The NHL entry of 2020 was the first of two virtual concepts that were implemented during the COVID-19 Pandemie. Now, five years later, we can judge the top ten choices that concept and see how they have developed.
Alexis Lafrenière: New York Rangers
Due to the chaos of the COVID-19-colored season, the New York Rangers won the trekking lottery despite the fact that they almost made the play-offs. With the first overall choice, they selected Alexis Lafrenière, a 6-foot-2 winger who had achieved no less than 112 points in 52 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (Qmjhl)-games. With such figures, The expectations were towering.
But in the next five years, the NHL career of Lafrenière was largely overwhelming. After a slow Rookie campaign of 21 points in 56 games, he eventually broke out in 2023–24, with 28 goals and 57 points over a full 82 game lei. He shone in the play -offs and added 14 points in 16 games when the Rangers reached the final of the Eastern Conference before they were eliminated. That implementation earned him a substantial contract of $ 7.45 million, which runs the 2031–32 season. While 2024-25 was not a down year for Lafrenière, but for the team I expect that he is developing into a consistent scorer of 30 to 40 goals while he is heading for his prime.
Quinton Byfield: Los Angeles Kings
Only a few years ago many called Quinton Byfield a bust. But was 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds when he was set up, Byfield was a force in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), with 82 points in 45 games with the Sudbury Wolves. He followed that with a solid season in the minors after he was set up in second place.
His early NHL career, however, was Rocky, with five goals and five assists in 45 games during the 2021-2222222222222220 season. His struggles continued the following year because he managed only three goals and 21 points in 53 games, because injuries further hinded his development. But just like Lafrenière, Byfield eventually broke out in 2023–24, and scored 20 goals and 55 points in 80 games, making him established himself as a legitimate force. He followed that with a strong campaign last season of 23 goals and 54 points, where he confirmed his place as one of the NHL’s top power, ready to thrive for the next decade.
Tim Stutzle: Ottawa Senators
In September 2018, everyone laughed at the return that the Ottawa Senators in the Erik Karlsson trade. Now the joke on the San Jose Sharks, who gave up a pick of the first round from 2020 that Tim Stützle changed. De Viersen, Germany, impressed the Deutsche Eishockey League (DEL) with 34 points in 41 games for the Mannheim Eagles, with his elite playing capacity, although Scouts wondered whether his skills would translate from the slower DL to the NHL.
It turns out that Stützle, chosen in third place, not only kept up to date, he flourished in the NHL. With a career-high 90 points in 78 games in the 2022-23 season, he became the face of the senators franchise and is paid accordingly, although his cap of $ 8.35 million until the 2030-31 season already looks. Stützle is a dynamic passer, has a deadly shot and is not afraid to become physical when needed. He is the top player of the 2020 design class and he still improves.
Lucas Raymond: Detroit Red Wings
Lucas Raymond is currently the best player on the Detroit Red Wings, who says a lot. He just hit a career height of 80 points in 82 games in 2024-25, and he is only 23 years old. The ceiling is towering for the fourth overall pick, which continues to evolve into a dynamic attacking force for general director Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings. With his skills, vision and high hockey IQ, this was an excellent choice. Raymond is well on its way to becoming a cornerstone piece in the rebuilding of Detroit.
Jake Sanderson: Ottawa Senators
With their second top five Pick, the senators concentrated on defense and nailed with Jake Sanderson. One of the few NHL players who came from Montana has tightened his game for two seasons at the University of North Dakota before making the jump to the NHL. After a few solid 30-plus point campaigns, he broke out last season with 57 points in 80 games from the Blue Line. A strong physical presence that plays with discipline also earned Sanderson a place on Team USA at the Four Nations Face-Off as an extra defender. Now a legitimate Norris Trophy community service, he is ready to be one of the best defenders of the competition for years.
Jamie Drysdale: Anaheim Ducks
I had high expectations for Jamie Drysdale when he was with the Ohl’s Erie Otters. He was a flexible skating defender who moved the Puck exceptionally well and played solid defense, so he was elected sixth in general. With the ducks he made early impression with a strong 32-point Rookie season in 2021-22 before injuries started to derail his development.
In the middle of the 2023–24 season, Drysdale was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Cutter Gauthier. Despite the change of the environment, he has still not been able to match the figures of his Rookie campaign. Now on a Prove-IT contract with the flyers, Drysdale wants to get his career back on track and the potential where he once showed.
Related: 2019 NHL Draft top 10: Where are they now?
Alexander Holtz: New Jersey Devils
Unfortunately, Alexander Holtz is a perfect example of bad player management through the Devils organization. Holtz was never used well under head coach Lindy Ruff and was constantly shaken between the NHL and the American Hockey League. Although he consistently performed well in the minors, he never got a stable role in the NHL.
Rookie errors often led to immediate banks, and emphasized how mismanagement can stunt the development of a young player. Holtz eventually took a career-high 16 goals and 28 points, but was Traded to the Vegas Golden Knights For a modest return during the low season of 2024. He is now a solid bottom-Six Vooruit, but that is far from what you hope for with the seventh general choice.
Jack Quinn: Buffalo Sabres
Jack Quinn is not the flashiest or most competent player, but he plays a reliable, uncomfortable Middle Seat role for the Buffalo Sabres, and he is doing well. With a career height of 15 goals and 39 points last season, Quinn has the potential to reach the goal of 20-25, 45-50 point range in its Prime.
Although that cannot arise from typical expectations for an eighth overall choice, the resident of Ottawa has still carved a solid role for himself and a reliable presence in the Line -up of Buffalo remains.
Marco Rossi: Minnesota Wild
Marco Rossi, a rare Austrian presence in the NHL, broke out last season with 24 goals and 60 points in 82 games for the Minnesota Wild. Although substandard, he is doing well High-end skill and creativity. Rossi has proven to be a legitimate NHL talent and seems ready to continue to develop into a perfect addition to Kirill Kaprizov to the top lines of Minnesota. It is clear why De Wild chose him with the ninth general choice.
Cole Perfetti: Winnipeg Jets
Cole Perfetti is similar to Jack Quinn, but with a little more offensive advantage. With a career height of 50 points last season, he has established himself as a reliable second line center that consistently gets the job. Although he may never exceed the 60-point mark, Perfetti remains a solid and respectable selection on tenth general, which brings a steady production and reliability for the line-up of the jets.
2020 NHL Draft Class still produces stars
The 2020 trekking class was full of future stars selected in the top ten. Many of these players stay with their original teams, with only a few being moved. Remarkable first round stars outside the top ten include Seth Jarvis (13th General), Dawson Mercer (18th) and Braeden Schneider (19th). The second round also produced important contributors such as JJ Peterka, Brock Faber and Will Cuylle.
Although the third and fourth rounds did not produce so many NHL -Stam guests, players such as Alex Lafferiere (not to be confused with Alexis Lafreniere), Wyatt Kaiser and Mikael Pyyhtia have left their mark. Later rounds saw players such as Devon Levi, Nils Aman and Matt Kessel, who all recorded solid NHL minutes early in their career. This was a deep sketch, especially in the first round, and promises to continue to produce NHL stars for years.
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