NHL Mock Draft 2016: Early First-Round Predictions Amid Conference Finals

Conference finals action in the Stanley Cup playoffs is heating up, but the other 26 teams already have turned their full attention to next month’s 2016 NHL Draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery earlier this month, and they are expected to take top-rated prospect Auston Matthews with the No. 1 pick. The two ultra-talented Finnish wingers, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi, should be the next two picks to round out the top three.

After that, it’ll depend on individual team need and whether teams show a willingness to swing trades and move up or down. The Edmonton Oilers appear willing to trade the No. 4 pick in the right deal.

Check out our first 2016 NHL mock draft below.

1) Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, C ZSC Lions (SWI)
2) Winnipeg Jets: Patrik Laine, RW Tappara (FIN)
3) Columbus Blue Jackets: Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (FIN)
4) Edmonton Oilers: Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London (OHL)
5) Vancouver Canucks: Alexander Nylander, RW/LW Mississauga (OHL)
6) Calgary Flames: Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
7) Arizona Coyotes: Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia (OHL)
8) Buffalo Sabres: Olli Juolevi, D, London (OHL)
9) Montreal Canadiens: Mikhail Sergachyov, D, Windsor (OHL)
10) Colorado Avalanche: Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton (BCHL)
11) New Jersey Devils: Tyson Jost, C/RW, Penticton (BCHL)
12) Ottawa Senators: Clayton Keller, LW, US-NTDP
13) Carolina Hurricanes: Michael McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)
14) Boston Bruins: Jake Bean, D, Calgary (WHL)
15) Minnesota Wild: Kieffer Bellows, C/LW, US-NTDP
16) Detroit Red Wings: Logan Brown, C/LW, Windsor (OHL)
17) Nashville Predators: Max Jones, LW, London (OHL)
18) Philadelphia Flyers: Luke Kunin, C/RW, Wisconsin (NCAA)
19) New York Islanders: Julien Gauthier, RW, Val-D’Or (QMJHL)
20) Arizona Coyotes (via NY Rangers): Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University (NCAA)
21) Carolina Hurricanes (via L.A. Kings): German Rubtsov, C, Russia U-18
22) Winnipeg Jets (via Chicago Blackhawks): Riley Tufte, LW, Fargo, (USHL)
23) Florida Panthers: Rasmus Asplund, C, Farjestad (SWE)
24) Anaheim Ducks: Kale Clague, D, Brandon (WHL)
25) Dallas Stars: Samuel Girard, D, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
26) Washington Capitals: Logan Stanley, D, Windsor (OHL)
27) Conference finals runner-up
28) Conference finals runner-up
29) Stanley Cup runner-up
30) Stanley Cup champion

Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images