NHL Draft begins tonight

BUFFALO, NY – Tonight’s first round of the 2016 NHL Draft is not expected to be a great one for the QMJHL.

Cape Breton’s Pierre-Luc Dubois has a strong chance at being a top five pick. Val-d’Or’s Julien Gauthier, Gatineau’s Vitaly Abramov, Victoriaville’s Pascal Laberge and Shawinigan’s Samuel Girard are the QMJHL’s other top prospects – but not all will be selected in tonight’s portion of the draft.

After having seven players selected in last year’s NHL Draft – including two in the first round – this will be a light year for the Sea Dogs. The only lock to be selected is Luke Green, who is projected to go in the second or third round by most draft publications.

The Chronicle Herald and Local Xpress have articles on Green heading into the draft.

Nathan Noel and Oliver Felixson were also listed in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings. Prospects Jamie Armstrong and Marshall Rifai could also be picked.

The Providence Journal has an article on Armstrong, who could be the first player picked from Rhode Island since 2009.

The 2016 NHL Draft takes place tonight and tomorrow at Buffalo’s First Niagara Centre