Dr. Tee’s Final 2020 Draft Rankings

This is a picture of Canadian brothers, and star OHLers, Jean-Luc (top right), and Liam Foudy (bottom left). Liam, who was a draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018, is suited up for the London Knights, while playing against his brother on the Windsor Spitfires who’s supposed to be a top prospect in this year's draft.

The Gist, and layout

Tier 1...the two that are deadlocked at no. 1...

Tier 2...the ones that are still on another level

Tier 3...the also very, very good ones

Tier 4...the mid-1st-round-more-than-just-steals

Tier 5...the ones that may surprise, and surpass expectations

Are you tired of reading, and watching the same rankings over, and over again? Well boy due I have a post for you! In this edition of mine, we’ll be looking over some of my favorite prospects in the draft, and where they rank on my list. This includes Russians Marat Khusnutdinov, and Dmitry Ovchinnikov. Canadians, Tristen Robins, and Ozzy Wiesblatt. And Americans, Thomas Bordeleau, and Jake Sanderson. These are only some of the amazing players that have showcased their true potential over this past hockey season. So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive right into this!

Ft. Ozzy Wiesblatt, Thomas Bordeleau, Tristen Robins...

This is a picture of MHK Dynamo-St. Petersburg forward Dmitri Rashevsky while suited up for their MHL semi-pro team during a regular season matchup.

Tier 1, The ones that are deadlocked

• Both Rossi, and Lafrenière are deadlocked here in my rankings because I think people really undervalue Rossi just because he’s 5’9”. They forget that yeah, maybe Rossi played on the best team in the CHL, but besides that there are two extremely similar players in my point of view. They play the exact same game, a playmakers one, with a very nice goal scoring ability, and high end IQ, as well as good defensive games. And I do think that Rossi still comes away the better player, with a better skating ability as well as a better two way game, but the hype surrounding Lafrenière is incredible he put up 40 goals, and 80 points in his 1st year in the show, (QMJHL), and scored 100 points as a 17 year old. So, yeah it is probably the closest race in this year’s draft, and I do favor Rossi and think he’ll win the Calder next year, there’s no denying that Lafrenière is an incredible player.

• The stats really speak for themselves. I mean, both 100 point scorers, and Lafrenière just edging out Rossi in PPG is pretty outstanding non the les. I did clock Rossi at a faster time blue line to blue line, Rossi being 1.67 seconds, and Lafrenière being 1.89, but since Lafrenière generates such an incredible amount of power through his strides, you don’t find him in full stride across the blue line that much. Rossi’s 1.83 goals for per game of 5v5 play on average is pretty remarkable if there’s a way for him to make a comeback. Allowing only 0.62 goals against on average per game of 5v5 also shows that he’s pretty darn good defensively as well. Lafrenière was the code piece of Rimouski’s offense, and really there entire team so I’d have to give this one to Lafrenière, especially since he played against the unbelievably stacked Chicoutimi Saguenéens a lot, and to put it in perspective of how good they Where this team had Dawson Mercer, Hendrix Lapierre, Räfael Harvey-Pinard, Räphael Lavoie, that’s alone enough to win the Memorial Cup easily, and would’ve definitely had at least a 50/50 chance against the Ottawa 67’s. But this is just my opinion But who I’m I to judge?

Tier 2, The ones that are still on another level

1. Stützle, and Byfield are two both incredibly tight players as well. I think people forget that Byfield was playing on a very bad Sudbury Wolves team, he only played about half the season, and also is extremely young, because he only had 1 assists in 7 games in the World Juniors because they had Alexis Lafrenière, Connor McMichael, Barrett Hayton, Dylan Cozens, Räphael Lavoie, Jamie Drysdale, Bowen Byram, and even players like Liam Foudy, and Dawson Mercer. He really played his best hockey when the Wolves were playing in division with teams like Barrie, Mississauga, Niagara, and North Bay, where he was matched up against some pretty good players like James Hardie, Brandon Coe, Tyson Foester, and Philip Tomasino for most of his season. He did have 1, or 2 really good games against teams like Ottawa, and Oshawa, but I think that the central division in the OHL was the right one for him to play in this year. I hope that these teams that he was playing against get better for better competition this year, but I think that his overall abilities really developed best when he was playing those harder in division games. On the other hand we have the player that should go 2nd overall according to Bob McKenzie, and Craig Button. The German phenom, Tim Stützle tore up the DEL this past season, making grown men look foolish, and scoring on ex-NHLers for goalies. He had an outstanding 18% involvement rate not even playing the entire year in a pro league, and incredible footwork, and vision that he’s shown over his 41 game stint with Adler Mannheim was something from a comic book. He played against  Lukas Reichel, and JJ Peterka a lot this year who happened to play on two very strong teams, and looked like a grown man out there.

