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Plenty of skill and depth in full 2020 NHL Mock Draft – TSN

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After the New York Rangers do the expected by taking Alexis Lafreniere with the first-overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, our final 31-team mock draft has Sudbury Wolves centre Quinton Byfield going next to the Los Angeles Kings.

Byfield’s size (6-foot-4 1/4 and 215 pounds) is such an important part of his game – not only from a skill point of view, but in his ability to impact the game in all its areas. His completeness and competitiveness stand out in his 200-foot game and he has the tools to develop into a two-way star centre in the mould of Anze Kopitar.

The Ottawa Senators’ first of two top-five picks starts with German pivot Tim Stutzle at No. 3. He’s a dazzling and creative centre with an array of skills that allow him to impact the game at a significant manner. Stutzle is immediately dangerous to opponents when he has the puck and reminds me of Blackhawks sniper Patrick Kane.

The Sens then go with winger Lucas Raymond, a player with a sublime and stealth skill set. His hockey sense is two-to-three steps ahead and he also has a lot of creativity to make different sorts of plays. He has the makings of a No. 1 playmaking right winger in the mould of Mitch Marner.

The Winnipeg Jets have the 10th overall pick and take hometown boy Seth Jarvis, whose playing style is comparable that of Tampa Bay playoff hero Brayden Point. The Portland centre finished second in WHL scoring with 42 goals and 98 points in 58 games, won league most sportsmanlike player honours and earned a place on the Western Conference first all-star team.

With the 14th overall selection, the Edmonton Oilers snap up 67’s winger Jack Quinn. The best goal-scorer in the draft, Quinn went from 12 goals in his rookie season to 52 in 2019-20. One thing to keep in mind: If the highly- outed Yaroslav Askarov were somehow to fall this spot, I would have Edmonton choosing the Russian goaltender.

The Kasperi Kapanen trade to Pittsburgh gave the Toronto Maple Leafs the 15th overall pick and I’m going with Brandon’s Braden Schneider, a competitive right-shot defenceman in the mould of Jacob Trouba. If Toronto decides not to go for a blueliner, edgy two-way Brandon centre Ridly Greig would be a good fit. His comparable? Ex-Leaf Nazem Kadri.

At No. 16, the Montreal Canadiens take Chicoutimi Sagueneens winger Dawson Mercer – an all-around force who won’t just score goals, but set them up as well. If the native of Bay Roberts, Nfld., were to be drafted by Montreal, it would be the second straight year a Newfoundlander is picked No. 16, following in the skateprints of St. John’s native Alex Newhook, who was selected by Colorado.

The Calgary Flames are at No. 19 and I like them picking Halifax defenceman Justin Barron. He brings heady play, puck-moving skills and a good all-around game. He missed three months of the 2019-20 season with a blood clot and returned to play seven games before the pandemic pause. He will have the opportunity to play two more games before Tuesday’s draft, with the Mooseheads playing back-to-back today and Saturday against Cape Breton.

The Senators round out the Canadian teams in Round 1 with their third pick and take German winger John-Jason Peterka. He’s smart, can skate and is always in the right spot at the right time to produce offence. He can also fit seamlessly in multiple situations with different players.

Check out our full 31-team final mock draft below:

NYR 1. Alexis Lafreniere Rimouski (QMJHL) LW 52 35 112
LA 2. Quinton Byfield Sudbury (OHL) C 45 32 82
Ott 3. Tim Stutzle Mannheim (DEL) C/LW 41 7 34
Det 4. Jamie Drysdale Erie (OHL) D 49 9 47
Ott 5. Lucas Raymond Frölunda (SHL) RW 33 4 10
Ana 6. Jake Sanderson USA U-18 (USHL) D 47 7 29
NJ 7. Cole Perfetti Saginaw (OHL) C/LW 61 37 111
Buf 8. Marco Rossi Ottawa (OHL) C 56 39 120
Min 9. Anton Lundell HIFK (SM Liiga) C 44 10 28
Wpg 10. Seth Jarvis Portland (WHL) C 58 42 98
Nsh 11. Yaroslav Askarov St. Petersburg (VHL) G 18 2.45 .920
Fla 12. Kaiden Guhle Prince Albert (WHL) D 64 11 40
Car 13. Alexander Holtz Djurgårdens (SHL) LW 35 9 16
Edm 14. Jack Quinn Ottawa (OHL) RW 38 52 89
Tor 15. Braden Schneider Brandon (WHL) D 60 7 42
Mtl 16. Dawson Mercer Chicoutimi (QMJHL) C/RW 42 24 60
Chi 17. Hendrix Lapierre Chicoutimi (QMJHL) C 19 2 17
NJ 18. Jacob Perreault Sarnia (OHL) RW 57 39 70
Cgy 19. Justin Barron Halifax (QMJHL) D 34 4 19
NJ 20. Dylan Holloway Wisconsin (NCAA) C/LW 35 8 17
CBJ 21. Ridly Greig Brandon (WHL) C 56 26 60
NYR 22. Connor Zary Kamloops (WHL) C 57 38 86
Phi 23. Tyson Foerster Barrie (OHL) RW 62 36 80
Wsh 24. Jeremie Poirier Saint John (QMJHL) D 64 20 53
Col 25. Brendan Brisson Chicago (USHL) C 45 24 59
StL 26. William Wallinder  MoDo (SWE J20) D 37 5 24
Ana 27. Helge Grans Malmo (SWE J20) D 27 4 27
Ott 28. John-Jason Peterka Munich (DEL) LW 42 7 11
VGK 29. Ryan O’Rourke Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) D 54 7 37
Dal 30. Rodion Amirov Ufa (KHL) LW 17 10 22
SJ 31. Jan Mysak Hamilton (OHL) C/LW 22 15 25

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Vancouver Canucks winger Joshua set for season debut after cancer treatment

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Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.

Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.

The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.

He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.

“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.

The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.

Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.

“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”

The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

___

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