Nail Yakupov and capsules of first round

By Larry Wigge

Capsules of 2012 NHL Entry Draft:

1. Edmonton -- RW Nail Yakupov, Sarnia, 5-11 and 190 pounds. For the third time a Russian-born player was first overall and the first time since Alex Ovechkin in 2004 and Ilya Kovalchuk in 2001. Third straight first round pick behind RW Taylor Hall and C Ryan-Nugent Hopkins. Yakupov had 170 points in 107 games in two winters with OHL Sarnia.

Central Scouting Service: No. 1; International Scouting Service: No. 1; The Hockey News: No. 1.

2. Columbus -- D Ryan Murray, Everett, 6-1, 201 pounds. The first of this year's top defenseman. The two-way leader with WHL Everett had 31 points in 46 games.

CSS: No. 2; ISS: No. 3; THN: No. 4.

3. Montreal -- C Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia, 6-1, 198 pounds. Canadiens never had big center. Wild card. Risky. Played in only two games with no points, sidelined by knee injury in preseason. But in 2010-11, he totaled 83 points in 68 games.

CSS: No. 4; ISS: No. 16; THN: No. 7.

4. New York Islanders -- D Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton, 6-4, 207 pounds. Son of Paul Reinhart. Two-way blue-liner. Had 36 points in 58 games for WHL Edmonton.

CSS: No. 10; ISS: No. 10; THN: No. 8.

5. Toronto -- D Morgan Rielly, Moose Jaw, 6-0, 190 pounds. Paul Coffey-like ability. Knee injury limited to 18 games. limited D Morgan Rielly to only 18 games -- three goals and 15 assists. .

 

CSS: No. 5; ISS: No. 8; THN: No. 6.

6. Anaheim -- D Hampus Lindholm, Rogle, 6-3, 196 pounds. Has upside. Not assertive, but dependable. Split season with Rogle's junior and men's sides -- produced five goals and 12 assists in 28 games with the junior team and had one goal and three assists in 20 games with the men's team.

CSS: No. 4 international skater; ISS: No. 41; THN: No. 15.

7. Minnesota -- D Mathew Dumba, Red Deer, 6-0, 183 pounds. Dashing defender of WHL Red Deer, recorded 57 points, including 20 goals, in 69 games and made himself know for some big hits.

CSS: No. 11; ISS: No. 6; THN: No. 5.

8. Pittsburgh (from Carolina) -- D Derrick Pouliot, Portland, 5-11, 186 pounds. Will remind Pittsburgh fans of Kris Letang. Great on the transition. Knows how to contribute as he potted 59 points in 72 games for WHL Portland.

CSS: No. 12; ISS: No. 19; THN: No. 13.

9. Winnipeg -- Jacob Trouba, USA Development Program, 6-2, 196 points. Loves to hit. Four goals and 14 assists in 22 games. Native from Rochester, Minn., and a defensive ace who is bound for the University of Michigan.

CSS: No. 9; ISS: No. 5; THN: No. 9.

10. Tampa Bay -- D Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough, 6-2, 184 pounds. A shoulder injury hampered Koekkoek, but he remained on the radar. Showed signs of improvement from the injury at the Scouting Combined. He had 18 points in 26 games for OHL Peterborough.

CSS: No. 23; ISS: No. 18; THN: No. 23.

11. Washington (from Colorado) -- RW Filip Forsberg, Leksand, 6-2, 181 pounds. Broke up the defensemen run since No. 3 Galchenyuk. No relation to Peter Forsberg. But the Capitals steady up-front presence. He had 17 points in 43 games in Sweden's second division.

CSS: No. 1 international skater; ISS: No. 4; THN: No. 2.

12. Buffalo -- C Mikhael Grigorenko, Quebec, 6-3, 200 pounds. Russian star, Grigorenko, who produced 85 points in 59 games for QMJHL Quebec.

CSS: No. 3; ISS: No. 2; THN: No. 3.

13. Dallas -- C Radek Faksa, Kitchener, 6-3, 203 pounds. First player from the Czech Republic in years. Is a blossoming power forward. The Czech native, as a rookie, produced 67 points in 62 games for OHL Kitchener.

CSS: No. 7; ISS: No. 17; THN: No. 11.

14. Buffalo (Calgary) -- C Zemgus Girgensons, Dubuque, 6-1, 201 pounds. Highest born Latvian player. Committed to University of Vermont. He recorded 44 points in 43 games for USHL Dubuque.

CSS: No. 18; ISS: No. 20; THN: No. 16.

15. Ottawa -- D Cody Ceci, Ottawa, 6-2, 207 pounds. Type of defenseman who can push the offense. Churned out 60 points, including 17 goals, in 64 games for OHL Ottawa.

