Top-10 European Centers in the 2020 NHL Draft

Oct 2, 2020

This article originally appeared on AnaheimDucks.com on September 24, 2020.

By Kyle Shohara/AnaheimDucks.com

As we get closer to the 2020 NHL Draft on Oct. 6-7, AnaheimDucks.com is looking at some of the top-ranked skaters by position. We continue with the top-ranked European centers, in order of final draft rankings per the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau.

Several references were used when describing each of these prospects, including The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler, and TSN's Craig Button and Bob McKenzie.

The Ducks currently hold two picks in the first round (6th and 27th) and three in the top-36.

Visit our Draft Hub for the latest NHL Draft news, rankings and more

1. Anton Lundell

NHL.com Scouting Report: Mature two-way center with a very good understanding of the game. Playmaker who makes smart decisions in all three zones. Reliable, solid team player who is trusted by coaches.

Final Rank: 3
Age: 18 (10/3/01)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Shoots: Left

Still a few weeks away from his 19th birthday, Lundell already has a good chunk of experience playing in his country's highest division - the Finnish Elite League. He spent the entire 2019-20 season with HIFK, recording 28 points (10g/18a) in 44 games. Two years ago, in his first foray into the Finnish Elite League, Lundell registered 19 points (9g/10a) in 38 games with HIFK.

Lundell has plenty of international experience, too. He helped Finland win the 2019 World Junior Championship with four points (1g/3a) in seven games, including an assist on Kaapo Kakko's game-winning goal in the gold medal game. Lundell also led Finland to gold at the 2018 Under-18 World Championship where he posted six points (2g/4a) in seven games.

"Anton is a workmanlike two-way player who is a linchpin for productive center-ice play in all zones and all areas of the game. A coach's comfort level increases when he's on the ice. When we look at the scouting report, there's not one particular skill he possesses that's eye catching. But he invests himself in the hard and demanding areas of the games that help teams win. I project him as a middle-six two-way center. I really think he's almost identical in style of play to Montreal Canadiens centerman Phillip Danault." -- TSN's Craig Button

"Lundell was very impressive at the pro level the past two seasons, putting up significant numbers in Liiga as a 17 and 18-year-old. I watched Lundell a ton the past three years, with at least 15 live views and many others on video, and I still struggle with what to make of him. I see a player who has played up versus men at a young age so effectively, who has played years ahead of his age group, sometimes in significant roles such as when he logged nearly 20 minutes in the gold medal game at the world juniors in 2019. When you watch him, though, his game can look bland. His speed is average, and while I see flashes of great creativity from him as a handler and passer, I wouldn't say that's consistent. I respect that he competes well, he's strong on pucks and is responsible defensively with the ability to play on both special teams. I also understand that he plays at the Liiga level so his skill won't pop as easily as someone who plays in the CHL." -- The Athletic's Corey Pronman

"There are some misnomers out there about Lundell's talent level and skating as being major concerns in considering him a top-10 pick. I disagree, to varying degrees, on both of those positions. He doesn't have the dynamic qualities of the forwards listed ahead of him on my board, and he's never going to consistently burn defenders off the rush, but he's a better passer than he normally gets credit for, he's heavier on the cycle than most of his peers, he can play through the middle of the ice and he makes decisions and reads quickly, which is just as important (if not more important) as his actual foot speed. It always feels like Lundell is involved and impacting a game (with and without the puck). Over the course of a game, that drives results. It shouldn't surprise anyone that as a teenager in a top pro league, Lundell had a positive impact on possession, played more than 15 minutes a night or won 53.5 percent of his draws while producing offence consistently." -- The Athletic's Scott Wheeler

2. Roni Hirvonen

NHL.com Scouting Report: Smart forward with a really good understanding of the game. Makes good decisions. Playmaker who can play center or wing. Mobile player who handles the puck very well.

Final Rank: 10
Age: 18 (1/10/02)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 164
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Shoots: Left

Like his countryman Lundell, Hirvonen spent the entire 2019-20 season in the Finnish Elite League. It marked Hirvonen's first season in the Finnish Elite League, and the 5-9, 164-pound center recorded 16 points (5g/11a) in 52 games with Assat. The 2019-20 season also saw Hirvonen represent Finland on numerous occasions, including the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2019 4 Nations Tournament and 2020 5 Nations Tournament.

