FCHockey releases Final ranking for 2020 NHL Draft
Alexis Lafreniere of the Rimouski Oceanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is the top-ranked skater in FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2020 NHL Draft.
FCHockey released its final list of prospects eligible for the 2020 draft on Wednesday.
Lafreniere, the consensus top pick for the 2020 draft, completes his impressive season having held the No. 1 rank from FCHockey’s Preliminary ranking in June 2019 to the Final ranking first released in FCHockey’s 2020 NHL Draft Guide last month. His season included being named the Canadian Hockey League player of the year, joining Sidney Crosby in 2004 and 2005 as just the second player to win the honor in back-to-back seasons.
The 18-year-old, who had 112 points (35 goals, 77 assists) in 52 games, had previously been named the CHL’s Prospect of the Year and recipient of the Michel Briere Trophy as the QMJHL’s most valuable player. He also won the Michael-Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL’s best professional prospect and the Paul-Dumont Trophy as the league’s Personality of the Year.
“Lafreniere has showed to be an incredibly valuable player for Rimouski this season, driving the offense every possession and creating countless scoring opportunities for his allies,” Quebec-based FC Hockey scout Andy Lehoux said. “Thanks to his tremendous offensive awareness, playmaking abilities and puck-handling skills, the 6-foot-1 left winger is able to control the pace of the play and dissect defenses with dexterity.”
Quinton Byfield, who with Lafreniere helped Canada to gold at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, is ranked No. 2. The Sudbury Wolves center had 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 45 games with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. Byfield is a complete power center and budding power forward with his combination of size, speed and skill mixed with a heavy shot and strong protection game.
Tim Stutzle, the top-ranked European skater for the 2020 draft, is ranked third. Stutzle, who had 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) in 41 games with Adler Mannheim in DEL, is a high-ceiling offensive player who blends great skating with heady instincts. He plays with joy and loves creating scoring chances, and is at his best when he’s feeling the game in a natural sense instead of forcing elements.
Lucas Raymond, No. 4, is an elite offensive talent that has the right hockey IQ to play a strong two-way game. Raymond, who had 10 points (four goals, six assists) with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, is a very high-end skater that excels in all areas of skating from having the ability to make short, quick cuts to possessing a top speed that blows most out of the water and terrific edges that he uses to elude de- fenders offensively.
Marco Rossi, No. 5, led all draft eligible scorers with 120 points (39 goals, 81 assists) in 56 games with the Ottawa 67s. Rossi is a multi-talented forward who plays well above his age and his quick first step and high-speed plays make him lightning fast on his feet and full of potential to be an offensive dynamo at the next level.
To view FCHockey’s full Final ranking, please visit www.nhlentrydraft.com/rankings.