The 2020 NHL draft has long been heralded as one with an exciting class with a lot of top-end talent. In the early going of the season, there has been a clearer separation between the top prospects in this class and those who somewhat fall in line, illustrating a more dramatic drop-off after the first four to six picks than we've seen in recent years.
Although there is currently a consensus No. 1 prospect, there is also a bigger group of players chasing that spot than normal. We've seen Jack Hughes and Rasmus Dahlin go wire-to-wire as No. 1 prospects in the past two drafts, but that might not be the case in 2020. This class starts at the top with Alexis Lafreniere, the presumed No. 1 for some time. His early season tear has helped reestablish his presumed dominance over the class, but the continual improvement and development of Quinton Byfield make him the most legitimate challenger right now.
Remember, this is a very, very early list, and there's bound to be a lot of movement between now and our midseason rankings. There's a lot of work to do and a lot left to learn about the class. But at this point in the draft year, here are my top 25 prospects for the 2020 NHL draft, updated from my June edition.
1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 196
An intelligent, aggressive forward who has shown improvement away from the puck, Lafreniere is an absolute highlight machine. He has high-end puck skills but also uses his frame well to create space for himself. The end result has been a mountain of early season points, as he continues to build a body of work that already includes making Team Canada as an under-ager, earning CHL Player of the Year honors in 2018-19 and tallying 185 points in 121 games entering this season.
Although the QMJHL can be an offense-friendly league, Lafreniere is absolutely torching it, to the tune of 2.50 points per game in the early going. If Lafreniere keeps his scoring pace up, it will be one of the more dominant draft seasons in recent memory. Sidney Crosby's final QMJHL season saw the future Hall of Famer produce 2.71 points per game, and Jonathan Drouin is the most recent U19 player to come "close," as he had 2.35 points per game in his draft-plus-one season. Lafreniere has his challengers to the top spot, but given his long history of production and his improvement in other elements of his game, he has a good head start.
2. Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 215
When at his best, Byfield is an unstoppable force capable of putting a team on his back and taking it to the next level. After posting a rookie-of-the-year campaign in the OHL in 2018-19 by leading the Wolves offensively on their march to the playoffs, Byfield has been scoring at a more than two points per game pace in the early going this season, showcasing an unmatched combination of speed and power in the major junior ranks.
The comparisons that Byfield has drawn to Eric Lindros are lofty, but it's hard not to be enamored with his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, especially when he moves as quickly as he does. Byfield also has an excellent shot, allowing him to score from distance, on top of his ability to drive the net for close-range chances. With Lafreniere being a wing and Byfield a center, there is a little debate on positional value and overall impact in regard to that No. 1 spot on the draft board.
3. Alexander Holtz, RW, Djugardens (SHL)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 192
Electric skill combined with quality offensive instincts have allowed Holtz to thrive in Sweden's top pro league, where he has spent a lot of time on the top line for Djugardens. What has struck me most watching Holtz this season is how confident he is making plays, how much he wants the puck and how willing he is to take charge of a shift. He's neither deferential nor a puck hog, striking the necessary balance to be an effective pass-shot threat.
There aren't a ton of weaknesses in his game, though I'd like to see some more explosiveness in his skating to make him an even bigger threat on the rush. But his shot puts him among the elites in this class, and he sees the ice remarkably well. He hasn't had huge swings in his play in the games I've watched, which suggests he'll be able to be consistent throughout the season. That would go a long way in raising his draft stock.
4. Lucas Raymond, RW, Frolunda (SHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 170
I've been a huge fan of Raymond's game since the first time I saw him at the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He has an excellent motor, competing in all zones and battling for pucks. Since he ended last season with a hat trick performance in the men's Under-18 World Championship to lead Sweden to its first gold medal in that event, the sky has been the limit for Raymond.
He has skill, a good shot and a good understanding of time and space in the offensive zone. And he's particularly deadly on the rush. He isn't a very big guy, but he has some good strength and can get to the middle of the ice well. I've been flip-flopping between him and Holtz a lot this season. It has been a little tougher for Raymond to establish himself because he isn't seeing the same ice time as his fellow Swede, and Holtz appears to be the more dynamic player. But Raymond has a diverse tool set and finds ways to contribute.
5. Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 177
Perfetti has a dynamic game. He has an incredible shot, makes great plays with the puck on his stick and can make everyone around him better as an accomplished playmaker. His 74 points as a rookie in the OHL marked the best production by a 16-year-old in the league since Connor McDavid had 99 points at the same age. Perfetti also tore apart the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with eight goals and 12 points in five games as Canada earned second place. He is an exciting talent.
6. Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 176
The consensus top goalie in this draft class is the best goaltending prospect I've seen since Carey Price. He is the primary reason Russia knocked off Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and he has essentially been a brick wall in every event he has played in for Russia. Right now, he's playing for SKA St. Petersburg's VHL team, which is essentially the KHL's minor pro league -- an especially rare spot to see a 17-year-old goalie. The league has only five U18 netminders on record.
Askarov has remarkable power, poise and competitiveness that give his team a chance in just about every game. It's hard to find a goaltender who is so solid in every facet of the game, making Askarov a potential franchise No. 1 and future star. I've not seen a player at this position with so few weaknesses at this age.
7. Tim Stutzle, LW, Mannheim (DEL)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 185
Another European excelling at the professional level, Stutzle had several options in North America, but like 2019 No. 6 pick Moritz Seider, he stayed in his native Germany and has wowed everyone with his early season play on the top line for the defending DEL champions. He's showing a higher level of hockey sense and puck skills than were evident last season, and there's no player I'm more intrigued to watch at the World Junior Championship than Stutzle as Germany rejoins the top level.
8. Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie Otters (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 175
Offensively, Drysdale has moments when he looks special. The defenseman moves around the ice fluidly, thanks to quality edge work. He can pick apart the opposition with creative and crisp passes. But defensively, there's plenty to work on, as he can get caught up ice. The good side of his game, however, is so good that it seems to make up for any shortcomings.
9. Anton Lundell, C, HIFK (Liiga)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 185
A highly intelligent, two-way center, Lundell has been on draft radars for quite some time. A late 2001 birthdate, he has been a big part of Finland's national team system at the U18 and U20 levels the past two years. Lundell has good size and excellent instincts, and he can get up and down the ice really well. He's more of a north-south center and lacks a dynamic skill element in his game, which could cause him to slip in the first round. Yet Lundell has the kind of game that helps teams win. There's going to be a big focus on what Lundell does against professionals in Liiga this season after he averaged half a point per game as a U18 player last season. He has the work ethic and competitiveness to maximize his skill.
10. Dylan Holloway, LW, University of Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 192
Versatility, excellent two-way play and a good dose of skill make Holloway one of the best all-around forwards in the draft class. Coming off an AJHL MVP season in 2018-19, Holloway is taking on college hockey, in which it's harder to put up big numbers and stand out. Holloway pops just about every time I watch him because he always brings great effort and shows flashes of higher-end skill. That skill doesn't always pop as much as the other elements of his game, but the more we see of it, the more his stock will rise.
11. Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa 67s (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-9 | Weight: 183
An early season suspension and the recent loss of one of his linemates (New Jersey Devils prospect Graeme Clarke) to injury have added some adversity, self-imposed or otherwise, to Rossi's season. Still, the Austrian national is a special talent and has performed well when he has been on the ice, thanks to quality skating and intelligent playmaking abilities. Some of the dirty stuff that he has been accused of this season doesn't help his game a ton, but when the puck is on his stick, it is undeniable that he has the skill to make an impact at the next level.
12. Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sangueneens (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 179
An exceptional performance at the start of the season at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (11 points in five games) got Lapierre's draft campaign off on the right foot. He has continued to look solid but not necessarily consistently dominant in the QMJHL. Lapierre has solid skill and superior vision that allow him to make plays in a variety of ways while also making players around him better. He does that with quick hands and clever plays in the offensive zone to give himself some extra time and space.
13. Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 195
A solid right-shot defender with size, Barron can be physical and does an excellent job of taking care of his own zone first. Although his offensive upside isn't necessarily high end, his ability to get pucks up ice and out of his zone will aid his team's offensive attack. He's a smart player who is only getting better by playing for one of the best producers of pro talent in the QMJHL.
14. Rodion Amirov, LW, Salavat Ulayev (KHL)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 167
High-end skill and tenacity down low have made Amirov one of my favorites in this draft class. He really popped at last year's World U18 Championship, in which he led Russia in scoring on the way to a silver medal. He has great finish with his shot and sees the ice well, but I was most impressed by his ability to extend plays, battle along the walls and make things difficult for opposing defensemen. He'll spend much of this year bouncing between Ufa's KHL and MHL teams, but he has shown flashes of his immense skill and the ability to drive play in KHL games already this season.
15. Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 199
Presently one of the top scoring defensemen in the QMJHL, Poirier has a really strong offensive toolkit. He handles the puck well and can skate. Plus, he possesses a high-end shot. There are a lot of questions about his ability to defend at a consistent level, and he's a bit of a volume shooter, but he sure has the puck on his stick a lot.
16. Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 188
Guhle is one of those players who does a lot of things well, but I don't know that I've seen one standout trait for him. He is engaged at both ends of the ice, passes the puck very well and makes smart, simple plays. I'd like to see him make some better decisions with his offensive-zone reads when it comes to shooting the puck, but I like the way he distributes. The Raiders are a really good team that has the puck a lot, but when they need a stopper, Guhle can defend more than adequately with solid footwork, good size and a good stick.
17. Braden Schneider, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 202
Similar to Barron in that his offensive upside isn't super high-end, Schneider is a big, right-shot defenseman who has good feet and excellent defensive sense. He can make enough plays to help his team get out of its zone and make it difficult for the opposition to get pucks into his own.
18. Jake Sanderson, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 185
A heady, two-way defenseman who can really get the puck up the ice, Sanderson is far and away the best pro prospect with the U.S. National Team Development Program this season, at least at this early stage. The North Dakota commit and son of former NHLer Geoff Sanderson has remarkable poise with the puck on his stick. There's zero panic in his game, and his decisions with or without the puck are always on point. He makes the players on the ice better with the steadiness he provides on the back end.
19. Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 174
With wheels for days, Foudy can fly up and down the ice, and he plays in all situations for the Spitfires. The younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets first-round pick Liam Foudy, Jean-Luc offers a lot of similarities to his older sibling but is more skilled than Liam was at the same age. His ability to hunt pucks and back defenders down with his skating is a good tool. I'd like to see him create a bit more and make a few more plays because the skill is there. That's his best chance to raise his stock.
20. Connor Zary, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 177
After missing the draft cut-off by 10 days, Zary is making the most of his extra year. He's on fire at the start of the WHL season. Zary has good drive and goes to all the tough areas to generate offense. He can make plays all over the ice, including on the rush with high-end vision and top-notch distribution skills. Being able to play a leading role for Kamloops this season should be excellent for his draft prep.
21. Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (SHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 176
I have a feeling Gunler is going to be one of the season's most polarizing players. He has the tantalizing skill set, has a tremendous shot and put up eye-popping numbers in Sweden's top junior league last season. Now he's trying to find that level of consistency as a pro, but he also has to deal with concerns created by his frequent cuts from Sweden's national team. He was not part of the gold-medal roster in last April's World U18 Championship, was just left off the U20 Four Nations squad and now looks less likely to make the World Junior Championship team.
22. Vasily Ponomarev, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 178
A sturdy skater who competes for pucks and isn't afraid to go into the hard areas of the ice, Ponomarev is making a fairly smooth adjustment to North American hockey. He was the leading scorer among U17 players in the Russian junior ranks last season and was a top performer at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup this summer, as he helped lead Russia to the title. Ponomarev has good offensive zone instincts and shoots the puck extremely well. He isn't the biggest guy, but he has made himself harder to get off the puck with that sturdy base and competitive nature. I'd like to see a continual boost in production from him this season as he progresses in the QMJHL.
23. Antonio Stranges, LW, London Knights
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 172
He's one of the trickier players to evaluate in this draft class, but part of that is how unique he is. It starts with Stranges' creative edge work and skating that allow him to both generate speed and be deceptive. He challenges defenders with that fancy footwork. But he still needs to improve elements of his game away from the puck and in more physical contests, and that makes me wonder about his staying power as a first-round candidate.
24. Ty Smilanic, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 177
Smilanic missed the beginning of the season with illness but came back flying. He has been one of his team's most productive players since returning, showing a good bit of skill and strong skating. There's a fluidity to his game, and he makes his team more dangerous when he's on the ice.
25. Alexander Pashin, RW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
Height: 5-foot-8 | Weight: 154
As a 5-foot-8 Russian, this is a lofty range to have Pashin for most NHL staffs. Some might not even have him as a first-rounder. That said, Pashin has an elite release, and I think he could be particularly deadly because he knows how to find the good soft ice. His sense of timing and space in the offensive zone -- and a silky smooth shot that can fool goalies -- is what is needed to be a high-end scorer at any level.
Honorable mentions:
Jacob Perreault, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Ozzy Weisblatt, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Will Cuylle, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Kasper Simontaival, RW, Tappara U20 (Liiga-Jr.)
Justin Sourdif, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)