Prospect Info: Way too early 2020 draft options

[emptyNedder]

quinn went from unranked on pronman's list all the way up to 18.

There seems to be a real improvement for many players in the "18-year-old season." Players like Quinn and Rossi were less than a month too young for 2019 eligibility. Players like Nick Robertson and Tomasino who were within 6 weeks of being eligible for 2020 have also seen significant improvement.
Obviously other players who are in the middle of the draft eligibility age also see impressive jumps. But I wonder if targeting some of the July-Sept. 15 birthdays makes sense. This year that would be Jack Finley, Brett Berard, and Martin Chromiak.

 

[zman77]

Steklov could be a late round gem. Big Body mobile D-Man who engages very well in the Defensive Zone.
At present he's slotted in a very deep London Knight's defensive Core.
6' 4", 181 lbs, Left Shot D-Man,
Russia/Estonia
Mar 3, 2002
Kirill Steklov - Defense - London Knights
Steklov is an extremely raw Import defender who has some pro qualities. He's 6'4. He's mobile. The rest...well it's a work in progress. In all seriousness, Steklov does flash potential to be an impact player, especially in the defensive end. With that reach and his plus mobility, he can be a real asset in denying zone entry, and in preventing net drives. He's hard to get around. And he does a good job of getting his stick in passing lanes, especially near the crease. However, he can get a little jittery, chasing the puck, or puck watching. Being more assertive and using that size to take away space more aggressively would elevate that defensive game further. Additionally, his puck skill needs to develop. Much like Mississauga's Holm, he can get himself tangled up when trying to evade the forecheck, or trying to recover dump ins. And his forward movement with the puck can be a little rigid. Just how much offensive potential he possesses remains to be seen. This is a player that I am very curious to see develop in the second half...if he's given the chance to after London's deadline acquisition of Markus Phillips.
Scouting Report By: Brock Otten
Kirill Steklov at eliteprospects.com

 

[zman77]

Two Over-Agers who play in the OHL who could be 'diamonds in the rough.'
Both are skilled speedsters!
Brett Neumann - Center - Oshawa Generals
Neumann is an undersized, scoring center who is one of the quickest skaters in the OHL. He can flat out fly out there. His skating ability will play at the next level. Neumann is also a terrific goal scorer who seems like a lock to break the 45 goal mark for the second season in a row (on top of competing for the goal scoring title). His shot is a major asset as his release is excellent, especially while in full stride. He scores a lot in transition, be it off breakaways or odd man rushes. He also has a penchant for jumping into the slot quickly. But Neumann can score dirty too. He is a very effective forechecker with his speed and he plays a relatively fearless game, crashing the net and finding those soft spots near the crease. He's not necessarily a creative player. His game is straight forward; up and down. But it works. And I think an NHL team could take a chance on him to see how effective his speed can be at the pro level. This is especially true if he can have a little better playoff performance for the Generals this season. As teams try to take away his space a little more aggressively, can he adjust, or better yet, can he continue to blow by them?

Joseph Garreffa - Left Wing - Ottawa 67's
Speaking of good skaters, look no further than Garreffa. He's certainly quite small (5'7), but because of his elite skating ability, his lack of size does not prevent him from being an impact player in the OHL. His season got a bit of a late start this year due to the fact that Garreffa tried to crack a pro roster, but his point per game average is among the best in the league. Now fully focused on playing forward, Garreffa has found great chemistry with Marco Rossi and Austen Keating on the top line in Ottawa. As mentioned, his skating and puck control are his best assets. He is very elusive because of his ability to use his edges, or stop and start quickly, all while maintaining possession of the puck. He can be dangerous in transition, but also works the half wall well, while cycling with Rossi and Keating. While I do think an NHL contract is not extremely likely, I would be shocked if Garreffa does not earn an AHL/ECHL deal this offseason, where he can prove to NHL scouts that his lack of size will not hinder his ability to produce offensively at the next level.
Scouting Reports By: Brock Otten
OHL Prospects: Sunday Top 10 - Overagers Worth Signing (2020)

 

[GoldiFox]

Alexis Lafreniere enhances No. 1 status in TSN's mid-season NHL draft ranking - TSN.ca

McKenzie's mid-season rankings are out. Defensemen have been creeping up the rankings with 4 now in the top-15. Lot of skilled forward talent around the 15-25 range with Mercer (13), Holloway (15), Lapierre (16), Zary (17), Quinn (19), Peterka (20), Amirov (22), Perreault (23), Jarvis (24), etc.

