NHL Mock Draft 2016: The First Round

We’re getting closer and closer to the 2016 NHL Draft, so it’s NHL Mock Draft time at Editor In Leaf.

The first three selections are almost set in stone for the 2016 NHL Draft, but starting at four is where it’s going to begin to get interesting.

There are a lot of rumors surrounding picks three, four and five being available – but with a chance for Jarmo Kekkalainen to draft an elite Finnish forward for his Blue Jackets it’s a hard sell.

The Edmonton Oilers should absolutely be willing to trade their pick, but for the right price. They certainly can’t just give the pick away.

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Who knows what the Vancouver Canucks are going to do with Jim Benning in charge. Benning is doing a nice job of diminishing a prospect pool that wasn’t great to start with, but that’s about all he’s doing on the West Coast.

In this two round NHL Mock Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have four selections:

1st

30th

31st

57th

The top needs – outside of the obvious top center they are getting at number one – are defense and goaltending.

This post will focus on the first round of the NHL mock draft, with the second round to come at a later date.

Let’s get started.

Next: NHL Mock Draft Round One: Picks 1-5