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

Janik Beichler

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

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

4. Edmonton Oilers

5. Vancouver Canucks

Next: Picks 6-10

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6. Calgary Flames

7. Arizona Coyotes

8. Buffalo Sabres

9. Montreal Canadiens

10. Colorado Avalanche

Next: Picks 11-15

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11. New Jersey Devils

12. Ottawa Senators

13. Carolina Hurricanes

14. Boston Bruins

15. Minnesota Wild

Next: Picks 16-20

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16. Detroit Red Wings

17. Philadelphia Flyers

18. Arizona Coyotes (via NY Rangers)

19. Carolina Hurricanes (via Los Angeles)

20. Florida Panthers

Next: Picks 21-25

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21. Anaheim Ducks

22. Winnipeg Jets (via Chicago)

23. Nashville Predators

24. Tampa Bay Lightning

25. Boston Bruins (via San Jose)

Next: Picks 26-30

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26. New York Islanders

27. Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh)

28. St. Louis Blues

29. Dallas Stars

30. Washington Capitals

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.

Janik Beichler

Born and raised in Germany, I should probably be crazy about soccer. But I'm not - it's always been about hockey. Love writing, love the game. Germany scout for Future Considerations.