2020 NHL Draft: 5 Late-Round Sleepers to Watch

With the 2020 NHL Draft fast approaching, there’s lots of discussion about the top prospects, which team could select which prospect, and so on. When it comes to the draft, the prospects that look to be first-round talents control the majority of the discussion. However, every year there are players taken in the later rounds that eventually make it to the NHL and become top players for their teams, sometimes even becoming stars.

In the CCHL, Levi went 34-2-1 with a league-leading 1.47 goals against average (GAA) and .941 save percentage (SV%). He earned CCHL goaltender of the year, and most outstanding player, going on to win national honours as the top rookie, goaltender, and player. Then, at the World Junior A Challenge, Levi helped Canada East to a silver medal and earned the tournament’s most valuable player award.

Looking at his game, it matches his resume. His biggest asset is likely his athleticism. He’s able to make big saves and his reaction time is extremely quick. He moves so well in the crease and he’s great positionally. Finally, off the ice, he’s a leader in the room and, as his coach notes, an exceptional teammates.

There are two forces working against Levi right now. First, he’s 6-foot-0, slightly under the “average” in the NHL. However, let’s consider Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin who just led the team to the Stanley Cup Final – at 5-foot-11. Second, the CCHL is not exactly the same level of competition as the CHL, USHL, NCAA, etc. Teams may want to see how he looks with the NCAA’s North Eastern Huskies next season.

Lukas Svejkovsky, C/W, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Heading out west to the WHL, Lukas Svejkovsky should very much be a player you’re keeping an eye on. To be honest, he could be selected in the mid-draft rounds, but there is a chance that he slips out of those rounds into the sixth or seventh. If he does wait until those late rounds, he could be a steal.

Playing for the Vancouver Giants and the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2019-20, he racked up 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists). It’s also worth noting that the forward was recently invited to the 2021 National Junior Team Evaluation Camp for Team USA. We could very well be seeing him in the World Juniors bubble.

His skating is exceptional, from his stride to his edgework, to his speed. Honestly, his skating could very well be the aspect of his game that will carry him to the next level. But then you factor in his puckhandling and small-area game, and there could definitely be a promising goalie here.

I think there are some questions about his decision making at times, rushing the puck off of his stick, which sometimes results in turnovers. I’d also like to see him drive the middle more. Both of these could come down to the confidence he has in himself. A World Junior appearance could help that. I personally have Svejkovsky in the fifth round, but I do think he could slide. He’s definitely a player to watch.

Oliver Tärnström, C, AIK J20 (SuperElit)

Finally, we get to one of the most under-discussed players in this draft. The bottom two rounds are too low for Oliver Tärnström, but it’s looking like that’s where he could go. Much like the others on this list, letting him slide this far could be a mistake, but a steal for the team that lands him.

Tärnström spent the year mainly in the J20 SuperElit for AIK, playing 41 games, scoring 11 goals, 23 assists, and 34 points. He played three games for the U18 team this year, and looking to the future, he could become a fixture on that team. He has more than enough skill to make that become a reality.

His offensive prowess is incredible. As you can see in the video above, he can tear through defenses thanks to his high-end puckhandling, skating, and creativity. Plus, he can dish it out almost just as well, using his vision to read the opposition and create chances for his team.

The knocks against him really have to do with his defensive game, size and strength. At 163 pounds, he’ll need to bulk up. While he doesn’t shy away from contact, his lack of physicality could be an issue as he tries to move to the next step. Defensively, I don’t always see the effort that he provides in the offensive end, but the nice thing about all of these knocks is that they can all be improved moving forward. The foundation is very much there for a solid NHLer.

The 2020 NHL Draft is now just days away, and while the focus tends to be on those at the top, don’t discount those drafted lower. Every year, there are always players taken in the late rounds that “defy the odds” and make it the NHL – sometimes in a big way. On Oct. 7, keep an eye on these five players as your team takes the podium in the back half of the draft.