Nikolai Khabibulin answered the phone in Yekaterinburg, Russia, late on a recent Friday and expressed his pleasure with the trajectory of the NHL postseason. The Lightning, one of the retired goalie's past clubs, had advanced to the Stanley Cup Final the previous day, emerging victorious from an all-Russian netminding matchup - Andrei Vasilevskiy against Semyon Varlamov - to set up another with Anton Khudobin. It was all a bit surprising, Khabibulin said, but nice for his country all the same.

Khabibulin was also keeping an eye on the KHL, including 18-year-old Yaroslav Askarov's first start of the new season for SKA Saint Petersburg. Teen goalies don't typically dominate in the world's second-best league, yet Askarov stopped 33 shots in a 2-0 shutout of HC Spartak Moscow. He challenged shooters assertively. He sprawled to his left to commit theft, then did that twice more in a performance that solidified goalie and rookie of the week honors.

"He read the plays well. He stopped a penalty shot. Some other guy had a breakaway," Khabibulin said. "Everything he did (worked)."

Khabibulin was Russia's goaltending coach at the 2020 world juniors, about the only event at which Askarov has stumbled. His track record is close to immaculate. Last season, he became the second-youngest goalie to start a KHL game, which he won. He shone for SKA's farm team in the second-tier VHL, compiling a .920 save percentage across 18 contests. The number was stellar for a draft-eligible player, a status Askarov will shed soon after the NHL draft begins Tuesday night.

Setting aside the world juniors in the Czech Republic, where he was yanked in Russia's tournament opener and again in the semifinal, Askarov's success versus men and against prospects internationally has ratcheted his draft stock to rare heights. The comparisons to Vasilevskiy, the perennial Vezina Trophy nominee who was selected No. 19 overall in 2012, are inevitable thanks to his passport and promise.

Few goalies get picked that high anymore. To make the case that Askarov is worth it - "I think he can be as good as he wants to be," Khabibulin said - evaluators sometimes invoke a weightier parallel: the guy whom the Canadiens trusted 15 years ago to live up to the No. 5 slot.

"Best goalie I've seen entering the draft since Carey Price," said TSN's chief scout, Craig Button.

"He's a lot of things you look for in a franchise goaltender," said Mark Seidel, director of the independent North American Central Scouting agency. "There's going to be risks with teams taking him, maybe, in the top 10. But I'd rather take a risk and get a franchise goaltender than take a risk and you miss on a second-pairing defenseman."

In interviews, Khabibulin and four prospect analysts characterized the 6-foot-3, right-catching Askarov as a spirited competitor who reads the game well and moves explosively out of the butterfly, which helps him maintain aggressive yet sensible positioning and splay when needed to foil chances at the far post. Askarov's hands are good, as is his rebound management. In his KHL cameos and several pressurized medal games, he's projected the confidence and composure of a goalie entirely in control.

Askarov's netminding profile is devoid of serious flaws, leaving viewers to scrutinize what Button calls his developmental, rather than inherent, weaknesses. To goalie analyst Catherine Silverman, Askarov could probably stand to narrow his stance slightly and move a little less in the net. His hands could and should still get sharper. But even if those elements of his game remain unfinished, she said, his best attributes wouldn't look out of place in the NHL right now.

"Call him precocious; call him advanced - whatever word you want to use to describe him. He's gifted. He's as gifted a goaltender as you might say about the players who get 'exceptional' status (in the Canadian Hockey League)," Button said. "You just don't see that in goaltenders at that age. It's a position that requires refinement of technique."

Well before he debuted at the world juniors at 17, Askarov stymied his peers at numerous marquee events, powering pedestrian Russian lineups, Seidel said, to podium finishes they had no business attaining. Said NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr, "There's a history of this guy going out there in high-pressure situations as one of the younger players and delivering."

Below are four examples in the span of a year.

• November 2018: Askarov recorded a .948 save percentage across five games as the Russians took gold at the World Under-17 Challenge in New Brunswick.

