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Revisiting the Nashville Predators 2016 DCHL Draft Class

6/9/2026 • Neil Burkholder

Coming into the 2016 DCHL Draft, the Nashville Predators were a franchise looking for direction. Under GM Aaron Uruski, Nashville was trying to build a faster, more skilled roster capable of competing long-term rather than simply fighting for playoff positioning every season.

The Predators season prior to the draft exposed several weaknesses across the roster. Nashville lacked high-end offensive creativity, struggled to consistently generate scoring depth, and needed more dynamic skill throughout the organization. While the team still had competitive pieces in place, it was clear a new wave of talent was needed if the Predators wanted to become a true contender.

Fortunately for Nashville, the 2016 draft was viewed as one of the deeper drafts in recent memory. The class featured elite star talent at the top alongside strong depth throughout the middle rounds. Players like Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, Alex DeBrincat, and Clayton Keller headlined a class loaded with future NHL talent.

Aaron Uruski entered the draft aggressively targeting skill and upside.

Looking back years later, this draft ended up becoming one of the most important classes in franchise history. While several players never fully developed in Nashville, the Predators consistently turned draft assets into major organizational pieces through trades and long-term asset management.

SELECTION

Round 1 – Pick 8

Clayton Keller (Left Wing/Center)

Height: 5’10”, Weight: 170lbs, Shoots: Left

DOB: 7/29/98 (18)

Birthplace: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA

2015-16 Team: USNTDP

Stats: 62GP / 37G / 70A / 107P / 34PIM / +47

Projection: Elite offensive top-line winger

Current Status: NHL superstar winger, franchise-level offensive player

What Happened: Keller quickly became one of the best offensive players from the entire 2016 class. His skating, vision, and playmaking ability translated perfectly to the NHL level and he developed into a true franchise winger.

On 12/21/22, Nashville traded Keller to NYR for Nathan MacKinnon in one of the defining moves of the Aaron Uruski era.

Verdict: Massive Hit

SELECTION

Round 1 – Pick 12

Logan Brown (Center)

Height: 6’6”, Weight: 220lbs, Shoots: Left

DOB: 3/5/98 (18)

Birthplace: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

2015-16 Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Stats: 59GP / 21G / 53A / 74P / 44PIM / +6

Projection: Top-six playmaking center

Current Status: Professional depth forward, injuries slowed development

What Happened: Brown entered the draft with massive upside because of his combination of size and offensive skill. While he showed flashes professionally, injuries and skating issues prevented him from reaching his ceiling.

Despite that, Nashville still turned the asset into major value by trading Brown to PHI on 6/9/20 for Jacob Trouba.

Verdict: Moderate Hit

SELECTION

Round 2 – Pick 38

Adam Mascherin (Left Wing)

Height: 5’10”, Weight: 205lbs, Shoots: Left

DOB: 9/6/98 (17)

Birthplace: Maple, Ontario, Canada

2015-16 Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Stats: 65GP / 35G / 46A / 81P / 50PIM / -4

Projection: Middle-six scoring winger

Current Status: Minor professional leagues

What Happened: Mascherin dominated junior hockey offensively, but concerns about his skating ultimately limited his NHL projection. He was unable to establish himself professionally at the highest level.

Nashville eventually moved on from him.

Verdict: Bust

SELECTION

Round 3 – Pick 68

Joseph Woll (Goaltender)

Height: 6’3”, Weight: 205lbs, Catches: Left

DOB: 7/12/98 (17)

Birthplace: Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, USA

2015-16 Team: USNTDP

Stats: 27GP / 20-5-1 / 2.14 GAA / .926 SV%

Projection: NHL starting goaltender upside

Current Status: NHL-caliber goaltender, strong tandem option

What Happened: Woll steadily developed into a legitimate NHL goaltender after leaving the organization. His technical structure and composure eventually translated well professionally despite injuries slowing portions of his career.

This remains one of the bigger developmental misses from the draft for Nashville.

Verdict: Missed Opportunity

SELECTION

Round 4 – Pick 98

Linus Nassen (Defenseman)

Height: 6’0”, Weight: 185lbs, Shoots: Left

DOB: 5/17/98 (18)

Birthplace: Luleå, Sweden

2015-16 Team: Luleå Jr.

Stats: 41GP / 5G / 13A / 18P / 22PIM / +9

Projection: Depth puck-moving defenseman

Current Status: European professional leagues

What Happened: Nassen was drafted as a long-term project defenseman, but his development stalled and he never emerged as a serious NHL prospect.

Verdict: Bust

SELECTION

Round 5 – Pick 128

Alex Dotsie (Forward)

Height: 6’1”, Weight: 190lbs, Shoots: Right

DOB: 2/14/98 (18)

Birthplace: USA

2015-16 Team: Developmental Program

Stats: Limited major-junior production

Projection: Long-term developmental prospect

Current Status: Out of major professional hockey

What Happened: Dotsie was viewed as a developmental upside

swing but never developed into an NHL-level player.

Verdict: Bust

SELECTION

Round 6 – Pick 158

Beck Malenstyn (Left Wing)

Height: 6’3”, Weight: 200lbs, Shoots: Left

DOB: 10/6/98 (17)

Birthplace: Delta, British Columbia, Canada

2015-16 Team: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Stats: 69GP / 15G / 18A / 33P / 70PIM / +9

Projection: Bottom-six physical winger

Current Status: NHL depth winger and penalty killer

What Happened: Malenstyn eventually carved out a role as a reliable NHL energy winger thanks to his physicality, work ethic, and defensive game.

Nashville cut ties with him before he reached the NHL level.

Verdict: Late-Round Value Miss

SELECTION

Round 7 – Pick 188

Chase Priskie (Defenseman)

Height: 6’0”, Weight: 190lbs, Shoots: Right

DOB: 3/19/96 (20)

Birthplace: Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA

2015-16 Team: Quinnipiac University

Stats: 37GP / 5G / 13A / 18P / 18PIM / +18

Projection: Offensive puck-moving defenseman

Current Status: Professional defenseman, productive AHL contributor

What Happened: Priskie developed into a productive professional defenseman and eventually became one of the biggest asset wins from the draft.

On 2/21/25, Nashville traded Priskie to CAR for: Conor Zary, Nino Niederreiter, Ryan McLeod, Samu Tuomaala, Will Cuylle, Denver Barkey

For a seventh-round pick, this became an unbelievable organizational return.

Verdict: Massive Asset Win

FINAL VERDICT

Looking back now, the 2016 DCHL Draft became a defining draft for the Nashville Predators under Aaron Uruski.

Not every player worked out. Nashville missed on several middle-round picks and likely gave up too early on players like Joseph Woll and Beck Malenstyn.

However, the organization consistently maximized asset value.

Clayton Keller eventually became Nathan MacKinnon.

Logan Brown became Jacob Trouba.

Chase Priskie became a piece of entire package of young talent that helped reshape the organization’s future.

While this was not a perfect “homegrown core” draft, the long-term organizational impact was massive.

Final Grade: B+

Overall Verdict: HIT