By Alex Hobson
The 2016 draft lottery has finally taken place, and now we know who's going to be picking from first overall to 14th overall. You know what this means? The first post-lottery mock draft. I will only be doing the first 14 picks, given the fact that the other ones have not been determined yet, but as we get closer I'll expand each one. Without further ado, lets get into it.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews (C, ZSC Lions, NLA, 6'2, 195)
The Leafs had the highest chance at landing the first overall pick, and when it became a reality, nobody could believe it. Anyways, I have no doubt in my mind that the Leafs select Matthews with the first pick. People say that Patrik Laine could challenge Matthews for the top spot, but the Leafs are in dire need of a big, potential #1 centre. He has great vision and passing ability, a great shot, and he's a born leader. Selecting him would be a huge boost for the rebuild.
2. Winnipeg Jets - Patrik Laine (RW, Tappara, SM-Liiga, 6'4, 209lb)
As if the Jets' didn't already have enough exciting prospects in their pool, Laine joins an extremely talented group of youngsters including Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey to name a few. Laine has been compared to Alexander Ovechkin and Jamie Benn among others and the Jets should not hesitate to snag him at #2.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - Jesse Puljujarvi (RW, Karpat, SM-Liiga, 6'3, 201lb)
Puljujarvi projects himself as a very similar player to Laine. He had a better World Junior performance, but is slightly smaller and is more of an all around player than Laine, and put up a few less points for his respective Liiga team. Nevertheless, the Jackets will not hesitate to pick the Finn up at third overall.
4. Edmonton Oilers - Matthew Tkachuk (LW, London Knights, OHL, 6'1, 194lb)
Many believe the Oilers will trade this pick, but if they don't then it's entirely possible that they use it to select Tkachuk and use one of their current forwards (primarily Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Jordan Eberle) as trade bait for an established defenseman rather than drafting one who's a few years away. Tkachuk played wing on arguably the best line in the OHL alongside of Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak, and registered 107 points in 57 games along the way.
5. Vancouver Canucks - Jakob Chychrun (D, Sarnia Sting, OHL, 6'2, 195)
Canucks president Trevor Linden showed signs that the Canucks would likely be drafting a defenseman with their first round pick this season, and they would be smart to take Chychrun. He was previously regarded as a top three pick until Puljujarvi and Laine broke out at the World Juniors, and has since slipped a bit. He's a strong two way defenseman that can contribute at both ends of the ice.
6. Calgary Flames - Alexander Nylander (LW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL, 6'0, 176lb)
The brother of current Leafs prospect William Nylander dominated in the OHL this season, earning rookie of the year honors with 75 points in 57 games. Nylander was originally born in Calgary and would be very exciting to watch alongside of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan in a few years.
7. Arizona Coyotes - Olli Juolevi (D, London Knights, OHL, 6'2, 183lb)
With the likes of Dylan Strome, Max Domi, Christian Dvorak, and Anthony Duclair among others, the Coyotes are stacked at forward. That being said, they're also very thin on the defensive side, which is why I could see them taking Juolevi with this pick. Essentially a clone of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, Juolevi had a solid season this year recording 42 points in 57 games.
8. Buffalo Sabres - Clayton Keller (C, USNTDP, USHL 5'10, 170lb)
Keller worked his way into the top ten rankings after a very solid performance at the U18 World Juniors where he recorded 14 points in seven games for Team USA. He posted 107 points in 62 games for the US National U18 team and 37 points in 23 games for the USNTDP juniors, so the Sabres would be getting an offensive force in Keller.
9. Montreal Canadiens - Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, QMJHL, 6'3, 203lb)
The Habs lacked goal scoring this year, and they'd be getting some down the line if they picked up Dubois at ninth. He plays a gritty all around game and put up 99 points in 62 games with Cape Breton this season. Plus, he's a Quebec native and could easily adapt to the French media.
10. Colorado Avalanche - Mikhail Sergachev (D, Windsor Spitfires, OHL, 6'2, 205lb)
Like the Coyotes, the Avalanche lack prospects on the defensive side, and they'd be getting one stud of a d-man if they took Sergachev at 10th overall. The Nizhnekamsk native recorded 57 points in 67 games this season for the Spits and earned OHL defenseman of the year honors.
11. New Jersey Devils - Tyson Jost (C, Penticton Vees, BCHL, 5'11, 192lb)
The Devils need scoring, and Jost would provide just that. Despite playing in a lesser-scouted league in the BCHL, Jost shot up in the rankings after putting up 104 points in 48 games for the Vees, as well as 15 points in seven games for Team Canada at the U18 World Juniors.
12. Ottawa Senators - Jake Bean (D, Calgary Hitmen, D, 6'1, 172lb)
Arguably the best offensive defenseman in this draft, Bean would provide an instant upgrade to the Sens' defensive core after recording 64 points in 68 games for the Calgary Hitmen this season.
13. Carolina Hurricanes - Michael McLeod (C, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL 6'2, 187lb)
A strong two way forward, McLeod is arguably the fastest player in this year's draft and was a key part to the Steelheads' success after notching 61 points in 57 games. He would address the Hurricanes' goal scoring need should they take him at 13.
14. Boston Bruins - Charlie McAvoy (D, Boston University, NCAA, 6'0, 205lb)
McAvoy is the type of defenseman you want to have on your team if you're a contender. A solid two way guy who can play gritty and also supply offense, and is right handed as well. He posted 25 points in 37 games as a freshman at Boston University this season.
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