FEATURE: Final NHL Draft Rankings Released

On Wednesday the NHL released their final rankings for draft-eligible players heading into the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. While the date may not yet be known due to the NHL pause, the rankings have been solidified and led by Canadian Alexis Lafreniere. Lafreniere is the Top North American skater on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

Lafreniere just finished his season in the QMJHL with the Rimouski Océanic. Should he be drafted first overall in the upcoming draft, he would be the third player from the Quebec Major Junior League to go first overall. The last player drafted first out of the league was Nico Hischier in 2017. At 18-years-old, Lafreniere scored 112 points in 52 games before the CHL season was canceled.

Lafreniere is followed by center Quinton Byfield and defenseman Jamie Drysdale. Byfield, a center, played for the Sudbury Wolves and amassed 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 45 games. Drysdale played for the Eerie Otters, quarterbacking the power play, with 22 power-play points in 49 games and an overall point total of 47.

All three top North American skaters were teammates for Team Canada at this past year's World Junior Championship, taking home the gold medal. They have held the 1,2 and 3 spot since January.

The first American on the list is defenseman Jake Sanderson from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, listed at No. 4.

Cole Perfetti, a center from the OHL's Saginaw Spirit rounds out the Top Five.

For goaltenders, Canadian Nicolas Daws is the top-ranked North American netminder. He went 23-8-6 with a 2.48 goals-against average, five shutouts and a .924 save percentage in 38 games with the Guelf Storm (OHL).

Internationally, Germany's left-winger Tim Stuetzle is the top-ranked skater. He played for Mannheim in Germany's top league in 2019-20, earning rookie of the year honors.

Right-wing Alexander Holtz clocks in as the No.2 ranked International. He played with Djurgardens in the Swedish Hockey League, while center Anton Lundell is No. 3 after playing for HIFK in Liiga, Finland's top professional league.

Iaroslav Askarov is the No. 1 International goalie. He played for Neva St. Petersburg in Russia's second division this past year. In 18 games he had a 12-3-3 record, 2.45 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.