2020 NHL Draft Results

Round 5

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

124. Vegas Golden Knights: Jesper Vikman, G, AIK IF (Elitserien) D Grade
     
     
     Vegas traded up for a goalie that's a backup. Vegas needs a backup goalie in case they trade Fleury which is the only reason I gave Vegas a D grade.
     
     
     
125. Edmonton Oilers: Tyler Tullio, LW, Oshawa Generals (OHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     Edmonton drafts the 5-9 161 Tyler Tullio who can play left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. Tyler Tullio was the Oshawa Generals first round pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
     
     
     
     Tyler Tullio had 15 goals, 27 assists, and 42 points in 60 games in 2018-2019. Tyler Tullio had 27 goals, 39 assists, and 66 points in 2019-2020 averaging over 1 point per game in his draft year. He needs to improve defensively which is why he's still going to be in the OHL until he's 20. Despite this Tullio has more upside than any prospect on the Oshawa Generals as he was the first line left winger in Oshawa's final regular season game before Covid-19.
     
     
     
     
     
126. New York Rangers: Evan Vierling, C, Barrie Colts (OHL) B+ Grade
     
     
     The 6-0 168 lb Evan Vierling had 10 goals, 34 assists, and 44 points in 2019-2020. New York gets another center hoping he will be good enough to win the line 1 center job.
     
     
     
127. Los Angeles Kings: Martin Chromiak, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) B- Grade
     
     
     Martin Chromiak was drafted second overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft. He was a line 2 right winger on the Kingston Frontenacs. He can develop into a second line right winger in the NHL in due time if he continues to improve.
     
     
     
     
     
128. Anaheim Ducks: Artyom Galimov, LW, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) C Grade
     
     
     Artyom Galimov is the best skater on Ak Bars Kazan. He's a guy with a sixth round grade which is why the Ducks got a C grade.
     
     
     
129. New Jersey Devils: Artem Shlaine, C, Shattuck St. Mary's HS (MN) F Grade
     
     
     New Jersey is loaded at center. This pick was a reach with all the talent that was available. I also feel like New Jersey didn't use this draft to capitalize on their dire need to load up at wing despite having an abundance of draft picks while getting some great value picks. New Jersey passed on David Ma who was my top prospect on Shattuck St. Mary's.
     
     
     
     
     
130. Buffalo Sabres: Matteo Costantini, C, Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) A Grade
     
     
     Buffalo must know something about this local on the Buffalo Jr. Sabres that the rest of the NHL doesn't. Good pick by the Sabres.
     
     
     
131. Detroit Red Wings: Alex Cotton, D, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     Detroit grabs the best player on the board. The 6-2 183 lb Alex Cotton finally put together a signature season. Alex Cotton had 20 goals, 47 assists, 67 points, and a +15 +/- ratio. Cotton is great on the power play, but struggles with penalty killing. He got promoted from the third to second line. Alex Cotton has potential to develop into a first line defender, but it may take him 2-5 years to reach that ceiling.
     
     
     
     
     
132. Winnipeg Jets: Anton Johannesson, D, HV71 (Elitserien) B Grade
     
     
     The 5-9 154 lb Anton Johannesson is considered a third round propsect according to Future Considerations. He has not played a single game in the SHL yet. He's a nice project for the Winnipeg Jets with this fifth round pick.
     
     
     
133. New York Rangers: Brett Berard, LW, USNTDP (USHL) B Grade
     
     
     The 5-9 163 lb Brett Berard had 7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points, and a +12 +/- ratio in 13 games. He also committed to Providence, so the Devils don't have to worry about bringing him up. I've seen Berard mocked as early as the beginning of the fourth round, and I mocked him in the sixth round so this is a good value pick in the fifth round.
     
