Lottery is done and the draft order is in place. This is a mock draft and no doubt there are some picks GMs will like more than others. I truly believe outside the top handful of players the following 20+ could go in most any order and it wouldn’t shock me. Extremely little separates a lot of these picks and a lot will come down to preferences. Anyways took sometime and this is what I came up with:

 

  1. Tampa Bay:
    • Alex Lafreniere: The easy and consensus #1 pick. I still could see this pick being moved, but if it does not it is guaranteed Laf will come off the board here.

 

  1. Washington:
    • Quintin Byfield: Blake traded up specifically to land Byfield. One of the youngest players in the draft who has tremendous upside. With his size and speed he will be tough to handle in real life and FHL. In Byfield Blake gets his future #1 center.

 

  1. Toronto:
    • Tim Stützle: This was hinted at the draft lottery reveal. As the season progressed, I feel this pick has become more and more likely, especially in FHL communities. With blazing speed, amazing edgework, and skill oozing out Chris walks away hoping for what looks to be a Barzal clone.

 

  1. Pittsburgh:
    • Alexander Holtz: Starts getting quite tough at this pick. The reason I go with Holtz here is there is always a premium on goal scoring yet alone in FHL. Holtz also has a solid all-around game. It will be interesting to see what PIT does with this pick as I can see it being moved for immediate help.

 

  1. Boston:
    • Jamie Drysdale: With back-back picks and regardless BOS takes BPA available here. Drysdale is a safe bet to go top five in the NHL and has to looks of being similar to Makar and Hughes. He may not put up as many points yet has some if not the best edgework and skating in this draft. His IQ is extremely high too so a safe bet to become a damn good defender

 

  1. Boston
    • Lucas Raymond: Raymond didn’t get the exposure many other prospects did this draft. When it comes to talent and upside there is little question, he is still in the top 3-5 in this draft. When Raymond did see minutes, he performed admirably. Being able to combine him with Drysdale allows Boston to walk away ecstatic from this draft and with Ivan two of the best skaters.

 

  1. Florida
    • Marco Rossi: Rossi has a chance to become the highest ever Austrian selected. This would require him going in the top 4 however. I think Florida debates hard here between a few pieces yet goes with the two-way M. Rossi. If Rossi had a few inches more inches in height he would be a scary prospect. It is impossible to deny no center at his height exists in the NHL.

 

  1. Arizona
    • Cole Perfetti: Perfetti has been moving up in a few finals’ rankings. He is top five in multiple now and provides arguably the best IQ and stickhandling in this draft. He is one of the premier playmakers, cerebral players, and has a filthy shot too. Perfetti had one of the strongest Hlinka tournaments in memory.

 

  1. New Jersey
    • Seth Jarvis: The numbers and skating package are tough to deny. In Jarvis New Jersey adds a piece to hopefully line up with Laine down the line. Jarvis can play all 3 zones and just continued to progress as the year went on and likely to be one of the biggest risers of the draft.

 

  1. Montreal
    • Noel Gunler: With two picks later in the first Montreal takes a swing at Gunler. One of the more polarizing prospects out there. According to numerous services multiple teams have him in their top 10 and some lower. With the premium on goal scoring being what it is Montreal takes a shot at the Swede here.

 

  1. Los Angeles
    • Jake Sanderson: LA doesn’t have a team right now. With Seth Jarvis, Jake Sanderson is probably the top riser. With each list coming out it more and more looks like he is a lock to go top 10 in the NHL. Pronman recently even stated he thinks there is a 40% chance he goes before Drysdale and that multiple teams have him in their top five rankings. This pick will likely be BPA and the new GM can be happy to get a defensive building block like Sanderson

 

  1. Arizona
    • Yaroslav Askarov: Arizona is starting out a rebuild and their first draft. Given this could make sense to swing for the fences and hope for an elite franchise starter. It is always risky taking a goalie in the 1st round yet Askarov outside of a tough WJC has shined nearly everywhere else.

 

  1. Nashville
    • Rodion Amirov: Steve goes and selects the top Russian non goalie. FC just released their rankings, which saw Amirov at #7. There are a few services that are super high on him. He is one of the better players at protecting the puck and being able to pivot directions when with it. This allows him to regular take it to the middle and create for others or himself.

 

  1. Chicago
    • Connor Zary: An easy to love prospects. Nothing elite, albeit a very good playmaker. What he is however is just good or better at everything with no flaws, tenacious, and a future captain. Extremely reminiscent of Horvat and a realistic fair comparable. Zary is slightly better than Horvat was at the same age imo though.

 

  1. Toronto
    • Jack Quinn: With the playmaker in Stützle drafted Toronto grabs the 50+ goal scoring J. Quinn. After surging late in the year, he is a prospect ranging from late top 10 to the low 20’s. With no major flaws and 50+ goals and a good all-around offensive game his super early birthday is the only thing holding him from a top 10 pick.

