While the 16 qualified teams gear up for the NHL playoffs, the other 14 have begun to focus on the upcoming draft, licking their chops at an enhanced chance for a lottery pick thanks to the new field-friendly system.
Auston Matthews, who has been the consensus No. 1 pick since Connor McDavid was selected first overall in last years draft, remains atop NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, leading an impressive group of European skaters.
Finnish phenoms Patrick Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, on the European list, while Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights lead the North American skaters.
Projected top five picks
| Rank | Player | Position | Height | Weight | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auston Matthews | C | 6-1.5 | 210 | Swiss |
| 2 | Patrick Laine | RW | 6-4 | 206 | Finland |
| 3 | Jesse Puljujarvi | RW | 6-3.5 | 203 | Finland |
| 4 | Pierre-Luc Dubois | LW | 6-3 | 201 | QMJHL |
| 5 | Matthew Tkachuk | LW | 6-0 | 194 | OHL |
"Auston Matthews is an extraordinary prospect with NHL size, speed, and smarts combined with an exceptional work ethic and a relentless compete
level,” said Dan Marr, director of Central Scouting. "The other players in
the mix for the top five selections have all improved their stock, but
Matthews is our clear choice as the top prospect available for the 2016 NHL
Draft."
Matthews has had a tremendous draft year, scoring 46 points in 36 games for the Zurich Lions, and representing Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championship with 11 points in seven contests.
Laine switched spots with fellow Finn Puljujarvi from the midseason rankings. Both won gold at the World Juniors but Laine's scoring prowess pushed him slightly above his countryman.
Dubois was ranked seventh among North American skaters in the midseason rankings, but 99 points in 62 games propelled him to the top of the list, supplanting Tkachuk.
Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting and Olli Juolevi of the Knights are the top defensemen in the North American rankings, and could prove to be valuable picks for teams seeking a defender early in the first round.
The draft lottery takes place April 30, with the Toronto Maple Leafs holding the best odds (20 percent) for the No. 1 pick. The draft goes June 24-25 in Buffalo, N.Y.
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