2016 NHL Draft Profiles

Getty Images

Draft Day! Here are all of PHT’s prospect profiles

By Mike HalfordJun 24, 2016, 10:53 AM EDT

Over the past week, we’ve been running a series — Get to know a draft pick — profiling 20 of the top prospects for this year’s entry draft.

And a you may know, we opted for something different this year, and brought in special guest analyst Ryan Kennedy, associate senior writer and prospect expert at The Hockey News.

Now we’ve got all 20 of those profiles in one place — below. Have a look and prep for tonight, when the 2016 NHL Entry Draft goes live from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo at 7 p.m. ET.

Get to know a draft pick:

Get to know a draft pick — Mikey McLeod

Getty Images

By Mike HalfordJun 24, 2016, 10:51 AM EDT

2 Comments

Like we’ve done in the past, we’re profiling top prospects who may hear their names called in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

But this year, something new — we’re featuring special guest analysis from Ryan Kennedy, associate senior writer and prospect expert at The Hockey News.

Mikey McLeod (C)

Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 188 pounds Shoots: Right

Team: Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Country: Canada

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 North American goalie

Kennedy says: “There’s been a decent amount of shade thrown McLeod’s way of late, but I can’t help but dig deeper.

“Here’s a kid who came back from a significant knee injury late in the season to help his team push a very good Barrie squad in the playoffs. Then, he gutted through a Charley Horse at the world under-18s with Canada.

“So yeah, maybe his numbers dipped a bit. But overall, you have one of the fastest kids in the draft, who also has power, decent size and some sick hands – particularly on the rush. McLeod may fall out of the top-10, but he’s a prize.”

Click here for all the 2016 NHL Draft profiles.

Get to know a draft pick — Carter Hart

Getty Images

By Mike HalfordJun 23, 2016, 1:03 PM EDT

Like we’ve done in the past, we’re profiling top prospects who may hear their names called in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

But this year, something new — we’re featuring special guest analysis from Ryan Kennedy, associate senior writer and prospect expert at The Hockey News.

Carter Hart (G)

Height: 6-foot Weight: 180 pounds Catches: Left

Team: Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Country: Canada

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 2 North American goalie

Kennedy says: “As we all know, goalies are voodoo and figuring out which ones will pan out from the draft is a fool’s game. But Hart is pretty darn good.

“His poise and cool have reminded some scouts of Carey Price, though Hart doesn’t have the same size as the Habs superstar. And that’s a big theme of this year’s netminders; the kids with the best numbers aren’t that tall and the tallest kids didn’t have very good numbers.

“But in Hart, at least you have a consistent netminder who is technically sound and always square to the shooter. Good candidate to be Canada’s world junior goalie next year, too.”

Click here for all the 2016 NHL Draft profiles.

Get to know a draft pick — Riley Tufte

Getty Images

By Mike HalfordJun 23, 2016, 11:25 AM EDT

Like we’ve done in the past, we’re profiling top prospects who may hear their names called in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

But this year, something new — we’re featuring special guest analysis from Ryan Kennedy, associate senior writer and prospect expert at The Hockey News.

Riley Tufte (LW)

Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 205 pounds Shoots: Left

Team: Blaine High School (Minnesota)

Country: U.S.

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 17 North American skater

Kennedy says: “It’s impossible not to compare Tufte to Florida’s Nick Bjugstad. Both are towering centers that played for Blaine High School before heading off to college. But there’s also some Blake Wheeler in Tufte, who dominated the Minnesota high school ranks to the tune of three points per game.

“He also played for Fargo in the USHL this season and was challenged quite a bit more. His skating and size had one scout call him the best raw prospect out of Minnesota in a long time, but Tufte will need time to hone his game.

“He’ll do so at the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season and is expected to play top-six minutes right away.”

Click here for all the 2016 NHL Draft profiles.

Get to know a draft pick — Charlie McAvoy

Getty Images

By Mike HalfordJun 23, 2016, 10:34 AM EDT

Like we’ve done in the past, we’re profiling top prospects who may hear their names called in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

But this year, something new — we’re featuring special guest analysis from Ryan Kennedy, associate senior writer and prospect expert at The Hockey News.

Charlie McAvoy (D)

Height: 6-foot Weight: 208 pounds Shoots: Right

Team: Boston University (NCAA)

Country: U.S.

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 6 North American skater

Kennedy says: “It’s rare for a first-time draft eligible defenseman to already be in university, but McAvoy missed last year’s draft because his birthday is after Sept. 15.

“As a freshman with the Terriers, McAvoy wowed scouts with his puck confidence and willingness to try things on the ice. He had a short memory when it didn’t work – but usually it did.

“McAvoy has great offensive potential thanks to his creativity and mobility, but what scouts really liked is how much his decision-making improved throughout the season. He already has a world junior bronze medal to his name with Team USA and we have only seen the beginning of what this kid can do.”

Click here for all the 2016 NHL Draft profiles.