In honor of the 2017 NHL Draft we wanted to take some time to revisit one of the recent NHL drafts and think about how things could have worked out if teams knew what we know now. Today we look at the 2012 NHL draft. This was easily one of the worst drafts in NHL history. The first round reads like a list worst picks in each franchise's history. The 2012 draft only took place five seasons ago, so it may be a little early to be giving it the revisionist history treatment.
30. Los Angeles Kings - Josh Anderson
Anderson just became an every game player for the Blue Jackets this season. He managed 17 goals in his rookie campaign, so he shows a lot of promise. It did take him a few years to break into the NHL and find his place. However, that is to be expected of a former 4th round pick. A few more quality seasons and he could be one of the steals of the 2012 draft.
Original Pick: Tanner Pearson
Anderson: Round 4 Pick #94 - Columbus Blue Jackets
Original Pick: Stefan Matteau
Faksa: Round 1 Pick #13 - Dallas Stars
28. New York Rangers - Jordan Martinook
One of the few players in this draft that has been exactly what his team expected. Martinook is a quality bottom six forward. He two full seasons in the NHL and averages ten goals/year. He is not going to blow any one away, but most teams would love to have a player as consistent as he is.
Original Pick: Brady Skjei
Martinook: Round 2 Pick #58 - Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes
27. Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes - Damon Severson
Severson has played three NHL seasons. He is by no means a standout defensemen, but he is a legitimate third pairing player. Originally the Devils second round pick, he is exactly what you hope your second round pick will be. Consistent defensemen that play 70+ games each year are always in demand.
Original Pick: Henrik Samuelsson
Severson: Round 2 Pick #60 - New Jersey Devils
26. Vancouver Canucks - Colton Sissons
Sissons is higher on this list than some more skilled players simply because he has played a trong role in the Predators' Stanley Cup push. They would not have made it to the finals without players like Colton Sissons. Time will tell how effective a player Sissons will be. He is more a bottom six grinder, rather than scorer, but those guys are so valuable at playoff time.
Original Pick: Brendan Gaunce
Sissons: Round 2 Pick #50 - Nashville Predators
25. St. Louis Blues - Cedric Paquette
Paquette has been an up and down NHL player. He is consistently injured and that has stifled his growth. However, he has been pretty good when he is the lineup. Surprising for an fourth round pick, he has been in the NHL for three seasons without being sent down to the AHL. If Paquette can stay healthy he will manage to be a very successful NHL player.
Original Pick: Jordan Schmaltz
Paquette: Round 4 Pick #101 - Tampa Bay Lightning
24. Boston Bruins - Connor Brown
Brown just finished his first full NHL season. He was fabulous. 20 goals for a rookie is pretty rare these days. Even more important is Brown played a key role in the Leafs playoff push. Being a sixth round pick makes his great rookie campaign even more impressive. The Leafs organization has a very bright future and Brown is definitely a part of that. I expect him to prove to be potentially the biggest steal of this draft.
Original Pick: Malcolm Subban
Brown: Round 6 Pick #156 - Toronto Maple Leafs
23. Florida Panthers - Jimmy Vesey
Had Vessey not committed to playing college hockey, rather than go the junior and minor league route, who knows where he would be on this list. The Predators knew he was a talented player and took a gamble when they drafted him in the third round. Vessey was highly touted when he signed a rookie contract with the Rangers this year. In his rookie season Vessey scored 16 goals. Not as impressive as others on this list, but he already shows to have a very high ceiling.
Original Pick: Michael Matheson
Vessey: Round 3 Pick #66 - Nashville Predators
22. Pittsburgh Penguins - Chris Tierny
Tierney has had a very similar NHL experience to Cedric Paquette. He made it to the NHL far earlier than expected. Injuries have not been a problem for him. He has proven to be a very dependable two-way forward. His goal totals are not great, 24 total for his career, but that is not where his value is to the Sharks. Tierney's services are universal as he could play bottom six center or wing on any team.
Original Pick: Olli Maatta
Tierny: Round 2 Pick #55 - San Jose Sharks
21. Calgary Flames - Teuvo Teravainen
One of the few players on this list who's original draft value is similar to where he falls in our re-draft. His numbers are not great, but he has shown to be a skilled forward with potential for better statistics. A shift from a loaded Chicago team to a much more in need Hurricanes squad may be exactly what Teravainen needed. With 15 goals and 42 points last season, I expect him to score more as his NHL experience increases.
