The 2020 NHL draft lottery was unlike anything we've ever seen before, and so, too, will be the actual draft. So it only makes sense that our post-lottery mock draft is way different than most we've done in the past.
Rather than slot the teams in a hypothetical order when we don't even know who will have the top pick and which teams will make up the rest of the lottery range, we mocked up only a portion of the draft and gave some estimates and options for the remainder of the teams that don't know when they'll pick.
The one thing that is a safe bet? Alexis Lafreniere is going to be the top pick in this draft, regardless of who earns the selection. After that, things get interesting. So here's a look at how the first eight picks might go, and where things stand based on the info we have for the 24 playoff/qualification-round teams that follow.
Jump to: No. 1 overall
LA | OTT | DET | OTT | ANA | NJ | BUF
Potential picks for the play-ins
Potential picks for the playoff locks
1. Placeholder Team 'E'
Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski (QMJHL)
No matter who ends up with the No. 1 pick, it's hard to see this being anyone other than Lafreniere. He's the most NHL-ready prospect and has the right mix of skill and tenacity to make an impact in both the short and long term. He has taken his game to a new level with each season and would be a franchise cornerstone for any organization. And if it ends up being Montreal, get ready for the brightest spotlight of your life, Alexis.
Remember, this could end up being any of the teams currently set to participate in the postseason play-in round. That includes Pittsburgh, Montreal, Carolina, the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Florida, Toronto, Columbus, Edmonton, Chicago, Nashville, Arizona, Vancouver, Minnesota, Calgary and Winnipeg.
Note: Confused what a "placeholder" team is? Did you miss the lottery drawing on Friday night? Here's a handy explainer of what transpired and why we still don't know where Lafreniere will be playing.
2. Los Angeles Kings
Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury (OHL)
The Kings have to be thrilled about their draft slot, moving up to No. 2. It gives them options, but the best one is Byfield, who provides size, speed and skill. I'm not convinced he can play in the NHL next season, but he has the upside to be the heir to Anze Kopitar as Los Angeles' top center down the road.
3. Ottawa Senators (via SJ)
Tim Stutzle, LW, Mannheim (Germany)
The Sens have to be disappointed they didn't get a top-two pick given they had two lottery choices, but if Stutzle is the consolation prize, he's a pretty darn good one. Ottawa has built up a nice prospect pool, but Stutzle would become the immediate centerpiece of the rebuild as a speedy wing with creativity and playmaking skills. He also has pro experience, which might ease his transition. Given how good Ottawa's AHL affiliate, Belleville, was last season, he could be in the mix there right away.
4. Detroit Red Wings
Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda (Sweden)
The Red Wings could get more dynamic up front, and Raymond would be the guy to help them do it. His creativity lends itself to some intriguing upside. The Wings would have to let him marinate in his native Sweden a bit longer, but playing at Frolunda -- one of the best developmental clubs in the world -- puts him in phenomenal hands to round out his game.
5. Ottawa Senators
Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie (OHL)
I personally would have a hard time passing on the dynamic Cole Perfetti here. But the Sens are loaded with prospects at forward (especially if they get Stutzle at No. 3), and Drysdale looks like a top-four defenseman with top-pairing upside. He also has some exceptional offensive talent. But this would be a slight reach for me. The Sens could bolster their blue line with either Drysdale or Jake Sanderson, and I wouldn't necessarily fault them for it, but I'd prefer sticking with a forward.
6. Anaheim Ducks
Jake Sanderson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
The Ducks have typically drafted very well. I think adding a more offensive-minded defenseman such as Drysdale here is a good fit, but if he is off the board, Sanderson is a good pick. This is a comfortable range to take one of the top two defensemen in the draft, and Sanderson has top-pairing upside. He'd need some time before he could jump into the NHL, but the Ducks have been really good at developing defensemen and need some depth on their blue line to move their rebuild on the fly forward.
7. New Jersey Devils
Cole Perfetti, C, Saginaw (OHL)
The Devils have plenty of needs, but I don't think you can have enough skill up front. If Perfetti slips this far, it would be an easy choice. He has some of the best hockey sense and hand skills in this class, and he has a great understanding of moving the puck. Having a young forward core that includes Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes down the middle and Perfetti on the wing (he'd likely move to the wing, where he is better, in this scenario) is very strong.