     
     
     
     
134. Philadelphia Flyers: Elliott Desnoyers, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) A- Grade
     
     
     The 5-11 172 lb Elliott Desnoyers had 11 goals, 24 assists, and 35 points in 2019-2020. The Moncton Wildcats 2018 first round pick got traded to the Halifax Mooseheads for the 2020-2021 QMJHL season due to his strong play when the start of the QMJHL Trade Period opened on June 3, 2020, two days prior to the 2020 QMJHL Draft. The 2020-2021 QMJHL regular season will begin on October 2, 2020, just four days before the 2020 NHL Draft which is why Desnoyers is listed on the Halfiax Mooseheads in this mock despite playing for the Moncton Wildcats a season ago.
     
     
     
135. Montreal Canadiens: Jakub Dobes, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL) F Grade
     
     
     Montreal reached with this pick. They needed a goalie, but this pick gets an F grade from me. Had they gotten someone like Oldrich Cichon this is probably an A+ grade.
     
     
     
     
     
136. Toronto Maple Leafs: Dmitri Ovechinnikov, LW, HC Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     The 5-10 161 left winger is versatile enough to play anywhere at forward. He can play left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. He has not scored a point in the KHL yet. Toronto is probably looking at an extra forward for the Toronto Marlies with this pick, but he's the best player on the board at this point in the seventh round. He could get picked as early as the third round so to get a third round value pick in the seventh round is great value. I mocked Ovehinnikov to Toronto making this the sixth pick, that I've correctly predicted, tying me with Bleacher Report for the top ranked NHL Mock Draft.
     
     
     
137. Edmonton Oilers: Maxim Beryozkin, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) C Grade
     
     
     The 6-2 201 lb Maxim Beryozkin is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing. Maxim Beryozkin had 25 goals, 29 assists, and 54 points in the MHL. He only played 1 KHL game, but the 18-year-old winger seems like someone with a very high ceiling despite his lack of KHL experience.
     
     
     
     
     
138. Colorado Avalanche: Ryder Rolston, RW, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     The 6-1 175 lb Ryder Rolston is the son of former NHL player Brian Rolston. Ryder Rolston is versatile enough to play both left wing or right wing. Rolston is a better fit at right wing though.
     
     
     
     He had a B grade from NHL Central Scouting back in October of 2019 when he had 14 goals, 10 assists, and 24 points with the USNTDP USHL team in 2018-2019. Rolston had 16 goals, 17 assists, and 33 points in 42 games with the Waterloo Blackhawks in 2019-2020.
     
     
     
139. Los Angeles Kings: Ben Meehan, D, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     The 6-0 190 lb Ben Meehan gives Los Angeles a future defender on the blue line. You can let him play in the NCAA, then bring him up to the Los Angeles Kings, and maybe develop Meehan into a third line defensemen on the Los Angeles Kings blue line at some point down the road. He was a first line defenseman and a guy that anchored the blue line on the RoughRiders power play. Injuries cause this first line prospect to fall to the Los Angeles Kings.
     
     
     
     
     
140. Chicago Blackhawks: Isaak Philips, D, Sudbury Wolves (OHL) C Grade
     
     
     The Chicago Blackhawks got a great value pick in the fifth round. The 6-3 194 lb Isaak Philips is now first player from Jamacia to ever be drafted into the NHL. He was born in Barrie, Ontario, but lived in Jamaica before entering the Ontario Hockey League.
     
     
     
141. Arizona Coyotes: Carson Bantle, LW, Madison Capitols (USHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     Carson Bantle is a 6-4 201 lb left wing prospect. Carson Bantle only had 10 goals, 10 assists, and 20 points last season. This season in 32 games, Carson Bantle has 12 goals, 20 assists, and 32 points. Carson Bantle is averaging a point per game and has a second to third round grade on most NHL draft boards. Arizona can draft Madison's top prospect in the USHL and stash him for the future while he takes the NCAA route.
     
     
     
     
     
142. Calgary Flames: Ryan Francis, RW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) C Grade
     
     
     The 5-9 176 lb Ryan Francis is a right winger on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Francis was only 5-8 168 lbs heading into his draft year, but he added 8 lbs of muscle while maintaining his speed.
     
     
     
     Ryan Francis had 10 goals, 22 assists, and 32 points in 64 games in 2018-2019. Ryan Francis had 24 goals, 48 assists, 72 points, and a +27 +/- ratio. Francis did so well in 2019-2020 that he got promoted to alternate captain on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Francis has regressed in 2020-2021 since receiving the promotion which is why I gave Calgary a C grade for drafting him in the fifth round.
     
