The 2016 Rookie Tournament hosted by London will kick off September 16^th until the 18^th. It showcases four teams playing a round-robin. The four teams include Montreal, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Toronto prospects. There will be two games each day. The schedule is posted below.

Friday, September 16, 2016

3:35pm – GAME 1 – Pittsburgh vs Montreal

7:00pm – GAME 2 – Ottawa vs Toronto

Saturday, September 17, 2016

3:35pm – GAME 3 – Pittsburgh vs Ottawa

7:00pm – GAME 4 – Toronto vs Montreal

Sunday, September 18, 2016

1:00pm – GAME 5 – Montreal vs Ottawa

4:35pm – GAME 6 – Toronto vs Pittsburgh

Rookie Showcase By the Numbers

Total players on all rosters who were NHL draft picks: 60

Number of players drafted in 2016 playing in London: 11

Team with the most drafted players on their Rookie Tournament roster: Toronto, 21

Highest drafted player playing in the Tournament: Mitch Marner – TOR, 4th Overall – 2015

Team Breakdowns:

Montreal Canadiens

Overview:

Martin Reway could miss the entire season with a heart issue, he was named to the propsect roster back in August, but will not be attending it this year. The Canadiens have brought most of their 2016 draft choices (four in total) to this tournament to get a feel for the bigger and better competition. Canadiens have brought a team of 27 to compete in the three games they play.

Highest Drafted Player: Mikhail Sergachev, 9th Overall, 2016

Player To Watch: Artturi Lehkonen more than doubled his point total last year from his previous year. His Frolunda coach doesn't expect him to return to Europe to play another season. Which means he will likely be on the Canadiens to start the season if he has a good prospect tournament and training camp. Watch for him to make waves in a Canadiens jersey this weekend.

Under the Radar: Victor Mete was selected 100th Overall in this past draft (2016). He fell to the fourth round due to lack of size. Mete had an excellent rookie season with Memorial Cup champs, London Knights and will look to improve his game and become a top pairing in London this coming year.

Ottawa Senators

Overview:

The Senators have 12 players drafted and 11 undrafted players on their Showcase squad. They are bringing the fewest guys to the Showcase than any other team. Thomas Chabot was sat down at the end of Ottawa's prospect camp earlier this summer and told he was average at best, assistant GM Randy Lee was hoping for more intensity and thought Chabot was going to be a whole lot better than he was. We will have to wait and see if the message was heard loud and clear.

Highest Drafted Player: Logan Brown, 11th Overall, 2016

Player To Watch: Brown will be very excited to get to work and try to make the Senators this season, he is likely headed back to junior to play in the Memorial Cup, the Windsor Spitfire will be hosting this year's Memorial Cup. That added experience will do wonders for Brown's experience. In Windsor he will be the number one center logging a ton of ice time.

Under the Radar: Francis Perron had a very good year leading the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the finals of the Memorial Cup, lossing in overtime to the London Knights. Perron has flown under the radar due to the QMJHL factor. Not a lot of people get a chance to watch games, the only National spotlight he had was during the Memorial Cup. Perron won the Guy Lafleur Trophy (QMJHL MVP), scoring 33 points in 18 playoff games.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Overview:

The Penguins went undefeated in the 2015 Rookie Showcase and will look to defend their undefeated streak. Their best drafted player is goaltender Tristan Jarry, the Penguins have mortgaged their future pushing for the Stanley Cup. Luckily they have a ring to show for it, now is the time to restock the prospect cupboard. Guentzel, Simon and Sundqvist are all trying to make a case to get a longer look when training camp opens up in a few weeks.

Highest Drafted Player: Tristan Jarry, 44th Overall, 2013

Player To Watch: Jake Guentzel finished his collegiate career and joined the Baby Pens immediately for the playoff run. Guentzel finished with six points in 11 games (.55 pts/gp) . In the playoffs he tallied 14 points in 10 games (1.4). Guentzel will try to improve his stock this Showcase and gain momentum heading into Penguins training camp.

Under the Radar: Sundqvist was pencilled in as a fourth-line centre in the offseason last year. Oskar ended up being hampered with a thigh injury that kept him out of training camp. Sundqvist's first North American season started in the AHL, recording 17 points in 45 games. He was a call-up for the Penguins throughout the year and dressed in 18 games, he only had four points to show for it. The resigning of Matt Cullen could hurt his chances, it will depend on how the Penguins structure their centremen this coming year.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Overview:

The Maple Leafs will need two busses to ship all the prospects they sent to London this year. 31 players will get the chance to suit up in three of the games this weekend. The Leafs brought almost as many drafted players as the Penguins brought on their entire roster. We may not get very many looks at all of their prospects, but it will be interesting to watch the guys who made ames for themselves with the Marlies last year.

Highest Drafted Player: Mitch Marner, 4th Overall, 2015

Player To Watch: Marner will have all the attention this weekend. Could it be his last time playing in the Budweiser Gardens? The big question of the offseason is what the Leafs are planning to do with Marner come October 12th? I have a feeling he is going to play his way onto the roster, but it will all depend on how he plays in this Tournament, as well as, training camp. Mike Babcock has his name in pencil on the depth chart, but won't be afraid to send him back for one more year of junior.

Under the Radar: Tobias Lindberg will get the chance to put on the new Maple Leafs jersey and play against his former prospect counterparts this weekend. Lindberg will likely be with the Marlies again this year, just too many higher talented prospects in the depth chart for him this year. Next year he could impress out of training camp.

For more information on the Rookie Tournament, head over to their website.