2016 NHL Draft: Notes and Numbers from Buffalo

by Ken McKenna
2016 NHL Draft - Patrik Laine (WPG), Auston Matthews (TOR), and Pierre-Luc Dubois (CBJ) - Top 3 Selections

Photo: 2016 NHL Draft selections Patrik Laine (L), Auston Matthews (C), and Pierre-Luc Dubois represented the top three picks of the this year’s draft in Buffalo, NY (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

 

 

There was talk prior to the 2016 NHL Draft that hockey power Canada was in for a disappointing showing at the NHL’s annual re-stocking of young talent. And, while it is true that just two players that identified as Canadian were chosen among the top 10 selections in this year’s draft, the “Great White North” can rest comfortably knowing that they had a stronger showing overall in 2016 than was the case at the last couple of drafts. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft: Winnipeg Jets add draft’s top sniper in Patrik Laine

by Ken McKenna
2016 NHL Draft - Patrik Laine - Winnipeg Jets

Photo: Winnipeg Jets prospect Patrik Laine had a decorated 2015-16 season in which he won two gold medals, and was named MVP of the Liiga playoffs and the World Championship (courtesy of Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

 

 

With Auston Matthews off the board as expected, the Winnipeg Jets used the second pick overall in the 2016 NHL Draft to add some offensive punch to their already solid prospect pool with the selection of winger Patrik Laine of Tappara Tampere. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft: Toronto Maple Leafs add Matthews to increasingly talented stable

by Ken McKenna
2016 NHL Draft - Auston Matthews - Toronto Maple Leafs

Photo: Newly-minted Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Auston Matthews will get his first action in the new Maple Leafs sweater at the team’s summer development camp in early July (courtesy of Jeffrey T. Barnes/Getty Images)

 

 

To the surprise of few, the Toronto Maple Leafs used the first overall selection at the 2016 NHL Draft on center Auston Matthews, the player widely regarded as the draft’s top prospect. The talented center competed in Switzerland last season, but he should be a strong candidate to make the Maple Leafs roster for the start of the 2016-17 season. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft: Dubois, Juolevi hope to turn successful seasons into high draft position

by Ken McKenna
Pierre-Luc Dubois - CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Photo: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward and 2016 prospect Pierre-Luc Dubois parlayed a strong showing at the 2016 BMO CHL Top Prospects Game into a top ranking for this year’s draft (courtesy of Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

 

 

All the questions have been asked by the media, while the eyes of scouts are now focused on draft lists. The only thing left now for the prospects heading into the 2016 NHL Draft is to find out which NHL club will call their names at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft: Matthews, Laine finish atop final ISS rankings

by ISS
2016 NHL Draft - Auston Matthews - USA; Patrik Laine - Finland

Photo: Forwards Auston Matthews of the ZSC Lions and Patrik Laine of Tappara Tampere are the top two prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft according to ISS Hockey (courtesy of John Crouch/Icon Sportswire and Melanie Duchene/EQ Images/Icon Sportswire)

 

 

The first round of the 2016 NHL Draft is now just a couple of days away, with the remainder of the draft taking place on Saturday at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY.

Earlier this month, ISS Hockey released their final top 30 for this year’s draft, along with their 2016 draft guide. The order in June barely changed from the list presented in May, but there was some minor shuffling within the top 10. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft: Hockey’s Future Staff Mock Draft

by HF Staff
2016 NHL Draft Top Prospects - Pierre-Luc Dubois, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, and Alexander Nylander

Photo: Five top prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft were the guests of the NHL during the Stanley Cup Final, with forwards (L-R) Pierre-Luc Dubois, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, and Alexander Nylander taking Game Four in San Jose (courtesy of Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

 

 

While the 2016 NHL Draft lacks some of the drama that was provided leading up to last year’s draft, when Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel vied for the right to go first overall, there is nevertheless some very good talent to be had at the top of this year’s event. And even beyond the top 5, NHL clubs drafting in the first round should be able to land some good talent that will almost certainly suit up for NHL action in the not too distant future. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft Preview: A few Czech selection possibilities, but Slovakia lacks homegrown prospects

by Derek O'Brien
Ondrej Najman - Czech Republic - 2015 World Junior A Challenge

Photo: Dukla Jihlava forward and 2016 prospect Ondrej Najman competed for the Czech Republic in international play in 2015-16, performing well at both the World Junior A Challenge and the U18 World Championship (courtesy of Tim Bates/OJHL Images)

 

 

As has been the case for a number of years, very few of the top NHL Draft prospects from the Czech Republic and Slovakia play at home nowadays. The top Czechs for this year’s draft play in North America, but there will be at least one homegrown talent who is sure to be drafted, along with a handful of probable late-rounders. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft Preview: Puljujarvi, Laine the cream of a solid Finland crop

by Tony Piscotta
Jesse Puljujarvi - Team Finland - 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship

Photo: Karpat Oulu forward and 2016 prospect Jesse Puljujarvi earned MVP honors at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship while playing alongside Sebastian Aho and Patrik Laine for Finland’s gold medal squad (courtesy of MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/Getty Images)

 

 

If Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi were the only players coming out of Finland this year, the 2016 NHL Draft would still be a big one for Suomi fans. Much like the Tyler vs. Taylor theme of the 2010 NHL Draft — when media sources tried to determine whether current Dallas Star Tyler Seguin or Edmonton’s Taylor Hall would be the top overall selection — Puljujarvi and Laine have been in the media spotlight all season and are surefire first-round picks. But those two are just part of what is expected to be a large class of Finnish players taken in the 2016 NHL Draft. (more…)

2016 NHL Draft Preview: Bean heads WHL group that could have light first round presence

by Glen Erickson
Jake Bean - Calgary Hitmen

Photo: Calgary Hitmen defenseman and 2016 prospect Jake Bean scored the most goals of any WHL defender in the 2015-16 season, netting 24 goals in the regular season (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

 

 

For the second straight year, the concept of generational talent will emerge as the key talking point at the NHL Draft.

By the time the festivities get underway in Buffalo next weekend, the Auston Matthews watch will have been percolating since the day after Connor McDavid was selected first overall a year ago. Expect a large contingent of Toronto Maple Leafs fans to attend the First Niagara Center (soon to be KeyBank Center) to welcome Matthews to the NHL. (more…)

HF Boards