Arun’s 2016 NHL MOCK DRAFT
Admin, Dallas Stars Fan Club and Hockey Talk (Facebook)
Contributing Sports Writer to GravityBeard
READING TIME: 8.75 MINUTES
In his first contribution to GravityBeard, Arun Morace offers his mock draft for the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft that will be held tomorrow at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. I think we are all very curious to see how accurate he is. We will know soon enough.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews, C, USA (Zurich Lions, NLA) >6'2", 216 lbs. - Toronto gets the big, true top-line center they’ve lacked since the days of Mats Sundin. Matthews is everything you want in a No. 1 pivot, thanks to his size, speed, shooting, playmaking and willingness to play a 200-foot game. He’ll form an excellent 1-2 punch with William Nylander at center for the Maple Leafs
2. Winnipeg Jets - Patrik Laine, RW, Finland (Tampere Tappara, Liiga) > 6'4", 201 lbs. - A big winger with incredible goal-scoring talent thanks to his lethal shot, Laine has been compared to Washington Capitals captain and perennial league-leader in goal scoring Alex Ovechkin. While that’s a rather lofty comparison, Laine has the potential to make good on it.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - Jesse Puljujarvi, RW (Karpat Oulun, Liiga) > 6'3", 196 lbs. - A top-line winger who’s been playing in Finland’s highest-level men’s league since he was 16, Puljujarvi has the size, speed and shot to become a dominant forward at the NHL level in the very near future.
4. Edmonton Oilers - Matthew Tkachuk, LW, USA (London Knights, OHL) > 6'2", 188 lbs. - The son of long-time NHLer Keith Tkachuk, Matthew has the size and impressive all-around game to complement Edmonton’s slew of smaller forwards. That’s not to say he’s a grinder who lacks offensive ability - he put up 107 points this past season in 57 games with London to lead them to a Memorial Cup championship.
5. Vancouver Canucks - Alexander Nylander, LW (AIK, Allsvenskan) > 6'1", 178 lbs. - After snagging a couple power forwards in the first rounds of recent drafts (Jake Virtanan, Bo Horvat), the Canucks snag a skilled offensive playmaker in Alex Nylander - brother of Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander, and son of former NHLer Michael Nylander. He’ll complement the bigger forwards in the Vancouver system well thanks to his elusiveness and high-end scoring abilities.
6. Calgary Flames - Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, Canada (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, QMJHL) > 6'2", 205 lbs. - Dubois is a big, versatile power forward who racked up 42 goals and 99 total points in 62 games with Cape Breton this past year. Depending on whether or not the Flames want to inject him into their lineup as an 18-year-old, he’ll provide complementary size and scoring ability to some of Calgary’s smaller wingers (think 5'6", 165-pound Johnny Gaudreau or 6'1", 185-pound. Sam Bennett).
7. Arizona Coyotes - Olli Juolevi, D, Finland (London Knights, OHL) > 6'2", 182 lbs. - Arizona is practically overflowing with excellent young forward talent at both the NHL and the developmental level, thanks to the likes of Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Dylan Strome, Christian Dvorak, Nick Merkley, Brendan Perlini, etc. However, it’s a bit light on top-end blueline talent. Thankfully, there are three defensive prospects with top-10 potential in the 2016 draft, and at least one should be available to them when they pick at No. 7. Here, they take the smooth-skating Juolevi, who has garnered comparisons to Arizona’s own All-Star defenseman, Oliver Ekmann-Larson.
8. Buffalo Sabres - Jacob Chychrun, D, Canada (Sarnia Sting, OHL) > 6'2", 195 - Seems almost criminal that Chychrun, the player who was granted exceptional status and allowed into the OHL at a 15-year-old, would slip to the No. 8 pick in the draft, but that’s just how things play out here. He’s got the size, physicality and offensive sense to be a top-pairing blueliner in the NHL, and the Sabres will happily add the defender to help balance out the almost ridiculous amount of promising young forward prospects they’ve acquired in recent years (Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Hudson Fasching, etc.). Mikhail Sergachev is also a possibility here, but Buffalo’s seeming distaste for Russian prospects (trading away former first-rounders Mikhail Grigorenko and Nikita Zadarov, letting Andrei Makarov bolt to the KHL after reducing his playing time in the AHL) makes Chychrun the more likely pick.
9. Montreal Canadiens - Tyson Jost, C, Canada (Penticton Vees, BCHL) > 5'11", 190 lbs. - Arguably not the top talent remaining on the board, but he’s arguably the most likely to fill Montreal’s long-time void at their top-line center position. After a season where he “only” averaged a point per game with Penicton in 2014-15, Jost exploded as an all-around offensive threat, racking up 42 goals and 62 assists (104 total points) in a mere 48 games. He’s committed to the University of North Dakota, but it’s quite likely he makes the jump to the pros after only a year or two in the college ranks.
