Dr. Tee’s Final 2020 Mock Draft
Tiers
Tier 1….that one player
Tier 2….they can still catch up
Tier 3….the players that can become something special
Tier 4….the players that are still elite
Tier 5….the players that really can really surprise, and surpass expectations
Tier 6….the end of the 1st round
Layout
It’s finally here….
My final 2020 mock draft. In this edition of one of my favorite things to do, (rank players), we’ll be looking over some of the biggest risers, and fallers of this year’s draft, the ones that just stayed steady, and best of all my favorite players. Ever since I was 7 years old I’ve loved hockey, and today I share the players I think have the best shot of becoming the next big things in hockey. This mock draft will feature players like Jake Sanderson, Connor Zary, and John-Jason Peterka. So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive right into the article I’ve been waiting to do for so long now.
Ft. Thomas Bordeleau, Dylan Holloway, Dawson Mercer….
Image via: Twitter
Dedication
For Great Uncle Duke
Died from cancer, November, 2018
For Great, Great Uncle Tod
Celebrating his 104th birthday
For Grandpa Ed
Battled with cancer
Tier 1, That one player
Lafrenière is an elite playmaking wing that can easily transition his play to the center if he has too. I estimate a 70+ point rookie season as well as 25+ goals. If the Rangers can stick him on the 2nd line with Kaapo Kakko, Mika Zibanejad, or even Ryan Strome, and make him a center you’ll definitely get some good, and positive results. Being that dual threat player he is, he’ll be able to set up goal scorers like Vitali Kravstov, and Kaapo Kakko, But will still be able to create for himself. He has great hands, and is strong on his feet, and will look like a true NHLer expecting that he plays this season.
Tier 2, They can still catch up
I think that Byfield is super undervalued due to his bad World Juniors, and his low point total. What people forget is that this year’s team Canada was an extremely good one. With Connor McMichael, Alexis Lafrenière, Barrett Hayton, Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, and even Dawson Mercer, and Liam Foudy and was given a limited role where he could only rack up one assist in seven games played. He played his best hockey when playing tight, in-Division games. He did manage to record some good games against teams like Oshawa, and Ottawa, but I really liked when James Hardie, and Philip Tomasino were playing at their best when playing against Byfield. Posting the 2nd best U18 OHL PPG this season, his shot was a big component in that, along with his amazing play off the rush. It is both accurate, and hard, and he can beat goalies from a far. Given an extra year in the OHL, Byfield can further develop his defensive game, hopefully playing the entire year on a good team, in a good division. Playing the 2022 season with the Kings he’s likely to play in a 2nd line role with Adrian Kempe, and Gabriel Vilardi.
In my opinion Rossi is the best player available in this year's draft. He’s NHL ready, and very skilled, there’s no reason he doesn’t win the Calder next year despite his size, I personally, am not one to just judge off of size, because if the guy was an inch, maybe two taller he’d be definitely a top 3 player. He has all the tools that Lafrenière brings to the table and more. I think that he’s a better skater than Lafrenière, just because he can easily combine his agility, and speed with his unbelievable vision, and stickhandling so well. He’s a preferred playmaker, but I’d be closer to calling him a goal scorer with his elite shot that is both accurate, and possesses a quick release that he can get off from almost anywhere. He is great in both the PK, and PP in his own end, stopping lofty passes, and keeping defenders on their heels. If you stick him on the 2nd line with 1st line minutes, and responsibility, you’ll easily bring out the best of him. With linemates like Anthony Duclair, and Colin White.
Stützle is the German version of Marat Khusnutdinov on steroids. The fact that he can buzz around the ice with that much ease, and dexterity in all attributes of his game, but still keeping a talented base layer is something that’s pretty textbook, as well as remarkable. He’s the best German since Leon Draisitl in my opinion, and the skating, along with footwork that he has is bar none top 5 in the draft class. He has a very good finish ability, and even better playmaking. His hands make grown men look foolish, and has very good instincts if you put him on the 1st line after another year in the DEL with Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, or Filip Zadina, I mean they all play a very similar style of game so skies the limit. I expect a Calder contending 2022 rookie season from him.