     
     
143. Vancouver Canucks: Jacob Truscott, D, USNTDP (USHL) B Grade
     
     
     Vancouver drafts Jacob Truscott. He rounds out the defenseman on USNTDP and is the worst defender on USNTDP. He's got a fifth round grade and is a good value pick at this point in the fifth round. He could be a a guy who compliments your third line getting minimum minutes in the NHL, but that's his ceiling at this point once he goes the NCAA route and plays with the Utica Comets for three years in the AHL on his rookie deal.
     
     
     
     
     
144. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ole Bjorgvik-Holm, D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) F Grade
     
     
     Ole Bjorgvik-Holm, also known as Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm only had 2 goals, 17 assists, 19 points, and a -2 +/- ratio on the Mississauga Steelheads. He's a scrub compared to first round pick Thomas Hartley. Also Columubus took this guy over James Hardie who was our top ranked prospect on the Steelheads.
     
     
     
145. Minnesota Wild: Pavel Novak, RW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     Minnesota may need a third line right winger at some point in the future and Pavel Novak may fit the bill here. Novak was the third line right winger on the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League.
     
     
     
     The 5-10 170 lb Pavel Novak can play right wing or left wing with his versatility. Pavel Novak was drafted thirteenth overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.
     
     
     
     He has the offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, passing, skating, and stick handling you want a winger to have. His wrist shot is one of the most precise in this draft class as his wrist shot power and wrist shot accuracy is there. Novak still needs to develop his slap shot.
     
     
     
     Pavel Novak had 25 goals, 33 assists, 58 points, and a +10 +/- ratio. Pavel Novak has a lot of qualities that you want a winger to have at the NHL level. One thing he needs to show me is that he can develop a quality slap shot without relying so much on his wrist shot.
     
     
     
     
     
146. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jaydon Dureau, LW, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     Jaydon Dureau played on the Portland Winterhawks top line with Seth Jarvis. Excellent pick by Tampa Bay as they were able to capitalize with talent on both of the draft picks they received from the Philadelphia Flyers when Philadelphia moved up to the fourth round to trade for Zayde Wisdom.
     
     
     
147. Washington Capitals: Bear Hughes, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL) A Grade
     
     
     The 6-0 170 lb Bear Hughes dominated this season with 16 goals, 31 assists, 47 points, and a +9 +/- ratio as a second line center on the Spokane Chiefs behind Jack Finley. When I read his scouting report, the first sentence that was said was this. Bear Hughes fights for the puck like a bear. That's the most awesome scouting report I've read to date.
     
     
     
     
     
148. Pittsburgh Penguins: Raivis Ansons, RW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) C- Grade
     
     
     The 6-1 185 lb Raivis Ansons had an underwhelming season on the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 2019-2020 with 13 goals, 22 assists, 35 points, and a -17 +/- ratio. One of former coaches told Pittsburgh Hockey Now that he has NHL potential. He may have NHL potential five years down the road, but he's a huge project at this point, plus Pittsburgh took him because they have another prospect on Bai-Comeau Drakkar who is on the same line with Ansons. There were lots of better prospects for the Penguins to draft which is why the Penguins got a C- grade here.
     
     
     
     
     
149. St. Louis Blues: Matthew Kessel, D, Massachusetts A Grade
     
     
     The 6-3 203 lb Matthew Kessel was one of six players to appear in all 34 games for the Massachusetts Minutemen in 2019-2020. Was the top scoring freshman defenseman in the nation with 7 goals, which also led all defensemen on the Massachusetts Minutemen. His 7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points, and +13 +/- ratio. Matthew Kessel also had 1 power-play goal and 25 blocked shots during his freshman season in 2019-2020.
     