• December 2018: Askarov upped his percentage to .954 over four games to lead Russia to silver at the Under-20 World Junior A Challenge in Alberta.

• April 2019: Playing a year above his age cohort, Askarov earned top goalie honors at the Under-18 World Championship in Sweden. His 40 saves in the semifinal forced the powerhouse United States to the shootout shown above, during which five of the eventual top 15 picks in the 2019 draft - Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, Matthew Boldy, and Cole Caufield - failed to beat him.

• August 2019: Russia won gold at the U-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup despite being outshot 37-13 in the final by a Canadian squad replete with top 2020 prospects, including Quinton Byfield, Cole Perfetti, and Jamie Drysdale. Askarov made 35 saves in the victory, and his save percentage for the tournament was .960.

"If he's got 21 good viewings and two or three bad games at the world juniors, (scouts) say, OK, we can live with that," Seidel said.

The pandemic scrubbed this year's U-18 worlds and Hlinka Gretzky tournament, but the draft's postponement granted Askarov's NHL suitors a few extra glimpses of him stonewalling pros. Including his shutout against Spartak, he denied 76 of 78 shots (.974) in three KHL appearances last month. One gymnastic stop against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Sept. 20 seemed to pierce the opposing forward's soul.

The list of goalies who've stood tall in the KHL at Askarov's age doesn't extend far beyond Vasilevskiy and acclaimed Islanders prospect Ilya Sorokin. Plenty of teams - Ottawa at No. 5 overall, New Jersey at No. 7, Minnesota at No. 9, Carolina at No. 13, Edmonton at No. 14 - could conceivably buck recent draft history on Tuesday and bring the shot-stopper aboard with a high pick, trusting he won't wind up as a cautionary tale.

It was commonplace a couple of decades ago to see as many as four goalies selected in Round 1, but that investment frequently preceded disaster. 1999 first-rounders Brian Finley, Maxim Ouellet, and Ari Ahonen combined to appear in just 16 NHL games. Their shared shortcoming contrasts with the long, fruitful careers of Craig Anderson and Ryan Miller, third- and fifth-round choices in 1999, respectively, who were the oldest netminders in the league this past season.

Many drafts have since upheld the maxim that teams can find good goaltending at any point in the process. Consider the distribution of the NHL's 2019-20 goals saved above average leaderboard. The top 10 performers include two first-round picks (Tuukka Rask and Vasilevskiy), a second-rounder (Robin Lehner), two third-round selections (Ben Bishop and Elvis Merzlikins), a fifth-rounder (Connor Hellebuyck), a sixth-round pick (Darcy Kuemper), a seventh-rounder (Khudobin), and two undrafted free agents (Pavel Francouz and Antti Raanta).

How does Askarov's high stock fit into this calculus? For all of the first-round flops drafted between 2000 and 2010 - Brent Krahn, Adam Munro, Marek Schwarz, Riku Helenius, Leland Irving, Tom McCollum, Mark Visentin - there remains the odd 18-year-old whose bright future between the pipes looks assured.

Tampa Bay correctly believed Vasilevskiy would reach his ceiling. Florida has bet big that Spencer Knight, last year's No. 13 pick, will pan out as a quality starter. As Montreal executive Trevor Timmins once told Sportsnet about his club's famed gambit, "We just felt, (in 2005), that Price was the one guy who really had the chance to develop into a franchise player, even though he was a goalie."

"If you find that special rare breed who you think can be a starter and a potential star, that's where a team will step up and take him," Seidel said. "That's what I think will happen (with Askarov)."

Irrespective of its Russian headliner, this draft's crop of eligible goaltenders is strong, Silverman said. Canadians Nico Daws and Dylan Garand submitted solid CHL seasons in 2019-20. Joel Blomqvist is one of Finland's finer recent prospects. Calle Clang is no Jesper Wallstedt - the class of 2021's answer to Askarov - but he's fared well to date in the Swedish junior ranks. Wednesday's later rounds may wind up producing several future starters, Silverman said. It's just that Askarov is dusting all of them on the development curve.

