2020 NHL Draft Results

Round 1 Picks 16-31

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: October 6, 2020.

16. Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) A Grade
    
    
    Having defenders like Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry, Bret Kulak, Victor Mete, and Xavier Ouellet certaintly makes things easier for goalie Carey Price who will have all of these guys back next season. Montreal added another guy on the blue line who was my third best defender in this draft in Kaiden Guhle at 16.
    
    
    
    Montreal took Kaiden Guhle at 16. Kaiden Guhle and Braden Schneider were both line 1 defenders for Team White in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game. I believe Schneider has the better floor, but Guhle has the higher ceiling meaning Schenider probably ends up in the NHL quicker, but Guhle could have the better NHL career if he corrects his flaws on tape.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 187 lb Kaiden Guhle is a defensive defender who helped Prince Albert win the WHL last season in 2018-2019. Guhle had 11 goals, 29 assists, 40 points, and a +23 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Guhle also scored a goal in the 2020 CHL Prospects game.
    
    
    
    He dominates defensively, but his biggest question heading into the season is would Guhle improve offensively. He checks all of the boxes defensively. Kaiden Guhle went from 17 points struggling offensively to having 40 so I feel a lot more confident in Guhle becoming a reliable two-way defender at the next level.
    
    
    
    Kaiden Guhle was on the Prince Albert Raiders third line in 2018-2019 when Prince Albert won the WHL. He got promoted to the first line in 2019-2020. Montreal can keep Guhle in Prince Albert until he's 20 and mold him into a stud with all the prospects that they currently have.
    
    
    
17. Chicago Blackhawks: Lukas Reichel, RW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Chicago has Alex Nylander as their line 1 left winger, Jonathan Toews as their line 1 center, and Patrick Kane as their line 1 right winger. Alex Debrincat is their line 2 left winger, Dylan Strome is their line 2 center, and Brandon Saad is their line 2 right winger. Chicago would have Dominik Kubalik as their line 3 left winger, last years 2019 first round pick Kirby Dach as a line 3 center, and Andrew Shaw as a line 3 right winger. Getting some fourth line players on offense should not be a problem in the offseason.
    
    
    
    Defensively, Chicago has Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Olli Maata, Slater Koekkoek, Calvin De Haan, Adam Boqvist, and Connor Murphy. Chicago has seven good defenders when healthy, but three are injured this season and that is why Chicago's blue line has been really suspect this season. Keith gave up numerous big plays that led to goals by McDavid in the qualifier round.
    
    
    
    Chicago goes with Lukas Reichel who they can use as a fourth line winger or they can continue to develop him. He's a player that belonged in the top 15.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 172 lb Lukas Reichel can play left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. Lukas Reichel had 12 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points on Eisbaren Berlin in the DEL league in Germany. Reichel was a first line winger that lined up at both wing spots on different shifts with Eisbaren Berlin.
    
    
    
    The thing that stood out with him is that he was the line 1 defenseman anchoring the blue line on his teams power play overseas in Germany. Also, with Reichel having that ceiling of a special player, this is someone that the Chicago Blackhawks were lucky to get since this is a guy that has a top 10 potential grade as well as a top 15 consensus grade.
    
    
    
    I posted a film cut of Lukas Reichel on our Youtube channel. You can watch it below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
18. New Jersey Devils: Dawson Mercer, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    The New Jersey Devils now own this first round pick from the Arizona Coyotes. They get a guy I mocked to them at 20 in one of my last mocks.
    
    
    
    New Jersey already got Alexander Holtz as their future line 1 right winger. New Jersey gets Dawson Mercer with their second pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 179 lb Dawson Mercer began his career with the Drummmondville Voltigeurs. Mercer has been more consistent in terms of playing on the first line than Jack Quinn which is why I mocked Mercer to the Devils.
    
    
    
    Dawson Mercer had 30 goals, 34 assists, and 64 points in 2018-2019. Mercer got promoted to alternate captain on Drummondville before being traded to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Dawson Mercer had 24 goals, 36 assists, and 60 points in 2019-2020.
    
    
    
    Dawson Mercer has the has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play or dominate as a penalty killer.
    
    
    
19. New York Rangers: Braden Schneider, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) A Grade
    
    
    New York sent 22 and 72 to Calgary for 19. They used this pick on the best player on the board. They got a replacement to Marc Staal rather than get a first line center. I am giving A grade rather than an A+ grade because I felt like the Rangers gave up just a little too much to move up for Schneider.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 209 lb defensive defender has two years of experience as an alternate captain. Braden Schenider was an alternate captain in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game and was the top ranked defender on Team White anchoring their first line despite playing with Kaiden Guhle who I ranked slightly higher.
    
    
    
    Braden Schneider has quick feet. Braden Schneider had 7 goals, 35 assists, 42 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Schneider went from a defensive defender heading into the season with a late first round grade to one of the better two-way defenders in this draft that warrants a top 15 selection. New York got him at 19.
    
    
    
20. New Jersey Devils: Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) F Grade
    
    
    The New Jersey Devils took a guy that I had a mid second round grade on outside of my top 40 skaters here at 20 in the first round. The 6-2 170 lb Shakir Mukhamadullin had 1 assist with a -1 +/- ratio in 27 KHL games. Detroit can groom him to be a future blue line player on their team with this pick. He has more KHL experience and a better floor than teammate Rodion Amirov despite having less upside than Amirov.
    
    
    
    Mukhamadullin also is the line 1 defenseman that anchors this blue line on the power play despite being a line 2 defender that anchors the blue line. His game needs a lot of work, but he could be a good offensive defenseman with the right coaching.
    
    
    
    New Jersey reached here. They are getting an F grade for this pick at 20.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Columbus Blue Jackets: Yegor Chinakhov, RW, Avangard Omsk (KHL) F Grade
    
    
    The 5-11 179 lb Yegor Chinakhov is a right winger that was alternate captain on his MHL team. He had 27 goals, 42 assists, and 69 points in 2019-2020. Yegor Chinakhov could be picked as early as the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft and as late as the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. I have a fourth round grade on Avangard Omsk's playmaking right winger.
    
    
    
    Yegor Chinakhov will finally make his debut in the KHL in 2020-2021. This pick gets an F grade because I didn't even mock him in my seven round mock draft. The fact that Columbus took him in the first round warrants an F grade.
    
    
    
22. Washington Capitals: Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) C Grade
    
    
    Washington grabs a center to develop for the future. Hendrix Lapierre finally gets picked here. Lapierre went on TSN1200 in Ottawa and basically said he feels great, he's skating again, and feels 100 percent after three seperate injuries as a rookie and three concussions in the last eight months.
    
    
    
    Hendrix Lapierre had 13 goals, 32 assists, 45 points, and a +5 +/- ratio in 48 games despite being injured on three separate games in 2018-2019. Hendrix Lapierre had 2 goals, 15 assists, 17 points, anad a +4 +/- ratio in 2019-2020 after being limited to 19 games. He had 2 goals, 2 assists, and 4 points at full health in his first 2020-2021 game.
    
    
    
    Hendrix Lapierre has the has the playmaking, passing, offensive awareness as a passer, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that is a natural passer. He doesn't shoot as much as he should. He looks for an open man on 95 percent of his plays meaning his game is dependant on him being able to find an open man. His shooting power and shooting accuracy needs to improve with both slap shots and wrist shots. He's got potential to be a first line center in the NHL since he was the first overall pick for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the 2018 QMJHL Draft. His biggest challenge will be to stay healthy to have a few breakout years in the CHL before he turns twenty before being called up to the Hershey Bears in the AHL and then the Washington Capitals in the NHL.
    
    
    
    Hendrix Lapierre is good enough to be a first line center and he showed that when he was healthy. Washington may have their successor to Niklas Backstrom, but they need to be patient with Hendrix Lapierre.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster, RW, Barrie Colts (OHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    Philadelphia needs a third line center to push Nolan Patrick. They get a guy I mocked to the Flyers at one point in Tyson Foerster which is why I really like this pick.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia gets a right wing prospect here if one falls to them, otherwise they go with the best player on the board. A right winger fell to Philadelphia at 23 here, and that player was the only player to score 2 goals in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 196 lb Tyson Foerster had 10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points, and a +1 +/- ratio as a line 2 center behind Ryan Suzuki in 2018-2019. Suzuki had 25 goals, 50 assists, and 75 points as an alternate captain that season before being drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Tyson Foerster took the line 1 job from Ryan Suzuki before Suzuki got traded to the Sagniaw Spirit after Suzuki had a down year in 2019-2020. The Barrie Colts even moved him over to left wing and right wing on the first line where he had success as well and I see Foerster being a right winger in Philadelphia. Tyson Foerster had 36 goals, 44 assists, and 80 points in 2019-2020 in a shortened season thanks to the Corona Virus while showcasing his skill set as a two-way forward. Tyson Foerster was also the only player to score 2 goals in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game.
    
