2012 NHL Mock Draft: Full First-Round Predictions

They say that no one ever gets a mock draft completely right. Well, for the second straight week, I am doing a mock draft for this Friday's first round of the 2012 NHL Draft, effectively giving me two chances to be wrong.

Some picks have changed and some have stayed the same. I have done by best to find new information on the teams' wants and needs, but with the draft only five days away, teams are being especially secretive.

So without further a due, let's see what's changed in a week.

1. Edmonton: Nail Yakupov

Position: Right Wing

2011-12 Team: Sarnia (OHL)

Height: 5'11" Weight: 190 pounds

Nail Yakupov doesn't move a spot even though I still think Edmonton should take Ryan Murray with this pick or trade down and take a defenseman. Yakupov will still be a great addition to the young core being built in Edmonton, but that core would be better suited to add a defenseman to it.

2. Columbus: Filip Forsberg

Position: Right Wing

2011-12 Team: Leksand (SEL)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 181 pounds

Filip Forsberg moves up four spots from where I had him going last week. While it might be tempting for the Blue Jackets to take Ryan Murray, with the inevitable departure of Rick Nash, they will try to bring in some scoring.

While there might be some more talented forwards in the draft, Forsberg is the safest pick and that is something that Columbus needs as a lot of their draft picks have not worked out.

3. Montreal: Mikhail Grigorenko

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Quebec (QMJHL)

Height: 6'3" Weight: 200 pounds

I'm sticking with my pick that Montreal will take the risk that comes with drafting Mikhail Grigorenko. Playing in the Quebec market already, he knows the fanbase and should be ready for the pressure that comes with playing in Montreal.

4. New York Islanders: Ryan Murray

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Everett (WHL)

Height: 6'1" Weight: 201 pounds

New York gets the luck of the draw as Ryan Murray drops to the No. 4 spot. In the same situation as Edmonton, the Islanders are strong on offensive depth, but don't have much when it comes to defense. Their problem is partly solved with a player of Murray's caliber.

5. Toronto: Alex Galchenyuk

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Sarnia (OHL)

Height: 6'1" Weight: 198 pounds

I'm sticking with my belief that Alex Galchenyuk will still be available at the fifth pick. With his injury last year, there should be enough restraint from other teams to allow Toronto to snag the player they so desperately need out of this draft.

6. Anaheim: Matt Dumba

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Red Deer (WHL)

Height: 6'0" Weight: 183 pounds

It's no secret that Anaheim would like to add a defenseman such as Matt Dumba, as a number of mock drafts I have seen have Anaheim selecting Dumba. Well, I guess I'm another one of those mock drafts that say that.

7. Minnesota: Morgan Reilly

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Moose Jaw (WHL)

Height: 6'0" Weight: 190 pounds

I think I said it best in my previous mock draft so I'll say it again.

When the Minnesota Wild traded Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks, they lost the best defenseman the team had ever had, and they did not succeed in replacing him last season. Selecting Morgan Reilly with the seventh overall pick would give them a player that plays a lot like Burns and could join the team after another season of development.

With the Wild's defense not the best in the league, it's a no-brainer to take Reilly here.

8. Carolina Hurricanes: Radek Faksa

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Kitchener (OHL)

Height: 6'3" Weight: 203 pounds

As I said in my last mock draft, Carolina will be taking a member of the Kitchener Rangers for the second-straight year. A teammate of Ryan Murphy, who the Hurricanes took last year, Carolina would be drafting a player that has at least some chemistry with him.

9. Winnipeg: Teuvo Teravainen

Position: Left Wing

2011-12 Team: Jokerit (SM-liiga)

Height: 5'11" Weight: 161 pounds

One of the biggest risers in this year's draft, Teuvo Teravainen is one of the sleeper picks of the draft. Winnipeg will want a player that is capable of playing with Mark Scheifele and if you put these two together, they might be a really dangerous duo.

10. Tampa Bay: Jacob Trouba

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: US NTDP

Height: 6'2" Weight: 196 pounds

Tampa Bay needs defenseman. Jacob Trouba is quite possibly the second-best all-around defenseman in the draft. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

11. Washington: Cody Ceci

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Ottawa (OHL)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 207 pounds

In my previous draft, I had Cody Ceci going to the Washington Capitals, but at the 16th pick instead of the 11th. I think that Washington could use a player like Ceci and he might not be around at the 16th pick. They take him here instead.

12. Buffalo: Zemgus Girgensons

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Dubuque (USHL)

Height: 6'1" Weight: 201 pounds

Buffalo takes a player that could one day become their captain. All Zemgus Girgensons needs to do to become a complete player is bring his offensive game to another level and Buffalo will have a great player on their hands.

13. Dallas: Brendan Gaunce

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Belleville (OHL)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 215 pounds

Dallas adds another offensive player to their fold. With Brad Richards gone, the Dallas Stars weren't as strong on offense as they wanted to be last season. Mike Ribeiro and other players on the Stars offense aren't getting any younger so it would be smart to bring in some more young talent. Gaunce is a player that could help the Stars within two years.

14. Calgary: Griffin Reinhart

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Edmonton (WHL)

Height: 6'4" Weight: 207 pounds

Another one where I'm going to stick with my original pick.

The Calgary Flames add another Reinhart to their collection as they have Griffin's older brother Max in the system. The biggest defenseman slated to go in the first round, Reinhart would give the Flames a force to be reckoned with on the blueline. If he learns to throw his weight around effectively, Calgary could have their hands on another steal.

