Ice hockey players born between January 1, 1996, and September 15, 1998, were eligible for selection in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Additionally, un-drafted, non-North American players born in 1995 were eligible for the draft; and those players who were drafted in the2014 NHL entry draft, but not signed by an NHL team and who were born after June 30, 1996, were also eligible to re-enter the draft.[2]
Since the2012–13 NHL season all fourteen teams not qualifying for theStanley Cup playoffs have a "weighted" chance at winning the first overall selection.[3] Beginning with the2014–15 NHL season the NHL changed the weighting system that was used in previous years. Under the new system the odds of winning the draft lottery for the four lowest finishing teams in the league decreased, while the odds for the other non-playoff teams increased.[4] Starting with this draft the first three picks overall will be awarded by lottery. The odds of winning the second and third draws increased on a proportional basis depending on which team won the previous draw.[4] TheToronto Maple Leafs,Winnipeg Jets andColumbus Blue Jackets won the draft lotteries that took place on April 30, 2016,[5] giving them the first, second and third picks overall.[6] Toronto retained the top pick, while Winnipeg and Columbus moved up from the sixth and fourth spots, respectively. In the process, theEdmonton Oilers andVancouver Canucks were each knocked down two places from second and third to fourth and fifth overall, respectively, while theCalgary Flames dropped from fifth to sixth overall.
TheNew Jersey Devils' first-round pick went to theOttawa Senators as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first-round pick and the Islanders' third-round pick both in 2016 (12th and 80th overall) to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.[9]
TheOttawa Senators' first-round pick went to theNew Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first-round pick (11th overall) to Ottawa in exchange for the Islanders' third-round pick in 2016 (80th overall) and this pick.[9]
TheDetroit Red Wings' first-round pick went to theArizona Coyotes as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sentJoe Vitale, the Rangers' first-round pick and a compensatory second-round pick both in 2016 (20th and 53rd overall) to Detroit in exchange for the cap hit ofPavel Datsyuk and this pick.[10]
ThePhiladelphia Flyers' first-round pick went to theWinnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent Chicago's first-round pick and a second-round pick both in 2016 (22nd and 36th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for a third-round pick in 2016 (79th overall) and this pick.[11]
TheNew York Rangers' first-round pick went to theDetroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sentPavel Datsyuk and a first-round pick in 2016 (16th overall) to Arizona in exchange forJoe Vitale, a compensatory second-round pick in 2016 (53rd overall) and this pick.[10]
Arizona previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 1, 2015, that sentKeith Yandle,Chris Summers and a fourth-round pick in 2016 to New York in exchange forJohn Moore,Anthony Duclair, Tampa Bay's second-round pick in2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[12] The condition – Arizona will receive a first-round pick in 2016 if New York qualifies for the2016 Stanley Cup playoffs[13] – was converted on April 4, 2016.[14]
TheLos Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to theCarolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on February 25, 2015, that sentAndrej Sekera to Los Angeles in exchange forRoland McKeown and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[15] The condition – Carolina will receive a first-round pick in 2016 if Los Angeles fails to qualify for the2015 Stanley Cup playoffs[15] – was converted on April 9, 2015.[16]
TheChicago Blackhawks' first-round pick went to thePhiladelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first and third-round pick both in 2016 (18th and 79th overall) to Winnipeg in exchange for a second-round pick in 2016 (36th overall) and this pick.[11]
Winnipeg previously acquired this pick from Chicago as the result of a trade on February 25, 2016, that sentAndrew Ladd,Jay Harrison andMatt Fraser to Chicago in exchange forMarko Dano, a conditional third-round pick in2018 and this pick.[17]
TheWashington Capitals' first-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first-round pick and Washington's third-round pick both in 2016 (28th and 87th overall) to Washington in exchange for this pick.[18]
TheSt. Louis Blues' first-round pick went to theWashington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first-round pick in 2016 (26th overall) to St. Louis in exchange for Washington's third-round pick in 2016 (87th overall) and this pick.[18]
Toronto previously acquired this pick from Pittsburgh as the result of a trade on July 1, 2015, that sentPhil Kessel,Tyler Biggs,Tim Erixon and a conditional second-round pick in 2016 to Pittsburgh in exchange forNick Spaling,Kasperi Kapanen,Scott Harrington, New Jersey's third-round pick in 2016 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[21] The condition – Toronto will receive a first-round pick in 2016 if Pittsburgh qualifies for the2016 Stanley Cup playoffs[22] – was converted on April 2, 2016.[23]
