2020 NHL Draft Results

Round 4

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: October 12, 2020.

93. Philadelphia Flyers: Zayde Wisdom, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) A- Grade
    
    
    Zayde Wisdom is a great value pick for Philadelphia here since I mocked him to Carolina in the early part of the second round. Philadelphia traded two picks to Tampa Bay and they got two guys who were line 1 players in Eamon Powell and Jaydon Dureau. That's why I gave the Flyers an A- grade despite having a secound round grade on Wisdom.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 201 lb Zayde Wisdom had 29 goals, 30 assists, and 59 points in 2019-2020. Wisdom is versatile enough to play left wing, center, and right wing. Wisdom was the line 1 right winger on the same line with future 2022 NHL Draft prospect Shane Wright who may be the top pick in two years from now.
    
    
    
94. Florida Panthers: Michael Benning, D, Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) A Grade
    
    
    Florida traded the 6-5 216 lb Josh Brown to Ottawa for this pick. I loved the player that Florida drafted, but he's not going to be as big as Josh Brown which is why the Florida Panthers get an A grade rather than A+ grade.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 164 lb Michael Benning had 10 goals, 51 assists, and 61 points in 60 games in his rookie season with the Sherwood Park Crusaders back in 2018-2019. Benning also had 9 points in 12 playoff games despite being a defender.
    
    
    
    Benning had 12 goals, 63 assists, and 74 points in 54 games. He also cut back on his penalty minutes from 99 penalty minutes to 54 penalty minutes in his second season. He may take a few years to develop, but he anchored the Sherwood Park Crusaders blue line by being the first line defenseman that anchors that blue line. My final argument for moving Benning from the third to second round is simple. He won the AJHL defenseman of the year award in 2019-2020 when the Sherwood Park Crusaders were regular season champions.
    
    
    
    Michael Benning was one of the sleepers in this draft so Florida made an excellent pick here. Florida had a very underrated draft up to this point at pick 94 or 95 if you count the pick that the NHL stripped the Arizona Coyotes of as a draft pick with Anton Lundell at 12, Emil Heineman in the second round who could still be a steal if he develops despite being the worst pick of this draft, getting two great value picks in the third round with Ty Smilanic and Justin Sourdif. Now they get Benning in the fourth round.
    
    
    
    
    
95. Calgary Flames: Danil Chechelev, G, HC Vityaz (KHL) F Grade
    
    
    Danil Chechelev has no KHL experience. He did well in the MHL. I'm giving Calgary an F grade for reaching for a backup goalie in the fourth round.
    
    
    
96. Detroit Red Wings: Sam Stange, RW, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) D Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 201 lb Sam Strange had 26 goals, 19 assists, and 45 points in the USHL. He's going to Wisconsin to develop. Detroit must of saw something they really liked in this local that is going to enroll in Wisconsin as a freshman for the 2020-2021 season.
    
    
    
    
    
97. San Jose Sharks: Brandon Coe, RW, North Bay Batallion (OHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    San Jose gets the best player on the board. The 6-3 185 lb Brandon Coe improved marginally on both offense and defense. He's still a project defensively. Bob McKenzie also has an early third round grade on Brandon Coe, so the Sharks are getting great value taking Coke early in the fourth round.
    
    
    
98. New Jersey Devils: Jaromir Pytlik, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) A Grade
    
    
    New Jersey is loaded at center. They got five good ones with Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Travis Zajac, Pavel Zacha, and Michael McLeod as a replacement to Zajac when his contract is up. Now they add another center prospect in this draft with Jaromir Pytlik who I had a second round grade on.
    
    
    
    New Jersey grabs the 6-3 201 lb Jaromir Pytlik here in the second round. He's the first line center on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds which is why I moved him up from the fourth round to the late second round.
    
