2012 NHL Draft Rankings: The Next Ones Top 120

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft takes place on June 22-23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvia. Hockey’s version of Christmas is less than two months away.

Click here for the Live Updated NHL 2012 Draft Preview Guide – The Next Ones – your quintessential draft resource featuring:

• Exclusive Draft Rankings
• Mock Drafts
• Detailed prospect profiles in The Next Ones format
• Team specific features
• Fantasy-based articles
• Looking ahead to the 2013 draft and beyond
• Much more unique content focused on the draft and prospects

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Chris’s List

A common query is how these particular rankings are formulated. There is now an abundance of sources of hockey prospect information. You can check out my blog The Next Ones for your online eNewspaper, linking to the best of the best of these resources.

TSN has Craig Button’s ‘Craig’s List’, which is a “monthly rankings represent his individual assessment of where players are slotted in the NHL draft. They will be posted in addition to Bob McKenzie’s consensus NHL rankings, which is compiled four times a year. Bob’s rankings represent the consensus NHL team view of where players are slotted in the NHL draft.”

In contrast, The Next Ones rankings take into account many influences. While I obviously cannot reveal all my trade secrets, the following are some of the considerations contemplated when compiling the rankings. First of all, my personal prospect analysis and scouting reports from live player viewings (due to geography restraints mainly limited to WHL and this year’s World Juniors) and video analysis.  Secondly, my personal ranking system with influences from contacts whom I consider respected, knowledgeable, passionate hockey people with unique insight from all over this great hockey universe of ours. Many thanks to those who passionately offer up their unequivocal outstanding scouting analysis to me – you know who you are.  Thirdly, I utilize some unique statistical analysis for guidance purposes only. Compiling and merging all of data along with copious amounts of research results in Chris’s List coming to fruition.

The rankings will be updated once more before the draft in June.

 

The Race For First Overall: Fail For Nail or Mikhail

The debate rages on as to if Nail Yakupov has a real challenger for the first overall selection now proudly possessed by the Edmonton Oilers. I’ve proclaimed Nail to be the hands down top prospect in this draft all along, but the race might just end up being a photo finish afterall. Mikhail Grigorenko was at one time a legitimate contender, but has seen his stock drop as of late. However, recent reports revealed he has had mononucleosis which goes a long way in explaining his drop off in play. Grigorenko may just be back in the pursuit of being chosen first overall.

In a defenseman heavy draft, Ryan Murray is the top blueline ice warrior on most lists. Both Murray and recently crowned World Juniors U18 leading scorer Mathew Dumba have a reasonable shot at supplanting Yakupov. Filip Forsberg and Alex Galchenyuk have outside shots having their respective names called first on June 22nd.

 

The Tiers:

The aforementioned super six prospects round out what I believe to be the top tier of prospects; albeit, the next eight prospects that could easily join them. While there may be a tier or two contained within, there is some fantastic value from prospects ranked 14 to 45 and beyond, with a lot of varying opinion out there as to where some of these young guns should be drafted come June.

 

Highs and Lows:

Prospects I have ranked higher than most:

• Scott Laughton: Laughton looks to be developing into a Mike Richards clone – that’s a good thing.
• Dalton Thrower: Thrower is not the biggest blueliner that will be selected in the first round, but he still plays an effective physical game. He is a silky smooth and efficient skater. His game goes well beyond the numbers, but he did finish 8th in defenseman scoring in the WHL. He can man the left or right point, delivers crisp and accurate passes, and has a blistering shot. Teammates will love going into battle with this talented blueliner.
• Brett Kulak: The first thing you may notice about Brett Kulak while watching him play for the Vancouver Giants is that unless you were specifically paying him attention, he likely would be unnoticeable. In Kulak’s case, and in the case of efficient defenseman in general, this is often a very desirable trait. Looking for an NHL comparable than look no further than Duncan Keith. Kulak is a smooth skater with tremendous puck poise and always seems to make the simplest and often correct decision. It may take some time, but he also has untapped offensive upside as well.