2. When you look at the tools that both of these players bring, they're similar but not at all. Although I wouldn’t yet just categorize Byfield as a goal scorer, I feel that’s the vibe that I commonly get with him. His shot is pretty incredible when given time to release it, it looks extremely effortless, and easy for him to get it off with such accuracy at his size. He brings a sound passing game with good vision although he wasn’t given the best linemates, and really overall teammates in one of the worst organizations to be in, in the CHL this year. On the other hand, we have Tim Stützle who in my opinion is a top 3 playmaker in this year's draft. He has great skating like I just said, and in my bold predictions for this year I think that Stützle will outscore Lafrenière in a few years, like how Leon Draisitl outscored Connor McDavid this year. I think him and Rossi are the two that will be tight for the Calder if Stützle jumps right to the NHL given all the skill that he possesses as well as potential. But despite all the things that he can be, the things that Byfield is doing at his age, on a bad team is pretty insane, and I think is just enough to pull ahead of Stützle.

Tier 3, The also very, very good ones

• This is one of the most flip-floppity tiers to make because of all the different opinions going around, but this is my personal view on it mainly based on potential, and how many holes there are in the players game. Let’s start off with Anton Lundell and Jake Sanderson who I think would be very similar players if they played in the same position. There are both two great shutdown players in their own end that really put in the work that doesn’t show up on the scoreboard. They’ll both have excellent +/- throughout their NHL careers. I like their play in the offensive end, and I think that people undervalue both of theirs. I really like how they are both exceptionally strong on their feet, along with great speed, and strength overall. They both have a very heavy shot that they can beat goalies with from a far, and snipe quick wristers from in close. They can both get more agile but what they bring to the table as 200 hundred foot players, and at their size is something that is both lucky to get, and rare to find. Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit is a pretty tricky player especially when it came down to choosing between him, and Lucas Raymond. Perfetti brings an excellent goal scoring package with potentially one of the most accurate wristers we’ve seen since Auston Matthews. He has great vision, making him a dual threat in all situations, when utilizing his hands to their maximum limit he’s arguably one of the best players to come out of the CHL in the last 10 years or so, especially when he puts this all together. He shows flashes of great speed, even though he doesn’t show it all the time, but makes up for it with his elite agility. Next, and last we have the two potential super-Swedes Holtz, and Raymond. While Raymond is in dead better a skater, and uses his agility to dodge checks, and maneuver around traffic, Holtz makes up for it more than enough with his nose for the net, shot, and willingness to go in those dirty areas to score goals. I see Holtz hitting the 50 goal mark in the 2024-2026 seasons for the 1st time, and will come very close to even 60 many others if everything pans out as planned. Raymond may not have yet the same success but there is no limitations to what he might become. He has the elite tool set to become a very well refined offensive, playmaking winger but could end up being just a great player in Sweden. That’s what makes Raymond so risky, but yet rewarding, and if he drops to puck no. 9 or later I’d be very happy to take that risk.

