2020 NHL Draft Positional Breakdown: Top Defensemen

ColoradoAvalanche.com is profiling some of the top 10 draft-eligible players at each position heading into 2020 NHL Draft, which will be held virtually this year on Oct. 6-7. This installment looks at the top defensemen that are available.
The No.3-ranked North American skater Jamie Drysdale highlights the 2020 draft-eligible blueliners and could be the first rear guard selected this year. There were 66 defensemen picked in the 2019 NHL Draft, including 10 in the first round.

Below are the top seven North American and top three international defensemen based on NHL Central Scouting's final list of the best prospects for the 2020 NHL Draft. The Avalanche has the 25th overall selection in the first round of the draft.

Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (OHL)

5-11, 175 lbs, Shoots Right, No.3-Ranked North American Skater
Drysdale, 18 (born April 8, 2002), completed his second full season with the Erie Otters and was named to the OHL First All-Star Team this year. He recorded 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists), including 22 power-play points, in 49 games in 2019-20, and his 0.96 points per game ranked 10th among OHL blueliners. Drysdale also won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, registering one goal and two assists in seven games at the tournament. He had five assists in five outings to help his country win silver at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last fall. Drysdale produced 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) in 63 outings the previous campaign with Erie, leading all rookie-defensemen and ranking eighth among all first-year skaters in scoring. The Toronto, Ontario, native can become the third player in the last five years from the Otters to be selected in the first round, joining Connor McDavid (No. 1) and Dylan Strome (No. 3) who were both drafted in 2015. NHL Central Scouting compares Drysdale's style of play to that of the Avalanche's Calder Memorial Trophy winner, Cale Makar.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Exceptional skater with an excellent transition game that can drive the play and push the pace from the back end. A two-way defenseman with excellent offensive ability. He is hard to beat in his own zone--uses an excellent stick, intelligent positioning and angles to defend."

Jake Sanderson, U.S. National Team Development Program

6-2, 185 lbs, Shoots Left, No.4-Ranked North American Skater
Sanderson, 18 (born July 8, 2002), recorded 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) in 66 total games in 2019-20 with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He captained the NTDP's Under-18 Team in 2019-20 and the Under-17 Team in 2018-19. The Whitefish, Montana, native notched 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 66 games in his first year in the program. He held the No. 11 spot at the mid-term rankings with NHL Central Scouting, but a strong second half of the year led to him finishing as the fourth-ranked skater in North America. He has committed to play at the University of North Dakota next year.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Excellent skater who plays all parts of the game at a quick pace. Elite hockey sense allows him to be effective on the attack and while defending. Great battle game and compete level."

Helge Grans, Malmo (SHL)

6-2, 206 lbs, Shoots Right, No.6-Ranked International Skater
Grans, 18 (born May 10, 2002), played 21 games against men with Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League. He produced three points (one goal, two assists) and recorded four penalty minutes in the SHL and also competed in 27 contests with Malmo's junior team in the SuperElit league, notching 27 points (four goals, 23 assists). The rear guard helped Team Sweden earn a bronze medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and a bronze at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The Ljungby, Sweden, native finished the campaign ranked as the No. 6 international skater after NHL Central Scouting had him rated 21st in the mid-term rankings.
NHL Central Scouting Report:"Big, strong, offensive-minded two-way defenseman. A smart playmaker and passer. Honest competitor who plays with confidence. Improved a lot during the 2019-20 season."

Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert (WHL)

6-2, 186 lbs, Shoots Left, No.8-Ranked North American Skater
Guhle, 18 (born Jan. 18, 2020), registered 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) in 64 contests with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2019-20, ranking sixth overall on his team in scoring. It was his second full season in the Western Hockey League, and he more than doubled his point total from the year prior. In 2018-19, the Edmonton, Alberta, native won a WHL championship with Prince Albert, recording 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 65 contests. He added three assists in 23 playoff games and suited up in three Memorial Cup outings that year. He played in five games and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2019 Ivan Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "An excellent skater with quick acceleration who is mobile and elusive when defending. Can be very physical with big open ice hits. Likes to join the play for odd-man rushes. The go-to guy on the blueline for his team. Possesses a solid one-time shot."

