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NHL Entry Draft

2017 Draft Pick Movement

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Now that the 2016 NHL Draft is in the books, we look to 2017 and document the current status of traded draft picks for the upcoming draft.

Round 1

(none)

Round 2

  • New Jersey acquired Boston’s 2nd in a trade for Lee Stempniak on February 29, 2016;
  • Vancouver acquired Columbus’s 2nd in either 2016, 2017, or 2018 as compensation for Columbus hiring Coach John Tortorella on October 21, 2015;
  • Boston acquired Edmonton’s 2nd as compensation for Edmonton hiring GM Peter Chiarelli on April 24, 2015;
  • Buffalo acquired Minnesota’s 2nd in a trade for Chris Stewart on March 2, 2015;
  • Carolina acquired NY Rangers’ 2nd in a trade for Eric Staal on February 28, 2016;
  • Toronto acquired Ottawa’s 2nd in a trade involving Dion Phaneuf on February 9, 2016;
  • Toronto acquired San Jose’s 2nd in a trade involving Raffi Torres and Roman Polak on February 22, 2016;
  • Anaheim acquired Toronto’s 2nd in a trade for Frederik Andersen on June 20, 2016;
  • Montreal acquired Washington’s 2nd in a trade for Lars Eller on June 24, 2016.

Round 3

  • Philadelphia acquired Boston’s 3rd in a trade for Zac Rinaldo on June 30, 2015;
  • Chicago acquired its 3rd back from Carolina’s in a trade for Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen on June 15, 2016. Carolina initially acquired the pick on September 11, 2015 in a trade for Kris Versteeg;
  • New Jersey acquired Colorado’s 3rd in a trade for Eric Gelinas on February 29, 2016;
  • Arizona acquired Detroit’s 3rd via San Jose in a trade for Maxim Letunov on June 20, 2016;
  • Carolina acquired the conditional rights to New Jersey’s 3rd in a trade for Tuomo Ruutu on March 5, 2014;
  • Detroit acquired Toronto’s 3rd as compensation for Toronto hiring coach Mike Babcock on May 20, 2015;
  • Buffalo acquired Washington’s 3rd in a trade for Mike Weber on February 23, 2016.

Round 4

  • NY Rangers acquired Florida’s 4th in a trade for Keith Yandle on June 20, 2016 once Yandle signed with Florida;
  • Philadelphia acquired NY Islanders’ 4th in a draft day trade for Philadelphia’s 2016 4th;
  • Colorado acquired NY Rangers’ 4th in a trade for Nick Holden on June 25, 2016;
  • Edmonton acquired conditional rights to Vancouver’s 4th in a trade for Philip Larsen on February 24, 2016. The pick becomes a 5th if Larsen does not hit specified production thresholds.

Round 5

  • Carolina acquired Boston’s 5th in a trade for John-Michael Liles on February 29, 2016;
  • Chicago acquired Carolina’s 5th in a trade for Kris Versteeg on September 11, 2015;
  • Chicago acquired St. Louis’s 5th in a draft day trade for Chicago’s 2016 5th.

Round 6

  • Florida acquires Anaheim’s 6th in a trade involving Colby Robak on December 4, 2014. The pick would have been a 2016 4th if Robak played more games for the Ducks;
  • San Jose acquires Arizona’s 6th in a trade for Maxim Letunov on June 20, 2016;
  • Detroit acquired Florida’s 6th in a trade for Jakub Kindl on February 27, 2016;
  • Chicago acquired NY Islanders’ 6th in a draft day trade involving both teams’ 2016 4th rounders;
  • Nashville acquired NY Rangers’ 6th in a trade for Magnus Hellberg on July 1, 2015;
  • NY  Rangers acquired Vancouver’s 6th in a trade for Emerson Etem on January 8, 2016.

Round 7

  • Chicago acquired Anaheim’s 7th in a trade for Corey Tropp on February 29, 2016;
  • Pittsburgh conditionally acquired Arizona’s 7th in a trade for Sergei Plotnikov on February 29, 2016. Plotnikov must re-sign with Arizona for Pittsburgh to get the pick;
  • San Jose acquired Chicago’s 7th in a trade on March 2, 2015. The pick was conditioned on Chicago winning the Stanley Cup in 2014-15;
  • Boston acquired Florida’s 7th in a draft day trade for Boston’s 2016 7th;
  • Winnipeg acquired Montreal’s 7th in a draft day trade for Winnipeg’s 2016 7th.

