BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The NHL draft is finally here. You've already prepared well by reading my Top 100 prospects, players trending up or down, rankings by skill and my final mock draft.
Now, it's time for live analysis of every first-round pick, posted shortly after it's made at the First Niagara Center:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (NLA)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 2
Scouting notes: Teams dream about getting a legit No. 1 center like Matthews when picking at the top of the draft. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound pivot with a skill level that is off the charts, the Arizona native has also got professional experience to boot, and he's been making Swiss cheese out of his opponents in the NLA. He's not a really physical player who will grind for pucks along the wall, nor is he some sort of defensive stalwart. Matthews still uses his big frame to win pucks and competes well on the ice in every zone, but the team drafting him must be realistic about what he's going to be in terms of the gritty areas of the game.
Team fit: Matthews will immediately step into the NHL next season as a top-six forward, with the ability to clear 20 goals and 50 points if healthy. He becomes the most valuable piece of the Toronto rebuild, and is the most talented center and forward the team has had since the Mats Sundin years. Matthews also gives the Leafs flexibility with William Nylander and Mitch Marner, two players who could play center or the wing and excel doing both. Nylander has been groomed to potentially play down the middle, but this likely means that Marner will be brought up playing the wing.
2. Winnipeg Jets
Patrik Laine, LW, Tampere (Liiga)
Nationality: Finland | Pronman rank: 1
Scouting notes: Laine is everything you want in a high-skill power forward. First, he's built like a truck at 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, with broad shoulders and great core strength. It's a joy to watch film of Laine shrugging off checks left and right, and easily winning loose-puck battles. Laine's skating is his one notable flaw, although he's gotten a little quicker from last season. Overall, he's a special forward, someone who could be an elite scoring power winger in the NHL for the next decade.
Team fit: With the good fortune of ending up picking second in a draft year with a strong top group, the Jets' stagnating rebuild got a jolt of lightning. Laine could step in next season and be a threat to clear 20 or even 25 goals. While the team has several talented young forwards like Nikolaj Ehlers and Nic Petan -- as well as Kyle Connor on the way -- Laine likely clears through the field and provides a great top-six scoring threat. Winnipeg could be back in the playoffs as soon as next season, but its tough division obviously gives that projection some uncertainty.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 5
Scouting notes: Dubois was one of the best players in the QMJHL this season and nearly made Canada's WJC team. I've never watched Dubois play and come away thinking he's the best skater or the best puck handler in a given match, but he always makes a positive contribution. He's a very physically developed player, who is strong, competitive on the ice, drives to the dirty areas, and is committed to his fitness off the ice. The Quebec native projects as an NHL forward who can be slotted into a variety of roles, and has a low-risk factor on his projection.
Team fit: Dubois is the center the Blue Jackets desperately needed after moving Ryan Johansen. Dubois is listed as both a winger and center, but he projects as a center in the NHL and could be there in about a year. He is a great two-way player with skill who can be relied on in all situations by John Tortorella.
4. Edmonton Oilers
Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat (Liiga)
Nationality: Finland | Pronman rank: 3
Scouting notes: Puljujarvi is one of the most exciting prospects Finland has ever produced. He's a big, explosive winger, who was the second-highest scoring 17-year-old ever at the world junior championship, tied with Eric Lindros and a point behind Jaromir Jagr. At his ultimate upside, he could be one of the more dynamic scorers in the NHL.
Team fit: Puljujarvi joins the deep ranks of young, talented forwards in the Oilers' organization, and creates the potential for a crowded roster. Edmonton fans have heard this before, but Puljujarvi is a legitimate prospect. He could potentially fit in as a top-nine forward right away, with the ability to be a star for the team down the line.
