2016 NHL Mock Draft: Coyotes draft Auston Matthews

Many mock drafts have the Columbus Blue Jackets drafting a defenseman here since the Blue Jackets have one of the weakest blue lines in the NHL. While they do need blue line depth, keep in mind that they also need skilled forwards. It’s true that they need a center more than a wing, but drafting Alex Nylander would be a step in the right direction for the Blue Jackets.

Prospects from overseas like Nylander tend to take a while to adjust to North America. That hasn’t been the case with Alex Nylander as he has been dominating in the OHL in his first year playing in North America. It usually takes NHL prospects roughly a year to adjust to the different playing style and rink size of North America so it’s encouraging that Nylander has already begun dominating.

He had a very strong showing at the World Juniors with nine points in seven games. Nylander has shown that he has impressive playmaking abilities and is arguably the best pure skater in the 2016 NHL draft. His finishing ability is above average but it still needs to be fine tuned. He also tends to go with the flashy play rather than the smart play, but that has been said about many elite forwards in the NHL and it could have something to do with getting adjusted to the North American style of hockey. As he matures, he should be an excellent NHL forward.

Next: #7: Calgary Flames