Askarov is signed to SKA through 2021-22, The Athletic's Corey Pronman reported in June, and Silverman thinks he could follow an accelerated version of Igor Shesterkin's path. The Rangers backstop and former SKA star moved to the AHL last season at 23, excelled there for a few months, was promoted to New York with Henrik Lundqvist still in the fold, and now looks set to claim the No. 1 role.

"Can (Askarov) make that jump? He's not going to do it overnight. He's going to have to probably play in the (AHL) for a couple of years," Seidel said. "But he's already proven that he can play with men. It checks another box that you don't have to worry about as much."

Khabibulin, for his part, won't sweat Askarov's subpar two weeks at the last world juniors. If he wasn't fully ready for the stage at 17, he impressed behind the scenes by taking responsibility for his play and committing to improve, the goalie coach said. Askarov is coachable and dissatisfied when he falters, Khabibulin added, which so far has been a nonissue in the KHL.

The results support Khabibulin's read from afar. Askarov is handling net-front traffic more capably than in the past. He's robbing Grade-A attempts with his quick footwork and long legs. He's delivering consistently, not unlike the Russian Vezina finalist who just led Tampa to a title.

"If he can do it once, he can do it twice. If he can do it twice, he can do it many times," Khabibulin said. "It seems like he's getting better and better."

Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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The Arizona Coyotes placed forward Michael Grabner on waivers for the purpose of a buyout Saturday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Here's how it breaks down:

Grabner's agent, Jerry Buckley, told NHL Network's Craig Morgan that his client intends to continue playing.

The Austrian-born winger was originally signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $3.35 million. It was to be the final season of his three-year, $10.05-million contract he inked with the Coyotes in July 2018.

Grabner, who turns 33 on Monday, spent the last two campaigns with Arizona. He collected only eight goals and 11 points over 46 games in 2019-20.

The 11-year veteran has also played for the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks, the club that drafted him 14th overall in 2006.

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The Vegas Golden Knights inked goaltender Robin Lehner to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5 million, the club announced Saturday.

Lehner was a pending unrestricted free agent.

The 29-year-old earned the Golden Knights' starting job in the postseason and excelled after Vegas landed him in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks at the deadline.

He would have been one of the top players available had he tested the UFA market on Oct. 9.

Lehner went 9-7 with a .917 save percentage in 16 playoff games with Vegas. He played three regular-season contests with the Golden Knights down the stretch after the trade.

The Swedish netminder posted a 16-10-5 record to go along with a .918 save percentage and 10.17 goals saved above average in 33 games with the Blackhawks in 2019-20 prior to the deal.

Lehner signed a one-year, $5-million pact with Chicago in July 2019.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins and goaltender Tristan Jarry agreed to a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $3.5 million, the team announced Saturday.

Jarry was a pending restricted free agent.

More to come.

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This year's unrestricted free-agent pool could pack some superstar punch in all three position groups.

Dustin Byfuglien isn't included because he's reportedly unlikely to continue playing. Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist is already a UFA after the New York Rangers bought him out, but his plans are unclear.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the top players who could be available when the frenzy begins Oct. 9.

xGF% = Expected goals for percentage at five-on-five
GSAA = Goals saved above average at five-on-five

25. Wayne Simmonds

Position: RW
Age: 32
2019-20 cap hit: $5M
Current team: Buffalo Sabres

Simmonds' play has noticeably declined, and he certainly isn't worth his previous cap hit, which the New Jersey Devils retained half of upon shipping him to the Sabres. However, the veteran winger should garner some interest considering his track record of providing both offense and physicality.

24. Ilya Kovalchuk

Position: LW/RW
Age: 37
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Washington Capitals

After struggling and falling out with the Los Angeles Kings, Kovalchuk surprisingly produced 13 points in 22 games with the Montreal Canadiens. However, the former superstar wasn't as effective with the Capitals and virtually disappeared in the playoffs, but there's little risk involved in offering him another league-minimum deal.

