Now more than ever, the NHL is a draft and develop league. While trades and key free agent signings are still an important part of the game, gone are the days where core players could be obtained for a few draft picks and low level prospects. The key to building a solid franchise foundation is drafting well. If gifted with a top five pick, the pressure in the salary cap era is even more stifling.
With the 2017 NHL Draft just over six months away, it’s always interesting to see how the 2016 picks are doing following their selections. Some like Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, really need no introduction. The contributions to their respective teams have been significant, and talked about during the first half of the season. Here are the top five picks in order, and what they’ve been up to since being drafted last June.
#1 overall pick: Auston Matthews
What else is there to say? The Toronto Maple Leafs picked the Arizona native and they haven’t been disappointed. Nearly a point-per-game player, Matthews has 36 points (21-15) in 40 games and despite a goal scoring drought a few months back, Matthews has hit his stride. A knack to score big goals and showing a strong two-way game as well, Matthews is the backbone of a Toronto rebuilding project that includes a lot of exciting young players. The future is looking very bright in hockey’s mecca.
#2 overall pick: Patrik Laine
The Winnipeg Jets knew they were getting a good player in Laine, but just how good wasn’t revealed until the regular season began. Laine has netted two hat tricks this season and until Matthews heated up, there was significant discussion that Laine could be the choice for the Calder Trophy for league’s best rookie. Though a concussion sidelined him, Laine was also nearly a point-per-game player with 37 points (21-16) in 42 games. He still leads all rookies in goals and points.
#3 overall pick: Pierre-Luc Dubois
Recently traded from Cape Breton to Blainville-Boisbriand, Dubois had a so-so World Juniors performance but remains a top prospect for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected him third overall. He has 24 points in 23 games with both teams this year (8-16), while he registered 99 points (42-57) last season with Cape Breton. The upside is tremendous for Dubois.
#4 overall pick: Jesse Puljujarvi
Puljujarvi’s NHL trip has been a short one so far with the Edmonton Oilers, but he showed flashes in that short trip. With eight points (1-7) in 28 games, the Oilers didn’t see enough to keep Puljujarvi up for a full NHL season. But many see this as a good thing. SB Nation’s Pat Iversen writes that this bucks a trend for the Oilers, who have ruined plenty of top picks. Instead, they’ll give him time to grow while they are already loaded with talent up front, buying him that time.
#5 overall pick: Olli Juolevi
The Vancouver Canucks took the Finnish defenseman to round out the top five picks and he has done well this season with the OHL’s London Knights. In 29 games, Juolevi has 26 points (9-17), and known for having confidence that attracted the Canucks to the 19-year-old, it’s likely that Juolevi is patrolling the Vancouver blue line sooner rather than later.