NHL Mock Draft 2012: Danccchan's Mock Draft

My turn, my turn, my turn!

So the draft is only a day away and I am shaking! I can't be the only one who thinks tomorrow is the best part of the hockey season. Because it is (I'll change my mind if we win the Stanley Cup), so this is my take on what happens of draft day, with no trades done, because ... I don't have to explain it. This is my turf!

And here ... we ... go ...

1. EDMONTON OILERS - RW NAIL YAKUPOV

If the Oilers don't trade their pick for defensemen (pro player or prospects), then they select the clear number one draft eligible player Nail Yakupov. He's electrifying, dynamic, and brings tons of offense you want in a first overall pick. Russian factor doesn't apply as much as he is already playing in the OHL and seems to be a sure-success in NHL that there just won't be that incentive to go back home.

2. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS - D RYAN MURRAY

This team needs help everywhere, and because of years of not successfully developing top tier-talent, they need a prospect that brings both upside and a low risk factor. Not many kids could have done what Ryan Murray has done: played for Team Canada U-20, Team Canada men, and led his junior team as captain. He may not be that superstar defenseman, but he brings all the skills to be a top defenseman on the Blue Jacket's team, and a guy who will eat top minutes in all situations against top players, and be a future captain.

3. MONTREAL CANADIANS - C ALEX GALCHENYUK

Looking for the guy with the highest upside left available in the draft? Look no further than Yakupov's linemate, Alex Galchenyuk. If he wasn't injured for the year, he could be in contention for the #1 spot. But seeing how he was, he drops slightly, but its unifiable he has some great dynamic skills for a centerman. Canadians need talent and size at center, and Galchenyuk brings both. He also has a similar Russian factor as Yakupov, so Montreal has little to worry about.

4. NEW YORK ISLANDERS - LW FILIP FORSBERG

5. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS - D GRIFFIN REINHART

6. ANAHEIM DUCKS - D JACOB TROUBA

7. MINNESOTA WILD - LW TEUVO TERAVAINEN

NOO!!! My top two defenseman (Reinhart and Trouba) are off the board! So should pick up other defenseman like Matt Dumba or Morgan Rielly to fix that hole in our blueline? Nope, I say take a Fin with the name Teuvo Teravainen.

Now we have one.

8. CAROLINA HURRICANES - C RADEK FAKSA

9. WINNIPEG JETS - D MATT DUMBA

Some may be wondering why Mikhail Grigorenko is still. In my opinion, Russian factor not considered, Matt Dumba has just the same amount of "wow" factor that Grigorenko has. WITH the Russian factor, Dumba gets the step up. This highly skilled defenseman is electrifying offensively and physically. He has a powerful shot, loves to hit (and hits like a train) and is extremely mobile. While decent defensively, there is still some questions about the decisions he makes in his own zone or when to pinch in, but the Jets lack bluechip talent (besides Mark Schiefele) and Dumba can really bring some hype and excitement to the new team.

10. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING - D MORGAN RIELLY

11. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (VIA COLORADO) - C MIKHAIL GRIGORENKO

The Capitals lack bluechip talent in their system besides a notable few. Overall, it lacks depth of talent and if they wanted to select the player with the highest upside left in the draft, Mikhail Grigorenko is still there. Washington has shown to be comfortable with Russian prospects, and seeing that they need skill, Grigorenko makes the most sense.

12. BUFFALO SABRES - D CODY CECI

13. DALLAS STARS - D HAMPUS LINDHOLM

14. CALGARY FLAMES - D OLLI MAATTA

15. OTTAWA SENATORS - D SLATER KOEKKOEK

The Senators made a huge push for talented forwards last year selecting three forwards in the first round. It has proven to strengthen their future offense, so this year they'll spend their first round pick to help add some talent to their prospective blueline. Slater Koekkoek was injured almost the entire season so he didn't get much chance to prove that he can be a top pairing defenseman, but the people who were able to get an early viewing of him can definitely see he has the tools. He has the size, skating, offensive and defensive skills, and able to eat tons of minutes. The only problem: he hasn't been able to show any of that season. But the upside is there, and the Senators jump on it, hoping he can turn into a top pairing two-way defenseman.