23. Corey Perry

Position: RW
Age: 35
2019-20 cap hit: $1.5M
Current team: Dallas Stars

What a difference a postseason makes. Perry bolstered his stock significantly in the playoffs after barely contributing on the offensive end during the regular season. The longtime agitator buried three goals over a two-game span in the Stanley Cup Final, including the double-overtime winner in Game 5.

22. Zdeno Chara

Position: LD
Age: 43
2019-20 cap hit: $2M
Current team: Boston Bruins

Chara has spent the last 14 years with the Bruins (all as their captain), signed one-year deals with Boston in each of the last two offseasons, and said recently he wants to keep playing for the team. But general manager Don Sweeney was noncommittal when asked about the towering blue-liner's future with the club. So, though it may seem unlikely, the door appears open for an exit.

21. Vladislav Namestnikov

Position: LW/C
Age: 27
2019-20 cap hit: $4M
Current team: Colorado Avalanche

Teams looking for depth scoring from a versatile forward would be wise to consider Namestnikov, who tallied four goals in 12 playoff games with the Avalanche after notching four markers and a pair of helpers in nine regular-season contests down the stretch.

20. Corey Crawford

Position: G
Age: 35
2019-20 cap hit: $6M
Current team: Chicago Blackhawks

Crawford may not be well-suited to shoulder the load at this point in his career, but the experienced goaltender proved more than capable in 2019-20 while sharing the crease. His GSAA ranked 10th in the NHL among netminders who played at least 25 games.

19. Erik Haula

Position: C/LW
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $2.75M
Current team: Florida Panthers

Haula didn't wow anyone with his stats this past season, but like Namestnikov, he's capable of playing multiple positions up front and may come cheaper due to his diminished production and past injury woes. Despite those concerns, the Finnish forward is only two seasons removed from a 29-goal, 55-point campaign.

18. Travis Hamonic

Position: RD
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $3.86M
Current team: Calgary Flames

Hamonic doesn't post gaudy numbers, nor is he likely to limit opposing goals or scoring chances at an elite level. But he is a proven top-four rearguard with 10 years of NHL experience. If he opts to leave the Flames, other teams in need could certainly do worse, as long as it's not for a long term.

17. Brenden Dillon

Position: LD
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $3.27M
Current team: Washington Capitals

Not many defensemen are able to drive possession while providing as much of a physical presence as Dillon does. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound blue-liner ranked among the NHL leaders at his position in hits this past season and also authored expected goals for, scoring chances for, and Corsi For rates above 50%.

16. Sami Vatanen

Position: RD
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $4.87M
Current team: Carolina Hurricanes

Vatanen is capable of producing at a 35-to-40-point pace, as he did with the Hurricanes and Devils in 2019-20. He's also a decent defender, though his possession figures leave something to be desired. The Finnish blue-liner has been limited by injuries over the last two seasons, but he missed only one playoff game this campaign and should be fine entering 2020-21.

15. Chris Tanev

Position: RD
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $4.45M
Current team: Vancouver Canucks

Tanev has spent his entire 10-year career with the Canucks, but the defenseman has the opportunity to hit the market if he so desires. The Pittsburgh Penguins will reportedly make a play for the rearguard if he becomes a UFA. Given his dependability, it wouldn't be shocking to see other clubs do the same.

14. TJ Brodie

Position: RD
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $4.65M
Current team: Calgary Flames

Much like Hamonic, Brodie is an adequate top-four defenseman, though he'll have a slight edge over his teammate if he pursues free agency by virtue of being a left-hander who's played much of his Flames tenure on the right side.

13. Mikael Granlund

Position: C/LW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $5.75M
Current team: Nashville Predators

It was a tale of two seasons for Granlund, as he led the Predators with 11 goals in the 28 games after John Hynes took over as head coach in January. Granlund hasn't matched the level of production he previously established with the Minnesota Wild, but he'll still be one of the top free-agent forwards on the market.