Original Pick: Mark Jankowski
Teravainen: Round 1 Pick #18 - Chicago Blackhawks
20. Philadelphia Flyers - Cody Ceci
Ceci established himself as a legitimate top 4 NHL defender this season. He is big, physical and quick enough to match-up against the league's top forwards. He played a big part in Ottawa's run to the conference finals in 2017. He has a lot of room to grow. With Dion Phaneuf rumored to be on the trade block, Ceci could see a lot more ice time in 2017-18.
Original Pick: Scott Laughton
Ceci: Round 1 Pick #15 - Ottawa Senators
19. Tampa Bay Lightning - Mikhail Grigorenko
Like almost every forward taken in the first round of the 2012 draft, Grigorenko has been a bit of a disappointment. After a poor performance in Buffalo he was traded to Colorado. His numbers did improve with the Avalanche, but only slightly. In 75 games last season he managed 10 goals and 13 assists. As the Avalanche begin their rebuilding process expect Grigorenko to see more ice time and opportunity to prove himself.
Original Pick: Andrei Vasilevsky
Grigorenko: Round 1 Pick #12 - Buffalo Sabres
18. Chicago Blackhawks - Zemgus Girgensons
Another apparent Sabres first round flop, Girgensons has struggled to find his role in the NHL. He has four nearly full seasons of NHL experience, but no statistics to show for it. His size makes him a valuable penalty killer. That may be his niche. Something tells me that when the Sabres drafted him they expected more than 7 goals/season. Imagine if both Girgensons and Grigorenko had panned out for the Sabres. We could be talking about a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.
Original Pick: Teuvo Teravainen
Girgensons: Round 1 Pick #14 - Buffalo Sabres
17. San Jose Sharks - Nail Yakupov
The first overall pick in this draft has become a massive disappointment. He was supposed to be the player the helped restore the Oilers to glory. Instead he was traded to St. Louis for virtually nothing. In four NHL seasons he has never reached a 20 goal season. His career high came in his rookie season, 17. Since then it has been quite obvious he is just too small to play at a high level expected of him. He could make a career of being a speedy winger, if he adjusts his style of play.
Original Pick: Tomas Hertl
Yakupov: Round 1 Pick #1 - Edmonton Oilers
16. Washington Capitals - Andrei Vasilevsky
It is hard to know what to make of Vasilevsky at this point his career. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning are all-in on him. Trading away franchise goaltender Ben Bishop this season proved that. Vasilevsky already has great playoff experience from the Lightning's 2016 run to the conference finals. His ranking on this list may be more due to potential and the faith shown in him by the Lightning, rather than actual performance
Original Pick: Tom WIlson
Vasilevsky: Round 1 Pick #8 - Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes
15. Ottawa Senators - Tomas Hertl
Mueller is a player who's career started with so much promise, but now has to be considered somewhat of a bust. Originally a top ten pick by the Coyotes, Mueller's career started with a bang. He scored 22 goal's in his rookie campaign. Then battles with injuries and inconsistent play derailed his career. Mueller left the NHL at the start of the 2013 season to play in the Swiss-A league.
Original Pick: Cody Ceci
Hertl: Round 1 Pick #17 - San Jose Sharks
14. Buffalo Sabres - Frederik Anderson
Mueller is a player who's career started with so much promise, but now has to be considered somewhat of a bust. Originally a top ten pick by the Coyotes, Mueller's career started with a bang. He scored 22 goal's in his rookie campaign. Then battles with injuries and inconsistent play derailed his career. Mueller left the NHL at the start of the 2013 season to play in the Swiss-A league.
Original Pick: Zemgus Girgensons
Anderson: Round 3 Pick #87 - Anaheim Ducks
13. Dallas Stars - Colton Parayko
Parayko only has two seasons of NHL experience, but the 2016 World Cup of Hockey was his coming out party. He was one of the young stars that helped push Team North America to a surprising run. He followed that up with helping to push the Blues to the second round of the 2017 playoffs. Parayko is a monster of a man at 6'5" 226 lbs. An impossible matchup for any forward going into the corner or battling at the front of the net with him.