16. WASHINGTON CAPITALS - C BRENDAN GAUNCE

With their previous pick, they selected Mikhail Grigorenko, who is super skilled but has some red flags. With their second pick, they select a more safer prospect who is still quite skilled but a notable lower upside in center Brendan Gaunce. He has pro size, protects the puck well and works the cycle effectively, all which could translate into a 2-3 line centerman. He doesn't possess great speed or dynamic hands, but he is prospect that will work nicely in any coach's system with a well-rounded game and physical attributes.

17. SAN JOSE SHARKS - C ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS

18. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS - D DERRICK POULIOT

19. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING - D MATT FINN

20. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS - D BRADY SKJEI

21. BUFFALO SABRES (VIA NASHVILLE) - RW TOM WILSON

22. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS - RW SEBASTIAN COLLBERG

23. FLORIDA PANTHERS - D LUDVIG BYSTROM

24. BOSTON BRUINS - G ANDREI VASILEVSKI

Some may be worried about taking a goaltender, especially a Russian one, with a first round pick. But considering that the Bruins could use top end talent in every position and that at this point there is very little of that besides in goaltending, Andrei Vasilevski makes the most sense. He has tons of upside for a goaltender as he has size, moves quickly and smoothly, and anticipates the play very well. The combination of his inconsistency, the Russian factor, and the fact that drafting goaltenders high is seemingly out of style has Vasilevski dropping but there is no doubt he has the tools to become a star.

25. ST. LOUIS BLUES - RW COLTON SISSONS

26. VANCOUVER CANUCKS - C TOMAS HERTL

The Canucks have some quiet depth in their prospect pool but lack some bluechip talent. This point in the draft, its hard to find, but center Tomas Hertl might have enough upside to be interesting. His skating needs alot of work but he brings alot to the game outside that. He has size, protects the puck well, and has a solid overall offensive skill set. He uses his body well and plays a sound two-way game. He isn't an exciting prospect but he should be a good value pick this late in the first round.

27. PHOENIX COYOTES - LW PHIL DI GIUSEPPE

Over the past few years, the Coyotes have been stockpiling defensive youth and no longer need to spend a first on a defenseman for awhile. What is missing are forwards with offensive potential, so they select forward Phil Di Giuseppe, who surprised many when he was the last cut for Team Canada U-20. Di Giuseppe is a solid all-round forward that plays a strong game with decent size and speed. He's got a good shot, works the boards hard, and plays with energy. All these could translate into a powerforward in the future and all the while still quite a safe prospect which also works well.

28. NEW YORK RANGERS - G MALCOLM SUBBAN

The Rangers have a very well-rounded prospect pool but could use improvements in their goaltending prospect pool. At the point in the draft, the only prospects left that have game-breaking abilities are goaltenders and the Rangers could use some of that talent, so they select Malcom Subban. He's a very quick and atheltic goaltender, who uses his vision and anticipation to steal games. However, he does need to work on a few fundamentals and his consistency; he only started playing goaltender when he was 12.

29. NEW JERSEY DEVILS - C MARK JANKOWSKI

I honestly do not understand why they decided to hold this pick, so that tells me there must be some they have in mind. Its hard to predict who that is this late in the draft, but Mark Jankowski has the upside to prove them right. He has alot of impressive tools: large frame to fill out, dynamic hands, smooth skating, and impressive intagibles. The biggest problem with Jankowski is that he plays with the worst of the worst. He plays in a Canadian prep school, which is below US High School and BCHL, which is below USHL, which is below CHL etc etc. You get my point. He is super hard to project, super hard to compare, and he has tons of works he needs to do. But if he puts it all together, he can be one very good player.

30. LOS ANGELES KINGS - D JAKE MCCABE

It is hard to find a fault in the King's organization with talent nicely spread in every area. With the last pick in the first round, they make sure their defense is well-stocked with the addition of defenseman Jake McCabe. He started off the year as a defensive defenseman but with some time on the PP, he started to produce some offense. McCabe is a quiet but effective player that moves well and plays solid in both ends of the ice. He has a solid frame, and with the last pick of the round, the Kings don't mind adding a well-rounded prospect who has decent upside.

For a more quicker look without all the explanation, here is a nice table for ya!