Tier 3, The players that can become something special
Sanderson is an outstandingly refined, NHL ready shutdown defenseman that can be a key piece to Ottawa’s defense in the coming years. Even though he’s committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2020-21 season if by any means he wasn’t, I would definitely see him jumping straight to the NHL. He’s big, and loves to lay big hits, but also very smart when it comes to hitting. He’s very, very fast for a defenseman, and is extremely powerful when it comes to generating power through crossovers, and in transition. His play on the penalty kill, and his defensive end is great, the best for a defenseman in the draft in my opinion, and can still chip in offensively when he needs to. He would work as a great first pairing for Ottawa along with an offensive Thomas Chabot, given he has a great ability to eat up a lot of minutes.
Drysdale is an elite skating, undersized defenseman that maneuvers around the ice like no other. His backwards skating is 2nd to none, his speed is outstanding, and his gap control, along with pivots in transition make for a deadly two way defenseman. He has great vision, and can make a great first pass. When the play is deep in the offensive zone he has the hickey IQ to find the open lane in the ice and get open. His finishing ability is great for Defensemen. He’ll be an immediate impact on the Ducks organization even though I’d suggest he’d take a year before coming to the NHL. His best comparable is Bowen Byram from last year’s draft, if the Ducks can add that to their top pairing with Adam Larsson, or Josh Manson.
Perfetti is an elite player that combines the best attributes you’ll find in a playmaker, and goal scorer. He has a wickedly accurate shot, and if you place him on the left dot with time and space, watch out! He projects to score upwards of 80, 90+ points a season consistently. There’s no telling where his talent will take him, and if he can improve his endurance a little bit more so he can use his incredible speed more often, than he’d be a great top pairing with Jack Hughes, Pavel Zacha, or Jesper Bratt one day. Everything about his game is already so good, I truly think he can be an NHL all star one day, if all things go out right.
Alexander Holtz is still the best sniper in this year's draft, the way he can put the puck in the net is simply effortless. There’s no denying that the odds of him hitting 50, even 60 goals one day in his NHL career are very high. He plays with a simple almost quote, “score, and you won’t lose.” He is fast in a straight line, and has great puck control as well. If the Sabres can add that to their roster that’ll be a great pick up, most likely playing him on the 2nd line with Dylan Cozens when he comes. There’s no doubt that the excitement surrounding him is real, and there’s also almost no doubt that he’ll live up to it.
Raymond is a high skilled, high energy player that has the ability to buzz around the ice looking for open shooting, and passing lanes, and deceive ring when the option presents itself, but what scares me about him is thta he doesn’t always use it. He didn’t have the easiest time adapting to the harder version of the SHL way of play, and was really hanging off a cliff at times. It makes you wonder how well he’ll transition to the North American game, but in the end, as long as he evens out in size he should have no problem in a year or two. If you stick him on the 2nd, or 3rd line gradually letting him move up the ranks he’ll deliver. Playing him with a Mat Body would be great. A playmaker, and a goal scorer.
Lundell is the future Selke winner of this year’s draft class, and is a very translatable, and safe pick. He’s very reliable defensively, and plays a hard nose game in the corners. He doesn’t back down from a fight, and is a great team leader. I feel like Winnipeg has 3 guys in their prime right now: Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Patrik Laine. After that, there’s a bit of a question mark. I feel if they can add a two way power forward, that can play in all situations to their 2nd, or maybe even 3rd line but still getting good ice time they’ll be a powerhouse in the making. Lundell matches that fit perfectly, and there’s no set teammates he needs to play with each and every night which I feel like is another added bonus when you’re getting Lundell.
Tier 4, The players that are still elite
Askarov is a great goalie that has dominated one of the top pro leagues in the world thus far, and will definitely continue to improve. He’s very flashy, making big saves in big moments, and will immediately catch your eye. Right now the Preds need a young goalie they can rely on for a long period of time. Juuse Saros, and Pekke Rinne are great, but Rinne’s old, and I feel like Saros would serve as a great player to be that “2nd Askarov.” When the time comes I think that Askarov will deliver, because that’s the goalie he is.
