The 2020 NHL draft has finally come to a close. It was a long road to this year's virtual draft, but all 31 teams walk away with an injection of young talent for their respective pipelines and begin to look ahead to this week's looming free agency. Surprises hit as early as the first round -- well after the Rangers, as expected, took Alexis Lafreniere at No. 1 -- and though each team has new prospects to develop in its system, some classes were better than others.
Let's grade each team's draft class. Which franchises had the best drafts? Which left a lot to be desired? Remember, we won't know just how all 31 teams did over the course of the two-day draft for a few years. There's a long way to go in player development, so view this not as a final evaluation but rather as an initial impression. Learn more about the class with our extensive draft content, including other reaction analysis:
Every pick | Takeaways | Day 1 recap
Here are my draft grades for every NHL team, listed from the best class to the worst (teams with the same grade are in alphabetical order).
Jump to a team:
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI
COL | CBJ | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA
LA | MIN | MTL | NSH | NJ | NYI
NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ | STL
TB | TOR | VAN | VGS | WSH | WPG
Anaheim Ducks: A
Favorite pick: Jacob Perreault, No. 27 overall
The Ducks had early picks and made the most of them, filling their most urgent system need by selecting dynamic defenseman Jamie Drysdale at No. 6. He is a deceptive skater with strong puck-moving ability. With a second first-rounder, the Ducks then had the good fortune of Jacob Perreault slipping a little against consensus, giving them a higher-end goal scorer to add to the mix. Perreault's shot, in particular, is elite.
Sam Colangelo is a highly skilled, big forward who is going to go develop for a few years in college. He has the ability to make defenders miss in the offensive zone. The team also went after upside on defense by going with Ian Moore, one of the top prep players available in this draft and a brilliant skater, and Thimo Nickl, who can really defend. Anaheim finished by taking calculated fliers on Artyom Galimov and Albin Sundsvik, whom the Ducks can allow to develop in Europe for a while.
Read more analysis on the Ducks' first-rounders, Jamie Drysdale and Jacob Perreault.
Los Angeles Kings: A
Favorite pick: Quinton Byfield, No. 2 overall
The Kings made one of the very best and deepest prospect pools in the NHL a whole lot better and much deeper with their draft. Quinton Byfield was the obvious choice at No. 2 in my opinion, and now the Kings have a new top prospect in their system. I love his speed and vision on the ice.
Los Angeles continued building beyond Byfield, getting two of the really good second-tier defensemen with Helge Grans and Brock Faber. Grans has skating concerns but moves the puck well, whereas Faber is a solid two-way defender with excellent skating skill. The Kings also swept in with high-value adds in the extremely skilled Kasper Simontaival and Martin Chromiak, who was one of the biggest sliders based on my evaluations. Chromiak makes quick decisions with the puck but has some muscle to tack on still. Ben Meehan, taken 140th overall, is another player who I think has a lot of upside and could help the Kings down the line.
Read more analysis on the Kings' first-rounder, Quinton Byfield.
New York Rangers: A
Favorite pick: Alexis Lafreniere, No. 1 overall
When you have No. 1 pick, you can't lose -- especially when there is a surefire top prospect. Lafreniere is going to be an impact player right away for the club. He anticipates plays, can score and has a physical edge to him. But the Rangers didn't stop there, trading up in the first round to land the best available defenseman in Braden Schneider. His reads in the defensive zone are outstanding.
The Rangers also added big William Cuylle, who needs some work but could be a very good physical presence eventually. Dylan Garand is a player I had ranked earlier in the season before I thought other goalies surpassed him, but he's a solid goaltending prospect. Evan Vierling and Brett Berard brought some value deeper in the draft; Berard has some strong scoring ability and was my No. 68 prospect this year (drafted at No. 134). This was already one of the most talented prospect groups in the NHL, and it got supercharged in this draft.
Read more analysis on the Rangers' first-rounders, Alexis Lafreniere and Braden Schneider.
Ottawa Senators: A-
Favorite pick: Egor Sokolov, No. 61 overall
The Sens landed a pair of cornerstone prospects in Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson with their top two picks, both in the top five overall. Even if Sanderson was a reach, it was a very small one for a player who could be a long-term staple in the team's top four on the back end. He brings great skating ability and solid two-way skills. Stutzle is a great puck handler with top-end hockey sense. His vision allows him to make plays, but he won't force something that isn't there.
