Yes, there are a lot of games still to be played in the 2019-20 NHL season. But plenty of fan bases are already lost in sweet dreams of draft lottery luck and the talent their teams might land in June's NHL draft. So whether you're ready or not, it's time to drop my first mock draft for 2020.
It's important to keep in mind that this is not a direct correlation of draft rankings, but rather an opinion of what I think a team could do if it ends up in that slot and if the draft were tomorrow. Player rankings will fluctuate quite a bit between now and the summer, too. This is more so an opportunity to take the draft landscape's temperature and start our mock homework a little early.
Furthermore, the draft order is far, far from being set in stone. Some NHL teams still have 30-plus games to be played, and the springtime's lottery will scramble the top half of the order. For this exercise, the draft slots are based on the inverse of the standings through Feb. 2 games, with divisional leaders standing in as the conference finalists in our final four spots.
OK, let's dive in to the opening 31 picks. Drafting at No. 1 overall, the Red Wings select...
1. Detroit Red Wings
Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
The Red Wings don't have to get too creative here if they win the lottery. They have needs at all positions, and adding an elite winger like Lafreniere makes them better the day he's picked. Lafreniere does all of the little things well, has tremendous skill and plays with edge.
2. Los Angeles Kings
Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Los Angeles has focused on two things in recent drafts: centers and speed. Now it gets both in one package with Byfield. He has had some stumbles lately, leading to questions about his status as the clear No. 2, but the upside is still bigger than his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, making him an incredibly important building block.
3. New Jersey Devils
Tim Stutzle, C/W, Adler Mannheim (DEL)
There are a lot of options in this range, but Stutzle is probably the safest bet of the bunch after the first two prospects are off the board. Producing at a rate never before seen by a U18 player in Germany's DEL, he's getting valuable minutes and pro experience at a young age. While there would surely be an adjustment period to North America, New Jersey gets a guy who is pretty close to pro-ready and comes with boatloads of skill.
4. Ottawa Senators
Lucas Raymond, RW, Frolunda (SHL)
The Sens need to stockpile elite talent, plain and simple. Raymond would be the best player available in this range and could be a game-breaking talent for Ottawa. The Senators have had pretty good luck with Swedes in the past, and Raymond has all the tools to become yet another Swedish star for the Sens.
5. Anaheim Ducks
Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie Otters (OHL)
This is a very forward-heavy system, and the Ducks don't have anything quite like Drysdale either on their NHL roster or below it. An offensive defenseman with tremendous skating ability and puck-moving skills, Drysdale can be a game-changer on the back end for Anaheim.
6. Ottawa Senators (via SJ)
Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)
I think there would be great temptation to add Raymond's Team Sweden teammate Alexander Holtz here, but why not take a home run swing? Askarov has all the makings of a franchise No. 1, which the Sens could use in their system right now. Yes, it's a huge risk. We don't know how long the Senators would have to wait for Askarov. But they've got two first-rounders, and there's a goalie of Askarov's quality on the board, so it is a shot worth taking.
7. Minnesota Wild
Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa 67s (OHL)
The Wild need more dynamic talent, and it's hard to beat Rossi in that category. An offensive savant with elite vision and playmaking skills, Rossi has lots of potential. He's not a big guy, but he's strong, plays hard and is putting up absurd numbers in the OHL.
8. Buffalo Sabres
Alexander Holtz, LW, Djurgardens (SHL)
Jack Eichel and Dylan Cozens are likely the team's long-term No. 1 and 2 centers, but the Sabres are going to need more skill around them. Holtz has that in spades. He skates well, has good physical strength and possesses some dynamic abilities with the puck. He's also the owner of one of the better shots in this draft.
9. New York Rangers
Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
In case you missed it, the Rangers just added a high-end wing, Kaapo Kakko, in the last draft -- and now they have a chance to do it again in this range. While there are some good center options, Perfetti would be the best player available here. He has great hands and is a real shot-pass threat.
10. Montreal Canadiens
Anton Lundell, C, HIFK (Liiga)
This is where things start thinning out a bit, making it more difficult to land a higher-impact prospect. That said, I think Lundell gives the Habs a playmaking center who might not be flashy but is very, very effective.
11. Nashville Predators
Jake Sanderson, D, U.S. national under-18 team (NTDP)
The Preds have had a ton of success drafting defensemen over the years, and in this case, Sanderson may be the best player available. A brilliant skater who can play physically and defends at a high level, he seems to fit right into the Predators' model.
12. Winnipeg Jets
Braden Schneider, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Winnipeg has begun to exhaust its deep reserves of prospects, with an NHL roster built almost entirely from within. The Jets have needs at every position, and even though I think they're deeper on defense, there aren't a ton of forwards who I would find more enticing than Schneider, a big right-shot defenseman with two-way capabilities.
13. Chicago Blackhawks
Dawson Mercer, C/W, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Already with considerable depth among prospects on the blue line, the Blackhawks could really stand to beef up the forward group. Mercer has been a riser all season and is putting up good numbers in the QMJHL. He's got effort, skill and speed.
