Alexis Lafreniere began this hockey season as the likely best player in the NHL Draft – and he also wound up in that position.
Lafreniere, a forward, was the No. 1 North American skater Wednesday as the NHL released its final Central Scouting rankings....
Forward Quinton Byfield (Sudbury) was ranked No. 2 and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (Erie) No. 3. Defenseman Jake Sanderson, of the Plymouth-based U.S. National Development Team Program, was No. 4, and forward Cole Perfetti of Saginaw ranked fifth.
German forward Tim Stuetzle was ranked the No. 1 international skater.
But it’ll be Lafreniere who will be targeted first by the Red Wings and other teams in the draft lottery.