As I've done the last few years, this recap is more a play-by-play look at my draft and trades and not just a list of players. It's a long read but I find it fun to put together so here we go...
Heading into the draft I held 13 picks, all in the top 4 rounds, 10 of which were on Day One. The season was a grind that left me picking 1st overall, and through an extremely lucky 2016 draft day trade, I also ended up with the 3rd overall pick to go with it. With 8 picks in the 2nd & 3rd I was set up with the same primary objective as last year; trade up/down to make 5-6 picks on Day One with the rest being traded out to set myself up for the 2017 draft. To that end, this draft did not go as planned, as despite 5 trades on the day, only 2 extra picks were added for next year. That said, nobody will feel sorry for me I imagine, as a pipe dream objective came together that saw a HFNHL draft history first (I think) play out.
In the month leading up to the draft I had been in touch with Wild GM Dan Chan on & off about a blockbuster trade. What seemed like a real possibility early on quickly fell apart as we neared the draft. In a last ditch effort, mostly just for fun, I made an offer the night before the draft that seemed to get Dan back considering the option. Draft day morning the answer was still no. I upped the ante and fired one final bullet shortly before the draft started...
Pick 1.1: C - Auston Matthews, Swiss 6'2 216lbs
The consensus 1st overall pick, I never truly wavered in who I was going to pick. A skilled player with great size & strength for his age, he's the potential franchise top line Centre all teams covet. Made the controversial move to play professional hockey in Europe this year rather than the usual NCAA or CHL route. He didn't look out of place playing against men as he led his team in goal scoring. He plays strong along the boards and in traffic so his game should translate just fine to the NHL. The only downside to Matthews is that I might need to start watching Leafs games soon. Ugh.
NHL Potential: Franchise 1C
Immediately after this pick was made I get a message from Dan..."lets do it". The pipe dream scenario had played out. I had landed the 2nd overall pick, giving me the 1st, 2nd & 3rd overall picks in the draft, a first in HFNHL history (I think). Adding Matthews to my system left me relatively deep at Centre but I had a glaring need on wing. With that in mind I packaged up my top prospect, and last years 5th pick Dylan Strome, along with Vladislav Namestnikov and the 50th & 78th picks for the 2nd, 66th and 156th picks. It's a deal that will be much debated until we see what Strome and the next pick end up doing in the NHL.
Pick 1.2: W - Patrik Laine, Liiga 6'4 206lbs
As noted, I felt I needed to add another top tier winger to my system and I hope to have done just that with Laine. Whether it's just media creation remains to be seen but Laine has done all he could to make the conversation for 1st a little more interesting and cement himself as the 2nd pick at the very least. From his performance at the WJC, his Liiga regular season, the Liiga playoffs and then World Championships, Laine continues to set the bar higher and higher as he racks up accolades. A gifted goal scorer with a hard accurate shot, whether it be a wrister off the rush or a one-timer from the half boards, he finds ways to score. Has soft hands and some great dangles coming down his off wing. Skating isn't top end but it's decent for a kid his size. Even if his game doesn't fully translate to the smaller ice he should be a PP weapon with his shot.
NHL Potential: Top line scoring winger
Pick 1.3: W - Jesse Puljujarvi, Liiga 6'4 203lbs
The last of the perceived top tier of players in this draft and a no brainer selection for me whether I traded for the 2nd pick or not. Puljujarvi adds another top tier winger prospect to my system and will hopefully form a top line with Matthews & Laine a few years down the road. A forgotten prospect of sorts with all the attention garnered by Matthews & Laine, he's a fantastic prospect in his own right. He combines size & skating to play a very hard game that allows him to force turnovers and create offensive chances. Has a very good shot that allows him to score from all over the ice. Some have questioned his hands & stick handling but any issues there should be overcome as he settles into his body. Plays a strong all around game that should allow him to succeed in a variety of roles in the NHL and is a great team player.
NHL Potential: Top line all-around winger
And now I had a few minutes to exhale after this start. I tried trading up into the teens to draft Luke Kunin or German Rubtsov without any luck. My focus then turned to trading 31 for a 2017 pick but no luck there either. After striking out I was on the clock again...
Pick 2.31: C/W - Tyler Benson, WHL 6'0 201lbs
This will likely be viewed as a reach by some but I couldn't help myself. I go to a number of Giants games a year, and while he didn't play a ton this year, I always felt he was the best player on the ice for the Giants and I had to have him. Heading into the season he was viewed as a top 10 prospect, injuries really derailed things for him, causing him to miss a ton of games and the Top Prospects Game. His offensive ceiling can be questioned but he plays such a smart strong game that I think will allow him to have success in the NHL. He's strong on the boards, goes to the dirty areas, throws his weight around while showing flashes of playmaking and scoring ability. If he puts it all together he could be a complementary player in the top 6, but if not, he has a chance at being a decent 3rd line player.
