Prospect Info: 2020 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[King'sPawn]

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is the first main tournament for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft class, and it was just completed (though some participated in the World Junior Summer Showcase).

We expect more struggles for the Kings, so I figured to make the hype thread for discussion.

Will post some names shortly. Anyone watch or follow the tournament? Russia beat Canada for Gold, even though Canada outshot them 37-13. Russian Goalie Yaroslav Askarov, much like he did against Team USA in the U-18 tournament a few months ago, was a major hero, which inspired me to create the thread. Here's his resume the past 12 months:

• 2018-2019
  • Hlinka Memorial Bronze Medal
  • U17 WHC All-Star Team
  • U17 WHC Best GAA (1.40)
  • U17 WHC Best SVS% (.948)
  • U17 WHC Gold Medal
  • U18 WJC All-Star Team
  • U18 WJC Best Goaltender
  • U18 WJC Silver Medal
• 2019-2020
  • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal

Click to read more...

 

[KopitarFAN]

In no particular order after the Top 3.

Alex Lafreniere
Quinton Byfield
Lucas Raymond
Anton Lundell
Justin Barron (D) RS
Cole Perfetti
Jamie Drysdale (D) RS
Noel Gunler

 

[LAKings88]

Nice top ten or so in this draft. I’m honestly scared LA will black hole it this year.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Nice top ten or so in this draft. I’m honestly scared LA will black hole it this year.

Didn't the results from the draft lottery teach us how much that doesn't matter now?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Didn't the results from the draft lottery teach us how much that doesn't matter now?

Yep.

It 'feels' better to blackhole than to finish where we did, as the odds of moving up are a nice bonus, where the odds of moving down and borking the draft are too great.

Do what you can to be good and maybe you'll be rewarded like f***ing Chicago.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Yep.

It 'feels' better to blackhole than to finish where we did, as the odds of moving up are a nice bonus, where the odds of moving down and borking the draft are too great.

Do what you can to be good and maybe you'll be rewarded like ****ing Chicago.

Not sure I agree, would rather be assured of only falling so far (in last years case 5th), as opposed to being 12th and hoping against hope to strike it rich.

 

[King'sPawn]

Didn't the results from the draft lottery teach us how much that doesn't matter now?

If anything hopefully it stops people from complaining about "screwing up the tank" if the team wins a game late in the season to push them from 31st to 30th.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Not sure I agree, would rather be assured of only falling so far (in last years case 5th), as opposed to being 12th and hoping against hope to strike it rich.

Dunno. It's my main beef with the lottery. It feels terrible to finish last (2nd to, but you know) AND lose out on Hughes/Kakko as opposed to at least having hope of making the playoffs AND a potential bonus pick.

Sure, you rebuild with generational superstars and whatnot, but that guarantee is off the table now.

Can you imagine ending up with Noah Hanifin/Pavel Zacha instead of Connor McDavid as your reward for last season, only to have a rival scoop McDavid?

 

[KopitarFAN]

Dunno. It's my main beef with the lottery. It feels terrible to finish last (2nd to, but you know) AND lose out on Hughes/Kakko as opposed to at least having hope of making the playoffs AND a potential bonus pick.

Sure, you rebuild with generational superstars and whatnot, but that guarantee is off the table now.

Can you imagine ending up with Noah Hanifin/Pavel Zacha instead of Connor McDavid as your reward for last season, only to have a rival scoop McDavid?

I'd rather have zero chance of making the playoffs (with the current roster), it would be a very different story if they had been able to move some of these bodies and create room for youth.

The fear with certain people in this front office is if they finish 9th or 10th in the west they might think these old guys can win and abandon ship.

 

[kingsboy11]

I think I like this top 10 more than I did this years top 10. I think there are some real game changers here. I definitely think this team will be better this year, but I still think they're a bottom 10 team. I think I'd prefer one of the wingers like Raymond, Holtz, Gunler or hopefully Lefreniere if we get lucky, but I could definitely see us going after one of the defensemen as well.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'd rather have zero chance of making the playoffs (with the current roster), it would be a very different story if they had been able to move some of these bodies and create room for youth.

The fear with certain people in this front office is if they finish 9th or 10th in the west they might think these old guys can win and abandon ship.

