2020 NHL Draft: Drysdale vs. Sanderson

The 2020 NHL Draft will be held virtually on Oct. 6-7. The first round will be Oct. 6 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 are Oct. 7 (11:30 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN1). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects and other features. Today, a comparison between top draft-eligible defensemen Jamie Drysdale of Erie and Jake Sanderson of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 Team. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Jamie Drysdale of Erie in the Ontario Hockey League and Jake Sanderson of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team are projected as the two top defensemen available in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Drysdale (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), No. 3 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, scored 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) and 22 power-play points in 49 games this season. He scored three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games while averaging 11:38 of ice time to help Canada finish first in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
"I'll tell you right now, Drysdale reminds me of Sergei Zubov/Chris Chelios and I don't hesitate in saying that," said TSN resident director of scouting, NHL analyst and former NHL general manager Craig Button. "He will be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL someday."
Sanderson (6-2, 185), No. 4 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, scored 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists), three power-play goals and was plus-13 in 47 games. He could be the first player born and trained in Montana (Whitefish) to play in the NHL.
Sanderson, who will attend the University of North Dakota in 2020-21, averaged 0.62 points per game this season. Three NTDP U-18 defensemen selected in the first round of the NHL Draft have averaged more: Cameron York (1.03.; Philadelphia Flyers, No. 14, 2019 NHL Draft), Quinn Hughes (0.66.; Vancouver Canucks, No. 7, 2018) and Charlie McAvoy (0.64.; Boston Bruins, No. 14, 2016).
"Jake reminds me of Marc-Edouard Vlasic, having top-three potential," Button said. "Jake, to me, is solid but isn't going to be as high an offensive producer as Drysdale."
In a poll conducted by NHL.com of 12 NHL scouts, Drysdale earned a 7-5 advantage.
NHL.com sought the opinion of NHL evaluators who have watched Drysdale and Sanderson this season. They promised honesty in exchange for anonymity.

In favor of Jamie Drysdale

"I think Drysdale is probably the smartest defenseman in this draft. He's one of those guys that the game plays at the pace he decides and it's pretty amazing to watch him adapt to situations. To me, he's going to be a long-term pro and dominant player for a lot of years. Sanderson has more offensive upside than he showed. If you cut the season in half and looked at his points in the second half and carried that over an entire year, his numbers would be significantly better and that's something that's always attractive. That's somebody who is starting to get it and starting to realize how he can dominate. I like his skating and his physicality, so it's going to be real interesting, but I think I still go with Drysdale."
"Both excellent. In today's game I think with a Drysdale you're going to get more production out of him offensively. Sanderson might play 10 more years longer than Drysdale, and he's an excellent player too. It's just the offense ... I think Drysdale brings that and that's why I give him the edge."
"Both are very good skaters with mobility, a strong puck game. The vision and decision-making are very good for both. Although I think Drysdale's better, Sanderson plays more of a physical game. He finishes his checks hard and has a bit of an edge to his game. He's good moving the puck on the power play. Drysdale can really control the pace of the game. He runs the show when he's on the ice, is excellent in moving the puck on the power play. He's more of a passer than shooter, can pull away from pressure and is elusive, so I'd take Drysdale because he can control the game so well."

In favor of Jake Sanderson

"They are very close in talent. They both can control the pace of the game. They are both very effective rushing the puck out of their defensive zone and gaining the offensive zone with ease, great at making plays, excellent hockey sense. The one difference that I see ... Sanderson is a stronger, more powerful skater."
"They're two different players for me. Drysdale maybe thinks he's more defensive than the way he plays. But I think Sanderson is the more well-rounded player, but it's a tough call for sure. I'd take Sanderson."
"It's Sanderson for me. I think if you flip Drysdale and Sanderson, put Sanderson against 17- and 18-year-olds, you'd see him in a different light. Sanderson's skating is elite and he's a 6-foot-2, left-hand shot. Drysdale is a 5-foot-11, right-hand shot. They're both going to be power-play guys and eat minutes. I like Sanderson's pedigree and upbringing. He's a pro right now and carries himself that way. I remember before this pandemic, we spoke to him and three other players at the same time and those players all deferred to him in the conversation. He's not a bully, but mature and focused and he's a pro right now."
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