NHL Potential: 2nd line complementary player & team leader
I had a few guys on the board I liked at 38 but an offer came in from the Ducks that allowed me to add another pick in the 2nd back to replace the one I traded away earlier so I took it. 38 & 69 went to Anaheim for 47 & 51 and Roy immediately took one of the players I was considering (Sam Steel). I immediately went back to work to trade back up a bit from 47 to land the last of my early 2nd round targets so I sent 47 & 87 to the beloved Jets for 41.
Pick 2.41: W - Adam Mascherin, OHL 5'10 206lbs
I locked in on Mascherin in the last week and almost took him at 31 before my homerism took over. Not without his warts, Mascherin is a skilled scorer that has a deadly shot (a trend for me early). Not a tall kid but has a stocky build that allows him to power through opponents in the OHL and should allow him to survive in the NHL. His skating needs to improve as does his consistency on the defensive end and throughout games in general. With any sort of improvement in these areas he could end up as a steal at this point, or without improvements, an AHL all star.
NHL Projection: 2nd line goal scorer
Pick 2.51: D - Filip Hronek, CzeE 6'0 163lbs
While I had flirted with taking a goalie at 41, I gambled one of Gustavsson or Hart would fall to 51, and of course they didn't. I had again tried to trade out to 2017 with no luck so I was forced to reach a little for Hronek, who I really liked, just not at 51. He's an undersized defender and doesn't get a lot of attention playing in the Czech Extraleague. I think if he played in a better league, even with his slight build, he would be a little more highly regarded. Is a strong player and makes very smart decisions with the puck. Can be creative offensively and run a PP. Obviously not a physical player and can be overpowered but has good compete level and plays improving positional defense.
NHL Projection: 2nd pair smart/skill defender
Pick 3.61: C - Henrik Borgstrom, LiigaJr 6'3 176lbs
Another pick I tried to trade out of with no success. I still wanted a goalie but felt I could wait a little longer so I went with Borgstrom, my 3rd Finnish player of the draft. He's a 2nd year eligible who hit a growth spurt and is just learning to play in his new frame. His skating still needs to improve but is a very skilled offensive player with some consistency issues. Even with those he was still named a first team all star for HIFK in the LiigaJr U20 league. Will be moving to the University of Denver next year where he'll be given time to fill out his frame and work on his skating while learning to adapt his offensive game to the smaller ice surface.
NHL Potential: 2nd line offensive centre
Pick 3.66: G - Evan Fitzpatrick, QMJHL 6'3 222lbs
He certainly wasn't the goalie I wanted but I came into the day wanting to grab at least one so I made the move at this point. In a draft full of smaller goalies near the top he has closer to NHL size and has experience representing Canada internationally and played in the Top Prospects Game. Has all the physical tools one would want in a starting goalie but hasn't been able to put them together yet. Shows flashes of ability but also questionable intensity at times. Will be a long term project.
Sometime after this pick Lee Stempniak was traded to Florida for the 83rd pick. Leading up to my next selection at 75 a tentative trade was lined up that never ended up happening as my last real target of the day was still on the board...
Pick 3.75: D - Victor Mete, OHL 5'10 174lbs
Mete is someone I identified as a target watching the Memorial Cup. Initially I considered taking him with one of my 2nd round picks but decided it was a little too early given his size. At this point in the draft however it was an easy selection for me. I have no idea where he'll be drafted in the NHL, but if he was 3 inches taller, he could challenge for a 1st round pick with his skating & offensive skill. He roams the ice and explores in the offensive end regularly but uses his excellent skating to get back into position. Can make good passes or rush the puck himself. Also got some PP time on a deadly London team. Must get stronger to be able to handle NHL forwards and learn to be a little better positionally in his own zone.
NHL Potential: 2nd pair puck rushing defender
With Mete locked up and Sokolov off the board with the next pick I went back to the negotiating table with the enemy. After some friendly (and not so friendly CAPS) banter the 83rd pick was traded for 2017 3rd & 4th picks, the only two added during the draft.
That wrapped up a very exciting day at Tampa HQ. In total 9 players were selected (3 in each round) and 5 trades were made, including yet another draft day blockbuster to add the 2nd overall pick. While the trade out to 2017 aspect was a failure, Day One of the draft was a resounding success overall and should help set the turning point in the rebuild.