12. Anton Khudobin

Position: G
Age: 34
2019-20 cap hit: $2.5M
Current team: Dallas Stars

Khudobin's stock soared after he helped lead Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final as the team's starter following a stellar regular season as Ben Bishop's backup. The Stars reportedly want to keep Khudobin, but he may opt to cash in elsewhere upon proving he's more than capable of holding a No. 1 job and carrying a team in the playoffs.

11. Braden Holtby

Position: G
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $6.1M
Current team: Washington Capitals

Holtby would have pushed for the top five on this list if he had a solid regular season - only Jimmy Howard had a worse GSAA - or was remotely reliable in the playoffs. Despite those struggles, the longtime Capitals starter isn't far removed from winning a championship in 2018 and the Vezina Trophy two years prior, so he may just need a change of scenery.

10. Kevin Shattenkirk

Position: RD
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $1.75M
Current team: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning inking Shattenkirk to such a team-friendly contract in August 2019 wasn't shocking after the New York Rangers bought him out, but it proved to be arguably the biggest bargain of the offseason. He was an immediate fit with Tampa Bay and raised his game in the playoffs, posting 13 points in 25 games.

9. Tyson Barrie

Position: RD
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $5.5M
Current team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Barrie didn't fully mesh with the Maple Leafs, but the former Avalanche blue-liner remains a capable offensive defenseman with plenty of value. He improved after Sheldon Keefe took over as Toronto's head coach, and despite the rearguard's deficiencies in his own end, he'll undoubtedly get calls from interested clubs.

8. Evgenii Dadonov

Position: RW
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $4M
Current team: Florida Panthers

Dadonov isn't the best Panthers forward on this list, but he's been one of the NHL's most underrated scorers over the last few years. The Russian winger potted 28 goals in back-to-back seasons and was on a 30-goal pace before the pause. Dadonov produced 135 combined points over the previous two campaigns, and though he benefited from playing with elite linemates, there's clearly talent there.

7. Tyler Toffoli

Position: RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $4.6M
Current team: Vancouver Canucks

Toffoli said in September that staying with the Canucks is his top priority, but Vancouver has its hands full this offseason. He racked up six goals and 10 points in 10 regular-season games with the club after it acquired him from the Kings before the deadline, and he kept contributing in the playoffs. If the winger hits the market, he'll be one of the top players available.

6. Mike Hoffman

Position: LW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $5.19M
Current team: Florida Panthers

Hoffman is as consistent as they come in the goal-producing department, averaging 28.7 per season over his nine-year career. He's the second-best forward who could be available in free agency, and it remains to be seen whether the Panthers will choose to keep either of their skilled scorers around.

5. Jacob Markstrom

Position: G
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $3.67M
Current team: Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver general manager Jim Benning made it clear he wants to re-sign Markstrom, and the netminder has also said he wants to stay with the Canucks. However, there's no guarantee that happens, and if it doesn't, he'd likely be the second-most coveted puck-stopper on the market.

4. Robin Lehner

Position: G
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $5M
Current team: Vegas Golden Knights

Lehner spent most of the regular season splitting time in the Blackhawks crease with Crawford, but his strong play with both Chicago and Vegas helped him secure the Golden Knights' starting role in the postseason. Lehner is the youngest among the top members of the pending UFA goalie class, and he certainly proved himself worthy of a longer contract after signing a surprising one-year deal in July 2019.

3. Torey Krug

Position: LD
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $5.25M
Current team: Boston Bruins

Krug said in September he's "very opposed" to settling for a one-year deal, and it's tough to dispute the notion that he deserves a longer pact considering his track record and production from the back end.

2. Taylor Hall

Position: LW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $6M
Current team: Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong recently admitted the team would need to get creative to retain Hall, who helped Arizona reach the postseason in 2019-20 for the first time since 2012, albeit in an expanded format. The 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner said in August his priority is "probably all winning," adding that the Coyotes "have a bright future." Still, he may be tempted to take his talents elsewhere.

