NHL Draft Combine 2016: Dates, Schedule, Format and Top Prospects

As the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins prepare to battle for the Stanley Cup in the league's showcase event, the best young players are getting ready for the 2016 NHL draft.

In order to help the 30 NHL teams get a better handle on the top prospects' talents, abilities, mental makeup, health and potential for the future, they will get poked, prodded and tested at the NHL combine. That event will take place at First Niagara Center and the HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York, from Monday through Saturday.

Where: First Niagara Center and HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York

When: May 30-June 4

NHL Combine Schedule and Format

Date	Event	Venue
May 30	One-on-one interviews	First Niagara Center
May 31	One-on-one interviews	First Niagara Center
June 1	One-on-one interviews	First Niagara Center
June 2	One-on-one interviews and medical testing	First Niagara Center
June 3	One-on-one interviews	First Niagara Center
June 4	Fitness Testing	HarborCenter

Top Prospects to Watch

While this year's draft class does not have the hype or luster of last year's when Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel were the headliners, this year's group has excellent depth as well as fine talent at the top.

The American Auston Matthews is at the top of the draft list and will almost certainly go first. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native scored 46 points this year playing in Switzerland's National League A and was recognized as that league's Rising Star, and he finished second in MVP voting, according to Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com.

Matthews, a 6'2", 198-pound forward, is not gifted with the spectacular physical talent of players such as Sidney Crosby or McDavid, but he has many of the same qualities of Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. 

Bill Placzek of DraftSite.com wrote that Matthews is at his best when he uses his size and strength to protect the puck and make plays.

“Matthews plays a great two-way game with some very exciting offensive characteristics,” wrote scout Matt Grainda of International Scouting Services, per DraftSite.com. “He has the confidence, poise and toughness to try just about anything. He controls the play each time he’s on the ice and possesses fantastic skill moves that help him create separation in one-on-one situations."

Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi are the likely next two picks in the draft. Both are big Finnish forwards who helped their country win the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2016.

Puljujarvi scored 17 points as he dominated that tournament—the most of any player since Jaromir Jagr scored 18 points in the 1990 World Junior Championship.

Laine is a strapping 6'4", 210-pounder who can play on either wing. In addition to his size and strength, he excels at controlling the puck and dictating the pace of play. Players of his size who can control the puck are rare, and that's what makes him such a valuable prospect.

Left wing Matthew Tkachuk of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights is a 5'11", 188-pounder who brings energy, power and a heavy shot. While he is not huge, he is a willing combatant who will go into the corner play after play and exhibit the effort it takes to come out with the puck. He has excellent lead-by-example skills, and Placzek described him as a player who can't be matched in intensity.

Center Pierre-Luc Dubois of Cape Breton in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is a 6'3", 202-pounder who moved to his current position prior to this season after looking like a surefire first-round draft pick at wing.

Dubois is a creative player who has taken advantage of his new position to show off his ability to set up his teammates and create scoring opportunities. His greatest strengths are his vision and hands. He's somewhat of a long strider and needs to improve his skating ability.

Left wing Alexander Nylander of Sweden is familiar to hockey fans because his father Michael played for the Washington Capitals and six other NHL teams, and his brother William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nylander is a smaller player at 5'10" and 160 pounds, and while he has excellent skills, his skating ability was not impressive prior to this season. However, he showed significant improvement in that area and is one of the most unselfish players and top passers in the draft.