2012 NHL Draft Prospects: Blue Jackets and Teams Who Cannot Fail in 1st Round

The Columbus Blue Jackets are one struggling NHL franchise that cannot afford to fail with their first-round pick, or the playoffs will be an unattainable goal for many more years.

If you need a future defenseman, then this draft class will offer several talented blueliners capable of being quality NHL players. But if you need offense, you may have to take a risk or draft a player who is still years away from being NHL ready.

Let's look at three teams who must hit a home run in the first round.

Toronto Maple Leafs, No. 5 overall

After not having their own first-round pick in 2010 and 2011, there is no room for error in the first round for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

If the Leafs don't think an offensive star that they like will be there to draft at No. 5, then making a trade up or down has to be made. Now is not the time to sit at No. 5 and draft the best player available if you don't want him badly enough.

This first-round pick will have a massive impact on the team's ability to end their playoff drought in the next few seasons. General manager Brian Burke is running out of chances to improve this team, and if he fails in this draft, his tenure as GM might need to end soon.

Edmonton Oilers, No. 1 overall

If no considerable progress towards being a playoff team is made next season, then Edmonton must consider making some major changes in the front office and on the ice. You cannot have three straight No. 1 picks and fail to make significant progress.

Nail Yakupov figures to be their best choice at No. 1, but we have seen many Russian players get drafted high in the first round and turn out to be less than stellar in the NHL.

Edmonton has been lucky to win the draft lottery three straight times. The team cannot afford to waste these chances to straighten the club with top talent and become an elite team.

Columbus Blue Jackets, No. 2 overall

The 2011-12 season was one to forget for Columbus Blue Jackets fans, whose team finished with the worst record in hockey, then lost the draft lottery as well.

If the player that the Blue Jackets draft this year turns out to be a bust, the team could suffer another decade of poor play on the ice. This is the biggest draft in the franchise's history, and the stakes couldn't be any higher.

If general manager Scott Howson fails to win this draft and get a good return for Rick Nash if he's traded, then the Blue Jackets could have major issues going forward.