The Western Hockey League is proud to announce 44 WHL players have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s ‘Players to Watch’ list for the 2020 NHL Draft. The annual ‘Players to Watch’ list was issued Monday by NHL Central Scouting.

NHL Central Scouting identifies players with a rating system that includes four categories. The ‘A’ rating indicates a first-round candidate, a ‘B’ rating indicates a second- or third-round candidate, and a ‘C’ rating indicates a fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round candidate. A ‘LV’ rating indicates Limited Viewing of injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized.

Four WHL players were given ‘A’ ratings, including Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Kaiden Guhle, Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Daemon Hunt, Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Braden Schneider, and Vancouver Giants forward Justin Sourdif. Guhle, Hunt, and Sourdif raised their profile throughout the summer, competing for Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Schneider won gold at the tournament in 2018 with Canada.

Fourteen WHL players earned ‘B’ rating, including Edmonton Oil Kings forward Jake Neighbours and Calgary Hitmen goaltender Jack McNaughton. Twenty-six more players earned ‘C’ ratings.

In total, 21 of 22 WHL member Clubs are represented in the ‘Players to Watch’ list. The Portland Winterhawks lead all WHL teams with five players on this year’s initial list, followed by four from the defending WHL Champion Prince Albert Raiders. The Brandon Wheat Kings, Edmonton Oil Kings, Kamloops Blazers, Lethbridge Hurricanes, and Vancouver Giants each have three players listed. Six WHL teams are represented by a pair of players while eight have a single player on the list.

The positional breakdown of this year’s initial list favours WHL forwards, with 22 named to the list. The blue line has strong representation as well, providing 17 names to the list. Five WHL goaltenders also made the grade. Eleven WHL players selected in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft were named to the list, including Swift Current Broncos defenceman Kasper Puutio, the first-overall selection from the 2019 CHL Import Draft.

2020 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING PRELIMINARY ‘PLAYERS TO WATCH’ – WHL PLAYERS

Skaters

PTWLast NameFirst NameTeamHeightWeightPosition
AGuhleKaidenPrince Albert6’2”188D
AHuntDaemonMoose Jaw6’0”198D
ASchneiderBradenBrandon6’2”202D
ASourdifJustinVancouver5’11”173RW
BFinleyJackSpokane6’6”213C
BGreigRidlyBrandon5’11”164C
BHanasCrossPortland6’1”167LW
BJarvisSethPortland5’10”179C
BKnakSimonPortland6’1”185RW
BKubicekSimonSeattle6’2”205D
BMcClennonConnorWinnipeg5’8”163RW
BNeighboursJakeEdmonton6’0”197LW
BProkopLukeCalgary6’4”219D
BPuutioKasperSwift Current5’11”184D
BSedoffChristofferRed Deer6’2”193D
BWiesblattOzzyPrince Albert5’10”183RW
BZaryConnorKamloops6’0”177C
CBauerTyrelSeattle6’3”206D
CBoykoNoahLethbridge6’0”173RW
CBrondbergJonasPortland6’4”189D
CBrookJakobPrince Albert6’2”183RW
CCikhartJanTri-City6’3”179C
CDe La GorgendiereAidanSaskatoon6’0”183D
CFergusonIanTri-City5’11”178D
CFromm-DelormeRobbiePortland6’1”182RW
CGutMichalEverett6’0”187C
CHomolaDavidMoose Jaw5’10”163D
CKosiorLandonPrince Albert5’11”190D
CKucerikRadekSaskatoon6’1”211D
CMcCartneyBenBrandon6’0”182LW
CNovakPavelKelowna5’9”170RW
CPalivkoDanilaLethbridge6’5”199D
CPillarJoshKamloops5’11”171C
CRhinehartRhettPrince George6’3”203D
CSeeleyRonanEverett6’0”176D
CSeppalaJesseEdmonton5’7”147C
CShepardColeVancouver5’11”157LW
CSouchCarterEdmonton5’9”166LW
CSvejkovskyLukasVancouver5’10”165C

Goaltenders

BMcNaughtonJackCalgary6’1”179G
CBjorklundGarinMedicine Hat6’2”173G
CGarandDylanKamloops6’0”173G
CGouldBrockVictoria6’5”201G
CThomsonBryanLethbridge6’4”179G

Players have been identified using the following criteria:

  • A Rating — Indicates a first round candidate
  • B Rating — Indicates a second or third round candidate
  • C Rating — Indicates a fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate

• LV (Limited Viewing) — Injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized.

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR