**RE-PICKING THE 2016 NHL DRAFT: WHO GOES IN THE TOP 3?**
So, here we are. Ten years later. The NHL has gone through a full cycle of rebuilds, collapses, and a few unexpected Cup wins that no one saw coming (looking at you, Colorado). And yet, the memory of the 2016 draft still lingers—like that one guy in your group chat who never shuts up about their ex. It was the Olli Juolevi Draft. The draft where the Leafs went first and picked Auston Matthews instead of the Finnish goaltender everyone thought would be the savior of Toronto hockey. And now, with hindsight, we’re supposed to imagine that we knew it all along. That we were right. That we were wise.
But let’s get one thing straight: NO ONE KNEW SHIT in 2016. Not even the analysts on ESPN who are now trying to look smart by pretending they had it all figured out back then.
So, let’s take a walk down memory lane and re-pick that draft with the benefit of hindsight. Because we all know hindsight is 20/20. Or as I like to call it, “Oh, I’m so cool now that I got it right.”
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### **1. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS — AUSTON MATTHEWS (PICK #1)**
Let’s start with the obvious. Toronto picks Auston Matthews first overall in 2016. It was a no-brainer back then. Everyone knew he was going to be elite, right? The hype machine went full tilt—commercials, shirts, everything. And they weren’t wrong.
Matthews is now one of the most iconic players in NHL history. He’s scored 428 goals in 689 games. That’s more than any other player from that draft class. He’s won the Hart Trophy, been an All-Star, and is on track to be the Maple Leafs’ all-time leading scorer. He’s the guy who saved Toronto hockey from a decade of despair.
But here’s the thing: even with his recent decline in scoring (yes, I said it), he still belongs in the top 3 of this re-draft. Because no one else comes close to what he did for that franchise. He turned them into a contender and made them relevant again. And let’s be real—without Matthews, Toronto might have been stuck in a rebuild for another decade.
Sure, he’s not the same player he was when he first came in (and I’m not just saying that because his points-per-60 dipped to a career low last season), but that doesn’t negate what he did. He was the pick they needed. The pick that changed the trajectory of an entire organization.
So yeah, Matthews stays at #1. No debate. That’s the pick you make when you’re a team that hasn’t won in over 50 years and needs a savior. You don’t go for a Finnish goalie who might or might not be good and might or might not end up playing in the AHL forever.
You take Auston Matthews.
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### **2. WINGEWIN JETS — MATTHEW TKACHUK (PICK #2)**
Now, this is where it gets spicy. In 2016, Winnipeg picked Patrik Laine second overall. The thinking was: “We need a scorer.” And they got one. But Laine has been… underwhelming, to say the least.
He’s had injury issues. He’s never really lived up to his potential. He’s not bad, but he’s not elite. In hindsight, this pick is the biggest regret in the Jets’ history. They could’ve taken someone who actually makes a team better—not just adds another line on their top six.
So, if we’re re-drafting with the benefit of hindsight? We take Matthew Tkachuk. Not that he was available. But let’s pretend for a second that Tkachuk didn’t bolt out of Canada to play in the AHL for a year before going to the Flames. Because if he had stayed in the draft, and the Jets took him at #2… I would’ve been on my knees thanking them.
Tkachuk is one of the most dangerous players in the league today. He’s a 40-goal scorer with elite speed, hands, and a total lack of fear. He can beat anyone one-on-one, he can kill penalties, and he can carry a team through a playoff series. He’s the kind of guy who makes the entire locker room better just by being on the ice.
And if you think I’m exaggerating? Look at the Jets’ current roster. They have Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and maybe some other guys. But they’ve never had someone like Tkachuk to really carry them over the hump. He’s the kind of player who makes people pay for mistakes. And in 2016, Winnipeg needed that more than anything.
So yeah, I’m re-picking #2 as Matthew Tkachuk. It would’ve been a game-changer. The Jets could’ve had a superstar forward, and they could’ve used him to build around the rest of their roster. Instead, they got Laine, who’s still waiting for that breakout season.
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### **3. NEW YORK RANGERS — ADAM FOX (PICK #3)**
This is where it gets interesting. In 2016, the Rangers took Jacob Trouba with the third pick. And honestly? That was a disaster. He didn’t pan out. He’s been a solid player but never reached the elite level they expected.
