A look at how 2016’s top picks worked out
Matthews, Laine and Tkachuk showed they were worthy of high 2016 picks
Good luck or good scouting?
If Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine finish winner and runnerup during the NHL’s glitzy awards ceremonies in Las Vegas on Wednesday as expected, it will mark the first time in the salary cap era the top two players taken in the previous NHL draft will have finished in that same order in voting for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
Is it an endorsement of the selections the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets made at the top of the first round 12 months ago in Buffalo? Of course.
At the same time, the rarity in the two top picks dominating the Calder race just a year after being taken in the draft is contingent on a number of factors: Staying healthy; a swift learning curve at the NHL level; a coach who isn’t afraid to give a kid a prominent role, and the ability to produce those “wow” moments that remain etched in the minds of the voters.
Keeping that in mind, with the 2017 draft kicking off Friday at Chicago’s United Center, here is a look at how the 2016 firstround picks worked out for all seven Canadian teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs:
F Auston Matthews (1st overall)
Setting an all-time NHL rookie record with four goals in your first game puts you on the sporting radar with a big splash. He went on to set Leaf rookie records for goals (40), points (69) and became the highest scoring U.S. born freshman in NHL history. Already a star.
Winnipeg Jets:
F Patrik Laine (2nd overall)
The Swagger. The Shot. The ability to bring fans out of their seats. Add it all up, and you have the face of this franchise for a long time. Ended up with 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points. A highlight reel waiting to happen.
Edmonton Oilers:
F Jesse Puljujarvi (4th overall)
While Puljujarvi was frustrated with himself at not scoring more, GM Peter Chiarelli told the teen just to concentrate on the play in his own zone. Eight points in 28 NHL games; 28 points in 39 AHL games. Could get a bigger role if Jordan Eberle is traded.
Vancouver Canucks:
D Olli Juolevi (5th overall)
With Matthew Tkachuk flourishing in Calgary after having been picked one spot later, there was some second-guessing in Vancouver regarding whether the Canucks made the right pick. But defencemen develop slower than forwards and Juolevi, who had 42 points in 58 games with the OHL’s London Knights, showed leadership while captaining Finland at the World Juniors.
Calgary Flames:
F Matthew Tkachuk (6th overall)
The son of former NHLer Keith, Matthew is a chip off the ol’ block. With 48 points and 105 penalty minutes, the Flames hit a home run here when it comes to talent, grit and heart.
Montreal Canadiens:
D Mikhail Sergachev (9th overall)
With 43 points in 50 games for Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires, he’s a blue-chip blue-line prospect, which allowed the Habs to use him as the key piece in the trade with Tampa Bay that brought 22-year-old sniper Jonathan Drouin to Montreal.
Ottawa Senators:
F Logan Brown (11th overall)
Brown’s three-point explosion against Seattle at the Memorial Cup for the eventual champion Spitfires capped off an injuryplagued season. He’s an elite talent who averaged more than a point per game (40 in 35). Health could be an issue.
Winnipeg Jets:
D Logan Stanley (18th overall)
A torn meniscus in his right knee limited the 6-foot-7 behemoth to just 17 points in 35 games for the Windsor Spitfires. Fortunately, he was able to muzzle many of his critics by averaging more than 20 minutes per game at the Memorial Cup.
THE ENVELOPE PLEASE …
For what little it’s worth, here’s the picks of this particular scribe for Wednesday’s 2016-17 NHL awards;
Hart Trophy (MVP): Connor McDavid, Oilers. Best player in the NHL during the regular season. Case closed.
Norris Trophy (Top defenceman): Brent Burns, Sharks. Wobbled down stretch while Sens’ Erik Karlsson gained momentum.
Calder Trophy (Top rookie): Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs. Was neck-and-neck with Jets’ Patrick Laine for much of season, but pulled away down the stretch. Vezina Trophy (Top goalie): Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets. No one more responsible for Jackets’ success.
Lady Byng (Sportsmanship): Johnny Gaudreau, Flames. Johnny Hockey was Johnny Sportsmanship.
Selke Trophy (Best defensive Forward): Ryan Kesler, Ducks. If there was an award for most irritating forward, he might win it, too.
Jack Adams (Top coach): Mike Babcock, Maple Leafs. Expect Jackets bench boss John Tortorella to give him a run for his money.