NHL Mock Draft: Beichler’s Full 2016 First Round Mock – May Edition

player. 30. The Winnipeg Jets get an incredibly great consolation prize in Patrik Laine. A professional power forward who will be ready to step into the NHL this year.<br /> <strong>Full draft profile: <a href=. Wing. Tappara, Liiga. Patrik Laine. 2

Sarnia Sting, OHL. Jakob Chychrun. 4. player. 148. In the top five, it would be smart to select the best player available. Most scouts believe that the top six are all forwards. However, a case can be made for Chychrun as well, and the Edmonton Oilers are in a position where Chychrun might be the best choice. Alternatively, they could trade down a few spots and still pick a talented defenseman, possibly even Chychrun.<br /> <strong>Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense

104. “We feel in the top six there is a defenseman and if we pick five or six, we’ll look to pick that defenseman.” Those were Jim Benning’s words just a few days ago. If the Oilers opt for Chychrun, however, a player that is likely not in Vancouver’s top six, the Canucks can go for the forward they have ranked ahead of Olli Juolevi. One of the top priorities is to replace No. 1 center Henrik Sedin, and with Bo Horvat, Jared McCann and Dubois, the Canucks will have three decent options.<br /> <strong>Full draft profile: <a href=. Forward. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, QMJHL. Pierre-Luc Dubois. 5. player

player. 112. If Matthew Tkachuk is still available with pick No. 6, it will be an easy choice for the Calgary Flames. A terrific scorer who plays with a lot of energy and grit.<br /> <strong>Full draft profile: <a href=. Left Wing. London Knights, OHL. Matthew Tkachuk. 6

121. If the Arizona Coyotes could land Matthew Tkachuk, son of Coyotes legend Keith, we’d have a super romantic draft story. But, Tkachuk is off the board and the Coyotes go for Finnish two-way defenseman Olli Juolevi.<br /> <strong>Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense. London Knights, OHL. Olli Juolevi. 7. player

Wing. Mississauga Steelheads, OHL. Alexander Nylander. 8. player. 12. The Buffalo Sabres go with the best player available — Alexander Nylander, another player with NHL bloodlines. Nylander had a terrific year in the Ontario Hockey League and proved that he can play in North America, just like his father Michael and brother William.

152. Logan Brown is a huge center — he stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 2018 pounds. But, he has a surprisingly good offensive skill-set, making him a dangerous player at both ends of the ice. Some scouts see a Joe Thornton-type player in him. And who wouldn’t love a Joe Thornton on their top line?<br /> <strong>Full Draft Profile: <a href=. Center. Windsor Spitfires, OHL. Logan Brown. 9. player

Windsor Spitfires, OHL. Mikhail Sergachev. 10. player. 103. The Colorado Avalanche was lucky last year, when forward Mikko Rantanen fell to tenth overall. This year, they are lucky once more as Mikhail Sergachev drops just as far.<br /> <strong>Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense

Clayton Keller combined for 144 points in 85 games in the UNDP and USHL. The New Jersey Devils will be happy to get a highly skilled center with No. 1 potential.. Center. US National Under-18 Team, UNDP. Clayton Keller. 11. player. 85

91. The Ottawa Senators had the tough season many expected. Charlie McAvoy will definitely cheer them up. A strong defenseman who was one of the biggest risers in NHL CSS’s rankings.. Defense. Boston University, NCAA. Charles McAvoy. 12. player

Penticton Vees, BCHL. Tyson Jost. 13. player. 109. Tyson Jost fills an immediate and — most importantly — future need for the Carolina Hurricanes. If he can translate his game to the NHL level, he can become a successful top-six center. Had 42 goals and 104 points in 48 BCHL games this season. Committed to the University of North Dakota.. Forward

70. The Bruins get a big and highly skilled power center who combines scoring ability with gritty two-way play. Has No. 1 center potential but will need to improve in all areas, especially his offensive production, to get there.. Center. Mississauga Steelheads, OHL. Michael McLeod. 14. player