2016 Entry Draft Results By Team

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Saturday concluded the 2016 draft with rounds 2-7, and for many young players it meant an end to the constant wondering of who would be their first NHL organization. We followed the round-by-round results and now will now break it down by team. The results of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft are:

Anaheim Ducks:

#24 – LW Max Jones (London, OHL)
#30 – C Sam Steel (Regina, WHL)
#85 – D Joshua Mahura (Red Deer, WHL)
#93 – LW Jack Kopacka (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
#115 – C Alex Dostie (Gatineau, QMJHL)
#205 – C Tyler Soy (Victoria, WHL)

Arizona Coyotes:

#7 – C Clayton Keller (USA U-18)
#16 – D Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia, OHL)
#68 – D Cam Dineen (North Bay, OHL)
#158 – D Patrick Kudla (Oakville, OJHL)
#188 – D Dean Stewart (Portage, MJHL)

Boston Bruins:

#14 – D Charles McAvoy (Boston University)
#29 – C Trent Frederic (USA U-18)
#49 – D Ryan Lindgren (USA U-18)
#135 – LW Joona Koppanen (Ilves, Finnish Jr. League)
#136 – D Cameron Clarke (Lone Star, NAHL)
#165 – C Oskar Steen (Farjestad, Swedish Jr. League)

Read more

Toronto Selects Auston Matthews With #1 Overall Pick

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Out of the Arizona desert, Toronto may have found its hockey savior.

The Maple Leafs selected Arizona native Auston Matthews with the first overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft. Matthews joins a team undergoing a major rebuilding process. But it’s an organization that has a vision that now includes the young American. The center spent last season with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss NLA, netting 46 points (24-22) in 36 games.

Matthews also saw success internationally in both the World Junior Championships last December and then again in the World Championships in May. Matthews helped the American squad walk away with a bronze medal at the World Juniors. PHR took a look at Matthews earlier in the week.

While the buzz isn’t as deafening as last year’s #1 pick Connor McDavid, Matthews has been compared to Chicago Blackhawks captain and franchise player Jonathan Toews. Lauded for his strong two-way game and calm demeanor, Matthews is also a story because he is from Arizona.  Sarah McLellan wrote extensively about Matthews’ journey to the draft and growing up in the southwest as a budding hockey superstar–where the game hasn’t always seen great success.

Regardless, the addition of Matthews definitely helps the Maple Leafs arduous rebuilding process. Still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967, Toronto may have taken a giant step forward with Matthews now in the fold.

Top Draft Prospects: Alexander Nylander

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The NHL draft is almost upon us with the first round set to get underway at 6pm tonight.  Our look at the top prospects continues with Mississauga winger Alex Nylander.

Bio

Position: Right Wing/Left Wing
Birthdate: March 2, 1998
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Height: 6’0.5”
Weight: 178 lbs

2015-16

Nylander, the brother of Toronto prospect William Nylander, made his North American debut last season with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads.  He spent a big chunk of the year as part of an all-draft eligible trio alongside Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian.  He led the Steelheads in all offensive categories and then found another gear to his game in a first round exit to the Barrie Colts, scoring six goals and six assists in just six games.

He also suited up in the World Juniors and World Under 18’s for Sweden (while he was born in Canada, he plays internationally for the Swedes where his father is from).  He led the team in scoring in both tournaments.

Nylander picked up several awards with Mississauga.  Not only was he the OHL’s Rookie of the Year, he was also named the CHL’s Top Rookie (the CHL is comprised of the three major junior leagues, the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL).  He was also named to the OHL’s All-Rookie Team and third All-Star Team.

Statistics

OHL: 57 GP, 28 goals, 47 assists, 75 points, 18 PIMS, +8 rating
WJC’s: 7 GP, 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points, 0 PIMS, +5 rating
U-18’s: 7 GP, 3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points, 0 PIMS, +5 rating

Scouting Report

Nylander is one of the more pure skilled players in this draft class, at least at the offensive end.  He is a high end playmaker and is extremely dangerous when the puck is on his stick.  On top of that, his shot is a significant weapon, making him a true dual threat in the attacking end.

