The 1st round of The Next Ones NHL Mock Draft May The Force Be With You Edition is already in the books.
Round 2 – The Picks
Picks are listed in order as per Pro Sports Transactions.
[2016 NHL Draft Guide: The Next Ones]
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Kale Clague, D, Brandon (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Clague smart, smooth skating two-way defender and his stock is arising. He is positionally sound with tremendous offensive upside.
- Edmonton Oilers: Logan Stanley, D, Windsor, OHL
Prospect Profiler Notes: Intriguing 6’7″ d-man has tremendous wingspan, skates well for size, with decent shot
[Bruins to receive 2015-17 second round pick (Oilers option) from Oilers on 2015-04-24 as compensation for president of hockey operations / GM Peter Chiarelli.]
- Vancouver Canucks: Tyler Benson, LW, Vancouver (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Has been highly touted since he was a 14-year-old. His game was really seeming to come together after some difficulties with injuries. He had 17 points in his last 13 games to close out 2015 but found himself in the infirmary again all too often in 2016. When healthy, he’s tough on the puck and hard to handle.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: Libor Hajek, D, Saskatoon (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Rock solid, smooth, poised blueliner, effortlessly fends off attackers
[Blue Jackets to send 2016-18 second round pick (Blue Jackets option) to Canucks on 2015-10-21 as compensation for head coach John Tortorella]
- Calgary Flames: Taylor Raddysh, RW, Erie (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Size, shot, and smarts. Power forward especially effective on PP.
- Winnipeg Jets: Carl Grundstrom, LW, MODO (SHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Physical, fast scoring forward
- Arizona Coyotes: Nathan Bastian, RW, Mississauga (OHL)
Stock rising on this banging and crashing big power forward who is smart with the puck.
- Buffalo Sabres: Boris Katchouk, LW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Tenacious, consistent, reliable forward with good speed can pinch in offensively
- Montreal Canadiens: Jonathan Dahlen, C, Timra IK (Allsvenskan)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Ulf’s son is a creative forward with deft hands, agile skating; high compete level
- Colorado Avalanche: Frederic Allard, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Amongst the top scoring d-men in the Q, Allard has been flying under the radar
[Sharks Traded Brad Stuart to Avalanche for 2016 second round pick, 2017 sixth round pick on 2014-07-01. Avalanche traded 2015 second round pick (#31-Jeremy Roy) to Sharks for 2015 second round pick (#39-A.J. Greer), and 2016 second round pick 2017 sixth round pick on 2015-06-27).]
- New Jersey Devils: Sam Steel, C, Regina (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: One of the best names in this draft class, the slick centreman possesses patience and poise with the puck.
- Ottawa Senators: Carter Hart, G, Everett (WHL)
- Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Kyrou, C/RW, Sarnia (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Energetic forward possesses really good puck poise and puck protection skills
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Adam Fox, D, US NTDP U18
Prospect Profiler Notes: Confident, poised right handed PMD; 3rd in team scoring on U.S. National U18 Team
[Lightning traded Brett Connolly to Bruins for 2015 second round pick (#44-Matt Spencer) and 2016 second round pick on 2015-03-01]
- Montreal Canadiens: Markus Niemelainen, D, Saginaw (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Big Finnish intelligent defender is very mobile.
[Sabres Traded Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick to Wild for Torrey Mitchell, 2014 second round pick (#39-Vitek Vanecek), 2016 second round pick on 2014-03-05. Canadiens traded Josh Gorges to Sabres 2016 second round pick on 2014-07-01.]
