2012 NHL Mock Draft Heading Into December
Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting is the best winger prospect since Alexander Ovechkin. Right now the Columbus Blue Jackets look like the team that will Fail to Get Nail.
This NHL Mock Draft will be 1 round. I will post a 1 round update based on the current NHL Standings.
Feel free to email me with your take on players and picks at [email protected]
1. Columbus Blue Jackets Nail Yakupov Left Wing Sarnia Sting OHL NFL Teams are trying to Suck for Luck. NHL teams may opt to Fail to get Nail once their team is out of the playoff hunt. Right now the worst team in the NHL is the Columbus Blue Jackets and its not even close based on how the teams is playing. Columbus has to be the frontrunner to Fail to get Nail. Other contenders could include the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Islanders.
There is speculation that the Blue Jackets will clean house bringing in new leadership at GM and head coach after the season. The Columbus Blue Jackets have an NHL worst point total of 5 points after October. I like this idea because there is potential in Columbus if they bring in the right people because some of the building blocks on offense are in place.
The Blue Jackets need a new regime to step in and help Columbus establish a long term identity. They need to hire a GM who will build through the draft like Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Edmonton have rather than pursuing a GM who will deal draft picks for players at the trade deadline. You cannot buy championships with talent you have to build through the draft in Sports hoping your franchise lands a player with the heart of champion. This team needs a head coach with a blue collar mentality that will put a strong emphasis on defensive fundamentals like playing aggressive, body checking, poke checking, stick checking, using grinders, using enforcers, while remaining disciplined on the PK both mentally and physically.
Putting Columbus on the map in the NHL will be no easy feat. The Blue Jackets only have 1 NHL Playoff appearance and were the last among the 30 NHL teams to qualify for the NHL Playoffs. The Blue Jackets are one of the NHL’s worst teams when it comes to attendance.
There are some pieces in place with center playmaker center Jeff Carter, winger Rick Nash, line 2 left winger Prospal, line 2 center Antoine Vermette. 2010 top 5 pick Ryan Johansen could be an effective playmaker of the future in Columbus.
The bottom line is this Blue Jackets team will be a challenge to rebuild. At the end of the day there is potential with their organization moving forward if they make the right moves this offseason come NHL Draft Day. The team who ends up with the #1 overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft will be getting a cornerstone player for their franchise with winger Nail Yakupov.
The Blue Jackets new regime will need to draft Yakupov if they get the top pick, add a playmaker center for depth, get some defensive players who can play like 1 offensive defender 1 defensive defender plus 1 two way defender, and maybe a developmental goalie who would be ready to step in a few years down the road. Columbus hired the former Canucks goaltender coach who developed Roberto Luongo.
The Blue Jackets have to take the best available player Nail Yakupov with the top pick even if they may appear to have more pressing needs on defense.
Nail Yakupov can play left wing, center, or right wing as a two way forward. He is considered a play maker passer and a sniper. Think of it this way, Yakupov shoots like Ovechkin, passes like Stamkos, and has the versatility of a two way forward who can play center or the wing on either end.Yakupov has practically cemented his status as the top pick once the 2012 NHL Draft comes to Pittsburgh.
As a rookie last season Yakupov scored 49 goals, 52 assists, and 101 points in 65 games. Yakupov was one of six OHL players to exceed the 100 point mark and was the only rookie to have 100 points as a CHL player. Not even former #1 overall pick Steven Stamkos was that productive in his rookie campaign with the Sting.
As a sophomore, Yakupov’s best teammate center Alex Galchenyuk is out until March. Despite Galchenyuk’s absence Yakupov has dished up 18 goals, 28 assists, and 46 points in 23 games.
The Sarnia Sting were the worst OHL team when they added Galchenyuk and Yakupov a year ago. The Sting had the leagues 4th worst record last season and have the leagues 2nd best record behind the London Knights the OHL team Patrick Kane played for before the Chicago Blackhawks took him in 2007.
If Yakupov, Carter, and Nash all play on the Blue Jackets first line this offense could give opposing goaltenders fits potentially becoming a top 5 goal scoring team in the NHL down the road.