Nylander’s skating is a strong asset, one that makes him that much more dangerous in the offensive zone.  He also uses that to his advantage when back checking in transition in terms of knocking the puck away from opponents.

In his own zone is where Nylander struggles.  He’s not the most willing to go battle for the puck and when he does, his lack of strength can be an issue at times.  He showed improvement throughout the year but in terms of making the right reads defensively but considerable work still needs to be done in that regard.

Projected Future Role

Top line winger.

NHL Timeline

Offensively, he’s close to being NHL ready.  However, he still needs to build some strength while his defensive play isn’t good enough for the pros.  He’s at least two years away and could be three or four depending on how quickly or slowly he improves in his own end.

Previous Profiles

Auston Matthews
Patrik Laine
Jesse Puljujarvi
Matthew Tkachuk
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Mikhail Sergachev
Olli Juolevi

Top Draft Prospects: Olli Juolevi

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The NHL draft is now less than 24 hours away with the first round set for Friday night.  Our look at the top prospects continues with London defenceman Olli Juolevi.

Bio

Position: Defense
Birthdate: May 5, 1998
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 182 lbs

2015-16

Juolevi completed his first year in North America this past season after the Knights selected him in the first round of the CHL Import Draft.  He made an immediate impact and it wasn’t long before he became their go-to player in all situations.  He wound up leading all London blueliners in points, finishing tied for 13th overall among all OHL defenders.

Like several top prospects in this class, Juolevi suited up at the World Juniors for his native Finland, tying for the tournament lead in points by a defenseman while playing as their #1 rearguard.  He was also named to the tournament All-Star team.

As a result of the Knights winning the OHL title, Juolevi also suited up in the Memorial Cup where his team took home the title.  Similar to the WJC’s, he also led all defensemen in scoring in that tournament as well while being named to that tournament All-Star  team.

Statistics

OHL: 57 GP, 9 goals, 33 assists, 42 points, 16 PIMS, +38 rating
WJC: 7 GP, 0 goals, 9 assists, 9 points, 4 PIMS, +6 rating
Memorial Cup: 4 GP, 0 goals, 7 assists, 7 points, 4 PIMS, +6 rating

Scouting Report

There’s a strong case to be made that Juolevi is the most well-rounded blueliner in the draft.  He’s not elite at any particular skill but there are next to no holes in his game either.

Offensively, he is a playmaker first and foremost.  He sees the ice extremely well and does a fine job at getting the puck to the right place at the right time.  His shot isn’t the most powerful but is effective due to its accuracy.  Juolevi is also a very strong skater and uses that to help kick start a rush or to skate himself out of trouble effectively.

On the defensive side of things, Juolevi made big strides compared to the beginning of the season but his decision making and positioning are areas that still need to improve.  He also isn’t the strongest of players which doesn’t help in his own zone.  He isn’t a big risk taker which helps mitigates some of his weaknesses but safe and smart decision making is something that’s always an asset to NHL GM’s.

Projected Future Role

If his defensive game improves as expected, Juolevi should be a top pairing defenseman down the road.

NHL Timeline

Some of the players in this draft are NHL ready or close to it but Juolevi isn’t one of those players.  He needs to bulk up and continue to hone his in-zone play.  He’s likely at least two years away from stepping in; three would seem most likely as not many blueliners step into an NHL lineup straight out of junior.

Previous Profiles

Auston Matthews
Patrik Laine
Jesse Puljujarvi
Matthew Tkachuk
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Mikhail Sergachev

Top Draft Prospects: Mikhail Sergachev

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With the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft just two days away, we look at the top prospects available Friday night.  Previously we took a look at Auston Matthews,Patrik Laine, Jesse Puljujarvi, Matthew Tkachuk and Pierre-Luc Dubois; next we’ll examine our first defenceman, Mikhail Sergachev.

Bio

Position: Defence
Birthdate: June 25, 1998
Hometown: Nizhnekamsk, Russia
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 220 lbs

2015-16

After coming over from his native Russia to play in the OHL, Sergachev actually struggled in the first half, having trouble adjusting to his new surroundings. When he found that comfort level however, his play took off. Racking up 57 points in 67 games, Sergachev won the OHL’s award for top defenceman, only the second rookie in league history to do so (Bryan Berard in 1995).