15. Ottawa: Hampus Lindholm

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Rogle (SEL)

Height: 6'3" Weight: 196 pounds

Ottawa has a thing for developing Swedish players. Why stop here? Hampus Lindholm could be a future defense partner for Erik Karlsson.

16. Washington: Sebastien Collberg

Position: Right Wing

2011-12 Team: Frolunda (SEL)

Height: 5'11" Weight: 174 pounds

Washington finished in 25th place in shootout wins this past season. Drafting Sebastien Collberg not only gives them a player that could help in that department, but they would also get a dynamic offensive player during regulation.

17. San Jose: Olli Maata

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: London (OHL)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 202 pounds

The San Jose Sharks don't seem to have the best luck in drafting. The draft picks that eventually play for them are bit players, but when they draft a good player with potential, they end up trading him (Charlie Coyle for example). The Sharks have to take the best player available and I believe that is Olli Maata.

18. Chicago: Matt Finn

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Guelph (OHL)

Height: 6'0" Weight: 195 pounds

Chicago is in the "best-player-available" group of teams at the draft. They will pick Finn even though they don't necessarily need defensemen.

19. Tampa Bay: Andrei Vasilevski

Position: Goaltender

2011-12 Team: Ufa Tolpar (Jr.)

Height: 6'3" Weight: 204 pounds

After taking one of the higher-rated defensemen at No. 10, the Lightning set out to improve their other big need in goaltending. While they are certain to bring in a goaltender in the offseason, selecting a goalie like Andrei Vasilevski gives the Lightning a great goalie for the future.

20. Philadelphia: Slater Koekkoek

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Peterborough (OHL)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 184 pounds

The Philadelphia Flyers like tough defensemen. Well, as the video shows, Slater Koekkoek is definitely capable of being tough. Playing for a bad team in the Peterborough Petes this year, Koekkoek played well before injuries took him out, allowing him only 26 games played.

21. Buffalo: Derrick Pouliot

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Portland (WHL)

Height: 5'11" Weight: 186 pounds

After filling a need with their first pick, Buffalo goes for the best player available in Derrick Pouliot.

Pittsburgh: Thomas Wilson

Position: Right Wing

2011-12 Team: Plymouth (OHL)

Height: 6'4" Weight: 203 pounds

Pittsburgh adds a hulking power forward to their mix in Thomas Wilson. If a player like Wilson can't protect Sidney Crosby, I don't know who can.

23. Florida: Brady Skjei

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: US NTDP

Height: 6'3" Weight: 203 pounds

The most interesting name in the draft, I'm more interested on how Brady Skjei's last name is pronounced than anything else. A smooth-skating defenseman, Skjei would give the Florida Panthers even more young depth on defense, behind Dimitri Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson.

24. Pontus Aberg

Position: Left Wing

2011-12 Team: Djurgarden (SEL)

Height: 5'11" Weight: 194 pounds

Boston's first pick used on a forward last year was in the second round when they picked Alexander Khokhlachev. As with most Russian players, there are doubts that he won't jump to the NHL any time soon. Boston will remedy the situation by picking Pontus Aberg, a player who doesn't have that problem.

25. St. Louis: Tomas Hertl

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Slavia (Cze.)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 198 pounds

The playmaking Czech Tomas Hertl would be a great addition to the St. Louis Blues. One of the better teams at developing prospects, the Blues selecting a player like Hertl would be dangerous for any team in the Central Division.

26. Vancouver: Colton Sissons

Position: Right Wing

2011-12 Team: Kelowna (WHL)

Height: 6'1" Weight: 189 pounds

Born in British Columbia. Plays junior in British Columbia. I don't see why he shouldn't continue playing there in the NHL.

Phoenix: Henrik Samuelsson

Position: Center

2011-12 Team: Edmonton (WHL)

Height: 6'2" Weight: 195 pounds

While it would not be surprising to see Henrik Samuelsson fall into the second round, Phoenix will take a shot with the son of former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson. The biggest knock on his game is skating and if he can fix that up, he projects to be a pretty good third-line center.

28. New York Rangers: Stefan Matteau

Position: Left Wing

2011-12 Team: US NTDP

Height: 6'1" Weight: 210 pounds

His father was a hero for the New York Rangers in 1994. It's only too good of a story if Stefan Matteau gets the same chance.

29. New Jersey: Malcolm Subban

Position: Goaltender

2011-12 Team: Belleville (OHL)

Height: 6'1" Weight: 188 pounds

New Jersey could end up forfeiting this pick as a result of the Ilya Kovalchuk signing but, I believe they will keep the pick so that they can shore up a position that will be a problem for them after Martin Brodeur's retirement.

Subban arguably has better potential than anyone in New Jersey's system at the moment and it would not be smart for the Devils to give up a pick where they can get a prospect like Subban.

30. Los Angeles: Dalton Thrower

Position: Defense

2011-12 Team: Saskatoon (WHL)

Height: 5'11" Weight: 189

Dalton Thrower's last name is apropos: The defenseman is never afraid to drop the gloves. Thrower's game has an offensive side to it, while keeping an eye on his own end. The Los Angeles Kings would be smart to add such a defenseman to the fold.

Columbus does have the option to take this pick, and would have the opportunity to select twice in a row if they do, but I suspect they will wait until next year.