SEPH's 2020 Spring List

[S E P H]

Not sure what to think of it because of how all junior leagues have officially and unofficially stopped playing including playoffs. I think USHL might be the only league thus far who haven't cancelled the postseason, but I might've missed that as well. Because of covid impact, I have a lot of lads who are bunched together and honestly from 26th to around 50th or so could be interchangeable until more video becomes available. Enjoy.

NHL 2020 Spring List
(##) = Denotes Winter Ranking

1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW (CAN) Rimouski Oceanic, LHJMQ (1)
2. Marco Rossi, C (AUT) Ottawa 67’s, OHL (5)
3. Tim Stuetzle, C/W (GER) Alder Mannheim, DEL (3)
4. Quinton Byfield, C (CAN) Sudbury Wolves, OHL (2)
5. Cole Perfetti, C (CAN) Saginaw Spirit, OHL (7)
6. Lucas Raymond, RW (SWE) Frolunda HC, SHL (4)
7. Connor Zary, C (CAN) Kamloops Blazers, WHL (13)
8. Alexander Holtz, RW (SWE) Djurgardens IF, SHL (8)
9. Dawson Mercer, RW (CAN) Chicoutimi Saguenéens, LHJMQ (10)
10. Jamie Drysdale, D (CAN) Erie Otters, OHL (18)
11. Anton Lundell, C/LW (FIN) HIFK, Liiga (11)
12. Jack Quinn, RW (CAN) Ottawa 67’s, OHL (30)
13. Yaroslav Askarov, G (RUS) SKA St. Petersburg, VHL (9)
14. Noel Gunler, RW (SWE) Lulea HF, SHL (6)
15. Rodion Amirov, LW (RUS) Salavat Yulaev Ufa, KHL (14)
16. Yevgeni Oksentyuk, LW (BLR) Flint Firebirds, OHL (HM)
17. John-Jason Peterka, C (GER) EHC Munchen, DEL (19)
18. Jacob Perreault, C (CAN) Sarnia Sting, OHL (20)
19. Jake Sanderson, D (USA) USNTDP, USHL (44)
20. Jan Mysak, LW (CZE) Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL (15)
21. Braden Schneider, D (CAN) Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (16)
22. Brendan Brisson, C (USA) Chicago Steel, USHL (32)
23. Luke Evangelista, RW (CAN) London Knights, OHL (NR)
24. Zion Nybeck, RW (SWE) HV71, SuperElit (27)
25. Dylan Holloway, LW (CAN) Wisconsin University Badgers, NCAA (12)
26. Tyson Foerster, C (CAN) Barrie Colts, OHL (41)
27. Marat Khusnutdinov, C (RUS) SKA 1946 St. Petersburg, MHL (48)
28. Mavrik Bourque, C (CAN) Shawinigan Cataracters, LHJMQ (24)
29. Thomas Bordeleau, C (USA) USNTDP, USHL (21)
30. Lukas Reichel, LW (GER) Eisbaren Berlin, DEL (41)
31. Kasper Simontaival, LW (FIN) Tappara U20, SM-Liiga (31)

32. Jeremie Poirier, D (CAN) Saint John Sea Dogs, LHJMQ (43)
33. Ty Smilanic, C (USA) USNTDP, USHL (34)
34. Emil Andrae, D (SWE) HV71, SuperElit (25)
35. Hendrix Lapierre, C (CAN) Chicoutimi Sagueneens, LHJMQ (17)
36. Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW (CAN) Prince Albert Raiders, WHL (45)
37. Theodor Niederbach, C (SWE) Frolunda HC, SuperElit (52)
38. Isaak Phillips, D (CAN) Sudbury Wolves, OHL (NR)
39. Roby Jarventie, LW (FIN) Koovee, Mestis (NR)
40. William Wallinder, D (SWE) MODO Hockey, SuperElit (54)
41. Sam Colangelo, RW (USA) Chicago Steel, USHL (46)
42. Carter Savoie, LW (CAN) Sherwood Park Crusaders, AJHL (26)
43. Ryan O’Rourke, D (CAN) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL (55)
44. Eemil Viro, D (FIN) TPS, Liiga (HM)
45. Jake Neighbours, LW (CAN) Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL (29)
46. Brett Berard, F (USA) USNTDP, USHL (NR)
47. Lukas Cormier, D (CAN) Charlottetown Islanders, LHJMQ (NR)
48. Connor McClennon, RW (CAN) Winnipeg Ice, WHL (NR)
49. Ridly Greig, LW (CAN) Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (NR)
50. Roni Hirvonen, C (FIN) Assat, Liiga (35)
51. Jean-Luc Foudy, C (CAN) Windsor Spitfires, OHL (23)
52. Sean Farrell, LW (USA) Chicago Steel, USHL (NR)
53. Justin Sourdif, RW (CAN) Vancouver Giants, WHL (42)
54. Maxim Groshev, RW (RUS) Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, KHL (NR)
55. Antonio Stranges, C/LW (USA) London Knights, OHL (36)
56. Helge Grans, D (SWE) Malmo Redhawks, SuperElit (39)
57. Tyler Tullio, C (CAN) Oshawa Generals, OHL (HM)
58. Seth Jarvis, RW (CAN) Portland Winterhawks, WHL (53)
59. Jaromir Pytlik, C (CZE) Sault Ste. Marie Grehounds, OHL (22)
60. Justin Barron, D (CAN) Halifax Mooseheads, LHJMQ (33)
61. Yan Kuznetsov, D (RUS) Connecticut University Huskies, NCAA (28)
62. Kaiden Guhle, D (CAN) Prince Albert Raiders, WHL (47)

