As expected, prolific left wing Alexis Lafreniere of Rimouski in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was ranked the No. 1 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting in advance of the annual NHL draft. Tim Stuetzle, who plays for Mannheim in Germany’s top professional league, was ranked as the top international skater.
When the NHL draft will be held has not been determined due to the league’s decision to pause all activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The draft originally was scheduled to be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal on June 26-27.