    
    
    Jaromir Pytlik had 22 goals, 28 assists, and 50 points in 2019-2020 in 56 games. New Jersey can keep Pytlik in the OHL and then either bring him up in 2023-2024 when Pavel Zacha is an unrestriced free agent after he plays a year in the AHL. The other option is to trade Zacha when he enters a contract year since this guy is a first line center on his team.
    
    
    
    
    
99. Edmonton Oilers: Carter Savoie, LW, Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The Edmonton Oilers get the 5-10 181 lb Carter Savoie is an alternate captain and the line 1 left winger on the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
    
    
    
    Carter Savoie had 31 goals, 42 assists, 73 points. After getting promoted to alternate captain Savoie had 53 goals, 46 assists, and 99 points in 2019-2020.
    
    
    
    He's also the older brother of 2022 first round pick Matthew Savoie, the first pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. I've seen some mocks place Savoie in the second round, but this is a guy who could end up providing first round value in the fourth round since he accepted a scholarship to Denver for NCAA Hockey.
    
    
    
100. Nashville Predators: Adam Wilsby, D, Skelleftea AIK (Elitserien) D Grade
     
     
     The 6-0 181 lb Adam Wilsby is the third best prospect on Skelleftea AIK with left winger Gabriel Sall and center Albin Sundvisk being the top two prospects on this team.
     
     
     
     Skelleftea consistently produces defensemen that get drafted in the NHL. That's the only reason I spared Nashville with a D grade instead of an F grade.
     
     
     
     
     
101. Montreal Canadiens: Jack Smith, C, St. Cloud Cathedral HS (MN) F Grade
     
     
     I felt like Montreal wasted this pick. They get an F grade here in the fourth round.
     
     
     
102. New York Rangers: Dylan Garand, G, Kamploops Blazers (WHL) A Grade
     
     
     The 6-1 172 lb Dylan Garand had a 2.21 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 42 games. Dylan Garand is a great goalie for the New York Rangers to develop. He could end up being the guy that replaces Henrik Lundqvist at some point if their new starting goalie struggles.
     
     
     
     
     
103. Anaheim Ducks: Thimo Nickl, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) B Grade
     
     
     The 6-3 187 lb Thimo Nickl only has one year of experience after being a 2019 first round pick in the CHL Import Draft. Nickl is a good developmental player for the Anaheim Ducks to add here.
     
     
     
104. Florida Panthers: Zach Uens, D, Merrimack C Grade
     
     
     Zach Uens played in all 34 games at Merrimack as a true freshman in 2019-2020. Slight reach, as I had a fifth round grade on him, but it's better than taking a player with an undrafted grade in the fourth round, making this a solid selection.
     
     
     
     
     
105. Toronto Maple Leafs: Artur Akhtyamov, G, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) F Grade
     
     
     Not even the best goalie on Ak Bars Kazan. Toronto wasted this pick so they may have to look for a goalie in the 2021 NHL Draft now. Someone like Oldrich Cichon is who I would have taken here.
     
     
     
106. Detroit Red Wings: Jan Mysak, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Extraliga) B Grade
     
     
     Jan Mysak was the second best goalie in the Extraliga league that you could get in this draft from the Czech Republic with Oldrich Cichon being the top keeper from the Czech Republic. That's why the Red Wings got a B grade here.
     
     
     
     Jan Mysak is a project goalie, in fact I'd say he's a bigger project than Cichon. Most media members and scouting outlets have Mysak as the top ranked goalie behind Yaroslav Askarov. I had Mysak as the sixth goalie to be drafted in my final 2020 NHL Mock Draft with Yarsolav Askarov, Calle Clang, Nico Daws, Oldrich Cichon, and Drew Commesso as my top five goalies drafted. Cichon and Mysak were the only goalies left on the board so you cannot fault Detroit for drafting Mysak hoping he becomes the successor to Jimmy Howard.
     
     
     
     
     
107. Pittsburgh Penguins: Lukas Svejkovsky, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) C Grade
     
     
     Fundamentally sound on both offense and defense. Does everything well, but nothing great. I had a sixth round grade on Lukas Svecjkovsky which is why the Penguins got a C grade for taking him a little bit early.
     