8. Buffalo Sabres
Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa (OHL)
We don't have much of a book on Buffalo's new general manager, Kevyn Adams, but Rossi shouldn't fall any further than this pick. He had a remarkable season during which he put up 2.14 points per game in the OHL. The Sabres have needs throughout the organization, but with Dylan Cozens and Rossi, they'd be starting to get some much-needed offensive help for Jack Eichel. The 5-foot-9 Rossi can play center or wing.
THE PLAY-INS
Losing in the play-in round would grant any of these 16 teams a 12.5% chance of landing Lafreniere, the best-case scenario for all. But for the 15 teams that don't hit the jackpot, we also wanted to give a sample of who might be available when they do pick.
To be clear, Nos. 9-31 are very much up in the air. Anything can happen. So we didn't want to do a traditional mock draft the rest of the way just yet. Instead, we took a look at potential options in hypothetical ranges for each team by looking at regular-season points percentage.
Montreal Canadiens
The Habs could conceivably win the lottery and get the best Quebecois talent in years in Lafreniere, but even if they don't, they might just fall into a very favorable range for adding a high-end talent. Based on the board as we have it, Swedish sniper Alexander Holtz (RW, Djurgarden in Sweden) would make a ton of sense for Montreal. Ideally, one of the two defensemen -- Drysdale or Sanderson -- would fall to the Habs, as that's a bigger area of need despite the looming arrival of Alexander Romanov, but you can never have enough firepower up front.
Chicago Blackhawks
I doubt NHL fans outside of Chicago would be thrilled to see Lafreniere land with a team that has three Stanley Cups not too far in their rearview mirror, but it remains a possibility. However, if the Blackhawks lose and stay in this range, I could see them taking an especially long look at goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (Neva St. Petersburg in Russia 2). Chicago's goaltending situation is going to get murkier in the coming years, and landing the highest-upside goalie to come along in years is something the Blackhawks have to at least think about. Adding to their depth up front could also be a priority with higher-end forwards Jack Quinn (RW, Ottawa in the OHL) and Anton Lundell (C, HIFK in Finland) also available in this range.
New Jersey Devils (pick via ARI)
The only way the Coyotes keep this pick is if they lose in the play-ins and get the No. 1 slot via the lottery. Otherwise, it is New Jersey's selection. And the Devils have another chance to pick up a big-time prospect. If Askarov is still on the board, it's more tempting in this range. Otherwise, a higher-end sniper like Quinn would be a nice addition. He has some size and good hands, and he scored 52 goals this season in the OHL.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have never had the No. 1 pick in the draft, so getting bounced from the play-ins could give them their best shot in quite some time. If they miss out, however, the Nos. 11-13 range is where we start seeing the quality of prospects shift a bit. This is still a hopeful range for Askarov or possibly Lundell, who has a strong two-way game and some of the best overall hockey sense in this draft. He played professionally in Finland last season, and you wouldn't know he was a teenager by the way he plays the game.
Winnipeg Jets
Should the Jets end up in this range, they have another opportunity to start building back up their defense. The two best options in this range would be Braden Schneider (Brandon) and Kaiden Guhle (Prince Albert), a pair of WHL defensemen who provide solid defensive value. Guhle has the skating ability, size and strength to be a particularly good fit if the Jets settle into the early teens.
New York Rangers
The Rangers certainly have a chance to make some noise in the play-ins, but if they get bounced and stick in the mid-teens, this is the range where consensus falls by the wayside. One of the players I like around here for them, however, is Dawson Mercer. The Chicoutimi (QMJHL) center has good speed and tenacity, and I think he has an element of finish to his game, as well. There's strong enough two-way value to provide the Rangers with a versatile prospect.
