The contenders around him may continue to shuffle throughout the season, but there’s little disputing who the champion of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft continues to be.
Nail Yakupov continues to be the consensus top pick for 2012, earning a first-place slotting in Future Considerations’ 2012 ranking for March. Yakupov has held the spot since last offseason despite some serious challengers.
And while Yakupov continues to hold down the top spot, positions below him continue to shuffle.
Everett Silvertips Ryan Murray regains his No. 2 position after temporarily losing it to Mikhail Grigorenko, who falls to fourth.
Both Alex Galchenyuk and Morgan Rielly, a pair of shelved players, actually climbed in the ranking. Galchenyuk, who has floated around fifth all season long despite undergoing knee surgery in November, now finds himself third behind Murray and Yakupov. Rielly, considered a top-10 talent all year, now finds himself sixth.
Galchenyuk is actually a candidate to return to the ice later this month after it was thought the Sarnia Sting standout might be lost for the year.
While Swedish forward Filip Forsberg rounds out the top-5, it is Finnish winger Teuvo Teravainen that is making the most noise in Europe.
Teravainen is the month’s biggest riser after an impressive performance at the Under-18 Five Nations tournament. The talented Finn showcased his magnetic puck skills, quick shot release as well as his elite vision and playmaking skills as the events most dangerous forward.
Rank / Pos. / Name / Team / League / Ht / Wt /
1). RW Nail Yakupov, Sarnia, OHL, 5-10.5, 189
2). D Ryan Murray, Everett, WHL, 6-0.5, 200
3). C Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia, OHL, 6-1, 185
4). C Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec, QMJHL, 6-3, 200
5). LW Filip Forsberg, Leksand, Swe., 6-2, 180
6). D Morgan Rielly, Moose Jaw, WHL, 5-11.5, 190
7). D Matt Dumba, Red Deer, WHL, 5-11.5, 180
8). D Jacob Trouba, USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-2, 195
9). D Cody Ceci, Ottawa, OHL, 6-2.5, 210
10). D Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton, WHL, 6-4, 205
11). RW Sebastian Collberg, Frolunda Jr., Swe Jr., 5-11, 175
12). C Radek Faksa, Kitchener, OHL, 6-3, 200
13). C Brendan Gaunce, Belleville, OHL, 6-2, 215
14). D Derrick Pouliot, Portland, WHL, 5-11, 185
15). RW Teuvo Teravainen, Jokerit Jr., Fin Jr., 5-11, 165
16). D Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough, OHL, 6-2, 185
17). D Matt Finn, Guelph, OHL, 6-0, 195
18). LW Pontus Aberg, Djurgarden, SEL., 5-11, 195
19). D Ludvig Bystrom, Modo Jr., Swe Jr., 6-1, 205
20). D Dalton Thrower, Saskatoon, WHL, 5-11.5, 190
21). G Andrei Vasilevski, Ufa, MHL, 6’-3.5”, 205
22). D Olli Maatta, London, OHL, 6-1.5, 190
23). C Zemgus Girgensons, Dubuque, USHL, 6-1.5, 200
24). LW Nicolas Kerdiles, USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-1.5, 200
25). C Tomas Hertl, Slavia Praha, Czech Rep, 6-2, 195
26). RW Daniil Zharkov, Belleville, OHL, 6-3, 195
27). LW Stefan Matteau, USNTDP U18, USHL, 6-1.5, 210
28). G Oscar Dansk, Brynas Jr., Swe Jr., 6-2.5, 185
29). RW Colton Sissons, Kelowna, WHL, 6-1, 190
30). RW Tom Wilson, Plymouth, OHL, 6-4, 205