I know that Blue Jackets fans may want the team to go in a different direction since their probably are bigger needs that could be addressed at the end of the day though the Blue Jackets have to take Yakupov if their franchise reaps the benefit of obtaining the top selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft because he is too good of a prospect to pass up on.
2. Anaheim Ducks Ryan Murray Defenseman Everett Silvertips WHL The Ducks need another defenseman. A line consisting of Cam Fowler and Ryan Murray will be very difficult to score on for the next two decades.
3. New York Islanders Filip Forsberg Left Wing Leksands Allsvenskan The Islanders could use a left winger next to John Tavares. Filip Forsberg would be the top left winger available.
4. Carolina Hurricanes Matthew Dumba Defenseman Red Deer Rebels WHL The Hurricanes may add another offensive defender to their system of prospects. Dumba is the best player available at this point so I would have to imagine that Dumba is the pick.
5. Calgary Flames Griffin Reinhart Defenseman Edmonton Oil Kings WHL Reinhart is 6 foot 4 202 pounds. Reinhart is the best player available at this point so I believe the Kings make an attempt to obtain him.
6. Winnipeg Jets Morgan Rielly Defenseman Moose Jaw Warriors WHL The Jets need a defenseman. Winnipeg likes OHL players. The Jets are stacked at center so the Jets turn to defense. Rielly is the top defenseman available so he makes a ton of sense for the Jets.
7. Washington Capitals from Colorado Avalanche Mikhail Grigorenko Right Wing Quebec Remparts QMJHL Grigorenko is a steal if he falls to this point. 22 goals, 23 assists, and 45 points so far this year in the QMJHL. A line featuring Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Grigorenko on the first line could become very deadly in Washington.
8. Montreal Canadians Derick Pouliot Defenseman Portland Winterhawks WHL Montreal may want another defenseman. Pouliot is the final WHL player among the fab 5 WHL defenseman that could crack the top 10.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning Collin Olson Goalie USA Under 18 Team USHL Tampa Bay needs to find a new goalie to replace an aging Dwayne Roloson. Olson is the next USA Under 18 Goalie prospect in line after John Gibson and Jack Campbell. I believe Olson could end up going higher than Campbell. It really would not shock me if Olson was a top 10 pick at the end of the day.
10. New Jersey Devils Brendan Gaunce Center Belleville Bulls OHL The New Jersey Devils need a center. Brendan Gaunce is the best player available. Gaunce is 6 foot 2 205 pounds. Gaunce is has the size and ability to be a playmaker center at the next level.
11. Washington Capitals Zemgus Girgensons Center Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL Zemgus Girgensons may have to develop for a few years. When Gigrensons does arrive to the NHL he may be the playmaker that Ovechkin needs if Backstrom fails to guide the Capitals to a Stanley Cup in the next two years then Girgensons could come up to the NHL challenging Backstrom for a line 1 spot down the line.
12. Nashville Predators Sebastian Collberg Right Wing Frolunda Elitserien Nashville could add Sebastian Collberg here. Collberg is really making a case to be a 2012 Top 10 pick with his play in 2011. Collberg displays a laser like wrist shot with deadly shooting power which will convince a GM picking in the top half of the draft to take a flyer on Collberg.
13. Edmonton Oilers Alex Galchenyuk Center Sarnia Sting OHL The Edmonton Oilers rank 4th on the power play and 9th in penalty killing. Nikolai Khabibulin is playing his best at goalie since he won the cup with the Lightning.
Edmonton also has Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Eberle. Galchenyuk is capable of playing on the front 6 on a first or 2nd line. Galchenyuk could play on Edmonton’s 2nd line today if he was healthy.
Alex Galchenyuk was a top 5 pick prior to his injury and is still worthy of being a top 10 pick at this point. Galchenyuk would be a major steal if he slid to this pick.
14. San Jose Sharks Jacob Trouba Defenseman USA Under 18 Team USHL Jacob Trouba is the top player available here. The Sharks decide to take a shot on Trouba with this selection.