TheVancouver Canucks' second-round pick went to theBuffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sentMark Pysyk, a second-round pick and St. Louis' third-round pick both in 2016 (38th and 89th overall) to Florida in exchange forDmitry Kulikov and this pick.[24]
Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 25, 2016, that sentErik Gudbranson and the Islanders fifth-round pick in 2016 to Vancouver in exchange forJared McCann, a fourth-round pick in 2016 and this pick.[25]
TheCalgary Flames' second-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sentBrian Elliott to Calgary in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in2018 and this pick.[26]
TheWinnipeg Jets' second-round pick went to thePhiladelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first and third-round pick both in 2016 (18th and 79th overall) to Winnipeg in exchange for Chicago's first-round pick in 2016 (22nd overall) and this pick.[11]
TheBuffalo Sabres' second-round pick went to theFlorida Panthers as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sentDmitri Kulikov and Vancouver's second-round pick in 2016 (33rd overall) to Buffalo in exchange forMark Pysyk, St. Louis' third-round pick in 2016 (89th overall) and this pick.[24]
TheMontreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to theChicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sentAndrew Shaw to Montreal in exchange for Minnesota's second-round pick in 2016 (45th overall) and this pick.[28]
TheColorado Avalanche's second-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sent Buffalo's second-round pick in2015 to San Jose in exchange for a second-round pick in 2015, Colorado's sixth-round pick in2017 and this pick.[29]
San Jose previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 1, 2014, that sentBrad Stuart to Colorado in exchange for a sixth-round pick in2017 and this pick.[30]
TheMinnesota Wild's second-round pick went to theChicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sentAndrew Shaw to Montreal in exchange for a second-round pick in 2016 (39th overall) and this pick.[28]
Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 1, 2014, that sentJosh Gorges to Buffalo in exchange for this pick.[32][33]
Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 5, 2014, that sentMatt Moulson andCody McCormick to Minnesota in exchange forTorrey Mitchell, Winnipeg's second-round pick in2014 and this pick.[34]
TheNew York Islanders' second-round pick went to theBoston Bruins as the result of a trade on October 4, 2014, that sentJohnny Boychuk to New York in exchange for Philadelphia's second-round pick in2015, a conditional third-round pick in 2015 and this pick.[35]
Carolina previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 28, 2016, that sentEric Staal to New York in exchange forAleksi Saarela, a second-round pick in2017 and this pick.[38]
TheChicago Blackhawks' second-round pick went to thePhiladelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on February 27, 2015, that sentKimmo Timonen to Chicago in exchange for a second-round pick in2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[39] The condition – Philadelphia will receive a second-round pick in 2016 if Chicago advances to the2015 Stanley Cup Finals with Timonen playing in at least 50% of the Blackhawks' playoff games[40] – was converted on May 30, 2015.[41]
TheArizona Coyotes' compensatory second-round pick (53rd overall) went to theDetroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sentPavel Datsyuk and a first-round pick in 2016 (16th overall) to Arizona in exchange forJoe Vitale, the Rangers' first-round pick in 2016 (20th overall) and this pick.[10]
Arizona previously received this pick as compensation for not signing2014 first-round draft pickConner Bleackley, whom they acquired in an earlier trade with Colorado.[42]
TheFlorida Panthers' second-round pick went to theCalgary Flames as the result of a trade on February 27, 2016, that sentJiri Hudler to Florida in exchange for a fourth-round pick in2018 and this pick.[43]
ThePittsburgh Penguins' second-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on trade on July 1, 2015, that sentNick Spaling,Kasperi Kapanen,Scott Harrington, New Jersey's third-round pick in 2016 and a conditional first-round pick in 2016 to Toronto in exchange forPhil Kessel,Tyler Biggs,Tim Erixon and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[21] The condition – Pittsburgh will re-acquire their own second-round pick in 2016 if the Penguins qualify for the2016 Stanley Cup playoffs – was converted on April 2, 2016, when the Penguins clinched a playoff spot.[23]
Toronto previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 25, 2015, in a trade that sentDaniel Winnik to Pittsburgh in exchange forZach Sill, a fourth-round pick in2015 and this pick.[48]
TheVancouver Canucks' third-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on July 28, 2015, that sentNick Bonino,Adam Clendening and Anaheim's second-round pick in 2016 to Pittsburgh in exchange forBrandon Sutter and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[44] The condition – Vancouver will receive the earlier of New York or Vancouver's third-round pick in 2016[44][49] – was converted on March 25, 2016, when the Canucks were eliminated from playoff contention ensuring that they would finish behind the Islanders in the overall league standings.
