2020 NHL Draft: 5 European Skaters to Watch for Panthers Fans

With the 2020 NHL Draft on the horizon, it's time to brush up on some prospects.
By virtue of their finish to the 2019-20 campaign, the Florida Panthers will enter the draft, which will be held digitally Oct. 6-7, with the 12th overall pick in the first round. Picking 12th for just the second time in franchise history, the club previously selected Denis Shvidki in that spot in 1999.
Overall, Florida owns eight picks in the draft, including a pair of selections in the third and fourth rounds.

For the purpose of this article, however, we'll just be looking at players that could be available for the Panthers at No. 12. And while there's always mystery heading into any draft, the hockey-related hurdles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a bit more than usual this year.
With no end-of-season tournaments or NHL combine to provide organizations with a final look at players, it seems like there's a chance for there to be more fluidity than ever in the first round. In fact, taking a peek at a couple mock drafts, nearly a dozen players could be in play for the Cats.
Leading up to the draft, we'll be looking at 10 of those players over the course of two articles, with additional insights provided for each prospect by the crew over at EliteProspects.com.
So, in no particular order, here are five European skaters to keep an eye on at No. 12.

1. Anton Lundell

Position: Center
DOB:Oct. 3, 2001
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Height: 6'1''
Weight:187 lbs.
Shoots:Left
2019-20 Team: HIFK Helsinki (Liiga)
Pre-Draft Ranking: No. 3 by NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters)
The Panthers and Finnish centers -- can you name a more iconic duo than that?
After breaking into Liiga as a 17-year-old in 2018-19, Lundell, who will turn 19 on Oct. 3, continued to hone his game against grown men this past season, registering 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) while taking on increased responsibility in 44 games with HIFK Helsinki.
Labeled as a two-way center by most scouts heading into the draft, that distinction likely says a lot more about Lundell's defense than his offense. Committed to playing a 200-foot game at all times, he's a very intelligent defender that always seems to end up in the right areas on the ice.
In the offensive zone, Lundell's lethal wrist shot is likely his most-effective weapon. And while a lot of two-way centers are considered pass-first players, he's certainly not afraid to let shots rip, a notion that's backed up by the 162 shots he fired off in 44 games during the 2019-20 season.

Although he missed out on this year's IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship due to an injury, Lundell has shined during international events in the past. As a 17-year-old at the 2019 Under-20 World Juniors, he posted one goal and three assists in four contests to help Finland claim gold.
Prior to that, he also took home gold at the 2018 Under-18 World Juniors.
Elite Prospects Assessment:"Everything about Lundell's game is methodical and calculated, always thinking two or three steps ahead of his opponents at any given moment. He is an eager combatant in puck battles with a track record in those contests that match his enthusiasm. Rare is the moment where Lundell is out of position, and you'll never have to worry about him fleeing the zone early."

2. Alexander Holtz

Position:Right Wing
DOB:Jan. 23, 2002
Birthplace: Saltsjö-Boo, Sweden
Height:6'0''
Weight:183 lbs.
Shoots: Left
2019-20 Team:Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking:No. 2 by NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters)
While it's unlikely Holtz falls to the Panthers, he's certainly worth keeping an eye on.
One of the top snipers in the draft, the 18-year-old participated in his first full season in the SHL in 2019-20, racking up 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 35 games with Djurgårdens IF. And while he didn't look out of place playing against grown men, he really stood out in his own age group.
In addition to scoring seven goals in just three games with Djurgårdens' junior club, he also lit up the scoresheet at the 2020 IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship. In seven tournament games, he tallied five points (three goals, two assists) while helping Sweden capture the bronze.
At the 2019 Under-18 World Juniors, he lit the lamp four times en route to winning gold.

While Holtz's play style definitely leans more towards offense than defense, his high hockey IQ and positional awareness make him an effective player in all three zones. His exceptional vision allows him to not only find teammates with passes, but also break up opposing passing lanes.
Already two games into the 2020-21 season with Djurgårdens, he's scored one goal thus far.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "His shot is as good as it gets, and it makes him a threat to score from anywhere in the offensive zone. Holtz is a pure sniper as currently constructed, and he has the potential to be a first-line finisher with triggerman utility on the power play. He's a special, special talent, and if he can refine that talent, then there's no telling where it might take him."

3. Rodion Amirov

Position: Left Wing
DOB:Oct. 2, 2001
Birthplace: Salavat, Russia
Height: 6'0''
Weight:168 lbs.
Shoots:Left
2019-20 Team:Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL), Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking: No. 5 by NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters)
Amirov's numbers don't jump off the page, but his potential certainly does.
Like most young Russians, the 19-year-old forward saw limited minutes in the KHL during the 2019-20 campaign. Playing in 22 games with Yulaev, he notched just two assists, but still held his own on the ice while playing against grown men for the first time in his budding career.
When he went up against players in his age group, however, his numbers spiked a bit. In 17 games with Yulaev in Russia's junior league, MHL, he tallied 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists).

