NHL Draft 2012: Ranking Top Prospects at Every Position

You might be surprised to know that there will be other players available at the NHL Entry Draft besides Nail Yakupov. While the heir to the "Next One" throne is certainly the most heralded, he is far from the only talented player available in the 2012 draft pool.

After being subjected to rigorous poking, prodding and questionnaires from all 30 NHL franchises, the elite prospects will have to wait until next weekend before they find out where to have their mail sent.

One of the most interesting things I have learned about this draft so far is that outside of Yakupov as the overall No. 1 pick, there is a limitless possibility of who could be chosen second. Obviously no team wants to show its hand as far as their prized prospect, but even the experts who scout for a living can't get on the same page with a draft order.

One of the key components that I think goes overlooked is a player's ability to add some bulk to their frame. With almost all of the players hitting the age of 18 or 19, the players who already have a little meat on their bones have a decided advantage.

With most of these guys pretty much set in the height department, the challenge will be to add the muscle and bulk needed to compete at the highest level in the world. To do all of this gradually while maintaining and improving their skill set can be the difference between "late bloomer" and the dreaded "bust" label.

Take last year's top pick, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, as an example. The guy has all-world talent and made an immediate impact for the Oilers, but battled injuries all season.

It's hardly a coincidence that RNH had only 165 pounds on his 6'0" frame (the Oilers list him generously at 170). There is certainly no question that Nugent-Hopkins has the game to excel at the NHL level, but can he maintain and improve his game while beefing up to avoid getting rag-dolled by NHL defensemen?

Conversely, the second pick Gabriel Landeskog, carrying 30 more pounds, seemed to get stronger as the season went on. Granted, the two players play a different style, but Landeskog seemed more NHL-ready with the added bulk to his frame.

The biggest difference for these players as they take the next step into the NHL is the size and speed of the competition. The players who dominated at the junior level because they were the "big kid with the late birthday" can get swallowed whole by the men who don't want to lose their job to a rookie or because of a rookie.

With the first round of the draft coming up this Friday from the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, here are the top five prospects at every position.

Centers

The center position is particularly interesting because of how the top prospects are viewed. The subjectivity and cultural perceptions can make an optimist a genius or foolhardy. For every Evgeni Malkin, there are two or three Sergei Priakins.

Who? Exactly.

With a bias towards the work ethic of Russian players—"the Russian factor"—Mikhail Grigorenko's stock has fallen. However, with his skill set and size, Grigorenko is almost a guaranteed top-10 selection. A recent report attributed Grigorenko's fall off to mononucleosis, and he was unable to perform the fitness test at the prospect combine.

Alex Galchenyuk is the less-heralded teammate on the Sarnia Sting, but was the first overall selection in the 2010 OHL draft. He has the size the moves and great vision to be a can't-miss in the NHL. At 6'2", he'll fill out his frame a little more and could benefit from playing more physically. Galchenyuk could very well be the top center taken.

Radek Faksa is another big man who could stand to eat a few cheeseburgers. The 6'2" Czech has the reputation of being a superb two-way center with a scoring touch. He has good hands and isn't afraid to use the body.

Zemgus Girgensons has one of the better names in the draft and the talent to match. The Latvian center has size and hands with a gritty physical side that teams covet. He isn't afraid to hit but could use some work on his skating to become elite.

Mark Jankowski has been an offensive juggernaut for Stanstead College, a Quebec prep school, and is a natural scorer. Hit with the title of "late bloomer" more because he wasn't on many pundits' radars, Jankowski is a big, strong skater who plays hard in both ends.

1. Alex Galchenyuk
2. Mikhail Grigorenko
3. Radek Faksa
4. Zemgus Girgensons
5. Mark Jankowski

That's where I have the centers ranked, we'll see where they go.

Wingers

No one will be surprised if the Edmonton Oilers make the Sarnia star their No. 1 pick on Friday. Yakupov is almost as complete a player as there is in this year's draft. His compact frame and strong skating are complemented by some nifty hands and a wicked shot.

The fall-off after Yakupov is hardly terrible though. There is a group of Europeans—Forsberg, Teravainen, Collberg, Samuelsson and Aberg—who will help fill out the top 20 draft picks. While four Swedes and a Finn sounds like a can't-miss comedy for the NBC fall lineup, Europeans have definitely enjoyed great success in the NHL.

North Americans Tom Wilson, Stefan Matteau, Tanner Pearson and Phillip Di Giuseppe round out my top ten wingers.

1. Nail Yakupov
2. Filip Forsberg
3. Teuvo Teravainen
4. Sebastian Collberg
5. Henrik Samuelsson
6. Tom Wilson
7. Pontus Aberg
8. Phillip Di Giuseppe
9. Tanner Pearson
10. Stefan Matteau

I included 10 wings—five for each side, in case there was any question as to the number.

