FanSided’s 2020 NHL Entry Draft Rankings: Top 30 prospects
By Simon Vacca
Hockey Prospects 25-21
25. Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads — QMJHL (6-foot-2, 187 pounds)
Health is arguably the foremost knock on Barron, who suffered a blood clot in December of 2019. That said, the defenseman is a known target in NHL circles, offering terrific skating, decent passing and proven two-way play. Add the fact that he occupies the right side of the blue line and you can see why professional organizations may be willing to look past underlying concerns.
24. Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan Cataractes — QMJHL (5-foot-10, 165 pounds)
A smart player who offers high-end offensive production coupled with defensive responsibility. Speed and size will remain a question mark — and a reasonable one at that — but that which Bourque does well should not be overlooked.
23. Emil Andrae, D, HV71 — SHL (5-foot-9, 183 pounds)
A smaller defenseman whose hockey IQ has been known to quell doubts. Andrae is capable of producing on the power play and providing looks that place his teammates in a position to succeed. He is one of those sneaky good prospects who may very well end up as a steal.
22. Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders — WHL (6-foot-3, 187 pounds)
The type of defensive prospect who should almost certainly pan out at the professional level. He defends well and skates quite nicely. Questions prevail about his offensive game, but a club hoping for future relief in its own end should look past such concerns in a heartbeat.
21. Noel Gunler, LW/RW, Luleå HF — SHL (6-foot-2, 174 pounds)
A forward who skates well and plays a fairly intelligent game. Gunler is a talented shooter who is definitely able to turn heads — even when being under-used or under-appreciated. Look for the 18-year-old to aim for defensive improvement so as to further garner attention in the NHL.