STEVE HOFFNER'S MOCK DRAFT PART II

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*Standings as of All-Star Break

Order Team Player
1 Columbus Blue Jackets
Nail Yakupov, RW, Sarnia (OHL)
SKINNY:
Offensive flair could add scoring to team desperate for goals.
2 EDMONTON OILERS
Ryan Murray, D, Everett (WHL)
SKINNY:
Responsible, smooth puck-moving defenseman is exactly what Oilers need.
3 ANAHEIM DUCKS
Mikhail Grigorenko, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Two-way forward may be most balanced forward in draft. Adds great depth to offense.
4 CAROLINA HURRICANES
Alex Galchenyuk, C, Sarnia (OHL)
SKINNY:
Hurt for most of the season, but there's just too much skill to pass on.
5 BUFFALO SABRES
Filip Forsberg, C, Leksand (SWE-2)
SKINNY:
Central Scouting's top-rated European skater would be a steal at this spot.
6 New York ISLANDERS
Malcolm Subban, G, Belleville (OHL)
SKINNY:
Do the Islanders need another goalie? No. Do they need a good one? Yes.
7 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Mathew Dumba, D, Red Deer (WHL)
SKINNY:
Hard-hitting defenseman with flair. Great hands and personality to boot.
8 Montreal CANADIENS
Radek Faksa, C, Kitchener (OHL)
SKINNY:
Big forward can score and find space.
9 WINNIPEG JETS
Morgan Rielly, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)
SKINNY:
Great overall d-man does the little things right. Makes up for size with smart decisions.
10 PHOENIX COYOTES
Jacob Trouba, D, USA U-18 (USHL)
SKINNY:
Maybe the best U.S.-born player in the draft. Lots of upside.
11 CaLGARY FLAMES
Zemgus Girgensons, C, Dubuque (USHL)
SKINNY:
Great hands and skill; Flames need to add goals to an aging offense.
12 DALLAS sTARS
Griffin Reinhardt, D, Edmonton (WHL)
SKINNY:
Big stay-at-home defenseman excels in shut-down role.
13 Washington CAPITALS (from Col)
Olli Maatta, D, London (OHL)
SKINNY:
Finnish-born blueliner missed Top Prospects Game due to illness, but remains highly regarded.
14 MINNESOTA WILD
Colton Sissons, C, Kelowna (WHL)
SKINNY:
Rockets' captain has leadership and instincts for the net.
15 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Brendan Gaunce, C, Belleville (OHL
SKINNY:
Big power forward likely won't take long to make it to Toronto.
16 NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Brady Skjei, D, USA U-18 (USHL)
SKINNY:
Looked great at summer RDO camp; one of best U.S.-born prospects in draft.
17 FLORIDA PANTHERS
Daniil Zharkov, LW, Belleville (OHL)
SKINNY:
Looked impressive at Top Prospects Game, meaning his value could be on the rise.
18 WashingtoN CAPITALS
Derrick Pouliot, D, Portland (WHL)
SKINNY:
Skilled defenseman who can play physical and move the puck well.
19 LOS ANGELES KINGS
Stefan Matteau, C, USA U-18 (USHL)
SKINNY:
Solid in all areas, forward could help Kings put pucks in the net.
20 OTTAWA SENATORS
Matthew Finn, D, Guelph (OHL)
SKINNY:
Thought to be in rebuilding mode, Finn could be nice addition to Karlsson on blue line.
21 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa (OHL)
SKINNY:
Strong defenseman could add youth to aging Pens blue line.
22 San Jose SHARKs 
Tanner Pearson, LW, Barrie (OHL)
SKINNY:
Pearson was passed up twice in previous drafts, but it won't happen again.
23 Philadelphia FLYERs 
Jordan Schmaltz, D, Green Bay (USHL)
SKINNY:
Big, strong defenseman; Flyers need to start thinking about life without Chris Pronger.
24 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough (OHL)
SKINNY:
Hard to spell his last name, but this big blueliner has a solid offensive game.
25 NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Thomas Wilson, RW, Plymouth (OHL)
SKINNY:
Looked sharp at Top Prospects Game; Preds in real need of a power forward.
26 VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Andreas Athanasiou, LW/C, London (OHL)
SKINNY:
Great speed and hands; we'll have to see if his game can match his famed puck tricks.
27 BOSTON BRUINS
Jarrod Maidens, LW/C, Owen Sound (OHL)
SKINNY:
Overall sound forward who can be even better on a great Bruins team.
28 ST. LOUIS BLUES
Cristobal Nieves, C, Kent School (HIGH-CT)
SKINNY:
Flashy U.S. high school player could be dark horse of draft.
29 NEW YORK RANGERS
Tomas Hertl, C, Slavia (CZE)
SKINNY:
Ranked third among European skaters, but getting him here might be a steal.
30 DETROIT RED WINGS
Martin Frk, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Speedy Czech-born forward a nice fit in Hockeytown.

 

 
2012 NHL Draft