NHL mock drafts 2020: Compare Chris Peters, Craig Button & other experts

Jackie Spiegel

NHL mock drafts 2020: Compare Chris Peters, Craig Button & other experts image

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)

Jackie Spiegel