Tier 4, The mid-1st-round-more-than-just-steals

• This is a pretty tricky tier to evaluate as well, once again because of all of the opinions going around. But, these are the players that I truly think have the skill, and everything right in their game to be those players that will show up in the top 10 of this year's draft in a redraft 5 years from now. Let’s start with my favorite player in this draft Thomas Bordeleau. He’s one of the small centers that are consistently looked over just because he’s small. His game is very similar to Patrick Kane’s, he has great hands, and an elite shot. He has excellent hockey IQ, and playmaking ability as well. He gives his all in his own zone, and is great in the face off circle. Another player that is similar to the likes of Thomas Bordeleau, his Prince Albert Raider Ozzy Wiesblatt, who I put ahead of many others due to his great all around play. He’s great at everything, and skates like the wind. His puck skills, and play away from the puck shouldn’t just earn him a 2nd round selection. Other players that I really like in this tier are Dylan Holloway, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Alexander Pashin. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the shot that Bourque, and Perreault bring, as well as the skating of Amirov, but I feel like Holloway is the perfect combination of size, strength, shooting ability, and skating. He’s a force to be wrecking with, that plays a sound defensive game, and given a bigger role on the Badgers offensive unit this year will really bring the best out of him. Pashin is simply an exciting player. Put him in the offensive zone, and nine times out of ten will make something happen, but put the puck on his stick and he’s even better. He’s very fast, challenging the likes of Jean-Luc Foudy, and Joni Jurmo, and combined with his size puts the fact straight he is, and has to be extremely agile. His shot is 2nd to none, his puck skills even better, his defensive game will need to be worked on but playing as an undersized offensive, fun player that’s more than enough to pull ahead of other players, especially with his work ethic. Marat Khusnutdinov is just a bigger version of Alex Pashin, and better his own zone. He transitions his speed into tight turns, and maneuvers like no other player I’ve seen in this year's draft. He has great playmaking ability, and great puck skills. But what really sticks out to me is his willingness to put his nose where it hurts, and his ability to just buzz around the ice. If he’s on the ice you know that something good is going to happen, and that’s the long and the short of it. Hendrix Lapierre May be one of the biggest wild cards in this year's draft, but his stickhandling, and playmaking ability is a combo that you can't miss. Rodion Amirov is the Last really fun Russian in this tier of players, and arguably the best, and safest. His agility matches the likes of Sydney Crosby, and young John Tavares’. Jacob Perreault, and Mavrik Bourque are to risk, and reward players that are very skilled. Perreault’s shot, and speed are impeccable, and Bourque’s agility, motor, and puck skills are pretty insane. His defensive game can use work like Perreault’s, but he makes up for it more than enough with his great vision. And last but not least we have two dual threat players Dawson Mercer, and Seth Jarvis who also bring promising two way games, and great skating abilities.

Tier 4, The ones that may surprise and surpass expectations

• Let me just start off by saying that there’s a lot of potential in this tier of players in my rankings. Let’s start with J.J. Peterka, who’s a catender for potentially the 2nd best German in this year’s draft. He has great scoring ability, as well as skating which earned him the 22nd spot on my rankings. Next we have the 2nd best goal scorer this year Jack Quinn, and Lukas Reichel, who I honestly believe can become one day household names in the NHL along with some other good two way players. Noel Gunler is another extremely good goal scorer in this draft, despite the fact that he does need to work on every other aspect of his game, he still possesses good 2nd line potential at the most. The 26th spot on my rankings I lie very much, even though some may give me a lot of hate for it. It’s the Saskatoon Blades centermen Tristen Robins who ended the season with an incredible 54 points in 34 games which gave him a 1.52 PPG which is just incredible for someone that some people have in the 4th, 5th, and even 6th round. I kinda think that he can make the NHL in 1 year, but reality is he’s probably going to play at least 3 years in junior, and in the AHL. He’s an outstanding leader that can play a gritty game when he needs too, his puck skills are elite, along with his shot, and has underrated playmaking, and defensive play. Next we have one of 5e most controversial players of the draft in Connor Zary….and here’s the thing with him, I think he has all the talent in the world, and is very skilled, I just don’t see that transitioning into the NHL the way some would think. He has good skating, but there’s a few problems he’ll need to fix, and can have a lot of mental breakdowns. I think he will make the NHL though and will probably be a good 3rd line player, and like Noel Gunler 2nd line at his very highest. Topi Niemelä is next on my list, and this some may disagree with as well, I just think he’s so underrated even though his stats don’t really tell the entire story for him. He’s a defense first guy, but still has great offensive ability. He’s silky smooth on his edges which helps him a lot when he makes out only around 159 pounds. I just love the way he can make very smart plays, and still keep a good low key. He’s somebody you’re not told to look out for, but you still need too, and that’s why I like him. At the 29th spot out of 31 we have the Finnish flash all over again in Kasper Simontaival, and let me tell ya, he’s the Finnish version of Alex Pashin. His play with the puck is phenomenal, just like his skating, and the way he combines that is extremely refined, and well rounded. He is more defensively sound, if that’s how you would put it for a smaller player, and can turn out to be a great 200-footer. 