 

[GoldiFox]

Just to add some color on why this is considered a "deep" draft worth holding onto picks for, here are the tables by CHL league of forward Goals/GP and Points/GP using McKenzie's top-64 rankings (Final 2018-19 vs. the one posted today)

OHL:

Yr	RK	Player	POS	HT	WT	G/GP	P/GP	League
2019-20	7	Marco Rossi	C	5'9	170	0.76	2.19	OHL
2019-20	2	Quinton Byfield	C	6'4 ¼	215	0.81	1.94	OHL
2018-19	21	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	6'2	194	0.76	1.52	OHL
2019-20	19	Jack Quinn	RW	6'0	179	0.86	1.40	OHL
2019-20	40	Tyson Foerster	RW	6'1 ¼	194	0.60	1.30	OHL
2019-20	23	Jacob Perreault	RW	5'11	200	0.65	1.28	OHL
2018-19	20	Ryan Suzuki	C	6'0 ¾	180	0.38	1.15	OHL
2018-19	22	Phillip Tomasino	C	5'11 ¾	183	0.51	1.07	OHL
2019-20	62	Luke Evangelista	RW	5'11 ¼	172	0.42	1.02	OHL
2018-19	42	Nicholas Robertson	LW	5'8 ¾	162	0.50	1.02	OHL
2019-20	49	Jaromir Pytlik	C	6'2¼	201	0.42	0.97	OHL
2018-19	32	Jamieson Rees	C	5'10 ¼	182	0.27	0.86	OHL
2019-20	37	Jean-Luc Foudy	RW	5'11 ½	172	0.30	0.84	OHL
2019-20	56	Antonio Stranges	LW	5'10 ½	172	0.39	0.80	OHL
2019-20	43	Will Cuylle	LW	6'2 ½	204	0.37	0.74	OHL

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

WHL:

Yr	RK	Player	POS	HT	WT	G/GP	P/GP	League
2018-19	34	Brett Leason (OA)	RW	6'4	210	0.65	1.62	WHL
2019-20	24	Seth Jarvis	C	5'9 ½	174	0.63	1.54	WHL
2019-20	17	Connor Zary	C	5'11 ¾	173	0.70	1.48	WHL
2018-19	6	Dylan Cozens	C	6'3 ¼	183	0.50	1.24	WHL
2018-19	36	Brayden Tracey	LW	6'0 ½	170	0.55	1.23	WHL
2018-19	5	Kirby Dach	C/RW	6'4	198	0.40	1.18	WHL
2019-20	35	Ozzy Wiesblatt	RW	5'9 ¾	183	0.40	1.09	WHL
2018-19	10	Peyton Krebs	C	5'11 ½	183	0.30	1.06	WHL
2019-20	38	Jake Neighbours	LW	5'11 ½	197	0.32	1.06	WHL
2019-20	31	Ridly Greig	C	5'11	160	0.43	0.98	WHL
2018-19	38	Nolan Foote	LW	6'3½	195	0.55	0.95	WHL
2019-20	32	Justin Sourdif	C/RW	5'10 ¾	173	0.34	0.78	WHL

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

QMJHL:

Yr	RK	Player	POS	HT	WT	G/GP	P/GP	League
2019-20	1	Alexis Lafreniere	LW	6'1	192	0.62	2.15	QMJHL
2019-20	13	Dawson Mercer	C/RW	6'0	181	0.58	1.52	QMJHL
2019-20	28	Mavrik Bourque	C	5'10	165	0.59	1.34	QMJHL
2018-19	59	Nathan Legare	RW	6'0 ¼	206	0.66	1.28	QMJHL
2019-20	46	Vasili Ponomaryov	C	6'0	180	0.38	0.95	QMJHL
2019-20	16	Hendrix Lapierre	C	5'11 ½	179	0.11	0.89	QMJHL

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Total:

