While as many as the first half-dozen players selected in Friday’s NHL draft in Buffalo are expected to be forwards — Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Jesse Puljujarvi, Matt Tkachuk, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alex Nylander — the rest of the first round will be loaded with defensemen.

For a Bruins team sorely in need of a upgrade on the blue line, the draft class of 2016 could be very attractive.

The B’s currently possess picks No. 14 and No. 29 in the first round. Defense was a clear weakness last season, with a core built around the aging and slowing Zdeno Chera and Dennis Seidenberg, and a bunch of guys with third-pair talent who were asked to handle second- or even first-pair matchups.

Now, the Bruins may aim for help up front (Team USA sniper Kieffer Bellows is a possibility) in the belief they’ve already addressed their defensive weakness via the crop of youngsters arriving this season from recent drafts: Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, Robbie O’Gara and Jeremy Lauzon. The team’s confidence that those prospects could offer immediate help could open the door for general manager Don Sweeney to use one or both of his first-round picks in a trade, maybe a deal to acquire a veteran blueliner.

But if the B’s do use their draft picks, it’s a good year to grab a defenseman who could be NHL-ready in a year or two, maybe even sooner.

“There’s a core of good D-men, four or five players,” NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. “There’s no predicting the order. They’re all good and they’re all different in their own ways. It’s going to be up to each (NHL) team, whatever they want at that position. They’re all quality players. They’re all going to be in the NHL sooner rather than later. They all bring something different. You can look to five different teams and they’ll all say someone different. It’s a very good corps of D-men and they’re all going to be top-four on their NHL teams.”

Based on a conglomeration of NHL Central Scouting ranks and various mock drafts, here are some of the top prospects among defenseman:

• Jakob Chychrun — The sturdy and fast-skating 6-foot-2, 200-pound son of rugged ex-NHL defenseman Jeff Chychrun. He’s a talented and mature all-round player who had 11 goals and 38 assists in 62 games in juniors last season for Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League.

• Mikhail Sergachyov — Also 6-2 and 200 pounds, he’s a terrific talent, feisty and fast, who had 17 goals and 40 assists in 67 games for Windsor (OHL).

• Olli Juolevi — Solid and physical at 6-2, 185 pounds, the Finland native has great wheels and hockey IQ. He put up nine goals and 33 assists in 57 games for Memorial Cup champion London (OHL).

• Charlie McAvoy — Just over 6-foot and 208 pounds, the rising Boston University sophomore had three goals and 22 assists in 37 games.

• Jake Bean — A poised, intelligent and quick 6-footer, he posted 24 goals and 40 assists in 68 games for Calgary of the Western Hockey League.

• Dante Fabbro — The Boston University-bound 6-foot, 183-pounder is smart and dependable, and he had 14 goals and 53 assists in just 45 games for Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League.

• Logan Stanley — A 6-7, 225-pound beast, he has decent mobility and uses reach and aggressive play to his advantage. In 64 games for Windsore he had five goals, 12 assists and 103 penalty minutes.

If the Bruins do select a defenseman at No. 14, McAvoy could well be available, and he suits the team’s needs as a talented puck-moving, transition blueliner. McAvoy, who won’t turn 19 until just before Christmas, likely will spend one or two more seasons with the Terriers before being ready to jump to the pros.

“I think he’s got a great future ahead of him,” BU coach David Quinn said. “Is he ready for the NHL next season? No, no. He understands that. Probably the hardest position to transition from college to pro is defense.”

So it will depend on which roster-building route Sweeney chooses — trying to get veteran defensemen via trades or free agency, or through the draft. One way or another, though, the blue line corps needs a big upgrade if the B’s plan to return to the playoffs.