Original Pick: Radek Faksa
Parayko: Round 3 Pick #86 - St. Louis Blues
12. Buffalo Sabres - Tom Wilson
Wilson is not a skill player or goal scorer. In four NHL seasons he has never scored more than seven goals in a season. His job in Washington is to intimidate and stir the pot. He is part of a dying breed. At 6'4" and 215 lbs he is quite the presence. He is never afraid to lay the big hit on an opponent. Wilson plays right to the line of being dirty, exactly what the Capitals want from him.
Original Pick: Mikhail Grigorenko
Wilson: Round 1 Pick #16 - Washington Capitals
11. Washington Capitals - Ryan Murray
Originally the second overall pick in this draft, Murray had enormous expectations placed on him by the Blue Jackets. He is still growing into a very good NHL defensemen. Injuries have played a role in stunting his growth. Of his four NHL seasons he has only played in over 70 games once. When healthy during 2016-17 we finally started to see the quality defensive work that made him the second overall pick in 2012.
Original Pick: Filip Forsberg
Murray: Round 1 Pick #2 - Columbus Blue Jackets
10. Tampa Bay Lightning - Olli Maatta
Maatta was second defensemen the Penguins took in the 2012 draft. He has proven to be one of the team's most reliable defenders. Injuries have shortened each of his four NHL seasons, but he is still a very effective blue liner when he is in the lineup. The Penguins rely on Maatta to be a top four defensemen. His ability to play with the puck on his stick makes him a valuable part of their defensive core.
Original Pick: Slater Koekkoek
Maatta: Round 1 Pick #22 - Pittsburgh Penguins
9. Winnipeg Jets - Matthew Dumba
Dumba is a very balanced defnsemen, maybe the most so of anyone in his draft class. He has the size and physicality to be a shutdown defender. In the other end he has the speed and stick skills to contribute offensively. The Wild are a team on the verge of breaking through in the Western Conference. They will rely heavily on Dumba in the years to come.
Original Pick: Jacob Trouba
Dumba: Round 1 Pick #7 - Minnesota Wild
8. Pittsburgh Penguins - Tanner Pearson
In a draft where successful forwards are so rare, it makes Pearson that much more valuable. One of only four forwards from this draft class to achieve a 20 goal season. He offers more than just goal scoring. There are very few forwards now that are 6' 200 lbs with skill enough to play on a first line. Pearson can do it all. He is a top six forward that can play the powerplay or kill penalties.
Original Pick: Derrick Pouliot
Pearson: Round 1 Pick #30 - LA Kings
7. Minnesota Wild - Jacob Trouba
Trouba could fit anywhere in this top ten. He is not as offensively gifted as the defensemen ahead of him, but he is the prototypical blue liner. At 6'3" and 202 lbs he can make for a difficult matchup for any opposing forward. The Jets have a defense first mentality and Trouba is a big part of that. He is heavily relied on to play a lot of minutes and all situations for them.
Original Pick: Matthew Dumba
Trouba: Round 1 Pick #9 - Winnipeg Jets
6. Anaheim Ducks - Shayne Gostisbehere
Gostisbehere took a couple extra seasons to break into the NHL. However, he made an immediate impact. 17 goals and 46 points in his rookie season are very impressive for a rookie defensemen. In his second season he experienced a sophomore slump, only 7 goals and a plus/minus of -21. The Flyers as a whole struggled significantly in 2016-17. They are relying heavily on Gostisbehere to be one of the league's elite defensive weapons.
Original Pick: Hampus Lindholm
Gostisbehere: Round 3 Pick #78 - Philadelphia Flyers
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - Hampus Lindholm
Lindholm is the type of defenseman every team needs in 2017 to compete. All of the elite teams have a smaller skilled defenseman that specializes in the offensive parts of the game. Lindholm is still growing his game in the defensive zone. However, for an offensive defensemen there are not many better than him. He ranks third in goals scored by defensemen in his draft class and second in points.
Original Pick: Morgan Reilly
Lindholm: Round 1 Pick #6 - Anaheim Ducks
4. New York Islanders - Alex Galchenyuk
Galchenyuk is one of the most discussed players from this draft class. That is what happens when you are a top five pick for the Montreal Canadiens. The general thought is the Canadiens and Galchenyuk need to decide how committed they are to each other. Galchenyuk has not been the player the Habs hoped for. They were expecting a Patrick Kane type of player, which he has not been. However, compared to the rest of his draft class he has been great. Galchenyuk ranks first in games played and points scored among players in his draft class.
