Nail Yakupov is top dog, for now, when it comes to 2012 NHL Entry Draft eligible prospects.
Yakupov is slotted first in Future Considerations’ October ranking for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. It is the same position the Russian held in FC’s preliminary ranking this summer.
Despite being early in the 2012-13 season, there is plenty of movement among the draft’s top-30. With both the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and NHL’s Research & Development Camp serving as opportunities to evaluate many of the top prospects, change was inevitable.
After a very impressive Hlinka, Swedish prospect Filip Forsberg jumped in front of defensemen Griffin Reinhart and Morgan Rielly, while Canadian captain Mathew Dumba did the same.
He wasn’t the biggest Swede to jump though.
Ranked outside of the first round earlier this summer, Sebastian Collberg now finds himself knocking on the door of being a top-10 prospect. Andreas Athanasiou saw a similar jump, leaving his late second round status behind and is now seen as a candidate that can go in the first half of the first round.
In the year of the defenseman, Future Considerations’ has 14 ranked in the first round, including six among the top 10, and another trio chomping at the bit to get into consideration.
Whether or not those three can garner first round attention remains to be seen, as does whether or not those already there can maintain.
Get ready for an incredible nine months of hockey.
Rank / Pos. / Name / Team / League / Ht / Wt /
1). RW Nail Yakupov, Sarnia, OHL, 5-10, 170
2). D Ryan Murray, Everett, WHL, 6-1, 195
3). C Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia, OHL, 6-1, 185
4). D Nick Ebert, Windsor, OHL, 6-1, 195
5). C Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec, QMJHL, 6-2, 190
6). LW Filip Forsberg, Leksand Jr., Swe Jr., 6-1, 175
7). D Morgan Rielly, Moose Jaw, WHL, 6-0, 195
8). D Matt Dumba, Red Deer, WHL, 6-0, 175
9). D Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton, WHL, 6-4, 200
10). D Jacob Trouba, USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-2, 185
11). RW Sebastian Collberg, Frolunda Jr., Swe Jr., 5-11, 175
12). D Derrick Pouliot, Portland, WHL, 6-0, 180
13). D Jordan Schmaltz, Sioux City, USHL, 6-2, 175
14). C Matia Marcantuoni, Kitchener, OHL, 6-0, 185
15). RW Martin Frk, Halifax, QMJHL, 5-11, 190
16). D Cody Ceci, Ottawa, OHL, 6-3, 210
17). D Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough, OHL, 6-2, 185
18). C Henrik Samuelsson, Modo, Swe., 6’-2, 195
19). C Zemgus Girgensons, Dubuque, USHL, 6-2, 185
20). C Jarrod Maidens, Owen Sound, OHL, 6-2, 175
21). C/LW Andreas Athanasiou, London, OHL, 6-0, 170
22). D Gianluca Curcuruto, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL, 6-1, 195
23). D Ville Pokka, Karpat, SM-Liiga, 6’-0”, 195
24). D Olli Maatta, London, OHL, 6-2, 190
25). C Brendan Gaunce, Belleville, OHL, 6-2, 200
26). D Michael Matheson, Dubuque, USHL, 6-1, 170
27). LW Pontus Aberg, Djurgarden, Swe., 5-11, 185
28). C Scott Laughton, Oshawa, OHL, 6-0, 175
29). LW Nicolas Kerdiles, USNTDP U18, USHL, 6’-1, 180
30). RW Cristoval Nieves, Kent, USHS, 6-3, 190
Honorable Mentions:
C A.J. Michaelson, Waterloo, USHL, 6-1, 185
LW Charles Hudon, Chicoutimi, QMJHL, 5-9, 165
D Jesse Graham, Niagara, OHL, 5-11, 165
G Daniel Altshuller, Oshawa, OHL, 6’-3”, 175
C Phil Di Giuseppe, Michigan, NCAA, 6-0, 185
LW Luca Ciampini, Halifax, QMJHL, 6-0, 190
LW Nikolai Prokhorkin, CSKA, MHL, 6-2, 180
D Dillon Fournier, Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL, 6-1, 160
D Brian Cooper, Fargo, USHL, 5-9, 185
C Erik Locke, Barrie, OHL, 5-9, 180
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