The Journey examines 2016 draft picks whose stock has risen since their selection. 

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As we get closer each day to June 23^rd and the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, The Journey looks back at last summer’s selections, and examines whose stock has increased throughout the 2016-17 season relative to their drafted position.  

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Clayton Keller – Selected 7^th overall by the Arizona Coyotes

Coming into the draft last year, everyone knew of how high of a ceiling Keller had offensively, but some were skeptical of his size and his ability for his play to translate in a tighter-checking environment. His play this season for Boston University, and his stints for the United States at both the World Juniors and World Championships have quieted most of that skepticism.

Keller has signed his entry-level deal with the Coyotes, and will not be returning to college hockey this season. He played well in the three games that he played for Arizona at the end of the season, with two assists, and has four goals in four games currently at the World Championships. It’s obvious that he is ready to play and produce at the NHL level and will give the Coyotes a dynamic scoring threat for years to come. Getting that type of production at seventh spot is a win in any draft.

Jakub Chychrun – Selected 16^th overall by the Arizona Coyotes

Talk about a heck of a draft. Arizona had a second first-round pick, acquired from Detroit when the Coyotes took on Pavel Datsyuk’s contract. With the 16^th selection, they stepped up and picked Chychrun, who, although a consensus top-five pick for most of the season, was sliding down the draft board.

Chychrun ended up being the fifth defenseman selected in 2016, and was the only first-round blueliner who spent the majority of his games in 2016-17 at the NHL level. He played in 68 games for the Coyotes, scoring seven goals and adding 13 assists while playing nearly 17 minutes per night. For multi-category owners, Chychrun nearly surpassed the 100-mark in both hits (109) and blocked shots (99). As Chychrun continues to develop, he should gain more power-play time, which should increase his point totals as just two of his 20 points came with man advantage. The Coyotes did well by nabbing Keller and Chychrun in the first round, two players who will fill holes on their roster for years to come.

Henrik Borgstrom – Selected 23^rd overall by the Florida Panthers

When Borgstrom’s name was called in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, it was labeled immediately as an off-the-board selection. He was not selected in the 2015 draft, and was scooped up by the Panthers in his second year of draft eligibility as a first-round pick, a path that is not often followed. However, Florida had the ability to wait on some of their prospects considering the success of the young players in their lineup who may have blossomed a bit earlier then the team may have been expecting.

Fast forward a year later, and there are other clubs who may have been hoping that they had the foresight that the Panthers did last summer. Borgstrom helped propel the University of Denver to a national championship, by averaging over a point per game in his freshman season with the Pioneers. He finished third in college hockey behind Keller and Denis Smirnov among freshman forwards with 22 goals and 21 assists, leading in both goals and game-winning goals. A knock against Borgstrom was his slight frame, but he has put on weight and should continue to develop his all-around game in the Panthers organization.

Sam Steel – Selected 30^th overall by the Anaheim Ducks

With the last pick of the first round in 2016, the Ducks selected Steel with the pick that they acquired when they traded Frederik Andersen to the Toronto Maple Leafs. At the time, Steel had just finished a solid second season with the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats, posting 70 points in 72 regular season games, and adding 16 more in 12 postseason contests.

A year later, Steel has a few more accolades to his name. He was voted WHL Player of the Year and won the WHL’s Bobby Clarke Trophy, given to the league’s top scorer in 2016-17. His .97 point-per-game rate in 2015-16 jumped to 1.98 this past season, when he piled up 131 points in just 66 regular season games. A pick that was viewed at the time as solid, but unspectacular could end up being quite a bit more valuable if Steel can continue his production when he moves on from junior hockey.

Jordan Kyrou – Selected 35^th overall by the St. Louis Blues

The draft-day trade of Brian Elliot to Calgary brought this pick to St. Louis, and the Blues added Toronto native Jordan Kyrou to fellow forward Tage Thompson, a first-round selection at 26^th overall. Lauded as an offensive producer, Kyrou had good draft year production for the Sarnia Sting with 51 points in 65 games, but there was some thought that some other undrafted players at the time could have gone ahead of him.

This season, Kyrou took a step towards raising his ceiling to a top-six winger and elite point producer. His point-per-game rate in his post-draft season increased to 1.42 from .78 a year prior which finished eighth among Ontario Hockey League players in 2016-17. He is deft passer, whose 64 assists ranked fifth in the league. Kyrou is a player who makes those he plays with elevate their game, and his game should translate as he continues move through the Blues organization.

