Just over a week after the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup, the first major step of the offseason came to an end with the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft on Tuesday. The New York Rangers won the NHL Draft Lottery earlier this summer and used the pick to select Quebec Major Junior Hockey League star Alexis Lafreniere.
Lafreniere has spent the last three seasons starring for Rimouski Océanic. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 QMJHL Draft and burst onto the scene with 42 goals in 60 games. To put that into perspective, Lafreniere had the highest number of goals in a rookie season since Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby scored 54 for Rimouski Oceanic in 2004. In his three seasons in the QMJHL, Lafreniere has accumulated 297 points (114 goals & 183 assists) and blossomed into one of the most dangerous young players in the world.
Many believe that Lafreniere is a generational talent that will become one of the NHL’s biggest stars sooner rather than later. The Rangers will look to pair Lafreniere with a nucleus that already includes the likes of Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.
Rounding out the top five was Quinton Byfield, who became the highest drafted black player in NHL history when the Los Angeles Kings selected him No. 2 overall, German international Tim Stutzle, who got drafted by the Senators, Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings) and top American prospect Jake Sanderson (Senators).
Here are the complete results of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft
Round 1
1. New York Rangers: Alexis Lafrenière, LW 2. Los Angeles Kings: Quinton Byfield, C 3. Ottawa Senators (from Sharks): Tim Stutzle, LW 4. Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond, LW 5. Ottawa Senators: Jake Sanderson, D 6. Anaheim Ducks: Jamie Drysdale, D 7. New Jersey Devils: Alexander Holtz, RW 8. Buffalo Sabres: Jack Quinn, RW 9. Minnesota Wild: Marco Rossi, C 10. Winnipeg Jets: Cole Perfetti, C 11. Nashville Predators: Yaroslav Askarov, G 12. Florida Panthers: Anton Lundell, C 13. Carolina Hurricanes (from Leafs): Seth Jarvis, C 14. Edmonton Oilers: Dylan Holloway, C 15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Penguins): Rodion Amirov, LW 16. Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle, D 17. Chicago Blackhawks: Lukas Reichel, LW 18. New Jersey Devils (from Coyotes): Dawson Mercer, C 19. New York Rangers (from Flames): Braden Schneider, D 20. New Jersey Devils (from Lightning via Canucks): Shakir Mukhamadullin, D 21. Columbus Blue Jackets: Yegor Chinakhov, RW 22. Washington Capitals (from Flames via Rangers via Hurricanes): Hendrix Lapierre, C 23. Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster, RW 24. Calgary Flames (from Capitals): Connor Zary, C 25. Colorado Avalanche: Justin Barron, D 26. St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours, LW 27. Anaheim Ducks (from Bruins): Jacob Perreault, RW 28. Ottawa Senators (from Islanders): Ridly Greig, C 29. Vegas Golden Knights: Brendan Brisson, C 30. Dallas Stars: Mavrik Bourque, C 31. San Jose Sharks (from Lightning): Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW
Round 2