- Detroit Red Wings: Sean Day, D, Mississauga (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Former exceptional status OHL talent has superior skating ability
- Nashville Predators: Lucas Johansen, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Ryan’s bro is a precision passing, puck-moving D, who is smart in his own zone
- Philadelphia Flyers: Adam Mascherin, LW, Kitchener (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Built like a tank, the creative winger has a deceptive shot and sees the ice well
- Boston Bruins: Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack (BCHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Mobile defenseman finds his stock rising, possessing tremendous upside
[Bruins traded Johnny Boychuk to Islanders for 2015 second round pick (#37-Brandon Carlo) • 2015 conditional third round pick (if Islanders trade Boychuk to another Eastern Conference team during 2014-15 season) (not exercised), 2016 second round pick on 2014-10-04]
- Carolina Hurricanes: Trent Frederic, C, US NTDP U18
Prospect Profiler Notes: Athletic power forward
[Hurricanes traded Eric Staal to Rangers for Aleksi Saarela, 2016 second round pick, 2017 second round pick on 2016-02-28]
- Los Angeles Kings: Noah Gregor, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Intelligent 200-foot player and plays a very up-tempo game
- Philadelphia Flyers: Dillon Dube, C, Kelowna (WHL)
Complete 200 ft player, never gives up; responsible, speedy forward with a deceptive shot.
[Flyers traded Kimmo Timonen to Blackhawks for 2015 second round pick (#61-Jeremy Bracco to Leafs in another deal) and 2016 conditional round pick (second round if Blackhawks advance to 2015 Stanley Cup Finals and Timonen plays in at least 50% of the games, third round if Blackhawks advance to third round of 2015 playoffs and Timonen plays in at least 50% of the games, else fourth round) on 2015-02-27]
- Calgary Flames: Cliff Pu, C/RW, London (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Pu’s stock has been on the rise. On a talented Knights squad, he put up 8 points over his last 8 regular season games. He has also been an important cog in their playoff run with 13 points in 18 games.
“He seems to find a way to be in the right positions when he’s in the offensive end and shows significant progress in developing his hockey I.Q.” – Andrew Forbes (THW)
[Flames traded Jiri Hudler to Panthers for 2016 second round pick and 2018 fourth round pick on 2016-02-27]
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Ryan Lindgren, D, US NTDP U18
Prospect Profiler Notes: “Lindgren is a strong skater and possesses powerful strides which he can use to outskate opponents not only with his decent top speed but also with his powerful skating style. Although he focuses on his own zone game, he does have some offensive upside as well.” – Dennis Schellenberg, THW
- Calgary Flames: Cam Dineen, D, North Bay (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Outstanding skill, good skater, processes game at extraordinary speed
[Flames traded Kris Russell to Stars for Jyrki Jokipakka, Brett Pollock, 2016 conditional round pick (first round if Stars reach 2016 Western Conference Finals and Russell plays at least half the games in rounds 1 and 2, or else second round) on 2016-02-29]
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Dmitry Sokolov, F, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: “Sokolov’s calling card is his offensive abilities, as his powerful stride and impressive offensive instincts show flashes of a potential power forward. He has quick hands and is extremely dangerous below the goal line due to his size and vision, as he can excel dishing the puck to teammates or using his own lethal wrist shot to create scoring chances in the offensive zone.” – Joseph Aleong, THW
[Leafs traded Daniel Winnik and 2016 fifth round pick to Capitals for Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick and 2016 second round pick on 2016-02-28]
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Jacob Moverare, D, HV71 J20 (SuperElit)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Intriguing combination of size, skill and mobility
- San Jose Sharks: Simon Stransky, LW, Prince Albert (WHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Offensive awareness, crafty playmaker, makes teammates better
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Chad Krys, D, USA U-18 (USHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Undersized, puck-moving, two-way defender makes up for size concerns with his high hockey IQ and the way he processes the game.
[Update: This pick traded back to the Penguins in the Phil Kessel deal. Leafs Traded Daniel Winnik to Penguins for Zach Sill, 2015 fourth round pick (#107-Christian Wolanin), 2016 second round pick on 2015-02-25 (conditional if Penguins qualify for 2016 playoffs)]
- St. Louis Blues: Luke Green, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
Prospect Profiler Notes: Sublime skating, offensive creativity, driven to improve 2-way game
[Canucks traded Kevin Bieksa to Ducks for 2016 second round pick on 2015-06-30. Penguins traded Brandon Sutter, 2016 third round pick (more favorable of Canucks, Islanders picks) to Canucks for Nick Bonino, Alex Clendening, and 2016 second round pick on 2015-07-28.]
Back to 1st Round Picks
*2nd Round Traded Draft Pick Notes via ProSportsTransactions
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Email: CRalph@TheHockeyWriters.com
Twitter: @ChrisRalphTHW