2012 NHL Mock Draft

1. Edmonton Oilers

Player: Nail Yakupov
Position: Right Wing
Team: Sarnia (OHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "Too dynamic, skilled and exciting to pass up. He’ll fit in with the trio of Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle and Hall."

2. Columbus Blue Jackets

Player: Ryan Murray
Position: Defence
Team: Everett (WHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Leadership and dynamic ability. He’s a proven player, and a ready player who can bring stability to the back end."

3. Montreal Canadiens

Player: Alex Galchenyuk
Position: Centre
Team: Sarnia (OHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "He can play the game any way you want. He can make plays, score and makes those around him better. "

4. New York Islanders

Player: Griffin Reinhart
Position: Defence
Team: Edmonton (WHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "The 6'4" blueliner can take games over with his size. Has the NHL in his bloodlines with his father Paul and his brother Max."

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Player: Filip Forsberg
Position: Left Wing
Team: Leksand (FIN)
Craig Button's Notes: "A big strong winger who plays with determination and can score."

6. Anaheim Ducks

Player: Morgan Rielly
Position: Defence
Team: Moose Jaw (WHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "The best pure play making defenceman in the draft this year."

7. Minnesota Wild

Player: Matt Dumba
Position: Defence
Team: Red Deer (WHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "He impacts the game offensively, defensively and physically."

8. Carolina Hurricanes

Player: Radek Faksa
Position: Centre
Team: Kitchener (OHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Three years in a row, the Hurricanes will take a Kitchener Ranger in the first round."

9. Winnipeg Jets

Player: Jacob Trouba
Position: Defence
Team: USNTDP (USHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "He's big and rugged and reminds me of Adam Foote. A very physical with a high compete level."

10. Tampa Bay Lightning

Player: Olli Maatta
Position: Defence
Team: London (OHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Probably the most NHL ready defenceman in the draft right now."

11. Washington Capitals

Player: Teuvo Teravainen
Position: Left Wing
Team: Jokerit (FIN)
Craig Button's Notes: "GM George McPhee loves to go for the home run, and the diminutive forward from Jokerit could be exactly that."

12. Buffalo Sabres

Player: Hampus Lindholm
Position: Defence
Team: Rogle Jr. (SWE)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Reminds of the the way Erik Karlsson moved up in the 2008 draft. I think he moves all the way up to 12."

13. Dallas Stars

Player: Cody Ceci
Position: Defence
Team: Ottawa (OHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "Dallas passed on Dmitry Kulikov and Cam Fowler, there's no way they'll pass on Ceci."

14. Calgary Flames

Player: Derrick Pouliot
Position: Defence
Team: Portland (WHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Great puck mover and skater. He's played three years of junior before being drafted which is also a plus."

15. Ottawa Senators

Player: Zemgus Girgensons
Position: Centre
Team: Dubuque (USHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "A big, strong, hardnosed player, who could be a bigger version of Dale Hunter."

16. Washington Capitals

Player: Matt Finn
Position: Defence
Team: Guelph (OHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "A safe and reliable player on the blueline. "

17. San Jose Sharks

Player: Mikhail Grigorenko
Position: Centre
Team: Quebecv (QMJHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "The strong two-way centre falls to the Sharks, and he might be ready to play in the NHL next season."

18. Chicago Blackhawks

Player: Slater Koekkoek
Position: Defence
Team: Peterborough (OHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "A smart defenceman who is going to out work a lot of people and should be NHL ready in the next year or two."

19. Tampa Bay Lightning

Player: Ludvig Bystrom
Position: Defence
Team: Modo (SWE)
Craig Button's Notes: "A Swedish defenceman who knows how to play the game, GM Steve Yzerman knows about those types of players."

20. Philadelphia Flyers

Player: Tom Wilson
Position: Right Wing
Team: Plymouth (OHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "The perfect Flyer. He's big, mean, nasty and can score."

21. Buffalo Sabres

Player: Brendan Gaunce
Position: Centre
Team: Belleville (OHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "A big, strong centre that could be in the mold of Keith Primeau. "

22. Pittsburgh Penguins

Player: Tomas Hertl
Position: Centre
Team: Slavia Praha (CZE)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Very talented, offensive minded centre who put up big points at the World Jrs."

23. Florida Panthers

Player: Brady Skjei,
Position: Defence
Team: USNTDP (USHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "The Hawks are loaded with forwards, Skjei is big defenceman who can skate. He's efficient and effective."

24. Boston Bruins

Player: Andrei Vasilevski
Position: Goaltender
Team: Ufa Tolpar (RUS Jr)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "His size is a such a factor. He's also athletic and quick. When he gets more refined, he'll be a special player."

25. St. Louis Blues

Player: Henrik Samuelsson
Position: Right Wing
Team: Edmonton (WHL)
Craig's Notes: "The Blues like big players with grit, Ulf's son brings them more of that."

26. Vancouver Canucks

Player: Malcolm Subban
Position: Goaltender
Team: Belleville (OHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "An athletic, quick and really smart player who will have time to grow in the Canucks system."

27. Phoenix Coyotes

Player: Scott Laughton
Position: Centre
Team: Oshawa (OHL)
Craig Button's Notes: "A strong two-way player. "

28. New York Rangers

Player: Stefan Matteau
Position: Centre
Team: USNTDP (USHL)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Has bloodlines to the Rangers, but is a good pick on his own merits."

29. New Jersey Devils

Player: Mark Jankowski
Position: Centre
Team: Stanstead (QUE PREP)
Craig Button's Notes: "The Devils always find diamonds in the rough, and Jankowski is that player. "

30. Los Angeles Kings

Player: Oscar Dansk
Position: Goaltender
Team: Brynas Jr. (SWE JR)
Pierre McGuire's Notes: "Tremendously talented player, that gives the Kings depth if they deal Jonathan Bernier in the off-season."