Yr	RK	Player	POS	HT	WT	G/GP	P/GP	League
2019-20	7	Marco Rossi	C	5'9	170	0.76	2.19	OHL
2019-20	1	Alexis Lafreniere	LW	6'1	192	0.62	2.15	QMJHL
2019-20	2	Quinton Byfield	C	6'4 ¼	215	0.81	1.94	OHL
2018-19	34	Brett Leason (OA)	RW	6'4	210	0.65	1.62	WHL
2019-20	24	Seth Jarvis	C	5'9 ½	174	0.63	1.54	WHL
2018-19	21	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	6'2	194	0.76	1.52	OHL
2019-20	13	Dawson Mercer	C/RW	6'0	181	0.58	1.52	QMJHL
2019-20	17	Connor Zary	C	5'11 ¾	173	0.70	1.48	WHL
2019-20	19	Jack Quinn	RW	6'0	179	0.86	1.40	OHL
2019-20	28	Mavrik Bourque	C	5'10	165	0.59	1.34	QMJHL
2019-20	40	Tyson Foerster	RW	6'1 ¼	194	0.60	1.30	OHL
2018-19	59	Nathan Legare	RW	6'0 ¼	206	0.66	1.28	QMJHL
2019-20	23	Jacob Perreault	RW	5'11	200	0.65	1.28	OHL
2018-19	6	Dylan Cozens	C	6'3 ¼	183	0.50	1.24	WHL
2018-19	36	Brayden Tracey	LW	6'0 ½	170	0.55	1.23	WHL
2018-19	5	Kirby Dach	C/RW	6'4	198	0.40	1.18	WHL
2018-19	20	Ryan Suzuki	C	6'0 ¾	180	0.38	1.15	OHL
2019-20	35	Ozzy Wiesblatt	RW	5'9 ¾	183	0.40	1.09	WHL
2018-19	22	Phillip Tomasino	C	5'11 ¾	183	0.51	1.07	OHL
2018-19	10	Peyton Krebs	C	5'11 ½	183	0.30	1.06	WHL
2019-20	38	Jake Neighbours	LW	5'11 ½	197	0.32	1.06	WHL
2019-20	62	Luke Evangelista	RW	5'11 ¼	172	0.42	1.02	OHL
2018-19	42	Nicholas Robertson	LW	5'8 ¾	162	0.50	1.02	OHL
2019-20	31	Ridly Greig	C	5'11	160	0.43	0.98	WHL
2019-20	49	Jaromir Pytlik	C	6'2¼	201	0.42	0.97	OHL
2018-19	38	Nolan Foote	LW	6'3½	195	0.55	0.95	WHL
2019-20	46	Vasili Ponomaryov	C	6'0	180	0.38	0.95	QMJHL
2019-20	16	Hendrix Lapierre	C	5'11 ½	179	0.11	0.89	QMJHL
2018-19	32	Jamieson Rees	C	5'10 ¼	182	0.27	0.86	OHL
2019-20	37	Jean-Luc Foudy	RW	5'11 ½	172	0.30	0.84	OHL
2019-20	56	Antonio Stranges	LW	5'10 ½	172	0.39	0.80	OHL
2019-20	32	Justin Sourdif	C/RW	5'10 ¾	173	0.34	0.78	WHL
2019-20	43	Will Cuylle	LW	6'2 ½	204	0.37	0.74	OHL

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[GoldiFox]

2019-20	24	Seth Jarvis	C	5'9 ½	174	0.63	1.54	WHL
2018-19	21	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	6'2	194	0.76	1.52	OHL
2019-20	13	Dawson Mercer	C/RW	6'0	181	0.58	1.52	QMJHL
2019-20	17	Connor Zary	C	5'11 ¾	173	0.70	1.48	WHL
2019-20	19	Jack Quinn	RW	6'0	179	0.86	1.40	OHL
2019-20	28	Mavrik Bourque	C	5'10	165	0.59	1.34	QMJHL
2019-20	40	Tyson Foerster	RW	6'1 ¼	194	0.60	1.30	OHL
2018-19	59	Nathan Legare	RW	6'0 ¼	206	0.66	1.28	QMJHL
2019-20	23	Jacob Perreault	RW	5'11	200	0.65	1.28	OHL
2018-19	6	Dylan Cozens	C	6'3 ¼	183	0.50	1.24	WHL
2018-19	36	Brayden Tracey	LW	6'0 ½	170	0.55	1.23	WHL
2018-19	5	Kirby Dach	C/RW	6'4	198	0.40	1.18	WHL
2018-19	20	Ryan Suzuki	C	6'0 ¾	180	0.38	1.15	OHL
2019-20	35	Ozzy Wiesblatt	RW	5'9 ¾	183	0.40	1.09	WHL
2018-19	22	Phillip Tomasino	C	5'11 ¾	183	0.51	1.07	OHL
2018-19	10	Peyton Krebs	C	5'11 ½	183	0.30	1.06	WHL

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Just a subset to highlight for a tldr of that wall of stats. Last year Dach and Cozens at ~1.20 points per game were considered top-10 locks. Krebs, Suzuki, and Tomasino were all ranked as mid 1st rounders with ~1.10 points per game. Brayden Tracey (1.23 p/gp) was the small, skilled guy putting up too many points to let fall very far.