Honourable Mention
63. Xavier Simoneau, C (CAN) Drummondville Voltigeurs, LHJMQ (37)
64. Ruben Rafkin, D (FIN) Windsor Spitfires, OHL (59)
65. Luke Tuch, LW (USA) USNTDP, USHL (49)
66. Daniil Gushchin, RW (RUS) Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL (55)
67. Thimo Nickl, D (AUT) Drummondville Volitgeurs, LHJMQ (58)
68. Drew Commesso, G (USA) USNTDP, USHL (HM)
69. Juuso Maenpaa, C (FIN) Jokerit U20, SM-Liiga (NR)
70. Vasili Ponomaryov, C (RUS) Shawinigan Cataractes, LHJMQ (38)
71. Rory Kerins, C (CAN) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL (NR)
72. Samuel Knazko, D (SVK) TPS U20, SM-Liiga (50)
73. Cross Hanas, LW (USA) Portland Winterhawks, WHL (NR)

Click to read more...

 

[Kevin Musto]

I'm curious why you have Isaak Phillips so high. Not a name I see floating around on many lists.

 

[Outofbodyinhungary]

Jarvis at 58?!!?? That’s blasphemy

No Chromiak? Aka the highest PPG amongst rookie OHL players, higher than Mysak and years above stranges. Oh yeah and he’s one of the youngest players in the draft.

Peterka at 17 ?!?? He’s looked invisible in the DEL for most of the year and had a few good WJC games and now he’s nearly a top 15 pick?

 

[m0pe]

Interesting...would love to hear more about a 5'8 overager in Oksentyuk being 16th.

 

[Peasy]

What has Rossi done from winter till now to move from 5 to 2?

 

[Wooren]

Jarvis at 58?!!?? That’s blasphemy

No Chromiak? Aka the highest PPG amongst rookie OHL players, higher than Mysak and years above stranges. Oh yeah and he’s one of the youngest players in the draft.

Peterka at 17 ?!?? He’s looked invisible in the DEL for most of the year and had a few good WJC games and now he’s nearly a top 15 pick?

Points aren't everything.

 

[57special]

One Dman in the top 18, and 3 in the entire 1st round? Drysdale at 10th, and Guhle at 62nd?

Do you just not think that Dmen are important?

 

[Dominance]

Any list that isn’t caving to the “Sanderson top-10” fad looks good to me at this point.

 

[Outofbodyinhungary]

Points aren't everything.

Ehh they are indicative of good play a

 

[nbwingsfan]

This is ..... interesting. Points for being different I suppose

 

[57special]

He's barely caving into the "Drysdale top 10" fad.

 

[57special]

He's barely caving into the "Drysdale top 10" fad.

 

[McGilliScout]

I have to ask, what is the thinking behind the monstrous difference between Zary and Jarvis in your rankings considering their performances this season?

I do understand those who like Zary more than Jarvis. I can't say I understand the thought of putting 50 or so spots between them.

 

[S E P H]

I'm curious why you have Isaak Phillips so high. Not a name I see floating around on many lists.

Big fan of Phillips, one of my biggest darkhorses for this draft and I almost had him as a 1st rounder I like him so much. I made his thread on this site and I post more info about him there, but big frame player with good amount of raw ability and insane skater for his size. Question marks concern how raw he is considering that he's one of the oldest players for this draft and no doubt I could be wrong about him in the future. Nonetheless, I have too big of a crush on him currently where I have a lot of faith in his ability.

 

[S E P H]

Jarvis at 58?!!?? That’s blasphemy

No Chromiak? Aka the highest PPG amongst rookie OHL players, higher than Mysak and years above stranges. Oh yeah and he’s one of the youngest players in the draft.

Peterka at 17 ?!?? He’s looked invisible in the DEL for most of the year and had a few good WJC games and now he’s nearly a top 15 pick?