32. Detroit Red Wings: William Wallinder, D 33. Ottawa Senators: Roby Jarventie, LW 34. Buffalo Sabres: John-Jason Peterka, RW 35. Los Angeles Kings: Helge Grans, D 36. Anaheim Ducks: Sam Colangelo, RW 37. Minnesota Wild: Marat Khusnutdinov, C 38. San Jose Sharks: Thomas Bordeleau, C 39. Minnesota Wild: Ryan O’Rourke, D 40. Winnipeg Jets: Daniel Torgersson, LW 41. Carolina Hurricanes: Noel Gunler, RW 42. Nashville Predators: Luke Evangelista, RW 43. Florida Panthers: Emil Heineman, LW 44. Ottawa Senators: Tyler Kleven, D 45. Los Angeles Kings: Brock Faber, D 46. Chicago Blackhawks: Drew Commesso, 47. Montreal Canadiens: Luke Tuch, LW, 48. Montreal Canadiens: Jan Mysak, C 49. Arizona Coyotes: Pick forfeited 50. Calgary Flames: Yan Kuznetsov, D 51. Detroit Red Wings: Theodor Niederbach, C 52. Pittsburgh Penguins: Joel Blomqvist, G 53. Carolina Hurricanes: Vasili Ponomarev, C 54. Philadelphia Flyers: Emil Andrae, D 55. Detroit Red Wings: Cross Hanas, LW 56. San Jose Sharks: Tristen Robins, RW 57. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jack Finley, C 58. Boston Bruins: Mason Lohrei, D 59. Toronto Maple Leafs: Roni Hirvonen, C 60. New York Rangers: William Cuylle, LW 61. Ottawa Senators: Egor Sokolov, LW 62. Tampa Bay Lightning: Gage Goncalves, C
Round 3
63. Detroit Red Wings: Donovan Sebrango, D 64. Toronto Maple Leafs: Topi Niemela, D 65. Minnesota Wild: Daemon Hunt, D 66. Los Angeles Kings: Kasper Simontaival, RW 67. Anaheim Ducks: Ian Moore, D 68. Vegas Golden Knights: Lukas Cormier, D 69. Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Nikishin, D 70. Detroit Red Wings: Eemil Viro, D 71. Ottawa Senators: Leevi Merilainen, G 72. Calgary Flames: Jeremie Poirier, D 73. Nashville Predators: Luke Prokop, D 74. Florida Panthers: Ty Smilanic, C 75. Colorado Avalanche: Jean-Luc Foudy 76. San Jose Sharks: Danil Gushchin, LW 77. Pittsburgh Penguins: Calle Clang, G 78. Columbus Blue Jackets: Samuel Knazko, D 79. Chicago Blackhawks: Landon Slaggert, LW 80. Calgary Flames: Jake Boltmann, D 81. Chicago Blackhawks: Wyatt Kaiser, D 82. Vancouver Canucks: Joni Jurmo, D 83. Los Angeles Kings: Alex Laferriere, RW 84. New Jersey Devils: Nicolas Daws, G 85. Tampa Bay Lightning: Maxim Groshev, RW 86. St. Louis Blues: Dylan Peterson, C 87. Florida Panthers: Justin Sourdif, RW 88. St. Louis Blues: Leo Loof, D 89. Boston Bruins: Trevor Kuntar, C 90. New York Islanders: Alexander Ljungkrantz, RW 91. Vegas Golden Knights: Jackson Hallum, C 92. New York Rangers: Oliver Tarnstrom, C 93. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jack Thompson, D
Round 4
94. Philadelphia Flyers: Zayde Wisdom, RW 95. Florida Panthers: Michael Benning, D 96. Calgary Flames: Daniil Chechelev, G 97. Detroit Red Wings: Sam Stange, RW 98. San Jose Sharks: Brandon Coe, RW 99. New Jersey Devils: Jaromir Pytlik, C 100. Edmonton Oilers: Carter Savoie, LW 101. Nashville Predators: Adam Wilsby, D 102. Montreal Canadiens: Jack Smith, C 103. New York Rangers: Dylan Garand, G 104. Anaheim Ducks: Thimo Nickl, D 105. Florida Panthers: Zachary Uens, D 106. Toronto Maple Leafs: Artur Akhtyamov, G 107. Detroit Red Wings: Jan Bednar, G, 108. Pittsburgh Penguins: Lukas Svejkovsky, C 109. Montreal Canadiens: Blake Biondi, C 110. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Krutil, D 111. Arizona Coyotes: Mitchell Miller, D 112. Los Angeles Kings: Juho Markkanen, G 113. Vancouver Canucks: Jackson Kunz, LW 114. Columbus Blue Jackets: Mikael Pyyhtia, LW 115. Carolina Hurricanes: Zion Nybeck, LW 116. Tampa Bay Lightning: Eamon Powell, D 117. Washington Capitals: Bogdan Trineyev, RW 118. Colorado Avalanche: Colby Ambrosio, C 119. St. Louis Blues: Tanner Dickinson, C 120. New Jersey Devils: Ethan Edwards, D 121. New York Islanders: Alex Jefferies, LW, 122. Toronto Maple Leafs: William Villeneuve, D 123. Dallas Stars: Antonio Stranges, LW 124. Montreal Canadiens: Sean Farrell, C
Round 5
