Who Are The Best Picks For The 2012 Nhl?

2012 NHL Draft picks...?

• Who do you expect to be in the top 3-5? If you don't include Ryan Murray, your damn crazy

• Answer:

  Nail Yakupov is going first overall pretty much no matter what. He's in the company of Ovechkin and Crosby in top pick locks. I don't think he's on their level talent-wise, but barring some major injury or somebody else having a Gretzky-esque season in juniors, which isn't going to happen, Yakupov will go first. After him, Mikhail Grigorenko will probably go second, unless the team drafting second insists on not picking a forward. Personally, I think Grigorenko is probably much more ready for the NHL right now than Yakupov. He's physically ready, and with a good start to the season with the Quebec Remparts, he's solidified himself as a bonafide stud. If he'd been in last year's class, he would have been taken first, and would probably go first most years, but he's got Yakupov ahead of him. Before his injury, Alex Galchenyuk was third in my mind, but after his injury, he'll end up outside the top ten. Morgan Rielly was looking at a top five pick as well, but his stock has tanked since the start of the season. Ryan Murray will probably be the first defenseman drafted, but Matt Dumba and Jacob Trouba are pretty good too. The best international prospect (international meaning they don't play in North America) is Filip Forsberg from Sweden. Right now, ISS has him ranked third overall among skaters, but I see him ending up around fifth by the time the draft rolls around. Murray, Dumba and Trouba are fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Rounding out the ISS list are Slater Koekkoek, Pontus Aberg, Brendan Gaunce and Rielly. Personally, I think by April, Yakupov and Grigorenko will still be first an second. But I think Ryan Murray will move up to fourth, with Brendan Gaunce moving up to fifth. Some other notable prospects who could move up into the top ten with some good performances are Cody Ceci, Olli Maatta, Martin Frk and Zemgus Girgensons.