> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Tank Watch 2016: The return to mediocrity for the 2016 NHL Draft - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/tank-watch-2016-the-return-to-mediocrity-for-the-2016-nhl-draft/ - Published: 2016-01-11T16:00:06.000Z - Updated: 2016-01-11T16:00:06.000Z - Description: The Leafs season is half over. As the calendar turns to 2016 let's begin looking elsewhere for comfort: the future. - Author: Adam Selvig - Tags: Maple Leafs Prospects, NHL Draft, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 10:50 Boy I was hoping we wouldn't need one of these trackers this season, but here we are. January 11, 2016 and the [Toronto Maple Leafs](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) are near last place in the NHL. I was hesitant on when to publish this, at the half way mark, after game 42? At the trade deadline? Well, after the season in 2015 and where we are in the standings, we may as well keep our eye on the prize as the new year dawns. Let's review the new draft rules shall we: The biggest change is the odds of getting 1st overall (via [NHL.com](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/nhl-twt/)): | Non-Playoff Team(Fewest Pts. to Most) | New Draft Lottery Odds | Odds Under Former Allocation | | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------------- | | 1 | 20.0% | 25.0% | | 2 | 13.5% | 18.8% | | 3 | 11.5% | 14.2% | | 4 | 9.5% | 10.7% | | 5 | 8.5% | 8.1% | | 6 | 7.5% | 6.2% | | 7 | 6.5% | 4.7% | | 8 | 6.0% | 3.6% | | 9 | 5.0% | 2.7% | | 10 | 3.5% | 2.1% | | 11 | 3.0% | 1.5% | | 12 | 2.5% | 1.1% | | 13 | 2.0% | 0.8% | | 14 | 1.0% | 0.5% | Worse odds for the bottom 4 teams, better odds for everyone else. There are actually three separate lotteries being held, one for the first overall pick, one for second, and one for third. Three chances to move up, and the last place team can fall all the way down to fourth. Let's take a look at some of the top ranked prospects (all numbers as of 1/11/16 at eliteprospects.com): [Auston Matthews](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=199898&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Zurich, NLA C - 6'2" - 194lbs 22GP - 14G - 11A - 25P Forget his standout play at the World Juniors, Matthews has been remarkable as a first-year pro in Switzerland's NLA with the ZSC lions. Even a major injury likely wouldn't affect his status as the aforementioned "prize" this year. You don't often find big centres with the power *and* the puck skills that Matthews has. He's going to be a first line centre in the NHL. - Scott Wheeler [Matthew Tkachuk](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=233030&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- London, OHL LW - 6'1" - 194lbs 30GP - 15G - 46A - 61P > Playing on the OHL's best line with Mitch Marner and [Coyotes](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/arizona-coyotes?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) prospect [Christian Dvorak](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/246261/christian-dvorak?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), Tkachuk worked his way onto the United States' World Juniors roster as one of their five draft-eligible player. He's a passer above all else, and his size allow him to protect the puck along the boards and behind the net to control possession. Manages and slows down the game as well as anyone in this class. - Scott Wheeler [Jesse Puljujarvi](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=152117&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Karpat, SM-Liiga RW - 6'3" - 196lbs 32GP - 5G - 8A - 13P Speaking of power, Jesse Puljujarvi can overwhelm defenders by driving the net off the rush or dominating them in offensive zone puck battles. It certainly helps have a heavy, NHL shot too. He's been a star for quite some time now and there's no reason to believe his tools won't translate in the NHL. He can beat defenders wide and score with a quick cut to get his shot off. - Scott Wheeler [Jakob Chychrun](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=243386&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Sarnia, OHL LHD - 6'2" - 194lbs 35GP - 5G - 19A - 24P Chychrun is a high-risk offensive weapon who isn't afraid to try and make a flashy play. He's not the best defender in the class but he's a mature player for his age and an athletic force. Already built for the NHL as an athlete, and gifted enough offensively. He'll need some fine tuning in his gap control but he rarely gets exposed one-on-one because he's physical enough to remove the carrier from the puck. - Scott Wheeler [Patrik Laine](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=221667&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Tappara, SM-Liiga RW/LW - 6'4" - 209lbs 24GP - 8G - 8A - 16P SPEAKING OF POWER. - Scott Wheeler [Julien Gauthier](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=213464&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Val D'or, QMJHL RW - 6'4" - 212lbs 30GP - 29G - 8A - 37P Gauthier -- no relation -- has found a niche in the QMJHL as a pure scorer. Val d'Or has a ton of passers, which helps and needs to be taken into consideration in evaluating his play. He earned his spot on Team Canada at the World Juniors though, and his physicality will benefit him in making the transition to the NHL at a younger age than some of the other scorers in the class. Could end up as more of a complimentary piece than the likes of Puljujarvi and Laine at the next level. - Scott Wheeler [Michael McLeod](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=240821&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Mississauga, OHL C - 6'2" - 187lbs 39GP - 17G - 28A - 45P I'm not as high on McLeod as some others but he's among the most complete forwards in the class. Scores most of his goals by going to the front of the net to finish off rebounds or get a shot off from passes in around the crease. Excellent skater too. Could develop into a well-rounded 2/3C but I doubt his first line upside. He and Nylander complement each other really well. [Alexander Nylander](http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=212641&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) \- Mississauga, OHL RW/LW - 6'0" - 172lbs 34GP - 22G - 28A - 50P Was Sweden's best player at Ivan Hlinka and has been one of their best players at the World Juniors. Like his brother, he's a shifty skater who can handle the puck in and out of traffic. Not afraid to turn back away from the net in the offensive zone to wait for his play but can also cut to the middle. The most accurate shot in the OHL. - Scott Wheeler Here's where the lottery odds sit right now: | Team | Points | GamesRemaining | % at 1st | +/- | | ------------ | ------ | -------------- | -------- | --- | | Tampa Bay | 46 | 40 | 1.0% | \- | | Ottawa | 46 | 39 | 2.0% | \- | | Pittsburgh | 45 | 41 | 2.5% | \- | | Colorado | 45 | 39 | 3.0% | \- | | Philadelphia | 43 | 42 | 3.5% | \- | | Carolina | 43 | 39 | 5.0% | \- | | Anaheim | 41 | 40 | 6.0% | \- | | Winnipeg | 41 | 40 | 6.5% | \- | | San Jose | 40 | 43 | 7.5% | \- | | Calgary | 40 | 42 | 8.5% | \- | | Toronto | 39 | 42 | 9.5% | \- | | Edmonton | 37 | 39 | 11.5% | \- | | Buffalo | 36 | 40 | 13.5% | \- | | Columbus | 34 | 39 | 20% | \- | Right now the Maple Leafs are 4th last, so just out of double digit odds for the top pick. In my eyes the overall play is improving, but the standings are not. With injuries to almost every goaltender they have signed, and a new injury to JVR that could keep him out until March, are all signs pointing to the tank, or is this just a string of bad luck until a last minute miracle run into the playoffs? Personally, I'd be OK with either one. The Leafs are 8 points our of a wild card spot, and 10 points out of an Atlantic playoff spot with games in hand on all other teams except Boston. If the Leafs don't make a run for it, the biggest changes on this list I want to see are Edmonton and Pittsburgh making the playoffs. Edmonton because they'll win the lottery otherwise, and Pittsburgh because the Leafs get their first round pick if they make it. We'll check in on the tank watch again next Monday.