Jarvis is an undeniably talented player with great upside. He gets the job done whenever he’s told too, and is very consistent. What he showed at the end of the year was only a glimpse of what’s to come, and if he can just round out his game and take it to the next level quicker than I think he could be a top 10 player to come out of this draft. He plays the same finesse game that Aleksander Barkov, and Jothnathan Huberdeau play, and would probably be a great top pairing with them in the coming years.
Khusnutdinov is an electric two way centermen that specializes his game in the passing game. He’s constantly buzzing around the ice looking for scoring opportunities, and ways to put the puck in the back of the net. He has a good shot, and finds the dangerous areas of the ice very well. He maneuvers through traffic, and in tight spaces exceptionally well, he generates offense off the rush very well as well. And this is why I have him ranked higher than Amirov, and many other good names. Because the talent, and potential he has is through the roof. Playing on the 2nd line with players like Ryan Dzingel, and Justin Williams he’ll play very well after a couple years in the KHL
Niemelä is very high on my rankings, and my mock draft compared to some other big names for the fact that he’s very high end. That might sound a little silly, but clearly stats haven’t been his friend, and clearly he has a lot more to give than just 1 goal. He defends very well, and is very underrated in his own end due to his size, and lack of physicality. And even though the NHL is migrating out of the hard nose style of play, people forget you don’t need to hit really well, and be very tall to be a good defenseman. He has great gap control, and is an elusive skater. He generates offense like no other player in this year’s draft; and he’d be an outstanding value pick, even if it doesn’t look like that right away. He’d be great with Adam Larsson on the top pairing, as he further develops his game.
Mercer is an incredibly creative stickhandler, and can create plays out of nowhere. He plays a great dual threat game, and is still a good two way player. He adapts to pressure, and change of play on another level compared to his competition. He has great vision, and hockey sense. He can see plays happening before they do, and delivers. He’s an underrated skater, even though his stride might be a little weird. His hard wrister makes defenders stay on their heels, opening up passing lanes. This is what makes Mercer so effective, and why if the Leafs pick him up, he can replace John Tavares once he retires.
Holloway has grown to be one of my favorite players in this coming draft. He’s an absolute beast, and the offense that he can generate in all three zones is unheard of. He plays one of the best, if not the best two way game of any center/wing in this year’s draft, and I see it very translatable. He plays a very similar game to Gabriel Landeskog in the sense that they play a great all around game, with great talent. Holloway is a great skater as well, his speed is outstanding for someone of his size, and the presence, potential, and overall game that he plays in general, is pretty insane. He’ll be a great center in the NHL, as well as wing most likely pairing up with Max Domi, and Brendan Gallagher when he’s playing center, and Nick Suzuki at wing.
Perreault is an extremely gifted goal scorer that has one of the best shots in the draft. The way he can connect with the puck is seemingly effortless at times, he looks like he isn’t even trying. His powerful, accurate wrister makes up for the reason he scored 39 goals in only 57 games. His slapshot, and one timers are amazing as well. He can cradle wild passes extremely smoothly for an 18 year old. There’s a high chance that he would’ve hit 50 before the end of the year. I see him sneaking onto the Blackhawks lineup in about 2 years, so he can work on his defensive game, although I still see him projecting mainly as a winger. He’ll do great with Kirby Dach on the 2nd line, for those two would score a ton of points.
Amirov is a highly touted Russian that brings a great all around game, as well as high end offensive ability to the table. His agility is astounding. Allowing him to make up for the straight line speed he sometimes lacks, and just watching him make pro moves on pro players as an 18 year old is something that you don’t see often. Amirov is something special for us for sure, he generates offense out of nothing, and I would call him a bigger, and somewhat less “buzzy-er” version of Marat Khusnutdinov. His potential is sky high, and he makes the players around him much better. He’s one of the only “true” centermen in this draft that would be a great 2nd pairing with Jesper Bratt, Nolan Foote once he comes up, and if they let him he’d also be a great fit with Pavel Zacha. Assuming Hughes is on the 1st line.
