FC releases Prelim Ranking for 2016 Draft

Press Release2016 Draft Center, Draft Rankings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALGARY, AB – Auston Matthews of the US National Team Development Program tops Future Considerations’ preliminary ranking for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Matthews, a native of Scottsdale, AZ, recorded 116 points for the NTDP U18 club in 2014-15, breaking a record set by current Chicago Blackhawks standout and former first overall pick Patrick Kane in 2005-06. He also had eight goals and 15 points in seven games at the World Under-18 Championship and two assists and three points in the 2015 World Junior Championship.

Matthews missed the 2015 NHL Draft cutoff by two days and is rumored to join either the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League or the ZSC Lions in Switerzland for the 2015-16 season.

Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting is ranked 2nd. The 17-year-old recorded 16 goals and 33 points in 42 games with the Sting in 2014-15, his first season in the Ontario Hockey League. Chychrun is the son of Jeff Chychrun, who played parts of eight seasons in the National Hockey League, playing 262 career games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers.

Jesse Puljujarvi of Karpat, Matthew Tkachuk of the NTDP U18 team and Max Jones of the NTDP U17 team round out the top five.

“With every current draft crop comes the excitement of what talent the next year will offer,” Future Considerations scouting director Dan Stewart said. “Our scouts have been busy keeping an eye on the 2016 draft eligible kids for the past couple of season and are excited about this group on the horizon. Teams looking to add a well-rounded top-pairing defenseman, a super-skilled offensive-minded point producer or a high-scoring power forward look to be in luck if they are selecting somewhere near the top come next June.”

In all, the preliminary ranking for 2016 features nine players who spent the 2014-15 season in the United States Hockey League, including five with the USNTDP U17 team and an additional three from the U18 entry. Three skaters from each of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League are featured, as well as six from the Western Hockey League. Two, both members of Penticton, skated in the BCHL last year while seven skaters are from Europe.

The list features eight centers, 11 defensemen, six left wingers and five right wingers. No goaltenders made the preliminary ranking for 2016.

2015-Cover---Website660For full profiles on prospects in Future Considerations’ preliminary ranking for the 2016 NHL Draft, as well as 211 prospect profiles from the 2015 NHL Draft class and a glimpse at 2017, order FC’s 2015 NHL Draft Guide.

RankNameTeamLeaguePosHtWtNation
1Auston MatthewsNTDP U18USHLC6-2200USA
2Jakob ChychrunSarniaOHLD6-2200CAN
3Jesse PuljujarviKarpatLiigaRW6-3220FIN
4Matthew TkachukNTDP U18USHLLW6-1190USA
5Max JonesNTDP U17USHLLW6-2200USA
6Chad KrysNTDP U17USHLD5-11185USA
7Tyler BensonVancouverWHLLW6-0200CAN
8Dmitri SokolovOmskie YastrebyMHLC6-0215RUS
9Sam SteelReginaWHLC5-11170CAN
10Sean DayMississaugaOHLD6-2225CAN
11Logan BrownWindsorOHLC6-5215USA
12Tyson JostPentictonBCHLRW6-0185CAN
13Kale ClagueBrandonWHLD6-0190CAN
14Alexander NylanderAIK J20SuperElitRW5-11165SWE
15Patrik LaineTapparaLiigaRW6-3210FIN
16Olli JuoleviJokerit U20JR A LiigaD6-2185FIN
17Kieffer BellowsSioux FallsUSHLC6-0185USA
18Rasmus AsplundFarjestadSHLC6-0180SWE
19Julien GauthierVal-d'OrQMJHLRW6-4220CAN
20Dante FabbroPentictonBCHLD6-1180CAN
21Jake BeanCalgaryWHLD6-0175CAN
22Brett HowdenMoose JawWHLC6-2185CAN
23Clayton KellerNTDP U17USHLC5-10165USA
24Charlie McAvoyNTDP U18USHLD6-0200USA
25Ryan LindgrenNTDP U17USHLD5-11195USA
26Luke GreenSaint JohnQMJHLD6-0180CAN
27Carl GrundstromMODOSHLLW6-0185SWE
28Pierre-Luc DuboisCape BretonQMJHLLW6-1180CAN
29Max LajoieSwift CurrentWHLD6-1170CAN
30Nick PastujovNTDP U17USHLLW6-0195USA