I figured that I’d better get this out before more trades get made and the 1st rounders start getting bandied about. I did a mock up of all nine of the Oilers picks here if you’re interested.

So here is my mock draft of the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. It’s a quick one because the profiles have been written and re-written over and over again. If you’re curious about a player’s profile I suggest you head over to The Hockey Writers or Steve Kournianos’ website. Lowetide also does a very nice job cleaning up all the noise in his posts on the draft.

1. Tor – Auston Matthews (C) Zurich Lions – 6’2″ 216lbs
2. Wpg – Patrik Laine (LW) Tappara – 6’4″ 201lbs
3. Clb – Matthew Tkachuk (LW) London Knights – 6’2″ 188lbs
4. Edm – Jesse Puljujarvi (RW) Karpat – 6’3″ 196lbs
5. Van – Pierre-Luc Dubois (C) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles – 6’2″ 200lbs
6. Cgy – Logan Brown (C) Windsor Spitfires – 6’6″ 220lbs
7. Ari – Olli Juolevi (D) London Knights – 6’2″ 185lbs
8. Buf – Jacob Chychrun (D) Sarnia Sting – 6’2″ 194lbs
9. Mtl – Mikhail Sergachev (D) Windsor Spitfires – 6’2″ 221lbs
10. Col – Clayton Keller (C) USNTDP – 5’10” 190lbs
11. NJ – Alex Nylander (LW) Mississauga Steelheads – 6’1″ 178lbs
12. Ott – Tyson Jost (C) Penticton Vees – 6’0″ 190lbs
13. Car – Mike McLeod (C) Mississauga Steelheads – 6’2″ 185lbs
14. Bos – Charlie McAvoy (D) Boston University – 6’0″ 198lbs
15. Min – Kieffer Bellows (LW) USNTDP – 6’0″ 185lbs
16. Det – German Rubtsov (C) Vityaz Podolsk – 6’1″ 190lbs
17. Nsh – Dante Fabbro (D) Penticton Vees – 6’0″ 172lbs
18. Phi – Max Jones (LW) London Knights – 6’3″ 205lbs
19. NYI – Jake Bean (D) Calgary Hitmen – 6’1″ 170lbs
20. Ari – Luke Kunin (C/LW) Univ. of Wisconsin – 6’0″ 173lbs
21. Car – Julien Gauthier (RW) Val d’Or Foreurs – 6’4″ 225lbs
22. Wpg – Riley Tufte (LW) Fargo – 6’5″ 210lbs
23. Fla – Alex Debrincat (RW) Erie Otters – 5’7″ 165lbs
24. Anh – Rasmus Asplund (C) Farjestad BK – 5’11” 176lbs
25. Dal – Tage Thompson (RW) Univ. of Connecticut – 6’5″ 185lbs
26. Was – Pascal Laberge (C) Victoriaville Tigres – 6’1″ 175lbs
27. TB – Adam Mascherin (C) Kitchener Rangers – 5’9″ 192lbs
28. Stl – Tyler Benson (LW) Vancouver Giants – 6’0″ 185lbs
29. Bos – Logan Stanley (D) Windsor Spitfires – 6’7″ 225lbs
30. Tor – Will Bitten (C) Flint Firebirds – 5’`0″ 170lbs
    

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    Bonus:

31. Tor – Carter Hart (G) Everett Silvertips – 6’0″ 165lbs
32. Edm – Nathan Bastian (C) Mississauga Steelheads – 6’4″ 194lbs

You have no idea how hard these mock drafts get as the picks go on.

For the most part I took a look at each team’s prospect cupboards over at Hockey’s Future and took into account what they needed. It’s not brain surgery. If a team has the option of choosing for need, then fill a hole. If they can afford to take the best player available, voila! Take said BPA.

Feel free to comment on my picks in the comments below!