And to say that Friday was to take place the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft … In Montreal too! Damn consolation, we were rather entitled to the lottery for this selection session which will take place, we do not know where, we do not know when. Question of giving yourself a taste, The newspaper offers you a first simulated draft including the eight formations drawn at random, Friday evening.
• Read also: Lottery: possible scenarios for the CH
• Read also: Alexis Lafrenière: the mystery of summer 2015
• Read also: NHL Draft: “There is Hope for CH Supporters”
• Read also: Lafrenière still waiting
1. ?
Alexis Lafrenière, Left winger, Rimouski (QMJHL)
Photo Agence QMI, Dominic Chan
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- Statistics 2019-2020: 57 games, 35 goals, 77 assists, 112 points
The suspense is not who will come out first, but where. Alexis Lafrenière is considered the best hope of his age group for years and he has done nothing this year to lose this label. Lafrenière has more than one tool in his trunk, which should allow him to pull out of the game next season in the NHL. There is no doubt that the mystery team, whatever it is, will get their hands on a player who has the potential to change the face of the franchise.
2. Kings
Tim Stützle, Center / Wingman, Mannheim (DEL)
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- Statistics in 2019-2020: 41 games, 7 goals, 27 assists, 34 points
Dynamic is probably the most suitable qualifier for German. The young hockey player has an explosive skate and has one of the best attacking potentials in all this draft. Some have compared his style to that of the excellent Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. He has the potential to become an NHL star and the Kings will race to the podium to announce their choice. In fact, no, they will run to their computer screen. Damn COVID …
3. Senators
Quinton Byfield, Centre, Sudbury (OHL)
Photo Agence QMI, Dominic Chan
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- Statistics 2019-2020: 45 games, 32 goals, 50 assists, 82 points
If Lafrenière made consensus throughout the season, the same cannot be said of Quinton Byfield. His disappointing performance at the World Junior Hockey Championship made him descend to many observers who seem to forget that Lafrenière had also experienced a sawtooth tournament last season, when he was almost the same age as Byfield. At 6’4 ”and 215 lbs, the center player has the physique of the job. Some compare him to Evgeni Malkin, others to Jordan Staal. In any case, he has the tools to have a long career in the NHL.
4. Red Wings
Marco Rossi, Centre, 67’s d’Ottawa (OHL)
Photo courtesy, OHL Images
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- Statistics in 2019-2020: 56 games, 39 goals, 81 assists, 120 points
It is from choice # 4 that it becomes interesting. If Tim Stützle came out of the shadows at the last World Juniors, Marco Rossi has shown consistency and responsibility in his game which is what the NHL teams dream about. The Austrian may not be the player with the highest attacking potential of the players still available at this rank, but his responsible play in all areas suggests that he will have a role in the big circuit, even if it does not reach its full potential in attack.
5. Senators
Jamie Drysdale, Defender, Erie (OHL)
Photo courtesy, OHL Images
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- Statistics in 2019-2020: 49 games, 9 goals, 38 assists, 47 points
The resounding entry of the Makar, Hughes or Dahlin will comfort the Senators in their selection of Jamie Drysdale, a medium-sized defender (5’11 ” and 170 lb) but with above-average individual skills. Drysdale has demonstrated his full talent in the OHL over the past two seasons, but has proven his dominance when he was called upon to replace Bowen Byram in the semifinals of the last World Junior Hockey Championship. After getting their hands on their future center no. 1, the Senses add a right-hander who could wreak havoc with Thomas Chabot.
6. Ducks
Cole Perfetti, Center, Saginaw (OHL)
Photo courtesy, OHL Images
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- Statistics in 2019-2020: 61 games, 37 goals, 74 assists, 111 points
Perfetti started the season in lion by probably being the best player at the Hlinka / Greztky Cup in August. Some recruiters believe that he is the player with the best intelligence hockey, commonly called “Hockey IQ” of all this vintage. We see him coming out in sixth place while some predict that he will rather hear his name around the 10th echelon. Why is that ? His stroke raises questions. If he manages to compensate for this gap, the Ducks could have got hold of one of the most dominant players of this cuvée.
7. Devils
Jake Sanderson, Defender, U18 Program (USHL)
Photo courtesy, Rena Laverty
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- Statistics in 2019-2020: 47 games, 7 goals, 22 assists, 29 points
The American defenseman is probably the player who has seen his rating increase the most drastically during the season. His defensive play, almost already ready for the big league, coupled with a very interesting progression in the offensive field, seems to make some recruiters say that the rear of 6 ft 1 and 185 lb is still far from having reached the top of its progression curve. Sanderson will never have the impact of young defensemen Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes or Rasmus Dahlin, but he has the potential to be an effective defender in all areas and able to play between 25 and 30 minutes in the NHL.
8. Sabres
Lucas Raymond, Right Winger, Frölunda (SHL)
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- Statistics in 2019-2020: 33 games, 4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points
The person who, at the start of the season, would have predicted that Lucas Raymond would “slide” out of the top-3 would probably have been highly judged. However, a few months later, Raymond’s star seems to have turned a little pale. His lack of physical maturity made life difficult for him with men in Sweden and he was unable to fully express his talent. He is probably one of the players who would have benefited the most from participating in the World Under-18 Championship in April in order to reaffirm his dominance over players of his age group. In eighth place, the Sabers could strike a grand slam with the selection of Raymond.
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