| Pick |
Player |
Stats |
Analysis |
| 1) Edmonton Oilers |
Nail Yakupov, RW, Sarnia (OHL) |
42 GP, 31 G, 38 A |
Good, safe pick by the Oilers. They still have a need on defense, but Yakupov was the best available. |
| 2) Columbus Blue Jackets |
Ryan Murray, D, Everett (WHL) |
46 GP, 9 G, 22 A |
The next expected pick. Good, complete defenseman for the Blue Jackets, who had needs all over. |
| 3) Montreal Canadiens |
Alex Galchenyuk, C, Sarnia (OHL) |
2 GP, 0 G, 0 A |
Missed almost all of '11-'12 campaign with a knee injury. Scored 83 points in 68 games two years ago. |
| 4) N.Y. Islanders |
Griffin Reinhart, D, Edmonton (WHL) |
58 GP, 12 G, 24 A |
Great pick for the Isles here. They address a glaring need on defense with a player that might be able to step into the line up next season. |
| 5) Toronto Maple Leafs |
Morgan Rielly, D, Moose Jaw (WHL) |
18 GP, 3 G, 15 A |
Good, puck-moving defenseman. He might be a bit one dimensional, but he's very good at what he does. Returned from knee injury to play very well. |
| 6) Anaheim Ducks |
Hampus Lindholm, D, Rogle Jr. (SWE) |
29 GP, 5 G, 12 A |
A bit off the board, but still a good pick for the Ducks. Lindholm can play at both ends of the ice quite well and he takes the game very seriously. |
| 7) Minnesota Wild |
Mathew Dumba, D, Red Deer (WHL) |
69 GP, 20 G, 37 A |
Surprising, in the regard that a couple solid scorers were still available, but Dumba will give the Wild a terrific puck-mover and an aggressive player on the blue line. |
| 8)Pittsburgh Penguins (from CAR) |
Derrick Pouliot, D, Portland (WHL) |
72 GP, 11 G, 48 A |
After trading up to the eighth pick in the deal for Jordan Staal, the Pens addressed a big time issue for them on the blue line. Pouliot has been compared to Kris Letang, so he should be a good fit. |
| 9) Winnipeg Jets |
Jacob Trouba, D, USNTDP (USHL) |
22 GP, 4 G, 14 A |
Solid, stay-at-home defenseman who is heading to the University of Michigan to ply his trade. |
| 10) Tampa Bay Lightning |
Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough (OHL) |
26 GP, 5 G, 13 A |
Not quite as offensive as the other defensemen in the draft, but he plays a solid two-way game and will be a solid shutdown defenseman for the Bolts. |
| 11) Washington Capitals * |
Filip Forsberg, RW, Leksand (SWE) |
43 GP, 8 G, 9 A |
No one expected Forsberg to fall this far, but the Caps get a top-teir offensive player here. |
| 12) Buffalo Sabres |
Mikhail Grigorenko, C, Quebec (QMJHL) |
59 GP, 40 G, 45 A |
Grigorenko's stock fell like a brick as questions about his commitment surfaced, but he's a potential game-breaker for sure. |
| 13) Dallas Stars |
Radek Faksa, C, Kitchener (OHL) |
62 GP, 29 G, 37 A |
Faksa can play in all situations and he looks to be a solid, second-line two-way center in the future for the Stars. |
| 14) Buffalo Sabres (from CGY) |
Zemgus Girgensons, C, Dubuque (USHL) |
49 GP, 24 G, 31 A |
Apart from having the best name in the draft, Girgensons brings grit, toughness and leadership, along with some great offensive ability. |
| 15) Ottawa Senators |
Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa (OHL) |
64 GP, 17 G, 43 A |
Big time, blue chip defensive prospect with high-end potential. He's a workhorse who can play effectively in any situation. |
| 16) Washington Capitals |
Tom Wilson, RW, Plymouth (OHL) |
49 GP, 9 G, 18 A |
Voted the Best Body Checker in the OHL by the coaches, he's big, he's strong and he likes to get rough. He missed some time with a broken knuckle, but he averaged a point-per-game in the playoffs. |
