StevenToddIves
Registered User
2020 Draft Rankings By Position, RW
With some certainty, I can say that the 2020 draft is deeper at right wing than any other position — maybe the deepest group of prospects at the RW position in decades. It would not shock me if one-third of the first round were players on this list.
For Devils fans, this is good news. The organization is in need of goal-scorers on the wing to gift-wrap for Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. With the possibility of three picks in the top 20, new Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald will have ample opportunity to achieve such a goal.
With some certainty, I can say that the 2020 draft is deeper at right wing than any other position — maybe the deepest group of prospects at the RW position in decades. It would not shock me if one-third of the first round were players on this list.
For Devils fans, this is good news. The organization is in need of goal-scorers on the wing to gift-wrap for Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. With the possibility of three picks in the top 20, new Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald will have ample opportunity to achieve such a goal.
- Alexander Holtz, Djurgarden SHL simply put, the best shooter in the draft. Holtz can lock and load like no tomorrow, and has the rare ability to wire a puck past a set goaltender from anywhere in the offensive zone. Due to this, some of Holtz’s other skills have been overlooked — he’s a very good skater, passer and all-around player whose puck handling abilities in traffic can also be called elite. All of that is great, but his 40+ goal-scoring upside is the main reason he’ll likely be gone in the first 7 picks of the 2020 draft.
- Jack Quinn, Ottawa OHL another absolute sniper, Quinn ripped home 52 goals in just 62 games to lead the entire CHL in his draft-eligible season. Though Ottawa was a stacked team, Quinn skated most of minutes on the second line and still achieved such an extraordinary feat. A late bloomer, he Quinn shot up from 5’9 to 6’1 in two years, and his skating needed awhile to catch up with his growth spurt. This leads one to believe that he has another notch in his development curve, despite being one of the older players in the 2020 class. It’s almost an afterthought to mention his terrific vision and elite two-way game.
- Dawson Mercer, Chicoutimi QMJHL an elite combination of stick handling and hockey IQ puts this kid right outside of the top 10, but his fierce competitive drive and tremendous all-around game give him a very high floor even if he never reaches his stratospheric ceiling. Mercer’s average skating speed is all which keeps him out of the top two, although his edge work and balance are both impressive.
- Seth Jarvis, Portland WHL quite simply, we have a dynamic offensive player. It is a testament to the 2020 draft class that a talent who scored 98 points in 58 games in his draft year might end up just outside the top 20 overall. Jarvis is a very good skater and shooter, but his selling points are just ridiculous hands and vision. In the open ice, he’s the best player on this list, though he must work on a propensity to be neutralized a bit by tight checking.
- Jacob Perreault, Sarnia OHL I’m going to say flat out that he is the most gifted player on this list. He’s one of the top five skaters and shooters in the entire draft class, and combines that with terrific puck-handling and near-elite vision. His tool-box is so stacked that he is certain to hear his name called in the first round, despite being the hands-down winner of this year’s Arthur Kaliyev Award for “guy who should dominate every shift and play defense every once in awhile but, for whatever reason, doesn’t”.
- Noel Gunler, Lulea SHL the runner-up to Perreault, and he almost is required to be ranked right after him. Gunler is an incredible athletic specimen who can boast an even better shot than Perreault, though Perreault is far superior in terms of skating and creative vision. Gunler’s criticisms are also similar to Perreault’s, and he has been left off many of Sweden’s national teams — rumored to be the result of attitude issues. Gunler is the very definition of high-risk, high-reward.
- Sam Colangelo, Chicago USHL it’s tough to understand why he has not garnered more attention. Colangelo is 6’2-205, skates very well, can blast the puck and likes to play physical. He is a prototypical NHL power winger whose development curve stands to really skyrocket with a couple seasons at Northeastern University.
- Martin Chromiak, Kingston OHL the most underrated player on this list, Chromiak’s combination of sniping, skating and playmaking are downright phenomenal. Chromiak moved in mid-season from the Slovakian league to the OHL and did not miss a beat, pounding home 33 points in his first 28 games in North America. A 100-point threat next year in the CHL, I feel Chromiak will make many of us look silly for ranking him too low.
- Tyson Foerster, Barrie OHL how good is this crop of RWs? Well, so good that a 6’1-195 well-rounded power winger with a physical edge, high-IQ and elite shot finds himself barely inside the top 10. He’ll go from the late first round to the early second, and if he improves his skating a few notches he’ll be an absurd bargain at those positions.
- Tyler Tullio, Oshawa OHL I call this kid “havoc”. He’s one of the best forecheckers you’ll find, and his compete level is off-the-charts. Mixed with great anticipation, Tullio just always seems to be on the puck. Once he’s got it? The kid ranks as plus across the board in terms of skating, shooting, passing and puckhandling. Just a player, through and through.
- Ozzy Wiesblatt, Prince Albert WHL are we out of the first round yet? Perhaps not — Wiesblatt is another kid who is good enough to go in the top 31. Ozzy’s main selling points are an elite combination of skating and playmaking, but he’s also a tenacious defensive player and tireless worker. His hell-bent-for-leather style will make him a quick fan favorite with any team which drafts him.
- Luke Evangelista, London OHL if you’re thinking this is an amazing year for OHL right-wingers, you’re correct. Like Wiesblatt just ahead of him, Evangelista’s calling card is a sweet combo of skating/playmaking/tenacity. He’s been a bit overlooked on many draft boards which I found weird, because London prospects are normally overhyped.
- JL Foudy, Windsor OHL alongside Perreault, the best skater on this list. Foudy can absolutely fly. If he gets a millimeter of separation, he’s by you. Also a terrific passer, Foudy is still a raw all-around product. If he can fix a weak shot and improve his decision making, his two elite qualities will make him an extremely effective NHL second-liner.
- Ryder Rolston, Waterloo USHL well, I’ve already written up Mason Langenbrunner, so I guess it was Rolston’s turn. Let’s start with his two elite talents — Rolston has speed to burn (like his dad), and plays an extremely smart and responsible two-way game (like his dad). Rolston might lack his father’s terrific shooting and stickhandling, but he’s a prototypical north-south stud with a very high floor.
- (tie) Alex Laferriere, Des Moines USHL/Connor McClennon, Winnipeg WHL/Kasper Simontaival, Tappara FIN Jr. the RW list is so good I just felt the need to include all three of these kids. Laferriere is a New Jersey product who can absolutely snipe it but needs a ton of development. Simontaival’s shot is downright disgusting, top five in this class, but needs to improve his game around it or he risks being the next Reid Boucher. McClennon is the tiny offensive wizard who, if he was 6’0, would be a top 15 pick. I had to include him here though, because the kid’s a dynamo and just so much fun to watch.