Thomas Bordeleau, way is that missing piece of the Flames lineup that they need most. He plays a very strong, and good finesse type game that the Flames really need in their lineup. He is an excellent sniper. Finding the back of the net with unbelievable accuracy. He adapts to both different leagues, and play in general really well. Despite being 5 '9 ``, Bordeleau is a great two way centermen. Backchecking hard, and finishing board battles he’s a real pest. He has an excellent playmaking touch to his game, and is top 15 in this draft in my opinion. If the Flames can stick Pelletier when he comes up at wing, and Bordeleau at center they’d be borderline unstoppable!
Jack Quinn is the 2nd best goal scorer in the draft behind only Alexander Holtz. His wrist shot is both heavy, and accurate, and it can find the back of the net in many ways. He can score in many ways as well. Leading all U18 players in the CHL in goals, and being 2nd in the CHL in goals altogether, he’s an absolute maniac. He’ll score a lot of goals in his career as well, and will be a good two way winger in the NHL. if you play him with Jack Hughes on line no. 1 in a year they’ll both dominate off the rush. If Quinn falls to 20, then he’d be a great value puck up for the Devils.
Hendrix Lapierre is a great, great, great playmaker, top 3, or 2 in the draft. His creativity, hockey sense, and vision combined into one is the ultimate “Sidney Crosby” package. His shot isn’t known for being the best ever but when he uses it to his best, it can be surprisingly good. I see him exploding into around a 70 point scorer this year without injuries. He’s extremely agile, and good on his feet, and when he’s skating at his fastest he can challenge the likes of Tim Stützle, and many more good names. If the Jackets can add a finesse player like him along with Liam Foudy they would dominate, even if they probably won’t be placed on the same line.
Wiesblatt is an extremely underrated player in all three zones of the ice. The only other player I can see them taking would probably be Braden Schneider, since there pretty stacked in all ends it’s kind of hard to tell who they’ll take. Wiesblatt has high end potential, and people forget that he was playing on one of the lowest scoring teams in the CHL this year, and was also only playing around 16 minutes per game. He’s also very good defensively, only averaging 1 even strength goal against every other game, (0.56 EVGA PG). He’s a very good skater, abdis quick, and light on his feet. He has silky hands, and a very playmaking, and goal scoring touch to his game. I would suggest playing him on the 3rd line with responsibility, playing around 15-18 minutes a game with Vitali Kravstov, and Ryan Strome knowing that there’s a good chance he’ll transition to center. If not he’ll probably play on the 2nd line with Alexis Lafrenière.
Bourque is an ultra creative dual threat centermen, that operates his game at a high pace, often known moving his hands faster then defenders can think. His shot is outstandingly accurate, making its way past the goalie in ways people never thought of. He has a quick release in the slot which was another reason he almost scored 30 goals in under 50 games. He’s a great playmaker, finishing off the “dual threat-ness” of his game. He’s willing to try hard passes in an attempt to create a goal, and is overal, a player you’d draft for their offensive skill. I love the instincts, adaptability, and reactiveness he brings to the table. This should translate very well into the NHL at either wing or center. He’s a very good skater with high end agility, and a good motor to back it up. His defense could really use some work, but with time he should continue to better round out his game. He’d player very well with Travis Konecny, or Claude Giroux.
Schneider is a big, defensive defenseman that possesses very little offense, but Jake Sanderson like defense. He plays a very good shutdown game, and is the literal definition of a muscle man. There’s not much to say about him besides the fact that he’s the missing piece to the Washington Capitals defense. They already have Connor McMichael coming up, all they need now is for a player to be able to back him up in the defensive zone. He eats up a lot of minutes, and would be a great Jacob Slavin like player in the NHL. He’d play well with on a first pairing with John Carlson.