 

Prospects I have ranked lower than most:

• *Tom Wilson: I initially had him falling into the second round, but the budding power forward has been doing his best to put my offensive upside concerns to rest with a fantastic OHL playoffs.
• Goalies: I can’t bring myself to rank goalies in the first round. Subban at the top of second round says a lot to what I think he can become; Andrei Vasilevski and Oscar Dansk are two other outstanding netminding prospects. I actually think it’s a fairly solid year for goalies with some gems to be had in the mid to late rounds of the draft,
• Pontus Åberg: The speedy, mature and skilled Swede simply falls victim to the numbers game – I like him as a prospect, but the guys ahead of him I like better for long-term upside.

 

An Alternative Perspective:

• THW’s Shawn Reznik recently released his Top 60 Final Rankings.

 

Extra Reading:

• Fixing the NHL Entry Draft Lottery System: Four alternatives presented
• Essential Hockey Read: Behind The Moves: Book review of must-have hockey reference by Jason Farris, now a Dallas Stars executive

The Rankings:

Notes:

• The table display approximately 60 of the prospects at a time; simply scroll down to view the other prospects.
• NHL Central Scouting (CSB) rankings are obviously segregated as North American and European skaters and goalies, respectively.
• Detailed prospect profiles in The Next Ones formatted are being compiled leading up to the draft. Stay tuned to The Next Ones 2012 NHL Draft Guide.

 

