Team:Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking: No. 8 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Guhle has the pedigree and on-ice presence that teams covet.
The younger brother of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brendan Guhle, Kaiden has the potential to surpass his sibling and blossom into a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL. And while he's known for his defense, the 18-year-old also shown that he can chip in on offense when needed.
After posting 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 65 games in 2018-19, he more than doubled that total this past season, tallying 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) in 64 games in Prince Albert.

That being said, Guhle's work in the defensive zone is what really sticks out when you watch him on film. Armed with a long reach and great skating ability, he has excellent gap control and an active stick that he uses to harass opposing skaters like a fly you just can't seem to swat away.
Armed with a high hockey IQ, he has the skills to not only force turnovers, but then also quickly turn them into rushes going the other direction thanks to his quick reaction time and first pass.
On the international stage, Guhle served as the captain for Canada Red at the 2018 U-17 World Hockey Challenge, registering three assists in six games. At the 2019 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, he helped Canada claim a silver medal by scoring a goal and playing sound defense in five games.
Elite Prospects Assessment:"Guhle is an absolute menace when he's on. He's constantly moving his feet and closes with such speed and force that he regularly dispossesses his opponent of the puck right at the defensive blue line. Guhle creates by activating off the rush or joining the second-wave of the attack. That's where his strengths lie."

4. Dawson Mercer

Position: Center / Right Wing
DOB:Oct. 27, 2001
Birthplace: Carbonear, NL
Height: 6'0''
Weight:179 lbs.
Shoots: Right
2019-20 Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) / Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking:No. 10 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Mercer does a little bit of everything, and does all of it very well.
A versatile skater that has lined up at both center and on the winger, the 18-year-old split the 2019-20 campaign between Drummondville and Chicoutimi. Producing at better than a point-per-game with both clubs, he combined to post 60 points (42 goals, 24 assists) in 42 games.
With the ability to play in all situations, Mercer is the type of skater that could potentially see time on both the power play and penalty kill at the NHL level. He's got great edgework and agility, which helps keep him from rarely ending up out of position in any of the three zones.

According to scouts, what Mercer lacks in top-end speed he makes up for with a quick first step, great hands and a high-end hockey IQ. Highly regarded for his decision making and passion for the game, he appears to be the type of player that a coach can mold into whatever he wants.
One of only a few players to make Canada's roster as a draft-eligible player at 2020 Under-20 IIHF World Junior Championship, he saw time in seven games and took home a gold medal.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "He picks apart on-the-puck defenders in much the same way an elite NFL quarterback breaks down defensive coverages -- one read, one component at a time. Mercer deploys a wide array of false signals to trick defenders out of space, to pivot one direction with every intention of quickly transferring his weight in the opposite one."

5. Braden Schneider

Position: Defense
DOB: Sept. 20, 2001
Birthplace: Prince Albert, SK
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 209 lbs.
Shoots: Right
2019-20 Team: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking:No. 9 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Schneider is a big man that plays a big game.
Standing 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, the 19-year-old rearguard often looked -- and played -- like a man among boys during the 2019-20 season. Patrolling the blue line in 60 games with Brandon, he reached new career-highs in assists (35) and points (42), while also chipping in seven goals.
Earning praising from scouts for his good gap control and excellent skating, Schneider plays a reliable 200-foot game. With the Wheat Kings, he was a leader on the ice, playing big minutes against opposing team's top players while also contributing a lot on both special teams units.

In 2018-19, he competed internationally for Canada at both the Under-18 IIHF World Junior Championship and the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Showing off his skills at both ends of the ice, he posted two goals and an assist in 12 combined games over the course of both tournaments.
Looking ahead, Schneider projects to play for Canada at the Under-20 World Juniors in 2021.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "He is an absolute behemoth of a dude at this level, imposing his will with thunderous hits, overpowering one-hand pushes, and crosschecks. He's composed and doesn't over-do the physicality or take needless penalties; enters every hit with his stick leading and doesn't hit unless he can't break up the play otherwise."
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FloridaPanthers.com/DraftCentral
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