It's now been a few days since Jack Hughes was called at No. 1, and the dust of the 2019 NHL draft has started to settle. So there's naturally only one thing left to do: It's time to turn the page to the 2020 draft season.
And it looks like we've got another strong draft class on our hands. While we might not have a Hughes or even a Kaapo Kakko quite yet, the top end of this group is solid, and we should see a first round packed with talent, especially up front. It all starts with an exciting top four.
Here's a way-too-early look at the 20 best prospects in the 2020 NHL draft class.
2019 draft grades
| Every pick in 2019
Meet the next three No. 1 picks
1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski (QMJHL)
A dominant force in the QMJHL this year, Lafreniere has been on the 2020 draft radar for some time. He was the CHL Player of the Year in 2018-19 after putting up 105 points, tied for the most by a U18 player in the QMJHL since Sidney Crosby. Lafreniere isn't at the Hughes level yet, but he's trending up pretty aggressively. Having missed the draft cut-off by only a few weeks and since he's coming off that incredible season, the expectations for Lafreniere are going to be through the roof next season. All the 17-year-old really has to do is meet them, but he still isn't a Hughes-esque lock on the No. 1 spot. That's not a knock on Lafreniere, who is every bit as good as you've heard. It's more about the guys who are next in line.
2. Lucas Raymond, RW, Frolunda (Sweden)
Raymond is probably the biggest threat to Lafreniere at this point. The exceptionally skilled and smart forward has played beyond his years for a while now. His 48 points were the most ever by a U17 player in Sweden's top U20 league. Only four players who appeared in 20 or more games in the SuperElit had more than Raymond's 1.30 points per game, and two of them are the Sedin twins. Raymond (now 17) also appeared in 10 SHL games at 16 years old last season before putting up eight points in seven games at U18 worlds. In the final game of that tournament, Raymond completed a hat trick in overtime to hand Sweden its historic first-ever World U18 gold. He's a special talent.
3. Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury (OHL)
His arrival in Sudbury helped change the fortunes of a downtrodden team, as Byfield led the Wolves in scoring with 61 points. His 6-foot-4, 200-plus-pound frame makes him very difficult to take off the puck. Combine that with his speed, and he's basically a freight train on skates. It's difficult to find power centers who play the game as effectively as Byfield. The 16-year-old has the touch to finish, the vision to make those around him better and the ability to lower his shoulder and get to wherever he needs to be.
4. Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgardens (Sweden)
The other Swedish wunderkind at the top of this draft, Holtz probably has better hand skills than Raymond does. His shot is elite, and he's the only U17 player in SuperElit history to hit the 30-goal mark, which he got on the nose in just 38 games. Daniel Sedin was the next closest, having scored 26 goals in 26 games at that level more than two decades ago. But the 17-year-old still needs to find more maturity in his game in order to maximize his immense skill. Expect him and Raymond to be compared and contrasted all year, but also watch them when they're on the ice together with Team Sweden, because the other team isn't going to have the puck very much.
5. Anton Lundell, C, HIFK (Finland)
Hockey sense and compete level are two of the things that stand out to me every time I see Lundell play. He has the skills to finish and the ability to make some plays. He missed this year's draft by only a few weeks but will enter next season with almost a full year in the professional ranks, plus a boatload of international experience. Lundell has gold medals at the World U18 in 2018 and the World Juniors in 2019, playing a substantial role each time despite being one of the younger players at 17. His shot is good, and he has the ability to get to the dirty areas while also taking care of his own zone. The maturity and poise he plays with show how much the pro game has rubbed off on him this season.
6. Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA-Varayagi (MHL)
So remember all that buzz about Spencer Knight this year? Get ready for something similar with Askarov. The best Russian goalie prospect, or probably pre-draft goalie prospect of any nationality since Andrei Vasilevskiy, Askarov has to be seen to be believed. He spent all of this season with the Russian U18 team despite being a year younger than most of the rest of his teammates (he just turned 17). He has the 6-foot-3 size teams covet and manages to play explosively between the posts. He makes the easy saves but can flash the leather when needed. The biggest thing you'll notice about him is how poised he is in the crease. I watched him stare down five first-round draft picks from Team USA, and he barely had to move as Russia beat that team in a shootout to reach the U18 final. There's something special about this kid, and I don't know that I've ever seen a 16-year-old play with that much poise and that much power. At least not since Vasilevskiy.
7. Cole Perfetti, C, Saginaw (OHL)
The numbers jump out at you immediately with this 17-year-old. Perfetti had the best season by a U17 player in the OHL since Connor McDavid. His 74 points also rank 16th on the OHL's all-time scoring list among U17 players. Now, Perfetti was also on a loaded team, often playing with highly skilled and experienced OHL linemates. That helps, but you can't just be a passenger when playing with those guys. He has the vision and the finishing ability to produce. One area that needs improvement at this point, though, is Perfetti's top-end speed. Either way, if you have a season like that, you'll get noticed.
8. Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie (OHL)
A talented puck-moving defenseman, Drysdale put up 40 points in 63 games as an OHL rookie. That makes him the 11th-highest producing U17 defenseman in OHL history. He also got the nod to join Team Canada at the World U18 Championship this year as an underager.
9. Justin Barron, D, Halifax (QMJHL)
A good-sized right-shot defenseman with the ability to make plays all over the ice, Barron is an intriguing talent. He was a key defender for Halifax in a strong season that ended in the QMJHL finals and Memorial Cup. Barron showcased himself well on the big stages, showing poise and fluidity in his game. The 17-year-old was also a standout performer for Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last summer.
10. Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Windsor (OHL)
The 17-year-old younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets first-rounder Liam Foudy, Jean-Luc carries the family trait of unrelenting speed in his game. He's also a gifted playmaker, putting up 41 assists as an OHL rookie in 2018-19.
11. Dylan Holloway, C, Okotoks (AJHL)
Headed to the University of Wisconsin next season, Holloway is going to benefit from being part of the best recruiting class in the country. A hard-driving center who can play with quickness and grit, Holloway had a monster season in the AJHL this year, with 88 points on the way to league MVP honors. Holloway also played a key role for Canada at both the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the U18 World Championship, and for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. Since seeing him at the Hlinka-Gretzky last summer, the 17-year-old has been one of my favorite prospects to watch.
12. Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa (OHL)
The eyes of Austria are already on Rossi, who is the best talent the country has produced since Thomas Vanek. Though undersized at 5-foot-9 and 179 pounds, Rossi has dynamic skill with the ability to beat defenders one-on-one. There's a good chance the 17-year-old moves up this board over the course of the year. After a great rookie campaign with Ottawa, he had 22 points in 17 playoff games as the 67's made it all the way to the OHL Final.
13. Rodion Amirov, RW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
In several viewings this year at international tournaments, Amirov always stood out. He's constantly moving, making plays and competing on pucks. The 17-year-old keeps plays alive with his skill and willingness to compete. Amirov was Russia's offensive driver at the World U18 Championship and ended up being named to the tournament all-star team amid a silver-medal performance. He has a quick release, quick hands overall and the offensive sense to finish.
14. Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Despite missing 17 games this season, Lapierre finished second in scoring for the Sangueneens with 45 points. He was the second-highest scoring U17 player (now 17 years old) in the Q last season and showcased some remarkable playmaking skills.
15. Noel Gunler, C, Lulea (Sweden)
I have a feeling Gunler might end up being the polarizing prospect of next year's draft class. His skill level is high-end, but he was cut from Sweden's U18 World Championship team and didn't necessarily respond to it all that well. I kind of like that, though. He's a competitor. But maturity is a factor. The 17-year-old appeared in 15 SHL games last season and had five points, but really dominated at the U20 level, where he had 27 goals in 31 games.
16. Tim Stutzle, C, Jungadler Mannheim (Germany)
Stutzle played mostly in obscurity last season with Adler Mannheim's junior team. The 17-year-old was expected to come to the U.S. next year to play for the Sioux City Musketeers before attending the University of New Hampshire in 2020-21, but that changed this week when it was announced he had signed with Adler Mannheim in the DEL, the same team that just produced No. 6 overall pick Moritz Seider. Stutzle put up big numbers -- 55 points in 21 games -- in Germany's junior ranks but also shined brightly on the international stage in helping Germany earn promotion to the top level of the U18 World Championship next year. The vision and shot are both high-end.
17. Kasper Simontaival, LW, Tappara (Finland)
A quick player with skill, Simontaival appears to have all the tools to be a really good pass-shot threat as he progresses. The 17-year-old did appear in five Liiga games this season and had some success in Finland's second division on loan. His skill alone is going to give him a shot to move up the charts.
18. Jacob Perreault, C, Sarnia (OHL)
The son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault, Jacob had a spectacular rookie season with the Sting. He scored 30 goals last season, becoming one of only 28 U17 players in OHL history to hit the 30-goal mark. Perreault has some muscle on his frame already and should be a handful with added confidence next season.
19. Antonio Stranges, C/W, London (OHL)
The 2019 draft class was a banner year for Americans, but 2020 may not be. Stranges is our first American ranked here, way down at No. 19. The 17-year-old is one of the more unique skaters I've seen so far in this class, showcasing an ability to deceive defenders with his edge work, opening up the ice and creating extra space to make some plays.
20. Theo Rochette, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
The Swiss forward has a knack for making plays thanks to high-end vision and some solid puck skills. Rochette had 43 points in 59 games as a QMJHL rookie this season. The 17-year-old also stood out in a major way in international competitions for Switzerland, though he is expected to represent Canada this year.
Just missed
Ryan O'Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Tyler Kleven, D, U.S. National Under-17 Team (NTDP)
Ty Smilanic, C, U.S. National Under-17 Team (NTDP)
Daniil Gushchin, RW, Muskegon (USHL)
Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
Blake Biondi, C, Hermantown (High-MN)
Roni Hirvonen, C, Blues U20 (Finland Jr.)
Will Cuylle, C, Windsor (OHL)
Connor Zary, C, Kamloops (WHL)