The 2020 Calder race is generally presented as a two-horse competition, featuring 2017 fourth overall pick and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar and Canucks' blueliner Quinn Hughes, who went 7th overall in 2018 (for what it's worth, he was 3rd overall on my board). It's very much the year of the defenceman; there's no argument … Continue reading Adam Fox missed Calder recognition, but the blueliner is already one of the best young defenders in the game →

The extraordinary Alexis Lafreniere commands most of the attention-- for good reason-- but it's a very solid QMJHL draft class behind him this year. Dawson Mercer is typically seen as the next best, and then a wider group behind him includes players like Mavrik Bourque, Hendrix Lapierre, and Jeremie Poirier. Bourque is by far my … Continue reading Mavrik Bourque is one of the draft’s top dual-threat options beyond the top ten →

An elite playmaker offers a versatility in lineup construction like no other archetype of player— it sometimes seems as though Sidney Crosby has a new no-name brand winger making only a million or two a year riding the coattails of his elite vision every year. You could pick a stranger out of the free skate … Continue reading How Alexis Lafrenière exemplifies everything you want in a playmaker →

With the possibility of an early June draft looking more and more likely, it's time for teams and their fans to begin their focus on who they might take at the draft this year. The general approach to the draft that most teams publicly take, as well as the one I personally champion, is to … Continue reading The best fits for every lottery team at the draft →

On December 28, the Kingston Frontenacs announced that they had received a commitment from Martin Chromiak, whom they had drafted second overall in the CHL Import Draft the summer before. Five days later, the Slovakian winger scored his first Ontario Hockey League goal just under nine minutes into his debut against the OHL-best Ottawa 67's. … Continue reading Martin Chromiak’s versatile offensive game should make him an attractive option at the 2020 NHL Draft →

Even with the vast scouting networks employed by today's NHL teams, there is always plenty of value to be had outside of the top 31 picks at the NHL Entry Draft. In fact, three of the NHL's ten top scorers this season were drafted outside of the first round: Artemi Panarin (undrafted), Brad Marchand (71st … Continue reading 2020 NHL Draft: Top Sleepers →

Who will your favourite team pick? Find out in our post trade deadline mock draft, the first of its kind at The Prospect Network.