• Dmitri Rashevsky is the best overager in this year’s draft, period! He’s a top 5 stickhandler, and when the pucks on his stick he’s automatically the best player on the ice, he creates chances out of nothing, and is super consistent. He had the most points in the MHL on a very bad finishing team at MHK Dynamo-St. Petersburg, and his point totals will surpass what people think as he starts to play on better teams. He’s an incredible playmaker, and just as good setting others up. His skating will improve with a better training staff, and experience in the higher levels of hockey as well. And finally...the no. 31 spot was a dead tie between two players I like a whole lot..Dmitri Ovchinnikov, and Jean-Luc Foudy. The only reason I picked Foudy is because of his larger chance of playing in the NHL, but he barely edged Ovchinnikov out, I’d personally call a tie. Foudy is the fastest player in the draft bar none, even in my opinion over Joni Jurmo. The fact that he’s so accelerative, and so explosive makes him able to generate his speed through tight turns, pivots, and crossovers. He’s most deadly when playing on a line with players that can keep with him in transition. That way he can unleash his lethal passing, and hockey IQ. He’s the best passer in my opinion in this draft, and the potential that he has is incredible. Just take his brother, Liam, for example. He was picked 18th overall while only scoring 40 points in 65 games, and look at him now. All the things he needs to become a more refined player will come as time comes on, and I think if you let him develop at his own pace into the player he can be, then there’s a potential top 5 playmaker in the NHL one day.

Final Thoughts:

• These are my final thoughts on my rankings, and let me tell ya, they were wild. There are a lot of projected 5th round, 4th round, 3rd round, and even 6th round picks in there. I’m very happy with how they turned out, and even though I can only leave players like Jan Mysak, Martin Chromiak, Dmitri Ovchinnikov, Luke Evangelista, well you get it the list goes on, and on but I still wanted to be somewhat realistic. There’s a lot of wildcards like Jean-Luc Foudy, and Alexander Pashin that I personally am a big fan of, and think that at least for a few of these players like Foudy, Wiesblatt, and even Tristen Robins can actually sneak into a late selection in the 1st round. I find myself liking Topi Niemelä a whole lot too, and since he’s only 5’10, and very skinny I can see why he can skip to the late rounds, but at the same time believe he’s one of the best defensemen available. He does a ton of things right, and clearly stats aren’t his best friend. Kasper Simontaival I seem to really like as well, and I think that he’s really just a 5’9” Finnish version of Alex Pashin. They have a to. Of tools that they can pull out of their toolbox at any minute, and the overall perception, and look at the game is pretty magnificent. And wait a second, am getting to Marco Rossi...here’s why I put him at no. 2, and almost no. 1 over Lafrenière. In potential ranking that I’d be making “5 years from now” I’d probably put him at 1, Byfield at 2, and Lafrenière at 3, but it’s deadlocked. If you think about it Rossi, and Lafrenière are the same players but in different leagues, and at different sizes, on two completely different teams. While Rimouski was pretty much carried by Lafrenière, and their amazing club of rookies, Rossi well, you know what Ottawa was like this year. 50 wins, and an almost guaranteed memorial cup, they were the definition of stacked, but what people forget is that Rossi was the center, and core piece to why they had that success. I personally think Rossi is a better skater, and that’s what really sets him aside. All questions asked, that’s why I put him at 2, and almost 1. Other prospects that I really like include 

• Dylan Holloway, Dawson Mercer, and Hendrix Lapierre, and the vas’s with Holloway really is, better coaching, better deployment, more responsibility, and more ice time. Holloway played around 15-17 minutes per game but role modeling the type of player a Gabe Landeskog, or Max Pacioretty would be, you would want to see more. He’s creative, and a whole lot of fun to watch which may surprise some of you. The talents there, and at his size, man he’ll give you a run for your money! Mercer, and Lapierre are both two higher end versions of I’d say Räfael Harvey-Pinard, (Lapierre), and I would want to say a smaller Räphael Lavoie, (Mercer). If you give them the time to stick to one team, form chemistry, and get good ice time, and a good number of games in, then they can both be something super special in my opinion. There are some very underrated, and very big possible steals in this draft that’s why I really like it. The ones that are amongst this name are Marat Khusnutdinov, Jacob Perreault, Lukas Reichel, Rodion Amirov, and many more. This is also a very good draft for overages, and I like a lot of them, personally. My favorites are probably Rashevsky, Yevgeni Oksentyuk, and Pavel Gogolev, followed closely by Yegor Sokolov. There’s so much I have to say about this draft but I still think that really this will be the biggest 2nd round, and late 1st round draft of the decade. We haven’t seen a Ozzy Wiesblatt, or Tristen Robins, or Topi Niemelä in so long that this is going to be a real kick start in a new era. I also feel that this is going to be a very “loose” and “free” draft meeting there is a lot of room for prospects to rise, and fall down the rankings. The 2020 draft is going to be a real fun one, and I hope that I liked my 2020 final NHL draft rankings.