Original Pick: Griffin Reinhart
Galchenyuk: Round 1 Pick #3 - Montreal Canadiens
3. Montreal Canadiens - Filip Forsberg
Coming into the draft, Forsberg was projected to be a top five pick. He should have been. Concerns about character led to him falling to the eleventh pick. He has found a home in Nashville. He is an edgy player that scores a lot of goals. The perfect fir for the Predators needs. In fact hi ranks first in goals scored among players from his draft class, with nearly 80 less games played than the player with the second most goals. A very impressive player that most teams in the top ten regret passing on.
Original Pick: Alex Galchenyuk
Forsberg: Round 1 Pick #11 - Washington Capitals
2. Columbus Blue Jackets - Matt Murray
When all these players careers come to an end, Murray could very well be the most decorated player from this draft class. He already has been the starting goaltender for two Stanley Cup finals and is the starting goaltender for the premier franchise in the NHL. Murray's large frame and quick reflexes make him the best goalie from his draft class. More importantly he has proven to be strong mentally. That is the most important trait of every great goalie.
Original Pick: Ryan Murray
Murray: Round 3 Pick #83 - Pittsburgh Penguins
1. Edmonton Oilers - Morgan Reilly
Currently Reilly is the best player from his draft class. He has all the tools to be a great defenseman in the modern NHL. It used to be every great NHL was 6'3" and could hit you through the boards. Now the most celebrated defenders are the ones that can play with the puck on their stick and make an impact on the scoresheet. Reilly does that and more. He is Kris Letang lite. He skates as well as any top forward, has a strong shot, can match-up with the opponents top forwards and is a one man breakout. If the Oilers could do it all over again, they would take Reilly. He is the missing piece on that great team. Imagine if the high powered offense of the Oilers had Reilly to streamline their breakout or quarterback the powerplay.
Original Pick: Nail Yakupov
Reilly: Round 1 Pick #5 - Toronto Maple Leafs
30. Los Angeles Kings - Josh Anderson
Anderson just became an every game player for the Blue Jackets this season. He managed 17 goals in his rookie campaign, so he shows a lot of promise. It did take him a few years to break into the NHL and find his place. However, that is to be expected of a former 4th round pick. A few more quality seasons and he could be one of the steals of the 2012 draft.
Original Pick: Tanner Pearson
Anderson: Round 4 Pick #94 - Columbus Blue Jackets
29. New Jersey Devils - Radek Faksa
Faksa has a great pedigree and the Stars thought they had a special player when they selected him 13th overall. Unfortunately Faksa has had trouble finding footing in the NHL. He has played 125 NHL games, but is not scoring as expected. He now looks to be a career bottom six forward with upside. Time will tell if Faksa can ever get back to the scoring forward he was supposed to be.Original Pick: Stefan Matteau
Faksa: Round 1 Pick #13 - Dallas Stars
28. New York Rangers - Jordan Martinook
One of the few players in this draft that has been exactly what his team expected. Martinook is a quality bottom six forward. He two full seasons in the NHL and averages ten goals/year. He is not going to blow any one away, but most teams would love to have a player as consistent as he is.
Original Pick: Brady Skjei
Martinook: Round 2 Pick #58 - Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes
27. Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes - Damon Severson
Severson has played three NHL seasons. He is by no means a standout defensemen, but he is a legitimate third pairing player. Originally the Devils second round pick, he is exactly what you hope your second round pick will be. Consistent defensemen that play 70+ games each year are always in demand.
Original Pick: Henrik Samuelsson
Severson: Round 2 Pick #60 - New Jersey Devils
26. Vancouver Canucks - Colton Sissons
Sissons is higher on this list than some more skilled players simply because he has played a trong role in the Predators' Stanley Cup push. They would not have made it to the finals without players like Colton Sissons. Time will tell how effective a player Sissons will be. He is more a bottom six grinder, rather than scorer, but those guys are so valuable at playoff time.
