NHL draft difficult to predict beyond top- three selections

With three picks in the first round of the NHL draft on Tuesday, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald faces a bit of a dilemma.

Though the prospect pool is considered deep, Fitzgerald is having difficulty sorting in which order the selections might fall.

“There’s a lot of talent, especially in the top 10, top 12,” Fitzgerald said last week. “I guess the hardest thing is they’re all different — very good, but very different.”

That leaves the Devils, who pick seventh, 18th and 20th, and other teams outside of the top three selections with plenty of decisions to make.

Quebec- born forward Alexis Lafreniere is projected to go first, followed by either German forward Tim Stuetzle and Ontario

center Quinton Byfield.

Beyond that is when the guessing begins, with Detroit picking fourth.

Though the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the NHL’S annual pre- draft scouting combine and forced teams to meet prospects via video calls as opposed to face to face, scouting staffs benefited from having additional time to pore over film with the draft pushed back from the final weekend of June.

The following is a capsule look at the top prospects:

Alexis Lafreniere ( Rimouski, QMJHL), left wing, 6- foot- 1, 193 pounds.

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 1 North American skater

Last season: Led QMJHL with 112 points ( 35 goals, 77 assists) in becoming first to win consecutive league MVP honors since Sidney Crosby in 2004 and ‘ 05. Member of Canada’s goldmedal- winning world junior championship team, and named tournament MVP.

Central Scouting Report: “Exceptionally smart player with top- end speed and pull- away gear. ... Executes under pressure and has great vision and anticipation.”

Could go: 1st ( New York Rangers) or 2nd ( Los Angeles). From suburban Montreal, has chance to become first Quebec- born player selected No. 1 since Pittsburgh drafted goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003.

Tim Stuetzle ( Manheim, Germany), center/ left wing, 6- foot- 1, 187 pounds.

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 1 international skater.

Last season: German pro league rookie of the year with seven goals and 27 assists in 41 games.

Central Scouting Report: “A playmaking hockey artist with a great set of tools including speed, dekes, stickhandling, shot and hockey IQ. Creates something positive on every shift.”

Could go: 2nd ( Los Angeles) or 3rd ( Ottawa), with opportunity to become third German- born and - trained player drafted in top 10.

Quinton Byfield ( Sudbury, OHL), center, 6- foot4, 215 pounds.

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 North American skater

Last season: Led Sudbury and finished 14th in OHL with 82 points ( 32 goals, 50 assists) in 45 games.

Central Scouting Report: “Powerful skater with breakaway speed. Excellent puck possession player with superior vision, creativity and playmaking ability. Heavy, accurate shot that can overpower goaltenders. Physically ready for the pro game.”

Could go: 2nd or 3rd. Jamie Drysdale ( Erie, OHL), defenseman, 5- foot11, 175 pounds.

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 3 North American skater

Last season: Ranked 13th among OHL defensemen with 47 points ( nine goals, 38 assists) in 49 games. Became just ninth 17- year- old defenseman since 1991 to represent Canada at World Junior championships, where he had a goal and two assists in seven games.

Central Scouting Report: “Exceptional skater with an excellent transition game that can drive the play and push the pace from the back end. A two- way defenseman with excellent offensive ability.”

Could go: Shouldn’t fall below No. 6 ( Anaheim).