125. Vegas Golden Knights: Jesper Vikman, G 126. Edmonton Oilers: Tyler Tullio, RW 127. New York Rangers: Evan Vierling, C 128. Los Angeles Kings: Martin Chromiak, RW 129. Anaheim Ducks: Artyom Galimov, LW 130. New Jersey Devils: Artem Shlaine, C 131. Buffalo Sabres: Matteo Costantini, C 132. Detroit Red Wings: Alex Cotton, D 133. Winnipeg Jets: Anton Johannesson, D 134. New York Rangers: Brett Berard, LW 135. Philadelphia Flyers: Elliot Desnoyers, LW 136. Montreal Canadiens: Jakub Dobes, G 137. Toronto Maple Leafs: Dimitry Ovchinnikov, C 138. Edmonton Oilers: Maksim Berezkin, LW 139. Colorado Avalanche: Ryder Rolston, RW 140. Los Angeles Kings: Ben Meehan, D 141. Chicago Blackhawks: Isaak Phillips, D 142. Arizona Coyotes: Carson Bantle, LW 143. Calgary Flames: Ryan Francis, RW 144. Vancouver Canucks: Jacob Truscott, D 145. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, D 146. Minnesota Wild: Pavel Novak, RW 147. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jaydon Dureau, LW 148. Washington Capitals: Bear Hughes, C 149. Pittsburgh Penguins: Raivis Ansons, RW 150. St. Louis Blues: Matthew Kessel, D 151. Boston Bruins: Mason Langenbrunner, D 152. New York Islanders: William Dufour, RW 153. Dallas Stars: Kasper Puutio, D 154. Dallas Stars: Daniel Ljungman, C, 155. Ottawa Senators: Eric Engstrand, LW
Round 6
156. Detroit Red Wings: Kyle Aucoin, D 157. Tampa Bay Lightning: Nick Capone, RW 158. Ottawa Senators: Philippe Daoust, C 159. Carolina Hurricanes: Lucas Mercuri, C 160. Anaheim Ducks: Albin Sundsvik, C 161. New Jersey Devils: Benjamin Baumgartner, C 162. Dallas Stars: Yevgeni Oksentyuk, LW 163. St. Louis Blues: Will Cranley, G 164. Winnipeg Jets: Tyrel Bauer, D 165. New York Rangers: Matt Rempe, C 166. Nashville Predators: Luke Reid, D 167. Colorado Avalanche: Nils Aman, C 168. Toronto Maple Leafs: Veeti Miettinen, RW 169. Edmonton Oilers: Filip Engaras, C 170. Pittsburgh Penguins: Chase Yoder, C 171. Montreal Canadiens: Alexander Gordin, RW 172. Chicago Blackhawks: Chad Yetman, C 173. Arizona Coyotes: Filip Barklund, C 174. Calgary Flames: Rory Kerins, C 175. Vancouver Canucks: Dmitry Zlodeyev, C 176. Columbus Blue Jackets: Samuel Johannesson, D 177. Toronto Maple Leafs: Axel Rindell, D 178. Philadelphia Flyers: Connor McClennon, RW 179. Washington Capitals: Garin Bjorklund, G 180. Toronto Maple Leafs: Joe Miller, C 181. Ottawa Senators: Cole Reinhardt, LW 182. Boston Bruins: Riley Duran, C 183. New York Islanders: Matias Rajaniemi, D 184. Vegas Golden Knights: Noah Ellis, D 185. Dallas Stars: Remi Poirier, G 186. Tampa Bay Lightning: Amir Miftakhov, G
Round 7
187. Detroit Red Wings: Kienan Draper, RW 188. Chicago Blackhawks: Louis Crevier, D 189. Toronto Maple Leafs: John Fusco, D 190. Los Angeles Kings: Aatu Jamsen, RW 191. Vancouver Canucks: Viktor Persson, D 192. Arizona Coyotes: Elliot Ekefjard, RW 193. Buffalo Sabres: Albert Lyckasen, D 194. St. Louis Blues: Noah Beck, D 195. Toronto Maple Leafs: Wyatt Schingoethe, C 196. San Jose Sharks: Alex Young, C 197. New York Rangers: Hugo Ollas, G 198. Florida Panthers: Elliot Ekmark, C 199. Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Pashin, RW 200. Edmonton Oilers: Jeremias Lindewall, RW 201. San Jose Sharks: Adam Raska, RW 202. Nashville Predators: Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, LW 203. Detroit Red Wings: Chase Bradley, LW 204. Arizona Coyotes: Ben McCartney, LW 205. Calgary Flames: Ilya Solovyov, D 206. San Jose Sharks: Linus Oberg, C 207. Anaheim Ducks: Ethan Bowen, C 208. Carolina Hurricanes: Ronan Seeley, D 209. Nashville Predators: Chase McLane, C 210. San Jose Sharks: Timofey Spitserov, RW 211. Washington Capitals: Oskar Magnusson, LW 212. Florida Panthers: Devon Levi, G 213. Toronto Maple Leafs: Ryan Tverberg, C 214. New York Islanders: Henrik Tikkanen, G 215. Vegas Golden Knights: Maxim Marushev, C 216. Buffalo Sabres: Jakub Konecny, C 217. Tampa Bay Lightning: Declan McDonnell, RW
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