CSS: No. 6; ISS: No. 9; THN: No. 10.

16. Washington -- RW Tom Wilson, Plymouth, 6-4, 203 pounds. Showed his skills in the playoffs, scoring seven goals. Scored nine goals and 18 assists in 49 games. Power forward extraordinaire. Not afraid to drop his gloves. 

CSS: No. 15; ISS: No. 36; THN: No. 25. 

 

17. San Jose -- C Tomas Hertl, Slavia, 6-2, 198 pounds. Playmaker. With Slavia in the Czech men's league, he registered 25 points in 38 games.

CSS: No. 5 international skater; ISS: No. 23; THN: No. 24.

18. Chicago -- LW Teuvo Teravainen, 5-11, 16l pounds. Maybe the best hands in the draft. Unfazed by size, Teravainen holds top-end skill, recorded 12 goals in 11 games with Jokerit’s juniors.

CSS: No. 2 international skater; ISS: No. 29; THN: No. 12.

19. Tampa (from Detroit) -- G Andrei Vasilevski, UFA Toper, 6-3, 204 pounds. Top goaltending prospect, reminds us of Jonathan Quick. Played in 27 games for UFA with 2.23 GAA and .931 Save Pct.

CSS: No. 1 European goalie. ISS: No. 3 European goaltender. TSN: No. 21.

20. Philadelphia -- C Scott Laughton, Oshawa, 6-0, 175 pounds. Best defensive forward in the draft. His upside projects to a Dave Bolland-type, but if his offense doesn't come around, he'd slot perfectly into a third-line spot a few years down the road. Had 21 goals and 32 assists in 64 games.

CSS: No. 28. ISS: No. 50. TSN: No. 42.

21. Calgary (from Nashville through Buffalo) -- C Mark Jankowski, Stanstead College, 6-5, 175 pounds. Off the board pick, Jankowski has great bloodlines his father Lou played for Detroit and his great-uncle is Red Kelly -- and he absolutely dominated his high school league, scoring 53 goals in 57 games. Great vision. 

CSS: No. 43. ISS: No. 85. TSN: No 37. 

22. Pittsburgh -- D Olli Maatta, London, 6-2, 202 pounds. Game took off in second half of season. He recorded 32 points in 58 games for OHL London. Not a sexy pick, but future shut-down guy.

CSS: No. 8; ISS: No. 12; THN: No. 20. 

23. Florida -- D Mike Matheson, Dubuque, 6-1, 180 pounds. Another second half champion. Committed to going to Boston College. In 47 games, he had nine goals and 13 assists.

CSS: No. 30; ISS: No. 25; THN: No. 27.

24. Boston -- G Malcolm Subban, Belleville, 6-1, 188 pounds. Best verticle leap at the Scouting Combine. Athlete. At Belleville, Subban went 25-14-0, 2.50 GAA, .923. 

CSS: No. 1 domestic goalie; ISS: No. 2 goalie; THN: No. 48.

25. St. Louis -- D Jordan Schmaltz, Green Bay, 6-2, 189. Headed to University of North Dakota. Dad and two uncles played football at UND. Combined his play at Sioux City and Green Bay of the USHL. In 48 game, he had 9 goals and 23 assists.

CSS: No. 34. ISS: No. 54. THN: No 34. 

26. Vancouver -- C Brendan Gaunce, Belleville, 6-2, 215 pounds. The big center had 68 points in 68 games for OHL Belleville.

CSS: No. 13; ISS: No. 7; THN: No. 17.

27. Phoenix -- C Henrik Samuelsson, Modo/Edmonton, 6-2, 195 pounds. A Phoenix are prospect draft by the Coyotes. Son of Ulf Samuelsson and younger brother of Philipe. Combined for 43 games, seven goals and 18 assists.

CSS: No. 75. ISS: No. 43. THN: No. 50.

28. New York Rangers -- D Brady Skjei, U.S. Development Program, 6-3, 203. By all accounts, is a wonderful skater, but not a dominant force. Played in 24 game, produced three goals and nine assists. 

CSS: No. 19. ISS: No. 14. TSN: No. 26.

29. New Jersey -- LW Stefan Matteau, 6-1, U.S. Development Program, 6-1, 210 pounds. Physical. Son of Stephane Matteau. Collected 93 penalty minutes in only 18 games in the USHL.

CSS: No. 17; ISS: No. 24; THN: No. 30.

30. Los Angeles -- LW Tanner Pearson, Barrie, 6-0, 198 pounds. Past over in two drafts. Always put up numbers. Had 37 goals and 54 assists in 60 games. 

CSS: No. 25. ISS: No. 33. THN: No. 36.