Original Pick: Brendan Gaunce
Sissons: Round 2 Pick #50 - Nashville Predators
25. St. Louis Blues - Cedric Paquette
Paquette has been an up and down NHL player. He is consistently injured and that has stifled his growth. However, he has been pretty good when he is the lineup. Surprising for an fourth round pick, he has been in the NHL for three seasons without being sent down to the AHL. If Paquette can stay healthy he will manage to be a very successful NHL player.
Original Pick: Jordan Schmaltz
Paquette: Round 4 Pick #101 - Tampa Bay Lightning
24. Boston Bruins - Connor Brown
Brown just finished his first full NHL season. He was fabulous. 20 goals for a rookie is pretty rare these days. Even more important is Brown played a key role in the Leafs playoff push. Being a sixth round pick makes his great rookie campaign even more impressive. The Leafs organization has a very bright future and Brown is definitely a part of that. I expect him to prove to be potentially the biggest steal of this draft.
Original Pick: Malcolm Subban
Brown: Round 6 Pick #156 - Toronto Maple Leafs
23. Florida Panthers - Jimmy Vesey
Had Vessey not committed to playing college hockey, rather than go the junior and minor league route, who knows where he would be on this list. The Predators knew he was a talented player and took a gamble when they drafted him in the third round. Vessey was highly touted when he signed a rookie contract with the Rangers this year. In his rookie season Vessey scored 16 goals. Not as impressive as others on this list, but he already shows to have a very high ceiling.
Original Pick: Michael Matheson
Vessey: Round 3 Pick #66 - Nashville Predators
22. Pittsburgh Penguins - Chris Tierny
Tierney has had a very similar NHL experience to Cedric Paquette. He made it to the NHL far earlier than expected. Injuries have not been a problem for him. He has proven to be a very dependable two-way forward. His goal totals are not great, 24 total for his career, but that is not where his value is to the Sharks. Tierney's services are universal as he could play bottom six center or wing on any team.
Original Pick: Olli Maatta
Tierny: Round 2 Pick #55 - San Jose Sharks
21. Calgary Flames - Teuvo Teravainen
One of the few players on this list who's original draft value is similar to where he falls in our re-draft. His numbers are not great, but he has shown to be a skilled forward with potential for better statistics. A shift from a loaded Chicago team to a much more in need Hurricanes squad may be exactly what Teravainen needed. With 15 goals and 42 points last season, I expect him to score more as his NHL experience increases.
Original Pick: Mark Jankowski
Teravainen: Round 1 Pick #18 - Chicago Blackhawks
20. Philadelphia Flyers - Cody Ceci
Ceci established himself as a legitimate top 4 NHL defender this season. He is big, physical and quick enough to match-up against the league's top forwards. He played a big part in Ottawa's run to the conference finals in 2017. He has a lot of room to grow. With Dion Phaneuf rumored to be on the trade block, Ceci could see a lot more ice time in 2017-18.
Original Pick: Scott Laughton
Ceci: Round 1 Pick #15 - Ottawa Senators
19. Tampa Bay Lightning - Mikhail Grigorenko
Like almost every forward taken in the first round of the 2012 draft, Grigorenko has been a bit of a disappointment. After a poor performance in Buffalo he was traded to Colorado. His numbers did improve with the Avalanche, but only slightly. In 75 games last season he managed 10 goals and 13 assists. As the Avalanche begin their rebuilding process expect Grigorenko to see more ice time and opportunity to prove himself.
Original Pick: Andrei Vasilevsky
Grigorenko: Round 1 Pick #12 - Buffalo Sabres
18. Chicago Blackhawks - Zemgus Girgensons
Another apparent Sabres first round flop, Girgensons has struggled to find his role in the NHL. He has four nearly full seasons of NHL experience, but no statistics to show for it. His size makes him a valuable penalty killer. That may be his niche. Something tells me that when the Sabres drafted him they expected more than 7 goals/season. Imagine if both Girgensons and Grigorenko had panned out for the Sabres. We could be talking about a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.
Original Pick: Teuvo Teravainen
Girgensons: Round 1 Pick #14 - Buffalo Sabres
17. San Jose Sharks - Nail Yakupov
The first overall pick in this draft has become a massive disappointment. He was supposed to be the player the helped restore the Oilers to glory. Instead he was traded to St. Louis for virtually nothing. In four NHL seasons he has never reached a 20 goal season. His career high came in his rookie season, 17. Since then it has been quite obvious he is just too small to play at a high level expected of him. He could make a career of being a speedy winger, if he adjusts his style of play.
