Mike's 2016 NHL Mock Draft: Mid-season Edition
Here we are again, and as is too often the case the Jackets are front and center in draft discussion.
| Pick | Team | Player | Pos. | Drafted From | Notes |
| 1 | Blue Jackets | Auston Matthews | C | Zurich (Swiss A) | Will fill the void left by the trade of Ryan Johansen. |
| 2 | Maple Leafs | Jesse Puljujarvi | RW | Karpat (Liiga) | Joins Kapanen, Nylander and Marner in impressive forward pipeline |
| 3 | Sabres | Patrik Laine | RW | Tappara (Liiga) | Team picking third gets to have one of the Finns fall in their lap. |
| 4 | Oilers | Jakob Chychrun | D | Sarnia Sting (OHL) | Top defenseman available, he and Nurse would make for a formidable duo. |
| 5 | Flames | Matthew Tkachuk | LW | London Knights (OHL) | Versatile scorer joins strong group of young forwards. |
| 6 | Jets | Olli Juolevi | D | London Knights (OHL) | Lots of great young forwards in the system, Jets snag top D available. |
| 7 | Ducks | Alexander Nylander | LW | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) | The Ducks are dead last in GPG, Nylander has offensive skill to burn |
| 8 | Hurricanes | Mikey McLeod | C | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) | Decent size, great skill, minor steal at 8th overall. |
| 9 | Predators | Julien Gauthier | RW | Val D'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) | Big power winger brings an element the Preds haven't had since Radulov. |
| 10 | Flyers | Mikhail Sergachev | D | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | The Flyers continue to build one of the best young bluelines in the NHL. Joins Gostisbehere, Provorov, Morin and Sanheim already in the organization. |
| 11 | Canucks | Dante Fabbro | D | Penticton Vees (BCHL) | A "do everything" blueliner, and a hometown boy to boot. |
| 12 | Penguins | Pierre-Luc Dubois | LW | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) | Versatile, with good size. Joins fellow Q leaguer Daniel Sprong as the future up front. |
| 13 | Coyotes | Charlie McAvoy | D | Boston University (Hockey East) | Dogs need to restock the "D" pipeline. Puck mover McAvoy is a great start. |
| 14 | Bruins (fr. Sharks) | Clayton Keller | C | USA U-18 (USHL) | Undersized, but the Boston University commit has skill in spades. The Bruins can be patient with him. |
| 15 | Canadiens | Max Jones | LW | London Knights (OHL) | Physical, two-way winger who'll add some snarl to the Habs' forward group. |
| 16 | Senators | Jake Bean | D | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | Offensive defenseman would like great paired with Thomas Chabot in the future. |
| 17 | Avalanche | Samuel Girard | D | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) | Pure offensive defenseman. Avs need help on the back end. |
| 18 | Devils | German Rubtsov | C | Russia U-18 (MHL) | Read up on this kid. You'll be impressed. |
| 19 | Wild | Tyson Jost | C | Penticton Vees (BCHL) | Offensive whiz, leadership abilities. Heading to North Dakota. Great pick at 19th overall. |
| 20 | Bruins | Logan Brown | C | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | HUGE forward with NHL bloodlines. |
| 21 | Red Wings | Chad Krys | D | USA U-18 (USHL) | Mobile blueliner with good offensive instincts, committed to Boston University. |
| 22 | Lightning | Kiefer Bellows | C | USA U-18 (USHL) | Rugged forward who'll go through defenders en route to the net. Son of Brian. |
| 23 | Islanders | Kale Clague | D | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | Pick moving blueliner, fills an organizational pipeline need. |
| 24 | Rangers | Tyler Benson | LW | Vancouver Giants (WHL) | Total package forward, pro-ready. |
| 25 | Panthers | Sam Steel | C | Regina Pats (WHL) | Excellent skater with great hands. |
| 26 | Hurricanes (fr. Kings) | Alex DeBrincat | RW | Erie Otters (OHL) | Small but skilled, 'Canes can take a gamble with this additional first rounder. |
| 27 | Blues | Logan Stanley | D | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | Giant blueliner who can put up points from the back end. |
| 28 | Stars | Brett Howden | C | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | One of those "intangibles" guys. |
| 29 | Blackhawks | Sean Day | D | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) | Former "Exceptional Player" who hasn't lived up to the hype, but remains a solid blueliner. |
| 30 | Capitals | Vitali Abramov | LW/RW | Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) | Offensively skilled forward who'll fit in seamlessly in Washington. |
Check out the NHL's mid-season rankings HERE.