Peterka is a very well rounded, and physically mature winger, that should transition to the NHL very well after playing against men in the German pro league. His goal scoring attribute to his game is ground breaking, and it’s also very good. His shot is hard, and accurate, but what I like about his shot, the mist, is probably the release. He gets his shot off with ease, and it doesn't look hard when he’s doing it. He’s a very strong skater with a great, long,and powerful stride. He evaded pressure while maintaining control of the puck very well. He’d play very well with Alex Newhook on the 2nd line, along with Nazem Kadri.
Reichel ks a high upside, two way forward that plays a very simple game, that includes his high hockey IQ. He has a low ceiling as of now, but a really high floor. He’s very mature, and plays a men’s game. He’s pretty weak physically but he’s a player that doesn’t really need to be the strongest to be the best. He is a natural puck racer, and often wins board battles with his quick thinking, and skating alone. He has a good shot, along with vision which was the reason why he scored 24 points in the DEL. He’s very versatile, and adaptable. He can play with any linemate, and that’s what the Blues need a lot right now. With aging talent like David Perron, and Ryan O’Reilly, he’d be a great add.
Zary is a very tricky player. He started off the year at 14th I believe on my list… since then he’s dropped 13 picks because of how high the competition around him has raced since then. He has a lot of talent but a limited ceiling. There’s not much flexibility you can work with, with him, but that slim chance he can become a superstar is enough to work with if you’re Anaheim, and you’re looking for a player with a decent chance of becoming a good player in the NHL. He has a bit of an awkward stride, he’s really bent over, and he’s not really the best skater overall. But, with that slim chance he becomes breakout player, well he’d be a big one, so trying to find a decent player in this range will be hard without going off the board, but I feel like if you stick a good player on the 3rd line so Zary can play on the 2nd line with that responsibility, but at the same time giving that 3rd liner the ice time that Zary won’t be able to cover up will probably be a good way to even things out.
Tristen Robins is a shockingly underrated player in this draft in my opinion, and given good mentors over there in Ottawa like Brady Tkachuk, and Bobby Ryan, he should go down the right path. If he transitions to wing in the NHL, even though he is a very responsible center, him Marco Rossi, and Jake Sanderson would play very well on the same line even though Sanderson is a D, it’d be fun watching Ottawa’s 3 first round picks on the same line in a couple years. Robins is very creative, with great hands. He plays with emotion, and is a great leader. He’s an absolute work horse, and earns his minutes. His shot is on point, and brings a dual threat game. He bachchecks hard, and will be a fundamental part to Ottawa’s scoring, and success if the draft does go this way in a few years.
Tier 5,The players that can really surprise, & surpass expectations
Guhle is a great defensive defenseman that provides a good offensive game as well. His shutdown ability rivals that of Braden Schneider, and Jake Sanderson, and his gap control is great as well. He’s a great skater at his height, and overall strength, just like his older brother. He’ll eat up a whole bunch of minutes in the NHL and will have the chance to one game beat the 65 minute Seth Jones game we saw earlier this playoffs. He has a great shot, and very hard on the puck. He is great in puck battles, and in front of the net, clearing up those garbage plays in his own end. He is also consistently smart with the puck, and doesn’t just get rid of it in high pressure situations like some other big defenseman like Tyler Kleven. He’s very flexible, and can play with multiple linemates as well, this is another added bonus of getting Guhle.
Noel Gunler is a top pairing goal scoring winger that possesses very high end potential in the NHL. He has a great goal scoring touch to his game, often getting a shot off from a high danger area which is his workshop. He produced very well in the SuperElit as a 17 year old, and in the SHL when he got time there. He has a good work ethic and showed that a lot during the end of the year. He has a tendency to make the occasional brain fart, but when he’s on, he’s on. He’s very explosive, and possesses very good speed. If anything, he can work on his footwork, but with better coaching, and more time given to work on his skills in the NHL he should progress well. He is a better playmaker than what most people think even though he isn’t a fantastic one. Just like St. Louis, and Lukas Reichel, Noel Gunler and the Stars would be very good. If you put him and Gurianov on their top power play unit, and maybe as a regular line, all they would do would be score goals which would help the aging Sharks in more ways than one. Put behind a veteran center, he should transition well.