     
     
150. Boston Bruins: Mason Langenbrunner, D, Eden Prairie HS (MN) A Grade
     
     
     The 6-2 165 lb Mason Langenbrunner had 5 goals, 14 assists, 19 points, and a +14 +/- ratio in 25 games with Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. Mason Langenbrunner accepted a scholarship to Harvard and I love this pick for the Bruins. Boston got two good defensemen prospects in this draft. The Bruins will still be a playoff team until Chara retires, and once these two defenders make the NHL, Boston's window of opportunity to potentially contend for another Stanley Cup will re-open in 2-5 years if they hit on both Mason Lohrei their second round pick from the Green Bay Gamblers, and Mason Langenbrunner their fifth round pick on Eden Prairie High School.
     
     
     
     
     
151. New York Islanders: William Dufour, RW, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) A+ Grade
     
     
     New York gets a 2018 QMJHL first round pick that went sixth overall before being traded to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Chicoutimi moved him to Drummondville in the trade that sent first round pick Dawson Mercer to the Sagueneens.
     
     
     
     William Dufour had 28 goals, 27 assists, and 55 points in 2019-2020. He's a second to third round prospect that makes a good addition for the New York Islanders here in the fifth round as he was a second line winger on Drummondville. William Dufour was my second best overall prospect available behind Mathieu De St. Phalle who went undrafted as well as my top third round prospect on the board, so this is a nice steal by the New York Islanders that warrants an A+ grade.
     
     
     
152. Florida Panthers: Kasper Puutio, D, Everett Silvertips (WHL) C+ Grade
     
     
     The Everett Silvertips have good defenders as they were able to develop guys like Ryan Murray and Mirco Mueller into first round picks on the blue line. Kasper Puutio has a fifth round grade, but his teammate Ronan Seeley is better on tape which is why the Panthers got a C+ grade. It's a solid pick, and this is where I expected Puutio to get picked. I just like Seeley more on tape.
     
     
     
     
     
153. Dallas Stars: Daniel Ljungman, C, Linkopings HC (Elitserien) A- Grade
     
     
     Dallas has all four centers Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, and Radek Faksa all under contract for next season. They got all nine defenseman, and all three goalies Ben Bishop, Anton Khudobin, and Jake Oettinger returning. Dallas just needs depth at wing on the third and fourth lines, but all of the pieces for Dallas to try to put together another Stanley Cup run are there so it amazes me that the Vegas Golden Knights have better odds than Dallas to win the Stanley Cup for 2021 right now. Dallas has stability at center until 2025, stability at goalie until 2023, and stability on the blue line with all of their top three defensemen Klingberg, Lindell, and Heiskanen under contract until 2022 with some good role players complimenting those guys.
     
     
     
     Dallas also has first round picks Ty Dellandrea, a two year captain on the Flint Firebirds ready to make his AHL debut after being a 2018 first round pick as well as Shawinigan Cataractes captain Mavrik Bourque, their 2020 first round pick. One of those guys will be able to replace Joe Pavelski in 2022 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent and when the 23-year-old Hintz becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2022 or 2023, then the other first round pick can come up and replace Hintz. Jim Nill did an excellent job making sure Dallas has stability at center not only for the short-term, but for the long-term as well because Seguin and Fask are both under contract until at least 2026.
     
     
     
     Daniel Ljungman was projected to go as high as 104th overall on Elite Prospects. Can he make the NHL?
     
     
     
     Perhaps, at some point when Tyler Seguin retires and guys like Dellandrea and Bourque have established themselves as complimentary centers to Radek Faksa. Right now, Ljungman just needs to develop the rest of his game because his hockey IQ, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, and wrist shot accuracy are his only strengths on tape. You are looking a guy who will likely be a career AHL guy on the Texas Stars, but if he works hard and somehow manages to do everything right, the window of opportunity to be a fourth line center in the NHL may be there if he remains patient.
     
     
     
154. Ottawa Senators: Eric Engstrand LW, Malmo Redhawks (Elitserien) F Grade
     
     
     Ottawa reached here. This pick warrants an F grade since this team already is extremely deep at left wing with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stuzle on their top two lines. Ottawa also drafted Ridly Greig with their final first round pick as well as Roby Jarventie so this is a team that has amazing depth at left wing thanks to this draft.