1. Alex Pietrangelo

Position: RD
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $6.5M
Current team: St. Louis Blues

There's no question who the biggest fish on the market will be with the way things are trending. The Blues reportedly advised Pietrangelo to pursue free agency, and the superstar rearguard subsequently said maybe that's "best for both sides" after admitting there's been little progress in contract talks. However, he hasn't ruled out re-signing. Regardless of where he lands, Pietrangelo is in for a hefty payday.

Honorable mention: Thomas Greiss, Dylan DeMelo, Cam Talbot, Carson Soucy, Patrick Maroon

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)
(Salary source: CapFriendly)

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On the surface, the Jan. 30 meeting between the Sudbury Wolves and Barrie Colts was just another game in the 2019-20 OHL season, the 37th contest of a 63-game year shortened by COVID-19.

The way MacAuley Carson sees it, though, the Wolves' 3-2 victory was more than just another game. It was the game in which he witnessed superstar teammate Quinton Byfield call his shot with Sudbury down 2-1 early in the third period.

Byfield, as Carson tells it, told a yapping Colts player to buzz off and then gave him a warning: Not only did Byfield plan to tie the game 2-2, but he would do so in spectacular fashion by rifling the puck top corner on a breakaway. You can probably guess what happened the next time his skates hit the ice.

In-game chirping is rampant in junior, Carson notes, but this was different. Byfield put his money where his mouth was and hushed the Colts faithful mid-celebration. "It was probably the first time I ever saw a guy say he was going to do something, and then actually do it the next shift," Carson said earlier this week, still amazed eight months later.

For good measure, Byfield later scored the overtime winner, burying his sixth shot of the night to cap the Wolves' late-game comeback. "That was the moment where I'm like, 'OK, this kid's pretty good,'" Carson said with a laugh. He likened the 6-foot-4 center's performance to an NBA player taking over in crunch time.

Byfield will again command attention Tuesday when the NHL gathers virtually for the first round of the 2020 draft. The New York Rangers are expected to select Canadian forward and consensus top prospect Alexis Lafreniere first overall. The Los Angeles Kings pick second and are projected to take either Byfield or German phenom Tim Stuetzle, with the Ottawa Senators taking the other at No. 3.

Truthfully, there is no wrong choice for the Kings. But if it were up to TSN's Craig Button, Byfield would be bound for California.

"My opinion on the selection at No. 2 is simple. We all know what Anze Kopitar means to the LA Kings. When I look at an Anze Kopitar-type player like Quinton Byfield, who better to learn from than the player you might be very similar to?" said Button, a former NHL general manager and scout.

It's rare for a prospect to be compared to Kopitar, one of hockey's most unique two-way forwards. But Byfield, who only turned 18 on Aug. 19, actually qualifies. He boasts formidable size, explosive skating, high-end skill, and advanced vision. Byfield isn't currently in Kopitar's ballpark when it comes to his play away from the puck - the latter is a former Selke Trophy winner - yet Button believes he has the desire, attitude, and tools to eventually "make an impact on every square inch of ice" at the NHL level.

"I see him as a real, real bright prospect," Button said. "The athletic ability, the hockey ability, the determination, the competitive spirit - it's all there, it's all there. It's about continuing to grow and develop."

Unlike Kopitar, the lone Slovenian to star in the NHL, Byfield hails from a hockey hotbed. Though his father is from Jamaica and didn't grow up around the game, Byfield was born and raised in the Toronto suburb of Newmarket, becoming addicted to the sport at an early age. By his mid-teens, he'd established himself as a blue-chip prospect, drawing crowds of scouts before the Wolves eventually selected him first overall in the 2018 OHL draft. He delivered immediately, posting 61 points in 64 games to earn rookie of the year honors.

"He came in and played both roles, offensive and defensive. He would be out there late in games with goalies pulled," Wolves head coach Cory Stillman said. "If we pulled our goalie, everything ran through him. If their goalie was pulled, we had him on the ice because we knew he was going to get the puck out.

