2020 NHL Draft: Five prospects who could fall to Stars at pick No. 30

Like everyone else, the Stars' scouting staff is dealing with a different kind of world in 2020.
As they prepare for the NHL's draft Tuesday and Wednesday, they are not traveling to a central site and sitting around the same table. Instead, they are set up in their homes and communicating on Microsoft Teams. Instead of watching tournaments or interviewing potential draft picks in person, they are watching hours of digital footage and scouring reports from earlier in the season.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: [Follow along with every Stars pick at our 2020 NHL Draft Central]
"We all have to adjust," said Joe McDonnell, the Stars director of amateur scouting.
The NHL had to pause in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that has pushed the draft from June to October. In addition, junior leagues and European leagues had to shut down, so scouting has been forced to work that was done before March.
McDonnell said the scouting staff has adjusted, has come up with its agreed upon list, and now they will run the draft in a different but similar way.
"Honestly, it will be just like we're sitting at the table," McDonnell said. "We'll all discuss, and then I'll say: 'Is everybody comfortable, we're going to take this guy?' and then they'll step up to the podium in Frisco and make the pick."
The Stars management team will be in Frisco and will make the official announcement to the league. Round 1 will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday and the Stars will pick 30th overall. Rounds 2-7 will being at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and the Stars will have picks Nos. 123, 154, 162 and 185. Dallas traded away pick No. 61 in the Marc Methot trade, No. 92 in the Mats Zuccarello trade and No. 216 in the Taylor Fedun trade.

The Stars in recent years have picked third, 13th and 18th, so 30th will be a different strategy. They also were moved down to 30th after performing so well in the playoffs. When the regular season ended, they were penciled in at No. 22.
"It doesn't really change your mindset, but you have to make sure you have your list right," McDonnell said. "You're going to get a different player at 30 than you were going to get at 22, so you just need to be sure of what you think."
While the Stars still like to go with a "best player available" mindset, the belief is that the best players on the board at No. 30 will likely be forwards. That's fine with the Stars, who took three defensemen last season, including Thomas Harley at 18th overall.
Still, you just have to be ready for anything, McDonnell said.
"Scouting wise, it was bad for everybody," he said. "Your viewings were limited. We didn't get to watch playoffs in any of the leagues, and that's frustrating, but we all have our reports and we all are dealing with it, so you just do the best you can.
"We watch a lot of video, and I will say we have had extra time to study everything, so we should be very well prepared."
Here are five players who might fall to the Stars:

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Marat Khusnutdinov

The speedy Russian forward is incredibly talented and fun to watch. He works hard and has a high-revving engine, and scouts say he's solid defensively. Some questions whether he is too small. Listed at 5-9, 166, he could be overwhelmed by the NHL or he could be part of the new, faster league.

Thomas Bordeleau

Born in Houston to a hockey-playing dad (Sebastien Bordeleau), Bordeleau grew up mostly in Montreal and has honed his craft in a hockey-playing family. Scouts say he's smart and has good vision. He also tallied 46 points (16 goals, 30 assists) in 47 games for the U18 U.S. National Team.

Jake Neighbours

Solid, bulling winger from Alberta, Neighbours would be a natural pick. Listed at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, he can play a physical game. He also had enough skill to tally 70 points (23 goals, 47 assists) in 67 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings last season.

Roni Hirvonen

Another prototypical Finnish forward who is excellent defensively and learning offensively. He's already playing in the Finnish Elite League for Assat and had 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 52 games last season.

Ridly Greig

A scrappy forward who doesn't mind battling and has a lot of energy. He's fast and can find the play, but scouts question his consistency in making a positive impact on the game.

2020 NHL Draft: First round

Tuesday, 6 p.m. CT
TV:NBCSN
Radio:The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM (coverage begins at 7 p.m.)
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.