14. New Jersey Devils (via ARI)
Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
The Devils could stand to address their blue line some more and will have multiple options in this range. Guhle is a great skater who defends physically. His offensive upside is questionable, which is why this might be a big high for him, but he's still highly regarded and can help that defense pool.
15. Calgary Flames
Connor Zary, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
There isn't much depth in the Flames' prospect system at the moment, so they can go a lot of different directions here. They could look at a defenseman, but there isn't much value here. Zary, though, is having a highly productive season in the WHL and brings good energy to each shift. He'd be a nice fit with Calgary.
16. Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa 67s (OHL)
Averaging nearly 0.89 goals per game in the OHL, Quinn's buzz continues to grow. Some moderate concerns about his skating remain, but the Golden Knights should probably be thinking about a forward in this range, and Quinn can light the lamp.
17. Florida Panthers
Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
A good right-shot defenseman with a solid frame and two-way ability, Barron could still be high on a lot of teams' lists despite having to miss significant time this season with a blood clot. So understand that this pick comes with a big caveat. More will be learned about Barron's health in the coming months, but in a system that's light on defensemen, Barron could be a great addition if his medical info comes back clean.
18. Edmonton Oilers
Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Lapierre was getting top-10 buzz coming out of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup but has appeared in only 19 games so far this season in the QMJHL. He's highly skilled with exceptional vision, and he might be the right kind of dynamic for Edmonton in this range as it still needs to build up that prospect pool a bit.
19. Dallas Stars
Dylan Holloway, C/W, University of Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Holloway's stock has dipped a bit as he struggles to produce at Wisconsin, but there were also once concerns about how much Brady Tkachuk was producing in college. Plus, Holloway is a really good skater who can play with pace. If he slips into this range, it's a chance to add some value for the Stars.
20. Colorado Avalanche
Seth Jarvis, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
The Avs have done a nice job replenishing their prospect pool with depth at multiple positions. They don't have to be picky here, but I see the speedy Jarvis as one of the best organizational fits in this range -- he is having a tremendous year in the WHL.
21. Philadelphia Flyers
John-Jason Peterka, RW, Munich (DEL)
The German forward is rising up the boards after a solid showing at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He's also playing at the top pro level in Germany, which gives an NHL team a lot of options about where he spends next season for development.
22. Carolina Hurricanes
William Wallinder, D, MODO (Allsvenskan)
Having two picks right here gives the Hurricanes a license to gamble a bit. Wallinder is a tall defender with skill and can make plays. He is going to take some extra time, though. But with a deep prospect pool, the Hurricanes have the luxury of waiting.
23. Carolina Hurricanes (via TOR)
Rodion Amirov, LW, Ufa (MHL)
A highly skilled forward who competes in the corners and makes quick decisions with the puck, Amirov is yet another high-upside option for the Canes. He has bounced around Ufa's system, playing in the KHL, VHL and MHL this season. Again, Carolina has the ability to be patient with prospects because of the sheer number of players in its system right now. Why not roll the dice?
24. New York Islanders
Ty Smilanic, LW, U.S. national under-18 team (NTDP)
He is a real speedster up and down the ice, but Smilanic's draft stock is in limbo while he deals with injuries. The Islanders have not been shy about taking players out of the U.S. National Team Development Program in the past, and Smilanic is a good option thanks to his ability to play with pace.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets
Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin (DEL)
The Blue Jackets have plenty of holes to fill in their system, but this might be a good spot to take a chance on upside. Reichel is a playmaker with good hand skills and has a frame to grow into a bit more. His ability to score at the pro level in Germany is a good sign for things to come.
26. Tampa Bay Lightning
Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Reviews on Perreault have been mixed as the season has progressed, but there's little doubt that he has high-level skill and can score. And while consistency is one of the concerns, the Lightning's system has a way of getting the most out of players, especially when there is a good base of skill to start.
27. Pittsburgh Penguins
Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
The Pens have dipped into the QMJHL prospect pool often in recent drafts. Bourque is an especially intriguing player to gun for at the back end of Round 1. He has average size but really shows creativity with higher-end hand skills. It makes him a particularly effective shot-pass threat in the offensive zone.
28. Tampa Bay Lightning (via VAN)
Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
This pick would be a little against the usual for the Lightning, but Poirier is the most skilled defenseman left on the board and can do some special things with the puck. Plus, he can develop at his own pace because Tampa does not have short-term needs on the blue line.
29. Boston Bruins
Tyler Kleven, D, U.S. under-18 national team (NTDP)
A big, heavy defenseman with a rocket from the point, Kleven seems to fit Boston's mold. His offensive pop is questionable, but he plays a pro-style game, defends speed particularly well and has really good hockey sense.
30. St. Louis Blues
Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
The defending Stanley Cup champions don't need to be in a rush with any of their prospects. Brisson is bound for the University of Michigan, which has a good track record of developing pro talent. On top of that, Brisson has been an excellent player in the USHL, where his game appears to be really taking off.
31. Washington Capitals
Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (SHL)
Gunler is a bit of a polarizing prospect, but he possesses some really interesting skill. I have a feeling he may end up slipping out of the first round based on what I've heard, but for now, this would be a guy who makes sense for a Caps team continuing to rebuild its prospect system.