Welcome to my Friday ramblings as I could not get this out on Thursday because, like I said in December, when I posted my original rankings (found HERE) that narrowing these down to 31 stresses me out. However, here I am again, high stress and all to bring you my new rankings! I have also made it 50 so it is less stressful, and added what the players were ranked previously.

These rankings will be just my opinion, from what I have watched and read, of the top 31 prospects for the 2020 NHL draft

Also, before we start here is my #GoodTweet of the week:

{source} <blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Wow this is a lot for an older player. Seems like a &quot;thanks for that super low AAV contract earlier&quot; type of deal.<br>Backstrom also seems like one of those players who's game will age very well <a href=”https://t.co/oTkYsqkHRg”>https://t.co/oTkYsqkHRg</a></p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1217089762281918464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 14, 2020</a></blockquote>{/source}

January top 31 rankings (with tiers):

Tier 1

1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW (Previous 1)

Tier 2

2. Quinton Byfield, C (Previous 2)

Tier 3

3. Lucas Raymond, RW/LW (Previous 3)
4. Marco Rossi, C (Previous 7)
5. Tim Stutzle, C/W (Previous 8)
6. Cole Perfetti, C/LW (Previous 4)
7. Alexander Holtz, RW/LW (Previous 5)
8. Anton Lundell, C/LW (Previous 6)

Tier 4

9. Jamie Drysdale, D (Previous 10)
10. Noel Gunler, RW/LW (Previous 12)
11. Jan Mysak, LW (Previous 13)
12. Rodion Amirov, LW (Previous 9)
13. Dylan Holloway, C (Previous 11)
14. Dawson Mercer, RW (Previous 17)

Tier 5

15. Hendrix Lapierre, C (Previous 14)
16. Connor Zary, C (Previous 15)
17. Justin Barron, D (Previous 20)
18. Jeremie Poirier, D (Previous 16)
19. Mavrik Bourque, C (Previous 18)
20. Yaroslav Askarov, G (Previous 21)

Tier 6

21. Jean-Luc Foudy, C (Previous 22)
22. Jake Sanderson, D (Previous 19)
23. Jacob Perreault, C (Previous 25)
24. Braden Schneider, D (Previous 24)
25. Jack Quinn, RW (Previous 29)
26. Zion Nybeck, RW (Previous 26)
27. Kaiden Guhle, D (Previous 28)
28. Ty Smilanic, C/W (Previous 30)
29. Justin Sourdif, RW (Previous 23)
30. Antonio Stranges, C/LW (Previous 27)
31. William Wallinder, D (Previous 32)

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RIP Neil Peart. Rush was such a great band I was able to see them three times and even got to see the last tour they did! At least live performances live on, well and the music too.

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Keeping consistent with my previous rankings I will still go to a top 50, and they can be considered Tier 7

32. Shakir Mukhamadullin, D (Previous 31)
33. Lukas Reichel, LW (Previous 47)
34. Jake Neighbours, LW (Previous 42)
35. Jaromir Pytlik, C (Previous 33)
36. Ryan O’Rourke, D (Previous 41)
37. Roni Hirvonen, C (Previous 34)
38. Vasili Ponomaryov, C (Previous 40)
39. Eemil Viro, D (Previous 37)
40. Seth Jarvis, RW (Previously NR)
41. Daniil Gushchin, RW (Previous 38)
42. Marat Khusnutdinov, C (Previously NR)
43. Topi Niemela, D (Previous 45)
44. Kasper Simontaival, RW (Previous 36)
45. Theodor Niederbach, C (Previous 44)
46. Thomas Bordeleau, C (Previous 39)
47. Lukas Cormier, D (Previous 43)
48. Emil Andrae, D (Previous 35)
49. John-Jason Peterka, RW (Previous 48)
50. Alexander Pashin, RW (Previous 46)

Falling out of my top 50:

• Carter Savoie, LW (Previous 49)
• Jack Thompson, D (Previous 50)

Notes

• Tiers 5-7 are all extremely close, the only thing separating them is that Askarov could be a star net minder and that first round picks get consistent chances to become NHLers while second round picks have a much shorter leash
  • Reminder: I do not rank goalies very high
• I keep being more and more impressed with Marco Rossi, Jan Mysak, and Antonio Stranges over the past month plus

Largest Riser

• First round – Jack Quinn, RW
• Second round – Lukas Reichel, LW

Largest Faller

• First round – Justin Sourdif, RW
• Second round – Emil Andrae, D

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