5. Vancouver Canucks
Olli Juolevi, D, London (OHL)
Nationality: Finland | Pronman rank: 8
Scouting notes: One of the best defensemen in the OHL this season, Juolevi also recorded the highest point totals ever by an under-18 defenseman at the WJC. Juolevi is a fantastic skater; he exerts very little effort to get up to a dangerous top gear and moves well in all directions. His puck movement is high-end, as he shows calmness, skill and elite hockey sense when he has the puck on his stick. He's able to QB a power play with the best of them, on top of creating dangerous chances in transition. He could stand to bulk up quite a bit, as he has a bit of a beanpole frame (6-foot-2, 182 pounds).
Team fit: Juolevi becomes the top defense prospect the Canucks have had in ages, immediately becoming a key part of their future at that position. He is a year or two away from being an NHL regular, and will need more strength before he's ready. But no young defenseman in the Vancouver organization comes close to Juolevi in terms of talent.
6. Calgary Flames
Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London (OHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 6
Scouting notes: Keith Tkachuk's son has been a standout for years at multiple levels. He was great last season in the USHL and with the USNTDP, and was a top player at the world under-18 championship, and a top player this season in the OHL. He is a multidimensional scoring winger. He has great vision and offensive creativity, and makes quick, precise decisions with the puck. He can dangle defensemen, and create offense out of nothing. He wins more than his fair share of battles, and is his father's son on some days, being a pain in the rear for many defenders and goalies.
Team fit: Tkachuk joins a growing group of top young forwards in Calgary such as Sam Bennett, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau, and fits well on the wing whereas a lot of the Flames' top young forward talent plays down the middle. He could potentially be a regular in Calgary as soon as 2017-18, as a top nine-forward with the potential to be a quality top-six forward down the line.
7. Arizona Coyotes
Clayton Keller, C, USA U18 (USHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 4
Scouting notes: One of the best players ever to participate at the USNTDP, Keller put up monstrous numbers between his USHL, collegiate and international performances. He's a complete offensive player who seems to generate chances and display distinct puck-moving abilities whenever he takes a shift. Keller never seems rattled with the puck, and makes the right plays seem easy.
Team fit: Keller was the best player available at this slot, and was a gutsy pick for Arizona given its young forward depth. However, Keller immediately joins the ranks of guys like Dylan Strome and Max Domi based on talent, and could push for NHL time within the next two years. Where the Coyotes slot him -- and if they keep him at center, which he can play more than competently -- is what remains to be seen.
8. Buffalo Sabres
Alexander Nylander, RW, Mississauga (OHL)
Nationality: Sweden | Pronman rank: 7
Scouting notes: Brother of Leafs prospect William Nylander and son of former NHLer Michael Nylander, Alexander was one of the top scorers in the OHL this season, and was one of the top under-18 scorers ever at the WJC. His skill level and his offensive hockey sense are elite. Nylander's speed is not elite, but it's certainly above-average and flashes a grade above on top of his being very agile on his edges. He also features a quality wrist shot. Nylander's defense could still use work. He shows strong work ethic, and you can envision him cleaning up that area with proper development.
Team fit: Nylander joins the ranks of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and many other young, talented Sabres. Some may say that the Sabres needed a defenseman more than a forward, but really, this team wasn't incredibly deep at forward either. Nylander will find more than a good fit on the wing if he ends up forcing the Sabres' hand and making the roster this season.
9. Montreal Canadiens
Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor (OHL)
Nationality: Russia | Pronman rank: 16
Scouting notes: Sergachev had a very strong rookie season in the OHL, displaying two-way abilities and putting up big counting numbers from the blue line. He was the youngest player ever to win the OHL Defenseman of the Year award. His defensive positioning can use some tweaking, but he shows a decent amount of awareness in that area, even if I wouldn't qualify his hockey IQ as high-end. He's a player with a lot of upside.
Team fit: Sergachev becomes the top defense prospect in the Habs' system. The Jarred Tinordi pick (2010) may have left a sour taste, but Sergachev is not like him at all, more like Nathan Beaulieu. He's a dynamic offensive defenseman, but he will need two to four years of seasoning before he's ready to be a full-time NHL player.
