2020 NHL Draft prospect profile: Jamie Drysdale scouting report
By Kyle Pereira
Potential, NHL Comparison, and NHL Readiness
Drysdale is easily the most complete defenseman in the 2020 NHL entry draft. His offensive capabilities and upside trump any and all defensemen ranked behind him. He has steadily improved on his defensive game, though that is still a work in progress. His transitional game is more than exceptional, which is what a lot of GM’s look for in defensemen in today’s NHL.
He easily projects as a future number 1 or number 2 defensemen with top power-play time and maybe even penalty killing time. At worst, he should still be good enough to play in a bottom-pair role with power-play time, making him a somewhat capable NHL defender regardless of if he hits his full potential. He’s definitely a safe pick in my eyes, simply because of how advanced his transitional game is.
Drysdale’s expected time to be an NHLer is probably around 2 years, but based on how he has steadily become more defensively responsible in his draft year, he could make it to the pros after just one more year in the juniors. I’m a big fan of his game and, again, his transitional game is valuable at all levels.
Because he is a top prospect, it’s likely a defense-needy team will take him, which will open up a spot for him as soon as he’s ready. Because a spot is open and he fills a need, it’s easy to see him make his debut in the 2021-22 season.
Before I get into Drysdale’s NHL comparison, keep in mind that this is by no means a comparison to a skill-level or a comparison to show how good he can become. It’s solely based on style. That being said, Drysdale reminds me of a smaller version of John Carlson. Carlson is good in transition and, as displayed this season, has excellent offensive capabilities. Carlson also uses his slap shot often, which is certainly comparable to Drysdale’s game.
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However, Carlson is a better defender, and I feel Ryan Murray compares to Drysdale in the defensive end. Murray is certainly capable of defending his own end and won’t cost his team any games, but his defensive game also doesn’t jump off the page. Drysdale, I believe, is very similar in that regard.