Adam Mascherin – Selected 38^th overall by the Florida Panthers

Mascherin was a personal favorite of mine coming into the 2016 draft, as he is a relentless competitor, and despite his height is unafraid to battle for his ice. The Panthers scooped him up early in the second round as another player who they could allow time for development.

He was selected second overall by Kitchener in the 2014 OHL Priority draft, which at the time was a testament to his elite skill level. Since then, he has been over a point-per-game player in his 192 OHL games, and was one of just three players (Alex DeBrincat and Taylor Raddysh) to eclipse 100 points in 2016-17. Unlike the Erie pair, Mascherin did so with far less talent around him. He may take some time to develop, but has the overall ability to be yet another undersized playmaker in the NHL. Working in his favor is that despite his height, Mascherin is well built kid and has the mental make-up and work ethic needed to succeed.

Adam Fox – Selected 66^th overall by the Calgary Flames

Fox went off the board to the Calgary Flames as the fifth pick in the third round. He is a bit of an undersized player but is a dynamic puck mover who was close to a point-per-game in his draft year for the US National Team Development Program. He was a prospect that many liked as a value pick for the Flames, but as one who would have to develop during his time playing for the Harvard Crimson in the ECAC.

Instead, Fox took NCAA hockey by storm and helped Harvard to reach the Frozen Four in Chicago. His 40 points in 35 games led all college hockey defensemen, as did his 22 power-play assists and 24 power-play points. His .97 assists per game and his 1.14 points per game also led all NCAA defensemen in 2016-17. To this point Fox has not signed his entry-level contract with the Flames and appears to be heading back to Harvard for his sophomore year. You better believe Calgary is happy with the way he is progressing.

Victor Mete – Selected 100^th overall by the Montreal Canadiens

Mete was a bit overlooked in his draft year due to the supreme amount of talent that was present on the London Knights roster. His final Central Scouting ranking was 74^th, but the Montreal Canadiens were able to nab him with their fourth round selection.

This season, Mete took on more responsibility off the ice when he was named an assistant captain of the reigning Memorial Cup champions. He took a step forward in his development on the ice as well, scoring 15 times and finishing with 44 points in 50 games. Both of which were career highs for the defenseman. The smooth-skating Mete was ninth among OHL defensemen in points per game, and finished sixth in goals. It was a bit more unknown as to what his projectable floor and ceiling were at draft time, but it appears that an NHL future is coming into focus.

Patrick Harper – Selected 138^th overall by the Nashville Predators

Nashville has been admirable over the past few years at hitting on mid-round draft picks. Players like Mattias Ekholm, Craig Smith and Viktor Arvidsson were all taken in the fourth round or later. Patrick Harper was a member of the heralded Boston University recruiting class that included fellow 2016 draftees Clayton Keller, Dante Fabbro, Kieffer Bellows and Chad Krys but was drafted later than the rest of the group.

However, when it came to his freshman year, Harper was fourth among all NCAA first years in scoring with 37 points in 39 games and the Terriers second leading point producer on a team full of stars. The Connecticut native will continue his career at BU, and should be one of college hockey’s top scorers as his career progresses. If he’s not already on your radar for the future, he’s a definite sleeper going forward.

Tanner Laczynski – Selected 169^th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers

In the sixth round, teams are hoping that they can draft a player with the possibility of providing depth at the professional level. Occasionally, teams hit on late picks who produce above their draft position, and Tanner Laczynski has shown signs of being that type of player. Like Borgstrom, Laczynski was also passed over his first time in the draft but made big strides in his over-age year.

The Illinois native who was once cut from the USHL was a surprise inclusion for Team USA at the World Juniors, especially after the news came down that Alex DeBrincat and Logan Brown would not be participating members. But the formula that Team USA constructed was one that was built around a team, not just picking the best players. His freshman season at Ohio State University was a success, finishing the year with 32 points in 34 games and leading the team with a plus-20 rating. Like Harper, he should continue to develop in college hockey as his career goes on, and he is most certainly someone whose success if easy to root for going forward.

More from 'The Journey':

Which Prospects Are The Best Fits

Fastest-Rising Prospect Defensemen

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