A Record 12 Americans Drafted in the First Round of the 2016 NHL Draft

The opening round of the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft took place at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York on Friday night as a record 12 American born players were selected in the top 30. 

As expected, Arizona born Auston Matthews was the first overall selection in the NHL draft when the Toronto Maple Leafs called his name. Matthews was also the first US born player to go first overall, since Patrick Kane was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. 

The six foot two, 216-pound center gain most of his experience playing against older, more experienced players in Switzerland, some of those players even had NHL experience under their belts. 

This past spring, Matthews helped lead the US National Team to a bronze medal at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship. He tied for second place in scoring with seven goals in seven games. He also led Team USA, with six goals, in 10 games, during the 2016 IIHF World Championships. 

The Winnipeg Jets went with Finnish forward, Patrik Laine with the number two selection. Laine is able to play on either wing and has excellent puck handling skills, with quick hands and has one of the best one timers amongst the 2016 draft class. 

 

The six foot three, 201-pound forward has been compared by many scouts as being similar to Brett Hull. During the playoffs in Finland’s top professional league, Laine was named the Most Valuable Player as helped his team win the championship with 10 goals and five assists in 18 games. 

He was also the MVP and the best forward at the 2016 World Championships, scoring seven goals and five assists to lead Finland to a silver medal. He will represent Finland during the World Cup of Hockey this fall. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets took Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Quebec Major Junior League with the third pick. Dubois has been compared to Dallas Stars’ captain, Jamie Benn. He was able to rise in the draft ranking while using his size and versatility. 

The six foot one, 201-pound left winger, had 112 penalty minutes, while also scoring 10 power play goals and three short handed tallies. Despite never having played center before December of 2015, he was able to win about 50.4 percent of his faceoffs. 

Dubois was able to celebrate his 18^th birthday by getting drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft.

The Edmonton Oilers with the fourth pick, went with Jesse Puljujarvi. He helped Finland capture the gold medal at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Championships, as he scored five goals and two assists in four games. He followed that up by helping Finland strike gold the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

Puljujarvi, scored 17 points in seven games, for the second most points in an under-18, tournament, one behind Jaromir Jagr’s 18, in 1990 for Czechoslovakia.  

The Vancouver Canuks selected Olli Juolevi with the fifth pick. The six foot two, 188-pound defenseman has poise and composure with the puck, while showing some good instincts without it. He also is a good skater that has shown effectiveness on special teams. 

In seven games with Finland during the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, he scored nine points in helping them capture the gold medal. He also added seven points in four games for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, helping them win the Memorial Cup. 

 

The Calgary Flames went with Arizona born and St. Louis raised, Matthew Tkachuk with the sixth selection. Tkachuk, the son of former NHLer Keith Tkachuk, reminds some scouts of Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry. 

Tkachuk followed up an outstanding regular season, by leading the OHL in scoring with 20 goals in 18 playoff games. He also scored the overtime winner during the Memorial Cup for London. 

The Arizona Coyotes chose Clayton Keller with the seventh pick. Keller was the third American player, taken in the top 10 of the opening round. The five foot, 10-inch center, led the U.S. National Development Program’s under-18 team in both assists and points. He also led in shorthanded goals with four and as well as having a 1.73 points per game average.

Keller has modeled his game after fellow NTDP Alumnus, Patrick Kane. His play making skills, scoring touch, mobility, stick handling and confidence helped him stick out amongst the scouts. He also saw extensive special team time on ice. 

The Buffalo Sabres chose, Alexander Nylander, the son of former NHLer, Michael Nylander, with the eighth pick in the draft. At six foot, 178-pounds, his elite skills and NHL ready speed help to make him tough to defend.   

Nylander led Sweden with four goals and five assists at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

By picking Nylander, the Sabres help elevate the rivalry with the Maple Leafs as his brother, William is up in Toronto. 

The Montreal Canadiens chose from Windsor of the OHL, Mikail Sargachev with the ninth pick, while the Colorado Avalanche with the 10^th selected Tyson Jost of Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League. 

When Jost’s name was called, there was no one in the First Niagara Center, that seemed more proud of the moment, than his grandfather, who showed tears of joy for his grandson fulfilling his dream of making it to the NHL. 

The Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils, swapped picks with New Jersey getting a third rounder in addition. With the 11^th the Senators chose, Logan Brown, the fourth of the 12 Americans drafted in the first round, followed by the Devils taking Michael McLeod with the 12^th pick. 

Carolina Hurricanes took Jake Bean a defenseman from the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitman at number 13. With the 14^th pick the Boston Bruins selected from Boston University, Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy was the fifth of the US born players drafted in the first round. 

The Minnesota Wild went with another American for the 15^th pick, taking University of Wisconsin Badger, Luke Kunin. The Coyotes, who received the 16^th from the Detroit Red Wings, along with the contract of Pavel Datsyuk, picked up the third straight American at number 16. That pick was Jakub Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting. 

The Coyotes sent the Red Wings the 20^th, 53^rd and forward Joe Vitale in return. 

At number 17, the Nashville Predators selected Dante Fabbro. The Jets received the 18^th from the Philadelphia Flyers and took Logan Stanley. The New York Islanders went with the eighth US born taken in the opening round at number 19.  

For the 19^th pick they selected Kieffer Bellows, the son of former NHL player, Brian Bellows. Bellows led the USNTDP under-18 team in goals and was second in points. His father was taken second overall in the 1982 NHL Draft by the Minnesota North Stars.

Detroit held the 20^th pick, which they had just received from the Coyotes earlier in the night. The Coyotes had originally received that pick, from the New York Rangers, as part of the Keith Yandle deal. At number 20, the Red Wings took Dennis Cholowski from Chilliwack of the BCHL.  

The Hurricanes had the 21^st pick, they had acquired from Los Angeles Kings, and chose Julien Gauthier from the QMJHL. The Flyers used the 22^nd they received from the Jets to draft Russian center German Rubtsov. 

At 23, the Florida Panthers to Henrik Borgstrom, a center that has been compared to Blues center Patrik Berglund. The Anaheim Ducks went with Max Jones from the Knights of the OHL. Jones was the ninth American taken in the first round. The Stars chose Minnesota high school top senior Riley Tufte. He led Blaine, Minnesota High School in goals, assists and game winning goals. 

The 2016 Mr. Hockey Award as top Minnesota High School senior has been compared to Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad. Tufte who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the 2016-2017 season. 

The Washington Capitals and the Blues swapped their picks with the Blues, taking University of Connecticut’s Tage Thompson. The right handed power American forward, has a nice shot and is tough to knock off the puck. Thompson led the National Collegiate Athletic Association with 13 power play goals. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning went with Brett Howden at number 27. During the second half of the season, he became a valuable team player, who helped out with the power play and penalty kill. His size, speed and ability has helped create turnovers. 

The in-state rivalry with the Panthers should start to pick up, as his older brother Quinton Howden was drafted by the Cats in 2010. 

Once he develops, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman, hopes he will become a solid two-way center in the NHL. 

The Capitals took Lucas Johansen, from the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. The Rockets assistant coach, Kris Mallette said that Johansen got better as his ice time had increased. He is the brother of Predators defenseman, Ryan Johansen. Ryan was drafted fourth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2010 draft. 

Kelowna has been known to produce some great defensive prospects. Some of the prominent alumni in the NHL include, Shea Weber and Duncan Keith. The Capitals defensive prospect, Madison Bowey also played for the Rockets. 

The record 12^th American player went number 29, to the Bruins. The Bruins who acquired the pick from the San Jose Sharks, chose from the United States Hockey League, Trent Frederic. 

Frederic is strong on the puck and can play in many situations. He has the potential to become a complete player, that could fit nicely on a second or third line. The six foot, two-inch center, is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2016-2017 season. 

The Ducks closed out the opening round with the 30^th pick, that they received from the Pittsburgh Penguins, by way of the Maple Leafs. The final pick of the opening round was from the Regina Pats of the WHL, Sam Steel. 

Steel is a five foot, 11-inch center, with great breakout speed. The scouts were impressed with how his season grew over the year. As he was able to read and react to the situation, he became a great playmaker, setting up his teammates. 

Steel will get some time to develop, but with Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kessler both 31-years of age, the Ducks will eventually need his speed down the middle.