2012 NHL Mock Draft: Best 1st-Round Picks for Every Team After Final Draft Order

Now that the Los Angeles Kings have won the Stanley Cup, it's time for hockey fans to focus on the 2012 NHL draft now that the final draft order is set.

With the draft and the start of free agency right around the corner, fans of every team will have reasons to be excited over the coming weeks.

Let's check out a new first-round mock draft.

1. Edmonton Oilers: Nail Yakupov, F, Sarnia

The old cliche of "taking the best player available" might be what the Edmonton Oilers do with their third consecutive No. 1 overall pick. They don't need a top-line player like Yakupov, but passing on the Russian and seeing him become a superstar would be hard to watch.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets:  Alex Galchenyuk, F, Sarnia

The Blue Jackets will take Alex Galchenyuk and not be persuaded to trade down. The Sarnia star has the elite puck-handling skills that Columbus needs on its top line.

3. Montreal Canadiens: Filip Forsberg, F, Leksands

If the Canadiens can re-sign goaltender Carey Price, defenseman P.K. Subban and draft Filip Forsberg out of Sweden, then Montreal will be well on its way to becoming a playoff team again.

4. New York Islanders: Ryan Murray, D, Everett

The Islanders will not make the mistake of passing on the best defenseman in this draft. Mathew Dumba would also be a good choice for the Islanders, but Murray has more potential. They really can't go wrong with either player.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs: Mathew Dumba, D, Red Deer 

Grigorenko will be a bust, and since there's no way Galchenyuk falls to No. 5, the Leafs will make the smart decision and draft a top defenseman prospect in Mathew Dumba.

6. Anaheim Ducks: Morgan Rielly, D, Moose Jaw

The Ducks need left wing depth and may also look at Grigorenko, but Morgan Rielly is too good of a defense prospect to pass on considering the team's need for blueline talent throughout the organization.

7. Minnesota Wild: Mikhail Grigorenko, F, Quebec 

The Wild will not let Grigorenko slip past them when they probably never thought that he would fall this far just a few months ago. Minnesota's need for a second line center also makes picking the Russian star a no-brainer.

8. Carolina Hurricanes: Teuvo Teravainen, F, Jokerit

The Hurricanes need more top-level forward talent, and there are few offensive stars with more offensive potential in this draft class than Finland's Teuvo Teravainen. He's the complete package from a scoring standpoint.

9. Winnipeg Jets: Jacob Trouba, D, USA U-18

The Jets didn't have the defensive depth needed to make the playoffs at the end of the season, so taking Jacob Trouba with the ninth-overall pick would be the best choice for Winnipeg. Trouba will be a star at the NHL level in the near future.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning: Griffin Reinhart, D, Edmonton

Tampa Bay needs to strengthen their blueline and goaltending depth to contend in a tough Southeast Division next season. Griffin Reinhart is a physical blueliner that would fill an important role in the Tampa Bay organization.

11. Washington Capitals (from COL): Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa

Since it's unlikely that the Capitals will give new deals to all three of their top free agent defenseman; Mike Green, John Carlson and Dennis Wideman this summer, the team will have to draft a defenseman in the first round such as Cody Ceci of the Ottawa 67s.

12. Buffalo Sabres:  Olli Maatta, D, London

The Sabres need to add some forward depth this offseason, but doing that in free agency would be the better plan of attack. For their defensive needs, Olli Maatta would give the Sabres another talented offensive defenseman for the future.

13. Dallas Stars: Hampus Lindholm, D Rogle   

The Dallas Stars will need to draft a defenseman or a center with the No. 13 overall pick, and the best player available for them is talented defenseman Hampus Lindholm.

14. Calgary Flames: Radek Faksa, F, Kitchner 

With several of their best players like Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen about to hit the final stage of their careers, the need for all-around forwards like Radek Faksa makes the selection of the Kitchener star at No. 14 a no-brainer for the Calgary Flames.

