Top five late-round steals from the 2020 NHL Draft so far

Apr 7, 2025, 13:00 EDT

Top five late-round steals from the 2020 NHL Draft so far

Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

You guys seem to like ’em, so we’ll keep doing ’em.

We’ve been doing some NHL Draft retrospectives in recent weeks, looking at the best late-round picks from the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 selections. Mostly, we’re talking about guys with limited-to-NHL experience, especially from this past June in Vegas.

But the 2020 NHL Draft was nearly five full years ago. That was the first fully remote draft, with teams staying home due to COVID-19 restrictions. That also was one of the longest drafts in NHL history, with connection issues and the fact the process was so different from before forcing the event to drag on.

We’re still a bit away from the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles – but here’s a look back at some of the best late-round steals from 2020:

Devon Levi, G (Buffalo Sabres via Florida Panthers)

Drafted: Seventh round, 212nd overall

Levi went from zero to hero quite quickly. Taken 212th overall in 2020 after spending his draft year playing in the CCHL (where he went 32-2-1 with eight shutouts), Levi sat out almost the entire 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 regulations blocking most of the NCAA from hitting the ice. But he made the most of it, putting up one of the best runs in net we’ve ever seen at the World Juniors with Canada, only to lose in the championship game. From there, he boasted one of the best two-year college showings in recent memory, exciting many Sabres fans after the team acquired him from Florida in the Sam Reinhart trade.

Since then, Levi has struggled at the NHL level as the team seemingly rushed him in too quickly. The good thing, though, is that he has been one of the AHL’s better goalies the past two seasons and has shown some serious promise. Scouts are still worried how good he can be at 6-foot, but you see a lot of the same natural skills that make Dustin Wolf so good. Sure, Levi’s stock has dropped a bit after watching him struggle in Buffalo, but the fact that he’s still a legit goaltending prospect as a seventh-rounder is really exciting.

Louis Crevier, D (Chicago Blackhawks)

Drafted: Seventh round, 188th overall

The Blackhawks have been in a rebuild during Crevier’s entire pro career, so he has gotten some better opportunities than others his age early on. The former QMJHLer isn’t much of an offensive defenseman, but he has done a better job of getting the puck out of the zone more frequently. That, combined with some decent shutdown ability, has allowed him to play quite regularly with the Blackhawks, even skating on the top pairing alongside Alex Vlasic. It doesn’t hurt that he’s 6-foot-8, making him one of the tallest defensemen in NHL history. He started his draft year at 6-foot-2, so he had to figure out how to use his size quickly. That’s easier said than done.

Crevier isn’t speedy, but he’s got a good enough reach to take space away. He’s not going to pound you into the next century but he will make it difficult for you to get to the net. Crevier has played some good hockey in the AHL but he’s playing even better with the Hawks, giving hope that he could end up becoming a long-term depth fixture for this club.

Matt Rempe, LW (New York Rangers)

Drafted: Sixth round, 165th overall

So, here’s the thing. Yes – Rempe is a tough guy and not much more. But even in this day and age, locker rooms can really come together to support a guy like him and that can make a team become even closer. The Calgary, Alberta native was never a point producer in junior, but he has become even edgier since scoring in his NHL debut last year. Rempe was drafted for his massive 6-foot-9 frame, making him the tallest forward in NHL history. Most other players standing 6-foot-7 and above have historically played on the back half of the ice.

Rempe, though, has shown some decent bursts of speed, and he can even shoot, too, even if those are in smaller quantities. He has shown he’s headstrong and will take on anyone – even if it has come at a cost. Rempe is a heart-and-soul player, and that’s why he’s an NHLer right now. Will it last in the long term? Who knows, but he’s a popular figure in the Big Apple thanks to his old-school approach to the game.

Matt Kessel, D (St. Louis Blues)

Drafted: Fifth round, 150th overall

Kessel has split the season between the AHL and NHL this year, where he has shown some decent ability in spurts. In Springfield, Kessel has been a regular two-way contributor. In St. Louis, hes been more of a depth guy who has been forced to watch from the sidelines from time to time, but can still be tough to play against deeper in the lineup.

At this point, it’s unclear if Kessel can become anything more than a AAAA player – someone who bounces between the two leagues. But there are some qualities about his game that, in the right situation, can keep him in the show. He has a big, 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame, and he’s defensively responsible. He has improved his overall top speed since finishing his junior campaign at UMass in 2022, and he can be one tough cucumber to beat. The Blues have made some interesting deployment calls with their young guys this season, but I think Kessel has done enough defensively to suggest he could have a decent career.

Nilas Aman, C (Vancouver Canucks via Colorado Avalanche)

Drafted: Sixth round, 167th overall

Just getting any games out of a seventh-rounder will make scouts feel good. However, Aman is the only player on this list with over 100 to his credit after being taken as an overaged 20-year-old in 2020. The 6-foot-2 center spent two more years in Sweden and was ultimately not signed by the Avalanche, making him a free agent. The Canucks signed him in 2022, and he made the jump to North America. He’d go on to play 17 games in Abbotsford but would play 68 in Vancouver – the most he has played in a season to date.

Since then, he has bounced around between the NHL and AHL. He has actually played much more in the AHL this season but has played some decent hockey on Vancouver’s fourth line this year. He’s a two-way forward who doesn’t play a flashy game and won’t hit you with brute force, but he can block shots, beat you with speed, and make you work hard for the puck.

Other notables: Mikael Pyyhtiä, LW (Columbus Blue Jackets); Jakub Dobes, G (Montreal Canadiens); Adam Wilsby, D (Nashville Predators); Brett Berard, LW (New York Rangers); Isaak Phillips, D (Winnipeg Jets via Chicago Blackhawks)

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