• Here are some players that are worth noting:

1. William Wallinder, D

2. Samuel Colangelo, RW 

3. Brendan Brisson, C

4. Ryan Francis, RW

5. Kyle Crnkovic, RW

6. Antonio Stranges, F

7. Tyson Foerster, F

8. Billy Constantinou, D

9. Sean Farrell, C

10. Luke Tuch, RW/LW

11. Dylan Peterson, F

12. Eamon Powell, D

13. Dmitri Sheshin, RW

14. Yegor Chinakov, LW

15. Daniel Torgersson, C 

16. Theodor Niederbach, RW/LW

(Let me know if you think I missed someone :)

Review:

Link to my full spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18dni2wMU4r4qPwDp-WokCnqjr2LJH916xnxe09lk2gE/edit

(There’s a spoiler for my mock draft!!! :)

Honorable Mentions:

No. 32, Dmitri Ovchinnikov - led MHL U18 scoring

24 G | 31 A | 55 P | 54 GP | 1.01 PPG | Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk, MHL | 5’10” | 163lbs.

 Ovchinnikov is an amazing skater, his speed, and mobility are 2nd to none, and the way he uses it is perfect. He dominated the MHL when loose pucks popped up, using his speed to blow past defenders sleeping on the play. He has great puck moving ability, and can use that to work his way up into dangerous parts of the ice. According to Will Scouch, over the games he tracked 85% of his shots came from high, and medium danger areas which is remarkable! He’ll be a bit of a project, but once he fully evens out, he’ll be a great player.

No. 33, Jan Myšák - led Czech Extraliga in pints by a U18 player (9)

15 G | 10 A | 25 P | 22 GP | 1.13 PPG | Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL | 6’0” | 181lbs.

 Mysak may be one of the biggest wild cards, but yet steals of this draft. He’s an extremely high end, creative goal scorer that has great potential, and has a great motor to back it up. He can QB a penalty kill in his own end, and drive offense positively out of his own end as well. There are some things that teams may be spooked about that will send him into the 2nd round, but there’s some major things in his game that have the same chance of keeping him in the 1st round.

No. 34, Daniil Gushchin - led USHL in EUR born scoring

22 G | 25 A | 47 P | 42 GP | 1.11 PPG | Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL | 5’8” | 165lbs.

 Daniil Gushchin is a tiny ultra talented winger that plays a great offensive game. He shows good work ethic in the defensive zone at times, and if he can continue to grow, and develop his overall game, his talent should take over, and his potential will be unleashed. He makes experienced junior players look like Pee-wees. He’s an unbelievable stickhandler, and can make his way around defenseman with ease. I see him becoming a Pavel Datsyuk-ish player in the NHL.

No. 35, Zion Nybeck - led SuperElit scoring

27 G | 39 A | 66 P | 42 GP | 1.57 PPG | HV71 J20, SuperElit | 5’6” | 176lbs.

 Zion Nybeck is an electrifying playmaking wing that plays a good 200 foot game. His weakness is his skating, but there’s. A good chance that he overcomes his weaknesses as he gets, and gets more physically mature. As a 5’6” junior player, he played very well in the SHL, scoring 1 assists in 15 games, and has a ton of potential, and upside. It would be a risky pick, but then again there’s a good chance he’d go in the top 10 of a redraft 5 years from now. He’s creative, and makes plays that most won’t even think of, he would be a great value pick for a team in the late 2nd round, or 3rd round if he falls.

• 36) Brett Berard, F, U.S. National U18 Team

• 37) Pavel Gogolev, W, Guelph Storm

• 38) Vasili Ponomaryov, W, Shawinigan Cataractes 

• 39) Luke Evangelista, RW, London Knights

• 40) Martin Chromiak, LW, Kingston Frontenacs 

• 41) Yevgeni Oksentyuk, W, Flint Firebirds 

• 42) Roni Hirvonen, C, Malmö RedHawks

• 43) Yegor Sokolov, LW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

• 44) Emil Andrae, D, HV71 J20

• 45) Connor McClennon, RW, Winnipeg Ice

Link to more awesome Dr. Tee Scouting articles:

https://www.drteescouting.com 

Hope You Enjoyed!