15. Ottawa Senators Cody Ceci Defenseman Ottawa 67′s OHL Cody Ceci is 6 foot 203 pounds. Most of Ottawa’s defenders are offensive defenseman. Adding a defensive defenseman would greatly help Ottawa long term. Ottawa would not have to start Ceci right away. Cody Ceci could remain with the 67′s and play for Binghamton in the AHL before getting called up to Ottawa. Staying in Ottawa seems like the perfect situation for Ceci.
16. Buffalo Sabres Tom Wilson Right Wing Plymouth Whalers OHL Buffalo likes drafting players for size. The 6 foot 4 200 pound right winger Tom Wilson is a two way forward who can play right wing and center. Wilson seems like a typical Sabres pick. Wilson could move up draft boards so I have him going 16th here.
17. Los Angeles Kings Nick Ebert Defenseman Windsor Spitfires OHL The Kings usually take the best player available. Ebert has missed some time in 2011. His favorite player is offensive defender Jack Johnson. Los Angeles would be a great fit for Nick Ebert.
18. Dallas Stars Martin Frk Right Wing Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL Dallas wants a pure sniper and another winger. Martin Frk would be a top 10 talent if he was not injured to start the year. Frk makes a lot of sense at this point.
19. Vancouver Canucks Olli Maatta Defenseman London Knights OHL Maatta is clearly the best player available at this point. The Canucks could draft Maatta as a defensive prospect for the future.
20. Philadelphia Flyers Slater Koekkoek Defenseman Peterborough Petes OHL The Flyers need to draft a defenseman for the future. Koekkoek is the best defensive player available here.
21. New York Rangers Damon Severson Defenseman Kelowna Rockets WHL Severson managed to beat up Joe Morrow in a fight when protecting star teammate Shane McColgan during the WHL playoffs last year. Morrow was the Pittsburgh Penguins 2011 first round pick putting Severson on the New York Rangers only intensifies the rivalry between Morrow and Severson.
22. St. Louis Blues Henrik Samuelsson Right Wing USA Under 18 Team USHL The Blues take the best player available here. Samuelsson was considered a top 10 pick at one point so he may attract the Blues here.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs Radek Faska Center Kitchener Rangers OHL Radek Faska has 13 goals, 13 assists, and 26 points so far during the 2011 OHL Season. Faska is making a strong case to be a late first round pick with his early season success. Faska could make a push into the top half of the draft if he keeps playing this well.
24. Chicago Blackhawks Matia Marcantuoni Center Kitchener Rangers OHL The Blackhawks could use another center for depth in their system. Mark McNeil will not be up for 2 years. Neither will Marcantuoni. Matia can play center or right wing as a two way forward.
25. Phoenix Coyotes Malcolm Subban Goalie Belleville Bulls OHL Phoenix could use another goalie. I realize the PK has stepped up in 2011. I still feel like Mike Smith is not a franchise goalie. Why not draft Subban as a goalie of the future here?
26. Florida Panthers Alex Gudbranson Defenseman Kingston Frontenacs OHL Alex Gudbrason is the little brother of Erik Gubranson. Time to pair the Gudbranson brothers up in Florida.
27. Boston Bruins Eric Locke Left Wing Barrie Colts OHL Boston loves OHL players. They went center and defenseman the last two drafts. Boston goes with an OHL winger in the 2012 NHL Draft.
28. Detroit Red Wings Pontus Aberg Left Wing Djurgardens Elitserien The Red Wings have the luxury of taking the top player available. At this point that player would be Swedish defender Pontus Aberg.
29. Pittsburgh Penguins Demis Kamaev Right Wing Rouyn-Noranda Huskies QMJHL The Penguins could use a goal scoring sniper at right wing. Kamaev is one of the best right wingers to come out of Russia.
Pittsburgh could keep him in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Over time Kamaev could become a line 2 sniper at right wing who compliments Evgeni Malkin.
30. Minnesota Wild Matthew Finn Defenseman Guelph Storm OHL Finn is the best defender available here. Finn played for the same OHL team as Kings defenseman Drew Doughty. Finn has the potential to become a line 1 two way defender. He needs 3 years of development before he reaches his potential though.
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