Florida Panthers
Florida has built up its forward prospect pool in recent drafts and has its goalie of the future in Spencer Knight. You'd have to imagine GM Dale Tallon is going to like what he sees in the available defensemen in this range. Schneider, a right-shot blueliner, is a good fit. He plays a physical brand of hockey, and while his offensive upside is a bit more limited, he can move pucks up ice.
Columbus Blue Jackets
I like the variety of players the Blue Jackets could find in this range. It would not hurt to continue looking to upgrade at forward. There are a pair of WHL centers -- Connor Zary (Kamloops) and Seth Jarvis (Portland) -- who could be a nice fit. I think Jarvis might be the more dynamic of the two, but Zary is the more complete player. It just comes down to preference, but those are two guys who would be very strong adds in this range. Jarvis is the one who really intrigues me thanks to his immense upside.
Calgary Flames
The Flames have a bit of a lighter prospect pool these days, so there are needs just about everywhere. I could see them snagging one of the two WHL defensemen already mentioned (Schneider or Guhle) if either one is still available, but I think Zary would be a particularly nice fit. A center with good vision and an ability to drive the middle of the ice would be welcome.
New Jersey Devils (pick via VAN/TB)
The Canucks -- who actually traded this pick originally to the Lightning, who then moved it to the Devils in the Blake Coleman trade -- will hold on to this pick if it turns into Lafreniere. Should the Devils keep the pick, however, they could get lucky and have a defenseman such as Guhle or Schneider slide to them. Defense is the bigger organizational need, but forwards could be in play for Jersey here, too. One we haven't mentioned yet is the smooth-skating Dylan Holloway, who provides some two-way value and upside. The center didn't have an amazing freshman season at Wisconsin (Big Ten), but he should be poised for a big role there next season and has a lot of strong physical tools.
Nashville Predators
The Preds have not taken a lot of Russians over the years, but there's one in particular this year who looks like he could fit in well with where the Preds are going. Rodion Amirov, a left wing with Ufa in the KHL, is a highly skilled playmaker who competes in the corners and can make a lot of space for himself. He'd be an easy choice if he ends up in this range.
Carolina Hurricanes (pick via TOR)
This pick stays with Toronto if the Leafs are out of the qualification round and win the lottery. It could also land with the Rangers, should it be lower than Carolina's own pick (Carolina would then keep its own pick). But let's assume it's headed to Carolina for now. With the Hurricanes having a lot of players in their prospect system, it might be wise for them to take a swing on a riskier pick here. That would be Hendrix Lapierre, a center for Chicoutimi in the QMJHL who missed a large chunk of the season because of injury. Before he went down, however, he lit up the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in the summer and was the Q's Offensive Rookie of the Year a season prior. He's intriguing but risky.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers could melt down the internet if they lose the play-ins and win the lottery, but odds are neither of those things happen. This is a team that could use some offensive firepower down the wing, and I think Lukas Reichel of Eisbaren Berlin (Germany) would be an intriguing option here. He has some silky playmaking abilities and would have an incredible mentor in fellow countryman Leon Draisaitl.
Ottawa Senators (pick via NYI)
Here's another pick protected from the lottery, which the Islanders would have a chance to win if bounced from the play-ins. Given the way we have the Sens going earlier in the draft, if they retain this pick, there's little reason to avoid a higher-upside forward. Mavrik Bourque, who doesn't boast great size but has higher-end hockey sense and good puck skills, could be a player worth taking a chance on in the latter third of the first round. A center with Shawinigan (QMJHL), Bourque could really take off over the next season or two.
New York Rangers (pick via CAR)
This selection is a bit tricky because it depends on whether this pick or Carolina's pick that formerly belonged to Toronto is later. Either way, the Rangers have yet another opportunity to stack up a growing pool of prospects. It would probably behoove them to nab a player who is not going to need a contract anytime soon, which would point to Michigan-bound forward Brendan Brisson, a star in the USHL with the Chicago Steel last season. The son of superagent Pat Brisson, Brendan has a devastating one-timer, and his development just took off this season.