Contrast that to this draft where the small, skilled guy putting up too many points to let fall very far is Seth Jarvis with 1.54 p/gp. 25% higher production than Tracey. Contrast the mid-tier (Krebs, Suzuki, Tomasino) to this draft where good all-around talent Quinn, Zary, Borque, and Mercer are all ~30% more productive. It is like that all the way down the 2nd/3rd round. Canes are in a good position for another strong draft.

It's the same story comparing to the 2017-18 draft and 2016-17 draft.

 

[zman77]

CHL Top 31 Prospects for 2020 Draft : The OilKnight 01/28/2020

1-15

RANK	POS	NAME	LEAGUE	HT	WT	Movement (up/down)
1	LW	Alexis Lafreniere	QMJHL	6’1″	192
2	RD	Jamie Drysdale	OHL	5’11”	170
3	C	Quinton Byfield	OHL	6’4″	214
4	C	Marco Rossi	OHL	5’9″	179
5	RW	Dawson Mercer	QMJHL	6’0	179
6	RW	Jacob Perreault	OHL	5’11”	198
7	LW	Cole Perfetti	OHL	5’10”	185
8	C	Jan Mysak	OHL	6’0″	176
9	LW	Vasily Ponomarev	QMJHL	6’0″	176
10	RW	Tyson Foerster	OHL	6’1“	194
11	LD	Kaiden Guhle	WHL	6’3“	187
12	RW	Ty Tullio	OHL	5’9“	161
13	RW	Jack Quinn	OHL	5’11“	176
14	C	Seth Jarvis	WHL	5’10“	172
15	LD	Ryan O’Rourke	OHL	6’2“	181

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[zman77]

CHL Top 31 Prospects for 2020 Draft : The OilKnight 01/28/2020

16-31

16	C	Mavrik Bourque	QMJHL	5’10“	165
17	C	Connor Zary	WHL	6’0“	181
18	LD	Lukas Cormier	QMJHL	5’10“	170
19	RW	Ozzy Wiesblatt	WHL	5’10“	183
20	LW	Antonio Stranges	OHL	5’10“	170
21	C	Jean-Luc Foudy	OHL	5’11“	168
22	RD	Will Villeneuve	QMJHL	6’1“	163
23	LD	Jeremie Poirier	QMJHL	6’0“	192
24	C	Ridly Greig	WHL	5’11“	159
25	LW	Jake Neighbours	WHL	5’11“	201
26	RW	Jaromir Pytlik	OHL	6’3“	196
27	RD	Justin Barron	QMJHL	6’2“	187
28	RD	Braden Schneider	WHL	6’2“	209
29	C	Tristen Robins	WHL	5’10“	174
30	LW	Will Cuylle	OHL	6’2“	201
31	C	Hendrix Lapierre***	QMJHL	6’0″	181

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Other notables: Martin Chromiak, Brandon Coe, James Hardie, Luke Evangelista, Ethan Cardwell, Evan Vierling, Pavel Novak, Justin Sourdif, Connor McClennon, Lukas Svejkovsky, Ryan Francis
CHL Top 31 Prospects for 2020 Draft – TheOilKnight.ca

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Ridly?

 

[My Special Purpose]

I hope Quinn is underrated despite being a goal scoring machine - like Kaliev and DeBrincat. He would be my first choice in the ~15-20 range unless someone like Lundell or Askarov falls.

It's interesting to me that this guy is getting totally ignored lately. I know he's been hurt and missed the WJC, but he's falling a bunch in every ranking. This is a guy who was in the conversation for No. 1 overall this time last year. I've followed him a bunch due to our propensity to take Finns and I never saw "No. 1 pick" talent, but it would still be exciting to have a shot at this guy. I think he could step in as a rookie and be a better player than Jordan Staal.

Here’s a quick video from a couple months ago.

I didn't see Rossi anywhere in those clips.

