QUICK FANTASY THOUGHTS:2016 NHL ENTRY DRAFT primepucks.com Sat 6/27/15 5:24 AM

1  There wasn't much intrigue with the top two picks of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, as Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel have markedly improved perennial cellar dwellers Edmonton and Buffalo with their superior blend of elite offensive talent and hockeq IQ. Both centers project to be high scoring dynamos, but expect McDavid to make the quicker fantasy splash based mostly on a better offensive supporting cast. 2. Arizona decided to take Eerie Otter Dylan Strome with the third overall pick but despite being the highest OHL point producer last season with 129 points in 68 games, questions remain whether his numbers were boosted by playing with McDavid. I say that the youngster proved his worth with 35 points in 21 games while McDavid was sidelined. Let's give this youngster his due as he along with Max Domi give the Arizona Coyotes a potential lethal one-two punch in the near future. His fantasy contributions will be minimal in 2015-16, but he could do some serious scoring damage in two-three years. 3. Noah Hanifin was the highest profile defender taken in the draft(fifth overall by Carolina) but for fantasy purposes, keep tabs on the Flyer's first selection Ivan Provorov. Ever since the Chris Pronger injury, Philly has been longing for that top-tier offensive blueliner and they might have done just that with this pick. An exciting package of offensive skill-set and speed have drawn comparisons to our favorite OEL but lets not rush the process yet. He still might be a year or two away but he has some huge fantasy upside if he can develop as the team's future power-play quarterback. 4. If Pavel Zacha can allow himself to be mentored by fellow Czech Patrik Elias, then the immensely skilled 18-year old will reap huge dividends from being drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the top ten. The 6'3 forward has all the tools to be a top-flight scorer but his maturity and his own on-ice management has been heavily scrutinized. Can anyone say boom or bust? 5. Trades, trades, trades... Plenty of noves fueled by future salary cap considerations but the biggest head-scrather with major fantasy implications is Boston moving Dougie Hamilton to Calgary. I kind of get shipping away Milan Lucic and Carl Soderberg before they get too expensive to keep by next summer, but trading away a blossoming 22-year old blue-chipper who looked ready to inherit top billing from aging veteran Zdeno Chara? The Flames have stock-piled quite the defensive arsenal, but can the Hamilton acquisition be a precursor to them trading away one of their defenders? Mark Giordano will come with a hefty price tag when he hits UFA status next season, plus his recent injury issues have the Calgary brass hesitant to shell out such big bucks. A few things to think about but Hamilton could be a fantasy star for the Flames after a breakout 42-point season in just his third year for Boston.