The Spitfires ran into a strong Kitchener Rangers team in the playoffs and went down in five games, while Sergachev tallied five points. He was held scoreless in the Under-18s, as Russia went down to the eventual champion Finnish team in the first elimination round.

Statistics

Windsor Spitfires: 67 GP, 17 goals, 40 assists, 57 points, 56 PIM, +15 rating
OHL Playoffs: 5 GP, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, 8 PIM, -4 rating
U-18 WJC: 5 GP, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 8 PIM, 0 rating

Scouting Report

A beautiful skater, Sergachev glides around the ice with ease and transitions well from the offensive and defensive zones. He doesn’t get rattled with the puck on his stick in his own end, calmly moving it out of the zone and avoiding danger. With a well developed body, he uses it to it’s full advantage leveraging players off the puck or pinning them against the boards.

While his even-strength game is effective, it’s his point play when a man up that leaves scouts drooling. Sergachev is the prototypical quarterback, with slick passing skills and a booming slapshot from the blue line. He seems unbelievably calm out there despite his young age.

Sergachev normally looks like one of the best players on the ice, however some scouts have found that every now and again he seems a bit disinterested in the game and has been known to take a shift off.  Now, this might be a problem going forward or it might just be that the OHL level isn’t providing a big enough challenge for him currently. If he’s to unlock what seems like endless potential in both ends of the ice, he has to improve his consistency and continue to play with his physical edge. As players get bigger, better and more experienced, he won’t be able to coast on his natural talent.

Projected Future Role

Top-pairing defenceman/Powerplay threat.

NHL Timeline

Sergachev is another young draftee, not turning 18 until Saturday, and isn’t eligible for the AHL next season (or the one after that). With the choice of the NHL or OHL, he’ll probably be headed back to the Spitfires next year, however there is a possibility with the right team and a strong summer he could break camp as an 18-year old rookie in 2016-17.  Some clubs may fear he’ll take a step back even in just his second OHL season, if they believe he was already throwing away shifts because of disinterest this year.

Top Draft Prospects: Pierre-Luc Dubois

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With the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft just two days away, we look at the top prospects available Friday night.  Previously we took a look at Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Jesse Puljujarvi and Matthew Tkachuk; today we’ll look a little closer at Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Bio

Position: Center
Birthdate: June 24, 1998
Hometown: Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 205 lbs

2015-16

After scoring 45 points in 56 games as a 16-year old in his first season in the QMJHL, Dubois turned up the offense this year as he continued to grow into his large frame.  His 99 points in 2015-16 placed him third in the league, trailing only 20-year old over-agers in Conor Garland and Francis Perron (128 and 108 points respectively) and easily topped Red Wings’ first-round pick Evgeny Svechnikov and the rest of the Screaming Eagles.

The Eagles would go down in the second round of the playoffs, but it wasn’t because of Dubois, as the big center put up 12 points in 12 games despite being suspended for the first round opener after a illegal check late in the season.

Dubois didn’t see any international competition this season, as he was cut from World Junior Championship roster along with fellow top prospect Jakob Chychrun.  Perhaps he used it as motivation for the massive season he put up thereafter.

Statistics

Cape Breton: 62 GP, 42 goals, 57 assists, 99 points, 112 PIM, +40 rating
Playoffs: 12 GP, 7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points, 14 PIM, +3 rating

Scouting Report

Seen by many as the second best center available this year (behind Matthews), Dubois provides an excellent power option down the middle. With a combination of strength and skill, he’s an exceptional scoring threat with the puck on his stick as he heads into the zone, or along the boards down low. While his shot isn’t as highly regarded as Laine’s, he gets it off very quickly and with a lot of accuracy, especially in tight.

His skating, while not as developed as Matthews’, is actually a strength as he uses his long stride and powerful lower half to move quickly around the ice. He often catches defenders off-guard with his top gear, despite lacking an elite first few steps.

In the defensive end, Dubois isn’t afraid to use his size to remove attackers from the puck, laying thunderous checks that sometimes toe the line of legality. After the whistle, he’s often involved in scrums because of his style of play, though he has recognized his value to the team and learned to keep his cool. A smart player, he’s usually in a good position defensively, and should be able to handle that part of the game at the next level.

