The 2012 Draft will be remembered as one of the weakest classes since the turn of the century.. but what did pundits and top scouts think at the time? Scroll to find out!

40 comments

  3. Nice McDavid cameo on the last page.

    I remember Brian Burke doing that GM thing where he was all Rielly was the best player on their board. Leafs were on to something looking back on that since he maintains being a Top 5 pick which is more than can be said for the other Top 5 picks.

  4. I genuinely believed Yakupov was going to be Ovechkin-lite for Edmonton. Just as the article says, a lot of us really thought *”Nail can’t fail”*. The hype for his skillset was insane. Welp…

  5. “All-around offensive terror” not a bad description for prospect MacKinnon in the sneak peek for 2013.

  7. The Caps drafted like 1/3 of the forwards who ended up as top 6 forwards from this draft.

    Which, while 3 is a super impressive number, shows what a bad draft this was.

  8. Coincidentally, Yakupov also just signed a new contract with Red Star Kunlun today, so there’s your answer to the inevitable “I wonder what Yak is doing nowadays?” questions.

  11. Okay. Outside of Nail. This has gotta be one of the best draft classes of all time in terms of guys who have actually made the league, stayed in the league, and have performed at a good level, no?

  13. Outside of Vasy and Forsberg this draft class feels kind of meh in general. Love the preview of the next years draft. Some excellent names in that one.

    Also love the McJesus Foreshadowing. That’s the true “destined one” right there.

  17. I mean, I know they scored a couple President’s trophies and a Cup after that, and with Forsberg they probably never get Oshie, but seriously Caps how do you draft someone that promising and then less than a year later flip them for essentially nothing? What the hell??

  18. I’m calling it right now: Nail Yakupov is gonna be the next Sidney Crosby just you wait.

  20. Thomas Wilson – “Subtlety is not the first thing that comes to mind when discussing Wilson’s game.”

    That’s a fair assessment.

  21. Slavin at 120 and Hellebuyck at 130 are probably the steals of the class. I never realized that FIFTEEN of the second round picks never even played a single NHL game – that’s baffling.

  22. Never understood the hype for Grigorenko, saw him play a few times in the Q and he didn’t stand out enough to warrant such a high spot.

  23. Why was the second round actually loaded early on. Same with late first round. I dont mean game breaking players, just legit NHL guys.

  26. Why were people so high on Gaunce? Looking at him today, he’s an adequate tweener and I kind of expect him to end up at 1C for the Wild this season after everyone else gets hurt (his role with CBJ in the past two seasons) but he’s not first round good.

  30. That fucking article convinced me to Trade James Neal to secure first overall in my keeper league

  33. Lindholm being ranked #15 compared to how the rest of the draft class turned out is always funny to think about.

  35. Amazing they mentioned matt Murray (61st) replacing Jack campbell and over a decade later he (somewhat) did that in the NHL

  36. What about Jankowski, who Feaster said would be the best center in the draft??

    What a weird draft class. Only Lindholm and Reilly would be redrafted in the top ten.

    I shudder to think of the oilers drafting Vasy with the first overall pick…

  39. TIL that the guy projected number 78 has had a more productive career than the top guy that year.

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