Jeremy Laura: Your top picks for the 2020 draft

Both Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti strike me as guys with star potential even though they might not get taken until like 6th through 10th overall.

If the wings were to draft byfield, Rossi or even stutzle, could you see them sliding Larkin back to the wing like he was in his rookie year to form a duo?

Both Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti strike me as guys with star potential even though they might not get taken until like 6th through 10th overall.
- Sven22

You are very tapped in to these prospects. I really enjoy your insights Sven

If the wings were to draft byfield, Rossi or even stutzle, could you see them sliding Larkin back to the wing like he was in his rookie year to form a duo?
- RedC21

Awesome question. If a real stud center comes in, you could definitely load up like that. When Pitt lets Malkin and Sid play together it’s awesome. Even the days of Z and Pav together were so much fun. It would be a great option for sure!

Both Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti strike me as guys with star potential even though they might not get taken until like 6th through 10th overall.
- Sven22

In the scenario that lafreniere, byfield, stutzle fo top 3 and I could see either the wings or sens select Rossi at 4.

The sens organization is deep on D prospects so they may be inclined to draft a C if they get lafreniere, miss out on Byfield or decide stutzle if they select him is a winger over drafting drysdale.

If the wings feel that Seider can be a top D they may pass over drysdale seeing as they both play the same side.

Despite his size Rossi is touted in many reviews I’ve read that he’s nhl ready and while many point out his team is stacked some I’ve talked to on here that have watched the 67’s play say he’s by far the best player on the team. Realistically if he was average size he would probably be in the top 3 conversation so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken at 4.

In the scenario that lafreniere, byfield, stutzle fo top 3 and I could see either the wings or sens select Rossi at 4.

The sens organization is deep on D prospects so they may be inclined to draft a C if they get lafreniere, miss out on Byfield or decide stutzle if they select him is a winger over drafting drysdale.

If the wings feel that Seider can be a top D they may pass over drysdale seeing as they both play the same side.

Despite his size Rossi is touted in many reviews I’ve read that he’s nhl ready and while many point out his team is stacked some I’ve talked to on here that have watched the 67’s play say he’s by far the best player on the team. Realistically if he was average size he would probably be in the top 3 conversation so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken at 4.
- RedC21

You’ve brought some good picks to the table. Ok. I’ll do another post and include Rossi. I admire your persistence on that pick

Byfield, Rossi, and Perfetti's 2019-20 seasons are all within the top 12 highest scoring (per game) seasons for draft-eligible OHL forwards since 2005.

Rossi to me is kind of the wild card in that group because, even though he ended up in the OHL, he did most of his development in Switzerland. (That and the fact that he is really small for an NHLer.)

Generally speaking if you go by a player's stats in their draft eligible season in the Canadian major juniors, players born September 15 - December 31 tend to be overrated by their numbers and and January 1 - September 14 tend to be underrated by them.

That's because the age cutoff for junior leagues goes by birth year (Jan. 1), but for the NHL draft the cutoff is September 15. That means players born in the September 15 - December 31 window benefit not only by being a little older than their peers, but (more importantly) by having a full extra season of development time.

Here's an extremely brief explanation and graph of the phenomenon: https://twitter.com/iyer_...tatus/1257054302490722304

Rossi is in the older age group (Sept. 23 birthday) but has the same amount of OHL experience as the players in the younger group, and obviously played in Switzerland instead of Canada earlier. So I'm not 100% certain whether the "fall birthday penalty" should apply here, and in particular how to stack him up against Perfetti. Rossi has better numbers, but he also has an earlier birth year.

Byfield, Rossi, and Perfetti's 2019-20 seasons are all within the top 12 highest scoring (per game) seasons for draft-eligible OHL forwards since 2005.

Rossi to me is kind of the wild card in that group because, even though he ended up in the OHL, he did most of his development in Switzerland. (That and the fact that he is really small for an NHLer.)

Generally speaking if you go by a player's stats in their draft eligible season in the Canadian major juniors, players born September 15 - December 31 tend to be overrated by their numbers and and January 1 - September 14 tend to be underrated by them.

That's because the age cutoff for junior leagues goes by birth year (Jan. 1), but for the NHL draft the cutoff is September 15. That means players born in the September 15 - December 31 window benefit not only by being a little older than their peers, but (more importantly) by having a full extra season of development time.

Here's an extremely brief explanation and graph of the phenomenon: https://twitter.com/iyer_...tatus/1257054302490722304

Rossi is in the older age group (Sept. 23 birthday) but has the same amount of OHL experience as the players in the younger group, and obviously played in Switzerland instead of Canada earlier. So I'm not 100% certain whether the "fall birthday penalty" should apply here, and in particular how to stack him up against Perfetti. Rossi has better numbers, but he also has an earlier birth year.
- Sven22

As per usual, very thoughtfully presented. Well done sir

If Wings get....
# 1 - Lafreniere
# 2 - Stutzle ( I’d prefer Byfield but Stevie is up to something )
# 3 - Byfield
# 4 - Perfetti.

