Final CSS Rankings has Nail Yakupov as #1 prospect for the 2012 NHL Draft

[bestrafer7]

It should come as no surprise that right wing Nail Yakupov of the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting has been tabbed the top North American skater eligible for 2012 NHL Draft by NHL Central Scouting.

Yakupov, 18, was the top prospect on Central Scouting's preliminary list of the top 25 skaters from the OHL in November and was regarded as the No. 1 North American skater on January's mid-term report.

"His first step and ability to control bouncing pucks, knock them down and make a play are the best of any of the guys in the draft," said Central Scouting's Chris Edwards. "He really gets up to top speed very quickly and his hands are outstanding. Like Pavel Bure, Yakupov is dangerous every shift. He may not have been dominant on every shift like Bure was, but he created something every shift … you have to be aware where he is on the ice all the time."

Hardly a peep was heard when Yakupov's name was placed at the top during Central Scouting's final meetings last week to determine the top 210 North American skaters and 30 goalies eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft, which will be held June 22-23 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Yakupov finished third on the team with 69 points, including 31 goals, in 42 games for the Sting this season. He also has a plus-15 rating and 12 power-play goals. He added two goals and three assists in six OHL playoff games.

After Yakupov, the discussions heated up. In the end, it was determined that defenseman Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips would supplant center Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts as the No. 2 skater on the list. Grigorenko was slotted at No. 3, followed by Sarnia center Alex Galchenyuk and Moose Jaw Warriors defenseman Morgan Rielly.

What pushed Murray ahead of Grigorenko?

"What you're going to get in Murray is clear cut," said Central Scouting's Peter Sullivan. "He's a safe defenseman who is effective in all areas of the ice. He led the team in scoring in the playoffs [three goals, five points], and that's not even his forte. He's not a real offensive-defenseman, but he skates as well as any offensive defenseman, and that's how he gets the puck out of trouble.

"He's able to calm things down in his own end … he sees the game at a different pace."

Murray, the first of six defensemen listed among the top 10 North American skaters, had nine goals and 31 points in 46 regular-season games.

In his first season in North America, Grigorenko impressed with 40 goals, 85 points and a plus-35 rating for the Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

"He's the type of player that controls the whole pace of the game, can play with the puck at the same pace he plays without the puck, and sees the ice and his opportunities really well," said Central Scouting's David Gregory. "He can hang onto it longer than most players; he has the patience and the ability to see opportunities and let them develop, which is a really special skill."

Galchenyuk, who didn't make his regular-season debut until March 14 because of October surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, played just one game before departing a March 16 game against the London Knights with an upper-body injury. He returned for the playoffs, totaling two goals and two assists in six games.

Like Galchenyuk, Rielly missed most of the season while recovering from a torn ACL in a Nov. 6 game against the Calgary Hitmen. In 18 games prior to the injury, he had three goals and 15 assists.

"I've seen Rielly do things on the ice that nobody else was doing," Central Scouting's B.J. MacDonald said. "I saw him make those little passes to guys who weren't expecting the puck to get there. He's the type of player who can lead the rush and he'll be the first guy back. I think his creativity makes him one of the top players in the league. He's like a chess player; he sees stuff coming that a lot of players don't see."

Rounding out the top 10 are defenseman Cody Ceci of the Ottawa 67's (OHL), center Radek Faksa of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), defenseman Olli Maatta of the London Knights (OHL), defenseman Jacob Trouba of the U.S. Under-18 National Team Development Program, and defenseman Griffin Reinhart of the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL).

Trouba, who had eight goals and 29 points in 47 games for the USNTDP, was the first player listed from the United States Hockey League.

"He stepped in and showed leadership, showed unbelievable skill and an ability to carry the puck, lug the puck, defend and be tough," Gregory said of Trouba. "He's a complete package-type defenseman and skates so well that he'll make someone very happy in this draft."

Making the biggest jump into the top 10 was Ceci, who was No. 16 in the mid-term rankings. The 6-foot-2 1/2, 207-pounder finished with a career-high 17 goals, 43 assists, 60 points and a plus-21 rating.

"We did have discussions about Ceci in midseason," Central Scouting Director Dan Marr told NHL.com. "Were we being too hard on him? Maybe we should have had him higher, but he landed where he landed. We knew going into the second half that this could be a player who would move up as the season went along."