| 17) San Jose Sharks |
Tomas Hertl, C, Slavia (CZE) |
38 GP, 12 G, 13 A |
San Jose gets their big, skilled player with Hertl, who can put the puck in the net and go to the dirty areas, too. |
| 18) Chicago Blackhawks |
Teuvo Teravainen, C, Jokerit (FIN) |
40 GP, 11 G, 7 A |
The Blackhawks get a gem at No. 18, getting a player that has the potential to be a special player in the NHL. He has some of the best hands in the draft and the 'Hawks get both Finnish and finish, with him. |
| 19) Tampa Bay Lightning ** |
Andrei Vasilevski, G, Ufa-2 (RUS) |
27 GP, 2.23 GAA, .931 Sv Pct |
Considered by many to be the best goalie in the draft, Vasilevski has garnered comparisons to Henrik Lundqvist and helps the Bolts in net here. |
| 20) Philadelphia Flyers |
Scott Laughton, C, Oshawa (OHL) |
64 GP, 21 G, 32 A |
A solid, checking-line center, Laughton has a little offensive upside to go with his defensive skills and grit. |
| 21) Calgary Flames (from BUF) |
Mark Jankowski, C, Stanstead College (HS-QC) |
57 GP, 53 G, 41 A |
The Flames dive off the board with this pick, picking Jankowski, who has great skills but chose the road less travelled. Great goal-scoring skills, but he's a project player. |
| 22) Pittsburgh Penguins |
Olli Maatta, D, London (OHL) |
58 GP, 5 G, 27 A |
Maatta has struggled with injuries because of a concussion, but he's a solid two-way defenseman that knows what he's doing on both sides of the ice. Pittsburgh has a gem here, with Maatta. |
| 23) Florida Panthers |
Mike Matheson, D, Dubuque (USHL) |
53 GP, 11 G, 16 A |
Reliable two-way defenseman that is a terrific skater, who can put the puck in the net. There are questions about his physicality. |
| 24) Boston Bruins |
Malcom Subban, G, Belleville (OHL) |
39 GP, 2.50 GAA, .923 Sv Pct |
With Thomas seemingly on the way out, the Bruins get a long-term replacement that has been compared to Carey Price. Great positioning and athleticism highlight his game. |
| 25) St. Louis Blues |
Jordan Schmaltz, D, Green Bay (USHL) |
55 GP, 10 G, 31 A |
Schmaltz is a great skater and a great offensive talent. It might be a bit off the board, but he'll develop into a solid power play quarterback. |
| 26) Vancouver Canucks |
Brendan Gaunce, C, Belleville (OHL) |
68 GP, 28 G, 40 A |
Gaunce is a checking-line type center that has some offensive upside, as well. He can put points up, but his skating needs to improve. |
| 27) Phoenix Coyotes |
Henrik Samuelsson, RW, Edmonton (WHL) |
28 GP, 7 G, 16 A |
The Coyotes take a player that learned to play in their youth organization, son of former assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson. Strong and feisty, can be a terrific power forward. |
| 28) N.Y. Rangers |
Brady Skjei, D, USNTDP (USHL) |
56 GP, 4 G, 18 A |
Skjei is a terrific skater and has great hockey sense in his own zone. Big and strong, he has room to keep improving, too. |
| 29) N.J. Devils |
Stefan Matteau, LW, USNTDP (USHL) |
46 GP, 15 G, 17 A |
The most deliciously ironic pick of the draft, the Devils get Matteau the younger, who is physical, strong and offensively skilled. |
| 30) L.A. Kings |
Tanner Pearson, LW, Barrie (OHL) |
60 GP, 37 G, 54 A |
In his third draft, Pearson is finally drafted. A terrific scorer, Pearson is a smart, responsible player. |
* denotes pick acquired from Colorado Avalanche
** denotes pick acquired from Detroit Red Wings
*** denotes pick acquired from Nashville Predators
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