2012 NHL Draft Report Cards (Part Two)

 

 

Yesterday, I released my report cards for 15 NHL clubs based on their weekend draft selections in 2012 NHL Draft Report Cards (Part One).

 

Today, Dobber Prospects gives you the second and final part grading the remaining 15 NHL teams’ draft day work as well as compiling a quick Top 30 Ranking.

Please be aware that when analyzing prospects it takes years to accurately determine whether a prospect has succeeded or failed and this preliminary ranking/anaylsis is just that, my initial opinion of these players at this moment in time. These rankings will certainly change as we observe the players develop over the next few seasons.

 

I surely cannot go in-depth with every prospect drafted so I am going to name a few players from each team that fit under the following categories:

 

Best Fantasy ’12 Pock (FP): Here I will name the drafted player(s) who I feel has the potential to become the most valuable fantasy option of the team’s ’12 drafted players (I will consider NHL likelihood).

 

Best Potential NHLer (PN): For this category, I will name the player(s) who I feel has the fundamental skills, work ethic and overall game to become a long-time NHL player (offensive upside is not a requirement here).

 

Shrewdest Pick (SP): The shrewdest pick will be the player(s) who I feel has good NHL likelihood, the skills and, at this time, was underrated enough to be picked later than his initial ranking indicated (ie. The Jamie Benn type pick). Consider this the sleeper pick.

 

Youngblood’s Personal Favourite (YPF): Pretty simple, the team’s pick(s) that I best like.

 

Let us get right down to it…

NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Pontus Aberg (37^th), Colton Sissons (50^th), Jimmy Vesey (66^th), Brendan Leipisic (89^th), Zachary Stepan (112^th), Mikko Vainonen (118^th), Simon Fernholm (164^th), Max Gortz (172^nd), Marek Mazanec (179^th)

Draft Recap: David Poile drafted Pontus Aberg 37^th, a steal in my opinion, future captain in Colton Sissons at 50^th, impressive overage scorer in Jimmy Vesey 66^th and two hard working hard-to-play-against players in Leipisic and Stepan. While I am not aware of the Predators’ final three picks, I trust their record of drafting defensemen and goaltending and their numbers look good.

Draft Grade: A

FP – Pontus Aberg & Jimmy Besey

PN – Colton Sissons

SP – Jimmy Vesey & Mikko Vainonen

YPF – Pontus Aberg

 

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Stefan Matteau (29^th), Damon Severson (60^th), Ben Johnson (90^th), Ben Thomson (94^th), Graham Black (135^th), Alexander Kerfoot (150^th), Artur Gavrus (189^th)

Draft Recap: Analyzing Devils’ Director of Scouting David Conte is intimidating enough, but the legend in scouting proved to be up to his antics again at the 2012 NHL Draft adding great underrated talents that can play smart hockey throughout each round.

Draft Grade: B+

FP – Stefan Matteau (potential multi-cat stud)

PN – Ben Johnson & Stefan Matteau

SP – Artur Gavrus & Alex Kerfoot

YPF – Artur Gavrus

 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Griffin Reinhart (4^th), Ville Pokka (34^th),  Adam Pelech (65^th),  Loic Leduc (103^rd), Doyle Somerby (125^th), Jesse Graham (155^th), Jake Bischoff (185^th).

Draft Recap: Do you think the Islanders coveted defense in 2012? All seven players selected to the Isle were defenseman including some great two-way defenders in Reinhart and Pokka, a very good shutdown rearguards in Pelech and a potential offensive stud in Jesse Graham.

Draft Grade: A

FP – Griffin Reinhart & Jesse Graham

PN – Griffin Reinhart & Adam Pelech

SP – Jesse Graham

YPF – Griffin Reinhart, Adam Pelech & Jesse Graham

 

NEW YORK RANGERS: Brady Skjei (28^th), Cristoval Nieves (59^th), Calle Andersson (119^th), Thomas Spelling (142^nd)

Draft Recap: Restricted to only four picks in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Rangers did very well adding players with high likelihood of becoming regular NHLers.