While his offense is driven by a power game similar to Stars’ forward Jamie Benn (who, incidentally, he models his play after), he lacks elite-level creativity and may be limited by it at the NHL level. If he can continue to grow into his frame, and improve his acceleration and defensive game he may eventually become a number 1 center in the NHL, but there is some doubt he’ll stay in the middle long-term. At the very worst, he becomes a big winger with some finishing ability and a lot of nastiness.

Projected Future Role

Top-six power center/front line power winger.

NHL Timeline

Dubois isn’t set to turn 18 until the day of the draft, and because of it isn’t eligible for the AHL until 2018-19. Even with his advanced size and strength, he’s almost a lock to head back to the Screaming Eagles for at least one more season. Look for him to challenge for the CHL scoring title before entering the NHL as a 19-year old in 2017-18.

 

Top Draft Prospects: Matthew Tkachuk

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The NHL draft is now less than a week away with the first round set for this Friday.  Over the next several days, we will be taking a closer look at the prospects who will hear their name called early on Friday night.

Next up is Matthew Tkachuk, the son of ex-NHL’er Keith Tkachuk.

Bio

Position: Left Wing
Birthdate: December 11, 1997
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs

2015-16

Tkachuk’s debut season in major junior was nothing short of great.  He was part of the OHL champion London Knights and skated on their top line with Toronto prospect Mitch Marner and Arizona prospect Christian Dvorak.  Tkachuk tied for the second most assists in the league and finished fifth overall in points, the best among any draft eligible prospect.  He also finished second in postseason scoring, collecting an impressive 40 points (20 goals and 20 assists) in just 18 games.

He also suited up for Team USA at the World Junior Championships, finishing tied for the team lead in scoring with projected first overall pick Auston Matthews.  As the Knights won the OHL title, Tkachuk was also able to suit up in the Memorial Cup, scoring the tournament winning goal in overtime against Rouyn-Noranda.

Statistics

London: 57 GP, 30 goals, 77 assists, 107 points, 80 PIMS, +45 rating
WJC’s: 7 GP, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points, 6 PIMS, +7 rating
Memorial Cup: 4 GP, 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points, 4 PIMS, +8 rating

Scouting Report

Tkachuk is a very well-rounded offensive winger.  He’s an elite passer who sees the ice extremely well while his shot, though not used as often in London, is also above average.  Skating is an area that needs improvement – it’s not a weakness but he’s not as strong a skater as some of the other top prospects in this draft class.  He’s also highly above average at protecting the puck and is quite effective at working the cycle game.

On the defensive side, he’s a work in progress.  He’s capable of making the right reads but his commitment to doing so tends to waver.  Part of that is a by-product on being part of an elite offensive team that could score their way out of trouble so that’s something he should improve on over time.  Physically, he’s strong enough to cover bigger forwards down low and along the boards in his own zone and can use his strength to create turnovers.

One of Tkachuk’s biggest strengths is his willingness and ability to get to the high traffic areas.  He has no problems taking a hit to make a play or deflect a shot and is strong enough to withstand the physical pounding for doing so.  He sometimes gets a little too involved in the rough stuff which is something he’ll need to improve on over time as well.

Projected Future Role

Front line power winger.

NHL Timeline

Physically, Tkachuk is ready to step into an NHL lineup right away.  However, his skating and defensive zone play needs to be improved before he can really become a top player at the pro level.  It’s feasible to think he’ll spend most of this season at the junior level before making a run at a full-time roster spot in 2017-18.

Previous Profiles

Auston Matthews
Patrik Laine
Jesse Puljujarvi

Top Draft Prospects: Patrik Laine

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The NHL draft is now less than a week away with the first round set for this Friday.  Over the next several days, we will be taking a closer look at the prospects who will hear their name called early on Friday night.

Next up is potentially the top goal scoring threat in the draft, Patrik Laine.

Bio

Position: Right Wing
Birthdate: April 19, 1998
Hometown: Tampere, Finland
Height: 6’3.75”
Weight: 201 lbs

2015-16

Laine was one of the go-to scorers on a deep Tappara team during the regular season (17 goals in 46 games); his 33 points was good for 37th overall in league scoring – no small feat for a 17 year old.  He then found another gear in the postseason, adding ten more goals in 15 games to lead all postseason players in scoring, earning himself MVP honors in the process.

