Sarnia Sting sensation Nail Yakupov leads the pack of prospects and starts the year as the man to beat for the distinction of being the first overall selection at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
In my opinion.
And that's what you will get all season - my opinion of the best NHL prospects in the 2012 draft class.
Yakupov is an exceptional offensive talent - a winger who reminds me of Alexander Mogilny - and it will take a lot to pass him as the top player this season.
The player best positioned to do so is Leksands winger Filip Forsberg, my No. 2-ranked prospect. He is a combination of skill and will and was dominant at the Ivan Hlinka Tourney in August.
The only player in the same class as Forsberg at the Ivan Hlinka was Red Deer Rebel defenseman Matthew Dumba. He was Team Canada's Captain and a key contributor to their Gold Medal triumph and was a standout at the NHL R & D camp a week later.
