Three-plus months after the usual timeframe for the NHL Draft, the 2020 version is taking place midweek, with the first round Tuesday and Rounds 2-7 on Wednesday.
Draft analysts have had extra time to tinker with their lists for all 31 teams, although there has always been one constant — Alexis Lafreniere. The winger from Canada has been the consensus No. 1 overall pick for close to two years and it's expected the Rangers will add the generational talent. That, or they'll trade away the pick.
MORE: When is the NHL Draft 2020? | Who is Alexis Lafreniere?
As with all drafts, the time is ripe for trades, especially this year with a flat salary cap and a stocked draft class. Will New York stay in the top spot? Which teams will shuffle the deck chairs to get their man?
For now, the order is set, so here's a look at how some of the gurus think the first round will go.
Chris Peter's mock draft (ESPN)
ESPN's resident prospects guru released his mock draft ($) Sept. 22.
Pick No. | Team | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere | LW | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
2 | Los Angeles Kings | Quinton Byfield | C | Sudbury (OHL) |
3 | Ottawa Senators | Tim Stutzle | C | Mannheim (DEL) |
4 | Detroit Red Wings | Cole Perfetti | C | Saginaw (OHL) |
5 | Ottawa Senators | Jake Sanderson | D | US U18 (NTDP) |
6 | Anaheim Ducks | Jamie Drysdale | D | Erie (OHL) |
7 | New Jersey Devils | Lucas Raymond | LW | Frolunda (SHL) |
8 | Buffalo Sabres | Marco Rossi | C | Ottawa (OHL) |
9 | Minnesota Wild | Yaroslav Askarov | G | SKA (KHL) |
10 | Winnipeg Jets | Anton Lundell | C | HIFK (Liiga) |
11 | Nashville Predators | Alexander Holtz | RW | Djurgarden (SHL) |
12 | Florida Panthers | Jack Quinn | RW | Ottawa (OHL) |
13 | Carolina Hurricanes | Rodion Amirov | LW | UFA (KHL) |
14 | Edmonton Oilers | Seth Jarvis | C | Portland (WHL) |
15 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Dawson Mercer | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
16 | Montreal Canadiens | Braden Schneider | D | Brandon (WHL) |
17 | Chicago Blackhawks | Lukas Reichel | LW | Berlin (DEL) |
18 | New Jersey Devils | Connor Zary | C | Kamloops (WHL) |
19 | Calgary Flames | Dylan Holloway | C | Wisconsin (Big Ten) |
20 | New Jersey Devils | Kaiden Guhle | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
21 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Jacob Perreault | RW | Sarnia (OHL) |
22 | New York Rangers | Hendrix Lapierre | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
23 | Philadelphia Flyers | Mavrik Bourque | C | Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
24 | Washington Capitals | John-Jason Peterka | LW | Munich (DEL) |
25 | Colorado Avalanche | Brendan Brisson | C | Chicago (USHL) |
26 | St. Louis Blues | Tyson Foerster | RW | Barrie (OHL) |
27 | Anaheim Ducks | Noel Gunler | RW | Lulea (SHL) |
28 | Ottawa Senators | Thomas Bordeleau | C | USA U18 (NTDP) |
29 | Vegas Golden Knights | Ridly Greig | C | Brandon (WHL) |
30 | Dallas Stars | Vasiliy Ponomarev | C | Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
31 | San Jose Sharks | Jan Mysak | C | Hamilton (OHL) |
Corey Pronman's mock draft (The Athletic)
Pronman released his mock draft ($) on Oct. 1.
Pick No. | Team | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere | LW | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
2 | Los Angeles Kings | Tim Stutzle | C | Mannheim (DEL) |
3 | Ottawa Senators | Quinton Byfield | C | Sudbury (OHL) |
4 | Detroit Red Wings | Cole Perfetti | C | Saginaw (OHL) |
5 | Ottawa Senators | Jake Sanderson | D | US U18 (NTDP) |
6 | Anaheim Ducks | Jamie Drysdale | D | Erie (OHL) |
7 | New Jersey Devils | Lucas Raymond | LW | Frolunda (SHL) |
8 | Buffalo Sabres | Marco Rossi | C | Ottawa (OHL) |
9 | Minnesota Wild | Alexander Holtz | RW | Djurgarden (SHL) |
10 | Winnipeg Jets | Anton Lundell | C | HIFK (Liiga) |
11 | Nashville Predators | Yaroslav Askarov | G | SKA (KHL) |
12 | Florida Panthers | Seth Jarvis | C | Portland (WHL) |
13 | Carolina Hurricanes | Jack Quinn | RW | Ottawa (OHL) |
14 | Edmonton Oilers | Dylan Holloway | C | Wisconsin (Big Ten) |
15 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Rodion Amirov | LW | UFA (KHL) |
16 | Montreal Canadiens | Kaiden Guhle | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
17 | Chicago Blackhawks | Dawson Mercer | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
18 | New Jersey Devils | Braden Schneider | D | Brandon (WHL) |
19 | Calgary Flames | Hendrix Lapierre | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
20 | New Jersey Devils | Connor Zary | C | Kamloops (WHL) |
21 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Lukas Reichel | LW | Berlin (DEL) |
22 | New York Rangers | Brendan Brisson | C | Chicago (USHL) |
23 | Philadelphia Flyers | Jacob Perreault | RW | Sarnia (OHL) |
24 | Washington Capitals | Ridly Greig | C | Brandon (WHL) |
25 | Colorado Avalanche | Justin Barron | D | Halifax (QMJHL) |
26 | St. Louis Blues | Ryan O'Rourke | D | Sault St. Marie (OHL) |
27 | Anaheim Ducks | William Wallinder | D | MODO (Allsvenskan) |
28 | Ottawa Senators | John-Jason Peterka | LW | Munich (DEL) |
29 | Vegas Golden Knights | Mavrik Bourque | C | Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
30 | Dallas Stars | Jake Neighbours | LW | Edmonton (WHL) |
31 | San Jose Sharks | Noel Gunler | RW | Lulea (SHL) |
Steve Kournianos' mock draft (The Draft Analyst)
The Draft Analyst's guide is jam-packed with prospect info, including his mock draft.