     
     
     The 5-10 165 lb Lukas Svejkovsky is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Lukas Svejkovsky had 18 goals, 20 assists, 38 points, and a +27 +/- ratio.
     
     
     
108. Montreal Canadiens: Blake Biondi, LW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) B+ Grade
     
     
     Blake Biondi is a 6-0 181 lb left winger. Blake Biondi is the best prospect on the Sioux City Musketeers in the 2020 NHL Draft despite playing a majority of his season at Hermantown HS where he had 37 goals, 39 assists, and 76 points in 2019-2020. Biondi only had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points on the Musketeers.
     
     
     
     Blake Biondi is a two-way forward. He can play left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. When I first scouted him, I thought he was a pure left winger. Montreal takes Biondi here and stashes him as a future prospect to develop.
     
     
     
     
     
109. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Krutil, D, Sparta Praha (Extraliga) F Grade
     
     
     No question Chicago reached here with Oldrich Cichon being the best prospect on Sparta Praha. Chicago gets an F grade in the fourth round as Michael Krutil has 0 points in Extraliga despite having great size at 6-3 201 lbs.
     
     
     
110. Arizona Coyotes: Mitchell Miller, D, Tri-City Storm (USHL) A Grade
     
     
     Mitchell Miller got traded from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to the Tri-City Storm. He's a top 50 player on some big boards, so I'm sure the Coyotes would love to add Miller here as they continue to stockpile their team with future prospects as this was their first selection of the 2020 NHL Draft.
     
     
     
     
     
111. Los Angeles Kings: Juho Markkanen, G, Saimaan Pallo (SM Liiga) C Grade
     
     
     Juho Markkanen is the son of Jussi Markkanen a 2001 fifth round pick by the Edmonton Oilers. Juho should go in the fifth round where his father was picked. He's the top prospect on Saimaan Pallo, but he mainly played against guys in Finland his own age rather than pros in Finland. The Kings took two goalies through the NHL Draft in 2018 and 2019. Both prospects are doing well with Lukas Parik and Jacob Ingham both doing well in the WHL and OHL. Juho Markkanen has to ouperform those guys when he gets to the AHL just to earn the right to be on an NHL team.
     
     
     
112. Vancouver Canucks: Jackson Kunz, LW, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) F Grade
     
     
     Not even the best winger on his own team. Vancouver gets an F grade here.
     
     
     
     
     
113. Columbus Blue Jackets: Mikael Pyyhtia, C, TPS (SM Liiga) D Grade
     
     
     Only had 1 assist on TPS last season. He may be a fourth line center in the NHL, but that's his ceiling at best. Probably an AHL prospect for Columbus once he finishes developing in Finland on TPS.
     
     
     
114. Carolina Hurricanes: Zion Nybeck, RW, HV71 (Elitserien)
     
     
     The 5-8 176 lb Zion Nybeck finally made the Elitserien league in the SHL. He is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing with his versatility making him a great addition for the Carolina Hurricanes. He was a third line right winger on HV71.
     
     
     
     
     
115. Tampa Bay Lightning: Eamon Powell, D, USNTDP (USHL) A Grade
     
     
     The 5-11 165 lb Eamon Powell is a guy who played on all three lines of this blue line on Team USA throughout the season with the third line, second line, and first line. Powell will be enrolling into Boston College. Powell can continue to develop his game at Boston College.
     
     
     
116. Washington Capitals: Bogdan Trineyev, RW, UHC Dynamo Moscow (KHL) B- Grade
     
     
     The Washington Capitals get the 6-3 176 lb Bogdan Trineyev. Trineyev has a third round grade. Unfortuantely, he has yet to play a KHL game. He looks like he could provide good value in the fourth round though after having 12 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points in the MHL.
     