That makes sense. I'm just trying to separate my feelings about the lottery from my feelings on this specific ownership/management's views of the team.

You shouldn't feel punished for finishing 2nd to last. I have no problem with 'rewarding' Chicago in this case, but I hate that it comes at our expense, as we're a team that needs it and have really only finished that low a couple of times as opposed to Edmonton repeatedly getting fed #1s for example. Like I said above, we're lucky it still resulted in Turcotte, as he actually has the potential to be the best in the draft imo, the dropoff between Kakko/Hughes and Alex isn't terrible, but imagine if we lost McDavid and got Zacha. That's crippling and counterintuitive.

 

[LAKings88]

Honestly I’ll be happy with a lotto pick. Making the playoffs and a first round exit not so much.

 

[KINGS17]

Didn't the results from the draft lottery teach us how much that doesn't matter now?

Nope, the odds are the odds and the numbers don't lie.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Didn't the results from the draft lottery teach us how much that doesn't matter now?

It was kind of worth it seeing Robitaille’s face moments before the draft lottery reveal.

 

[Rorschach]

Do you guys have a favorite non-Lafreniere pick in the top ten?

 

[ru4reals]

Just my opinion 2020 to me looks deeper then 2019. I think if we don't get the number one overall Byfield and or Raymond is going to be better then any of the top 5 not Hughes and Kakko.

 

[ru4reals]

Do you guys have a favorite non-Lafreniere pick in the top ten?

Quinton Byfield is the kid I'd love to get. Big kid who can skate and has some skill.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Another top 5 pick!

 

[KopitarFAN]

Quinton Byfield is the kid I'd love to get. Big kid who can skate and has some skill.

Same. Profiles as a #1 center with size and all, he's on the younger side of this class as well.

 

[King'sPawn]

Do you guys have a favorite non-Lafreniere pick in the top ten?

Byfield is one who I am keeping an eye on. 6'5, one of the best skaters of the draft (actually one of the best I've seen at this age, period). Rookie of the year in the OHL last year. However, he didn't have the most productive Hlinka Gretzky tournament, so people will be watching him closely on Sudbury this year.

While I am very averse to picking a goalie in the first round, Yaroslav Askarov is one I may make an exception for and may consider picking him in the top ten depending how the rest of the season goes. The way he stole big games from USA and Canada in two different tournaments is definitely getting attention.

Lucas Raymond from Sweden is moving up on the charts, too. He was already high on people's radar before he scored a hat trick and game winning goal for Sweden in the U-18 for Sweden (against aforementioned Askarov) while being a 2002 birthdate in a 2001 tourney.

Currently the top 10 by Hockey Prospect (listed in their Black Book) are:
1 - Alexis Lafreniere
2 - Lucas Raymond
3 - Quinton Byfield
4 - Anton Lundell
5 - Cole Perfetti
6 - Alexander Holtz
7 - Noel Gunler
8 - Dylan Holloway
9 - Marco Rossi
10 - Yaroslav Askarov

 

[Fat Elvis]

If LA can get another top 5 pick the future sure would seem to be much brighter. It already looks pretty good, but if they can have another good draft I think most of us would be optimistic going forward.

I do hope they don't suck as bad this season. Last season was a tough watch, mostly because of the vets. Less suck by the vets and more improved play by the young guys is what I hope for this season.

 

[KopitarFAN]

https://thehockeywriters.com/2020-nhl-draft-rankings-preseason-top-124/

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If LA can get another top 5 pick the future sure would seem to be much brighter. It already looks pretty good, but if they can have another good draft I think most of us would be optimistic going forward.

I do hope they don't suck as bad this season. Last season was a tough watch, mostly because of the vets. Less suck by the vets and more improved play by the young guys is what I hope for this season.

Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to blackhole and win the lottery like Chicago did last year. Otherwise, it's 'pick one.'

 

[Lt Dan]

Do you guys have a favorite non-Lafreniere pick in the top ten?

Cole Perfetti . I am picking him for nick name potential

 

[Rorschach]

Cole Perfetti . I am picking him for nick name potential

I guess I’m looking at Byfield and Drysdale for boring hockey reasons...if we have a season as bad as last years, then the former...if we have a better season, then the latter.