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Three main takeaways from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft

By Andrew Steele-Davis

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: Signage is seen on location prior to the start of the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: Signage is seen on location prior to the start of the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Braden Schneider #28, Brandon Wheat Kings.
Braden Schneider #2 of the Brandon Wheat Kings. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

1. The right pick

All of the headlines on Day One belonged to Alexis Lafreniere, and rightly so, but I was both intrigued and impressed by the Rangers’ second pick of Round One.

Opting to trade up from their No.22 spot to No.19, the Blueshirts drafted defenseman Braden Schneider from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL.

It was a selection that sparked a lot of debate among fans on social media, with many holding out hope for forward Hendrix Lapierre.

I was one of those given that I absolutely fell in full bloom love with Lapierre while carrying out my Draft research, and I truly believe the Washington Capitals have an absolute stud on their hands who could morph into a high end two-way center in the NHL.

However, I really like the Schneider pick. And I mean I really like it.

I did a hell of a lot of research on Schneider given that I was convinced he would fall into the laps of the Vegas Golden Knights, who I also cover for FanSided.

That would have been one hell of a steal for the Golden Knights, so the Rangers did the right thing by trading up for Schneider.

While not a sexy pick by any stretch of the imagination, Schneider has all the tools, all the intangibles and the skill set needed to become a very, very good top-four defenseman in the NHL.

He’s a consummate professional and he’ll be an excellent fit in the room, while he’s a modern two-way defenseman who does boast some offensive upside as shown by putting up 42 points (7 G, 35 A) in 60 games for the Wheat Kings in 2019-20.

But, more impressive is Schneider’s play in his own zone with the right-shot a physical specimen who can skate incredibly well, overpower opponents with a crushing hit and he’ll improve the transition game with his ability to move the puck.

Overall, the Rangers have got themselves a stud in Braden Schneider and it made perfect sense to pick a high-end defenseman given that they had already taken an elite forward in Alexis Lafreniere with the No. 1 overall pick.

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