Prospect and NHL Draft News: Dominant ‘Theme’ of 2020?

Nearly every year, an NHL draft theme develops. For example, 2019 was the year of USA Hockey – National Team Development Program (NTDP). With a total of 17 players drafted, including eight 1st round picks, it was a record year for the US development program based out Plymouth, Michigan.

Since the NTDP was founded in 1996, it has continuously developed into a premier hockey development program. NHL fans will likely hear much more about names from the 2019 draft class including: Jack Hughes (middle Hughes brother with one more ‘in the mail’, Luke Hughes), Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, Spencer Knight, Cam York, and Cole Caufield. This list limited by the fact that these are the players I have been fortunate enough to have seen live. Does that mean US hockey is now the global leader in hockey development? Not necessarily – it just seems to be cyclical. The 2020 class is proof of that.

Canadian Hockey League Dominance in 2020?

The early theme for 2020, especially during the first round, points to an overwhelming number of selections from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The CHL is comprised of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL). With 52 Canadian teams along with eight stateside squads, the CHL is generally considered a consistent development league for the NHL.

Much of the top-end talent set to take centre stage at the 2020 NHL Draft is spread throughout each of the CHL's three leagues.

Sam Cosentino checks in on their progress and offers up his top 10 CHL Prospects for the month of September:https://t.co/12Ycuxiwlw

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 26, 2019

Considering my obvious NHL draft enthusiasm, I wanted to get a ballpark number on how many CHL players might be selected in round 1 of the 2020 NHL draft. A quick inventory of five separate 2020 NHL draft rankings (links below) indicates that as many as 18 CHL players could be taken this Fall.

• ISS – 17 CHL (March 2020)
• Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet – 19 CHL (June 2020)
• Bob Mckenzie, TSN – 18 CHL (June 2020)
• HockeyProspect – 19 CHL (July 2020)
• Draft Site, 18 CHL (September 2020)

First Round Prediction

Even if these projections are somewhat inflated, the consensus would suggest approximately half of the Round 1 will be from the CHL. That would certainly translate into a great draft day for the CHL.

Readers can respond October 6th, but I will go on record and predict 16 CHL picks will be taken in the first round – 8 OHL, 5 WHL, and 3 QMJHL selections.

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