The 2016 NHL draft class is an ideal draft for an organization to beef up its offense. From Arizona product Auston Matthews to Sudbury Wolves import Dmitri Sokolov, it is full of high-end forwards who have size to go along their skill.

All in all, BTN’s top 10 list includes six forwards who are at least 6-foot-2. Only two of the prospects, the United States National Team Development Program's Clayton Keller and Chad Krys, are below 6-feet.

Without further ado, here’s a look at an early take on the 2016 draft’s top 10 prospects. Hockey scout Brendan Ross put the ranking together with the help of his Mckeen’s Hockey colleagues.

1. Auston Matthews, centre, ZSC Lions (National League A) – Matthews heads into the 2015-16 season regarded as the draft’s clear-cut top prospect. He dominated the USNTDP last year, scoring 55 goals and 116 points in 60 games.

The 6-foot-2, 194-pound forward made an unprecedented move this offseason by choosing to head to Europe for his draft year. He signed with Switzerland’s ZSC Lions because he felt it was a better development option than the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and numerous NCAA programs. His $400K salary likely played a role in the decision, too.

Scout’s take: “Matthews is a rare hockey breed due to his strong power game and exceptional possession skills, but it’s his dogged worth ethic and suffocating hunger for loose pucks that makes him absolutely exhausting to defend,” says Ross. “He’s got the size, wingspan and strength to fight off checkers and the skill, puck touch and finishing abilities to excel in tight spaces. Not very often do you see a high-end skill player compete with rare unpredictable offensive attacks also play the game with such a blue-collared mentality. He’ll be loved wherever he ends up.”

2. Jakob Chychrun, defence, Sarnia Sting (OHL) – The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder, who notched 16 goals and 33 points in 42 games on the Sting last year, is touted as the top rearguard of the draft. He has the makings of a future No. 1 defenseman who can anchor the play at both ends of the ice.

Chychrun is a Canadian citizen and represents the Great White North in international tournaments, but grew up playing minor hockey in Florida. He played for the Junior Everblades of the Florida Junior Panthers organization when he was in elementary school. He moved to Canada when he was 14 and was later drafted first overall by the Sting in the 2014 OHL priority draft.

Scout’s take: “Off the ice, given Jakob’s father, Jeff Chychrun, had a 10-year NHL career, it’s not surprising that he’s one of the most mature young prospects to come around the game in quite some time. On the ice, Chychrun is a fiery competitor who oozes confidence in possession. As an advanced skater, gifted puck handler and physically blessed defender, Chychrun displays elite abilities to activate into the rush while also maintaining sound defensive awareness. He’s an intelligent attacker, punishing checker and executes difficult plays at high speeds with ease.”

3. Jesse Puljujärvi, wing, Karpat (Liiga) – As it stands, the Finland product is a half-a-step ahead of the rest of the forwards in the draft besides Matthews. He’s well beyond his years on the ice, as he made the jump to the pro ranks in his 16-year-old season last year, netting four goals and 11 points in 21 matches with Karpat.

Ultimately, Puljujärvi is cut from the same cloth as fellow countryman Aleksander Barkov, whom the Florida Panthers chose second overall in 2013. He’s a big (6-foot-2, 181 pounds) sniper who plays an aggressive style.

Scout’s take: “He’s a hungry attacker who blends size, quick in-tight mobility and a seeing-eye shot to be dubbed one of the most feared attackers of his age group. Puljujärvi is a high volume shooter who attacks seams with quick powerful strides that separate him from opposing checkers. Inside the offensive zone, Puljujarvi evades defenders using elusive inside-outside cuts on the fly as he slashes off the half wall striking quickly. The promising Finn utilizes his lengthy reach to shield off pressure extremely well.”

4. Matthew Tkachuk, wing, London Knights (OHL) – It seems the St. Louis, MO., native has the thickest hockey bloodlines in the draft. He’s not only the son of former NHLer Keith Tkachuk, but he’s also the cousin of ex-NHLer Tom Fitzgerald, Panthers winger Jimmy Hayes and New York Rangers scorer Kevin Hayes.

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