Pittsburgh previously acquired this pick as compensation for Buffalo hiringDan Bylsma as their head coach on May 28, 2015.[50]
Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015, that sentMichal Neuvirth to the New York Islanders in exchange forChad Johnson and this pick.[49]
The Islanders previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on November 25, 2014, that sentAndrey Pedan to Vancouver in exchange forAlexandre Mallet and this pick.[51]
TheWinnipeg Jets' third round pick went to theCarolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on February 25, 2015, that sentJiri Tlusty to Winnipeg in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in2015 and this pick.[52]
Pittsburgh previously acquired this pick as compensation for New Jersey hiringJohn Hynes as their head coach on June 2, 2015.[54]
TheOttawa Senators' third-round pick went to theNew Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sent a second-round pick in2015 to Ottawa in exchange for Dallas' second-round pick in 2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition – New Jersey will receive a fourth-round pick in 2015 or a third-round pick in 2016 at their choice – was converted when New Jersey did not take the 109th pick in the2015 NHL entry draft.[29]
Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 29, 2016, that sentJamie McGinn to Anaheim in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[57] The condition – Buffalo will receive a third-round pick in 2016 if Anaheim does not qualify for the2016 Western Conference Final[58] – was converted on April 27, 2016, when Anaheim was eliminated from the2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Anaheim previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 26, 2015, that sentKyle Palmieri to New Jersey in exchange for Florida's second-round pick in2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[59] The condition – Anaheim will receive the higher of either Florida or Minnesota's third-round pick in 2016.[60] – was converted on April 24, 2016, when Minnesota was eliminated from the2016 Stanley Cup playoffs ensuring that the Wild's pick would be higher than Florida's.
New Jersey previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 26, 2015, that sentJaromir Jagr to Florida in exchange for a second-round pick in2015 and this pick.[61]
Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 24, 2015, that sentSean Bergenheim and a seventh-round pick in 2016 to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.[62]
New Jersey previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015, that sentMarek Zidlicky to Detroit in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[64] The condition – New Jersey will receive a third-round pick in 2016 if Detroit does not advance to the2015 Stanley Cup Finals[64] – was converted on April 29, 2015, when Detroit was eliminated from the2015 Stanley Cup playoffs.
ThePhiladelphia Flyers' third-round pick went to theWinnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent Chicago's first-round pick and a second-round pick both in 2016 (22nd and 36th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for a first-round pick in 2016 (18th overall) and this pick.[11]
TheNew York Islanders' third-round pick went to theNew Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first-round pick in 2016 (11th overall) to Ottawa in exchange for a first-round pick in 2016 (12th overall) and this pick.[9]
Ottawa previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 29, 2016, that sentShane Prince and a seventh-round pick in 2016 to New York in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[65] The condition – Ottawa will receive the lower of New York or Vancouver's third-round pick in 2016[49] – was converted on March 25, 2016, when the Canucks were eliminated from playoff contention ensuring that they would finish behind the Islanders in the overall league standings.
TheFlorida Panthers' third-round pick went to theEdmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on February 27, 2016, that sentTeddy Purcell to Florida in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[67] The condition – Edmonton will receive the lower of Minnesota or Florida's third-round pick in 2016[67] – was converted on April 24, 2016, when Minnesota was eliminated from the2016 Stanley Cup playoffs ensuring that the Florida's pick would be lower than Minnesota's.
