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Rochester, NY • United States • 22 Years Old • Male

My 2012 NHL Mock Draft

Posted 5:40 PM ET | Comments 0
Without further ado...

1. Columbus- Nail Yakupov, LW, Sarnia Sting
- Columbus succeeds to 'Fail for Nail' and select the best player in this draft.
Comparable: Alex Ovechkin

2. Edmonton- Ryan Murray, D, Everett Silvertips
- Although most scouts believe Grigorenko will go second overall, the Oilers address their needs on defense by taking the best blueliner in the draft.
Comparable: Scott Niedermayer

3. Buffalo- Mikhail Grigorenko, C/RW, Quebec Remparts
- Also could go with F. Forsberg, A. Galchenyuk, or R. Faksa. All season long he has challenged for the top pick and will be an absolute steal here.
Comparable: Evgeni Malkin

4. Carolina- Filip Forsberg, LW, Leksands
- Carolina takes the best European trained player in the draft and gets some help for their future offensive dynamo with Forsberg and Jeff Skinner.
Comparable: Loui Eriksson 

5. Montreal- Jacob Trouba, D, USNTDP
- Montreal addresses a need here and selects a solid two-way defender who will give the Habs a threatening duo with Trouba and P.K. Subban.
Comparable: Jack Johnson

6. NY Islanders- Mathew Dumba, D, Red Deer Rebels
- The Isles have plenty of young talent at forward, so they will pick the best offensive blueliner in the draft.
Comparable: Dion Phaneuf

7. Anaheim- Alex Galchenyuk, C, Sarnia Sting
- With some aging centers in their lineup, the Ducks inject youth and skill into their team to back up Ryan Getzlaf with this pick. He is Yakupov's teammate in Sarnia and is represented by Hall of Fame forward Igor Larionov.
Comparable: Marian Hossa

8.  Tampa Bay- Morgan Rielly, D, Moose Jaw Warriors
- Rielly is a smooth offensive blueliner who will be a force on the point setting up Steven Stamkos for years.
Comparable: Christian Ehrhoff

9. Minnesota- Griffin Reinhart, D, Edmonton Oil Kings
- Minnesota's depth at forward allows them to pick Reinhart, a big (6'4) defenseman who will add grit to their young defense core.
Comparable: Robyn Regehr

10. Washington (from Colorado)- Radek Faksa, C, Kitchener Rangers
- Faksa is a talented, big, and hard-working center who will add secondary scoring for the Caps. His upside will be refreshing for Washington fans who are sick of watching Alexander Ovechkin fail to produce.
Comparable: Joe Thornton

11. Dallas- Zemgus Girgensons, C, Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Girgensons is a strong two-way center who has committed to the University of Vermont. He is Latvian-born and is a steal at this pick. He has only dropped because of playing in the USHL in order to maintain his college eligibility.
Comparable: Brooks Laich

12. Washington- Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa 67s
- With their second selection, the Caps add a well-rounded puck mover to their blueline.
Comparable: Brent Seabrook

13. Toronto- Brendan Gaunce, C, Belleville Bulls
- Gaunce is a big center who can help the Leafs in the long run. They address a need by adding a big, skilled, forward with grit.
Comparable: Ryan Kesler

14. Winnipeg- Sebastian Collberg, RW, Frolunda
- Collberg might not have great size, but his skill is incredible and is a force when driving to the net.
Comparable: Joe Pavelski

15. Los Angeles- Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough Petes
- Another strong offensive defender in this draft, Koekkoek will be a threat from LA's point for many years.
Comparable: Cam Fowler

16. Calgary- Olli Maatta, D, London Knights
- Calgary injects youth into their blueline with Maatta, a safe and responsible defender who is racking up some points and minutes in his first season in North America.
Comparable: Mike Komisarek

17. Phoenix- Pontus Aberg, LW, Djurgardens
- With several strong defensive prospects, the Coyotes add a skilled Swedish forward who goes hard to the net to finish off scoring chances.
Comparable: Patric Hornqvist

18. Florida- Martin Frk, RW, Halifax Mooseheads
- Frk is a talented European playing in North America. His stock has dropped but still remains a top prospect.
Comparable: Tomas Plekanec

19. Ottawa- Derrick Pouliot, D, Portland Winterhawks
- Pouliot is a smart two-way defender who is having an excellent WHL career.
Comparable: Filip Kuba

20. San Jose- Matt Finn, D, Guelph Storm
- San Jose has plenty of offensive firepower, so they add youth to their aging blueline in this defense-heavy draft.
Comparable: John Carlson

21. Chicago- Andrei Vasilevski, G, Ufa
- Chicago will address their goal of getting a talented netminder for the future by taking the best European one available.
Comparable: Semyon Varlamov

22. Philadelphia- Tomas Hertl, LW, Slavia
- Hertl's draft stock has dramatically rose recently and he will be a good fit in the Flyers offensive scheme. Many thought Philly would select a defender, but with the additions of Nicklas Grossman and Pavel Kubina, they should take a forward.
Comparable: Martin Erat

23. Pittsburgh- Colton Sissons, RW, Kelowna Rockets
- Sissons is a two-way forward who adds grit and offensive ability to this strong Penguins squad.
Comparable: Mike Richards

24. New Jersey- Malcolm Subban, G, Belleville Bulls
- With the aging Martin Brodeur as their number one goaltender, they will select Subban, an athletic netminder who is the second piece of a new NHL family.
Comparable: Ondrej Pavelec

25. Nashville- Tom Wilson, RW, Plymouth Whalers
- Wilson is a big (6'4), physical forward with a scoring touch. He is seen as a draft riser and will likely be taken in the first round. Nashville decides to take a forward due to their large pool of talented defenders.
Comparable: Milan Lucic

26. Boston- Andreas Athanasiou, LW, London Knights
- Athanasiou is a fast, skilled player who may have the best hands and penalty killing ability in the draft.
Comparable: Tyler Ennis

27. St. Louis- Brady Skjei, D, USNTDP
- St. Louis selects a fast rearguard with an excellent transitional game. Has committed to the University of Minnesota.
Comparable: Jordan Leopold

28. Vancouver- Teuvo Teravainen, LW, Jokerit
- Teravainen is a small, skilled forward with tremendous agility. Has great dangling skills that he uses to generate scoring chances.
Comparable: Jussi Jokinen

29. NY Rangers- Phillip DiGiuseppe, LW, University of Michigan
- The Rangers select a top collegiate player with strong speed and scoring abilities who is improving his defensive game as well.
Comparable: Mason Raymond

30. Tampa Bay (from Detroit)- Ludvig Bystrom, D, Modo
- Bystrom is a Swedish defensive prospect with a huge upside although being seen as a raw prospect who will need plenty of time to develop his game.
Comparable: David Rundblad


- Other players who could fit into the first round are:
Jarrod Maidens, Gianluca Curcurto, Charles Hudon, Henrik Samuelsson, Tanner Pearson, Daniil Zharkov, and Nick Ebert.
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