     
     
     
     
117. Colorado Avalanche: Colby Ambrosio, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL) C Grade
     
     
     Solid pick by Colorado in the fourth round. The 5-9 170 lb Colby Ambrosio had 26 goals, 24 assists, 50 points, and a +2 +/- ratio in 2019-2020.
     
     
     
     
     
118. St. Louis Blues: Tanner Dickinson, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) C- Grade
     
     
     Tanner Dickinson had 9 goals, 31 assists, and 40 points. He also played as a line 2 center on the power play. He's very gifted offensively. He's awful defensively and will need to fix his defense in the OHL before going to the AHL and maybe the NHL if he manages to continue to work on his game.
     
     
     
119. New Jersey Devils: Ethan Edwards, D, Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) B Grade
     
     
     The 5-10 165 lb Ethan Edwards had 9 goals, 24 assists, and 33 points in 50 AJHL games. He has the offensive awareness, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ you want.
     
     
     
     He can get his shot up to 95-miles-per-hour even though I pay more attention to how a player shoots compared to how much velocity is on a players shot when scouting prospects. His coaches break down plays and watch film with him every single day.
     
     
     
     He committed to Michigan where previous Wolverines like Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes dominated on the blue line. Ethan Edwards is complete as far as offensive game goes. If he can add some muscle and play more physical defensively while continuing to skate a high level, I could see Edwards anchoring a top-line in the NHL like Werenski or Hughes. I really loved what I saw with Edwards on tape.
     
     
     
     
     
120. New York Islanders: Alex Jefferies, LW, The Gunnary HS (CT) A Grade
     
     
     Alex Jefferies had 33 goals, 36 assists, and 69 points in 32 games at The Gunnary High School in Connecticut. He will continue to develop at Merrimack where he plans on enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year.
     
     
     
121. Toronto Maple Leafs: William Villenueve, D, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     Toronto gets a top 40 player in the late fourth round. The 6-1 163 lb William Villenueve has only added 8 lbs of muscle since the Saint John Sea Dogs drafted him second overall behind Hendrix Lapierre in the 2018 QMJHL Draft.
     
     
     
     William Villenueve had 1 goal, 18 assists, 19 points, and a -52 +/- rating after his rookie season in 2018-2019. William Villenueve had 9 goals, 49 assists, 58 points, and -5 +/- ratio in 2019-2020 after being promoted to alternate captain over Jeremie Poirier, who is considered a first round prospect.
     
     
     
     Heading into the 2020-2021 QMJHL preseason, Villenueve is now the number one defenseman anchoring the first line of defense on the Sea Dogs while Poirier is now the number six defender barely holding onto his roster spot. That reveals a lot, so now Villenueve is the top Sea Dog drafted.
     
     
     
     
     
122. Dallas Stars: Antonio Stranges, LW, London Knights (OHL) A- Grade
     
     
     The 5-10 170 lb Antonio Stranges can play center or left wing with his versatility. He is better on the wing though. He is a playmaker with two consecutive seasons of 21 assists. He improved his goal total from 13 to 19 in 2019-2020, but at the same time his defensive play regressed.
     
     
     
     Antonio Stranges went from having an A grade which is a first round grade back in November to being demoted to the third line. He fell to Dallas in the fourth round after being a third round pick in my final 2020 NHL Mock Draft.
     
     
     
123. Montreal Canadiens: Sean Farrell, C, Chicago Steel (USHL) A Grade
     
     
     Montreal drafts Chicago Steel's line 2 center Sean Farrell here. Sean Farrell had 9 goals, 21 assists, and 30 points when I recoded the Chicago Steel webpage. This was before I knew about all the prospects the Steel had. Farrell finished the year with 15 goals, 41 assists, 56 points, and a +19 +/- ratio in 44 games.
     
     
     
     Sean Farrell also accepted a scholarship to Harvard. We will get to see Farrell face his former Chicago Steel teammate Sam Colangelo in a future Beanpot tournament assuming the Beanpot comes back from the Corona Virus in 2021.