Way-Too-Early Ranking of the Top 10 Prospects in the 2016 NHL Draft

With the Connor McDavid draft wrapped up, it’s never too early to start looking ahead at the latest crop of prospects, including Arizona product Auston Matthews and the rest of the 2016 draft class.

U.S. talent is one of the main themes of the draft. In addition to Matthews, London Knights forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Max Jones as well as U.S. National Team Development Program defender Chad Krys are among the draft’s top prospects.

Sarnia Sting blueliner Jakob Chychrun is technically another American, as he was born in Florida, but has chosen to represent Canada in international tournaments. He was given the choice because his father, former NHLer Jeff Chychrun, is a Canadian and he moved to Canada prior to joining the Sting.

While there may not be a generational talent like McDavid up for grabs next June, there are still high-quality young players who'll hear their name called. 

Read on for our take on the top 10 prospects of the 2016 draft class.

10. Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Cherie Morgan photography

The numbers: Four goals and 33 points 44 games with the Vees.

Scout’s take: TSN’s director of scouting Craig Button believes Fabbro is an all-situations player:

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Great confidence playing and he initiates the play from a defensive aspect and in transition also. Given an opening, he will take it but is very adept at understanding what play is available to him and adjusting accordingly. An all-situations player who wants to make a difference.

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The 6’1”, 185-pound Fabbro is a confident puck-moving defenseman who has the skill and determination to make a major impact at both ends of the ice. He will start the upcoming season with the Vees but assuredly won’t be there in 2016-17. He has the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, who drafted him eighth overall in 2013, and many NCAA organizations trying to recruit him.

9. Sam Steel, C, Regina Pats (WHL)

The numbers: Seventeen goals and 54 points in 61 games with the Pats.

Scout’s take: In Future Considerations’ latest draft guide, it describes Steel as:

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A flashy, creative forward who plays the game with a ton of speed. ... True puck possession forward who makes his teams better with some elite playmaking passes and phenomenal understanding of the game. ... Smarts and hockey IQ is what separates him from most. ... His excellent hands mixed with his phenomenal acceleration and quickness make him effective all three areas.

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Pats general manager/head coach John Paddock has built his team around Steel, the second overall pick of the 2013 WHL bantam draft. He’s depending on the skilled center to lead Regina’s offense for at least the next couple of seasons with his dynamic offensive abilities. It’s a task the Sherwood Park, Alberta, native seems up for following his impressive rookie season this past year.

8. Chad Krys, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Photo by Tom Sorensen

The numbers: Four goals and 26 points in 35 games with the U.S. NTDP.

Scout’s take: SB Nation’s Chris Dilks gave Krys high praise from a viewing earlier in the year:

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He consistently joined the rush as a fourth forward, yet I didn't see a single instance where he got caught out of position and didn't make it back into his position. It's like there were two of him out there. He's super-patient with the puck because any time he is pressured, he can use his superior skating ability to spin away from trouble and keep possession of the puck. He holds both blue lines really well because he doesn't have to worry as much about getting beat with his skating ability.

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Albeit slightly undersized at 5’11”, 183 pounds, Krys is a skilled blueliner who possesses oodles of offensive talent. In addition to that, he finds a way to get back into position after joining an offensive push. Since his father, Mark Krys, formerly captained Boston University, it seems the 17-year-old will follow his old man’s footsteps by going the NCAA route.

7. Max Jones, W, London Knights (OHL)

The numbers: Five goals and 10 points in 24 games with the U.S. NTDP.

Scout’s take: The Rochester, Michigan, native is described by TheScout.ca (via EliteProspects.com) as:

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An instinctive player who brings a unique blend of skill, determination, and toughness. Unusually calm in possession, can dangle due to soft hands. Packs a tricky shot that is as much about timing and accuracy as it is about power. Intentions are masked due to excellent body language and overall presence. Stays in constant motion, has a knack for getting to loose pucks, powered by impressive anticipation. Fiery and competitive, extremely difficult to play against, specifically in puck battles. Can go overboard, doesn't always know when to pull back, can take some undisciplined penalties.

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Jones, like Tkachuk, is poised to join the OHL’s Knights next season. He approaches the game with high competitiveness and is hard to play against because of the enticing blend of his size (6’2”, 190 pounds), toughness and skill. He has the makings of a high-end power forward.

6. Tyler Benson, W, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

The numbers: Fourteen goals and 45 points in 62 games with the Giants.

Scout’s take: Former Giants bench boss Claude Noel raved about Benson when he coached him, per the Province's Steve Ewen:

"He thinks the game at a really good level. He has a tremendous feel for where people are. His pursuit is excellent. He’s physical, he’s strong on puck. He plays with a lot of will. His mind is really sharp."

