Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League will hold its
annual Entry Draft this weekend at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, and
the Edmonton Oilers, who are holding the No. 1 overall pick for a third
straight year, will get the event started once again on Friday evening.
The Oilers picked Taylor Hall with the top selection in 2010 and last year
they used the No. 1 spot to nab Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. This year, the consensus
top prospect is Russian winger Nail Yakupov and the big question is whether
Edmonton will use its No. 1 selection or trade down.
The dilemma for the Oilers is that Yakupov is another forward just like Hall
and Nugent-Hopkins. Even though Yakupov is expected to be a can't-miss
prospect, the Oilers are clearly a team that desperately could use defensive
help rather than another young offensive talent.
After Yakupov, this year's draft is expected to be deep in terms of defensemen
available, although scouts seem to believe there isn't a blueliner that stands
out above the rest. Still, Ryan Murray, Mathew Dumba, Morgan Rielly, Jacob
Trouba are among the several defensemen that are expected to go early in the
first round on Friday.
The 2012 draft also projects as one of the stronger goaltender classes in
recent years. Canadian backstop Malcom Subban -- younger brother of Montreal
Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban -- is expected to go in the first round and
European netminders Andrei Vasilevski and Oscar Dansk could also get selected
on Day 1 of the draft.
The most intriguing unknown heading into every draft is how actively teams
will pursue or entertain trades. The Oilers may choose to set the tone early
at this year's draft weekend by dealing the top pick, but of course, the team
is playing its cards close to the vest.
The second pick in this year's draft belongs to Columbus, which may also be
busy trying to make a deal this weekend. The Blue Jackets are still shopping
Rick Nash -- a former No. 1 overall pick by Columbus in 2002 -- and the draft
is where a deal to land the star winger may actually happen.
Two of the NHL's Original Six franchises are holding top-five selections in
this year's draft. The Montreal Canadiens are currently in the third spot and
the Toronto Maple Leafs are two spots behind with the fifth selection. Sitting
between the two storied clubs is the New York Islanders, who are picking
fourth this year to mark the team's fifth straight draft with a top-10
selection.
The first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft will begin Friday evening at 7
p.m. (et) and rounds 2-7 will start on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. (et). The
entire first-round order is as follows:
1. Edmonton
2. Columbus
3. Montreal
4. NY Islanders
5. Toronto
6. Anaheim
7. Minnesota
8. Carolina
9. Winnipeg
10. Tampa Bay
11. Washington (from COL)
12. Buffalo
13. Dallas
14. Calgary
15. Ottawa
16. Washington
17. San Jose
18. Chicago
19. Tampa Bay (from DET)
20. Philadelphia
21. Buffalo (from NAS)
22. Pittsburgh
23. Florida
24. Boston
25. St. Louis
26. Vancouver
27. Phoenix
28. NY Rangers
29. New Jersey
30. Los Angeles
The Sports Network