Draft Grade: B+

FP – Cristoval Nieves

PN – Brady Skjei

SP – Calle Andersson

FP – Cristoval Nieves

 

OTTAWA SENATORS: Cody Ceci (15^th), Chris Driedger (76^th), Jarrod Maidens (82^nd), Timothy Boyle (106^th), Robert Baillargeon (136^th), Francois Brassard (166^th), Mikael Wikstrand (196^th)

Draft Recap: Bryan Murray pleased the fans of Ottawa by drafting local kid Cody Ceci and then turned his focus to improving their goaltending depth, an area of need with Robin Lehner’s graduation to the big club.

Draft Grade: B+

FP – Cody Ceci

PN – Cody Ceci & Jarrod Maidens

SP – Jarrod Maidens & Robert Baillargeon

FP – Cody Ceci

 

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Scott Laughton (20^th), Anthony Stolarz (45^th), Shayne Gostisbehere (78^th), Fredrik Larsson (111^th), Taylor Leier (117^th), Reece Willcox (141^st), Valeri Vasiliev (201^st)

Draft Recap: Paul Holmgren addressed areas of need at the ’12 draft selecting four defensemen and adding a top goaltending prospect in six-foot-five Anthony Stolarz. In the first round, the Flyers added a Mike Richards’ type of player in Scott Laughton. In the end, besides Laughton and Stolarz, I was left unimpressed, once again, with the Flyers’ drafting.

Draft Grade: B-

FP – Scott Laughton

PN – Scott Laughton

SP – Valeri Vasiliev

YPF – Scott Laughton

 

PHOENIX COYOTES: Henrik Samuelsson (27^th), Jordan Martinook (58^th), James Melindy (88^th), Rhett Holland (102^nd), Niklas Tikkinen (148^th), Hunter Fejes (178^th), Marek Langhamer (184^th), Justin Hache (208^th)

Draft Recap: Despite having a slew of defensive depth, GM Don Maloney couldn’t resist adding four more defenseman after selecting Ulf Samuelsson’s son, Henrik, with their first round selection.

Draft Grade: C +

FP – Henrik Samuelsson (potential multi-cat player)

PN – Henrik Samuelsson

SP – Jordan Martinook (overage), Hunter Fejes & Niklas Tikkinen

YPF – Henrik Samuelsson

 

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Derrick Pouliot (8^th), Olli Maatta (22^nd), Theodor Blueger (52^nd), Oskar Sundqvist (81^st), Matthew Murray (83^rd), Matia Marcantuoni (92^nd), Sean Maguire (113^th), Clark Seymour (143^rd), Anton Zlobin (173)

Draft Recap: The draft hosts showed up to the 2012 NHL Draft on their game. After trading away Jordan Staal, Ray Shero opted to select defensemen Derrick Pouliot and Olli Maatta in the first round adding very good talents. He wouldn’t stop there as he continued to add impressive players at each position including Matt Murray in goal.

Draft Grade: A +

FP – Derrick Pouliot

PN – Olli Maatta

SP – Matia Marcantuoni & Anton Zlobin

YPF – Olli Maatta & Matt Murray

 

SAN JOSE SHARKS: Tomas Hertl (17^th), Chris Tierney (55^th), Christophe Lalancette (109^th), Daniel O’Regan (138^th), Clifford Watson (168^th), Joakim Ryan (198^th)

Draft Recap: Looking to re-stock their prospect cupboards was the main priority of the San Jose Sharks. Tomas Hertl is an offensive player with good upside and Chris Tierney adds a mix of skill and admirable work ethic.

Draft Grade: C

FP – Tomas Hertl

PN – Tomas Hertl

SP – Daniel O’Regan & Joakim Ryan

YPF – Chris Tierney

 

ST. LOUIS BLUES: Jordan Schmaltz (25^th), Samuel Kurker (56^th), Mackenzie MacEachern (67^th), Colten Parayko (86^th), Nicholas Walters (116^th), Francois Tremblay (146^th), Petteri Lindbohm (176^th), Tyrel Seaman (206^th)

Draft Recap: GM of the Year Doug Armstrong entered the 2012 NHL Draft with very little “need” allowing him to take player she felt fit nicely into the Blues’ organization.