Edmonton media has hyped its local star since he was 14 years old. He isn’t the next Connor McDavid, but the combination of his high hockey IQ, offensive skill and mature 6’0", 196-pound frame has him on the right track to becoming one of the top prospects of the 2016 draft class. Look for him to jump inside the draft’s top five if he can carry Vancouver’s offense next season.

5. Dimitry Sokolov, W, Omsk Yastreby (MHL)

The numbers: Thirteen goals and 16 points in 29 games with Omsk.

Scout’s take: TSN’s Craig Button describes Sokolov as:

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Big, strong, skilled and able to impact the game with all of those elements. A smart player with and without the puck and his impact is positive in any type of game. Very difficult to deter because he can skate past an opponent or power past one.

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As it stands, Sokolov is clearly Russia’s top talent in the draft. He has an appealing package of a thick 6’0", 200-pound build, a pugnacious attitude, soft hands and a knack for scoring goals. He has the potential to develop into a future top-line sniper.

4. Matthew Tkachuk, W, London Knights (OHL)

The numbers: Thirteen goals and 33 points in 24 games with the U.S. NTDP.

Scout’s take: Chris Dilks of SB Nation is high on Tkachuk’s offensive instincts:

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There's no way he's the 6-1 he's listed at, but he's always been a kid that uses the size he has so effectively that he plays bigger than he actually is. He's a very smart player, so he's always around the puck, and uses body positioning very well. His great offensive instincts and excellent shot are going to make him an effective scorer at the next level.

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As the son of former NHL star Keith Tkachuk, thick hockey bloodlines run through the veins of the St. Louis, Missouri, native. Similar to his father, Tkachuk plays a solid all-around game and possesses top-notch scoring abilities. He’s set to join London next season after thriving in the U.S. NTDP in his 16-year-old season.

3. Jesse Puljujarvi, W, Karpat (Liiga)

The numbers: Four goals and 11 points in 21 games with Karpat.

Scout’s take: NHL Central Scouting’s Goran Stubb told Yahoo! Sports he believes Puljujarvi has some similarities with Florida Panthers young star Aleksander Barkov:

"He has great size and reach and he’s a mobile power wing with great hands and offensive instincts. He has the same scoring instincts and skill set as Barkov."

With a 6’3”, 181-pound stature, an excellent shot, speed and strength, it’s no wonder why Puljujarvi is regarded as the draft’s second-best forward prospect. His elite skill set paved the way for him join Finland’s top men’s league as a 16-year-old. Moreover, the 12 markers and 18 points he scored in 11 matches on Karpat’s U20 junior team showed he outgrew his country’s junior ranks.

2. Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

The numbers: Sixteen goals and 33 points in 42 games with the Sting.

Scout’s take: Mckeen’s Hockey scout Brendan Ross speaks highly of Chychrun’s skating abilities:

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Chychrun is a toolsy defender with an intimidating offensive and defensive presence. The first elite-level skill that comes to the forefront is his natural powerful skating stride that allows him to either spearhead the rush or close defensive gaps effortlessly. With his imposing size and strength, Chychrun is capable of bone-crushing hits, unleashing a howitzer from the point or man-handling the opposition into turnovers.

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As the No. 1 pick of the 2014 OHL priority draft, scouts have been talking about Chychrun for quite some time. He has the makings of a future cornerstone defenseman because of his rare blend of a 6’2”, 194-pound frame, strength, a poised demeanor and high-end offensive abilities. Furthermore, he thrives in all three zones.

1. Auston Matthews, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The numbers: Twenty goals and 48 points in 24 games with the U.S. NTDP.

Scout’s take: TSN’s Craig Button believes Matthews is the clear favorite to go first overall:

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Watching Matthews, I see a player capable of impacting the game in multiple ways. The 6-foot-1, 194-pounder is an excellent skater who can beat opponents with speed or quickness and is capable of executing plays at high speed. His passing skills are precise and he has the ability to score off the rush, off the cycle, from a distance, from in close. He has the intelligence of high-end players and exudes an uncommon confidence. He swats away obstacles as though they are merely irritating flies.

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The Scottsdale, Arizona, native is touted as the clear-cut top prospect of the draft class. He’s a 6’2”, 194-pound forward who possesses a high hockey IQ, a powerful stride, high-end vision, soft hands and an elite shot. He should be in the NHL in 2016-17, but where he plays for the upcoming season is up in the air, as he’s weighing his pro options in Switzerland while showing some interest in joining the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, who own his major junior rights.