- Not at all, Jarvis stat line more impressive than the actual player. He's one of those good at every, great at nothing and you can get away with that as a defender, but not as a forward. If you want to be one of those good at everything as a forward, you better hope that your skill set is as high as Bergeron's because if not you'll be lost in the wind when you get to higher levels - which is what happened with Conner Bleackley and many others. Plays more of a junior game and will go a lot higher than I would prefer him to go; because of that I have high lower than majority.

- Haven't watched him since he's moved to the OHL yet.

- Peterka is fantastic, you gotta understand the situations. Seider was very average akin to Peterka as he played way, way, way above his age group in the DEL. However, once he played against his age, he was as dominant of a force as someone could've been such as his play was in the WJC U20 - 1A. I am a believer of JJP goal-scoring ability and has shown proper anticipation in the DEL displaying that he has a good head on his shoulders. Getting like 7 minutes a game is hard to judge, but you can see a lot of detail in those seven minutes. I argue that he has had a similarity to Vladimir Tarasenko during each players draft years'. Peterka obviously won't be as good, but I see them facing the same tough situation playing way above their age group. I also see the same strength and weaknesses between each player as well, that's why I am more of a believer than others such as yourself.

Interesting...would love to hear more about a 5'8 overager in Oksentyuk being 16th.

Fantastic player; crafty and elusive with a very high level of hockey IQ which is one of my core foundations in scouting. Should've been picked last year and I suggest would have been a top 90 player if he was in a more prominent and more viewed junior league. Don't take his numbers lightly, he posted fantastic stats in a year where the OHL will have one of its best draft years to date. It's not like he was doing this is on an amazing team in a weak league. Has a lot of positive Gaudreau characteristics in his game.

What has Rossi done from winter till now to move from 5 to 2?

I was just able to view more of his tape from winter, he kept the same ability since then so I agree it might seem weird. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Rossi is the second best player in this draft. He's not as dynamic in terms of individual skillset as Lafreniere is, but he possesses the highest level of pure hockey IQ in this draft. In terms of creating plays and vision, he could be on the level of Datsyuk.

 

[S E P H]

One Dman in the top 18, and 3 in the entire 1st round? Drysdale at 10th, and Guhle at 62nd?

Do you just not think that Dmen are important?

He's barely caving into the "Drysdale top 10" fad.

Defenders are extremely important, I just don't buy a lot of the hype concerning them in 2020. I think it's a really weak year where someone who could realistically become Derek Engelland 2.0 will be drafted in the top 15 with Guhle. Not only that, but I think a lot of lists are pushing defencemen in their lists for the sake of having defenders in there - it is a forward draft through and throughout. I even argue that Drysdale - who is a fantastic defender - doesn't possess any top-end dynamic ability compared to other defenders taken in the past two drafts. He's as consistent as you can possibly come by and will go in the top 6, but a bit high concerning there are limitations in his game.

Ehh they are indicative of good play a

Definitely do not agree, I suggest in juniors that it has more to do with being in a good environment. The disparity levels between teams in the juniors is quite large and contrasting. Look at the NAHL as one example - before the season was cancelled due to covid - one division had the best team and the worst team. Even the WHL had one division where one team had 42 wins and one team had 10 wins and you can find that in whatever league you look for. Points are quite the smokescreen where players were drafted due to playing with superior teammates, other points exacerbated their talent level due to the man-advantage, and situations like this.

That's why the eye test along with analytics are needed to make sure that the points someone is getting is legitimate. Lucas Johansen is probably the best example of someone off the top of my head who got insane amount of points because he played on a deadly powerplay in juniors, which he won't be close to touching in the pros. Likewise with Jarvis, he got like 98 points in juniors yet there is no way anybody would take him over Raymond.

I have to ask, what is the thinking behind the monstrous difference between Zary and Jarvis in your rankings considering their performances this season?

I do understand those who like Zary more than Jarvis. I can't say I understand the thought of putting 50 or so spots between them.

To start off, one is a centre and the other is a winger. One is more of a catalyst with the puck, while the other one is more of a finisher. Not that I consider any of these bad, but as I posted above concerning Jarvis, he's one of those good at every great at nothing and these players have disappointed me many times in the past. Zary has more dynamic ability and more central strengths such as his catalytic ability, puck-carrying ability, and superb hockey intelligence. Whereas Jarvis is more of a threat when he doesn't have the puck or relies on powerplay points. He's not very good when he carries the puck because he has below-average frame, physicality, and skating ability.

 

[57special]

"Drysdale doesn't have any top end dynamic ability"? Wow. You and I sure see things differently. His skating alone is obviously dynamic, to me. He can skate rings around most of those you have listed above him.

Tell you what. Go back through all the drafts that ever existed, and find me one that has only 3 Dmen in it, and only one in the top 18. Back when there were 12 teams....maybe. Are you saying that this is the weakest Dman draft in the history of the NHL?

