We’ve only just started the 2016/17 NHL season, and yet we’re already wondering who the next top stars to enter the league are going to be. Specifically, who’s going to go first overall? So we’ve had a look to see how EA Sports' NHL 17 predicts the draft to go, who will pick where, and who will be the first draft pick of the Las Vegas franchise.
However, NHL 17 doesn’t factor the joining Las Vegas franchise into the draft, so in the prediction, we’ve made adjustments accordingly. What was also mentioned during the season from the Amateur Scout was that this year’s draft class is seen as slightly weaker than usual. So, without further adieu, here is how NHL 17 reckons the next Entry Draft will play out.
Draft order
The picks
1. Vancouver Canucks: Nolan Patrick, C/RW, 18, Canadian, 6’3’’, 194 lbs.
2. Arizona Coyotes: Timothy Liljegren, D, 17, Swedish-American, 6’0’’, 198 lbs.
3. Dallas Stars: Nikolai Prokhorkin, LW/C, 23, Russian, 6’2’’, 201 lbs.
4. Las Vegas: Maxime Comtois, LW, 17, Canadian, 6’2’’, 201 lbs.
5. Carolina Hurricanes: Callan Foote, D, 17, Canadian-American, 6’3’’, 198 lbs.
6. Boston Bruins: Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW, 17, Finnish, 6’3’’, 203 lbs.
7. Winnipeg Jets: Michael Rasmussen, C, 17, Canadian, 6’5’’, 203 lbs.
8. Detroit Red Wings: Gabriel Vilardi, C, 17, Canadian, 6’2’’, 192 lbs.
9. Columbus Blue Jackets: Nikita A. Popugayev, RW, 17, Russian, 6’6’’, 203 lbs.
10. Washington Capitals: Boris Mogilny.
11. Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthew Strome, LW, 17, Canadian, 6’3’’, 201 lbs.
12. New Jersey Devils: Jake Kryski, LW/C, 18, Canadian, 5’1’’, 187 lbs.
13. Calgary Flames: Stuart Skinner, G, 18, Canadian, 6’3’’, 209 lbs.
14. Florida Panthers: Jocktan Chainey, D, 17, Canadian, 6’1’’, 194 lbs.
15. Anaheim Ducks: Austen Keating, C, 17, Canadian, 6’0’’, 170 lbs.
16. Colorado Avalanche: Juuso Valimaki, D, 18, Finnish, 6’2’’, 201 lbs.
17. New York Rangers: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, 17, Finnish, 6’4’’, 190 lbs.
18. Edmonton Oilers: Ian Scott, G, 17, Canadian, 6’3’’, 168 lbs.
19. St. Louis Blues: Artyom Minulin, D, 18, Russian, 6’2’’, 198 lbs.
20. Minnesota Wild: Vincent Milot-Ouellet, RW, 17, Canadian, 5’9’’, 172 lbs.
21. New York Islanders: Jesper Boqvist, LW/C/RW, 18, Swedish, 5’1’’, 174 lbs.
22. Buffalo Sabres: Simeon Strunsky, LW, 18, Czech, 5’11’’, 179 lbs.
23. Montreal Canadiens: Antoine Morand, C, 17, Canadian, 5’9’’, 170 lbs.
24. Los Angeles Kings: Erik Brannstrom, D, 17, Swedish, 5’10’’, 172 lbs.
25. Tampa Bay Lightning: J. Huxley.
26. Philadelphia Flyers: Ray Earl.
27. Nashville Predators: Danny Murata.
28. Ottawa Senators: Nico Hischier, C, 17, Swiss, 6’1’’, 176 lbs.
29. Chicago Blackhawks: Urho Vaakanainen, D, 17, Finnish, 6’1’’, 187 lbs.
30. San Jose Sharks: Ostap Safin, C/RW, 17, Czech, 6’4’’, 198 lbs.
31. Pittsburgh Penguins: Marcus Davidsson, LW/C/RW, 17, Swedish, 6’0’’, 192 lbs.