Anaheim DucksArizona CoyotesBoston BruinsBuffalo SabresCalgary FlamesCarolina HurricanesChicago BlackhawksColorado AvalancheColumbus Blue JacketsDallas StarsDetroit Red WingsEdmonton OilersFlorida PanthersLos Angeles KingsMinnesota WildMontréal CanadiensNashville PredatorsNew Jersey DevilsNew York IslandersNew York RangersOttawa SenatorsPhiladelphia FlyersPittsburgh PenguinsSt Louis BluesSan Jose SharksSeattle KrakenTampa Bay LightningToronto Maple LeafsVancouver CanucksVegas Golden KnightsWashington CapitalsWinnipeg Jets

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Winnipeg Jets

June 24, 2016: Patrik Laine poses for a group picture with Jets coaches and staff after being chosen second by the Winnipeg Jets during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)
June 24, 2016: Patrik Laine poses for a group picture with Jets coaches and staff after being chosen second by the Winnipeg Jets during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

The Jets could have traded all of their picks after Patrik Laine for a bag of pucks and still came away with a B grade. Laine is one of the more offensively gifted big men to be available in the draft since Mario Lemieux was selected in 1984…and he will help make Winnipeg a playoff contender as soon as next season with his cannon shot, sense and puck skills. Winnipeg moved up to take Logan Stanley at 18th overall even though he has shown little offensive upside, a weak shot, and a propensity for mental errors in the second half of the season. Stanley is proof that NHL teams still place a heavy emphasis on height.

RND PICK RNK PLAYER POS CTY HT/WT TEAM
1 2 1 Patrik Laine LW FIN 6-4/210 Tappara (Fin)
1 18 34 Logan Stanley D CAN 6-7/225 Windsor (OHL)
3 79 60 Luke Green D CAN 6-0/190 Saint John (QMJHL)
4 97 70 Jacob Cederholm D SWE 6-3/190 HV 71 (Swe)
5 127 80 Jordy Stallard C CAN 6-2/190 Calgary (WHL)
6 157 143 Mikhail Berdin G RUS 6-1/165 Team Russia U18 (Rus)
Logan Stanley of the Windsor Spitfires was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images
Logan Stanley of the Windsor Spitfires was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Luke Green was worth a gamble in the third round given his natural skating ability and offensive production…he will have to work diligently on his defensive game and add some muscle he has to get over his tendency to make improper reads and pinch at inopportune times. Jacob Cederholm has the physical skills scouts look for in a defenceman…unfortunately the head didn’t start catching up to the body until late in the season at the U-18’s. He’ll need to learn to simplify his game and not try to be a puck possession blueliner.

Luke Green at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images
Luke Green at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

 

Jordy Stallard brings good size and a decent stride…he had some offensive skills and some night showed impressive flashes….he’ll be asked to continue improving his quickness, competitiveness and consistency. Mikhail Berdin raised the interest of scouts with a sterling goaltending performance at the WJAC, where he was named to the All-Star Team. He was less impressive at the U18’s, but still worth a selection in the sixth round.

Grade- A: Winnipeg ended up with the best player in McKeen’s rankings and five prospects ranked in the top 80..one of the best drafts in both quality and quantity. It’s hard to argue that the club didn’t take an important step towards becoming a contender.