2012 Draft Top 82 Rankings

Ranking	Pos.	Name	League	Junior Team
1	RW	Nail Yakupov	OHL	Sarnia Sting
2	D	Matthew Dumba	WHL	Red Deer Rebels
3	D	Ryan Murray	WHL	Everett Silvertips
4	C	Mikhail Grigorenko	QMJHL	Quebec Remparts
5	C	Filip Forsberg	Allsvenskan	Leksland
6	C	Alex Galchenyuk	OHL	Sarnia Sting
7	LW	Teuvo Teravianen	SM-liiga	Jokerit
8	D	Morgan Rielly	WHL	Moose Jaw Warriors
9	D	Griffin Reinhart	WHL	Edmonton Oil Kings
10	D	Olli Maatta	OHL	London Knights
11	D	Cody Ceci	OHL	Ottawa 67’s
12	C	Radek Faska	OHL	Kitchener Rangers
13	D	Jacob Trouba	USHL	USA NTDP U18
14	C	Brendan Gaunce	OHL	Belleville Bulls
15	RW	Sebastian Collberg	SEL	Frölunda
16	D	Dalton Thrower	WHL	Saskatoon Blades
17	C	Zemgus Grigensons	USHL	Dubuque Fighting Saints
18	C	Scott Laughton	OHL	Oshawa Generals
19	D	Derrick Pouliot	WHL	Portland Winterhawks
20	C	Tomas Hertl	Czech	HC Slavia Praha
21	D	Hampus Lindholm	SuperElit	Rogle U20
22	LW	Nicolas Kerdiles	USHL	USA NTDP U18
23	RW	Henrik Samuelsson	WHL	Edmonton Oil Kings
24	RW	Tom Wilson	OHL	Plymouth Whalers
24	D	Slater Koekkoek	OHL	Peterborough Petes
25	D	Brady Skjei	USHL	USA NTDP U18
27	LW	Timothy Bozon	WHL	Kamloops Blazers
28	D	Matthew Finn	OHL	Guelph Storm
29	RW	Martin Frk	QMJHL	Halifax Mooseheads
30	D	Damon Severson	WHL	Kelowna Rockets
31	GK	Malcolm Subban	OHL	Belleville Bulls
32	D	Ville Pokka	SM-liiga	Karpat
33	C	Colton Sissons	WHL	Kelowna Rockets
34	RW	Scott Kosmachuk	OHL	Guelph Storm
35	C	Stephan Matteau	USHL	USA NTDP U18
36	D	Brett Kulak	WHL	Vancouver Giants
37	LW	Phil Di Giuseppe	NCAA	Michigan Wolverines
38	GK	Andrei Vasilevski	MHL	Tolpar Ufa
39	C	Christoval Neives	HIGH-CT	Kent Prep
40	GK	Oscar Dansk	SuperElit	Brynäs J20
41	LW	Pontus Åberg	SEL	Djurgården
42	C	Mark Jankowski	HIGH-QC	Stanstead College
43	C	Gemel Smith	OHL	Owen Sound Attack
44	D	Michael Matheson	USHL	Dubuque Fighting Saints
45	LW/C	Jarrod Maidens	OHL	Owen Sound Attack
46	LW	Tanner Pearson	OHL	Barrie Colts
47	LW	Daniil Zharkov	OHL	Belleville Bulls
48	C	Mike Winther	WHL	Prince Albert Raiders
49	LW	Anton Slepyshev	KHL	Metallurg
50	D	Jordan Schmaltz	USHL	Green Bay Gamblers
51	LW	Charles Hudon	QMJHL	Chicoutimi Saguenéens
52	C	Teodors Blugers	HIGH-MN	Shattuck St. Mary’s
53	C	Lukas Sutter	WHL	Saskatoon Blades
54	D	Ludvig Bystrom	SuperElit	MODO J20
55	C	Devin Shore	OJHL	Whitby Fury
56	LW	Troy Bourke	WHL	Prince George Cougars
57	LW/C	Andreas Athanasiou	OHL	London Knights
58	D	Mikko Vainonen	Jr. A SM-liiga	HIFK U20
59	RW	Brian Hart	HIGH-NH	Phillips Exeter
60	LW	Nikolai Prokhorkin	MHL	CSKA
61	D	Esa Lindell	Jr. A SM-liiga	Jokerit U20
62	C	Dane Fox	OHL	Erie Otters
63	D	Calle Andersson	SuperElit	Färjestad J20
64	C	Quentin Shore	USHL	USA NTDP U18
65	D	Jake McCabe	NCAA	Univ. Of Wisconsin Badgers
66	RW	Brendan Troock	WHL	Seattle Thunderbirds
67	D	Dylan Blujus	OHL	Brampton Battalion
68	C	Brady Vail	OHL	Windsor Spitfires
69	LW	Coda Gordon	WHL	Swift Current Broncos
70	RW/C	Matia Marcantuoni	OHL	Kitchener Rangers
71	D	Adam Pelech	OHL	Erie Otters
72	LW	Nikita Gusev	MHL	CSKA Moskva
73	LW	Raphael Bussieres	QMJHL	Baie-Comeau Drakkar
74	D	Dillon Fournier	QMJHL	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
75	D	Jaynen Rissling	WHL	Calgary Hitmen
76	D	Travis Brown	WHL	Moose Jaw Warriors
77	RW	Sam Kurker	HIGH-MA	St. John’s Prep
78	GK	Matthew Murray	OHL	Soo Greyhounds
79	GK	Collin Olson	USHL	USA NTDP U18
80	RW	Seth Griffith	OHL	London Knights
81	D	Patrick Sieloff	USHL	USA NTDP U18
82	LW	Mitchell Moroz	WHL	Edmonton Oil Kings

