NHL Draft 2012: The Top 50 Draft-Eligible Prospects

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Nail Yakupov is still the top prospect for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, but the list behind him is constantly changing.

The defenseman-heavy draft class is highlighted by some of the best talent the blue line has seen in recent times.

As the hockey seasons come closer to an end, two important results become closer.

The NHL's possible draft order becomes more likely, with the standings becoming solidified. As the young prospects approach the end of their seasons, their stock becomes clear to analysts and scouts alike.

50. Jordan Schmaltz

Schmaltz is a 6'2", 189-pound defenseman from the United States playing for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers.

He has 25 points in 34 games this season.

49. Ville Pokka

Pokka is a 6'0", 196-pound defenseman from Finland playing for Karpat of the SM-liiga.

He has three points in 32 games.

48. Damon Severson

Severson is a 6'2", 200-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.

He has 32 points in 52 games this season.

47. Tomas Hyka

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Hyka is a 5'10", 158-pound forward from the Czech Republic playing for the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques.

He has 62 points in 48 games this season.

Hyka actually played for the Philadelphia Flyers in this past preseason.

The team was interested in signing him to a contract, but the CBA prohibits teams from signing undrafted European players under the age of 22.

46. Cristoval Nieves

Nieves is a 6'3", 184-pound center from the United States playing for Kent High School in Connecticut.

He is committed to playing for the University of Michigan.

45. Henrik Samuelsson

Samuelsson is a 6'2", 211-pound Swedish/American right winger playing for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.

He has 20 points in 23 games this season. He had two points in 15 games this season for Modo in the Elitserien before deciding to play in the Canadian junior league.

He is the son of Ulf Samuelsson.

44. Teuvo Teravainen

Teravainen is a 5'11", 165-pound left winger from Finland playing for Jokerit of the SM-liiga.

He has 17 points in 38 games.

43. Phillip Di Giuseppe

Giuseppe is a 6'0", 176-pound left winger from Canada playing for the University of Michigan.

He has 22 points in 35 games for the nationally ranked Wolverines with a plus/minus of +20.

42. Mike Winther

Winther is a 5'11", 175-pound center from Canada playing for the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders.

He has 55 points in 66 games.

41. Tim Bozon

Bozon is a 6'0", 183-pound left winger from the United States playing for the WHL's Kamloops Blazers.

He has 66 points in 67 games.

40. Scott Kosmachuk

Kosmachuk is a 6'0", 185-pound right winger from Canada playing for the OHL's Guelph Storm.

He has 53 points in 63 games.

39. Dalton Thrower

Thrower is a 5'11", 189-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Saskatoon Blades.

He has 54 points in 66 games.

In addition to being a productive offensive defenseman, Thrower is very physical. He's fought nine times this season including a toe-to-toe scrap with Graham Hood.

38. Tanner Pearson

Pearson is a 6'0", 198-pound left winger from Canada playing for the OHL's Barrie Colts.

He has 87 points in 56 games this season, but he is also two years older than most of the other top prospects; he went undrafted in 2010 and 2011.

37. Thomas Wilson

Wilson is a 6'4", 203-pound right winger from Canada playing for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers.

He has 25 points in 46 games with a plus/minus of +20 this season.

36. Daniil Zharkov

Zharkov is a 6'3", 197-pound left winger from Russia playing for the OHL's Belleville Bulls.

He has 35 points in 46 games this season.

35. Scott Laughton

Laughton is a 6'0", 170-pound center from Canada playing for the OHL's Oshawa Generals.

He has 50 points in 59 games this season.

34. Anton Slepyshev

Slepyshev is a 6'2", 187-pound left winger from Russia playing for the KHL's Novukuznetsk Metallurg.

He has seven points in 39 games this season.

33. Martin Frk

Frk is a 6'0", 198-pound right winger from the Czech Republic playing for the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads.

He has 26 points in 31 games this season.

32. Nicholas Kerdiles

Kerdiles is a 6'2", 201-pound left winger from the United States playing for the USHL's National Development Team.

He has eight points in 14 games this season.

31. Mike Matheson

Matheson is a 6'1", 178-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.

He has 19 points in 41 games this season.

30. Brady Skjei

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Skjei is a 6'3", 200-pound defenseman from the United States playing for the USHL's National Development Team.

He has eight points in 17 games this season.

29. Colton Sissons

Sissons is a 6'1", 189-pound center from Canada playing for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.

He has 41 points in 56 games this season.

Sissons is captain of his team, regarded as a gritty two-way player.

28. Andreas Athanasiou

Athanasiou is a 6'0", 179-pound forward from Canada playing for the OHL's London Knights.

He has 37 points in 60 games this season.

27. Malcolm Subban

Subban is a 6'1", 188-pound goalie from Canada playing for the OHL's Belleville Bulls.

In 35 games this season, he has a .919 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average.

26. Jarrod Maidens

Maidens is a 6'0", 178-pound forward from Canada playing for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack.

Maidens has 23 points in 28 games this season.

25. Ludvik Bystrom

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Bystrom is a 6'1", 208-pound defenseman from Sweden playing for the SEL's Modo Hockey.