O’Rourke is an unbelievably underrated hockey player. The Soo Greyhounds worked every last inch out of him. He has a very underrated offense even though he isn’t exactly elite at anything, he’s still a good offensive defenseman when his team really needs it. He’s very strong on his feet, and has a great, great hockey IQ for a player that’s supposed to go outside of the 1st round. Another added bonus with him is that he isn’t below average at anything in his game. He’s a good skater, he could improve but that really isn’t the reason you’d draft him. Playing on Soo really did hurt his draft stock, maybe not as some people are saying, but it definitely did. He’ll produce well in the NHL, averaging around 25-35 points a year, and probably hitting his max at around 25-ish, scoring around 50 or more points. He’s extremely well rounded, and that’s why I like him. He’d be a great pick up for the Sharks with their aging group, and in a few years would be a good pairing with Erik Karlsson on the 2nd line, if they add some more good defensive prospects.
Tier 6, The ones that can rise, and fall
*Honorable Mentions*
“Good playmaker…. drives play positively well in the offensive zone…. an outstanding shot in all ways…. Skating can come a while….. 5v5 numbers aren’t great, and he’ll need someone to set him up…. Projects as a good point producing wing.”
“A very good goal scoring winger…. he has a great motor, with good work ethic…. can go out for long bursts…. a good penalty killer…. consistency can be a problem…. projects as a good point producing winger wing.”
“A great puck facilitator….. pushes play positively, but consistency can be an issue…. has good offensive ability…. good skating, and defensive mind…. can be a bit lackluster in his own end from time to time…. is an underrated defensive player when at his best…. projects as a good play driving defenseman.”
“A great playmaker with excellent smarts…. relieves pressure of the center…. will transition well…. is NHL ready, but can add strength…. has a knack for scoring on rebounds, and Hugh danger opportunists…. is very responsible in his own end…. plays well in transition, and pushing play positively.”
“A good undersized center that is a ‘high danger playmaker’.... he is strong on his feet for his size…. strong defensive center…. anticipates play with ease, and finds open players down the ice…. is smart, although there are some risks but makes up for it with great hands, and skating.... projects as a structured, transition game centermen.”
“A smart, work ethical, offensive winger…. is an amazing skater…. finds open passing, and shooting lanes very well….. played well against men…. shows positive progression, and work in the defensive end….. projects to be a long term project, long term reward.”
“Is a great electrifying, energy forward…. an outstanding playmaker, and skater…. post question marks with both consistency, and defensive game…. is a raw talent, with a lot of talent…. is a long term project, but a long term reward like his brother.”
“A speedster in both ways….. quick, and talented….. one if the best skaters in this draft…. great hands, and offensive instincts….. buzzes around the ice….. quick release….. good playmaker as well…. can improve on defensive game, but coachable…. shows really good potential, and still developing.”
Image: Last Word on Hockey
“A good, multi-dimensional goal scorer…. Can score from a far with quick, powerful release…. good playmaking, and vision…. can improve skating, but is still good…. still developing…. can go out for long spurts, but shows impressive talent.”
I feel like there are lot of really good prospects in this range, and if you want to see my rankings, and my mock draft click the link below that says, “link to spreadsheet”, if you want to see scouting reports check out my blog, link next to the spreadsheet.
Review:
Link to spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18dni2wMU4r4qPwDp-WokCnqjr2LJH916xnxe09lk2gE/edit
Link to my Blog: https://www.drteescouting.com
(Spoilers- the link shares my rankings spreadsheet! If you haven’t read
that article I highly suggest!)
So that wraps up my 2020 NHL mock draft. I hope you enjoyed it. For more in depth opinions and analysis you can go check out my blog. You can also check out my scouting reports I’ve shared about multiple other prospects in my mock draft and out. I’ll probably continue writing those until junior hockey in North America starts just so I have a little extra time to get things done, and I’ll see you next time! As always look for some new articles, and more analysis, stay safe, and I will see you later, peace!
Review (Honorable Mentions):