Ridly Greig brings some sandpaper, though there were players available in that spot who I liked better as prospects. Roby Jarventie was a little bit of a surprise at No. 33, though he rose over the past year, thanks to good offensive instincts. I really like physical defensive defenseman Tyler Kleven and hulking forward Egor Sokolov, who was a draft year favorite for me. This is a team that has needed a big injection of talent, and I think the Senators have done that the past few years in the draft.
Read more analysis on the Senators' first-rounders, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson and Ridly Greig.
Carolina Hurricanes: B+
Favorite pick: Vasiliy Ponomarev, No. 53 overall
The Hurricanes seem to have a habit of picking players whom I really, really like. Seth Jarvis was a solid pick in the first round -- he's a highly productive player with skill. Carolina also had a strong second round, grabbing two players I graded out in the first round. First, the polarizing Noel Gunler. He has a ton of skill and a great shot release. Then, the strong, skilled center Vasiliy Ponomarev. He's tough to take off the puck.
The club also drafted Zion Nybeck, who was in my top 50, at 115th, before taking Alexander Pashin, who has one of the elite skill sets in this draft but can be really inconsistent, in the seventh round. I had Pashin as my No. 79 prospect, and I think he's a shot worth taking, especially that late. It was great value in this class for Carolina. The Hurricanes have been building up a really strong prospect system, and this group advances it further.
Read more analysis on the Hurricanes' first-rounder, Seth Jarvis.
New Jersey Devils: B+
Favorite pick: Dawson Mercer, No. 18 overall
The Devils provided a Day 1 shocker by taking Shakir Mukhamadullin with their third of three first-round picks. It was a big reach for me, but given that they drafted two players I really like earlier in the first round, I can't dock New Jersey too much. In total, the Devils drafted six players out of my top 100 with their first six picks. Dawson Mercer commits to playing a two-way game and will create plays off the rush, and Alexander Holtz is the best goal scorer in the class. Holtz has vision and quick hands in the offensive zone, and he flashes some power in his stride.
Nicolas Daws is an especially intriguing goalie prospect who has 6-foot-4 size and really improved his game of late. Jaromir Pytlik could be a nice depth center down the line, and Ethan Edwards is a very skilled defenseman and a long-term project addition. Although I didn't love the Mukhamadullin pick, the Devils did very well in improving their system.
Read more analysis on the Devils' first-rounders, Alexander Holtz, Dawson Mercer and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
San Jose Sharks: B+
Favorite pick: Brandon Coe, No. 98 overall
One thing you can always expect from the Sharks is their taking bets on upside -- and did they ever in this draft. San Jose prioritized skill and ceiling without worrying about size. That started with its first-rounder, Ozzy Wiesblatt, and continued into the second round with Thomas Bordeleau and Tristen Robbins. Wiesblatt can make plays at speed and brings fantastic hand skills to the table. Bordeleau is creative with the puck, and Robbins' hockey sense stands out (though his skating is a worry).
Meanwhile, the Sharks landed one of the most naturally skilled players in the draft at 76th overall with Danil Gushchin and then got 6-foot-4 size on the wing in Brandon Coe in the fourth round. With Doug Wilson Jr. running the scouting, this is a team unafraid to take chances, and I liked a lot of the swings the Sharks took this year.
Read more analysis on the Sharks' first-rounder, Ozzy Wiesblatt.
Calgary Flames: B
Favorite pick: Jeremie Poirier, No. 72 overall
The Flames came into this draft with one of the shallowest prospect pools in the NHL. They're leaving with a much improved one. That starts with Connor Zary, whom they got at value after trading back in the first round not once but twice. He has good skills and character, and he won't waste plays, making confident decisions with the puck. Zary was my No. 16 prospect, and the Flames stole him at No. 24 by moving back -- not up. Savvy stuff.
Despite not picking a defenseman in a few years, Calgary landed two good ones in Yan Kuznetsov (a big, rangy, defense-first player) and Jeremie Poirier (a skilled blueliner with great hands). In fact, the latter probably has the most natural skill of any defenseman in this class. Then the Flames acquired yet more skill at value late in the draft in Ryan Francis at No. 143. Those players certainly help boost the system.
Read more analysis on the Flames' first-rounder, Connor Zary.
Chicago Blackhawks: B
Favorite pick: Lukas Reichel, No. 17 overall
Chicago managed to plug two of its biggest organizational needs with its first two picks in the draft. Lukas Reichel was my favorite of the class because of his high-end puck skills and scoring ability. He'll help the Blackhawks down the line and has a ceiling of a top-six scoring threat. Chicago also went early to get the No. 2 goalie in the draft in Drew Commesso, who will head to Boston University and marinate for a few years before joining the Blackhawks.