 

  1. Colorado
    • Dawson Mercer: Mercer does everything well. High expectations were set after making the WJC as an under-ager. He should be a sure-fire NHL player as he maximizes everything and will win more 50/50 battles than he loses. Will he bring enough to be a top-end first liner is one of the questions.

 

  1. Chicago
    • Anton Lundell: Has been dropping in many rankings now coming out. His possession numbers are great, but somehow the production just wasn’t what most wanted, expected, and should be given his possession numbers. He is as safe as anyone in this draft and one of the best two-way players. Questions about his offensive upside and skating have been hurting his stock and in FHL those are even more vital

 

  1. Philly
    • Dylan Holloway: One of the younger players in the draft and plays a true power-forward game. After struggling early on a team that struggled as a whole he finished the season strong and even had Granato call him the best player on the team in the last quarter of the season.

 

  1. Florida
    • Jan Mysak: Plays one of the better north-south games from the 2020 prospects. Still when you watch him, he just stands out at least a few times throughout a game. After transitioning from the Czech league, he put up strong numbers yet not as huge as some would have hoped. There is a chance Mysak could become a top 10 player from the draft.

 

  1. Washington
    • Mavrik Bourque: Some of the best production in line with the top CHL players and plays the game fast. He may not be the fastest skater or first step yet he is agile and quick with reactions. One doesn’t need to have the fastest skating team to play the game faster than any other team. Bourque will go great behind Byfield.

 

  1. Los Angeles
    • Kaiden Guhle: Another BPA so tough to figure out who goes here. Guhle ranges yet is often in the top 20 rankings. He is one of the top athletes and smoothest skaters in the draft. He provides good size too and if he can slightly improve his offensive game should be a safer bet for a good 2nd pairing guy.

 

  1. Montreal
    • Jeremie Poirier: Some would argue yet I’d say he is the slight tier above any other defender in the offensive zone in this draft. One could say the same thing come not knowing where the defensive zone is however. An extremely high risk/reward type who will either delight a team or infuriate them if not both simultaneously.

 

  1. Calgary
    • Hendrix Lapierre: With back to back picks Calgary takes a shot at Lapierre who was once seen as a top 10 talent. There were questions with concussions, which ended up being a neck issue that should be fixed now. He didn’t really have a strong season though and seriously struggled in the goal scoring department. Still at this range he is will worth the risk as he is a filthy playmaker when at his best.

 

  1. Calgary
    • Emil Andrea: After grabbing the forward Calgary goes with the smaller Andrea. Right now at around 5’9 if another inch or two taller he’d he discussed even higher. He has all the qualities one likes and wants in a defender these days. Has the ability to run a powerplay and do all the side things required to excel.

 

  1. Washington
    • Jacob Perrault: So much talent and to like with Perrault. One of the top five shots and when he is on, he is a scary force. If you watch him 10 games though you will see a few different players and games where he completely lacks engagement, looks like he can barely skate, etc. Then you’ll watch three games and he is speeding past players, getting loose pucks, and sniping them top shelf with the best of them. With Bourque and Byfield in place there is potential for a devastating top line if everything pans out.

 

  1. Toronto
    • Lukas Cormier: With Quinn and Stützle drafted Toronto drafts Chris takes the light and quick footed Cormier. He is incredibly slippery and good at escaping pressure. He was drafted up high early on and has never disappointed since. Was one of the top three if not the best defender in the QMJHL upon return from his injury.

 

  1. Chicago
    • Brayden Schneider: One of the safest defenders out there. If nothing else should be a tall, great skating, complete shut-down machine. He has the defensive awareness arguably in the draft and always plays a calm game. Schneider possesses a solid shot actually just rarely uses it. Chicago would walk with Zary, Lundell, and Schneider making for one of the safer yet good 1st round selections.

 

  1. Montreal
    • Brendan Brisson: The first USHL player selected after a strong year last year. He has been dominant for two years now and put up big numbers. Definitely more of a playmaker than a scorer. He will frustrate opponents with his possession skills. This pick would leave Montreal walking with Gunler, Poirier, and Brisson.

 

  1. Toronto
    • John-Jason Peterka: One of the harder players to play against in this draft. Uses his speed well and can weave in and out of traffic. Not the highest skilled player yet after getting 3 high end guys Toronto takes what should be a top tier 3rd liner realistically with hopefulness, he turns into a strong 2nd

 

  1. Colorado
    • Zion Nybeck: He is listed at 5’6 yet one of the most eye-opening players to watch in this draft. He is insanely talented and his numbers are some of the most impressive in the past decades in the SuperElit. This is a big risk pick here yet this would be a player to take that chance on. He is just damn good yet will have a lot to learn and figure out to make the NHL at his size.

 

DISCLAIMER: Once again this is just a projection. Little doubt everyone will agree yet just one scenario of how I could see things playing out. With no NHL draft to look at it will make things more interesting. It was super wide open in bigger tier groups and now even more so.