    
    
24. Calgary Flames: Connor Zary, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    Calgary gets Connor Zary at 24 after trading down twice at 19 and 22 only to secure two third round picks. The 6-0 174 lb Connor Zary had 11 goals, 18 assists, and 29 points in his rookie season in 2017-2018. Connor Zary had 24 goals, 43 assists, 67 points, and a +18 +/- ratio during the 2018-2019 regular season before struggling in the playoffs. Connor Zary had 38 goals, 48 assists, 86 points, and +30 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Connor Zary nearly scored in the 2020 CHL Prospects Game before his goal got called off.
    
    
    
    Connor Zary has the has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play or dominate as a penalty killer. He's a line 1 center on Kamloops and Calgary can keep him in the WHL and develop him to be Sean Monahan's replacement if they trade Monahan in the next two years..
    
    
    
    
    
25. Colorado Avalanche: Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) B Grade
    
    
    I trust Joe Sakic and Alan Hepple. These two rarely get it wrong in Colorado.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 187 lb Halifax Mooseheads defenseman had 2 goals, 19 assists, 21 points, and a +18 +/- in 51 games in 2017-2018. Barron had 9 goals, 32 assists, 41 points, and a +42 +/- in 68 games in 2018-2019 when he was on the top line with Jared McIsaac. Barron had 2 goals, 11 assists, and 13 points during the 2019 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Justin Barron only had 4 goals, 15 assists, 19 points, and a -19 +/- ratio after Jared McIssac got traded to another QMJHL team in 2019-2020 despite taking over as the top defenseman on Halifax. He came back from a blood clot injury that kept him out for four months before Covid-19 cancelled his season.
    
    
    
    Justin Barron has the the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape just based on what I saw from Barron in his first two years with Halfiax. He can do well on the power play or dominate as a penalty killer. To be fair, I felt very strongly about Barron heading into 2019-2020 after he had a strong 2018-2019 season prior to a bad draft year and having a bad draft year is the only reason Barron slipped to the late part of the first round.
    
    
    
    Justin Barron still has some areas of his game that he needs to work on. The Colorado Avalanche have him in their farm system along with Bowen Byram who they took at four in the 2019 NHL Draft. Colorado is building a blue line that can win them a Stanley Cup at some point.
    
    
    
    
    
26. St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours, LW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) A Grade
    
    
    The 5-11 201 lb Jake Neighbours has a great work ethic. Jake Neighbours had 11 goals, 13 assists, 24 points, and a +5 +/- ratio before stepping up with 12 points for the Edmonton Oil Kings during a 16 game playoff run in 2018-2019 before losing to the eventual WHL champions, the Prince Albert Raiders in 6 games.
    
    
    
    Jake Neighbours had 23 goals, 47 assists, 70 points, and a +15 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Neighbours also played line 1 right winger in the 2020 CHL Prospects game. The versatility to play both left wing or right wing on a top line is there which is why the St. Louis Blues got a steal at 26.
    
    
    
27. Anaheim Ducks: Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia Sting (OHL) B- Grade
    
    
    Anaheim is a team that could get a great value pick like Jacob Perreault early in the second round. The 5-11 198 lb Jacob Perreault is the best player on the board. He was a first round prospect for most of the NHL Draft Process, and could still end up being a first round pick.
    
    
    
    Jacob Perreault had 30 goals, 25 assists, 55 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in 2018-2019. Perreault had 39 goals, 31 assists, 70 points, and a -34 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Perreault played center in 2018-2019, but made the switch to right wing in 2019-2020. He's an aggressive sniper that likes to hit hard so he's a better fit at right wing despite having the versatility to play left wing, center, or right wing.
    
    
    
    The line 1 right winger on the Sarnia Sting is a fantastic value pick here since his wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy is through the roof. Perreault is an A+ shooter not an A grade shooter. He can score from any angle on tape, and will have success in the NHL as long as you use him as a sniper. The rest of his game needs development espeially his defense before you bring him up to the NHL.
    
