COHEN: Jamie Drysdale is the Premier Defender in the 2020 NHL Draft

HAMILTON, Ont. Canada — Jamie Drysdale is a premium defenceman who stands alone in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The problem is he has at least two players ahead of him on most teams’ lists in Alexis Lafrenière and Quinton Byfield. Does that mean he goes third or will a few more teams pass on him for various reasons?

[Read more: EliteProspects 2020 NHL Entry Draft Ranking Version 1.0]

Once the third pick is on the board there will be talk about Drysdale on the television, radio airwaves and the draft floor. Teams will have to decide if they want a potential premier defenceman or a talented scoring forward? That’s never easy and even though most teams go with the best player available, some will take a player because of a glaring need if they feel his path to the NHL is faster than most prospec