Minnesota Wild (pick via PIT)
If the Penguins get bounced in the play-in round, they would have the option to keep this pick. The Wild have one of the more improved prospect pools, with exciting talents such as Kirill Kaprizov and Matthew Boldy in the mix. A player who might be considered a bit of a "safe pick" here would be Ridly Greig, a center with Brandon in the WHL. He's one of the fastest-rising prospects in this draft, and he brings both skill and versatility to the table, which could be a nice fit in Minnesota.
Should the Penguins retain this pick, it would be much earlier. That would offer the Pens at least a chance to add a player who would rise to the top of a shallow prospect pool. If Guhle or Schneider are still available, the Pens could boost their blue line with either player. Other options that could be available if the Pens are in the lottery include the well-rounded Zary or the risky -- but intriguing -- Lapierre, who brings a boatload of skill to the table.
THE PLAYOFF LOCKS
These eight teams aren't guaranteed to draft at the back end of Round 1, but they are guaranteed to make the playoffs -- which means they won't have a chance at the No. 1 pick, and they will be drafting in the bottom half of the round. As above, they are ordered below by regular-season points percentage. Here are some prospects who might be in play for the eight playoff locks.
Dallas Stars
The Stars have not landed a lot of especially high-end forward talent in the draft in recent years, so we could see them take a swing on upside here. Jacob Perreault is a sniper who has a good NHL pedigree -- his dad is retired NHLer Yanic Perreault -- and the puck skills are especially impressive. The Stars don't need the Sarnia (OHL) winger anytime soon, which is good because he's a bit of a project player.
Philadelphia Flyers
There are some decent defensemen in this range who could entice the playoff-bound Flyers, but I don't know whether there are many much better than what they already have in their system. Of the forwards available here, John-Jason Peterka is an interesting one. The German winger can absolutely shoot it and showed good net-drive abilities with Munchen this season.
San Jose Sharks (pick via TB)
The Sharks lost what became the No. 3 pick in this draft to the Sens, and they could probably use a prospect of that quality. Despite that, this is a range where the team could take another swing on upside. Noel Gunler is an absolute talent with good skills and higher-end scoring ability. The Lulea (Sweden) right wing had a lot of questions about maturity, but when you're picking late in the first, there may be no better time to take the chance -- just as the Sharks did with Ryan Merkley at No. 21 in 2018.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have a very top-heavy system right now with elite prospects Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook. Whomever they pick doesn't have to be ready right away, which is why I'd wonder whether the Avs take a chance on a bit of a project. William Wallinder (Modo Jr. in the Swedish junior league) has hung around the periphery of the first round projections all year and is a lanky defenseman with some nice puck skills. He needs time and patience, but he could be another higher-end blueliner to add to the mix.
Vegas Golden Knights
I've really liked the way Vegas has drafted in its brief time in the NHL. There have been some strong prospects to come through, and the Knights have been able to use some as trade bait while developing others. In this late stage of the first round, Jake Neighbors, a bruising forward who made strong gains in his offensive game this season with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, might be a fit. The Pacific Division can be punishing, and it wouldn't hurt to add a big guy with some offensive pop.
Washington Capitals
The Caps are pretty well set at the NHL level for a while. So this again might be a good range to look to for some project-style players. Wallinder has a frame he needs to grow into more and has some enticing puck skills and offensive capabilities that just need some honing. I think he's worth a big swing on upside if he's on the board.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues don't really have immediate needs in a prospect system that they've managed to dip into with some success in recent seasons. One player who has dropped down boards but might be worth taking a chance on since the Blues have the luxury of patience is Jeremie Poirier, a defenseman with Saint John in the QMJHL. He has some of the best hands in this draft. His defensive game needs significant work, but he's just so creative with the puck on his stick that it might be worth taking a swing on him late in the first for the defending Stanley Cup champs.
Anaheim Ducks (pick via BOS)
With the Ducks landing another potential core prospect earlier in this draft, there's a lot of flexibility with what should be a pretty late pick. A player whom I came around on late in the season and one who has been rising across the league is Tyson Foerster. He's a winger (Barrie in the OHL) with some tremendous scoring pop, despite a lack of high-end skating abilities. The Ducks have plenty of talent in their pipeline, but adding a goal scorer with some size to the mix isn't a bad idea.