Hirvonen helped the Espoo Blues junior team win the league's silver medal in 2018-19 with 55 points (21g/34a) in 50 regular-season games and 15 points (3g/12a) in 11 postseason appearances.

"Smart, skilled player who is elusive and finds ways to move in and around the offensive zone to keep defenders guessing and off balance. Doesn't get himself into spots that are to his detriment." -- TSN's Craig Button

"Hirvonen has been a successful player at the club and international level. He got regular minutes and power play time in Liiga this past season, and was one of the best players at the U18 level in international play. Hirvonen is a highly skilled playmaker. He's the guy you want with the puck on his stick at the half-wall. He has great patience to wait out lanes and sees the game at a higher level than others. He's undersized at 5-foot-9, but he's competitive - although I wouldn't call him physical. Hirvonen is an elusive skater but scouts' main hesitation is that his skating is not all that exciting for a player of his size. I see flashes of quickness, but at the pro level you could see a lot of attempts at making skilled plays die on his stick because he can't get around defenders." -- The Athletic's Corey Pronman

"After dominating the junior level a year ago, Hirvonen was one of the only players in this draft to spend the entire season at the pro level. Though his performance in my viewings throughout the season were mixed, Hirvonen has always dominated against his peers (domestically and internationally) and I saw enough in his play at the Liiga level down the stretch to believe in time there might be second-line upside to his game. Hirvonen's greatest asset has become his ability to find space in the offensive zone to get open. He does an excellent job rotating off defenders to keep his feet moving and slide into dangerous spots. And though I wouldn't say his shot is a major asset or that he has the lower body strength of a player like Simontaival, Hirvonen has the skill to finish off plays around the net when he gets open. And when he's not in a position to score, his skill comes to the forefront as a creator for his linemates. He will need to pick up a step and get a little stronger, but he plays a modern, crafty game." -- The Athletic's Scott Wheeler

3. Marat Khusnutdinov

NHL.com Scouting Report: Explosive two-way center. Flashy, skilled and an offensive threat on every shift. A leader and team player. Wins battles and plays with a lot of confidence.

Final Rank: 12
Age: 18 (7/17/02)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 176
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Shoots: Left

One of the youngest players eligible in the draft, Khusnutdinov put in the work as a 17-year-old in Russia's top junior league. The Moscow native recorded 38 points (13g/25a) in 44 games with SKA St. Petersburg's junior club last season, the top team in the league during the 2019-20 campaign. Experts say he's a puck hound and responsible player in all three zones (offensive, defensive and neutral). Highly skilled and a gifted skater, Khusnutdinov captained Team Russia to gold at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with three assists/points in five games. He also earned a gold medal at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (2g/3a in six games) and silver at the 2019 Under-18 World Championship (1g/2a in seven games).

"Smart, cagey and understands how to play with a multitude of players and in different situations. Has a understated skill level, but when you package everything together, he's a good player." -- TSN's Craig Button

"Khusnutdinov has been a leader for Russia's 2002 age group for years and was very impressive with his junior club this season, which was the best in MHL. He has high-end skill components to his game. He's able to make highly creative plays with the puck, improvise in tough situations and be very coordinated in small spaces. He sees the ice very well and can make tough dishes to teammates. He's a great skater too, using his speed to beat defenders wide and making hard plays to the net. He competes hard, frequently getting to the tough areas in the offensive zone and killing penalties well. Khusnutdinov isn't special at any one thing and he's undersized, but it's the combination of his skill, speed and very high compete level that equals a projected NHL player." -- The Athletic's Corey Pronman

"On a loaded team that didn't play him on the top line or power play unit for much of the season, Khusnutdinov put together an impressive rookie season in the MHL - and did it while spending the entire year as a 17-year-old. Khusnutdinov makes plays all over the ice, he's a responsible three-zone player, he doesn't shy away from playing to the interior, he's got enough skill to make plays from the exterior and he tracks the play exceptionally well. That last tool helps him intercept pucks or find space in the offensive zone. He's a long-term project but I see a player who continues to maximize his skill set and makes the most out of his career." -- The Athletic's Scott Wheeler

4. Theodor Niederbach

Final Rank: 19
Age: 18 (2/25/02)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 172
Birthplace: Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
Shoots: Right

Niederbach (not Niedermayer) had a strong showing last season in Sweden's top junior league, finishing tied for ninth in scoring with 48 points (15g/33a) in 40 games with Frolunda. He also spent time last season with Frolunda's U18 team where he posted 21 points (11g/10a) in 14 games. On the international stage, Niederbach represented Sweden at the 2019 5 Nations Tournament (3g/2a in four games) and 2020 5 Nations Tournament (1g/1a in four games).