Every scout was in agreement.

"I thought Cody did a great job of understanding when to be up ice and when to defend and he did both things better in the second half," Gregory said. "When you recognize that, and have that whole package, then you have to be considered highly. We started realizing that as the second half was progressing. We're comfortable in saying that this is a heck of a hockey player. He's someone we have to recognize and teams need to know what we think."

The highest-rated high-school player is Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves of Kent School in Connecticut. Nieves, a 6-2.75, 184-pound center, moved up four spots from the mid-term rankings to No. 27 on the final list.

There was no change at the top of Central Scouting's final North American goaltender rankings as Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls (OHL) earned the No. 1 ranking. Brandon Whitney of the Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) moved up one rung to No. 2 on the list. Rounding out the top five are Jake Paterson of Saginaw (OHL), Anthony Stolarz of Corpus Christi (NAHL) and Francois Tremblay of Val-d'Or (QMJHL).

The top three skaters on Central Scouting's final international ratings are forwards: Filip Forsberg of Leksand in Sweden, Teuvo Teravainen of Jokerit Jr. in Finland, and Sebastian Collberg of Frolunda Jr. in Sweden.

The highly regarded Forsberg, who had eight goals, 17 points and a plus-3 rating in 43 games, could be drafted among the top five this June. Teravainen (5-foot-11, 165) made the biggest jump, advancing five slots from No. 7 at the mid-term.

"Teuvo has greatly improved over the course of the season," Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com. "He started with the juniors and then was a regular with a strong Jokerit team in the Finnish league after the Christmas break.

"He's a player with outstanding hockey sense and great overall skill level," Stubb said. "He's 17 years old, but running the power play. He's a finesse type of player, not overly physical, but is not intimidated in a physical game. He can score and pass, is a good skater with fine acceleration, soft hands, and he knows his defensive duties."

The top three international goalies are Andrei Vasilevski of Ufa 2 in Russia, Oscar Dansk of Brynas Jr. in Sweden and Joonas Korpisalo of Jokerit Jr. in Finland.

It's possible Vasilevski could be the first goalie taken off the board, ahead of Subban. In seven games for silver medal-winning Russia at the 2012 World Junior Championship, he finished 5-2 with a 2.01 goals-against average, two shutouts, and .958 save percentage.

"He's a big guy with excellent size and that helps him cover the net very well," Stubb said. "His angels and positional play are excellent and he has very good instincts, reads the game well. He's a game-winning goalie and will be the key player for Russia at U-18 World Junior tourney in the Czech Republic [April 12-22]."

[bestrafer7]

North American Skaters
RANK PLAYER TEAM LEAGUE HEIGHT WEIGHT POSITION
1 YAKUPOV, NAIL SARNIA OHL 5' 10.5" 189 RW
2 MURRAY, RYAN EVERETT WHL 6' 0.5" 195 D
3 GRIGORENKO, MIKHAIL QUEBEC QMJHL 6' 3.0" 200 C
4 GALCHENYUK, ALEX SARNIA OHL 6' 0.5" 198 C
5 RIELLY, MORGAN MOOSE JAW WHL 5' 11.5" 190 D
6 CECI, CODY OTTAWA OHL 6' 2.5" 207 D
7 FAKSA, RADEK KITCHENER OHL 6' 2.5" 203 C
8 MAATTA, OLLI LONDON OHL 6' 1.5" 202 D
9 TROUBA, JACOB USA U-18 USHL 6' 2.0" 193 D
10 REINHART, GRIFFIN EDMONTON WHL 6' 3.75" 197 D
11 DUMBA, MATHEW RED DEER WHL 5' 11.75" 173 D
12 POULIOT, DERRICK PORTLAND WHL 5' 11.25" 190 D
13 GAUNCE, BRENDAN BELLEVILLE OHL 6' 2.0" 215 C
14 SISSONS, COLTON KELOWNA WHL 6' 0.5" 187 C
15 WILSON, THOMAS PLYMOUTH OHL 6' 3.5" 203 RW
16 FINN, MATTHEW GUELPH OHL 6' 0.25" 192 D
17 MATTEAU, STEFAN USA U-18 USHL 6' 1.5" 210 C
18 GIRGENSONS, ZEMGUS DUBUQUE USHL 6' 1.5" 198 C
19 SKJEI, BRADY USA U-18 USHL 6' 2.75" 200 D
20 FRK, MARTIN HALIFAX QMJHL 5' 11.75" 200 RW

