2012 Mock Draft
Monday, January 23, 2012
With the World Junior Championships concluded and the NHL feeder leagues back in regular rotation, thoughts begin to land on the type of players available in the first round of the 2012 NHL entry Draft.
McKeen's Hockey Prospects released its January Newsletter as part of its suite of publications leading up to a full issue prior to the draft. The link to the issue is:
McKeen's 2012 Draft Newsletter
I asked the McKeen's Director of Amateur Scouting, David Burstyn, to prepare a mock draft based on his notes thus far. It's not a surprise to see highly touted Nail Yakupov emerge as the number one selection for the woeful Columbus Blue Jackets.
There are some interesting choices on the list. Alex Galchnyuk, missing the season thus far with a knee injury was chosen fairly high. World Junior Championships Russian goaltending standout Andrei Vasilevski seems to be a fit in Winnipeg, while highly touted Martin Frk drops due to concussion-related issues.
One final note: There wasn't any consideration in the New Jersey Devils forfeiting a 1st round pick as punitive result of the alledged Ilya Kovalchuk contract circumvention. As a result a pick was selected for the Devils.
For rankings, we used the NHL rankings as of January 18, 2012. Mock Draft results:
| TEAM |
Pts |
PLAYER |
NOTES |
| Columbus |
31 |
Nail Yakupov |
Can score at will .. Johansen and Yakupov would make for a great 1-2 punch |
| Edmonton |
38 |
Mikail Grigorenko |
Oilers need help keeping the puck out of the net but can not resist elite talent with possibility of stepping in next year as a regular |
| Anaheim |
39 |
Filip Forsberg |
Cannot pass on his skill and determined play. Gives the Ducks depth scoring that eventually replaces Selanne and Koivu |
| Carolina |
40 |
Ryan Murray |
Hurricanes need help in all positions but go with the safe pick |
| NY Islanders |
40 |
Jacob Trouba |
Islanders weak on back end find some production Trouba provides along with size and presence |
| Tampa Bay |
40 |
Morgan Reilly |
Reilly brings a secondary offensive dimension that the Lightning so desperately need |
| Montreal |
42 |
Alex Galchenyuk |
Habs roll the dice but get a character player who can play in all situations and score |
| Buffalo |
43 |
Griffin Reinhart |
Building from the backend out, Reinhart has the potential to be a top three defenseman with a pedigree of strong bloodlines |
| Winnipeg |
47 |
Andrei Vasilevski |
Goaltending is not getting any younger and Vasilevski gives the Jets a legitmate goalie to contend with in the East |
| Calgary |
48 |
Matthew Dumba |
Open ice hitter and offensive blueliner may quickly become a fan favorite |
| Phoenix |
49 |
Radek Faska |
Works the trenches, offers size and a scoring punch that is sorely lacking up front for the Coyotes |
| Toronto |
49 |
Brendan Gaunce |
A prospect like no other in the Leafs system, he offers skill and the chance to crack the top six |
| Dallas |
50 |
Sebastian Collberg |
Multi-purpose prospect, what he lacks in size he makes up in heart |
| Minnesota |
51 |
Zemgus Girgensons |
A player the opposition will hate to play against with an elevated compete level and hard hits |
| Florida |
52 |
Olli Maattaa |
Offers size and range and helps the Panthers backend as they are loaded with forwards |
| Pittsburgh |
52 |
Malcolm Subban |
With no heir apparent in the system to replace Fleury, Pens double the Subban population in the league |
| Washington |
52 |
Oscar Dansk |
With two goalies already selected, Washington makes it three |
| Washington (via Colorado) |
52 |
Stefan Matteau |
Caps add an element of honest toughness with the son of former Stanley Cup winner Stephane |
| New Jersey |
54 |
Cody Ceci |
The plan to rebuild the defence starts with Larsson and is cemented with the addition of Ceci |
| Los Angeles |
55 |
Teuvo Teravaninen |
Kings grab diminutive winger who oozes talent and skill with size being only drawback |
| Nashville |
56 |
Derrick Pouliot |
When in doubt take the best defenseman left, a GM David Poile blueprint strategy since day one |
| San Jose |
57 |
Phil di Giuseppe |
Sharks gamble with highest scoring freshmen in NCAA, skating holds him back but he is a tyrant down low |
| Ottawa |
58 |
Pontus Aberg |
Putting up good numbers in the SEL while flanking 2011 first round pick Mika Zibanejad |
| Philadelphia |
58 |
Michael Matheson |
Not flashy but offers good all around skill and the ability to keep it simple, will have plenty of time to devlop as he is committed to BU |
| Boston |
59 |
Colton Sissons |
Models his game after Mike Richards and Ryan Kesler and scoring in the 'Dub', Bruins would love to have him |
| St. Louis |
60 |
Martin Frk |
Plays hard and can score, concussions will scare away other teams but he will be the best player on the board |
| Vancouver |
60 |
Slater Koekkoek |
Season ending shoulder injury won't be enough to scare away Vancouver as he gives the back end size and skill |
| Detroit |
61 |
Tomas Hertl |
Likely trade out of the first round but Hertl is a player that Jiri Fischer can and will vouch for after a strong showing at the WJC |
| Chicago |
62 |
Brady Skjei |
Can do everything well but has no real distinct identity |
| NY Rangers |
62 |
Damon Severson |
Continues to improve, possessing size, puck skills and toughness while willing to drop the gloves |
With the World Junior Championships concluded and the NHL feeder leagues back in regular rotation, thoughts begin to land on the type of players available in the first round of the 2012 NHL entry Draft.