10. Colorado Avalanche
Tyson Jost, C, Penticton (BCHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 9
Scouting notes: Jost was simply fantastic this season, putting up huge numbers for a 17-year-old in the BCHL, even when you adjust for its lesser league quality. He is a dynamic, athletic center with decent off-the-puck skills as well. Jost is one of the better skaters in this draft class, with an easy, explosive stride whose first few steps will be able to evade NHL checkers.
Team fit: Jost was nothing short of great at every tournament in which he played this season, and tore the BCHL apart. Colorado has several great young forwards in its organization, but is by no means bursting at the seams. Jost is most effective as a center, even if a minority of scouts feel he'll end up on the wing. He will go to college (University of North Dakota), and Colorado can afford to wait two or three years on him to make room as he develops.
11. Ottawa Senators
Logan Brown, C, Windsor (OHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 12
Scouting notes: A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Brown has been a much-discussed prospect in the scouting ranks for years, and for a variety of reasons. He is often defined as having "all the tools." He's a 6-foot-6 center with high-end skill who can dominate a game whenever he gets near the puck. One of the negatives is that he can be a non-factor off the puck. Historically, he's had a tendency to shy away from physical play. His work ethic on and off the ice has been criticized, but Brown seemed to take those critiques to heart, and really impressed in the past few months.
Team fit: Brown is a risk-reward pick for Ottawa. He was inconsistent this season and got dinged at times for his effort level, but was sensational throughout the last few months of the season. It's incredibly rare to find a 6-foot-6 center who can make plays like him, and given Ottawa lacks a truly dynamic scorer in its system, he is a big addition. Brown may take time to round out his game -- probably three to four seasons.
12. New Jersey Devils
Michael McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 20
Scouting notes: The Mississauga native had a very good season for the Steelheads. He is a highly skilled and competitive center who brings a lot of elements to the table. He's an elite skater, which is a remarkable trait for a 6-foot-2 player. He plays with such a tenacious energy to his game, and his first few steps are as good as anyone in the draft. The main concern for McLeod is how high his offensive upside is, and if his instincts, vision and overall IQ are high-end enough to create enough offense without his big speed advantage once he reaches the NHL.
Team fit: Prior to the last two seasons, the Devils had been starved for top young forward talent, but now are starting to stockpile it. With McLeod, Pavel Zacha and the surging Miles Wood, there is more optimism now that their system can churn out some quality NHL players.
13. Carolina Hurricanes
Jake Bean, D, Calgary (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 19
Scouting notes: Bean was one of the top defenders in the WHL this season, which is pretty incredible given that he was never drafted into the WHL and has improved by leaps and bounds. He's certainly an offensively tilted player, with above-average hands, and high-end vision on top of having a quality shot. Despite average size and skating, he's still a decent defensive player due to his hockey sense, and could potentially play on a second PK unit at his peak in the NHL.
Team fit: Bean becomes the top defense prospect in the Hurricanes' system, even ahead of former top-10 pick Haydn Fleury in my opinion. He's a great offensive defenseman, and with a lot of young defensive talent already on their NHL roster, the Hurricanes can afford to be patient with him.
14. Boston Bruins
Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University (Hockey East)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 27
Scouting notes: McAvoy was one of the better freshmen in the country this season, as he served as a key puck-moving defenseman for Boston University and played a lesser role for the Americans at the WJC. McAvoy is an offensive defenseman at heart, and he excels when he has the puck on his stick. Defensively, he'll have good and bad days. He's not spectacular at checking good players or playing the body with force, and he is prone to brain cramps in his positioning and decision-making.
Team fit: McAvoy enters one of the deeper systems in the NHL, but one lacking in top-end skill. McAvoy has some fine-tuning to do with his defense, but has top-echelon offensive upside. He'll be in the debate as being the Bruins' top prospect.