Topi Niemela, Karpat (Liiga)

5-10, 156 lbs, Shoots Right, No.8-Ranked International Skater
Niemela, 18 (born March 25, 2002), played against men with Karpat in Liiga, the Finnish Elite League, in 2019-20 and recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in 43 contests. In 2018-19, Niemela spent the majority of the season with Karpat's junior team and Niemela registered eight points (one goals, seven assists) in 39 regular-season outings to help the club win a league championship. The Oulu, Finland, native won a silver medal with his country at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Skilled, quick defenseman who likes to join the rush. Reliable but not flashy. High Hockey IQ. Finesse-type defenseman with strong puck-handling skills."

Braden Schneider, Brandon (WHL)

6-2, 202 lbs, Shoots Right, No.9-Ranked North American Skater
Schneider, 19 (born on Sept. 20, 2001), completed his third season with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2019-20, setting a new career high with 42 points (seven goals, 35 assists) in 60 contests. At the conclusion of the campaign, he was named to the WHL's First All-Star team in the Eastern Conference. Schneider's rookie campaign in the WHL came in 2017-18, and he was second on the Wheat Kings in scoring among first-year skaters that year with 22 points (one goal, 21 assists). The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, native found the back of the net eight times in his second campaign with Brandon and also added 16 helpers. He helped his country win the gold medal at the 2018 Ivan Hlinka Gretzky Cup and also donned the maple leaf at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Displays a strong presence on the ice. Makes big hits in all three zones. Strong on his skates and hard to knock off the puck. Used in all situations. Likes to join the rush using deceptive speed. A complete package on the blueline who can control a game."

William Wallinder, MODO Jr. (SuperElit)

6-4, 191 lbs, Shoots Left, No.14-Ranked International Skater
Wallinder, 18 (born on July 28, 2002), spent the majority of the season playing for MODO's junior team in the SuperElit league in Sweden. He recorded 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 37 contests and also added two assists with MODO in 18 games against men in the Allsvenskan league, the second-highest pro league in the Swedish hockey system. Wallinder, a native of Solleftea, won a bronze medal with Team Sweden at the 2019 Ivan Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Big, mobile, two-way defenseman with good passing skills and hockey sense. Plays with confidence and authority. Likes to join the offense."

Justin Barron, Halifax (QMJHL)

6-2, 195 lbs, Shoots Right, No.16-Ranked North American Skater
Barron, 18 (born on Nov. 15, 2001), appeared in 34 games for the Halifax Mooseheads in 2019-20 and led all rear guards on his team with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists). The prior campaign was his second in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and he posted 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) in 68 contests for the Mooseheads. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team in 2017-18 after scoring twice and adding 19 assists in 51 games. Barron had five assists in five outings to help his country win gold at the 2018 Ivan Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Good size with excellent skating skills. Strong forward and backward strides. Solid puck retrievals. Moves the puck well while finding the right options under pressure. Great mobility with good gap control. Pivots and angles opponents well. Plays a physical game."

Jeremie Poirier, Saint John (QMJHL)

6-0, 196 lbs, Shoots Left, No.18-Ranked North American Skater
Poirier, 18 (born on June 2, 2002), led all QMJHL defensemen with 20 goals and was tied for second in scoring with 53 points in 64 games with the Saint John Sea Dogs last year. It was his second season with the Sea Dogs after he posted 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 61 outings in 2018-19. The Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, native had a goal and two helpers at the 2019 Ivan Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the tournament. He also played for Canada White at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he was tied for the most points by a blueliner at the tournament with six (three goals, three assists) in five contests.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Highly skilled offensive defenseman with game-breaking ability. Looks to lead and join the rush with quick transitions. Creates offense for his team. Has a great shot and ability to find the right shooting lanes."

Daemon Hunt, Moose Jaw (WHL)

6-0, 198 lbs, Shoots Left, No.25-Ranked North American Skater
Hunt, 18 (born May 15, 2020), recorded 15 assists in 28 games this past season for the Moose Jaw Warriors after missing half of the year with an injury. His first full campaign in the Western Hockey League was in 2018-19 and he registered 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 57 contests, finishing fourth in scoring among first-year D-men in the league. The Brandon, Manitoba, native won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2019 Ivan Hlinka Gretzky Cup and is cousins with Avalanche forward Matt Calvert.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "A strong skater who uses different speeds to be effective. Defends well. Quick to create odd man rushes. Will step up in all areas when finishing checks. More of a playmaking defenseman than a finisher. Good intangibles."