He has one assist in 20 games after totaling 20 in 26 games with the under-20 junior team.

24. Stefan Matteau

Matteau is a 6'2", 210-pound center from the United States playing for the USHL's National Development Team.

He has six points in 11 games this season.

He is the son of New York Rangers hero Stephane Matteau.

23. Tomas Hertl

Hertl is a 6'2", 198-pound center from the Czech Republic playing for the Czech league's Slavia Praha HC.

He has 25 points in 38 games this season.

22. Derrick Pouliot

Pouliot is a 5'11", 186-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Portland Winterhawks.

He has 56 points in 68 games this season.

21. Slater Koekkoek

Koekkoek is a 6'2", 184-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the OHL's Peterborough Petes.

He has 18 points in 26 games this season. He is physical and talented both offensively and defensively.

20. Andrei Vasilevski

Vasilevski is a 6' 3", 204-pound goalie from Russia playing for the KHL's Tolpar Ufa.

In 22 games played, he has a .934 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.15.

19. Radek Faksa

Faksa is a 6'3", 202-pound center from the Czech Republic playing for the OHL's Kitchener Rangers.

He has 59 points in 57 games this season.

18. Codi Ceci

Ceci is a 6'2", 207-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the OHL's Ottawa 67's.

He has 56 points in 60 games this season.

Ceci's hard shot and good size make him a valuable prospect.

17. Gemel Smith

Smith is a 5' 9", 150-pound center from Canada playing for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack.

He has 59 points in 64 games this season.

16. Olli Maatta

Maatta is a 6'2", 202-pound defenseman from Finland playing for the OHL's London Knights.

He has 31 points in 54 games this season. He is a good skater who plays well offensively and defensively.

15. Zemgus Girgensons

Girgensons is a 6'2", 198-pound center from Latvia playing for the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints.

He has 39 points in 37 games this season.

14. Pontus Aberg

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Aberg is a 5'11", 194-pound left winger from Sweden playing for the SEL's Djurgardens IF Stockholm.

He has 15 points in 47 games this season.

13. Sebastian Collberg

Collberg is a 5'11", 176-pound right winger from Sweden playing for the Elisterien's Forlunda team.

He totaled nine points in 14 games with the junior-20 Frolunda team this season.

Collberg is regarded as a fast skater with good decking abilities and a quality wrist shot.

12. Matt Finn

Finn is a 6'0", 195-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the OHL's Guelph Storm.

He has 44 points in 57 games this season.

Finn has quality awareness for his age in terms of making smart plays.

11. Brendan Gaunce

Gaunce is a 6'2", 215-pound center from Canada playing for the OHL's Belleville Bulls.

He has 64 points in 64 games this season.

Gaunce is a two-way forward with useful size.

10. Hampus Lindholm

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Lindholm is a 6'2", 196-pound defenseman from Sweden playing for Rogle of the Allsvenskan.

He has four points in 20 games with them. He also has 15 points in 26 games with the Rogle junior team in the SuperElit.

9. Jacob Trouba

Trouba is a 6'2", 193-pound defenseman from the United States, playing for the USHL's National Development team.

He has 14 points in 15 games this season.

Trouba is a physical player and quality puck-mover who "likes putting in the work."

8. Ryan Murray

Murray is a 6'0", 201-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Everett Silvertips.

He has 29 points in 41 games this season.

Murray says the ability to move the puck well is one of his strengths. He is an excellent all-around defenseman.

7. Griffin Reinhart

Reinhart is a 6'4", 207-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.

He has 34 points in 54 games this season with a plus/minus of +19, and is a great shut-down defender.

6. Alex Galchenyuk

Galchenyuk is a 6'0", 198-pound center who plays for the OHL's Sarnia Sting. Galchenyuk is of Russian ancestry and was born in the United States.

He has not played this year due to a knee surgery, but totaled 83 points in 68 games last season.

5. Filip Forsberg

Forsberg is a 6'2", 181-pound center from Sweden playing for Leksand of the Allsvenskan.

He has 17 points in 43 games this season.

4. Morgan Rielly

Rielly is a 6'0", 190-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors.

He has 18 points in 18 games this season. He is currently injured but has a high skill level.

3. Mathew Dumba

Dumba is a 6'0", 183-pound defenseman from Canada playing for the WHL's Red Deer Rebels.

He has 50 points in 64 games this season.

Dumba hits hard in addition to being a quality offensive defenseman.

2. Mikhail Grigorenko

Grigorenko is a 6'3", 200-pound center from Russia playing for the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts.

He has 84 points in 56 games this season.

Grigorenko may be the most complete two-way forward in this year's draft.

1. Nail Yakupov

Yakupov is a 5'11", 189-pound right winger from Russia playing for the OHL's Sarnia Sting.

He has 69 points in 41 games this season; the best points-per-game in the league.

Yakupov is still at the top of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft rankings.

The dynamic scorer with good skating ability is considered to be hockey's top prospect since Sidney Crosby.

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B/R Featured Columinst Jason Sapunka covers the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers.

Follow @moreSapunka