Nobody knows the timeline of when hockey or sports in general plan on returning back to normalcy due to the ongoing health risks of COVID-19.
However, that won’t stop the NHL Central Scouting team from releasing lists ranking the top 2020 draft eligible prospects from around the world.
The NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings are now available on https://t.co/ONjCiALkyX – listing the top 2020 #NHLDraft Prospectshttps://t.co/mEqnuuWXE6
— NHL Central Scouting (@NHLCentralScout) April 8, 2020
The list ranking the top North American skaters included over 200 names featuring three familiar London Knights players.
Luke Evangelista
Photo Credit: // BlakcburnNews.com
Going into the 2019-2020 OHL regular season expectations were mixed for the 5-foot-11, 166-pound winger. The season prior Evangelista only put up 2 points in 27 games for the Knights.
However, the 17-year old Oakville-native seemingly turned things around to begin the season. His ability to distribute accurate passes meshed perfectly with London’s offensively gifted forwards.
It’s clear that assists will be the right winger’s bread and butter racking up 36 on the season.
Since scoring a hat-trick against the Kingston Frontenac’s on Oct. 19, he has also proved he is no stranger to putting the puck in the back of the net finishing the season on 23 goals.
With 61 points in 62 games player for the Knights last year, Evangelista is certainly an intriguing prospect that NHL clubs will keep a close eye on.
The NHL Central Scouting list had Luke Evangelista ranked 39th of all North American skaters.
Antonio Stranges
Photo Credit: // TheHockeyNews
Half way through the season it looked like Antonio Stranges would be the London Knights best chance of continuing the impressive five-year streak of producing first round NHL prospects.
Now, the NHL Central Scouting ranks Stranges in the 56th spot among all N.A skaters.
Stranges mixes his elite level skating and unique playing style which saw the speedy forward score 19 goals with 21 helpers in 61 games from the left flank.
The Michigan-native has every tool to become a superstar at the next level. Many compare Stranges game to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.
Kirill Steklov
Photo Credit: // Londonknights.com
Kirill Steklov has been a big physical presence on the blue line for the London knights this season which has earned him a spot on the list sitting at 106th.
The 18-year old defencemen was originally born in Estonia but moved to Russia at age 10 in hopes of a bigger hockey challenge.
The 6-foot-5 Estonian wears the Russian colours and represents them at the U-18 national team level.
Steklov also impressed during his rookie season in the OHL scoring 2 goals and assisting 9 in 50 games with the Knights.
The NHL 2020 Draft is scheduled from June 26th to June 27th and could be completely in virtual platform.
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