NHL Draft 2012 Prospects: #1 Nail Yakupov

The draft, hands down, is the best time of the hockey season. Maybe I'm just saying that because the Wild haven't been seen post-season action since 2008, but that is besides the point.

The Wild hold seven picks this year, including the 7th overall pick. The last time that Wild had a pick this high was when the team selected Benoit Pouliot 4th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (the beginning of the Wild's awful draft record, as seen by our pal's inspiration for their blog's name...).

However, since GM Chuck Fletcher and Assistant GM Brett Flahr arrived, the team has started to see some promise. Some of these names include the Christ-like (or whoever you pray to) Mikael Granlund, Johan Larsson, Charlie Coyle and the recently drafted Jonas Brodin.

So, on June 22nd-23rd, we will all sit down in front of the television/computer and watch the draft. But if you are wondering, "who's who", then you haven't been reading HW because thats my job.

So without further ado:

Introducing our 2012 NHL #1 Draft Prospect - Nail Yakupov:

Accomplishments & Awards:

Prospect Jersey (What Would They Look Like In a Wild Jersey?):

Summarized Scouting Report

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

HW Projection:

Video Evidence:

Where Does He Fit In The Wild?

He doesn't. He's too good for us.

Seriously.

Conclusion

There is not a doubt in my mind Yakupov will go #1. If he doesn't, shame on whoever holds that first overall pick (which right now is the Oilers).

Look at his weaknesses, they are all minor points. Sure, he could use his teammates more often but he's already so damn good by himself. Sure, his defensive game and play away from the puck isn't his niche, but he's solid in those areas and committed to improving them. Sure, he doesn't have a 6'5 frame to endure the physical strains of his feisty play but thats just asking "how good won't he be".

He's a phenomenal skater, he has a deadly shot along with great vision and passing, and loves to play with energy and physicality. He'll get the crowd standing, and he's a great character on and off the ice. Yes, he's a Russian but he is already two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League and is almost guaranteed a spot in the NHL; there is no incentive for him to go back home.

If I sound giddy, forgive me. But I haven't even heard of a prospect like Yakupov before. I feel he has everything you want in a franchise forward and feel he will be better than his fellow first overall classmates Ryan Nugent Hopkins and Taylor Hall.

Special thanks to HFBoards, Future Considerations, The Hockey Writers, TSN, OHLProspeccts and The Scouting Report