2020 NHL Draft: 3 Stars Of Week 9

1. Kaiden Guhle

The 2020 NHL draft is not considered to be a strong one for the Western Hockey League. However, Kaiden Guhle of the Prince Albert Raiders is making a strong case to be the first defenceman selected from the WHL. Guhle had a goal in all four games the Raiders played this past week. On three of those occasions, he would open the scoring, getting the Raiders off and running. As a result of those quick starts, they would take seven of a possible eight points for the week. Their only blemish coming in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Regina Pats. In his most recent outing, he would score the go-ahead-goal and later have the primary assist on the game-winning tally.

Guhle is ranked #18 by ISS HOCKEY and #18 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY and sits eighth in defenceman scoring in the WHL. Besides having a reasonable offensive upside, Guhle has a physical aspect that he brings to the table. His exceptional skating ability allows him the mobility to step up in the neutral zone and deliver crunching body checks.

2. Jamie Drysdale

The premier defenceman available for the 2020 NHL draft is Jamie Drysdale of the Erie Otters. The Ontario Hockey League defender continues to display his immense talents. His extreme mobility allows him to maneuver in the offensive zone creating open passing and shooting lanes. Never was that more evident than this week.

Drysdale began the week assisting on both of the Otters’ first two goals and then later setting up the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory versus the Mississauga Steelheads. Remarkably, he would surpass that effort with a four-assist game later in the week. Drysdale would provide helpers on all four goals the Otters would manage in a 4-2 decision over the Oshawa Generals. The seven points that he tallied resulted in his selection as my second star of the week.  As a result of his extraordinary week, he has moved to within one point of the scoring lead for defencemen in the OHL, with 28 points in 24 games played.

3. Mikael Pyyhtia

Finnish prospect Mikael Pyyhtia, although not a highly ranked prospect, continues to have impressive showings. He continues to develop his complete 200-foot game. Although his defensive game has always been one of his strengths, it is his puck distribution and hockey awareness in the offensive zone that has earned him the third star of the week honour.

The hard-working centerman helped propel his TPS U20 team to a pair of victories in Nourten SM-Liiga action this past week. In a 2-1 edging of IFK Helsinki U20, he delivered the third-period game-winning goal. In his most recent game, a 12-5 pasting of Vaasan Sport U20, Pyyhtia would notch a pair of goals to go along with two helpers. His five-point week has seen him climb into the top ten in league scoring with 29 points in 25 games.

Honourable Mentions

Another Finnish prospect that deserves mentioning is Kasper Simontaival. The Tappara U20 star was one of my three stars last week, and subsequently, his five-point effort in three games has earned him further accolades.

In the OHL, Ottawa 67’s top-prospect Marco Rossi added six points in three games. While Soo Greyhounds forward Jaromir Pytlik and Sudbury Wolves star Quinton Byfield, each posted five points in three games.

Similarly, Mavrik Bourque provided five points in the three games for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Likewise, Everett Silvertips teammates Michal Gut and Ronan Seeley would post five points in their three WHL games.

Related Articles: 2020 NHL Draft: 3 Stars of Week 8 and 2020 NHL draft: 3 Stars of Week 7

Rick Warman is a Vancouver Canucks and prospects contributor for Overtime Heroics. Follow him @statman1956 on Twitter

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