10. Colorado Avalanche - Mikhail Sergachev, D, Russia (Windsor Spitfires, OHL) > 6'2", 225 lbs. - Easily the top remaining defensive talent on the board, the Avs can take Sergachev to restock a cupboard of blueline prospects that runs pretty thin after 2013 second-round choice Chris Bigras. He doesn’t have Chychrun or Juolevi’s innate offensive abilities, but he’s not incompetent with the puck on his stick, and he has far more physicality and willingness to hit than either of the other top defensive prospects.
11. New Jersey Devils - Clayton Keller, C, USA (US-NDTP) > 5'10", 165 lbs. - The Devils are starving for high-end offensive prospects outside of Pavel Zacha and John Quenneville. Keller’s not the biggest prospect available, but he’s got the kind of speed and playmaking ability to add some serious talent to the New Jersey forward pipeline. If he can tack on some weight, he looks like a future top-six forward in the NHL. Keller notched 37 goals and 107 total points during 62 games in the US developmental program last season, and he’ll continue his progression at Boston University next year.
12. Ottawa Senators - Logan Brown, C, USA (Windsor Spitfires, OHL) > 6'6", 220 lbs. - Yet another 2016 prospect who’s the son of a former NHLer (Logan is the son of Jeff Brown, who played over 700 games in the NHL, mostly with the Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis Blues), Brown is a towering player with more agility and playmaking than is typical of forwards his size. However, much like exceedingly tall players his age, Brown needs to round out his skating, and if he adds more physicality to his game, he could end up with a longer NHL career than his father.
13. Carolina Hurricanes - Julien Gauthier, RW, Canada (Val-d'or Foreurs, QMJHL) > 6'3", 220 lbs. The Hurricanes have loaded up on defensive prospects (Noah Hanifin, Haydn Fleury, Brett Pesce) and smaller forwards (Elias Lindholm, Sebastian Aho) early in the draft, leaving them sorely in need of a bigger scoring/finishing forward like Gauthier.
14. Boston Bruins - Charles McAvoy, D, USA (US-NDTP) > 6'0", 205 lbs. - Brown is the thickly built, two-way defenseman Boston’s prospect pool is lacking, and he’ll be playing in the Bruins’ backyard thanks to his committment to Boston University. Seems like a good match all around.
15. Minnesota Wild - Keiffer Bellows, C, USA (Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL) > 6'0", 185 lbs. - Son of former Minnesota North Star Brian Bellows (sensing a theme with this draft?), Keiffer has the kind of offensive upside the Wild are lacking at both the professional and developmental level. He racked up 50 goals in 62 games last season in the U.S. junior ranks.
16. Detroit Red Wings - Jake Bean, D, Canada (Calgary Hitmen, WHL) > 6'0", 170 lbs. - It would feel more natural to project the Red Wings to select a European, but Bean is too talented for them to pass up, and he’s the kind of slick-skating, puck-moving blueliner they don’t seem to possess in their prospect pool Bean is undoubtedly undersized at only 6'0", 170 lbs., but if there’s one thing the Red Wings are good at, it’s letting their prospects develop for a long time until their almost overripe, which should allow Bean more than enough time to bulk up to an NHL weight.
17. Nashville Predators - Dante Fabbro, D, Canada (Penticton Vees, BCHL) > 6'0", 172 lbs. The Predators’ once overflowing pool of blueline talent now feels a bit thin outside of Jack Dougherty and Alex Carrier (though it’s exceptional at forward and goaltender). So, why not have them grab Fabbro, a smaller but talented defender with a two-way game that is better than his frame would indicate.
18. Philadelphia Flyers - Michael McLeod, C, Canada (Mississauga Steelheads, OHL) > 6'2", 185 lbs. - The opposite of the team drafting ahead of them, the Flyers have a strong collection of defensive prospects (Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, Samuel Morin, Robert Hagg, etc.), but is rather lacking at forward outside of Travis Konecny. McLeod would add size and top-six potential to the Flyers pipeline. Right now McLeod’s skill-set and upside outweigh his junior production, but in another year or so he could be an 80, 90 or 100-point player in the OHL, and by then should be ready for an NHL call-up.
19. New York Islanders - Luke Kunin, C, USA (US-NDTP) > 6'0", 192 lbs. - With the expected loss of Kyle Okposo to free agency and the disappointing development thus far of former top-five pick Ryan Strome, the Islanders may opt to grab another young forward to offset their losses. Not to mention, outside of 2016 first-rounder Mathew Barzal, they don’t have an overly promising prospect at center. Kunin is an agile player with offensive skills that could start to yield serious dividends as he continues his development at the University of Wisconsin next season.
