Last night, a 2020 draft took place in the National Hockey League (NHL). Undoubtedly, its first issue was the talented Canadian Alexis Lafrenjé, chosen by the New York Rangers.
Last season, the 18-year-old striker served as captain of the Rimouski Oceanic of Quebec’s Senior Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 57 games, Lafrenje scored 35 goals and made 77 assists, becoming the most successful hockey player in the league with 112 points.
The Los Angeles Kings chose Quinton Baifield of Canada as the second number. 2019/2020. He spent the 2007 season at the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) club Sudbury Wolves. In 45 games, the striker scored 32 goals and made 50 assists. Both Lafrenj and Baifield are world champions in the U20 age group in the Canadian national team.
The third choice belonged to the Ottawa Senators, and the Canadian club used it to attract the talented German Tim Schticli. Unlike the two players mentioned earlier, this striker played in Europe last season, representing Mannheim’s “Adler”. In 41 games, the attacker has 34 (7 + 27) performance points.
The fourth issue of the draft, Luke Raymond, will go to Detroit’s Red Wings from Sweden. This striker also spent the season at home, scoring 10 (4 + 6) points in Frolunda, Gothenburg. The fifth issue, which is the American defender Jake Sanderson, will play in Ottawa together with the already mentioned Sticl. Sanderson himself was a member of the United States National Development Program (USNDP) last season, giving him 29 (7 + 22) points in 47 matches.
One of the surprises was taken care of by Columbus “Blue Jackets”, represented by Elvis Merzlikkin and Matisa Kivleniek, who chose Yegor Chinahov’s Omsk “Avangard” light with 21 numbers. Before the draft, his name was not even close to the first round, however, this season the 19-year-old striker made his bright debut at the KHL level – he has five goals and two assists in 12 games.
A total of 19 Canadians, four Russians, two Americans, Swedes and Germans, as well as one Austrian and a Finn, were selected in the first round. Out of 31 hockey players, the attackers have a depressing advantage – 24 people. There are six more defenders and only one is a goalkeeper – Nashville’s “Predator” with number 11 chose Jaroslav Askarov, the goalkeeper of the St. Petersburg SKA system.
TOP10 choices for the 2020 NHL draft
- (U) Alexis Lafrenjé (“Rangers”)
- (U) Fifty Baifilds (“Kings”)
- (U) Tims Article (“Senators”)
- (U) Lukass Reimonds (“Red Wings”)
- (A) Jake Sanderson (“Senators”)
- (A) Jamie Drisdale (“Ducks”)
- (U) Alexander Holz (“Devils”)
- (U) Jack Queens (“Sabres”)
- (U) Marco Rossi (“Wild”)
- (U) Kouls Perfeti (“Jets”)
