by Dan Marley
This draft is going to be a great one as teams get set to select their future stars on Friday night in Pittsburgh.
Already, the Draft Lottery and trade rumors are changing the draftees' stock values. It is difficult now to determine who will be picked and when.
Today, I tried making a podcast to put on the internet to avoid typing out how I feel about these specific teams and what they should do when they are on the clock. Due to technical difficulties, I could not do the podcast, and I apologize for those who were looking forward to listening to my rants. I promise you next time that when I do a podcast, it WILL be ten-times better than what you would have expected from me.
What I will do now is tell you all who will be selected and when, given that no picks are traded from now until the end of the first round, which is very unlikely. Also, I will go either be brief or go in complete detail on each of my selections. I also assume that some of you know the trades that happened prior to tomorrow that have impacted the order of this draft. http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/
Also, as a reminder, I will be tweeting the happenings of the 2012 Draft. Follow me @Marley_Dan for all the coverage.
Without firther adieu, I present to you, My Mock Draft. I want to thank all the sites I visited for helping me complile my research.
1. Edmonton selects Ryan Murray, D (Everett, WHL)
Edmonton needs defense! They already have some great forwards to look forward to on their roster and developing in their farm system. Players like Linus Omark, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tobias Reider, Jordan Eberle, and Teemu Hartikainen will fill the team's offensive roles. In my opinion, they should have selected defenseman Adam Larsson first in last year's draft.
2. Columbus selects Nail Yakupov, F (Sarnia, OHL)
As soon as Rick Nash is gone, Yakupov will be an electrifying player to watch in Columbus. Nail, along with Ryan Johansen, Boone Jenner, Mark Letestu, and Jack Johnson will eventually lead the Jackets out of the cellar and into playoff glory.
3. Montreal selects Flip Forsberg, F (Sweden)
A great player to distract fans from the RFA negotiaitions of Carey Price, P.K. Subban, Lars Eller, and others. He has a collection of offensive talent, including speed, puck handling, and shooting, that will provide much needed offense for this club.
4. NY Islanders select Mikhail Grigorenko, F (Quebec, QMJHL)
A smart pick for an Islander team that could see some forwards leaving the Island in the upcoming months for obvious reasons. Cultured by Remparts coach Patrick Roy, Grigorenko's discipline and amazing on-ice vision will add more goals per game for the Islanders.
5. Toronto selects Matthew Dumba, D (Red Deer, WHL)
Dumba has a combination of talent that is very hard to find in most d-men today. Not only does he have a very hard shot from the point, he is also very physical and has some great lateral movement which makes him a valuable asset to any club. The Leafs could use a defenseman like Dumba.
6. Anaheim selects Alex Galchenyuk, F (Sarnia, OHL)
With Bobby Ryan on the trading block, I will not be surprised if Ryan Getzlaf and/or Corey Perry are dealt to different teams as well. After his injury sidelined him for the entire 2011/12 season, Galchenyuk played in the NHL Draft Combine better than ever before. He proves to me that he can recover from any deficit and go above and beyond at his position to generate offense and win games.
7. Minnesota selects Teuvo Tevarainen, F (Jokerit, Finland)
Minnesota's lack of depth at left wing makes this pick very special to Wild fans. He has lately been receiving high praise as of late for his stellar year with Jokerit of the Finnish League and their Under-20 team, registering 20 points in 11 games for the U-20 club and 18 points in 40 games at the pro level. Teuvo is a balanced skater with speed, one who can translate these attributes into goals. According to scouts, Teuvo has also been drafted into the KHL by Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, and could end up playing there as the city tries to rebuild what they lost back in September. I send my deepest condolences to the families of those who were lost during that plane crash. Still, he is worth the pick and can become an immediate impact player in Minnesota.
8. Carolina selects Griffin Reinhart, D (Edmonton, WHL)
The Hurricanes can use some help defensively in the long term. Their farm system has some questionable players, based on their rate of development and how they fit into the team's future plans. They do not want to pass up on a guy like Reinhart, a defenseman that scouts have compared to a healthy Shea Weber.
9. Winnipeg selects Redek Faksa, F (Kitchener, OHL)
Evander Kane is rumored to leave Winnipeg for reasons unknown, and Faksa can easily take his spot when ready. His ability to contribute on both the power play and penalty kill and his ability to generate offense at both ends on the ice is something that Winnipeg would love to have in a Jets jersey.
10. Tampa Bay selects Morgan Reilly, D (Moose Jaw, WHL)
Tampa Bay's first of two 1st-round picks addresses the team's need for offensive-minded defenseman. The offensive catalyst had a knee injury during the season which could impact his rate of development, but when fully healed, is expected to be a top-4 defenseman.
11. Washington selects Jacob Trouba, D (USA U-18)
A good direction for the Caps to go in is to strengthen their blue line. A core of Trouba with Mike Green, Karl Alzner, John Carlson, and Dmitry Orlov with Braden Holtby in net can spell doom for their opponents' offense. His size and speed will compliment the team's defensive style of play.
