2020 NHL Draft Positional Breakdown: Top Wingers

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 wings that are available.
Highlighted by likely-No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere, this year boasts a strong class of left and right wings in both North America and around the globe. After Lafreniere, international wingers are expected to be the next ones off the board, with prospects coming from both traditional powerhouse countries like Sweden and more up-and-coming regions such as Germany.

Below are the top five North American and top five international wings based on
NHL Central Scouting's final lists of the best prospects for the 2020 NHL Draft
.

Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

6-1, 193 lbs, Shoots Left, No. 1-Ranked North American Skater
Lafreniere, 18 (born Oct. 11, 2001), is a two-time Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League MVP that has produced 297 points (114 goals, 183 assists) in 173 games over the last three seasons with the Rimouski Oceanic. The left wing has recorded at least 80 points in each of his campaigns in the QMJHL and registered a career-high 112 points in 2019-20 after recording 35 goals and 77 assists, the latter of which was also a personal best in his major-junior career. After tallying a career-high 42 goals in 2017-18 with the Oceanic, he topped the century mark in scoring for the first time in his career the following season with 105 points (35 goals, 77 assists). As an 18-year-old at the under-20 IIHF World Junior Championship in 2020, he was named the tournament's MVP and best forward after recording 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games en route to Canada's gold-medal win. The St-Eustache, Quebec, native also played in the tournament as a 17-year-old, tallying once. He was only 16 years old when he scored four goals and added two assists for Canada at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship. Expected to be the top pick in this year's NHL Draft, Lafreniere can become the first Quebec-born player selected first overall since goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003 and the first skater from the province taken No. 1 since Vincent Lecavalier in 1998.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Exceptionally smart player with top-end speed and pull-away gear. Great at carrying the puck and leading rushes. Executes under pressure and has great vision and anticipation--very good quickness with the puck and exceptional ability to change speed. Elite puck skills and vision to create plays in the offensive zone."

Tim Stuetzle, Adler Mannheim (DEL)

6-1, 187 lbs, Shoots Left, No. 1-Ranked International Skater
Stuetzle, 18 (born Jan. 15, 2002), is coming off his first professional season in Germany where he was named the DEL's rookie of the year after producing seven goals and 27 assists in 41 games with Adler Mannheim. Prior to jumping to the pro ranks, the Viersen, Germany, native recorded 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) in 21 contests with the Jungadler Mannheim junior team. The left wing had five assists at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship for Team Germany. Stuetzle helped his country earn win gold and earn a promotion at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship Division 1, Group A where he was named the best forward at the tournament after tying for the overall scoring lead with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in five games.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "A playmaking hockey artist with a great set of tools including speed, dekes, stickhandling, shot and hockey IQ. Creates something positive on every shift."

Alexander Holtz, Djurgarden IF (SHL)

6-0, 192 lbs, Shoots Right, No. 2-Ranked International Skater
Holtz, 18 (born Jan. 23, 2002), registered 16 points (nine goals and seven assists) while playing 25 professional games this past season with Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League. The Stockholm, Sweden, native's 16 points were the most by an under-18 player in the SHL. Holtz also suited up in three contests for Djurgarden's junior club in the SuperElit league and scored seven goals while registering two assists. The right wing registered 30 goals and 47 points in 38 contests with the junior squad in 2018-19 while also making his professional debut with the senior team that year as well, appearing in three outings. A member of Sweden's bronze medal-winning squad at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, he recorded five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games at the tournament. Holtz had four goals and three assists at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship where he helped his country take home the gold medal.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "A sniper with good selection of shots who likes to shoot a lot. Good playmaker and passer. Excellent offensive instincts while still being aware of defensive duties."

Lucas Raymond, Frolunda HC (SHL)

5-11, 170 lbs, Shoots Right, No. 4-Ranked International Skater
Raymond, 18 (born March 28, 2002), spent the majority of this past season playing with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. Competing against men, the Gothenburg, Sweden, native produced 10 points (four goals, 10 assists) and only four penalty minutes in 33 games. The left wing also suited up in nine contests for Frolunda's junior team in the SuperElit league, producing three goals and 11 assists. The forward helped Team Sweden win a bronze medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship after recording two goals and two assists in seven games, and he scored a hat trick--which included the overtime-winning goal--to give his country the gold medal over Russia at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship. In the 2018-19 campaign, Raymond mostly played for Frolunda Jr. and registered 48 points (13 goals and 35 assists) in 37 games to tie for fifth in the league in scoring, but he also made his professional debut with the men's club that year, scoring twice in 10 outings as a 16-year-old.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Mobile, explosive, quick winger with speed and excellent puck control. Smart, effective in traffic, creates scoring chances with quick moves and hard work."

