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2012 NHL MOCK DRAFT

June 21, 2012, 8:13 AM ET [76 Comments]
Eric Smith
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Up until the draft I will be putting out 20 NHL Draft Prospects in 20 days. I will be certain to cover all the top guys but also some players that can be had in later rounds. I will end up with a mock draft the day before the draft. If you missed any of the prospects, click ARCHIVE above to find what you have missed.

Let's set the ground rules to start. This mock draft is what I believe would be the best selection for the team making the pick. This isn't a mock draft that tries to predict what teams will do but more about where my crazy mind goes. Meaning, start mocking my mock draft.

1. Edmonton Oilers– Ryan Murray, Everett Silvertips, Defense – the need of the Oilers for defense is just too great to pass on a blueliner that is ready to play right now. This selection would raise some eyebrows but it shouldn't.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets – Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia Sting, Center – Nail Yakupov is the best prospect in the draft on talent but other questions make me nervous enough to go with Galchenyuk. Alex is a big center that brings both his Russian roots to his game along with being American by birth. Believe he is a can't miss prospect.

3.Montreal Canadiens – Nail Yakupov, Sarnia Sting, Right Wing – The Habs would be pinching themselves if this plays out. Yakupov could be the most dynamic player in this draft but also could struggle playing a two way game at the next level.

4.New York Islanders – Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings, Defense – Big defenseman with a father that played 648 NHL games at the same position. Reinhart has the makings of being a Shea Weber type player.

5.Toronto Maple Leafs – Filip Forsberg, Leksand, Center – big power forward the Brian Burke just loves to have. He's physical with good hockey sense and character. Plays a simple north/south game and is able to finish.

6.Anaheim Ducks – Teuvo Teravainen, Jokerit, Left Wing – Teemu Selanne just announced he's staying for another year. Finland native Teravainen might just be the Finnish Flash's replacement. He's been moving up the draft boards.

7.Minnesota Wild – Mathew Dumba, Red Deer Rebels, Defense – A punishing blue liner that has a cannon of a shot. He will create impact at both ends of the ice. Wild will be excited to get what could turn into the best defenseman out of this draft.

8.Carolina Hurricanes – Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec Remparts, Center – Hurricanes took a chance with Jeff Skinner and it paid off in spades. Grigorenko is a very talented player that could have challenged for the first overall selection. There are some serious questions about his commitment but the Canes could take a big risk and end up hitting another home run.

9.Winnipeg Jets – Morgan Rielly, Moose Jaw Warriors, Defense -Speedy skating defenseman that was on a point per game pace early in the season before injuring his ACL. Extremely smart defenseman that stays one step ahead of his opposition both in his mind and also on the ice.

10.Tampa Bay Lightning – Radek Faksa, Kitchener Rangers, Center – The Lightning has to start getting ready to replace some pieces in their top six. Faksa curve to the NHL could be short and has something you can't teach and that's size.

11.Washington Capitals – Jacob Trouba, USNTDP, Defenseman – A defenseman with offensive instincts and also can bring the nasty too. Exactly what the Capitals are trying to become.

12.Buffalo Sabres – Cody Ceci , Ottawa 67's, Defenseman – Cannon of a shot that can quarterback a power play. Strong kid that could turn into a very solid 2 way defenseman

13.Dallas Stars – Olli Maatta, London Knights, Defenseman – Great Memorial Cup tournament opened my eyes to this Finnish defenseman. He solid on the defensive end and developing an offensive part of his game.

14.Calgary Flames – Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls, Center – A complete center with size. He has the defensive game that is usually void from high end prospects. He's got plenty of offense to his game though as he showed with 68 points in 68 games.

15.Ottawa Senators – Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks, Defense – Huge upside and is already the best passing defenseman in this draft. Great skater and was able to shine even on a loaded team in Portland. Maybe the most impressive was the 17 points in 22 playoff games.

16.Washington Captials – Sebastian Collberg, Frolunda HC, Right Wing – undersized winger that has elite wheels and some believe he has a similar scoring touch to Jeff Skinner. He has big character and isn't afraid to mix it up in the corners but gets overpowered often.

