BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The first round of the 2016 NHL draft is in the books. My analysis of all 30 picks can be found here.
There were some surprises in the first round, including some talented prospects who didn't get taken. Here are the top 10 skaters on my board as Round 2 begins, along with the top two goalies:
1. Alex DeBrincat, RW, Erie (OHL)
Nationality: USA | Overall rank: 15
Scouting notes: The diminutive DeBrincat has been one of the top scorers in the CHL during the past two seasons. He's a highly skilled winger who shows above-average to high-end speed, puck skills, vision and finishing skill. In terms of the negatives, DeBrincat is small, coming in at 5-foot-7, but he has a real tenacity to his game. He drives the net, battles for pucks and wins some scrums versus much bigger players. His defense isn't great and his size will obviously hold him back there, but there is still a lot to like.
2. Tyler Benson, LW, Vancouver (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Overall rank: 18
Scouting notes: A former elite prospect for many years, Benson's season was upended by several injuries to his lower body and back. Even when he was playing, he was at 50 percent at the best of times. His skating isn't superb, but I thought it was decent prior to this season, with the injuries possibly accentuating the issues. I'm banking on a recovery and a return to top form next season, but he's clearly one of this class's biggest wild cards.
3. Vitali Abramov, RW, Gatineau (QMJHL)
Nationality: Russia | Overall rank: 21
Scouting notes: Abramov landed in North America with a bang as one of the top-scoring 17-year-olds in the CHL and the highest scorer on the Olympiques by 20 points. He's a well-rounded offensive player with a lot of flair to his game. He shows a lot of creativity in how he creates space and tries to generate scoring chances, and he displays above-average to high-end vision, too. His size is a hindrance, as he comes in at about 5-foot-9, but he works hard to try to get pucks. He could improve his defense, as he can take too many risks trying to create offense.
4. Kale Clague, D, Brandon (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Overall rank: 22
Scouting notes: Clague has been a big name in the prospect world for a number of years. Although he didn't have as stellar a season as expected, he was quite effective as a two-way defenseman and showed well in his time playing for the Canadian under-17 team. He is one of the best pure skaters in this draft class. Although I don't love his puck skills, Clague shows high-end vision with the puck and projects as a useful power-play option. Defensively, he's a feisty player despite being undersized.
5. Samuel Girard, D, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canada | Overall rank: 23
Scouting notes: One of the most dangerous draft-eligible offensive defensemen the QMJHL has seen in decades, Girard was great the past two seasons. He's an elite skater and one of the most elusive small-space skaters I've seen in a few years. I don't love his shot, but he's very good at creating for his teammates and opening up the ice. Girard's main knock is his size, as he comes in at a sturdy 5-foot-9. He won't win a ton of battles, but he's competitive, doesn't tend to cross the line with penalties and can win a least a handful of puck battles.
6. Rasmus Asplund, C, Farjestad (SHL)
Nationality: Sweden | Overall rank: 23
Although Asplund didn't translate his strong international play to great success in the SHL this season, he's still a pretty desirable prospect. There are split opinions on him within the industry, with some scouts seeing an NHL tweener and others seeing a player with a very good chance to become a top-six center. Asplund's best trait is his hockey sense. He's a creative, aware, two-way forward who creates with his hands and vision, on top of being positionally sound. His 5-foot-11 frame works against him, and his strength needs to go a long way before he's NHL-ready, but he shows the capability to be a solid defensive center, despite his size.
7. Dmitri Sokolov, LW, Sudbury (OHL)
Nationality: Russia | Overall rank: 28
Last summer, Sokolov was a no-doubt first-rounder and maybe even a top-10 pick, but he fell off that level quickly. One big issue for scouts has been Sokolov's skating and weight. In terms of positives, Sokolov is a highly skilled forward with an elite shot who can dominate based on his puck skills, hockey IQ and power game. Despite all the doom and gloom, he scored 30 goals on a very bad Sudbury team while playing with a dislocated shoulder, and many hockey folks from Russia still believe in his upside. However, it would be an understatement to say there's risk in picking him.
8. Carl Grundstrom, LW, Modo (SHL)
Nationality: Sweden | Overall rank: 29
Grundstrom has been on the NHL radar for a few years, particularly after several impressive showings last season created buzz around his name. Grudstrom's skill level has stood out to me, and he showed the ability to make high-end skill plays, but he really excels in playing a two-way forward-type of role. He has decent strength for a player his age, kills penalties well and has a little edge to his game. Grundstrom also shows slightly above-average speed, on top of pretty good puck skills. He'll occasionally make a highlight-reel type of play, but his hands and vision more consistently show as merely above-average. Grundstrom has been solid as a regular in the top Sweden league the past two years.
9. Adam Fox, D, USA U18 (USHL)
Nationality: Country | Overall rank: 31
The Harvard commit was a player who consistently impressed me all season, and he was a top player for the USNTDP. He has big-time offensive upside and some of the best offensive tools among the draft-eligible defensemen. Fox can control the play very well in all three zones, shows great patience, creativity and vision, and creates space well with his puck skills. Although he isn't an elite skater, he has above-average speed and agility and is able to make plays that require evasion. Fox has shown some improvement defensively, but that remains a big issue in his game. A small defender is never going to dominate in that area, and he has been a little inconsistent in terms of positioning on that end.
10. Joey Anderson, RW, USA U18 (USHL)
Nationality: Country | Overall rank: 33
Anderson was known at times this season for being the third wheel on the USNTDP's top line with Clayton Keller (drafted No. 7 by the Coyotes) and Kieffer Bellows (No. 19, Islanders). However, he was solid in his own right and provided versatility to that top line and to the team as a whole. Anderson gets the greasy goals and shows a great work ethic and willingness to attack the net. He isn't all elbows, though, as he has above-average skill and very good speed and can move the puck around just fine. He was never carried by the big duo he played with, as he often made quality plays to keep the puck alive and occasionally made a top-level skill play. He was often relied upon as a penalty killer, and he often proved to be a shorthanded scoring threat. He's committed to Minnesota-Duluth for the 2016-17 season.
Top goalies available
Carter Hart, G, Everett (WHL)
Nationality: Canada | Pronman rank: G1
Scouting notes: The CHL Goalie of the Year is an intelligent player. Any scout you talk to about Hart comes back talking about how easy he makes it look and how he never gets out of his technique on tough saves. His athleticism is fine. He moves around at a solid level, and has an above-average glove hand, but he doesn't have that explosive element in his game.
Filip Gustavsson, G, Lulea (SHL)
Nationality: Sweden | Overall rank: G2
Scouting notes: Gustavsson didn't have an all-world season, but he worked his way into a backup role with his SHL team -- which is unusual for a player his age -- and was solid during his time with the Swedish under-18 team. Gustavsson looks like a pro in between the pipes, with a sturdy frame, easy movements and a real good sense of how to position himself. He's not incredibly athletic, but gets over to the other side of his net fine and never seems to be rushing to get into a save position and plays the puck well.