Draft Grade: B

FP – Jordan Schmaltz & Samuel Kurker

PN – Jordan Schmaltz (not immediately ready)

SP – Francois Tremblay (G)

YPF – Mackenzie MacEachern

 

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Slater Koekkoek (10^th), Andrey Vasilevskiy (19^th), Dylan Blujus (40^th), Brian Hart (53^rd), Tanner Richard (71^st), Cedric Paquette (101^st), Jake Dotchin (161^st), Nikita Gusev (202^nd)

Draft Recap: The Lightning drafting has been very strong in recent years and Yzerman and company continued that trend adding superb talents at every position after addressing their defensive and goaltending needs in the first round.

Draft Grade: A+

FP – Andrey Vasilevskiy & Nikita Gusev (KHL risk)

PN – Slater Koekkoek

SP – Dylan Blujus & Nikita Gusev

YPF – Slater Koekkoek

 

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Morgan Rielly (5^th), Matt Finn (35^th), Dominic Toninato (126^th), Connor Brown (156^th), Ryan Rupert (157^th), Viktor Loov (209^th)

Draft Recap: For once, Leafs’ GM Brian Burke remained patient and was able to draft the best player available with his opening round picks selecting Morgan Rielly in the first and Matthew Finn in the second round. The Leafs add solid players with strong character with their limited mid-to-late round picks.

Draft Grade: A –

FP – Morgan Rielly

PN – Morgan Rielly & Matt Finn

SP – Connor Brown & Ryan Rupert

FP – Morgan Rielly & Ryan Rupert (super pest)

 

VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Brendan Gaunce (26^th), Alexandre Mallet (57^th), Ben Hutton (147^th), Wesley Myron (177^th), Matthew Beattie (207^th)

Draft Recap: The Canucks were fortunate to land a great two-way player in Brendan Gaunce late in the first round. Beyond the first round, Alex Mallet has the potential to post across the board stats but I would be lying if I said I knew anything about their other three 2012 selections as all of them were overage entries.

Draft Grade: C+

FP – Brendan Gaunce

PN – Brendan Gaunce

SP – Ben Hutton & Matt Beattie

YPF – Brendan Gaunce

WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Filip Forsberg (11^th), Tom Wilson (16^th), Chandler Stephenson (77^th), Thomas Di Pauli (100^th), Austin Wuthrich (107^th), Connor Carrick (137^th), Riley Barber (167^th), Christian Djoos (195^th), Jaynen Rissling (197^th), Sergei Kostenko (203^rd)

Draft Recap: The Capitals owned a slew of draft picks for this draft and as a result, George McPhee was able to really swing for the fences on some of his picks.

Draft Grade: A

FP – Filip Forsberg & Tom Wilson (potential multi-cat stud)

PN – Tom Wilson

SP – Chandler Stephenson, Riley Barber & Christian Djoss

YPF – Filip Forsberg

 

WINNIPEG JETS: Jacob Trouba (9^th), Lukas Sutter (39^th), Scott Kosmachuk (70^th), Ryan Olsen (160^th), Jamie Phillips (190^th)

Draft Recap: The Winnipeg Jets opened the 2012 draft with three players with impressive compete levels and a good level of grit in Jacob Trouba, Lukas Sutter and Scott Kosmachuk.

Draft Grade: B+

FP – Scott Kosmachuk

PN – Jacob Trouba

SP – Scott Kosmachuk

YPF – Jacob Trouba & Scott Kosmachuk

 

Final Report Cards: Ranking All 30 NHL Teams:

1. Montreal (A+)
2. Dallas (A+)
3. Pittsburgh (A+)
4. Buffalo (A+)
5. Tampa Bay (A+)
6. New York Is. (A)
7. Washington (A)
8. Nashville (A)
9. Edmonton (A)
10. Columbus (A)
11. Calgary (A-)
12. Carolina (A-)
13. Toronto (A-)
14. Los Angeles (A-)
15. Chicago (B+)
16. Anaheim (B+)
17. Minnesota (B+)
18. Ottawa (B+)
19. Boston (B+)
20. New Jersey (B+)
21. Winnipeg (B+)
22. Detroit (B+)
23. New York R. (B+)
24. St. Louis (B)
25. Philadelphia (B-)
26. Phoenix (C+)
27. Vancouver (C+)
28. San Jose (C)
29. Florida (C)
30. Colorado (C-)

 

If you have questions or comments do not hesitate to discuss with me on twitter @RossyYoungblood