One of the best ways for casual hockey fans to familiarize themselves with the top prospects inthe 2020 NHLdraft cla s is to watch the IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins on Dec. 26 from the Czech Republic.
Most of the time, only a handful of those privileged enough to participate in the prestigious eventare considered the elite of a given draft cla s, and their roles on their respective national teams vary from prominent to insignificant. That shouldnt be the case this year, as 15 of our top 100 prospects for the upcoming draft including nine of the top 15 are not only expected to suit up for the two-week-long tournament but should be given critical roles with their respective squads.
WJC 2020:
Here's a look at 20 draft prospects to watch with draft positioning, medal implications and national pride on the line.
CanadaAlexis LafrenireLW | Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) | 2020 draft projection: 1st Kahale Warring Jerseys overall
The consensus top pick for the upcoming NHL draft, Lafrenire blends speed, skill and power into an impre sive overall package rarely seen in a teenage winger. Just 18, the touch on his pa ses is phenomenal especially around the net and he also can wire an accurate wrister with a quick release. This is his second go-around at the world juniors, but the pre sure Tyrel Dodson Jerseys is on for him to deliver from both a team and individual standpoint.
2020 Top 125:
Quinton ByfieldC | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) | 2020 projection: 2nd overall
Byfield is a strong two-way center with size who can play the fine se game as well as any forward on the Canadian roster. Although he trails Lafrenire in midseason draft rankings, the general feeling is that the 17-year-old is a lock to be the second pick and a strong showing at the world juniors could strengthen his case to go first overall. Like Lafrenire, Byfield can kill penalties and be a shorthanded threat.
Jamie DrysdaleRHD | Erie Otters (OHL) | 2020 projection: early firstround
An explosive offensive defenseman with a developing defensive game, Drysdale is the youngest rearguard to play for Team Canada at the world juniors since Aaron Ekblad in 2014. He can make coast-to-coast dashes with easeand he owns a devastating wrist shot from the high slot. Drysdale spends most of his shifts handling the puck inside the offensive end and he can fill in on the power play in the event one of the older players cant get it done.
Dawson MercerC/RW | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) | 2020 projection: Middle tolate first round
A strong forward with a hard shot who can play center or wing, Mercer is energetic from start to finish of every shift while wielding an active stick and anticipating the direction of puck travel. He can be used in all situations, including centering a penalty-killing unit and taking and winning key faceoffs. Hes a bit of a hunched skater with a powerful stride and above-average straight-line speed, which Taron Johnson Jerseys when coupled with his high hockey sense and route taking, enables him to control the puck in open ice with frequency.
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United StatesParker Ford (Providence College, HE)LW | Providence College (HE) | 2020 projection: 4th to 6th round
An aggre sive forward with a nonstop motor and excellent speed, Ford offers Team USA in-your-face forechecking and momentum-turning plays in the neutral zone. A 2000 birth year, he was pa sed over in each of the last two drafts; however, Fords efforts on and off the puck for a powerful program like Providence, plus his selection to Team USAs WJC (camp) roster make him one of the more desirable double overagersfor 2020. He likely wont be slotted on either of the first two lines or used on the power playbut you can bank on Ford contributing on the PK and in key defensive-zone situations. He makes a ton of smart decisions most of which may go unnoticed to the casual observer.
WORLD JUNIORS:
GermanyTim SttzleC/LW | Adler Mannheim (DEL) | 2020 projection: Top-10 Pick
The centerpiece of Germanys resurgence on the international stage, Sttzle is a dynamic offensive force whocan explode into open ice at a moments notice. You can expect him to be on Matt Breida Jerseys the ice for all critical situations and opposing coaches will have their work cut out for them in attempting to slow his down. Sttzle isslippery and agile in tight spaces and you simply cannot take your eyes off him for a second.
Maximilian GlotzlLHD | Kolner Junghaie (DNL) | 2020 projection: 3rd to5th round
A physical two-way defenseman who can play either side and looks to make big open-ice hits, Glotzl is the top Emmanuel Sanders Jerseys 2002-born blueliner in Germany andfor Klner Junghaie (DNL). He runs the point on the power play and anchors the top penalty-killing unit for his club team, so expect the same atworld juniors. He is a powerful skater who accelerates to top speed in only three or four strides, which is impre sive for a thick-framed defender, and heworks hard at keeping the crease clear. With his head alwayson a swivel, Glotzl steps up in a timely manner while he pa ses the puck crisply and without hesitation. He is able to get himself open to unload an excellent shot that is kept low and on net with consistency. The knee-jerk reaction is to compare him to 2019 first-round pick Moritz Seider, but you will soon see that Glotzl is impre sive enough to deserve his own category.
Lukas ReichelLW | Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) | 2020 projection: 2nd to3rd round
A well-balanced and agile skater with excellent vision and playmaking skills, Reichel is a German Elite League regular who has performed well above expectations for the Berlin Polar Bears. He's got solid speed and lateral quickne sand good things happen once he can getinto open ice. Although Sttzleis getting all of the attention as far as draft eligibles from Germany,its important to identify Reichels production 15 points in 24 games with very little power-play time and his 17.8 shooting percentage is 10th in the league among players with 45 or more shots. Berlin also relies on him in shootouts, so expect the same at the world juniors.
J.J. PeterkaLW | Red Bull Munich (DEL) | 2020 projection: 2nd to 4th round
A fastdual-threat Baylon Spector Jerseys winger who has spent the entire season with Munich in the German Elite League, Peterka is a crafty and skilled forward who is a threat every time he hops over the boards. He has an explosive first step and always seems to be in open ice controlling the puck with confidence. Like most fine se players, Peterka can identify and create multiple scoring chances from the half wall or behind the net, and his elusivene s with strong edgeskeep goalies off the near post and expose more net than they would like. Although Germany might place him on the same u
