NHL Draft

The consensus second and third choices for the 2016 NHL draft have a lot in common beyond just being Finnish. Choosing between them is consuming the attention of prospect watchers, but have we done it? Do we know which is better?

For the last time we take a look at the European league players who are or might be Leaf prospects.

Jakob Chychrun is the best defensive prospect in the 2016 NHL Draft class and one of the front runners for fourth overall.

We rank a lottery win for all 14 teams from best to worst.

It's just Andreas Johnson and the two Finnish draft prospects in action for now. But's it's championships on the line.

Good players are always going to play with good players, but Matthew Tkachuk has earned his place among the 2016 NHL Draft's elite.

Almost everyone, Jesse Puljujärvi is settling for third place, but the action is getting tense in Russia and Sweden, and Patrik Laine, Andreas Johnson and Nikita Zaitsev are all going for the cup—just not the same cup.

We're getting you set for June's 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo with player profiles, news, analysis and scouting reports.

In recent drafts, some pretty good American-bred prospects have turned into steals in the first round. This year, Clayton Keller might join Brock Boeser, Dylan Larkin and Kyle Connor in that conversation.

Playoffs are roaring along, and there's video from Russia and Finland to feast your eyes on.

A strong year for Europe-based skaters sees them dominate at the top

Beyond the family ties, there's a real argument to be made for Alex Nylander if the Leafs don't pick in the top three. He kicks off our 2016 NHL Draft Profile series.

With the 2015-16 season effectively come to a close, fourteen NHL teams turn their attention towards the draft lottery. And there are some twists this year.

Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujärvi could be Leaf picks this summer. Catch up on their goal-scoring action along with Andreas Johnson and Nikita Zaitsev.

The season is almost over and we're 25 days from the Draft Lottery!

A win here, a win there, it's fine.

The Leafs have gained 4 points since our last check, but still sit in 30th

The Maple Leafs continue to extend their lease on the bottom of the standings.

Western Canada is trying it's best to stay down but they make the mistake of winning games.

Suspensions! Injuries! Trades! What else will happen to move the tank along?

Watching the lottery standings so you don't have to. But if you're reading this you probably are anyway.

With the Captain gone, the hole in defense can only be filled by tanking.

We check up on the draft standings three weeks later. One thing remains the same: Columbus is bad.

With the top kids playing in Europe and North America named by NHL Central Scouting, we can take a look at who the Leafs can choose from with their many, many, 2016 draft picks.

The Leafs season is half over. As the calendar turns to 2016 let's begin looking elsewhere for comfort: the future.