Pick No. | Team | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere | LW | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
2 | Los Angeles Kings | Quinton Byfield | C | Sudbury (OHL) |
3 | Ottawa Senators | Tim Stutzle | C | Mannheim (DEL) |
4 | Detroit Red Wings | Marco Rossi | C | Ottawa (OHL) |
5 | Ottawa Senators | Jake Sanderson | D | US U18 (NTDP) |
6 | Anaheim Ducks | Jamie Drysdale | D | Erie (OHL) |
7 | New Jersey Devils | Alexander Holtz | RW | Djurgarden (SHL) |
8 | Buffalo Sabres | Lucas Raymond | LW | Frolunda (SHL) |
9 | Minnesota Wild | Anton Lundell | C | HIFK (Liiga) |
10 | Winnipeg Jets | Cole Perfetti | C | Saginaw (OHL) |
11 | Nashville Predators | Seth Jarvis | C | Portland (WHL) |
12 | Florida Panthers | Dawson Mercer | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
13 | Carolina Hurricanes | Jack Quinn | RW | Ottawa (OHL) |
14 | Edmonton Oilers | Yaroslav Askarov | G | SKA (KHL) |
15 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Dylan Holloway | C | Wisconsin (Big Ten) |
16 | Montreal Canadiens | Lukas Reichel | LW | Berlin (DEL) |
17 | Chicago Blackhawks | Rodion Amirov | LW | UFA (KHL) |
18 | New Jersey Devils | Noel Gunler | RW | Lulea (SHL) |
19 | Calgary Flames | Braden Schneider | D | Brandon (WHL) |
20 | New Jersey Devils | Kaiden Guhle | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
21 | Columbus Blue Jackets | William Wallinder | D | MODO (Allsvenskan) |
22 | New York Rangers | Marat Khusnutdinov | C | SKA-1946 (MHL) |
23 | Philadelphia Flyers | Mavrik Bourque | C | Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
24 | Washington Capitals | Connor Zary | C | Kamloops (WHL) |
25 | Colorado Avalanche | Brendan Brisson | C | Chicago (USHL) |
26 | St. Louis Blues | Ryan O'Rourke | D | Sault St. Marie (OHL) |
27 | Anaheim Ducks | Justin Sourdif | LW | Vancouver (WHL) |
28 | Ottawa Senators | John-Jason Peterka | LW | Munich (DEL) |
29 | Vegas Golden Knights | Jacob Perreault | RW | Sarnia (OHL) |
30 | Dallas Stars | Thomas Bordeleau | C | US U18 (NTDP) |
31 | San Jose Sharks | Jan Mysak | C | Hamilton (OHL) |
Craig Button's mock draft (TSN)
The former Flames general manager posted his final rankings on Oct. 2.
Pick No. | Team | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere | LW | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
2 | Los Angeles Kings | Quinton Byfield | C | Sudbury (OHL) |
3 | Ottawa Senators | Tim Stutzle | C | Mannheim (DEL) |
4 | Detroit Red Wings | Jamie Drysdale | D | Erie (OHL) |
5 | Ottawa Senators | Lucas Raymond | LW | Frolunda (SHL) |
6 | Anaheim Ducks | Jake Sanderson | D | US-NTDP |
7 | New Jersey Devils | Cole Perfetti | C | Saginaw (OHL) |
8 | Buffalo Sabres | Marco Rossi | C | Ottawa (OHL) |
9 | Minnesota Wild | Anton Lundell | C | HIFK (Liiga) |
10 | Winnipeg Jets | Seth Jarvis | C | Portland (WHL) |
11 | Nashville Predators | Yaroslav Askarov | G | SKA (KHL) |
12 | Florida Panthers | Kaiden Guhle | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
13 | Carolina Hurricanes | Alexander Holtz | RW | Djurgarden (SHL) |
14 | Edmonton Oilers | Jack Quinn | RW | Ottawa (OHL) |
15 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Braden Schneider | D | Brandon (WHL) |
16 | Montreal Canadiens | Dawson Mercer | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
17 | Chicago Blackhawks | Hendrix Lapierre | C | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
18 | New Jersey Devils | Jacob Perreault | RW | Sarnia (OHL) |
19 | Calgary Flames | Justin Barron | D | Halifax (QMJHL) |
20 | New Jersey Devils | Dylan Holloway | C | Wisconsin (Big Ten) |
21 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Ridly Greig | C | Brandon (WHL) |
22 | New York Rangers | Connor Zary | C | Kamloops (WHL) |
23 | Philadelphia Flyers | Tyson Foerster | RW | Barrie (OHL) |
24 | Washington Capitals | Jeremie Poirier | D | Saint John (QMJHL) |
25 | Colorado Avalanche | Brendan Brisson | C | Chicago (USHL) |
26 | St. Louis Blues | William Wallinder | D | MODO (Allsvenskan) |
27 | Anaheim Ducks | Helge Grans | D | Malmo (Sweden) |
28 | Ottawa Senators | John-Jason Peterka | LW | Munich (DEL) |
29 | Vegas Golden Knights | Ryan O'Rourke | D | Sault St. Marie (OHL) |
30 | Dallas Stars | Rodion Amirov | LW | UFA (KHL) |
31 | San Jose Sharks | Jan Mysak | C/LW | Hamilton (OHL) |