NHL Draft 2016: TV Schedule, Order and Mock Draft Predictions for Top Prospects

One night after the NBA draft was the main event, the NHL draft from Buffalo, New York, will take center stage on Friday and Saturday. 

If you aren't in upstate New York for the draft, here is how you can watch all of the action:

Date	Round(s)	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
Friday	1	6:30 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	NBC Sports Live Extra
Saturday	2-7	10 a.m.	NHL Network	NHL.com

In a draft class that is deep with scoring, here is how I think the first round will pan out:

Pick	Team	Player	Position	From
1	Toronto Maple Leafs	Auston Matthews	C	Zurich (NLA)
2	Winnipeg Jets	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (SML)
3	Columbus Blue Jackets	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat (SML)
4	Edmonton Oilers	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)
5	Vancouver Canucks	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)
6	Calgary Flames	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW/C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)
7	Arizona Coyotes	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)
8	Buffalo Sabres	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)
9	Montreal Canadiens	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)
10	Colorado Avalanche	Alexander Nylander	RW	Mississauga (OHL)
11	New Jersey Devils	Clayton Keller	C	USA U18 Team (USHL)
12	Ottawa Senators	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)
13	Carolina Hurricanes	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)
14	Boston Bruins	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)
15	Minnesota Wild	Kieffer Bellows	LW	USA U18 Team (USHL)
16	Detroit Red Wings	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)
17	Nashville Predators	Charlie McAvoy	D	Boston University (NCAA)
18	Philadelphia Flyers	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)
19	New York Islanders	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val-d'OR (QMJHL)
20	Arizona Coyotes	Dennis Cholowski	D	Chilliwack (BCHL)
21	Carolina Hurricanes	Alex DeBrincat	RW/C	Erie (OHL)
22	Winnipeg Jets	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (Minnesota H.S.)
23	Florida Panthers	Adam Brooks	C	Regina (WHL)
24	Anaheim Ducks	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (NCAA)
25	Dallas Stars	German Rubtsov	C	Russia U18 (MHL)
26	Washington Capitals	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestad (SHL)
27	Tampa Bay Lightning	Lucas Johansen	D	Kelowna (WHL)
28	St. Louis Blues	Brett Howden	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)
29	Boston Bruins	Jordan Kyrou	RW	Sarnia (OHL)
30	Anaheim Ducks	Pascal Laberge	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)

The two highest-rated prospects in this year's class are Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, who have been playing professionally in Europe leading up to the draft. 

Matthews has been with ZSC Lions in Switzerland, while Laine has stayed in his native country of Finland with Tappara in the Liiga:

Matthews	Stat	Laine
36	Games	46
24	Goals	17
22	Assists	16
46	Points	33

But teams picking outside of the top two still have some good options at the forward position. 

Two forwards who played major junior hockey in Canada are going to make the teams that select them happy. 

Left winger Matthew Tkachuk ripped it up in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights last season with 30 goals and 77 assists. He showed his ability to not only put the puck in the back of the net but create scoring opportunities for his teammates. 

He also has a rich family history in the NHL, as his father, Keith, scored 538 goals in an 18-year career. Like his dad, Tkachuk is a physical forward who will be difficult to move off the puck.

In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles brings a similar style of play to Tkachuk's. He has solid size (6'2", 205 lbs) and could develop into a good two-way forward in the NHL. 

What sets Dubois apart from other prospects is his ability to know where the play is going, which makes him a valuable backchecker.

He can score from anywhere on the ice and isn't afraid to keep the puck on his stick to make plays.

So even if the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames miss out on Matthews and Laine, consolation prizes await them later in the draft.

Stats and information courtesy of Elite Prospects.