Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier makes midterm NHL Central Scouting list

The Western Hockey League has announced that 51 WHL players have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2020 NHL Draft.

The only Prince George Cougars to make the list is goalie Taylor Gauthier, at 27th among goaltenders.

Headlining the most recent list of draft-eligible talent are nine WHL skaters inside the top 30 North American skaters as well as four of the top 10 North American goaltenders. At seventh on the list, defenceman Kaiden Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders / Sherwood Park, Alta.) is the top-ranked WHL skater while Brock Gould (Moose Jaw Warriors / Colorado Springs, Colo.) is the top-ranked WHL goaltender, coming in at fourth among North American goalies.

In addition to Guhle, WHL skaters ranked inside the top 31 of North American skaters include defenceman Braden Schneider (Eighth – Brandon Wheat Kings / Prince Albert, Sask.), forward Connor Zary (12^th – Kamloops Blazers / Saskatoon, Sask.), forward Ozzy Wiesblatt (14^th – Prince Albert Raiders / Calgary, Alta.), forward Seth Jarvis (19^th – Portland Winterhawks / Winnipeg, Man.), defenceman Daemon Hunt (22^nd  – Moose Jaw Warriors / Brandon, Man.), forward Justin Sourdif (23^rd – Vancouver Giants / Surrey, B.C.), forward Ridly Greig (25^th – Brandon Wheat Kings / Lethbridge, Alta.), and forward Jake Neighbours (30^th – Edmonton Oil Kings / Airdrie, Alta.).

The Portland Winterhawks lead all WHL member Clubs with five players ranked. Jarvis is the top-ranked skater of the quintet, with Simon Knak (61^st – Zurich, Switzerland), Cross Hanas (65^th – Highland Village, Texas), Jonas Brøndberg (107^th – Aalborg, Denmark), and Robbie Fromm-Delorme (165^th – Richmond, B.C.) also finding their way onto the NHL’s radar. The defending WHL Champion Prince Albert Raiders, Everett Silvertips, and Lethbridge Hurricanes, each have four players ranked. Six WHL member Clubs have a trio of players recognized while seven have a pair of players listed. The Kelowna Rockets and Prince George Cougars are represented by a single player each.

Overall, the list includes 28 forwards, 15 defencemen, and eight goaltenders. The list includes the 14 players who are set to participate at the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this coming Thursday in Hamilton, Ont.

The 2020 NHL Draft will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Que. from June 26 to 27, 2020.

2020 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING MIDTERM RANKINGS – WHL PLAYERS 

Skaters

Goaltenders