In part two of our “2020 Draft Prospects To Keep an Eye On” we’re focusing on the Ontario Hockey League. It looks like the OHL will be having a bit of a resurgence at the 2020 draft after taking a back seat to the WHL and the USNTDP program in recent years.
If you’re interested in reading part one on the WHL, please click here.
Quinton Byfield – Center – 6’4” – 214 lbs. – Sudbury Wolves
Byfield is a guaranteed top-5 pick but where he falls in that top-5 depends entirely on who you’re asking. For some, Byfield is the top-contender to knock Alexis Lafreniere out of the first-overall spot, while others think he’s contending with guys like Lucas Raymond and Anton Lundell for a top-3 pick.
Regardless of where he sits, right now, Byfield can rest comfortably knowing his name will be called early on night one of the draft. A direct result of his intense two-way style of play and remarkable size and strength.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-rMWomFEN0
With Lafreniere representing Team Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup was Byfield’s moment to shine – exceeding all expectations. He flashed a high-level skill which was all scouts needed to put a stamp of approval, on Byfield.
Quinton Byfield everybody #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/RVK0rkwys0
— TPEHockey (@TPEHockey) August 7, 2019
Having averaged nearly a point-per-game in 64 OHL appearances, with an (almost) even goals-to-assists ratio, Byfield has no problems finding the score sheet. His powerful wrist shot and timely no-look passes are just some of the weapons in his vast arsenal; and when you factor in his beeline north-south speed and clean edge work, he’s damn near unstoppable.
From my perspective, it’s Lafreniere, Raymond, and Byfield at the top of the 2020 draft class, in that order. If Byfield plans on superseding Lafreniere for the #1 spot, he’s going to have to have the season of a lifetime.
Cole Perfetti – Center – 5’10” – 185 lbs. – Saginaw Spirit
No prospect’s stock rose more from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup than Perfetti’s; whose remarkable shootout performance, against Team Canada, drew comparisons to TJ Oshie from the Sochi Olympics.
It didn’t stop there, as Perfetti translated his breathtaking dekes and NHL-caliber shot into regulation play.
Some draft analysts are already projecting Perfetti to be a top-10 prospect for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, but it’s going to be a long year with a lot of viable candidates fighting for those spots. Still, his elite offensive skills will keep him in the running.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RovkTa8KAEE
Cole Caufield, the top sniper in last year’s draft, was selected with the 15th-overall pick which could be indicative of Perfetti’s draft stock. The two have similar shooting strokes but Perfetti, in my opinion, has the cleaner skating stride.
I currently have Perfetti as a lottery selection, but more toward the 11-13 range than 5-10, taken by a playoff bubble team looking for the final pieces of their Stanley Cup puzzle. It will take Perfetti a few years before he’s ready to jump into the NHL, but if he does join a Stanley Cup contender it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see him join them down the stretch and into the playoffs as a bottom-6 scorer.
Marco Rossi – Center – 5’9” – 179 lbs. – Ottawa 67’s
If you’re looking for a prospect with outstanding east-west play and shifty footwork, Rossi is your guy.
Physically, I’d liken Rossi to a tree stump – short but bulky – who can hold his own, while in traffic, in front of the net. He seems to always be where he needs to, finishing backdoor or finding space to deliver on a one-timer.
A prospect of Austrian-descent, Rossi played up to the Swiss 2nd-tier professional league (NLB) during draft minus-2 season, before making the jump to the OHL, last year; where he averaged over a point-per-game in both the regular season and the playoffs.
A natural centerman, Rossi does an excellent job contending at the faceoff dots. He uses his smaller frame effectively by hunkering down to quickly jump on the puck or body-out the opposition. When the play gets moving, Rossi can be found attacking down the middle of the ice, finishing on his own zone entry with a beautiful goal or finding his teammates with a quick, tape-to-tape, pass.
I asked our leader here at BLH, to flex his scouting muscle and this is what he had to say about Rossi:
“He’s got a hard, accurate, shot and a quick release that fools goalies. A great skater and one who isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas to make a play. I don‘t think he’s overly fast, per se, but he’s not slow and his skating isn’t a question.”
Various draft boards have Rossi all over the place, listed at the 9th-overall spot by HockeyProspect.com and as the 9th-best centerman available on DobberProspects.com. That would likely put Rossi in the 12-18 range, a fitting spot for a player with high-upside in a loaded draft class. It’s possible Rossi could edge out Michael Grabner as the highest-drafted Austrian-born prospect, in history, who was selected with the 14th-overall pick, in 2006.
Antonio Stranges – Center/Left-Wing – 5’10” – 170 lbs. – London Knights
I don’t know much about Stranges, at this point, but I do know his exclusion from Team USA’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup sure rubbed fans the wrong way.
Arguably one of the best stick-handlers in this upcoming draft, Stranges’ work with the puck is something to behold. His pull-and-drag is elite, with a natural gift for corralling the biscuit or settling it from a weird bounce.
He doesn’t waste time getting his shot off with a fast, heavy, snap in his release. But, in saying that, he’s shown great levels of patience, as well. He can take that extra half-second to let the goaltender open up before riffling in a goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QClpbMALuFo
Because of his offensive gifts, Stranges doesn’t need much help around him to find the score sheet. This led to speculation amongst analysts trying to uncover why USA decided not to add him to their Hlinka Gretzky roster – a team who finished 5th in the standings and could have used Stranges’ talents. But, for those thinking he’s a shoot-first player, know that his point production, since entering the OHL, has been more heavily rooted in assists than goals.
Still, a noteworthy season, this year, could prove to be the difference between a first-or-second round draft selection. It’ll be on Stranges to continue showcasing his offensive dominance while, at the same time, continuing to spread the puck out and getting his teammates involved. That’s a fine-line to be dancing but Stranges seems more than capable of living up to the task.
Jaromir Pytlik – Center – 6’3” – 196 lbs. – Sault St. Marie Greyhounds
I currently have Pytlik ranked as a top-10 pick and I seem to be in the minority, on that (for now).
Czech-born-and-trained, Pytlik’s name first began circulating around the internet, nearly a decade ago, after videos of him training became wildly popular on YouTube. Since that time, Pytlik has followed a similar trajectory to 2018 draftee, Oliver Wahlstrom, transitioning from an internet star into a legitimate first-round talent.
He was selected in the second-round of the 2018 CHL Import Draft and made the jump to the OHL in early 2019 (mid-season), after a nice run in the Czech 1-and-2 professional leagues, averaging 0.73 PPG in both the regular season and playoffs, with the Greyhounds.
A fundamentally sound two-way forward, Pytlik’s offensive skillset derives from the work he does on the defensive end of the puck. He can pick your pocket and quickly move the puck up-ice. His IQ, size, and finishing touch are all NHL-ready factors in his game, meaning his development shouldn’t take longer than expected.
Currently seen as a bubble first-round prospect, Pytlik will need to expand on his impressive OHL rookie numbers, notching over 1 PPG, in-order for him to solidify his draft stock. My ranking of 10th-overall may be a bit high, but Pytlik has the tools to live up to that billing.
Follow Keith Fries on Twitter @keithfries