Original Pick: Tomas Hertl
Yakupov: Round 1 Pick #1 - Edmonton Oilers
16. Washington Capitals - Andrei Vasilevsky
It is hard to know what to make of Vasilevsky at this point his career. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning are all-in on him. Trading away franchise goaltender Ben Bishop this season proved that. Vasilevsky already has great playoff experience from the Lightning's 2016 run to the conference finals. His ranking on this list may be more due to potential and the faith shown in him by the Lightning, rather than actual performance
Original Pick: Tom WIlson
Vasilevsky: Round 1 Pick #8 - Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes
15. Ottawa Senators - Tomas Hertl
Mueller is a player who's career started with so much promise, but now has to be considered somewhat of a bust. Originally a top ten pick by the Coyotes, Mueller's career started with a bang. He scored 22 goal's in his rookie campaign. Then battles with injuries and inconsistent play derailed his career. Mueller left the NHL at the start of the 2013 season to play in the Swiss-A league.
Original Pick: Cody Ceci
Hertl: Round 1 Pick #17 - San Jose Sharks
14. Buffalo Sabres - Frederik Anderson
Mueller is a player who's career started with so much promise, but now has to be considered somewhat of a bust. Originally a top ten pick by the Coyotes, Mueller's career started with a bang. He scored 22 goal's in his rookie campaign. Then battles with injuries and inconsistent play derailed his career. Mueller left the NHL at the start of the 2013 season to play in the Swiss-A league.
Original Pick: Zemgus Girgensons
Anderson: Round 3 Pick #87 - Anaheim Ducks
13. Dallas Stars - Colton Parayko
Parayko only has two seasons of NHL experience, but the 2016 World Cup of Hockey was his coming out party. He was one of the young stars that helped push Team North America to a surprising run. He followed that up with helping to push the Blues to the second round of the 2017 playoffs. Parayko is a monster of a man at 6'5" 226 lbs. An impossible matchup for any forward going into the corner or battling at the front of the net with him.
Original Pick: Radek Faksa
Parayko: Round 3 Pick #86 - St. Louis Blues
12. Buffalo Sabres - Tom Wilson
Wilson is not a skill player or goal scorer. In four NHL seasons he has never scored more than seven goals in a season. His job in Washington is to intimidate and stir the pot. He is part of a dying breed. At 6'4" and 215 lbs he is quite the presence. He is never afraid to lay the big hit on an opponent. Wilson plays right to the line of being dirty, exactly what the Capitals want from him.
Original Pick: Mikhail Grigorenko
Wilson: Round 1 Pick #16 - Washington Capitals
11. Washington Capitals - Ryan Murray
Originally the second overall pick in this draft, Murray had enormous expectations placed on him by the Blue Jackets. He is still growing into a very good NHL defensemen. Injuries have played a role in stunting his growth. Of his four NHL seasons he has only played in over 70 games once. When healthy during 2016-17 we finally started to see the quality defensive work that made him the second overall pick in 2012.
Original Pick: Filip Forsberg
Murray: Round 1 Pick #2 - Columbus Blue Jackets
10. Tampa Bay Lightning - Olli Maatta
Maatta was second defensemen the Penguins took in the 2012 draft. He has proven to be one of the team's most reliable defenders. Injuries have shortened each of his four NHL seasons, but he is still a very effective blue liner when he is in the lineup. The Penguins rely on Maatta to be a top four defensemen. His ability to play with the puck on his stick makes him a valuable part of their defensive core.
Original Pick: Slater Koekkoek
Maatta: Round 1 Pick #22 - Pittsburgh Penguins
9. Winnipeg Jets - Matthew Dumba
Dumba is a very balanced defnsemen, maybe the most so of anyone in his draft class. He has the size and physicality to be a shutdown defender. In the other end he has the speed and stick skills to contribute offensively. The Wild are a team on the verge of breaking through in the Western Conference. They will rely heavily on Dumba in the years to come.