So, if we’re doing this re-draft, who do you take at #3? The answer is obvious: Adam Fox.
Yes, Adam Fox. The guy who played for the Rangers in 2016 and then got traded to the Islanders for a 2nd-round pick and some future assets. And now he’s one of the best defensemen in the league—two-time Norris Trophy finalist, 70+ points per season, and a complete game-changer on both ends of the ice.
But here’s the kicker: in 2016, Fox was still playing for the Rangers in the AHL. He wasn’t even considered an NHL-ready prospect yet. But if you had seen what he would become… you’d have taken him over Trouba in a heartbeat.
Fox is the kind of defenseman who can quarterback a power play, shut down the best forwards in the league, and be a leader on and off the ice. He’s got elite skating, positioning, and hockey IQ. And if the Rangers had drafted him instead of Trouba? They might’ve had a better defense corps. They might’ve been more competitive earlier.
So yeah, Adam Fox at #3. It would’ve been a no-brainer. The Rangers needed a shutdown defenseman who could play in all situations. And Fox is that guy. He’s the kind of player who makes you feel like you’re safe on the ice—until he goes and scores 15 goals in a season.
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### **WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER DRAFTS?**
Sure, we’re focused on the top three, but let’s not ignore the other picks from that draft. Because if you thought the top three were bad, wait until you hear about the rest of them.
The Flyers took Shayne Gostisbehere at #9. He was great for a while—60+ points in his rookie season, 45 goals in two seasons—but now he’s just another guy who had a good run and then disappeared into the void. The Rangers took Trouba, the Kings took Tobias Rieder (who is fine but not elite), and the Hurricanes took Justin Faulk (a solid player but nothing special).
And of course, there’s Olli Juolevi, who went 10th to the Ducks. He was supposed to be the future of their franchise. But he never made it past the AHL. Not even close.
So yeah, if you had a chance to redo that draft, you’d take Fox over Trouba, Tkachuk over Laine, and stay with Matthews at #1.
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### **WHAT DID THE REST OF THE NHL GET?**
Let’s be honest: the 2016 draft wasn’t great for most teams. The Leafs got the best player. The Jets got a guy who was supposed to be elite but never quite reached that level. And the Rangers got a defenseman they probably shouldn’t have taken.
But here’s the thing: even with all that, it still wasn’t the worst draft in history. It just had some misses and a few big hits.
The Kings took Rieder, who is fine. The Islanders got Nicklas Jensen (who never made it past the AHL). The Penguins got Kasperi Kapanen, who was better than expected but not elite. And then there’s Zach Werenski, who went 23rd to Columbus and has been a top-four defenseman for years.
So yeah, some of those picks worked out. But not enough to make up for the misses.
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### **WHAT IF WE HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW?**
Would we have done it differently?
Absolutely. Because hindsight is 20/20. And if you had known that Tkachuk would be one of the best players in the league, and that Fox would become a Norris finalist, and that Laine would never live up to his potential… you’d have made different decisions.
But here’s the real question: do we even care? Because no matter how many times we look back at the 2016 draft, it doesn’t change what happened. It doesn’t bring back Juolevi or make Laine a superstar. And it doesn’t give the Jets a championship.
So maybe all this re-drafting is just a way to feel better about ourselves. To pretend that we knew it all along and that our judgment was never in question.
But let’s be real: none of us had a clue back then.
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### **SO, WHAT’S THE POINT OF THIS WHOLE THING?**
The point is this: the 2016 draft was a mixed bag. Some teams got lucky. Others got burned. But it wasn’t one of the worst drafts in history—just one that we’re still trying to figure out.
And honestly? I’d rather talk about the players who have made it, like Matthews, Tkachuk, and Fox. Because they are the ones who changed the game.
But here’s my final thought: if you could go back in time and redo that draft… would you do it?
Or would you just enjoy the chaos of the moment?
Because I sure as hell wouldn’t have been the one picking Laine or Trouba. But maybe that’s just me.
So tell me this, comment section: WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE #1 PICK IN 2016? IS IT STILL MATTHEWS OR WAS THERE SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT COULD’VE CHANGED EVERYTHING?
I DARE YOU TO GET INTO A FIGHT ABOUT THIS.