 

[S E P H]

"Drysdale doesn't have any top end dynamic ability"? Wow. You and I sure see things differently. His skating alone is obviously dynamic, to me. He can skate rings around most of those you have listed above him.

Tell you what. Go back through all the drafts that ever existed, and find me one that has only 3 Dmen in it, and only one in the top 18. Back when there were 12 teams....maybe. Are you saying that this is the weakest Dman draft in the history of the NHL?

Ehhhhh, I am not sure you're getting the point of my list. My list is based off who I see as the best players, not a list where I see them going. Just because my list has only three defenders in the 1st, Rossi over Byfield, Jarvis, and Guhle as late second rounders doesn't mean that the draft will TAKE place that WAY. Drysdale will be drafted in the top 6, Byfield will be taken 2nd or 3rd with Stuetzle being the other, Jarvis will be a late 1st rounder, and Guhle will also be selected in the first round. Those are all extremely likely scenarios, that I do not personally agree with. I still believe this is a pretty dang weak year for defenders.

And concerning Drysdale, if I was going to say something about him I would say that his dynamic ability or central strength to his game is consistency. He does everything so well consistently that he's considered a top 10 prospect (which is better than 99.9% of the rest of the hockey world). However, I see him more in the realms of a #2-3 defender though I am more on the cautious side. I don't see top calibre offensive of him in the future compared to Byram as one example (who I consider overrated). Additionally, Drysdale skating ability is more in the smooth category than the dynamic one. Dynamic is players like Makar (straight speed) or Q. Hughes (agility, side-to-side) for me, I suggest that Drysdale is closer to Theodore or Krug in skating ability, which is still really good.

 

[57special]

Well, I'll leave alone the Dman talk for now, except to say this. Bobby Orr looked smooth-didn't even look fast. He just passed everyone else on the ice. Effortless skating technique is a plus, IMO.

See that you have Holloway about the lowest that I've seen him, below players like Mysak(who might be a good one). I got to watch him a fair bit, and I can't really complain his low rating, but i will say that the whole WI team(including Caufield) was kind of dysfunctional, though talented. I always have time for a draft eligible player who takes a regular shift in the NCAA, but Holloway wassn't bad, but wasn't good, even though you can see he had all the tools. I don't know whether to blame the coach/team for his failure to stick out, or if he is missing something between the ears.

One of those players who you wish you could see more of. Right now, I think you having him as a mid 20's pick makes the most sense. Earlier in the year a lot of rankers had him in the early teens. That's pretty high in a strong year for forwards.

 

[DontEverTouchMyPuck]

Interesting...would love to hear more about a 5'8 overager in Oksentyuk being 16th.

I watched him about 6 times this year. Shocked he wasn't drafted. Kid's good. Someone is drafting him this year. That Flint team had a rough go and he was a star. Strong player, efficient positioning, played all situations.

 

[S E P H]

Well, I'll leave alone the Dman talk for now, except to say this. Bobby Orr looked smooth-didn't even look fast. He just passed everyone else on the ice. Effortless skating technique is a plus, IMO.

I don't think you can say the game in the 1970s is the same as today. I am not implying that Drysdale is a bad skater, I don't think the comparisons of Theodore or Krug are bad skaters in their own right. However, I am arguing that I don't see his skating ability as neither super amazing or best part of his game that's all.

See that you have Holloway about the lowest that I've seen him, below players like Mysak(who might be a good one). I got to watch him a fair bit, and I can't really complain his low rating, but i will say that the whole WI team(including Caufield) was kind of dysfunctional, though talented. I always have time for a draft eligible player who takes a regular shift in the NCAA, but Holloway wassn't bad, but wasn't good, even though you can see he had all the tools. I don't know whether to blame the coach/team for his failure to stick out, or if he is missing something between the ears.

One of those players who you wish you could see more of. Right now, I think you having him as a mid 20's pick makes the most sense. Earlier in the year a lot of rankers had him in the early teens. That's pretty high in a strong year for forwards.

I'm actually a big Holloway fan, he had a superb U18 as a pre-draft eligible player and his play has a lot to do with who he's playing against than him as a prospect. He dropped in my lists not because he truly had a bad season - I would say he had a very average season -, but because others who had great seasons surpassed him. I agree though that Wisconsin is a troubled organisation and addition of Granato didn't really make a positive difference either.

I do prefer Mysak, I suggest that he has higher offensive output and can be a big difference maker even though Holloway plays more of an NHL/pro style of game. The couple of players I have above him besides the defenders, I have those lads higher as I like their offensive games more and I suggest they will be more consistent at scoring in the pros than Dylan. I think Holloway will still be an important player, but he's more projecting into a tweener where if his offensive game becomes more consistent he can be a legit 2nd liner in terms of Cirelli. If not, he's going to bounce between the second and third lines and that's sort of a tall task for wasting a draft pick on a player like that in the top 15.