Rodion Amirov, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

6-0 177 lbs, Shoots Left, No. 5-Ranked International Skater
Amirov, currently 18 (born Oct. 2, 2001), split last season between Ufa's men's team in the Kontinental Hockey League and the junior club in the MHL. He recorded 10 goals and 12 assists in 17 junior games, while producing two assists in 21 KHL outings. Amirov also suited up in five games for Neftekamsk in the Russia's second-tier pro league (VHL). The left wing is the highest-ranked Russian skater by NHL Central Scouting in this year's draft, rated No. 5 overall among international players. The Salavat, Russia, native recorded six goals and three assists in seven games at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship where he earned a silver medal and was named to the tournament's all-star team.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Speedy two-way winger with attitude, fine stickhandling, smooth hands and a good shot. Quick and mobile with a great work ethic. Reliable team player."

Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67's (OHL)

6-0, 176 lbs, Shoots Right, No. 7-Ranked North American Skater
Quinn, 19 (born Sept. 19, 2001), completed his second full season with the Ottawa 67's and was one of two players in the Ontario Hockey League to score 50 goals in the campaign. Quinn registered 52 goals and 37 assists in 62 games in 2019-20 after producing 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 61 outings the previous year. The Ottawa native registered three hat tricks during the most recent season and had a career-high six points (one goal, five assists) on Feb. 9, 2020 versus North Bay. Rated as the best North American right wing in the 2020 draft, NHL Central Scouting compares Quinn's play to that of the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Dynamic skater that can fly with the puck on his stick. Lethal shot with an exceptional release. Strong two-way game. Plays in all situations. Sniper with highlight reel goal-scoring ability.

John-Jason Peterka, EHC Munchen (DEL)

5-11, 192 lbs, Shoots Left, No. 8-Ranked International Skater
Peterka, 18 (born Jan. 14, 2002), completed his first profession season with EHC Munchen in the German league in 2019-20, recording seven goals and four assists. Prior to his time in the men's league, the right wing had also played minor hockey in the Czech Republic with the RB Hockey Academy. The Munich native registered six points (four goals, two assists) in seven outings for Team Germany at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and had eight points (two goals six assists) in five outings at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship Division 1, Group A to help his country win the tournament and earn a promotion.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Creative, speedy hard-working winger who likes to go to the net and shoot. His game is speed, hard work, attitude and offensive instincts."

Jacob Perreault, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

5-11, 192 lbs, Shoots Right No. 17-Ranked North American Skater
Perreault, 18 (born April 15, 2002), recorded 39 goals with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League last season, his second-straight campaign that he has tallied 30 or more times. The Montreal, Quebec, native finished with 70 points (39 goals and 31 assists) in 57 outings in 2019-20 for Sarnia, leading the club in goals, power-play goals (14), shots (207) and faceoff percentage (57.7 percent, min. 100 attempts). The right wing was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team in 2018-19 after becoming the fifth 16-year-old rookie since 2009-10 to reach the 30-goal mark in the league; he finished that campaign with 30 goals, 25 assists and 55 points in 63 outings and contributed two points (one goal, one assist) in four postseason contests.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Strong skater with great balance. Hard accurate shot with a release that jumps quickly off his stick. A dangerous shooter who can score from multiple areas of the ice. An intelligent player that puts himself in good positions to get scoring chances. Natural goal scorer."

Ozzy Wiesblatt, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

5-10, 183 lbs, Shoots Right, No. 19-Ranked North American Skater
Wiesblatt, 18 (born March 9, 2002), ranked second in scoring on the Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders after producing 70 points (25 goals, 45 assists) in 64 contests. The Calgary, Alberta, native won a WHL championship with Prince Albert in 2018-19, recording 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 23 playoff games after producing 15 goals and 24 assists in 64 regular-season outings. In the 2019 Memorial Cup Tournament, he had an assist in three outings. The right wing won a silver medal with Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last fall.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "Displays good acceleration and speed. High-end vision. Highly competitive--plays bigger than his size. Quick release. Threat on both offensive and defensive side of the puck."

Tyson Foerster, Barrie Colts (OHL)

6-2, 194 lbs, Shoots Right, No. 21-Ranked North American Skater
Forester, 18 (born Jan. 18, 2002), wrapped up his second season with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League in 2019-20, ranking tied for 16th among league players in scoring with 80 points (36 goals and 44 assists) in 62 games. He recorded two scoring streaks of 13 games this past campaign and was named the Player of the Game for Team White at the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game where he had two goals and an assist. The Alliston, Ontario, native jumped from No. 41 at Central Scouting's mid-term rankings to a final position of 21 among North American skaters. Foerster had 10 goals and 13 assists in 64 contests in his first season of major-junior play with Barrie last year.
NHL Central Scouting Report: "A gifted offensive player who displays excellent vision and playmaking ability. High hockey IQ. Excellent puck protection ability. Has a lethal shot with a quick release and the ability to score from multiple angles."