Landon Slaggert is a high-energy player who was on my top 100 before he was bumped in the final, but I have always appreciated his gritty play. The Blackhawks also took my top high schooler in Wyatt Kaiser, a player who needs a lot of development time but has exciting upside. He skates really well. The prospect pool looks a little more balanced now after previously being heavy on defensemen.
Read more analysis on the Blackhawks' first-rounder, Lukas Reichel.
Detroit Red Wings: B
Favorite pick: Lucas Raymond, No. 4 overall
With 12 picks in the draft, the Red Wings were going to make big gains in their prospect pool on the depth side of things. They got one of the best offensive talents in the draft with Lucas Raymond at No. 4, then nabbed a high-upside but raw defenseman in Williiam Wallinder early in the second round. Raymond is really strong one-on-one.
Theodor Niederbach has really come on over the past season or so, growing on me quite a bit. He creates chances but needs to work on his shot. Eemil Viro is intriguing, and Cross Hanas is creative with the puck. In total, the Red Wings drafted seven players off my top 100 and got one of my intriguing late-rounders to watch in Alex Cotton, an all-offense defenseman who had 20 goals in the WHL last season. Detroit has a lot more work to do, but this was a pretty good haul for the Red Wings.
Read more analysis on the Red Wings' first-rounder, Lucas Raymond.
Florida Panthers: B
Favorite pick: Ty Smilanic, No. 74 overall
I thought GM Bill Zito's first draft with the Panthers was very strong. Each of the team's first six picks was on my top 100, with Anton Lundell looking like the team's future No. 2 center. He displays great vision while committing to playing at both ends of the ice.
The club got really nice value with Ty Smilanic and Justin Sourdif in the third round, and both Michael Benning and Zachary Uens are intriguing defenseman who are going to develop more in college. Smilanic has speed and strength, and Sourdif processes the game very well. The team's final pick, Devon Levi, pops as well. He is an undersized goaltender who stood out every time I saw him play last season.
Read more analysis on the Panthers' first-rounder, Anton Lundell.
Minnesota Wild: B
Favorite pick: Marat Khusnutdinov, No. 37 overall
After starting their first round with a bang and the good fortune of super-skilled center Marco Rossi falling to them at No. 9, the Wild followed on Day 2 with a very effective second round. Rossi is just 5-foot-9 but is good in tight areas and plays with some power, thanks to strong edge work. Marat Khusnutdinov is one of my favorites in this draft class, thanks to his incredible speed and high-end work ethic to go with his skill.
The Wild nabbed a very reliable defenseman in Ryan O'Rourke -- whose ceiling might put him on a top-four track -- and took a bit of a shot on Daemon Hunt, who missed a large chunk of last season because of an injury but has shown very well in some big events. After all that, the Wild got to relax for the final two rounds, as they were wrapped up in the fifth.
Read more analysis on the Wild's first-rounder, Marco Rossi.
Winnipeg Jets: B
Favorite pick: Cole Perfetti, No. 10 overall
The Jets did not have very many picks -- just four in the draft -- but they landed a legit top-five-caliber talent at No. 10 with Cole Perfetti. He's going to be a dynamic presence in an offense that has loads of talent and scoring ability. Perfetti always seems to have a plan with the puck.
Second-rounder Daniel Torgersson is a big body with power-forward potential, as long as he can gain a little more consistency in his game. Anton Johannesson received consideration for my top 100 but did not make the cut. He has some skill and can skate well enough to be an effective offensive defenseman.
Read more analysis on the Jets' first-rounder, Cole Perfetti.
Buffalo Sabres: B-
Favorite pick: John-Jason Peterka, No. 34 overall
The Sabres surprised many when they took Jack Quinn ahead of Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti, but they managed to acquire the second-best goal scorer in the draft, and this is a team that needs goals. Quinn had 52 tallies last season in 62 games and shows the ability to find the high-percentage areas of the offensive zone. The Sabres doubled down on scoring wingers with their pick at No. 34, John-Jason Peterka, whom I had listed at No. 24 on my board. He possesses a heavy shot and ability to drive the net. Those two guys know how to get the job done.
Buffalo didn't have to go far for its fifth-round pick, Matteo Costantini, who was one of the top players in the OJHL last season for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. Having only five picks, including two seventh-rounders, didn't allow the Sabres to make a huge splash, but they made an impact on their system.