 

[A Star is Burns]

It's interesting to me that this guy is getting totally ignored lately. I know he's been hurt and missed the WJC, but he's falling a bunch in every ranking. This is a guy who was in the conversation for No. 1 overall this time last year. I've followed him a bunch due to our propensity to take Finns and I never saw "No. 1 pick" talent, but it would still be exciting to have a shot at this guy. I think he could step in as a rookie and be a better player than Jordan Staal.



I didn't see Rossi anywhere in those clips.

I've been thinking the exact same thing. I don't think he's a top 10 guy anymore, but I think he could be right in the wheelhouse of one or both of our picks, and I'd be thrilled with it.

 

[zman77]

Ridly?

lol...............Ridly is a unique first name. Did they forget the 'e.'
He's not a big kid but is scoring @ a 1pt/gm pace for the Brandon Wheat Kings.
His Dad Mark Greig had extensive 17 year Pro Hockey career including around 125 NHL games.
He's been a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers for the past 10 years or so. This a hockey family through and through!
Mark Greig at eliteprospects.com

 

[emptyNedder]

I think he could step in as a rookie and be a better player than Jordan Staal.

Hyperbole I hope. Given face-offs and penalty killing I don't think there is a reasonable argument that Svech was better last season than Staal—pretty equal value-wise, but not a "better player."

 

[GoldiFox]

Jan Mysak is mid/late 1st ranked prospect who came over from the Czech pro league to the OHL after the WJC. With a hat trick in the 1st period of his game today Mysak is up to 7 goals + 2 assist in 7 games. Another high end scorer for Canes to consider.

 

[My Special Purpose]

Hyperbole I hope. Given face-offs and penalty killing I don't think there is a reasonable argument that Svech was better last season than Staal—pretty equal value-wise, but not a "better player."

Not hyperbole. I don't know what you know about Lundell, but he profiles as exactly that. And quickly. If he was a month older, he'd be somebody's No. 3 center right now.

Will Scouch - Scouching.ca - Nov. 19th: "Anton Lundell might not have a massive ceiling, but he could be a fantastic two-way centre who may not get fans out of their seats often, but he could be a person hockey nerds and coaches alike love."

Ryan Kennedy - The Hockey News - Nov. 10th: "Big pivot already has a WJC gold. Lundell can handle playing top competition and possesses excellent hockey sense."

Jokke Nevalainen -Dobber Prospects - Nov. 4th: "He’s a true team player with great effort level on the ice. He is a playmaker who can control the pace of the game but he also owns a dangerous wrist shot. Skating is his one weakness but even that has been getting better."

Tony Ferrari -Wings Nation - Nov. 4th: "Lundell’s shot is electric. He has a quick release and can get it off effortlessly in stride. He has great hands in tight and excels in the cycle game. His defensive play is what bumps him into the upper tiers of this draft class, however."

 

[emptyNedder]

Not hyperbole. I don't know what you know about Lundell, but he profiles as exactly that. And quickly. If he was a month older, he'd be somebody's No. 3 center right now.

I like Lundell and think it would be a gift if he fell to Carolina.

But would you say he is a better prospect than Hughes or Kaako? Because neither of those players is better than Staal the season—nor is Kotkaniemi from the previous draft. As much as Staal frustrates, he is still a solid NHLer. That is true of very few rookies. Again, I like Lundell. The hyperbole is thinking a pick outside the top 5 would be that good next season (or that Staal will be that bad).

 

[My Special Purpose]

I like Lundell and think it would be a gift if he fell to Carolina.

But would you say he is a better prospect than Hughes or Kaako? Because neither of those players is better than Staal the season—nor is Kotkaniemi from the previous draft. As much as Staal frustrates, he is still a solid NHLer. That is true of very few rookies. Again, I like Lundell. The hyperbole is thinking a pick outside the top 5 would be that good next season (or that Staal will be that bad).

I'm not saying he's a better prospect than anybody. I'm saying that he's NHL-ready with a skill set very similar to the current version of Jordan Staal, except with more skill. Comparing Lundell to Hughes, Kaako and Kotkaniemi shows me that you're missing the point. Totally different kinds of players. IMO, Lundell's ceiling is a No. 2 center in the NHL and his floor is a No. 2 center in the NHL. I'm not advocating for him because he's a good prospect. I'd advocating for him because he's really, really good right now. Granted, he probably won't get a lot better, but he's good enough right now to improve just about any team in the NHL.

 

[emptyNedder]

shows me that you're missing the point.

I don't think I am. Very few picks outside the top 3 make a difference in their first year. I agree that Lundell will likely be that good by his second, third, or fourth year.