Top 82 Draft-Year Stats

Ranking	Pos.	Name	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	Pts	PIM
1	RW	Nail Yakupov	42	31	38	69	30
2	D	Matthew Dumba	69	20	37	57	67
3	D	Ryan Murray	46	9	22	31	31
4	C	Mikhail Grigorenko	59	40	45	85	12
5	C	Filip Forsberg	43	8	9	17	33
6	C	Alex Galchenyuk	2	0	0	0	0
7	LW	Teuvo Teravianen	40	11	7	18	6
8	D	Morgan Rielly	18	3	15	18	2
9	D	Griffin Reinhart	58	12	24	36	38
10	D	Olli Maatta	58	5	27	32	25
11	D	Cody Ceci	64	17	43	60	14
12	C	Radek Faska	62	29	37	66	47
13	D	Jacob Trouba	47	8	21	29	63
14	C	Brendan Gaunce	68	28	40	68	68
15	RW	Sebastian Collberg	41	0	0	0	2
16	D	Dalton Thrower	66	18	36	54	103
17	C	Zemgus Grigensons	49	24	31	55	69
18	C	Scott Laughton	64	21	32	53	101
19	D	Derrick Pouliot	72	11	48	59	79
20	C	Tomas Hertl	38	12	13	25	22
21	D	Hampus Lindholm	28	5	12	17	16
22	LW	Nicolas Kerdiles	47	17	21	38	32
23	RW	Henrik Samuelsson	28	7	16	23	42
24	RW	Tom Wilson	49	9	18	27	141
24	D	Slater Koekkoek	26	5	13	18	17
25	D	Brady Skjei	53	4	17	21	30
27	LW	Timothy Bozon	71	36	35	71	40
28	D	Matthew Finn	61	10	38	48	58
29	RW	Martin Frk	34	16	13	29	41
30	D	Damon Severson	56	7	30	37	80
31	GK	Malcolm Subban	39	2.5	0.923
32	D	Ville Pokka	35	0	3	3	12
33	C	Colton Sissons	58	26	15	41	62
34	RW	Scott Kosmachuk	67	30	29	59	110
35	C	Stephan Matteau	46	15	17	32	166
36	D	Brett Kulak	72	9	15	24	22
37	LW	Phil Di Giuseppe	40	11	15	26	18
38	GK	Andrei Vasilevski	27	2.23	0.931
39	C	Christoval Neives	26	7	32	39	24
40	GK	Oscar Dansk	28	2.82	0.91
41	LW	Pontus Åberg	47	8	7	15	6
42	C	Mark Jankowski	57	53	41	94	34
43	C	Gemel Smith	68	21	39	60	51
44	D	Michael Matheson	53	11	16	27	84
45	LW/C	Jarrod Maidens	28	12	11	23	4
46	LW	Tanner Pearson	60	37	54	91	37
47	LW	Daniil Zharkov	50	23	13	36	25
48	C	Mike Winther	71	32	24	56	59
49	LW	Anton Slepyshev	39	4	3	7	2
50	D	Jordan Schmaltz	55	10	31	41	29
51	LW	Charles Hudon	59	25	41	66	50
52	C	Teodors Blugers	51	24	64	88	63
53	C	Lukas Sutter	70	28	31	59	165
54	D	Ludvig Bystrom	34	7	22	29	101
55	C	Devin Shore	41	29	29	58	26
56	LW	Troy Bourke	71	18	38	56	56
57	LW/C	Andreas Athanasiou	63	22	15	37	22
58	D	Mikko Vainonen	38	7	11	18	44
59	RW	Brian Hart	29	32	36	68	20
60	LW	Nikolai Prokhorkin	15	9	17	26	47
61	D	Esa Lindell	48	21	30	51	16
62	C	Dane Fox	62	23	31	54	87
63	D	Calle Andersson	49	12	24	36	56
64	C	Quentin Shore	53	14	8	22	27
65	D	Jake McCabe	26	3	9	12	12
66	RW	Brendan Troock	58	14	12	26	83
67	D	Dylan Blujus	66	7	27	34	38
68	C	Brady Vail	68	22	30	52	55
69	LW	Coda Gordon	66	30	23	53	12
70	RW/C	Matia Marcantuoni	24	9	5	14	10
71	D	Adam Pelech	44	2	18	20	52
72	LW	Nikita Gusev	34	30	46	76	26
73	LW	Raphael Bussieres	56	21	23	44	60
74	D	Dillon Fournier	52	9	29	38	59
75	D	Jaynen Rissling	55	5	18	23	124
76	D	Travis Brown	66	7	24	31	45
77	RW	Sam Kurker	26	32	28	60	25
78	GK	Matthew Murray	36	4.08	0.876
79	GK	Collin Olson	31	2.66	0.893
80	RW	Seth Griffith	68	45	40	85	49
81	D	Patrick Sieloff	53	3	7	10	115
82	LW	Mitchell Moroz	66	16

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