2012 NHL Mock Draft: Top Foreign-Born Players in This Year's Draft

With the NHL regular season over and the playoffs just hours from kicking off, it’s time to analyze which foreign-born players are the best of the best.

For most fans, this will be their first taste of most of these names, but you will get used to them as each day passes. These are the stars of the future.

I'm going to breakdown some of the top Foreign-born players you'll see in this years first round as well as the top American's on the board as well. I'll tell you who takes who and why. 

1. Columbus Blue Jackets - Nail Yakupov, F, Sarnia

While the casual fan may not know who Nail Yakupov is yet, given the right team and development said team uses on the young star, he could be another top-tier playmaker and goal scorer.

As much as the Columbus Blue Jackets were in the perfect position to draft an offensive juggernaut to replace the departing Rick Nash, the draft lottery will ultimately decide who ends up with the Russian superstar.

With the recent success of No. 1 overall picks like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos and Patrick Kane, there is little doubt that Yakupov can be a star in the NHL.

2. Montreal Canadiens - Mikhail Grigorenko, F, Quebec

The Montreal Canadiens need a major overhaul this offseason, and drafting early in the first round will begin the turnover.

The team’s hope is that they fall no further than second where they will pick Russian center Mikhail Grigorenko.

At 6'3" and 200 pounds, Grigorenko has the size and talent to be the aggressive forechecker that doesn’t get forced off the puck like the smaller forwards the Canadiens team has been stockpiling for years.

With most of his junior hockey played in Canada, the questions about transition are small.

If the Russian center can fulfill his expectations, this will be a great building block for Montreal.

3. Edmonton Oilers - Ryan Murray, D, Everett

With all of the recent success the Edmonton Oilers had in the NHL draft, this year it will be their duty to look at their defensive group and realize there is only one player worthy of a spot on the young gun Oilers: Ryan Murray.

The Everett defenseman is only 6”1” and 200 pounds, but it is his defensive responsibility and offensive playmaking abilities that have him on the lips of NHL GMs all over the league.

With all of the talent around him in terms of offensive stars, Murray has the potential to be a Norris Trophy contender over his career and be the best offensive defenseman in the league.

4. New York Islanders - Mathew Dumba, D, Red Deer

Adding in more defensive depth and talent to a team that has plenty of offensive strength may be the final push that gets the Islanders into contention.

Probably not, though.

5. Anaheim Ducks - Alex Galchenyuk, F, Sarnia

While the Anaheim Ducks have one of the most dangerous trios in Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, their lack of depth has caused their poor play.

Galchenyuk will help alleviate some of that burden.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs - Filip Forsberg, F, Leksands

Toronto is in an ever-rebuilding process.

While they have a strong core of players, forward Filip Forsberg will be a great addition and a key for the future.

7. Minnesota Wild - Radek Faksa, F, Kitchener

Despite Minnesota’s inability to draft impact players, they will fall into a stud when they take NHL-ready forward Radek Faksa.

8. Carolina Hurricanes - Morgan Rielly, D, Moose Jaw

With major questions in all facets of the game, the Carolina Hurricanes will get back to basics by taking a defenseman like Morgan Rielly to protect goalie Cam Ward.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning - Jacob Trouba, D, USA U-18

With enough offensive firepower to sink a ship, the Tampa Bay Lightning need a goalie and defense. Jacob Trouba will be the defensive anchor to the next few years.

10. Winnipeg Jets - Griffin Reinhart, D, Edmonton

Reinhart isn’t a sexy pick by any stretch of the imagination, but he is the style of stay-at-home defensemen that Winnipeg needs.

11. Calgary Flames - Brendan Gaunce, F, Belleville

I don’t know when the Calgary Flames are going to pull the trigger on the rebuilding process, but it’s already too late.

As solid as Gaunce can be, he will be buried on a terrible team.

12. Washington Capitals (via COL) - Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa

There is no need to add more offense to a team with the firepower Washington has, but their biggest need still remains on defense.

13. Buffalo Sabres - Teuvo Teravainen, F, Jokerit

The lack of depth and talent at forward for the Sabres means heading overseas to snag a player like Teuvo Teravainen is a no-brainer.

14. Dallas Stars - Matt Finn, D, Guelph

The Dallas rebuilding process will continue with the selection of solid defensive prospect Matt Finn. Smart move for the future by the stars.

15. Washington Capitals - Sebastian Collberg, F, Frolunda HC

With a defender taken with their first first-round pick, the Capitals will take the best player available at this position.

16. San Jose Sharks - Derrick Pouliot, D, Portland

An old-school defensive defenseman that likes taking the body and making the opposition suffer.

On a team that has been called lazy at times, Pouliot will not be taking any shifts off.

17. Ottawa Senators - Ludvig Bystrom, D, Modo

After the success of Erik Karlsson, the Senators will try to strike gold again by going after another Swedish defender.

18. Florida Panthers - Zemgus Girgensons, F, Dubuque

Zemgus Girgensons is the kind of defensively responsible forward the Florida Panthers are looking for.

If he comes to the NHL and plays well, there is no reason why he can’t start next season as a full-time NHL player.

19. Phoenix Coyotes - Pontus Aberg, F, Djurgardens

The Phoenix Coyotes have built a stellar defense, but they need to add forwards that can be playmakers.

Pontus Aberg will add that necessary depth.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (via L.A.) - Andrei Vasilevski, G, Ufa

The ever-troubling Columbus goalie carousel takes another turn when the Blue Jackets take Andrei Vasilevski.

21. Chicago Blackhawks - Olli Maatta, D, London

With depth all around, the Blackhawks are a team in position to trade up or down from this spot and get solid value.

I see them taking a forward if they move out of this spot.

22. New Jersey Devils - Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough

The ever-rebuilding New Jersey Devils will spend another first-round pick on a defender.

Soon, no team will have a chance to score on the Devils.

23. Boston Bruins - Tomas Hertl, F, Slavia

While the Bruins play a bump-and-grind NHL style, it will be the finesse of Hertl that makes him a key piece for the team starting next season.

24. Tampa Bay Lightning (via DET) - Malcolm Subban, G, Belleville

The real problem for the Tampa Bay Lightning has been a lack of consistency in net, Drafting Malcolm Subban will be their band aid.

25. Buffalo Sabres (via NAS) - Brady Skjei, D, USA U-18

The Buffalo Sabres continue the process of rebuilding their defense by taking long-term project Brady Skjei.

26. Philadelphia Flyers - Michael Matheson, D, Dubuque

With depth throughout the forward positions and depth in net, Philadelphia will look to add the missing defensive depth that injuries have caused by taking Michael Matheson.

27. Pittsburgh Penguins - Tom Wilson, F, Plymouth

Wilson is a long-term project, but his size and speed on the wig will hopefully one day complement the duo of Malkin and Crosby.

28. St. Louis Blues - Stefan Matteau, F, USNTDP

While the Blues have made no qualms that they are still building for the future, they are winning now.

With that said, another long-term project will go to St. Louis in Stefan Matteau.

29. Vancouver Canucks - Colton Sissons, F, Kelowna

While there are needs at forward and on defense, Sissons is the kind of project that will be a powerhouse later on.

30. New York Rangers - Hampus Lindholm, D, Rogle

The Rangers have needs throughout their roster, so this will be a best-player-available case.

Check back for more on the National Hockey League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NHL Page to get your fill of all things hockey.

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