 

[GoldiFox]

I don't think I am. Very few picks outside the top 3 make a difference in their first year. I agree that Lundell will likely be that good by his second, third, or fourth year.

You miss the point because you are trying to compare a guy who is very developed in his draft year to guys who were high picks because their ceilings are high.

Lundell is more like a Barkov-lite. He's already playing very well in a pro league, among the top in CF% at 18 years old.

 

[SvechneJerk]

Imagine a timeline where we walk away with both Lundell & Quinn.

I can.

 

[zman77]

Luke Evangelista is moving up the 2020 NHL Draft.
He plays Right Wing with Connor McDavid and Liam Foudy.
Evangelista is over 1pt/game while playing very little PP time for the Knights.
Luke Evangelista

Right Wing -- shoots Right
Born Feb 21 2002 -- Oakville, ONT
Height 5.11 -- Weight 165 (180 cm/75 kg)

2019-20

London Knights

OHL

47Gms

20G

31A

51Pts

+10

12Pims

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MinJaBen]

Luke Evangelista is moving up the 2020 NHL Draft.
He plays Right Wing with Connor McDavid and Liam Foudy.
Evangelista is over 1pt/game while playing very little PP time for the Knights.
Luke Evangelista

Right Wing -- shoots Right
Born Feb 21 2002 -- Oakville, ONT
Height 5.11 -- Weight 165 (180 cm/75 kg)

2019-20

London Knights

OHL

47Gms

20G

31A

51Pts

+10

12Pims

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Connor McDavid is playing for the London Knights? I bet he's killing it back in juniors.

 

[zman77]

Connor McDavid is playing for the London Knights? I bet he's killing it back in juniors.

McMichael is having a fantastic season.
He leads the OHL in pts/per game @ 2.24 pts/per game

2018-19

London Knights

OHL

67 Gms

36G

36A

72Pts

+19

15Pims

2019-20

London Knights

OHL

37 Gms

37G

46A

83Pts

+20

27Pims

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[emptyNedder]

But I wonder if targeting some of the July-Sept. 15 birthdays makes sense. This year that would be Jack Finley, Brett Berard, and Martin Chromiak.

Since posting this I have realized that age is a fascinating variable. I haven't done an in-depth analysis of 10 years of draft data or anything remotely similar, but I do think there is sufficient evidence that younger (July 15 Sept 15) players are underrated. Nick Robertson being the prime example. Conversely, some players who have birthdays just after the cutoff (Sept 15-Nov 15) really seem to move up the draft rankings. Jack Quinn and Marco Rossi being examples.

In any event, I have been toying around with a venn diagram model that uses skating/compete level/IQ as the circles then factors in production, size, and age. One of the other HFB regulars has posted rankings based on his software, mine is nowhere as thorough, but I think it does identify some high-value prospects. Using this method has resulted in some changes from earlier.

Several separate posts will follow with my takes on the best prospects likely available when the Canes draft in the 2nd-4th rounds.

 

[emptyNedder]

The skating/compete/IQ scouting is mostly from HockeyProspect.com and a little from the few posters on HFB who seem objective. I will mention which qualities are considered above-average for each prospect.


2nd (NYR pick):
I really like Martin Chromiak here as this pick will be around 40 which is around his rating on most lists. Chromiak (skating and IQ) came to the OHL after half a season against men in Sloviak. He is productive (1.29 ppg) playing with Shane Wright. Given his August birthday, I think he has potential to see a big jump in scoring once he turns 18 next season, like Jack Quinn (who would be a terrific first round pick for the Canes) has this season.

The other options that could be available here are: Ridly Greig (skating, compete, and IQ), Seth Jarvis (skating and IQ) or John-Jason Peterka (skating and compete).

2nd:
Starting to seem some confirmation of my PSF model for defense prospects. Here is what Steve K thinks about Joni Jurmo 2020 Draft: Top Prospects (Finland) - The Draft Analyst Jurmo (skating and compete) is considered one of the quickest skaters available.

Even with my ongoing excitement about Jurmo, he might be my second choice with this pick. I think Brett Berard (IQ, skating, compete) is this draft's Nick Robertson. They both have September birthdays and are 5'9". Berard like Robertson is a non-stop competitor. If anything, Berard has an edge in skating.

Ideally the Canes could get one of Jurmo or Berard in the 2nd and the other with Buffalo's 3rd.

I would argue that unless both these players are gone, there are no equal options with this pick.