I don’t believe they’ll take a D man based on how horrible our offense is after the top line. I may be wrong but anything outside of # 1 can go either way.

If Wings get....
# 1 - Lafreniere
# 2 - Stutzle ( I’d prefer Byfield but Stevie is up to something )
# 3 - Byfield
# 4 - Perfetti.

I don’t believe they’ll take a D man based on how horrible our offense is after the top line. I may be wrong but anything outside of # 1 can go either way.
- Manthamania

Interesting in Perfetti. I’ll add him to the next review. Thanks MM

Love these guys https://youtu.be/xh8j7plyplM

I think Raymond = Marner ...

How awful the offense is? How about how atrocious the D is. If there is one true thing from current cup champs it is had a superstar forward, a solid top 4, and a good goalie. Just because we have Seider and Hronek doesn't mean we should be content. That's all there is.

How awful the offense is? How about how atrocious the D is. If there is one true thing from current cup champs it is had a superstar forward, a solid top 4, and a good goalie. Just because we have Seider and Hronek doesn't mean we should be content. That's all there is.
- DRW1991

I hear you but IMO the Wings need to go for best player available rather than trying to prioritize a specific position. This year, I think that is virtually guaranteed to be a forward.

Granted I don't have any inside info on Yzerman's thought process and I wouldn't necessarily be shocked if Drysdale goes third or fourth, but if it were me in charge I'm pretty sure there are at least four forwards I'd take ahead of him and probably a couple more.

This draft seems to be especially deep with elite forward talent and forwards are generally safer / easier to project than defenders.

How awful the offense is? How about how atrocious the D is. If there is one true thing from current cup champs it is had a superstar forward, a solid top 4, and a good goalie. Just because we have Seider and Hronek doesn't mean we should be content. That's all there is.
- DRW1991

I know the D is horrible but you can fill those holes with some FA’s that would be a major upgrade. Too many good forwards to pass up when we have 4-5 that can create.

the wings are thin in quality prospects everywhere, you got to draft the best player available.

Hronek and Seider are far from being sure shots top pairing defenseman, we don't have anything of much value after those two anyways.

Our goalie prospects is extremely thin too. I don't think there is a true #1 in the pipeline.

The forward prospect dept is probably a bit better but still not great.


If we get 4th pick, I would be ok with Drysdale if they brass think he's the best player available. Askarov might be a stretch here considering how risky it is picking a goalie this early when you have holes everywhere.

the wings are thin in quality prospects everywhere, you got to draft the best player available.

Hronek and Seider are far from being sure shots top pairing defenseman, we don't have anything of much value after those two anyways.

Our goalie prospects is extremely thin too. I don't think there is a true #1 in the pipeline.

The forward prospect dept is probably a bit better but still not great.


If we get 4th pick, I would be ok with Drysdale if they brass think he's the best player available. Askarov might be a stretch here considering how risky it is picking a goalie this early when you have holes everywhere.
- porkchops1977

and the wings aren't going anywhere for the next few years anyways, who knows what their needs will be 3 or 4 years from now. The kids being drafted are 18, this isn't the NBA or NFL where they make a huge impact right away (a part from a few here and there)

the wings are thin in quality prospects everywhere, you got to draft the best player available.

Hronek and Seider are far from being sure shots top pairing defenseman, we don't have anything of much value after those two anyways.

Our goalie prospects is extremely thin too. I don't think there is a true #1 in the pipeline.

The forward prospect dept is probably a bit better but still not great.


If we get 4th pick, I would be ok with Drysdale if they brass think he's the best player available. Askarov might be a stretch here considering how risky it is picking a goalie this early when you have holes everywhere.
- porkchops1977

Yeah as much as Askarov intrigues me, I don't think there's a strong case for picking him in the top 4, in a year where there seems to be a ton of forward depth in the top 10.

My hope at 4 is Cole Perfetti. He is just different and the knock on him is his skating, which I believe was the main knock on Brayden Point too. Perfetti, to me, feels like Doug Gilmour reincarnated. Questions about size and strength at a young age, but sees the ice just differently than other players. Maybe that's just mybhopeful thinking though.

My hope at 4 is Cole Perfetti. He is just different and the knock on him is his skating, which I believe was the main knock on Brayden Point too. Perfetti, to me, feels like Doug Gilmour reincarnated. Questions about size and strength at a young age, but sees the ice just differently than other players. Maybe that's just mybhopeful thinking though.
- Feury

I'm always weary when their skating is questionned. The NHL is so much faster now. Some might be able to improve it enough at the NHL level but I think thats more of an exception than the norm.

Fair enough. I think that Perfetti plays faster though because of his vision and hockey sense though. Guys who can find pockets like he can AND possess the ability that he does to create and finish are just so much rarer. I think the more he plays the better gets. To me, after Lafrienere, Perfetti is probably the safest pick in the draft. But hey, I don't get paid to make the decisions! LOL!