Vegas Golden Knights: An early look ahead to the 2020 NHL Entry Draft

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QUEBEC CITY, QC – OCTOBER 18: Alexis Lafreniere #11 of the Rimouski Oceanic skates prior to his QMJHL hockey game at the Videotron Center on October 18, 2019 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images) /

The Forwards

The 2020 NHL Entry Draft is expected to feature a plethora of high-end forwards, particularly in the first round.

With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at some of the offensive talent that is attracting the most attention right now…

Alexis Lafreniere, F, Rimouski (QMJHL)

Projected to be the No.1 pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Alexis Lafreniere is a high-end playmaker and could well be an elite top line wing in the National Hockey League.

Boasting great vision, an accurate shot, elite hands and the ability to get to the dirty areas and score goals, Lafreniere has all the tools to be able to transform the fortunes of an NHL franchise.

He was named the QMJHL’s Most Valuable Player last season, while he has 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points in 22 games this year.

If Lafreniere continues on his upwards trajectory then he could be the first Rimouski player to go No.1 overall since Sidney Crosby was selected with the No.1 overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2005 Draft.

Quinton Byfield, F, Sudbury (OHL)

The projected No.1 center in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Quinton Byfield has time to still overtake Alexis Lafreniere as the No.1 prospect heading into the draft.

Boasting imposing size at 6’4″ and 214 lbs, Byfield is a good skater and he was crowned the 2019 Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year.

Byfield totalled 61 points (29 goals, 32 assists) through 64 games in 2018-19, while he has potted 16 goals and tallied 25 assists for 41 points in 22 games this year.

You build your teams through the middle and every Stanley Cup champion has had at least one elite center. Look at the Pittsburgh Penguins with Sidney Crosby and Evgenii Malkin, or the St. Louis Blues last year with Ryan O’Reilly.

Byfield has the size, the skill and the goalscoring ability to truly flourish in the NHL, and he would be a perfect fit for a team like the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers or the LA Kings who all need a franchise center.

ST CATHARINES, ON – OCTOBER 4: Quinton Byfield #55 of the Sudbury Wolves skates during an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at Meridian Centre on October 4, 2018 in St Catharines, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Alexander Holtz, F, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

The right wing is an offensively gifted player with a bucketload of skill and the ability to put the puck in the net, in addition to being able to create goals at a high rate too.

He boasts elite hockey smarts and he’s also capable of playing a tough game, too, which makes him a prospect worth keeping an eye on.

Holtz had 47 points (30 goals, 17 assists) for the Djurgardens J20 team last year, while he has potted four goals and tallied two assists for six points in 16 games this year.

Luke Tuch, F, USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

Okay, so not currently among the most highly regarded prospects, but Luke Tuch is a name worth keeping an eye on for Vegas Golden Knights fans.

Why’s that? Because Luke is the younger brother of Alex Tuch, who of course is currently playing for the Golden Knights.

Luke Tuch is a big, imposing left wing and he’s currently on the NHL Central Scouting’s November ‘Players To Watch’ List,

Tuch has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 18 games for the U.S. National U18 Team this year, in addition to six points (three goals, three assists) in five games for the USNTDP Juniors.

The cupboard is pretty bare for the Golden Knights when it comes to high-end wings, so they could be tempted to pick Luke Tuch in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

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