Original Pick: Jacob Trouba
Dumba: Round 1 Pick #7 - Minnesota Wild
8. Pittsburgh Penguins - Tanner Pearson
In a draft where successful forwards are so rare, it makes Pearson that much more valuable. One of only four forwards from this draft class to achieve a 20 goal season. He offers more than just goal scoring. There are very few forwards now that are 6' 200 lbs with skill enough to play on a first line. Pearson can do it all. He is a top six forward that can play the powerplay or kill penalties.
Original Pick: Derrick Pouliot
Pearson: Round 1 Pick #30 - LA Kings
7. Minnesota Wild - Jacob Trouba
Trouba could fit anywhere in this top ten. He is not as offensively gifted as the defensemen ahead of him, but he is the prototypical blue liner. At 6'3" and 202 lbs he can make for a difficult matchup for any opposing forward. The Jets have a defense first mentality and Trouba is a big part of that. He is heavily relied on to play a lot of minutes and all situations for them.
Original Pick: Matthew Dumba
Trouba: Round 1 Pick #9 - Winnipeg Jets
6. Anaheim Ducks - Shayne Gostisbehere
Gostisbehere took a couple extra seasons to break into the NHL. However, he made an immediate impact. 17 goals and 46 points in his rookie season are very impressive for a rookie defensemen. In his second season he experienced a sophomore slump, only 7 goals and a plus/minus of -21. The Flyers as a whole struggled significantly in 2016-17. They are relying heavily on Gostisbehere to be one of the league's elite defensive weapons.
Original Pick: Hampus Lindholm
Gostisbehere: Round 3 Pick #78 - Philadelphia Flyers
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - Hampus Lindholm
Lindholm is the type of defenseman every team needs in 2017 to compete. All of the elite teams have a smaller skilled defenseman that specializes in the offensive parts of the game. Lindholm is still growing his game in the defensive zone. However, for an offensive defensemen there are not many better than him. He ranks third in goals scored by defensemen in his draft class and second in points.
Original Pick: Morgan Reilly
Lindholm: Round 1 Pick #6 - Anaheim Ducks
4. New York Islanders - Alex Galchenyuk
Galchenyuk is one of the most discussed players from this draft class. That is what happens when you are a top five pick for the Montreal Canadiens. The general thought is the Canadiens and Galchenyuk need to decide how committed they are to each other. Galchenyuk has not been the player the Habs hoped for. They were expecting a Patrick Kane type of player, which he has not been. However, compared to the rest of his draft class he has been great. Galchenyuk ranks first in games played and points scored among players in his draft class.
Original Pick: Griffin Reinhart
Galchenyuk: Round 1 Pick #3 - Montreal Canadiens
3. Montreal Canadiens - Filip Forsberg
Coming into the draft, Forsberg was projected to be a top five pick. He should have been. Concerns about character led to him falling to the eleventh pick. He has found a home in Nashville. He is an edgy player that scores a lot of goals. The perfect fir for the Predators needs. In fact hi ranks first in goals scored among players from his draft class, with nearly 80 less games played than the player with the second most goals. A very impressive player that most teams in the top ten regret passing on.
Original Pick: Alex Galchenyuk
Forsberg: Round 1 Pick #11 - Washington Capitals
2. Columbus Blue Jackets - Matt Murray
When all these players careers come to an end, Murray could very well be the most decorated player from this draft class. He already has been the starting goaltender for two Stanley Cup finals and is the starting goaltender for the premier franchise in the NHL. Murray's large frame and quick reflexes make him the best goalie from his draft class. More importantly he has proven to be strong mentally. That is the most important trait of every great goalie.
Original Pick: Ryan Murray
Murray: Round 3 Pick #83 - Pittsburgh Penguins
1. Edmonton Oilers - Morgan Reilly
Currently Reilly is the best player from his draft class. He has all the tools to be a great defenseman in the modern NHL. It used to be every great NHL was 6'3" and could hit you through the boards. Now the most celebrated defenders are the ones that can play with the puck on their stick and make an impact on the scoresheet. Reilly does that and more. He is Kris Letang lite. He skates as well as any top forward, has a strong shot, can match-up with the opponents top forwards and is a one man breakout. If the Oilers could do it all over again, they would take Reilly. He is the missing piece on that great team. Imagine if the high powered offense of the Oilers had Reilly to streamline their breakout or quarterback the powerplay.
Original Pick: Nail Yakupov
Reilly: Round 1 Pick #5 - Toronto Maple Leafs
