

The 2012 NHL Draft is nearly upon us. While many are saying the talent pool isn’t as deep as years past you just never know how these youngsters will develop. Will Nail Yakupov be a bust, will a gem be plucked from a later round? Will picks number four or five be the real winners? Let us know in the comments below what you think of this year’s NHL draft.

Here are video highlights of some of the likely higher selections along with a link to our more detailed Next Ones profile on each player. This list is our own projection.

10. Olli Maatta

The former 1st overall selection in the OHL import draft didn’t waste any time to make a strong impression on his teammates and coaches in his first season in North America. The skilled rearguard notched 5 goals and 32 assists for 37 points in 58 games with London this season. He also finished with a very good +25 +/- rating. Maatta, despite his young age, has already plenty of international hockey experience under his belt as he played for Team Finland at both the 2011 and the 2012 World Championships, making the team as a 16 year-old in 2010-11. Read More…

(sorry – no vid on Maatta)

9. Griffin Reinhart

While his father (Paul Reinhart) was a primarily offensive-minded player, the Edmonton Oil Kings defender is much more balanced. Strangely, the same qualities that have made him a great WHL player are also what may put him “under-the-radar” as far as high-end prospects are concerned. Reinhart is a coach’s ideal of a two-way defender – he’s big (6-foot-4 and 200 pounds), surprisingly mobile for his size and positionally-strong. He’s also blessed with a good eye, something that has come in handy while quarterbacking the Oil Kings power-play (5 of his 12 goals this season have been scored with the extra man). Read More…

8. Morgan Rielly

As we get closer and closer to the 2012 NHL Draft you start to get the feeling that every defenseman in the Western Hockey League is a top prospect. There certainly will be a run of WHL Blue-liners that go in the first round this season. Morgan Rielly of the Moose Jaw Warriors has the potential to be one of the most exciting players in that bunch. The 18 year old defenseman from Vancouver is a dynamic offensive prospect who will push play, can quarterback your power play and might just treat you to some edge of your seat end to end rushes. Read More…

7. Teuvo Teravainen

The skilled forward from Helsinki made a great impression during his rookie season with Jokerit of the SM-Liiga, the top professional ice hockey league in Finland, being named the rookie of the year (Jarmo Wasama Trophy) after recording 11 goals and 7 assists for 18 points in 40 games. He joined the men’s team at Jokerit after a fast start with the club’s U20 team. While these numbers don’t seem dominant, don’t forget that Teravainen is still only 17 years-old and that he was playing in an elite league filled with physically mature and talented players. Read More…

6. Alex Galchenyuk



Alex Galchenyuk, the first overall pick of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection Draft, was the easy choice for the Sarnia Sting after he potted 44 goals and 87 points in only 38 games playing for the Chicago Young Americans finishing the year 13 goals and 15 points ahead of the next closest player in the Mid-West Elite League. Galchenyuk was nothing but spectacular in his first OHL season as he registered 31 goals and 83 points finishing third in CHL rookie scoring behind linemate Nail Yakupov (101 points) and Sven Bartschi (85 points) who are elders of Galchenyuk’s. Alex Galchenyuk’s playing style is reminiscent of many North American players in the way that he plays a strong puck protection game. However, the American born Russian also displays European tendencies in his game that are most noticeable in his stick skills and creative one-on-one abilities. Read More…

5. Filip Forsberg

By now, one likely knows that Filip is no relation to Peter. However, if you’ve seen him play his on-ice presence is definitely reminiscent of Foppa. This version of Forsberg is a safe bet to develop into a complete player in the NHL. He has the ability to raise the play of his teammates in a synergistic manner. He’s mainly played as a winger, and his strong play along the boards compliments this. However, there have been hints from the hockey world that he might thrive as a centre as well, which may make him even more desirable to some NHL squads. I wouldn’t bank on that position switch at this point though. Read More…

4. Mikhail Grigorenko

Entering the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in a few weeks time, Grigorenko and his respective controversial rankings have become the biggest storyline of this draft class. After a strong start to his North American debut experiencing almost no transition period, the big pivot had become one of a few elite offensive players available in the draft, yet, recently the scouting world has been awfully critical of his play causing him to be dubbed a “faller”. As the year unfolded, it became easier to find anonymous quotes by scouts stating that they would “not touch Grigorenko” or “Mikhail is not worthy of a top 20 selection” or some other bold statement with a similar sour tone. In truth, based on pure upside, the Quebec Remparts’ high scoring freshman has arguably the highest offensive upside of any skater in this draft class. Read More…

3. Ryan Murray

Murray’s late September’s birthday kept him from being eligible for the 2011 NHL Draft and, as a result, he had to wait another year before being selected by an NHL team. With one more junior year under his belt, during which he recorded 9 goals and 22 assists for 31 points in 46 games with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL and played at the World Junior Championships for Team Canada, Ryan Murray could be the surprise number one overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers next June. Read More…

2. Matthew Dumba

Many “experts” consider him the highest risk/reward prospect eligible in this year’s draft class (Russian prospect notwithstanding). If a team is going to swing for the fences in this draft, selecting Matt Dumba might just be the equivalent of hitting it out of the park (or rink, as it where) in Albert Pujols style. Dumba is an explosive dynamic defenseman with game-breaking ability. NHL team brass will like the fact that he single-handedly has the ability to put fans in the rink with his electrifying style of play and infectious personality. He always comes to play and possesses an elite level of competitiveness. Read More…

1. Nail Yakupov