Trade Summary
Out
Dylan Strome
Vladislav Namestnikov
Lee Stempniak
#38
#50
#69
#78
#87
In
#2 - Patrik Laine
#41 - Adam Mascherin
#51 - Filip Hronek
#66 - Evan Fitzpatrick
#156 - TBD
2017 3rd
2017 4th
Heading into the draft I held 13 picks, all in the top 4 rounds, 10 of which were on Day One. The season was a grind that left me picking 1st overall, and through an extremely lucky 2016 draft day trade, I also ended up with the 3rd overall pick to go with it. With 8 picks in the 2nd & 3rd I was set up with the same primary objective as last year; trade up/down to make 5-6 picks on Day One with the rest being traded out to set myself up for the 2017 draft. To that end, this draft did not go as planned, as despite 5 trades on the day, only 2 extra picks were added for next year. That said, nobody will feel sorry for me I imagine, as a pipe dream objective came together that saw a HFNHL draft history first (I think) play out.
In the month leading up to the draft I had been in touch with Wild GM Dan Chan on & off about a blockbuster trade. What seemed like a real possibility early on quickly fell apart as we neared the draft. In a last ditch effort, mostly just for fun, I made an offer the night before the draft that seemed to get Dan back considering the option. Draft day morning the answer was still no. I upped the ante and fired one final bullet shortly before the draft started...
Pick 1.1: C - Auston Matthews, Swiss 6'2 216lbs
The consensus 1st overall pick, I never truly wavered in who I was going to pick. A skilled player with great size & strength for his age, he's the potential franchise top line Centre all teams covet. Made the controversial move to play professional hockey in Europe this year rather than the usual NCAA or CHL route. He didn't look out of place playing against men as he led his team in goal scoring. He plays strong along the boards and in traffic so his game should translate just fine to the NHL. The only downside to Matthews is that I might need to start watching Leafs games soon. Ugh.
NHL Potential: Franchise 1C
Immediately after this pick was made I get a message from Dan..."lets do it". The pipe dream scenario had played out. I had landed the 2nd overall pick, giving me the 1st, 2nd & 3rd overall picks in the draft, a first in HFNHL history (I think). Adding Matthews to my system left me relatively deep at Centre but I had a glaring need on wing. With that in mind I packaged up my top prospect, and last years 5th pick Dylan Strome, along with Vladislav Namestnikov and the 50th & 78th picks for the 2nd, 66th and 156th picks. It's a deal that will be much debated until we see what Strome and the next pick end up doing in the NHL.
Pick 1.2: W - Patrik Laine, Liiga 6'4 206lbs
As noted, I felt I needed to add another top tier winger to my system and I hope to have done just that with Laine. Whether it's just media creation remains to be seen but Laine has done all he could to make the conversation for 1st a little more interesting and cement himself as the 2nd pick at the very least. From his performance at the WJC, his Liiga regular season, the Liiga playoffs and then World Championships, Laine continues to set the bar higher and higher as he racks up accolades. A gifted goal scorer with a hard accurate shot, whether it be a wrister off the rush or a one-timer from the half boards, he finds ways to score. Has soft hands and some great dangles coming down his off wing. Skating isn't top end but it's decent for a kid his size. Even if his game doesn't fully translate to the smaller ice he should be a PP weapon with his shot.
NHL Potential: Top line scoring winger
Pick 1.3: W - Jesse Puljujarvi, Liiga 6'4 203lbs
The last of the perceived top tier of players in this draft and a no brainer selection for me whether I traded for the 2nd pick or not. Puljujarvi adds another top tier winger prospect to my system and will hopefully form a top line with Matthews & Laine a few years down the road. A forgotten prospect of sorts with all the attention garnered by Matthews & Laine, he's a fantastic prospect in his own right. He combines size & skating to play a very hard game that allows him to force turnovers and create offensive chances. Has a very good shot that allows him to score from all over the ice. Some have questioned his hands & stick handling but any issues there should be overcome as he settles into his body. Plays a strong all around game that should allow him to succeed in a variety of roles in the NHL and is a great team player.
NHL Potential: Top line all-around winger
And now I had a few minutes to exhale after this start. I tried trading up into the teens to draft Luke Kunin or German Rubtsov without any luck. My focus then turned to trading 31 for a 2017 pick but no luck there either. After striking out I was on the clock again...
Pick 2.31: C/W - Tyler Benson, WHL 6'0 201lbs
This will likely be viewed as a reach by some but I couldn't help myself. I go to a number of Giants games a year, and while he didn't play a ton this year, I always felt he was the best player on the ice for the Giants and I had to have him. Heading into the season he was viewed as a top 10 prospect, injuries really derailed things for him, causing him to miss a ton of games and the Top Prospects Game. His offensive ceiling can be questioned but he plays such a smart strong game that I think will allow him to have success in the NHL. He's strong on the boards, goes to the dirty areas, throws his weight around while showing flashes of playmaking and scoring ability. If he puts it all together he could be a complementary player in the top 6, but if not, he has a chance at being a decent 3rd line player.