Read more analysis on the Sabres' first-rounder, Jack Quinn.
Colorado Avalanche: B-
Favorite pick: Jean-Luc Foudy, No. 75 overall
The Avalanche played it pretty safe with their first-round pick, but they sure love their Nova Scotians -- with good reason. Justin Barron is a quality two-way defenseman who doesn't do a ton of things that jump out at you but does a lot of little things well enough. His hockey sense, though, is pretty high-end.
Jean-Luc Foudy is one of the best skaters in the draft and has some versatility, Colby Ambrosio produced at a high clip in the USHL, and Ryder Rolston -- the son of former NHLer Brian Rolston -- has a lot of great offensive qualities but needs some refining.
Read more analysis on the Avalanche's first-rounder, Justin Barron.
Montreal Canadiens: B-
Favorite pick: Sean Farrell, No. 124 overall
Montreal always tends to have unexciting yet solid drafts. Five players from my top 100 went to the Canadiens, with Sean Farrell looking like a particularly strong value pick in the fourth round. He's a speedster with good vision. First-rounder Kaiden Guhle has great mobility and physicality, and he potentially has a short NHL timeline.
Second-rounders Luke Tuch and Jan Mysak both have work to do on their games, but each has shown steadily improving offensive prowess. They'll require some patience, but Tuch has a strong net-front presence, and Mysak shows some good offensive instincts.
What's a draft without the Habs taking a Minnesotan? This time, they landed the Mr. Hockey Award winner, Blake Biondi, who is heading to Minnesota Duluth, where he should get plenty of good development time to max out his physical strength, already a notable attribute. Alexander Gordin, taken 171st overall, could turn into a sneaky great pick down the line.
Read more analysis on the Canadiens' first-rounder, Kaiden Guhle.
Nashville Predators: B-
Favorite pick: Yaroslav Askarov, No. 11 overall
The Predators nabbed the best goaltender in the draft since Carey Price came out in 2005 and can now call Yaroslav Askarov their future in net. He is excellent moving post to post and plays with explosiveness, never quitting on a play.
Second-rounder Luke Evangelista's game has really taken off, too. Luke Prokop and Luke Reid were two defensemen who had very good showings when I saw them live, providing reliability and mobility on the back end. Last but not least, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, one of the best names in the draft, went off the board at No. 202. He's a skilled player who will need more seasoning in college, but I assure you he's more than just a cool name.
Read more analysis on the Predators' first-rounder, Yaroslav Askarov.
Toronto Maple Leafs: B-
Favorite pick: Rodion Amirov, No. 15 overall
True to form under GM Kyle Dubas, the Maple Leafs went big on skill with little to no focus on size. As a result, they have a ton of players with big-time potential but accompanying questions to answer as they develop. Toronto started strong with Rodion Amirov, who is skilled but also plays really well below the faceoff dots and can get to the net. He is crafty with the puck.
Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela provided great value where they were picked, too. Hirvonen is just 5-foot-9 and isn't particularly quick, but his hands are the real deal. Fellow Finn Niemela brings terrific skating skill to the blue line. Dmitri Ovchinnikov, Veeti Miettinen and Joe Miller offer intrigue, all with high-end skill sets and plenty of runway in their development.
Read more analysis on the Maple Leafs' first-rounder, Rodion Amirov.
Philadelphia Flyers: C+
Favorite pick: Zayde Wisdom, No. 94 overall
Philadelphia got a pretty solid scorer in Tyson Foerster with its first pick, which pads a system that graduated Joel Farabee and soon will do the same with Morgan Frost. Foerster can change his release and has a great shot off the pass. The Flyers took a chance on an undersized but offensively gifted defenseman in Emil Andrae, who went at a very reasonable 54th overall. He is 5-foot-9, but his offensive ability provides upside.
One pick that I think a lot of people were cheering for was Zayde Wisdom, who has overcome a number of obstacles to become a legitimate NHL prospect. He played big minutes with Kingston in the OHL and plays the game hard; he's a Philly kind of guy. Lastly, the Flyers picked up Connor McClennon, my No. 75 prospect, late. He flashes hand skills, good vision and sharp offensive instincts. This wasn't a franchise-changing draft by any means, but it was productive.
Read more analysis on the Flyers' first-rounder, Tyson Foerster.
Tampa Bay Lightning: C+
Favorite pick: Eamon Powell, No. 116 overall
Almost always one of the toughest teams to read at the draft, the Stanley Cup champs got aggressive with their midround picks. The Lightning started with Jack Finley, who is 6-foot-6, 213 pounds and super raw. Within Tampa Bay's development system, he could thrive. The club also picked up Gage Goncalves, a late riser in the draft season, thanks to 71 points in 60 games in the WHL.
