NHL Draft 2012: Centers That Will Rack Up Points Early in Their Careers

The NHL draft features several talented centers that can turn into the focal point of a team’s offense.

An all-star center can turn a team around, and there are prospects at the position with elite potential.

The best players taken in the draft will make impacts very soon after being drafted and sustain their success over a period of time. 

Here are four players that will score and create during long, successful NHL careers. 

Filip Forsberg, Leksand (Sweden)

Forsberg has the best combination of size and skill among all of the centers in the draft.

He is 6’2” and 181 pounds with fantastic puck-handling, and he is not afraid to lead an attack.

Forsberg is of no relation to former NHL superstar Peter Forsberg, but he certainly shares some similarities to the player that shares his name.

Both are Swedish, and the younger Forsberg also has the talent to be one of the best players in hockey. 

Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec (Canada)

Grigorenko is another player with fantastic size and talent.

He is 6’3” and 200 pounds, making him one of the bigger centers available. His power is equaled by his speed and skill, and when he’s at his best, he is unstoppable.

Concerns have been raised about his character, but others claim that his perceived lack of effort was due to a bout with mononucleosis, as noted by Michael Traikos of the National Post.

Grigorenko’s upside is limitless due to his stature, and while he is not quite as skilled as Forsberg, he is still an elite prospect. 

Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia (Canada)

Galchenyuk has already suffered a major knee injury at a young age, so this will be a major concern for interested teams. 

However, his potential is undeniable; he will be a productive player if he stays healthy.

At 6’1” and 198 pounds, he is not quite as big as some of the other prospects, but he is an extremely productive scorer. He had 83 points in 68 games for Sarnia during a full season in 2010-11. 

That kind of record does not happen accidentally, and there will be several teams tempted by his talent on draft day. 

Radek Faksa, Kitchener (Canada)

At 6’3” and 202 pounds, there are not many prospects at center that have better size than Faksa.

However, his massive frame comes with some clumsiness. He is not as smooth of a skater as the other three prospects. 

Still, this is a skill that can improve over time, and if a team has the luxury of letting Faksa develop, they will have an excellent player down the road.

His size and power will allow him to be successful even as he is improving as a skater.