2020 NHL Entry Draft Predictions

The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be the 58th NHL Entry Draft. The draft is scheduled for October 6–7, 2020 and will be held virtually. It was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is a look at how we think things will shake out at the 2020 NHL Draft. Of course our predictions do not factor in potential trades of draft picks which may expose a different need from a different team.

2020 NHL Entry Draft First Round Predictions

  1. New York Rangers – Alexis Lafreniere (LW) – Rimouski – QMJHL
  2. Los Angeles Kings – Tim Stutzle (LW) – Adler Mannheim – DEL
  3. Ottawa Senators (from San Jose Sharks) – Quinton Byfield (C) – Sudbury – OHL
  4. Detroit Red Wings – Cole Perfetti (C) – Saginaw – OHL
  5. Ottawa Senators – Marco Rossi (C) – Ottawa – OHL
  6. Anaheim Ducks – Jamie Drysdale (D) – Erie – OHL
  7. New Jersey Devils – Jack Quinn (RW) – Ottawa – OHL
  8. Buffalo Sabres – Alex Holtz (RW) – Djurgarden – SHL
  9. Minnesota Wild – Jake Sanderson (D) – USA-U18 – NTDP
  10. Winnipeg Jets – Anton Lundell (C) – HIFK – LIIGA Finland)
  11. Nashville Predators – Lucas Raymond (RW) – Frolunda – SHL
  12. Florida Panthers – Dawson Mercer (RW) – Drummondville – QMJHL
  13. Carolina Hurricanes (from Toronto Maple Leafs) – Yarolslav Askarov (G) – SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – Seth Jarvis (RW) – Portland – WHL
  15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Pittsburgh Penguins) – Braden Schneider (D) – Brandon – WHL
  16. Montreal Canadiens – Hendrix Lapierre (C) – Chicoutimi – QMJHL
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – Kaiden Guhle (D) – Prince Albert – WHL
  18. New Jersey Devils (from Arizona Coyotes) – Dylan Holloway (C) – Wisconsin – Big 10
  19. Calgary Flames – Rodion Amirov (LW) – Salavat Yulaec – KHL
  20. New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver Canucks via Tampa Bay) – Jeremie Poirer (D) – Saint John – QMJHL
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – Mavrik Bourque (C) – Shawinigan – QMJHL
  22. New York Rangers (from Carolina Hurricanes) – Connor Zary (C) – Kamloops – WHL
  23. Philadelphia Flyers – Jacob Perreault (C) – Sarnia – OHL
  24. Colorado Avalanche – Justin Barron (D) – Halifax – QMJHL
  25. Washington Capitals – Jan Mysak (C) – Hamilton – OHL
  26. St. Louis Blues – John Jason Peterka (LW) – EHC Munchen – DEL
  27. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins) – Lukas Reichel (LW) – Eisbaren Berlin – DEL
  28. Ottawa Senators (from New York Islanders) – Helge Grans (D) – Malmo Jr. – SWE-JR
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – Noel Gunler (RW) – Lulea – SHL
  30. Dallas Stars – Ridly Greig (C) – Brandon – WHL
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – Ozzy Wiesblatt (RW) – Prince Albert – WHL

Due to the pandemic, the draft will be held virtually on October 6 and 7th. It should be interesting to see if NHL teams take a different approach with their draft needs this year. Good luck to all of the draft-eligible kids.