European Skaters
RANK PLAYER TEAM LEAGUE HEIGHT WEIGHT POSITION
1 FORSBERG, FILIP LEKSAND SWEDEN-2 6' 2.0" 181 C
2 TERAVAINEN, TEUVO JOKERIT FINLAND 5' 11.0" 165 LW
3 COLLBERG, SEBASTIAN FROLUNDA SWEDEN 5' 11.0" 176 RW
4 LINDHOLM, HAMPUS ROGLE JR. SWE-JR. 6' 2.5" 196 D
5 HERTL, TOMAS SLAVIA CZREP 6' 2.0" 198 C
6 ABERG, PONTUS DJURGARDEN SWEDEN 5' 11.0" 194 LW
7 POKKA, VILLE KARPAT FINLAND 6' 0.0" 196 D
8 BYSTROM, LUDWIG MODO JR. SWE-JR. 6' 0.75" 208 D
9 PROKHORKIN, NIKOLAY CSKA 2 RUSSIA-JR. 6' 2.5" 191 LW
10 SLEPYSHEV, ANTON NOVOKUZNETSK RUSSIA 6' 2.0" 187 LW
11 VAINONEN, MIKKO HIFK JR. FINLAND-JR. 6' 3.0" 205 D
12 LINDELL, ESA JOKERIT JR. FINLAND-JR. 6' 3.0" 194 D
13 OSNOVIN, VYACHESLAV CHELYABINSK 2 RUSSIA-JR. 6' 0.0" 188 C
14 KARLSSON, ERIK FROLUNDA JR. SWE-JR. 5' 11.75" 162 C/LW
15 ANDERSSON, CALLE FARJESTAD JR. SWE-JR. 6' 2.25" 208 D
16 VASILIEV, VALERI SPARTAK 2 RUSSIA-JR. 6' 1.25" 203 D
17 TIKKINEN, NIKLAS BLUES JR. FINLAND-JR. 5' 11.0" 172 D
18 DJOOS, CHRISTIAN BRYNAS JR. SWE-JR. 5' 11.0" 158 D
19 THORELL, ERIK FARJESTAD SWEDEN 5' 10.0" 185 C
20 GUSEV, NIKITA CSKA 2 RUSSIA-JR. 5' 9.0" 163 LW

North American Goalies
RANK PLAYER TEAM LEAGUE HEIGHT WEIGHT
1 SUBBAN, MALCOLM BELLEVILLE OHL 6' 1.0" 188
2 WHITNEY, BRANDON VICTORIAVILLE QMJHL 6' 4.5" 196
3 PATERSON, JAKE SAGINAW OHL 6' 1.5" 183
4 STOLARZ, ANTHONY CORPUS CHRISTI NAHL 6' 5.0" 200
5 TREMBLAY, FRANCOIS VAL-D'OR QMJHL 6' 1.5" 186
6 GILLIES, JON INDIANA USHL 6' 5.0" 217
7 MAKAROV, ANDREY SASKATOON WHL 6' 0.5" 180
8 BARTOSAK, PATRIK RED DEER WHL 6' 0.25" 181
9 PALAZZESE, FRANK KITCHENER OHL 6' 0.5" 160
10 TOMKINS, MATT SHERWOOD PARK AJHL 6' 1.75" 171
11 MARCOUX, ETIENNE BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND QMJHL 6' 0.0" 155
12 ALTSHULLER, DANIEL OSHAWA OHL 6' 2.75" 191
13 DRIEDGER, CHRIS CALGARY WHL 6' 2.75" 187
14 MACHOVSKY, MATEJ BRAMPTON OHL 6' 1.75" 191
15 BRASSARD, FRANCOIS QUEBEC QMJHL 6' 1.0" 154
16 HOUSER, MICHAEL LONDON OHL 6' 1.25" 190
17 WINDSOR, CLINT SAGINAW OHL 6' 4.0" 215
18 MURRAY, MATTHEW SAULT STE. MARIE OHL 6' 4.0" 169
19 SKAPSKI, MACKENZIE KOOTENAY WHL 6' 2.0" 186
20 LAGACE, MAXIME PEI QMJHL 6' 2.25" 170