15. Minnesota Wild
Luke Kunin, C, Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 17
Scouting notes: Kunin was Wisconsin's best player this season as a freshman, and generated insane shot totals for a player in his first season, nearly hitting the 4.0 mark per game. Kunin's speed is above-average, and on occasion I've seen him touch a real separation gear as well. He plays with skill and intensity, showing the ability to go around and through defenders. There really isn't a ton to nitpick in the Missouri native's game, other than he probably won't be an NHL game-breaker, but I definitely can see him making a long career of some form in the league.
Team fit: Kunin joins a growing stable of solid young forwards in the Wild system, including Joel Eriksson-Ek and Kirill Kaprizov. Minnesota has decided to emphasize the center position, and Kunin could move quickly through the organization. He may be ready to turn pro after one more season of college.
16. Arizona Coyotes
Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia (OHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 11
Scouting notes: Son of former No. 47 overall pick (1984) Jeff Chychrun, Jakob has been on the prospect radar for years, as one of the top players in the 1998 age group for a while; that includes his being the top pick in his OHL draft year. He's an advanced positional player, and given his very strong frame and great work ethic, he is a very reliable penalty killer. Offensively, he shows the ability to move the puck well and make some skill plays, but he can make some bad decisions and doesn't show high-end creativity.
Team fit: After selecting Clayton Keller with its first pick, Arizona gets the foundational defense prospect its system needs. Chychrun could make his way to the NHL within two to three years. His play at the end of the season scared some teams, but if he regains the form of his first season and a half as an OHL player, this could be a great value for Arizona.
17. Nashville Predators
Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton (BCHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 10
Scouting notes: An outstanding two-way defenseman who was the best defenseman in the BCHL this season, Fabbro also had strong showings in international play. His hockey IQ is among the best in this draft class. His passes are accurate but also very crisp, as he puts his full weight into a lot of his breakout passes. He's got a decent frame, will engage his checks physically and is a quality positional player. He is committed to play next season at Boston University.
Team fit: Nashville is known as a defenseman factory, and Fabbro gets the latest shot to go through the process. He'll go to college, so Nashville can take time with him given its depth at the position. But, he is now the Predators' top defense prospect by a fair margin.
18. Winnipeg Jets
Logan Stanley, D, Windsor (OHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 55
Scouting notes: Stanley stands in at 6-foot-7, and is a pretty impressive skater and puck mover for such a big man. Stanley leans on opponents with his large frame to win battles and gets in shooting lanes pretty well, and disrupts play with his long reach. Stanley's hockey IQ isn't sublime; while he's not a liability there, he doesn't display top-end puck-moving instincts to make him a real power-play threat.
Team fit: Stanley is a long-term type of prospect, similar to how Philadelphia has handled Samuel Morin, meaning he could take four to five years of seasoning as he develops through major junior and the AHL. The Jets have a deep system, so there is no need to rush him.
19. New York Islanders
Kieffer Bellows, LW, USA U18 (USHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 14
Scouting notes: Bellows, son of former No. 2 overall pick (1982) Brian Bellows, has been one of the top players in the USHL for the past two seasons. He has followed a unique path. After skating for Sioux Falls of the USHL in 2014-15, he joined the USNTDP for his second season of eligibility, and was the under-18 team's second-best player this season; he currently ranks among the best goal scorers ever in the program. Stylistically, Bellows is a scoring power winger. He's got a sturdy, developed frame, plays with an edge and brings a lot of offensive tools to the table. His defensive play isn't too great, which may be a product of his skating as opposed to any work ethic issues. He has committed to Boston University for next season.
Team fit: Bellows joins a fairly long list of good forward prospects in the Islanders' system. As a college-bound player, he will likely be one of the last to arrive, as one could see him playing two or three seasons at Boston University, given the Islanders' depth at the position.