Internationally, Amirov was outstanding at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championship, recording a team-leading nine points (six goals, three assists) while helping Russia win silver.
As for his overall skillset, some scouts believe that Amirov has all of the tools to become a top-six skater in the NHL. He's excellent at driving the puck up the ice and has shown more than a few flashes of elite playmaking ability. That being said, consistency will be key as he develops.
In taking a look at various scouting reports and articles, it seems that while many analysts agree that he has a high ceiling, there's a lot of differing opinions on what exactly his floor is right now.
Already in the midst of his second season with Yulaev, Amirov could potentially move up a few spots on some draft boards thanks to his hot start to 2020-21. Through eight games, he's tallied eight points (three goals, five assists), which currently places him eighth on the team in scoring.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "He strikes with strong habits, deploying crossovers through arced attacks on the rush, made all the more potent with a nice variety of rush patterns through the neutral zone preceding these forays. His anticipation, the ability to see plays before they develop, is one of his high-level tools."

4. Lucas Raymond

Position:Right Wing / Left Wing
DOB:March 28, 2002
Birthplace: Göteborg, Sweden
Height:5'10''
Weight:183 lbs.
Shoots:Right
2019-20 Team:Frölunda HC (SHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking: No. 4 by NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters)
Like Holtz, Raymond is likely far too tantalizing to fall to the Panthers at No. 12.
After getting a taste of the pros in 2018-19, the 18-year-old forward spent a whopping 33 games with Frölunda HC in the SHL this past season, amassing 10 points (four goals, six assists) while cutting his teeth against grown men that knew how to take advantage of his still-growing stature.
Flipping through scouting reports on Raymond, two words that show up a lot are "creativity" and "unpredictability." While the first is pretty self-explanatory, the second is a lot more interesting. In essence, he has so many tools that no one knows exactly what he'll unleash on any given shift.
Using his speed and skating ability, he's always moving on the ice. He has a knack for leading the rush, and when he enters the offensive zone he can dish a silky pass or rip the biscuit with the best of them. As he matures more physically, all of these tools are expected to get a boost.
In matchups against players his own age, Raymond has been able to show off some of these aforementioned skills a lot more easily as his size isn't as big a concern. In the nine games he spent with Frölunda's junior club in 2019-20, he recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists).
At the 2020 IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship, he helped Sweden take home a bronze medal with four points (two goals, two assists) in four tournament games. At the 2019 Under-18 World Juniors, he had eight points (four goals, four assists) and left the event with a gold medal.

Through three games with Frölunda this season, Raymond has notched a goal and an assist.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "A very well-rounded and highly skilled winger. Raymond is blessed with exceptional hockey sense. Furthermore, he has terrific hands, great speed and fine work ethic. Plays with plenty of intensity and battles hard for the puck. A nightmare to play against with his forechecking and puck-stealing ability. He also plays a strong two-way game and is a capable penalty killer. Offensively, he has a strong wrist shot and excellent vision. Few weaknesses overall and is a player that doesn't wait for the play to happen, but the one that generates the play and make things happen."

5. Yaroslav Askarov

Position:Goaltender
DOB:June 16, 2002
Birthplace:Omsk, Russia
Height:6'3''
Weight:176 lbs.
Catches: Right
2019-20 Team: SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)
Pre-Draft Ranking:No. 1 by NHL Central Scouting (European Goalies)
Like most top-ranked goalies, Askarov is the ultimate wild card of the first round.
Now, given that the Panthers scooped up future No. 1 goaltender Spencer Knight with the 13th overall pick in last year's draft -- a selection that's already looking great -- it's unlikely that they'd go for another goalie here. But, with a lack of high-end European skaters projected to be on the board at 12 in the first round, he's worth taking a look at to keep all of the bases covered here.
While he only started once in the KHL in 2019-20, Askarov looked dominant while manning the crease in VHL, which is Russia's second-tier league. Owning a 12-3-3 record with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, he registered a 2.45 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and one shutout.
Internationally, he backstopped Russia to gold at the 2019 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, posting a .954 save percentage over his four starts. Later, at the 2020 IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship, the 18-year-old took home silver and finished the tournament with a 2.71 goals-against average.

Possessing a nice combination of impressive athleticism and sound technique, scouting reports on Askarov read a lot like they did for Knight last year. He's a large goalie whose positionally sound style of play allows him to make even the most difficult saves look routine at first glance.
Gaining buzz as the draft approaches, Askarov has gone 2-1-0 with a 0.74 goals-against average .974 save percentage and one shutout to open up the 2020-21 season in the KHL.
If Askarov is still on the board at No. 12, it wouldn't be surprising if another team calls the Panthers and tries to swing a deal to move up.
Elite Prospects Assessment: "What really makes him stand out is the way he utilizes a range of depth management to effectively make the most of his wide stance and fluid movements. He has incredible reaction speed and does a good job of controlling himself within the blue paint when he needs to. He's difficult to pull out of position by holding sustained pressure on his team's end of the ice."
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FloridaPanthers.com/DraftCentral
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