2016 NHL Draft: Where are the top 5 picks now?

The 2016 NHL draft was not as star-studded as the 2015 edition. Apart from the top picks, there were no players for whom teams would trade picks or players.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets had the first, second and third picks, respectively. THey were followed by the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks.

Coming into the draft, the NHL Central scouting report had Pierre-Luc Dubois, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine and Alexander Nylander as the top five prospects.

Safe to say, there were some surprises in the top five picks from the 2016 NHL draft.

#5. Olli Juolevi, Vancouver Canucks

Olli Juolevi #84 of the Detroit Red Wings (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Olli Juolevi was the first defenseman selected in the draft. After a short stint for the Canucks (and their AHL affiliate, the Utica Cornets), Juolevi was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2021, in exchange for Noah Juulsen and Juho Lammikko. Even at the Panthers, he was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

In early 2022, Juolevi was placed on waivers by the Panthers and was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings. In July, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

It's safe to say that the No. 5 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft has not realized his potential yet.

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#4. Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton Oilers

Jesse Puljujarvi #13 of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Jesse Puljujarvi signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016. After a handful of games, he was sent to the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. During his time there, he scored 12 goals and 16 assists in 39 games.

In 2022, he signed a one-year extension with the Oilers. In the current season, he has four goals and six assists with an average of 12.34 minutes on the ice.

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#3. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Columbus Blue Jackets

Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

After being drafted third overall, Pierre-Luc Dubois returned to his Major Junior Hockey League team, the Eagles. He started the next season as the center and soon began to showcase his offensive prowess.

In December 2020, Dubois signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Blue Jackets. However, two weeks after re-signing, Dubois requested a trade. Dubois was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in January 2021 in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.

Dubois has scored 22 goals this season, with 30 assists in his 52 games played. He is rumored to be traded to the Montreal Canadiens before the March 3 trade deadline.

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#2. Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets v Los Angeles Kings

The Finnish national took the league by storm in his first year. In the 2016-17 NHL season, Patrik Laine had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points, the second-highest in Winnipeg Jets history.

In his second season, Laine placed second for most goals scored in the regular season with 44, just behind Alex Ovechkin's 49.

He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with Jack Roslovic in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick. He signed a four-year, $34.8 million extension with the Blue Jackets.

In the current season, Laine has played 36 games and has 31 points, from 14 goals and 17 assists.

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#1. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

New York Rangers v Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews became the first player in modern NHL history to score four goals in his debut game against the Ottawa Senators. He scored 40 goals in his first season, which earned him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie that season.

In 2021-22, Matthews scored 60 goals in the regular season, winning the Rocket Richard award for the second consecutive season. He also received the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player and the Hart Trophy, for MVP.

In the current season, Matthews has 53 points from 25 goals and 28 assists for the Toronto Maple Leafs.