Laine suited up at the World Juniors where he finished third in tournament scoring (behind teammates Jesse Puljujarvi and Sebastian Aho), notching 13 points in just seven games.  On top of that, he also represented Finland at the World Championships where he led the team in scoring (12 points in 10 games) and made it to the tournament All-Star team.

Statistics

Tappara: 46 GP, 17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points, 6 PIMS, +6 rating
WJC’s: 7 GP, 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points, 6 PIMS, +8 rating
Worlds: 10 GP, 7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points, 4 PIMS, 4 rating

Scouting Report

Laine is the best pure goal scorer in the draft.  He has a bullet for a slap shot, a lethal one-timer, and a quick, accurate wrister.  That type of shooting versatility will give NHL goalies fits for a long time.  On top of that, he’s a quality skater whose stride when in motion allows him to beat his defenders to the wide side.  His first stride needs some work but improved during the season.

Overall offensively, Laine is more of a scorer than a playmaker but he’s comfortable with the puck on his stick and has a good feel for passing.  He has a tendency to get a little too cute in terms of his stickhandling and will slow down his stride to do so but those are correctable as he continues to develop.

Defensively, Laine isn’t a liability as he’s comfortable battling around the boards, knows how to play the passing lanes, and will lay out to block shots.  He improved considerably in his own end this past year and should continue to improve as he gets more comfortable with the physical side of the game as he learns to deal with bigger, stronger opponents.

Projected Future Role

Top line scoring winger.

NHL Timeline

Laine is capable of stepping into an NHL lineup as soon as next season and should play in a top six role right away.  He should contend for the league lead in rookie scoring in 2016-17.

Top Draft Prospects: Auston Matthews

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The NHL draft is now less than a week away with the first round set for this Friday.  Over the next several days, we will be taking a closer look at the prospects who will hear their name called early on Friday night.

We start with the consensus #1 pick, Auston Matthews.

Bio

Position: Center
Birthdate: September 17, 1997
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Height: 6’2.25”
Weight: 216 lbs

2015-16

Matthews shocked the hockey world by opting to spurn offers from both the junior and collegiate levels, deciding to turn pro and sign with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss NLA instead.  It’s hard to argue he made the wrong decision as he finished in the top-10 in league scoring (and second in team scoring) despite missing time due to injury.

He was also busy internationally, representing the US in a pair of tournaments.  Matthews was an alternate captain at the World Junior Championships and tied for the team lead in scoring while being named to the tournament All-Star Team.  He also suited up at the World Championships last month where he once again tied for the team lead in points.

Statistics

Zurich: 36 GP, 24 goals, 22 assists, 46 points, 6 PIMS, +16 rating
WJC’s: 7 GP, 7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points, 2 PIMS, +6 rating
Worlds: 10 GP, 6 goals, 3 assists, 9 points, 2 PIMS, even rating

Scouting Report

Very few players are the ‘complete package’ coming into the draft but Matthews is one of those exceptions, especially after really improving his defensive game playing under Marc Crawford (now the Associate Coach with Ottawa) with Zurich.  He has the speed to outrace his opponents plus the size and strength to muscle himself away in tight corners.

Offensively, Matthews can do it all.  He’s a gifted passer and sees the ice well, he can play well in transition or cycling along the boards, and he has an elite, powerful shot that he needs very little time to get off.  One area that he will need to improve on is a tendency to be too creative.  That’s not unique to high-level teenage talents though and is something that will be refined and improved on in the NHL.

In his own end, Matthews doesn’t cheat and look to fly the zone early; instead, he’s one of the first ones back and doesn’t leave until his team is in possession of the puck.  He also has made strides defending one-on-one and is now more than capable of handling himself against most opposing forwards.  He may struggle a bit early on against some of the bigger power forwards in the NHL but that shouldn’t hinder him for too long.

Projected Future Role

Franchise center capable of playing in any situation.

NHL Timeline

Not many players from this draft will make the jump to the NHL right away but Matthews will be one who steps in and makes an impact right away.  He may not start out as a #1 center day one (starting on the second line seems more likely as he’s eased into playing at a new level) but it shouldn’t be long before he ascends into that role.  He’ll be heard from quickly in the NHL.

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