Luke Visser WestChester Discusses the 2020 NHL Draft

The 2020 NHL draft was a historic one. 217 selections occurred over the course of two days. The entire process was conducted via zoom, with 27 trades and swap-picks to round out the whole affair. Not everyone made out at the same level, and there are lots of big moments to discuss, but here are some of the highlights that really stand out in this year’s NHL draft.

Quinton Byfield

The Los Angeles Kings have found a historic pick with Byfield the #2 pick overall. He is the highest-drafted Black player ever in the NHL. The Los Angeles market is set to provide him with a stage to make a real impact on the game of hockey.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottowa Senators have become well known for their entertaining public relations stunts, and this year has been no different. For their no.3 pick, they brought in a well-known face to announce their choice — Alex Trebek. The 80-year-old Canadian is a recipient of the Order of Canada, and a stage 4 pancreatic cancer fighter. He took to the “Jeopardy!” dais and announced the German-born Tim Stutzle as the Senator’s pick.

Inclusivity

Skipping down to the №31 pick, the San Jose Sharks found a heartwarming and inspiring way of personalizing the announcement of their pick — the last of the first round. Doug Wilson Jr. used American Sign Language to spell out their pick and announce Ozzy Wiesblatt, raised by his deaf mother, as their choice. This was an inspiring way to show how the little touches can go a long way for inviting and welcoming a new member.

First Round Pick Goalie?

It’s very rare that goalies see an early round of the draft since it’s such a finicky position. However, Russian-born Yaroslav Askarov is an 18-year-old goalie that has inspired an incredible amount of faith, with a 0.74 goals-against average and a 0.974 save percentage. His incredible performance at just the age of 18 has inspired confidence.

This was a historic and unprecedented draft, with long-reaching ramifications for the future of the sport. We have seen deeper and more careful consideration of players and their skills, as well as of the situation we all find ourselves in today. These are just a few of the most interesting and notable moments of the draft that stuck with this author, but with more than 217 picks over 2 days, there were plenty of moments and thoughts to be had.