"He's smart, he can read plays, and he has a great stick. We knew from Day 1 that having him on the ice late in games was an advantage for us."

Commitments with Team Canada's world junior squad, a mid-season wrist injury, and the coronavirus pandemic truncated Byfield's sophomore OHL season, yet he still managed to bag 32 goals and add 50 assists to lead the Wolves with 82 points in 45 games. Scouts were impressed once again, this time by his constant improvements in blending the various aspects of his game.

"He has a power element, but it's combined with speed," explained Dan Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting. "He's got nice, soft hands for a big guy, and he's got very good hockey IQ. This is an all-situational player."

Like most scouts, Marr would rather not compare prospects to NHL stars. But he can't help himself with Byfield. Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a popular comparable across the industry, comes to mind thanks to similarities in skating ability, stature, and puck skills. He also sees Byfield as a "clone" of 18-year-old Leon Draisaitl, who became the No. 3 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and is now the reigning winner of the Art Ross and Hart trophies at 24. Interestingly, Marr's favorite comparable is a major throwback: Jean Beliveau of Montreal Canadiens lore.

"The way I like to describe him is that he plays the game the correct way. He has all the tools and the talent to flourish," Marr said of Byfield. "When I watched him initially, the way he handled himself, carried himself on the ice and off the ice, I'm sitting there and telling the other guys, 'Hey, this is like a Jean Beliveau-type player,' in terms of his impact on and off the ice."

Eric Lindros, you'll notice, is left out of the comparable conversation. Byfield isn't cut from the same cloth as Lindros, a bulldozer of a power forward in his heyday. At 220 pounds, Byfield is leaner, cleaner, and craftier. As Marr put it, the left-handed shooter is "a big guy who can show up on the highlight reel doing things that normally you only anticipate with smaller guys."

Erie Otters defenseman Jamie Drysdale, another top-10 talent in the 2020 draft, was asked last week for a scouting report on Byfield, his OHL opponent and international teammate.

"He's got the size, the speed, the hands, and pretty much all the tools you need to be a high-end forward," Drysdale said. He added: "The second that guy gets a step on you, you're kind of toast."

Drysdale and Byfield both made Canada's world junior team as underagers. They each appeared in seven games, but Byfield's impact on the squad's gold-medal run was minimal. He didn't see the ice often, and when he did, the dominant player seen in OHL rinks was nowhere to be found. This so-so showing, not uncommon for a 17-year-old suiting up in a best-on-best under-20 tournament, continues to follow Byfield. On a video call with reporters last week, he said adjusting to the lack of ice time was a "learning curve."

The OHL has yet to approve the opening of training camps due to COVID-19, so Byfield is in limbo until at least November. During this extended offseason, he's been training off the ice with fitness guru and ex-NHLer Gary Roberts, and competing on the ice against Connor McDavid and other Toronto-area pros such as Josh Anderson and Chris Tierney. Like all top prospects, his goal is to make the NHL next season. Is he truly ready, though?

From Button's vantage point, Byfield could play in the NHL immediately, but he doesn't project to be a key contributor right away. "I think it would be a massive mistake for the team who drafts Quinton Byfield to have him in the NHL next year," Button said. "Massive mistake."

Button would rather Byfield dominate every single night in the OHL and crush the 2021 world juniors, which are scheduled to take place around the winter holidays in a bubble environment in Edmonton. Remember, Button warns, Byfield is young, 10 months younger than Lafreniere and, despite his resume and makeup, still quite raw.

"I say this in the most complimentary way," Button said. "I honestly believe Quinton is still in the process of finding how good he can be."

Carson, for his part, has aged out of the OHL and is now playing for the University of New Brunswick men's hockey team. The former Wolves forward leans on a quote plastered on the walls of UNB's facilities to describe the road ahead for Byfield, a potential franchise-changing center who's just getting started.

"Your talent is your floor," he said. "And then your work ethic is your ceiling."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

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