McKeen's Hockey Prospects released its January Newsletter as part of its suite of publications leading up to a full issue prior to the draft. The link to the issue is:
McKeen's 2012 Draft Newsletter
I asked the McKeen's Director of Amateur Scouting, David Burstyn, to prepare a mock draft based on his notes thus far. It's not a surprise to see highly touted Nail Yakupov emerge as the number one selection for the woeful Columbus Blue Jackets.
There are some interesting choices on the list. Alex Galchnyuk, missing the season thus far with a knee injury was chosen fairly high. World Junior Championships Russian goaltending standout Andrei Vasilevski seems to be a fit in Winnipeg, while highly touted Martin Frk drops due to concussion-related issues.
One final note: There wasn't any consideration in the New Jersey Devils forfeiting a 1st round pick as punitive result of the alledged Ilya Kovalchuk contract circumvention. As a result a pick was selected for the Devils.
For rankings, we used the NHL rankings as of January 18, 2012. Mock Draft results:
| TEAM |
Pts |
PLAYER |
NOTES |
| Columbus |
31 |
Nail Yakupov |
Can score at will .. Johansen and Yakupov would make for a great 1-2 punch |
| Edmonton |
38 |
Mikail Grigorenko |
Oilers need help keeping the puck out of the net but can not resist elite talent with possibility of stepping in next year as a regular |
| Anaheim |
39 |
Filip Forsberg |
Cannot pass on his skill and determined play. Gives the Ducks depth scoring that eventually replaces Selanne and Koivu |
| Carolina |
40 |
Ryan Murray |
Hurricanes need help in all positions but go with the safe pick |
| NY Islanders |
40 |
Jacob Trouba |
Islanders weak on back end find some production Trouba provides along with size and presence |
| Tampa Bay |
40 |
Morgan Reilly |
Reilly brings a secondary offensive dimension that the Lightning so desperately need |
| Montreal |
42 |
Alex Galchenyuk |
Habs roll the dice but get a character player who can play in all situations and score |
| Buffalo |
43 |
Griffin Reinhart |
Building from the backend out, Reinhart has the potential to be a top three defenseman with a pedigree of strong bloodlines |
| Winnipeg |
47 |
Andrei Vasilevski |
Goaltending is not getting any younger and Vasilevski gives the Jets a legitmate goalie to contend with in the East |
| Calgary |
48 |
Matthew Dumba |
Open ice hitter and offensive blueliner may quickly become a fan favorite |
| Phoenix |
49 |
Radek Faska |
Works the trenches, offers size and a scoring punch that is sorely lacking up front for the Coyotes |
| Toronto |
49 |
Brendan Gaunce |
A prospect like no other in the Leafs system, he offers skill and the chance to crack the top six |
| Dallas |
50 |
Sebastian Collberg |
Multi-purpose prospect, what he lacks in size he makes up in heart |
| Minnesota |
51 |
Zemgus Girgensons |
A player the opposition will hate to play against with an elevated compete level and hard hits |
| Florida |
52 |
Olli Maattaa |
Offers size and range and helps the Panthers backend as they are loaded with forwards |
| Pittsburgh |
52 |
Malcolm Subban |
With no heir apparent in the system to replace Fleury, Pens double the Subban population in the league |
| Washington |
52 |
Oscar Dansk |
With two goalies already selected, Washington makes it three |
| Washington (via Colorado) |
52 |
Stefan Matteau |
Caps add an element of honest toughness with the son of former Stanley Cup winner Stephane |
| New Jersey |
54 |
Cody Ceci |
The plan to rebuild the defence starts with Larsson and is cemented with the addition of Ceci |
| Los Angeles |
55 |
Teuvo Teravaninen |
Kings grab diminutive winger who oozes talent and skill with size being only drawback |
| Nashville |
56 |
Derrick Pouliot |
When in doubt take the best defenseman left, a GM David Poile blueprint strategy since day one |
| San Jose |
57 |
Phil di Giuseppe |
Sharks gamble with highest scoring freshmen in NCAA, skating holds him back but he is a tyrant down low |
| Ottawa |
58 |
Pontus Aberg |
Putting up good numbers in the SEL while flanking 2011 first round pick Mika Zibanejad |
| Philadelphia |
58 |
Michael Matheson |
Not flashy but offers good all around skill and the ability to keep it simple, will have plenty of time to devlop as he is committed to BU |
| Boston |
59 |
Colton Sissons |
Models his game after Mike Richards and Ryan Kesler and scoring in the 'Dub', Bruins would love to have him |
| St. Louis |
60 |
Martin Frk |
Plays hard and can score, concussions will scare away other teams but he will be the best player on the board |
| Vancouver |
60 |
Slater Koekkoek |
Season ending shoulder injury won't be enough to scare away Vancouver as he gives the back end size and skill |
| Detroit |
61 |
Tomas Hertl |
Likely trade out of the first round but Hertl is a player that Jiri Fischer can and will vouch for after a strong showing at the WJC |
| Chicago |
62 |
Brady Skjei |
Can do everything well but has no real distinct identity |
| NY Rangers |
62 |
Damon Severson |
Continues to improve, possessing size, puck skills and toughness while willing to drop the gloves |
Gus Katsaros is the Pro Scouting Coordinator with McKeen’s Hockey, publishers of industry leading scouting and fantasy guide, the McKeen’s Annual Hockey Pool Yearbook. He also contributes to popular blog
MapleLeafsHotStove.com ... he can be followed on Twitter
@KatsHockeyEmail :
Gus Katsaros