The two players the Lightning selected from my top 100 were Maxim Groshev, a big two-way forward who has really grown his game in the Russian pro ranks, and Eamon Powell, a largely unflashy defenseman who excels in transition. I think he could be a strong complementary player in a depth role. Size, oddly enough, seemed to be a bigger deal for the Lightning based on their picks, and they brought in some snarl in 6-foot-2 Nick Capone, who could be a depth guy later in his career.
Vegas Golden Knights: C+
Favorite pick: Brendan Brisson, No. 29 overall
The Golden Knights have had strong drafts, but with just one pick in the top two rounds in 2020, it was harder for them to make a big impact. They did, however, land a high-upside offensive presence in Brendan Brisson from the Chicago Steel, which is the same outfit that developed a big Vegas prospect in Jack Dugan. Most areas of Brisson's game are solid. He just needs to get a little stronger.
Getting Lukas Cormier at No. 68 was a nice value pick, as he's another guy who does everything pretty well. Vegas took some shots later, including Minnesota high schooler Jackson Hallum, a player who has a year left before he graduates. The Knights have plenty in their system right now to hold them over but made only moderate improvements in this draft.
Read more analysis on the Golden Knights' first-rounder, Brendan Brisson.
Dallas Stars: C
Favorite pick: Yevgeni Oksentyuk, No. 162 overall
Dallas got one of the better value picks of the first round by landing Mavrik Bourque at No. 30. Although his skating could stand to improve, his offensive ability stands out. Bourque has an excellent shot and knows how to light the lamp. He ups the skill level in the Stars' system, as does the enigmatic Antonio Stranges, who is one of the more unique skaters I've seen.
I came around to Yevgeni Oksentyuk's game a little late, but he's a solid player, too. My No. 96 prospect who went No. 162 overall, he flashes offensive upside. I think both he and Stranges need a lot of work, but they were shots worth taking. Dallas did well with the five picks it had, but it was harder for the Stars to pad depth with only one pick in the first three rounds.
Read more analysis on the Stars' first-rounder, Mavrik Bourque.
Edmonton Oilers: C
Favorite pick: Tyler Tullio, No. 126 overall
With only one pick in the first three rounds, the Oilers seemed to play it a little safe on opening night, going with Dylan Holloway, a smooth-skating center coming off a somewhat underwhelming first collegiate season at Wisconsin. Knowing the player's body of work, I think he has a chance to be a really good player, but I'm going to need to see more from him whenever the NCAA season resumes.
Edmonton had some good fortune, too, as the highly skilled Carter Savoie and Tyler Tullio were sitting there in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. Neither is a sure thing, but if you're going to take a chance, bet on skill. Savoie is a creative player, and Tullio is disruptive for opponents. All in all, it was a pretty quiet draft for Edmonton.
Read more analysis on the Oilers' first-rounder, Dylan Holloway.
St. Louis Blues: C
Favorite pick: Dylan Peterson, No. 86 overall
The Blues had a pretty decent amount of picks. I thought Jake Neighbours was a safe selection in the first round, as he has size and physicality that fit with the way St. Louis plays. The guy I'm really excited about is Dylan Peterson, who I think is just learning how to become a power forward. His offensive game started rounding out toward the end of last season.
Size was a huge theme of this team's draft class, with only one player listed under 6 feet. The biggest of the bunch is goalie prospect Will Cranley, whom I heard a lot about as the draft process progressed. He has big upside that not a lot of people have discovered quite yet. But while the Blues got bigger, I don't know that this group advanced the prospect pool in a significant way.
Read more analysis on the Blues' first-rounder, Jake Neighbours.
Washington Capitals: C
Favorite pick: Hendrix Lapierre, No. 22 overall
The Capitals' prospect pool has gotten a nice boost in the past two first rounds. Last year, it was Connor McMichael. This year, it was Hendrix Lapierre. He was a risky pick because of health concerns, but he carries high-reward potential thanks to skill and vision.
The Caps don't have immediate needs, so they can let Lapierre develop at his own pace. Not having any picks in the next two rounds didn't really help them too much, but Bogdan Trineyev is a big body with some upside, and WHLer Bear Hughes provides some intrigue. With the biggest piece of Washington's haul coming with such risk, I think it's reasonable to hedge on this class a bit.