17.San Jose Sharks – Zemgus Gergensons, Dubuque Fighting Saints, Center – Zemgus has the skill set to play any way you want him to. He is just as comfortable playing a dump and chase game or puck possession style and will have and impact on the game in both systems. He's the top prospect out of the USHL this season and will be the highest drafted player ever from Latvia.

18.Chicago Blackhawks – Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough Petes, Defense – Maybe the best name in the draft (Kuh-Kook) has the entire package. Big, skates, good puck mover that makes good decisions, penalty killer, PP quarterback and can much 25 to 30 minutes a night. The reason he falls to 18 is due to a shoulder injury that kept him out of the last 40 games of the season.

19.Tampa Bay Lightning – Dalton Thrower, Saskatoon Blades, Defense – Maybe the second best name in the draft that possesses a rare mix to his game. An offensive defenseman that will throw down his gloves against any one. NHL teams might want him to protect those hands that scored 18 goals and 54 points in 66 games this season.

20.Philadelphia Flyers – Matthew Finn, Guelph Storm, Defense – a smart two way defenseman that is on the ice for days for the Storm. He racked up 48 points in 61 games. Flyers need to add defensive depth and Finn fits the bill.

21.Buffalo Sabres – Pontus Aberg, Djurgarden (Swe), Left Wing – already playing with the men in the Swedish Elite League where he made an impact. He's got speed, soft hands and an accurate shot that leaps off his stick. He's been compared to Sebastian Collberg just bigger.

22.Pittsburgh Penguin – Thomas Wilson, Plymouth Whalers, Right Wing – A big winger that can lay the lumber and at the same time can put up points in big moments as he proved with 7 goals, 13 points in 13 playoff games this year. Pens are in need of wingers to play with all their centers and Wilson could really fit the bill.

23.Florida Panthers - Tomas Hertl, Slavia (Czech), Center – a proven scorer in the Czech Elite League where he finished forth in scoring in the league even though he entered the season as a 17 year old and missing 14 games due to injuries. Big kid with a hard shot that gets off the stick in a hurry. Already playing a two way game.

24.Boston Bruins – Malcolm Subban, Belleville Bulls, Goalie – Tuukka Rask looks to have taken over as the Bruins top netminder and the Bruins have the luxury to pick a goalie this early. Subban might be the best athlete in this draft at any position. He's new to the position and needs time to develop his craft. He could turn into an elite goalie if given time and the Bruins should be able to do that.

25.St. Louis Blues – Colton Sissons, Kelowna Rockets, Right Wing – Ken Hitchcock likes intense and intelligent players that pay attention to small things on the ice and gives defense more than a passing thought. Sissons is a player that marries up to Hitchcocks philosophy and should flourish with the Blues

26.Vancouver Canucks – Brady Skjei, USNTDP, Defense – Big defenseman that can really skate. Good all around defenseman. Canucks need to add some depth at the position and Skjei is the best available at this spot.

27.Phoenix Coyotes – Martin Frk, Halifax Mooseheads, Right Wing – Yotes are getting long in the tooth in their top 6 and Frk has the skills to be a top end winger. Natural goal scorer with a powerful shot and speed to burn makes him a dangerous forward but needs to be more consistent.

28.New York Rangers – Stefan Matteau, USNTDP, Left Wing – Big tough nasty winger is exactly the way Glen Sather likes them. Now add in he is a legacy as his father is a popular former player with the Ranger, Stephane Matteau, and it looks like a perfect fit.

29.New Jersey Devils – Patrick Sieloff, USNTDP, Defense – goalie is an option here for sure but I think there is too many questions with Andrei Vasilevski and they will wait to get their netminder of the future. Sieloff is a pure shutdown defenseman that can take away the best player of the opposition and also good support for a offensive defenseman that's going to pinch a lot.

30.Los Angeles Kings – Phillip Di Giuseppe, University of Michigan, Left Wing – The Stanley Cup winners are in a spot to take the best player available and that's what they do with Di Giuseppe. Good scoring winger with speed that had a good freshman campaign with the Wolverines. He has not only soft hands but they are quick to react to a bouncing puck or a rebound off a goalie.

There you have it. Now is the fun part when you can tell me how crazy I am.
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