NHL Mock Draft: Beichler's Full 2016 First Round Mock

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Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Mitchell Marner puts on a team cap after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The NHL Draft Lottery determined who will pick first, second and third at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft — time for our first NHL Mock Draft.

If there was one thing that had the potential to cheer up the fans of the Vancouver Canucks and the other six Canadian NHL organizations after a terrible 2015-16 season, it was the draft lottery. Unfortunately, Vancouver is not one of the two happy Canadian cities that won the top-two selections. But, of course, that won’t hold us back from holding NHL Mock Drafts.

With the draft lottery in the books, the order of the first 14 teams stands. The rest will be determined by the playoff results. As of today, the order looks as follows:

Toronto Maple Leafs
Winnipeg Jets
Columbus Blue Jackets
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames
Arizona Coyotes
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
Colorado Avalanche
New Jersey Devils
Ottawa Senators
Carolina Hurricanes
Boston Bruins
Minnesota Wild
Detroit Red Wings
Philadelphia Flyers
Arizona Coyotes (via NY Rangers)
Carolina Hurricanes (via Los Angeles)
Florida Panthers
Anaheim Ducks
Winnipeg Jets (via Chicago)
Nashville Predators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Boston Bruins (via San Jose)
New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh)
St. Louis Blues
Dallas Stars
Washington Capitals

Obviously, the order can’t possibly stay the way it is. For example, Dallas and St. Louis are currently facing each other in the playoffs and the loser of the series will get to pick higher while the 29th pick is reserved for the loser of the Stanley Cup final. But, we have to work with what we’ve got so far.

Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning revealed in an interview that he has one defenseman in the top five of his list. At the time of the interview, that was just random talk about a pick the Canucks hopefully wouldn’t own. However, it has become reality.

It is believed that Olli Juolevi is Benning’s favorite among the defensemen. So, will he be the one joining the club on June 24?

All we can do now is wait — and do our very own NHL Mock Drafts. Off we go!

Next: Picks 1-5

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1. Toronto Maple Leafs

2. Winnipeg Jets

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. Full draft profile: <a href=. Wing. Tappara, Liiga. Patrik Laine. 2

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

4. Edmonton Oilers

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. Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense

5. Vancouver Canucks

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. Full draft profile: <a href=. Forward. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, QMJHL. Pierre-Luc Dubois. 5. player

Next: Picks 6-10

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6. Calgary Flames

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. Full draft profile: <a href=. Left Wing. London Knights, OHL. Matthew Tkachuk. 6

7. Arizona Coyotes

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. Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense. London Knights, OHL. Olli Juolevi. 7. player

8. Buffalo Sabres

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.

9. Montreal Canadiens

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? Full Draft Profile: <a href=. Center. Windsor Spitfires, OHL. Logan Brown. 9. player

10. Colorado Avalanche

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. Full draft profile: <a href=. Defense

Next: Picks 11-15

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11. New Jersey Devils

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

12. Ottawa Senators

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

13. Carolina Hurricanes

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

14. Boston Bruins

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

15. Minnesota Wild

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

Next: Picks 16-20

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16. Detroit Red Wings

17. Philadelphia Flyers

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

18. Arizona Coyotes (via NY Rangers)

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

19. Carolina Hurricanes (via Los Angeles)

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

20. Florida Panthers

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.

Next: Picks 21-25

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21. Anaheim Ducks

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

22. Winnipeg Jets (via Chicago)

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. Nashville Predators

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

24. Tampa Bay Lightning

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

25. Boston Bruins (via San Jose)

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

Next: Picks 26-30

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26. New York Islanders

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

27. Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh)

28. St. Louis Blues

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.

29. Dallas Stars

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

30. Washington Capitals

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

Next: Benning Would Pick D-Man at #5

The Canuck Way staff will post more NHL Mock Drafts leading up to the actual draft that takes place at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York on June 24.

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