    
    
    
    
28. Ottawa Senators: Ridly Greig, LW, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) C- Grade
    
    
    The 5-11 159 Ridly Greig was my best prospect on the Brandon Wheat Kings heading into the preseason despite being a line 2 left winger. Luka Burzan and Ben McCartney another 2020 NHL Draft prospect anchored the top line with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Ridly Greig was the line 2 left winger and the line 1 left winger in power play situations with the Brandon Wheat Kings this past season.
    
    
    
    Ridly Greig had 26 goals, 34 assists, 60 points, and a +11 +/- ratio. Ottawa drafts him here because he's versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Ottawa reached for Greig here in the late first round. I was expecting Ottawa to take a center or right winger.
    
    
    
29. Vegas Golden Knights: Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago Steel (USHL) B- Grade
    
    
    Vegas needed to get more defenders which is why they got a B- grade. I like Brendan Brisson though as a player.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 179 lb Brendan Brisson began the season with the Green Bay Gamblers, the USHL team that took him with a tenth round pick in the 2017 USHL Players Selection. After getting his first goal with the Gamblers, Brendan Brisson got traded to the Chicago Steel where he had 24 goals, 35 assists, and 59 points before finishing the season with 60 points and a +16 +/- ratio.
    
    
    
    Brisson led Chicago Steel centers with 60 points. He even surpassed last years line 1 center Sean Farrell as the first line center on the Chicago Steel before winning the 2020 USHL Rookie Of The Year award. Brisson has a consensus first round grade by most scouting services.
    
    
    
    The Chicago Steel led the USHL in points with some of their players having record seasons. Outside of the USNTDP, the Chicago Steel look like the best USHL factory for developing NHL talent as Brisson will enroll in Michigan in 2020-2021. Brisson can develop at Michigan before signing his rookie deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
    
    
    
    Brendan Brisson has the has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play or dominate as a penalty killer. His defensive awareness and skating needs to improve, but he can correct those areas of his game once he enrolls at Michigan.
    
    
    
    Brendan Brisson's father Pat Brisson is a former NHL Player. Pat Brisson is also a renowned NHL Agent and Pat believes his son is a first round prospect. Brendan said great things about both the Flyers and Avalanche in interviews on podcasts leading up to this draft. He could go as early as 22 to the New York Rangers, but could fall all the way to the San Jose Sharks at 34. He ended up going in between there at 29 to Vegas.
    
    
    
    
    
30. Dallas Stars: Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Dallas gets a successor to Joe Pavelski here. The 5-10 165 lb Mavrik Bourque had 25 goals, 29 assists, and 54 points in 2018-2019. Mavrik Bourque had 29 goals, 42 assists, and 71 points in 2019-2020. He got promoted to team captain on the Shawinigan Cataractes for the 2020-2021 QMJHL season with the Shawinigan Cataractes. Mavrik Bourque was a first line center with the Shawinigan Cataractes, but he won't have to be a top line guy as long as Tyler Seguin is on Dallas.
    
    
    
    Mavrik Bourque has the has the playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape. He can do well on the power play. He's a line 1 center on the Shawinigan Cataractes, and will probably be a second line center in Dallas in two years once Joe Pavelski's contract is up.
    
    
    
31. San Jose Sharks: Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) C+ Grade
    
    
    The San Jose Sharks grab a two-way forward who is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. The 5-10 183 lb Ozzy Wiesblatt was part of the Prince Albert Raiders team that won the 2019 WHL Playoffs where he posted 5 goals, 5 assists, and 10 points in 23 playoff games during Prince Albert's Championship Season in the Western Hockey League. Wiesblatt was the second line center in Prince Albert's game 7 victory over the Vancouver Giants. In that game, Ozzy Weisblatt demolished Justin Sourdif in the face off department.
    
    
    
    Ozzy Wiesblatt had 15 goals, 24 assists, 39 points, and a +30 +/- ratio in 2018-2019 on the Prince Albert Raiders second line. Ozzy Wiesblatt had 25 goals, 45 assists, 70 points, and a +20 +/- ratio in 2019-2020 when he got promoted to the top line on the Prince Albert Raiders.