20. Detroit Red Wings
Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack (BCHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 79
Scouting notes: Cholowski has above-average offensive tools across the board. He has the top speed to be able to rush the puck effectively and can evade pressure off his edges just fine. Cholowski's physical game, however, is a significant issue. He is undersized and can have a real tough time winning one-on-one battles. Defensively, he's not a world killer, either.
Team fit: Cholowski has offensive upside, but will need a fair amount of time to round out the physical and defensive components of his game. You could see Detroit waiting three years of his playing for St. Cloud State before signing him.
21. Carolina Hurricanes
Julien Gauthier, RW, Val-d’Or (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 24
Scouting notes: Gauthier was one of the top goal scorers in the CHL this season, and he was the only draft-eligible player to make Team Canada's team at the WJC. Gauthier is an exciting and dynamic scorer who brings a lot of plus physical attributes to the table. He is a 6-foot-4 forward who is a good skater, and I'd classify him as a high-end one for a big man. His defensive game could use some work, though, as he can be a little loose on his positioning.
Team fit: Gauthier becomes one of the top young forwards in the Carolina organization. While he's not at the level of Sebastian Aho, he is a very talented goal scorer with the ability to draw fans out of the seats with "wow" plays. He will need time to improve his defense and play at a quicker pace. He could take a few seasons, but it's not crazy to project him as an NHL regular in two to three seasons.
22. Philadelphia Flyers
German Rubtsov, C, Russia U18 (MHL)
Nationality: Russia | Pronman rank: 13
Scouting notes: The well-rounded Rubtsov was the top player on the inaugural Russia under-18 team this season, and showed well in international play. His skills aren't elite, but he shows good hands and is able to create space for himself. His hockey IQ is very impressive, as he displays great patience with the puck, sees his options well and always finds himself involved with the play.
Team fit: Rubtsov becomes one of the highest-picked Russians by the Flyers in a generation. Rubtsov joins Travis Konecny at the top of their prospect ranks. Despite the "Russian Factor," he may cross the pond fairly soon and make his way up the depth chart into being an NHL regular in a couple of seasons.
23. Florida Panthers
Henrik Borgstrom, LW, HIFK (Jr. A Liiga)
Nationality: Finland | Pronman rank: Honorable mention
Scouting notes: Borgstrom is a second-year draft-eligible prospect. He's a big man with above-average hands, vision and finishing skill who was one of the top scorers in the Finnish junior league; he was not in the Finnish pro league due to the fact he's leaving for college hockey at the University of Denver this upcoming season. He's not an all-world talent, but can make a fair number of plays with the puck. His skating is the major issue in his game, as he's got a bit of a sluggish stride. As one NHL exec put it, "he has a ton of talent, but he's very raw."
Team fit: Borgstrom is a second-year eligible player who rose all season. He's a talented playmaker, but has some holes in his game, so he could take three seasons at Denver before Florida is ready to sign him.
24. Anaheim Ducks
Max Jones, LW, London (OHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 26
Scouting notes: Jones is a top offensive talent. He is a coordinated puck handler with a fair amount of creativity and the ability to make defenders miss in open ice. Jones has worked on his defensive play this season. His biggest remaining issues are discipline and decisions. He can cough the puck up at times, and he takes a lot of bad penalties, which shows that he can be pushed over the edge.
Team fit: Jones instantly becomes one of the top forward prospects in the Ducks' system. He was very impressive on a deep London team, and could be one of the top players in the OHL as soon as next season. The key to his development with the Ducks is finding a way to help his discipline issues, and his time in the NHL will be short-lived if he hurts his team too often with bad decisions.
25. Dallas Stars
Riley Tufte, LW, Fargo (USHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 41
Scouting notes: Tufte measures in at around 6-foot-5, but he skates like a 5-foot-10 forward. He has an incredibly explosive stride and first step; combined with his frame, that makes him a headache for defensemen when he's coming down the wing. His defensive play was fine at the high school ranks for Blaine High (Minnesota), but against the higher level of competition in the USHL, some holes were exposed in the way he plays his position. As always with top high school prospects, questions of pace and quality of competition will loom over Tufte until he shows it at a consistent level versus better players.