TheDallas Stars' third-round pick went to theBuffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on February 11, 2015, that sentJhonas Enroth to Dallas in exchange forAnders Lindback and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[68] The condition – Buffalo will receive a third-round pick in 2016 if Enroth wins fewer than four playoff games for the Stars in2015 – was converted on April 6, 2015, when the Stars were eliminated from playoff contention.[69]
TheWashington Capitals' third-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 24, 2016, that sent a first-round pick in 2016 (26th overall) to St. Louis in exchange for a first-round pick in 2016 (28th overall) and this pick.[18]
St. Louis previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 2, 2015, that sentT.J. Oshie to Washington in exchange forTroy Brouwer,Pheonix Copley and this pick.[70]
TheSt. Louis Blues' third-round pick went to theFlorida Panthers as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sentDmitri Kulikov and Vancouver's second-round pick in 2016 (33rd overall) to Buffalo in exchange forMark Pysyk, a second-round pick in 2016 (38th overall) and this pick.[24]
Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 28, 2014, that sentRyan Miller,Steve Ott and conditional second and third-round picks in 2014 to St. Louis in exchange forJaroslav Halak,Chris Stewart,William Carrier, a first-round pick in2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[71] The condition – Buffalo will receive a third-round pick in 2016 if Miller does not re-sign with St. Louis for the2014–15 NHL season – was converted on July 1, 2014, when Miller signed with Vancouver.[72]
TheVancouver Canucks' fourth-round pick went to theFlorida Panthers as the result of a trade on May 25, 2016, that sentErik Gudbranson and the Islanders fifth-round pick in 2016 to Vancouver in exchange forJared McCann, a second-round pick in 2016 and this pick.[25]
TheColumbus Blue Jackets' fourth-round pick went to theNew York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sent a fourth-round pick in 2016 (110th overall) and a sixth-round pick in2017 to Chicago in exchange for this pick.[76]
TheBoston Bruins' fourth-round pick went to theNew Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on February 29, 2016, that sentLee Stempniak to Boston in exchange for a second-round pick in2017 and this pick.[79]
TheNew York Islanders' fourth-round pick went toChicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sent Columbus' fourth-round pick in 2016 (95th overall) to New York in exchange for a sixth-round pick in2017 and this pick.[76]
TheSan Jose Sharks' fourth-round pick went to theNew York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sent a fourth-round pick in2017 to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.[81]
Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sentNicklas Grossmann andChris Pronger to Arizona in exchange forSam Gagner and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[82] The condition – Philadelphia will receive a fourth-round pick in 2016 if Arizona acquires another fourth-round pick in 2016, at Arizona's choice – was converted on June 25, 2016.
Arizona previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 20, 2016, that sentMaxim Letunov and a sixth-round pick in2017 to San Jose in exchange for Detroit's third-round pick in 2017 and this pick.[83]
TheMinnesota Wild's fifth-round pick went to theBoston Bruins as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sent a fifth-round pick in2015 to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.[29]
Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sent Montreal's fifth-round pick in2015 to New York in exchange for this pick.[29]
TheFlorida Panthers' fifth-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sent a fifth-round pick in2017 to Chicago in exchange for this pick.[76]
Chicago previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 2, 2014, that sentBrandon Pirri to Florida in exchange for a third-round pick in2014 and this pick.[88]
Toronto previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015, that sentKorbinian Holzer to Anaheim in exchange forEric Brewer and this pick.[89]
TheBoston Bruins' sixth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 25, 2015, that sentCarl Soderberg to Colorado in exchange for this pick.[91]
Colorado previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015, that sentMax Talbot andPaul Carey to Boston in exchange forJordan Caron and this pick.[92]
TheLos Angeles Kings' sixth-round pick went to thePhiladelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sent Columbus' fourth-round pick in2015 to Los Angeles in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2015 and this pick.[29]
TheFlorida Panthers' sixth-round pick went to theNew York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 20, 2016, that sentKeith Yandle to Florida in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in2017 and this pick.[94]
TheSt. Louis Blues' sixth-round pick went to theToronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade March 2, 2015, that sentOlli Jokinen to St. Louis in exchange forJoakim Lindstrom and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[96] The condition – Toronto will receive a sixth-round pick in 2016 if St. Louis fails to make it to the2015 Stanley Cup Finals[96] – was converted on April 26, 2015.[97]
TheWinnipeg Jets' seventh-round pick went to theMontreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sent a seventh-round pick in2017 to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.[98]
TheOttawa Senators' seventh-round pick went theNew York Islanders as the result of a trade on February 29, 2016, that sent a conditional third-round pick in 2016 to Ottawa in exchange forShane Prince and this pick.[65]
TheCarolina Hurricanes' seventh-round pick went to theVancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sentEddie Lack to Carolina in exchange for a third-round pick in 2015 and this pick.[29]
TheBoston Bruins' seventh-round pick went to theFlorida Panthers as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016, that sent a seventh-round pick in2017 to Boston in exchange for this pick.[100]
TheFlorida Panthers' seventh-round pick went to theMinnesota Wild as the result of a trade on February 24, 2015, that sent a third-round pick in 2016 to Florida in exchange forSean Bergenheim and this pick.[62]
TheDallas Stars' seventh-round pick went to theTampa Bay Lightning as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015, that sent Anaheim's seventh-round pick in2015 to Edmonton in exchange for this pick.[29]
Edmonton previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 5, 2013, that sentShawn Horcoff to Dallas in exchange forPhilip Larsen and this pick.[101]