NHL RELEASES MID-SEASON RANKINGS FOR 2016 DRAFT
Matthews Leads Deep Field of European Skaters, Including Puljujarvi and Laine
Forward Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who plays for Zurich in Switzerland’s National League, has been named the top draft-eligible skater for the 2016 NHL Draft as the NHL Central Scouting Bureau today released its mid-season rankings. Matthews aims to be the seventh U.S.-born player to be drafted first overall, and the first since Erik Johnson (2006 by STL) and Patrick Kane (2007 by CHI) were selected with the top pick in back-to-back years.
Matthews is averaging more than a point-per-game (19-13—32 in 26 GP) in Switzerland’s top men’s league while playing under the guidance of former NHL head coach and Stanley Cup champion Marc Crawford. Matthews tied for the tournament lead at the recent 2016 World Junior Championship with seven goals in seven games to help the U.S. earn a bronze medal. An Arizona native, he learned the game while playing in the local minor hockey system – including Bantam and Midget seasons with the Arizona Bobcats organization – before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2013-14.
Joining Matthews at the top of a deep field of European skaters are a pair of 2016 World Junior Championship gold medalists: No. 2 Jesse Puljujarvi (Tornio, Finland), who led the tournament in assists and points while collecting Most Valuable Player, Best Forward and All-Star Team honors, and No. 3 Patrik Laine (Tampere, Finland), who tied Matthews for the tournament lead in goals and joined linemate Puljujarvi as a tournament All-Star Team selection.
The three top-ranked skaters from North America all come from NHL bloodlines: No. 1 Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.), a forward for the London Knights (OHL), is the son of former NHL player Keith Tkachuk; No. 2 Jakob Chychrun (Boca Raton, Fla.), a defenseman with the Sarnia Sting (OHL), is the son of former NHL blueliner Jeff Chychrun; and No. 3 Alexander Nylander (Stockholm, Sweden), a forward for the Mississauga Steelheads (OHL), is the son of former NHL player Michael Nylander and brother of Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander.
Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, Alta.) of the Everett Silvertips (WHL) and Filip Gustavsson (Skelleftea, Sweden) of Lulea’s junior team (SWEDEN-JR) are the top-ranked goaltenders from North America and Europe, respectively.
The mid-season rankings feature the top 210 skaters and 30 goaltenders in North America as well as the top 134 skaters and 15 goaltenders from Europe.
In its 41st year of operation, NHL Central Scouting provides evaluation and scouting of draft-eligible players to NHL member clubs. Headed by Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting employs eight full-time and 15 part-time scouts throughout North America. To report on prospects playing in Europe, the NHL employs the services of Goran Stubb and his staff at European Scouting Services based in Finland.
Combined, NHL Central Scouting and European Scouting Services will see in excess of 3,000 games this season.
The full mid-season rankings in all categories are available on NHL.com.
The 2016 NHL Draft will be held June 24-25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo. This will be the third time the event will be held in Buffalo; the city previously hosted the NHL Draft in 1991 (Memorial Auditorium) and 1998 (Marine Midland Arena).
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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