20. Arizona Coyotes (via N.Y. Rangers) - Logan Stanley, D, Canada (Windsor Spitfires, OHL) > 6'7", 225 lbs. - The ‘Yotes double up on defensemen in the first round. After selecting the more mobile Juolevi at No. 7, they opt for the massive, more aggressive Stanley with their second selection. He’s got a long reach, and has a bit of an edge - 103 penalty minutes last OHL season.
21. Carolina Hurricanes (via L.A. Kings) - Max Jones, LW, USA (London Knights, OHL) > 6'3", 201 lbs. - Yet another prospect with an NHL dad (father Brad played for the original Winnipeg Jets, as well as the Flyers and Kings), Jones is a power forward with the kind of skill set that gives him a low-risk, high-reward developmental track. At the very least, he’ll be a third-liner thanks to his energy, physicality and ability to finish both passes and checks; if he can grow his offensive game, he could end up as a top-six winger.
22. Winnipeg Jets (via Chicago Blackhawks) - Boris Katchouk, LW, Canada (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL) > 6'1", 190 - Solid all-around forward who complements the heavy amount of skill players the Jets have in their prospect pool of forwards.
23. Florida Panthers - Alexander DeBrincat, RW, USA (Erie Otters, OHL) > 5'7", 160 lbs. - The Panthers have had no problem drafting smaller forwards in the past (i.e. Rocco Grimaldi, Kyle Rau, Denis Malgin, etc. - all of whom check in at 5'8" or below) and should have no qualms about adding the diminuitive DeBrincat to their pipeline. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in skill and pure offensive ability, having racked up a ridiculous 102 goals and 205 total points over the course of the last two OHL seasons.
24. Anaheim Ducks - Riley Tufte, LW, USA (Fargo Force, USHL) >6'5", 215 lbs. - Tufte has the size the Ducks prefer in their forwards (there’s only one on the roster under six feet tall), and he’s got the potential to bloom into a good goal-scoring power forward as he develops. Tufte racked up 47 goals in 25 games his final high school season, and picked up another 10 in limited USHL action after that. He’ll continue his development at the University of Minnnesota-Duluth next fall.
25. Dallas Stars - German Rubtsov, C, Russia (Vityaz Podolsk, MHL) > 6'1", 190 lbs. - In each of the past three drafts, Stars GM Jim Nill has used his first pick on a European with a lot of skill (Val Nichushkin in 2013, Julius Honka in 2014, and Denis Gurianov in 2015). Two of those picks were Russians, so it doesn’t strain credulity to think that if Rubtsov is still on the board at No. 25, Nill will snag him. He’s proven to be a willing back-checker, but Rubtsov still offers the classic Russian package of slick hands, scoring ability and smooth skating.
26. Washington Capitals - Carl Grundstrom, LW (Modo Hockey, SHL) > 6'0", 187 lbs. - In the last seven drafts, the Capitals have used their first pick on a European - including three Swedes - so it’d be no surprise to see them snag the talented Grundstrom here. He’s a good two-way forward has spent parts of the last two years as a teenager playing in Sweden’s highest-level men’s league, and could be ready for NHL action sooner than many of the players drafted ahead of him.
27. Tampa Bay Lightning - Vitali Abramov, RW, Russia (Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL) > 5'9", 170 lbs. - An undersized Russian with excellent offensive skills who tore up the QMJHL? After the success of Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning front office will likely jump at the chance to snag another player with a similar track record. Abramov notched 38 goals and 93 points in 63 games in the “Q” this past year.
28. St. Louis Blues - Tage Thompson, C/RW, USA (University of Connecticut, NCAA) > 6'4", 195 lbs. - A big forward whose development is trending up, Thompson has improved his offensive totals nearly every year and at every level of play, highlighted by a 14-goal, 32-point showing as a freshman at Connecticut in 2015-16. He’ll instantly be the largest forward in the Blues prospect pool.
29. Boston Bruins (via San Jose Sharks) - Pascal Laberge, C, Canada (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL) > 6'0", 160 lbs. - Undersized, but a centerman with two-way ability the Bruins prefer in their forwards, and who has earned comparison’s to Boston’s own Patrice Bergeron thanks to his 200-foot game and toughness.
30. Anaheim Ducks (via Toronto Maple Leafs, from Pittsburgh Penguins) - Filip Gustavsson, G, Sweden (Lulea, SHL) > 6'2", 185 lbs - After dealing away Frederik Andersen for this selection, the Ducks can refill their netminding coffers by snagging Gustavsson. He’s the top-rated European goalie in the draft, and should help a prospect pool that offers very little after Kevin Boyle.