The Minnesota Wild get Clayton Keller’s teammate Kieffer Bellows who had equally impressive numbers (combined for 118 points in 85 games). A hard-working power forward who can play at center or on the wing.. Forward. US National Under-18 Team, UNDP. Kieffer Bellows. 15. player. 98

player. 68. Speaking of “the most offensively gifted defenseman in this year’s draft”, a case can be made for Dante Fabbro as well. He has been compared to Tyson Barrie of the Colorado Avalanche which is certainly not a bad comparison.. Defenseman. Penticton Vees, BCHL. Dante Fabbro. 17

Val-d'Or Foreurs, QMJHL. Julien Gauthier. 18. player. 121. After snagging one of the top defensemen at No. 7, the Coyotes use their second first-round pick on power forward Julien Gauthier. Early in the season, Gauthier was ahead of fellow QMJHL power forward Pierre-Luc Dubois on most rankings but offensive production made the difference in the end.. Right Wing

Luke Kunin is an intelligent center who has shown flashes of elite finishing ability. He had 19 goals and 32 points in his NCAA freshman season and is only looking to get even better.. Center. University of Wisconsin, NCAA. Luke Kunin. 19. player. 109

Left Wing. London Knights, OHL. Max Jones. 20. player. 87. Pick No. 20 gets the Florida Panthers a speedy and hard-working power forward who battles hard to put the puck in the net.

105. The Anaheim Ducks get the fifth-ranked European skater, Russian center German Rubtsov. Rubtsov is highly skilled and has great hockey sense which led to 12 goals and 26 points in 24 games.. Center. Team Russia U18, MHL. German Rubtsov. 21. player

30. Evaluating USHS players is tough because they face off against much weaker competition than those in the top-tier USHL or Canadian junior leagues. However, there is little doubt about 6-foot-5 Riley Tufte’s scoring abilities. After scoring 47 goals and 78 points in 25 games, Tufte finished the year in the USHL, recording 10 goals and 14 points in 27 games. Committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.. Left Wing. Blaine High, USHS. Riley Tufte. 22. player

23. player. 151. Another 6-foot-5 power forward, Tage Thompson can bring a terrific skill-set to Nashville. Unless the Predators are scared of selecting NCAA players after losing Harvard star Jimmy Vesey this year, Thompson will be a great pick.. Forward. University of Connecticut, NCAA. Tage Thompson

23. After having success with center Tyler Johnson, the Tampa Bay Lightning will not hesitate with their selection of 5-foot-7 Alex DeBrincat. A pure sniper, DeBrincat eclipsed 50 goals and 100 points in two straight years in the OHL, and <a href=. Center. Erie Otters, OHL. Alex DeBrincat. 24. player

70. With their second pick of the 2016 Draft, the Bruins go for European forward Rasmus Asplund. At 18 years old, Asplund has two professional seasons in Sweden’s top-tier league under his belt. His offensive numbers are not eye-popping (4 goals, 8 assists) but he displays a lot of skill, great hockey sense and two-way ability.. Forward. Farjestad BK, SHL. Rasmus Asplund. 25. player

player. 106. Vitali Abramov is a terrifically skilled winger who tore up the QMJHL in his first North American season, scoring 38 goals and 93 points in 63 games. At 5-foot-9, physicality and defensive ability are a concern.. Wing. Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL. Vitali Abramov. 26

Forward. Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL. Pascal Laberge. 28. player. 99. With the third-last pick in the first round, the St. Louis Blues select Pascal Laberge, a two-way forward who works extremely hard and plays with a lot of grit, but has no outstanding attributes. A high floor, low ceiling kind of player.

player. 119. Tyler Benson is a bit of a wild card. Considered a sure-fire first-round pick for the longest time, he only played 30 games this season thanks to an operation that removed a cyst last summer and a groin injury he suffered after playing 28 games this season. Benson is a great two-way forward and the Stars will be happy with their pick if he stays healthy.. Left Wing. Vancouver Giants, WHL. Tyler Benson. 29

player. 19. As the conclusion of the first round, the Washington Capitals select WHL center Brett Howden. A big, skilled center who can score, set up his teammates and play a responsible defensive game.. Center. Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL. Brett Howden. 30