15. Ottawa Senators: Sebastian Collberg, F, Frolunda HC

The Ottawa Senators will continue their recent success of drafting young stars by selecting talented scorer Sebastian Collberg, who projects to be a top-six forward for many years.

16. Washington Capitals: Zemgus Girgensons, F ,Dubuque

The Washington Capitals will need to replenish their forward depth in the draft, so selecting a skilled playmaker like Zemgus Girgensons would be a smart choice.

17. San Jose Sharks: Brendan Gaunce, F, Belleville

The Sharks could address several weaknesses with the No. 17 pick, but drafting a physical forward like Brendan Gaunce is the safest selection and makes the most sense for San Jose. A defenseman such as Brady Skjel would be a good plan B as well.

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Matt Finn, D, Guelph

The Blackhawks will have a lot of options with the No. 18 pick and could take either a defenseman, forward or even a goaltender and help their team going forward. However, Matt Finn has the defensive qualities that would strengthen the Chicago blueline for years to come and is the best pick for them in the first round.

19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from DET): Malcolm Subban, G, Belleville

Taking Subban at No. 19 might be a bit of a risk, but there's no question that he has a bright future ahead of him as an NHL goaltender.

20. Philadelphia Flyers: Brady Skjei, D, USA U-18

This is a no-brainer for the Flyers, especially if they don't re-sign veteran defenseman Matt Carle and/or don't get encouraging news regarding Chris Pronger's return to the NHL.

21. Buffalo Sabres (from NSH): Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough 

If the Sabres don't take a defenseman with their first selection in this round, expect them to take Peterborough star Slater Koekkoek. They might actually take him regardless of who their pick at No. 12 is because of Koekkoek's talents as a two-way blueliner.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Dalton Thrower, D, Saskatoon

With not much salary cap space to sign a star defenseman in free agency, the Penguins will have to address their weaknesses on defense through the draft, which makes the selection of Dalton Thrower a reliable pick.

23. Florida Panthers: Tom Wilson, F, Plymouth

Tom Wilson may be off the board at No. 23 when the Panthers are on the clock, but they will certainly take him if available due to his playmaking ability.

24. Boston Bruins: Tomas Hertl, F, Slavia 

The Bruins will need to find a forward in free agency, but if the prices are too expensive for general manager Peter Chiarelli's liking, then drafting a talented goal scorer in the first round would be a good plan B.

The team could always bring up Jared Knight from the OHL's London Knight next season to give the power play some more firepower.

25. St. Louis Blues: Pontus Alberg, F, Djurgardens

Like the Bruins, the St. Louis Blues will need scoring in the offseason. Unless they sign someone like Zach Parise, which is pretty unlikely, drafting a young player with impressive goal scoring talents like Pontus Alberg would be the safest option.

26. Vancouver Canucks: Derrick Pouliot, D ,Portland 

Derrick Pouliot could turn out to be one of the better late first round picks of this draft and would be a great defensive presence on the Vancouver blueline for many seasons. The Canucks should draft a defenseman in the first round, whether it's Pouliot or someone else.

27. Phoenix Coyotes: Scott Laughton, F, Oshawa  

The Coyotes won't draft a defenseman with prospects such as Brandon Gormley in their system, so look for them to take the best forward available at pick No. 27, which will likely be Scott Laughton of the Oshawa Generals.

28. New York Rangers: Stefan Matteau, F, USNTDP

Stefan Matteau won't be in the NHL for a few more years, but he projects to be a solid top-nine forward at the NHL level. It also doesn't hurt that his Dad is a Rangers playoff hero.

29. New Jersey Devils: N/A

The Devils have to choose a first round pick to give up this season, in 2013 or in 2014 because of the punishment handed down by the NHL for the team's handling of Ilya Kovalchuk's contract in 2010. Since this pick is the second-to-last choice in the first round, don't expect the Devils to take a chance and hold onto pick 29.

30. Los Angeles Kings: Colton Sissons, F, Kelowna

In the likely event that the Kings don't re-sign Jarret Stoll and Dustin Penner to new contracts this summer, drafting a power forward like Colton Sissons is a no-brainer.