Defensemen

Probably the deepest crop of quality defensemen in recent memory. The class of the group is Everett Silvertips star Ryan Murray. Then there's everyone else who feels that Mathew Dumba could be the best player in the draft.

To-may-to. To-mah-to. Can't miss on either choice.

Ryan Murray is a fantastic puck-moving defenseman and natural leader. He already has the size and skill set to play in the NHL tomorrow. Adjusting to the speed at the next level is the only thing standing in Murray's way.

Mathew Dumba has a knack for scoring and delivering game-changing hits. He was the WHL Rookie of the Year in 2010-11, and his style of play is often compared to that of a power forward. He rarely gets caught out of position in spite of his ambitious offensive forays. He'll need to add some more weight if he plans on playing as physical in the NHL.

Griffin Reinhart is a baby mountain at 6'4" and 200 lbs. He has great mobility for a player of his size and a booming shot to go with it.

Morgan Rielly has an unbelievable offensive upside, but tore his ACL after only 18 games with Moose Jaw in the WHL. With great speed and talent, Rielly recovered well enough to participate in the combine; his stock is still sky high.

Jacob Trouba  is probably the top-ranked American player available in the draft. With good speed and a physical edge, Trouba also is a good puck-handler with a hard shot.

*Cody Ceci is what is considered a 200-foot defenseman because he can cover the entire rink with his blazing speed. 6'2" and already 200 lbs, Ceci is ready made for NHL action. The knock on Ceci is that he doesn't use the size to his advantage more.

1. Ryan Murray
2. Mathew Dumba
3. Griffin Reinhart
4. Morgan Rielly
5. Jacob Trouba
6. Cody Ceci

*Note: Ceci was added in as I'm projecting him to be drafted in the top 10 overall. I thought it to be a tad silly to place a name next to the 10th spot without giving him some type of introduction.

Goalies

The prize of the goalie prospects is Malcolm Subban, and yes, he is the younger brother of Pernell Karl Subban of the Montreal Canadiens.

With many teams in need of goaltending, and the options of trading and free agency too expensive, who will be the next Jonathan Quick?

Malcolm Subban is an athletic and agile butterfly-style goalie. At 6'1", he is considered smaller in Canadian junior hockey. Subban is fantastic laterally with a lightning-fast glove hand. He is also noted for his poise in net, and he doesn't get rattled.

Andrei Vasilevski is the wild card on the list. "The Russian Factor" takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to goaltenders, no thanks to Ilya Bryzgalov. Vasilevski is built for the job at 6'3" and has great movement side to side and with a quick glove hand. If teams can get past the Russian bias, Vasilevski could hear his name called Friday.

Oscar Dansk is the heir apparent to King Henrik I of Sweden. The 6'2" 18-year old has great reflexes and an impressive hockey IQ. He wowed scouts with his play in the U18 World Junior Championships and is projected by some to be the best pure prospect available.

Brandon Whitney is a bigger goalie at 6'5", but he still manages to be quick and smooth. He plays solid angles and has an aggressive style that scouts love. He has a solid core and gets set up quickly.

Anthony Stolarz is another big man with great reflexes. At 6'5", Stolarz has remarkable athleticism and balance, with good puck-handling skills.

Jake Paterson is has improved his stock with a solid second half to his season. Regarded by many as the quickest goalie in the draft, Paterson could easily leapfrog Stolarz, Whitney and Vasilevski if the right team comes calling.

1. Malcolm Subban
2. Andrei Vasilevski
3. Oscar Dansk
4. Brandon Whitney
5. Anthony Stolarz
6. Jake Paterson

Top Ten Prediction

Given the talent at every position, will teams select the most talented player available, or focus more specifically on their own needs? While few players outside the top five are ready for prime time immediately, an argument could be made for the first 10 picks being ready to skate for their NHL club this fall.

Here's the top 10 selections that I see:

1. Nail Yakupov RW-Edmonton Oilers
2. Ryan Murray D-Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Alex Galchenyuk C-Montreal Canadiens
4. Mathew Dumba D-New York Islanders
5. Mikhail Grigorenko C-Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Griffin Reinhart D-Anaheim Ducks
7. Morgan Reilly D-Minnesota Wild
8. Filip Forsberg RW-Carolina Hurricanes
9. Jacob Trouba D-Winnipeg Jets
10. Cody Ceci D-Tampa Bay Lightning

Barring any last-minute trades, I can see the first round falling this way. Teams address needs with top-shelf players who have a legitimate shot at making it to the NHL in their first year.

Tune in Friday to watch!