12. Buffalo selects Malcolm Subban, G (Belleville, OHL)
The hype will lead the Sabres to select Subban with their first pick and keep the Subban name in the Northeast Division. The futures of goalies Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth are bleak if GM Darcy Regier finds a great deal to let one of the two depart. Scouts love how he is able to effectively mix the butterfly with the body and not let go of those rebounds.
13. Dallas selects Brendan Gaunce, F (Belleville, OHL)
The leadership that this kid possesses will help Stars fans forget about the absence of Mike Modano and Brad Richards. His on-ice vision, shooting, and skating will make him the perfect piece of the finishing touch of an offensively-gifted combo of him, Jamie Benn, and Louie Ericksson.
14. Calgary selects Zegmus Girgensons, F (Dubuque, USHL)
Calgary is in need of 1st liners. Zegmus adaptated to the North American style of hockey very well, and is expected to do great things once he matures into a professional. He is currently committed to the University of Vermont for the 2012/13 Season.
15. Ottawa selects Cody Ceci, D (Ottawa, OHL)
Ottawa has no reliable defensive prospects, and how appropriate is it that he starts his pro career in the same city he began his junior career. Todd Cordell of The Hockey Guys feels that this kid will become an immediate impact player in the NHL because of his offensive and defensive mindsets. His high hockey IQ is made possible by how he makes plays, quarterbacks the power play, and never allows his opponents to force him out of position.
16. Washington selects Colton Sissions, F (Kelowna, WHL)
All I can say about this guy is that he is not only a great power forward, but also a great leader. He captained Team Orr at the 2012 Prospects Game and scouts loved the leadership he possessed. Looks like Ovi may have some competition when it comes to deciding on the team's captaincy in the upcoming seasons.
17. San Jose selects Tom Wilson, F (Plymouth, OHL)
This pick kills two birds with one stone, adding a right winger and a power forward. All I can say about this guy is that he reminds me a lot like Ryan Callahan minus his leadership. If available, San Jose would have to be crazy not to select him. They could use a guy who can defend his teammates on the offensive attack.
18. Chicago selects Andrei Vasilevski, G (Ufa-2, Russia Jr.)
Apart from Alex Salak, Chicago has no real depth when it comes to goaltending. Some of the netminding prospects they have will be at best backups who can play at most five or six games a season. Four wins, a 2.01 goals against average, and 95.3 save percentage at the 2012 World Juniors Tournament in Alberta is worth this selection for Chicago.
19. Tampa Bay selects Tomas Herti, F (Slava, Czech)
A Czechoslovakian catalyst with amazing offenisve awareness and hand-eye movement that will do well with guys like Steven Stamkos.
20. Philadelphia selects Olli Maatta, D (London, OHL)
Rumors are going around that Chris Pronger might retire this year, and a defenseman that reminds scouts of Ryan Suter can perfectly take his place. According to Dan Marr, NHL Director of Central Scouting, Maatta is a "calm, composed, puck-moving defenseman," something that Philly can use.
21. Buffalo selects Sebastian Collberg, F (Frolunda HC, Sweden)
A breakaway specialist who knows how to deke his way away from the defense. Could use a year to adjust to North American hockey.
22. Pittsburgh selects Mike Winther, F (Prince Albert, WHL)
Future second liner at NHL level that can score goals and use his upper body strength to shut down any attempts by his opponents to advance the puck.
23. Florida selects Pontus Aberg, F (Djursgarden, Sweden)
An exciting forward to watch who knows how to get open and crash the net. He also has a great accurate and rapid shot. Perfect player remining to fit in GM Dave Tallon's Blue Prints.
24. Boston selects Derrick Pouliot, D (Portland, WHL)
An offensive defenseman whose services may be greatly appreciated in Beantown. He reminds me of Michael Del Zotto a bit, because he can do everything except position himslef when he needs to play defense. This, however, can be improved.
25. St. Louis selects Martin Frk, F (Halifax, QMJHL)
A player who can overcome any injury and still provide his team with offense. His wrist shot is one to watch out for.
26. Vancouver selects Oscar Dansk, G (Byrnas Jr., Sweden)
Issues with Roberto Luongo and scouts comparing Dansk to Henrik Lundqvist with better rebound control sum up why Vancouver should select him if he is still available.
27. Phoenix selects Stefan Matteau, F (USNTDP, USHL)
Great two-way forward. Father is Stephane Matteau.
28. NY Rangers select Henrik Samuelsson, F (Edmonton, WHL)
Rangers have some great prospects in their farm system and can use another forward if one of them is dealt for an elite player. His offenisve production in the Swedish League and WHL is stellar, compared to the remaining forwards in the draft.
29. New Jersey selects Slater Koekkoek, D (Peterborough, OHL)
Suffered from a season-ending shoulder injury this year, but a quick recovery and his healthy gameplay continues to show scouts that he is a well-rounded player, in the sense that he plays the body, has great on-ice vision, and can set up plays for offensive rushes. Problem here is that Slater has some trouble getting back into position, but I am confident that he will improve.
30. Los Angeles/Columbus selects Matt Finn, D (Guelph, OHL)
Power play defenseman who needs some tweaking on the blue line. Questions still center on who will get this pick.
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