NHL Potential: 2nd line complementary player & team leader
I had a few guys on the board I liked at 38 but an offer came in from the Ducks that allowed me to add another pick in the 2nd back to replace the one I traded away earlier so I took it. 38 & 69 went to Anaheim for 47 & 51 and Roy immediately took one of the players I was considering (Sam Steel). I immediately went back to work to trade back up a bit from 47 to land the last of my early 2nd round targets so I sent 47 & 87 to the beloved Jets for 41.
Pick 2.41: W - Adam Mascherin, OHL 5'10 206lbs
I locked in on Mascherin in the last week and almost took him at 31 before my homerism took over. Not without his warts, Mascherin is a skilled scorer that has a deadly shot (a trend for me early). Not a tall kid but has a stocky build that allows him to power through opponents in the OHL and should allow him to survive in the NHL. His skating needs to improve as does his consistency on the defensive end and throughout games in general. With any sort of improvement in these areas he could end up as a steal at this point, or without improvements, an AHL all star.
NHL Projection: 2nd line goal scorer
Pick 2.51: D - Filip Hronek, CzeE 6'0 163lbs
While I had flirted with taking a goalie at 41, I gambled one of Gustavsson or Hart would fall to 51, and of course they didn't. I had again tried to trade out to 2017 with no luck so I was forced to reach a little for Hronek, who I really liked, just not at 51. He's an undersized defender and doesn't get a lot of attention playing in the Czech Extraleague. I think if he played in a better league, even with his slight build, he would be a little more highly regarded. Is a strong player and makes very smart decisions with the puck. Can be creative offensively and run a PP. Obviously not a physical player and can be overpowered but has good compete level and plays improving positional defense.
NHL Projection: 2nd pair smart/skill defender
Pick 3.61: C - Henrik Borgstrom, LiigaJr 6'3 176lbs
Another pick I tried to trade out of with no success. I still wanted a goalie but felt I could wait a little longer so I went with Borgstrom, my 3rd Finnish player of the draft. He's a 2nd year eligible who hit a growth spurt and is just learning to play in his new frame. His skating still needs to improve but is a very skilled offensive player with some consistency issues. Even with those he was still named a first team all star for HIFK in the LiigaJr U20 league. Will be moving to the University of Denver next year where he'll be given time to fill out his frame and work on his skating while learning to adapt his offensive game to the smaller ice surface.
NHL Potential: 2nd line offensive centre
Pick 3.66: G - Evan Fitzpatrick, QMJHL 6'3 222lbs
He certainly wasn't the goalie I wanted but I came into the day wanting to grab at least one so I made the move at this point. In a draft full of smaller goalies near the top he has closer to NHL size and has experience representing Canada internationally and played in the Top Prospects Game. Has all the physical tools one would want in a starting goalie but hasn't been able to put them together yet. Shows flashes of ability but also questionable intensity at times. Will be a long term project.
Sometime after this pick Lee Stempniak was traded to Florida for the 83rd pick. Leading up to my next selection at 75 a tentative trade was lined up that never ended up happening as my last real target of the day was still on the board...
Pick 3.75: D - Victor Mete, OHL 5'10 174lbs
Mete is someone I identified as a target watching the Memorial Cup. Initially I considered taking him with one of my 2nd round picks but decided it was a little too early given his size. At this point in the draft however it was an easy selection for me. I have no idea where he'll be drafted in the NHL, but if he was 3 inches taller, he could challenge for a 1st round pick with his skating & offensive skill. He roams the ice and explores in the offensive end regularly but uses his excellent skating to get back into position. Can make good passes or rush the puck himself. Also got some PP time on a deadly London team. Must get stronger to be able to handle NHL forwards and learn to be a little better positionally in his own zone.
NHL Potential: 2nd pair puck rushing defender
With Mete locked up and Sokolov off the board with the next pick I went back to the negotiating table with the enemy. After some friendly (and not so friendly CAPS) banter the 83rd pick was traded for 2017 3rd & 4th picks, the only two added during the draft.
That wrapped up a very exciting day at Tampa HQ. In total 9 players were selected (3 in each round) and 5 trades were made, including yet another draft day blockbuster to add the 2nd overall pick. While the trade out to 2017 aspect was a failure, Day One of the draft was a resounding success overall and should help set the turning point in the rebuild.
Trade Summary
Out
Dylan Strome
Vladislav Namestnikov
Lee Stempniak
#38
#50
#69
#78
#87
In
#2 - Patrik Laine
#41 - Adam Mascherin
#51 - Filip Hronek
#66 - Evan Fitzpatrick
#156 - TBD
2017 3rd
2017 4th
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