European Goalies
RANK NAME TEAM LEAGUE HEIGHT WEIGHT
1 VASILEVSKI, ANDREI UFA 2 RUSSIA-JR. 6' 3.25" 204
2 DANSK, OSCAR BRYNAS JR. SWE-JR. 6' 2.5" 186
3 KORPISALO, JOONAS JOKERIT JR. FINLAND-JR. 6' 1.5" 163
4 AUREN, JEAN SPORT JR. FINLAND-JR. 6' 1.5" 187
5 LANGHAMER, MAREK PARDUBICE JR. CZREP-JR. 6' 1.75" 181
6 ISRAELSSON, MATHIAS FROLUNDA JR. SWE-JR. 5' 9.75" 193
7 ULLMARK, LINUS MODO JR. SWE-JR. 6' 3.0" 198
8 USTINSKY, IGOR TYUMEN 2 RUSSIA-JR. 5' 11.0" 185
9 DEMCHENKO, VASILI CHELYABINSK 2 RUSSIA-JR. 6' 1.0" 163
10 ULLBERG, RICHARD SAIPA FINLAND 6' 3.0" 185
11 TREUTLE, NIKLAS HAMBURG FREEZ. GERMANY 6' 2.0" 185

[bestrafer7]

Nail Yakupov


This kid is the real deal.. he has great hands, a great shot and is not afraid to go into the corners and bang.. (he is 5'10"). He is so skilled, on the level of Nugent-Hopkins, but maybe even better... He will score 40-50 goals a season in the NHL and be a + player because his defense is really coming around. A complete player, a total star in the NHL.

[PatSox]

Shame he's going to almost certainly end up a Blue Jacket

.....Actually maybe that's for the best. Edmonton has had more than their fair share of top picks the last few years and the other possibilty is Montreal.....GAG!!!!

[bestrafer7]

Nash-Johansen-Yakupov.. that's a solid top line for the future.

[PatSox]

Nash-Johansen-Yakupov.. that's a solid top line for the future.

But not going to amount to much when it's surrounded by towering stacks of ****

[XFactah416]

That and well Nash isn't even gonna be there much longer.

[rear naked mole rat]

well, edmonton jumped over the blue jackets to get top pick. even still, i think they'd be stupid to pick yakupov. they don't need more offense. unless they plan on trading yakupov or one of their other young guys quickly, i would imagine that they'll pick murray.

[Jabberwocky Supafly]

well, edmonton jumped over the blue jackets to get top pick. even still, i think they'd be stupid to pick yakupov. they don't need more offense. unless they plan on trading yakupov or one of their other young guys quickly, i would imagine that they'll pick murray.

My guess is they will either trade the pick away for a top pairing Dman + Dman Prospect(s) and/or another pick. Or, they will pick Yakupov, and trade away one of Hall or Yakupov for a package of Dmen.

I really really seriously doubt that they'll pick Murray over Yakupov, even though a Dman is what they need most. If they don't trade away the pick, they're picking Yakupov.

I think it safe to bet that Columbus will most likely go for an offensive player as they need scoring help, and then both MTL and TOR both have a decent-to-good blue line, with some pretty good prospects on the farm.
So I wouldn't be surprised to see EDM try to deal the 1st pick to any of those three teams, thinking that Murray will still be available at the 2nd or 3rd slot. MTL and TOR are probably the most likely to be able to accommodate the trade, since their blue line prospects run fairly deep. I'm thinking EDM tries to snatch a top Dman prospect, plus a 3rd to 7th round pick, or two, plus TOR's or MTL's 1st round pick(5th, or 3rd), for their 1st pick. Look for Burke to be extra aggressive in trying to make the deal. The one problem in all of this is the NY Isles, they need some D as well, and if murray is still available when their turn comes up, they'll pounce on that in a second.

One thing I find kind of silly is that Grigorenko has been downgraded, or overlooked, by a lot of scouts because he has slipped in his play, but everyone and their mom knows that Grigo suffered a high ankle sprain at the world juniors, and those things can take a while to recover from. So Grigo's situation is very similar to that of Sean Couturier from last year, he had a knee injury, then had mono, so played poorly for much of the year, and was downgraded, but yet made the team this year and managed to score 27 pts and build a +18 ratio(2nd highest on team). I wish I could keep track of which scouts tend to pull these stunts as I see them being very myopic in their appraisals.