Read more analysis on the Capitals' first-rounder, Hendrix Lapierre.
Columbus Blue Jackets: C-
Favorite pick: Samuel Knazko, No. 78 overall
Give the Jackets credit because once they get their list set, it probably isn't going to look like everyone else's, and they don't care about that one bit. Yegor Chinakhov was a shocker at No. 21. I didn't see it coming, and I'm not sure many in the scouting world did. Chinakhov needs some development time, despite a very good shot.
Columbus did not pick any players I had listed on my top 100, but I like Samuel Knazko as a prospect, though he's so raw. You can always count on GM Jarmo Kekalainen and his staff to go their own way, and in many instances, they've been absolutely right. But with just five picks, it could be a long while before Columbus reaps rewards from this class.
Read more analysis on the Blue Jackets' first-rounder, Yegor Chinakhov.
Pittsburgh Penguins: C-
Favorite pick: Joel Blomqvist, No. 52 overall
As is custom, the Penguins didn't have a first-round pick. They traded two-time Cup-winning goaltender Matt Murray for a second-rounder and a prospect. With that second-round pick, they selected Joel Blomqvist, the No. 3 goalie on my final draft board and a very solid pick. He quickly ascends the team's system that had a void. I was a little surprised to see Pittsburgh go back to the goalie well with its next pick to Calle Clang. Both goaltenders have some nice upside and were reasonable picks.
After that, the Pens added some nice potential depth players, particularly Lukas Svejkovsky and Chase Yoder. The former just got invited to USA Hockey's World Junior camp. Still, this draft class doesn't do a lot to advance the Penguins' fairly weak system, aside from filling the goaltending need.
Vancouver Canucks: C-
Favorite pick: Jacob Truscott, No. 144 overall
The Canucks had no picks until the third round but landed a very interesting offensive defenseman in Joni Jurmo, who comes with size and some solid skating ability. I had Jurmo listed 83rd on my board, and he still needs some work defensively. The Canucks also landed my No. 82 prospect, Jacob Truscott, at No. 144. He could use some development in the footwork area, but he is a rangy defenseman with some offensive tools.
I have some time for Jackson Kunz and Dmitry Zlodeyev as prospects; Kunz has a chance to develop into a power forward, and Zlodeyev has some decent goal-scoring skill.
Arizona Coyotes: D
Favorite pick: Carson Bantle, No. 142 overall
The Coyotes traded their first- and third-rounder, and they had their second-rounder taken away for player-testing violations. That made this a very difficult draft. You can't do much building while picking late. That said, Mitchell Miller has some good offensive upside and plays fast, while Carson Bantle is an intriguing talent as a heavy forechecking presence who is a nightmare down low for the opposition.
Aside from that, I didn't see too many picks that will advance the prospect system in any significant way. It's important to note, however, that the Coyotes just made a major investment in their scouting department, with new GM Bill Armstrong bringing in Darryl Plandowski and Ryan Jankowski, two veteran scouts who have had a lot of draft-day success in their careers. They just need to have some picks next time around.
Boston Bruins: D-
Favorite pick: Trevor Kuntar, No. 89 overall
With only four picks, the Bruins couldn't do much to make a dent in their system. They used their first two picks on second-year draft-eligibles, with Mason Lohrei looking like a fairly off-the-board pick at No. 58. That said, he might be a bit of a late bloomer because he popped in the USHL this season as one of the league's top scoring defensemen. Trevor Kuntar, who skates well and possesses a high-end shot, was one of the top producers in the USHL last season and shined for the U.S. at the World Junior A Challenge. He'll be playing at Boston College next season, giving the Bruins a chance to keep a close eye on his development.
This grade, however, has as much to do with the lack of picks as anything else. There just wasn't a whole lot this team could do to improve the prospect pool in a significant way.
New York Islanders: D-
Favorite pick: Alex Jefferies, No. 121 overall
Well, the Islanders' prospect pool got bigger. That's for sure. Every pick they made came in over 6 feet. Matias Rajaniemi looks like he might have some potential, but I didn't have a long enough book on him to get a great feel. The Isles used their last pick on 6-foot-7 goalie Henrik Tikkanen, who has had two straight years of sub-.900 save percentage in Finland's U20 league.
Alex Jefferies was one of the prep players I watched a bit last season, and I think there's some potential there, but I want to see how he handles the difficulty of playing in Hockey East with Merrimack. He was an older prep player last season and is transitioning to college, so I'm still in wait-and-see mode with him, but there's a good base there.