Team fit: Tufte will need time to round out his game, but he impressed enough in the USHL to show his timeline may not be that of the standard "raw" high school prospect. Tufte will be a top player at Minnesota-Duluth this season, and could turn pro within two or three seasons.
26. St. Louis Blues
Tage Thompson, POS, Connecticut (Hockey East)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 92
Scouting notes: Thompson shows the ability to make decent offensive plays, displaying strong coordination and puck-movement ability for a 6-foot-5 player. Thompson also has a big shot, often being used this season as a trigger man on the point for Connecticut. His defensive hockey sense is fair, as he was a quality penalty killer during his time with the USNTDP. His speed isn't horrible for a big man, but he's not a burner at all.
Team fit: Thompson will need time at UConn to continue rounding out his game -- particularly his skating and off-puck play -- but the Blues lack a big goal scorer in their system. You could see him play out three seasons before some AHL time prior to his debut with the big club.
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
Brett Howden, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 32
Scouting notes: Brett is nearly a carbon copy of his older brother, Quinton, a first-round pick of the Florida Panthers (2010) who played in 58 games for the club in 2015-16. He is a competitive, two-way forward who hustles for pucks every shift. With his size, character and hockey IQ, Howden is a very good defensive forward who has been leaned on by Moose Jaw to play critical defensive minutes.
Team fit: Howden surged toward the end of the season, so it's hard for me to get a read on whether he's a four- or five-year prospect or a two- to three-year prospect. I lean more toward the former, but he wowed a lot of people at the world under-18 championship. He's unlike many of the other Tampa Bay prospects, occupying a role as a versatile forward.
28. Washington Capitals
Lucas Johansen, D, Kelowna (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 72
Scouting notes: Ryan Johansen's brother took huge steps forward in his second WHL season, being one of Kelowna's most important players. He doesn't have a "wow"-level caliber of skill, but he always makes decisions with the puck to put his team in a position to succeed and is able to hold on to it for that extra second. Johansen's biggest issue is his skating. He's notably below average in that department, with a sluggish stride, and he can get beat wide by quicker forwards.
Team fit: Johansen was very good for Kelowna this past season, but careful observation reveals that he needs time to work on playing the game a little quicker. He will likely need a couple years of AHL seasoning, but a big defender who can move the puck is a fine asset for the Capitals, who don't have a ton on D in their system.
29. Boston Bruins
Trent Frederic, C, USA U18 (USHL)
Nationality: USA | Pronman rank: 75
Scouting notes: A two-way center who was relied on to play key minutes, Frederic was inconsistent on the offensive end. He has a big, strong frame and is quite effective in one-on-one battles. He's a pretty good penalty killer who gets in lanes and wins pucks. His skating, on the other hand, worries me a little. He's not really fast, relying on his power game -- as opposed to a quick burst -- to get to the net. He is committed to the University of Wisconsin starting next season.
Team fit: Frederic is one of the more puzzling picks in the year's class thus far. He joins Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson as a solid two-way forward in the Bruins' system, but could take a while to develop. Given the need to tune up his offense, along with the Bruins' system depth, one could see him stay in school for three or four years.
30. Anaheim Ducks
Sam Steel, C, Regina (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: 30
Scouting notes: Steel has above-average to top-end skating, hands and hockey IQ. He can play the game with a quick tempo, and shows the ability to make defenders miss with his feet and hands, while also showing the vision to create for others. Steel is not one-dimensional, and he has shown decent defensive prowess by being an effective penalty killer for his junior team and for Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka tournament.
Team fit: Steel, like Jones before, vaults toward the very top of the Ducks' prospect rankings at forward. He went lower than expected this season, but all he does is score. If he rounds out his off-puck play, you could see him in a Ducks uniform by age 20 or 21.