"Niederbach was a leading scorer in the Swedish junior circuit and an important player for the Swedish U18 team. Niederbach is a very smart offensive player. He makes a lot of plays and is someone you want with the puck on his stick. With his club he was often asked to set up behind the net on the power play, and with Sweden's U18 team he was a half-wall guy, making a lot of plays from both spots. I debated between putting a 55 or 60 on his puck skills. I leaned to a 60 because I was convinced he has great hands, but I do think he needs to use his skill more [to] attack defenses. Niederbach's main flaw is his very average footspeed. While he competes well, he does have an injury history after missing all of 2018-19 with a knee injury which may have made him look slower than he will be in a few years." -- The Athletic's Corey Pronman

5. Dmitry Zlodeyev

Final Rank: 32
Age: 18 (2/15/02)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Birthplace: Voronezh, Russia
Shoots: Left

Zlodeyev spent the majority of the 2019-20 season with Dynamo Moscow 2 in Russia's top junior league where he recorded 28 points (12g/16a) in 42 appearances. He also skated in several international tournaments with Russia, including the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2020 5 Nations Tournament.

6. Nils Aman

Final Rank: 38
Age: 20 (2/7/00)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 179
Birthplace: Avesta, Sweden
Shoots: Left

One of the older players in the draft, Aman comes in as a 20-year-old with a sprinkling of experience in Sweden's top professional league. Last season he appeared in eight games with Leksand in the SHL, earning three points (1g/2a). The majority of the 2019-20 campaign was spent in Sweden's top junior league where he posted 47 points (14g/33a) in 30 games with Leksand Jr. He's currently with Leksand, as the 2020-21 SHL season is already under way.

7. Daniel Ljungman

Final Rank: 39
Age: 18 (4/3/02)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 166
Birthplace: Uppsala, Sweden
Shoots: Left

Ljungman spent last season with Linkoping in Sweden's top junior league where he earned 23 points (10g/13a) in 40 games. Internationally, he represented Sweden at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2019 5 Nations Tournament and 2020 5 Nations Tournament. Though it's still early into the 2020-21 season, Ljungman is averaging over a point per game with Linkoping's junior squad.

8. Elliot Ekmark

Final Rank: 41
Age: 18 (1/29/02)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 162
Birthplace: Linkoping, Sweden
Shoots: Left

Teammates with Daniel Ljungman, Ekmark recorded 26 points (12g/14a) in 31 games with Linkoping in the Swedish junior league. He also got a look in the SHL, where he appeared in four games with Linkoping, going scoreless. He represented Sweden at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2019 5 Nations Tournament and is one of Linkoping Jr.'s leading scorers thus far in the 2020-21 season.

9. Oliver Tarnstrom

Final Rank: 47
Age: 18 (8/30/02)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 158
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Shoots: Left

The streak of Swedish centers on this list continues. Tarnstrom is one of the youngest draft-eligible players this time around, having turned 18 in August. The bulk of the 2019-20 season was spent with AIK in Sweden's top junior league where he earned 34 points (11g/23a) in 41 games. He also skated in eight games with AIK in the SHL, going scoreless. On the international stage, Tarnstrom was a member of Sweden's 2020 5 Nations squad. The Stockholm native is currently suiting up for AIK Jr. for the 2020-21 season.

10. Maxim Krovyakov

Final Rank: 48
Age: 18 (5/12/02)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
Birthplace: Solnechnogorsk, Russia
Shoots: Right

We close out this list with the 6-3, 180-pound center from Solnechnogorsk, Russia. Krovyakov skated for SKA St. Petersburg in Russia's top junior league last season, posting 40 points (19g/21a) in 61 games. He's off to a hot start with St. Petersburg this season averaging a point per game in the opening month of the 2020-21 campaign.

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