What will happen at the NHL Draft on June 24?
The 2016 NHL Draft is fast approaching, with round one set for Friday, June 24 at First Niagara Center right here in Buffalo, NY.
Each year, it’s an exciting time: trades are made, picks come and go, and in the end, each team walks away with some of the prospects that could hold the team’s future in their hands.
As it stands right now, the Buffalo Sabres hold the eighth-overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft.
The Toronto Maple Leafs – who will no doubt have a solid fanbase in attendance for the draft – will select first-overall, and are likely to pick up American-born Auston Matthews.
Winnipeg and Columbus then round out the top three selections.
But how will the rest of that first round go? Well – here’s my shot at it.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. Edmonton Oilers
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Calgary Flames
7. Arizona Coyotes
8. Buffalo Sabres
9. Montreal Canadiens
10. Colorado Avalanche
11. New Jersey Devils
12. Ottawa Senators
13. Carolina Hurricanes
14. Boston Bruins
15. Minnesota Wild
16. Detroit Red Wings
17. Nashville Predators
18. Philadelphia Flyers
19. New York Islanders
20. Arizona Coyotes
21. Carolina Hurricanes
22. Winnipeg Jets
23. Florida Panthers
24. Anaheim Ducks
25. Dallas Stars
26. Washington Capitals
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
28. St. Louis Blues
29. Boston Bruins
30. Toronto Maple Leafs
Then – after all that’s said and done, the NHL will wrap up day one of the 2016 NHL Draft… and get ready for day two.
Next: NHL Draft Options: Nylander
How will the real picks compare to these? Who would you pick?