Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - We're already 10 years removed from the 2012 NHL Draft, which has been regarded as one of the most forgettable drafts in recent memory.
When the 2012 draft kicked off at the, then, Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, the Edmonton Oilers held the first-overall selection, where they went on to pick Nail Yakupov.
At the time, Yakupov was being considered as a clear-cut pick to go No. 1 to Edmonton in the NHL Draft. However, the Russian-born winger has since been considered one of the biggest busts in league history after fizzling out following six seasons in the league with the Oilers, St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche.
As for the rest of the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft, it featured plenty of other players who never panned out as expected at hockey's top level. This included a number of other names including Ryan Murray (second overall), Griffin Reinhart (fourth overall), Derrick Pouliot (eighth overall), Slater Koekkoekk (10th overall), and Mikhail Grigorenko (12th overall).
While there were plenty of misses in the first round of the 2012 draft class, a number of teams were able to hit on some of their picks that ended up becoming adequate to perennial all-stars in the NHL.
Who were the best-of-the-best from the 2012 NHL Draft? Where would they be selected if teams actually knew their future outlooks at the NHL level?
It's time to have some fun with a re-draft of the 2012 NHL Draft:
30.) Los Angeles Kings
Original selection: Tanner Pearson - LW - Barrie Colts (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Cody Ceci - D - Ottawa 67's (OHL)
While Ceci has widely been known as an analytics disaster over the course of his NHL career, it does say something that he has been able to have the longevity in the league since being drafted as a first-round pick by the Ottawa Senators.
Of all the players selected in the 2012 NHL Draft, Ceci has actually played the fourth-most regular season games at 627, while producing 42 goals and 129 assists for 171 points.
However, this past season saw the 28-year-old put up, arguably, the most productive season of his career with five goals, as well as career-highs in assists (23) and points (28) in his first season with the Oilers.
* - Ceci was originally taken with the 15th overall pick in the first round by the Ottawa Senators.
29.) New Jersey Devils
Original selection: Stefan Matteau - C - U.S. National Team Development Program
Re-draft selection: Brady Skjei - D - U.S. National Team Development Program
Skjei's NHL career with the New York Rangers got off to a great start with a 39-point campaign (5+34) in his first full season with the club. It helped the Lakeville, Minnesota native earn a spot on the NHL's All-Rookie team in the 2016-17 season.
From there, Skjei's career sloped in the wrong direction for a while, which eventually led to a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019-20 season. However, the left-shot defenseman didn't get a full season in Raleigh until this past season, where he returned to form with 39 points (9+30) in a full 82-game schedule.
If Skjei can continue to play at that pace for the Hurricanes in the near future, their investment in the 28-year-old may be worth the while.
* - Skjei was originally taken with the 28th overall pick in the first round by the New York Rangers.
28.) New York Rangers
Original selection: Brady Skjei - D - U.S. National Team Development Program
Re-draft selection: Erik Gustafsson - D - Djurgårdens IF (SEL)
Don't get confused by the other Erik Gustafsson, who also happens to be a Swedish defenseman. The second edition of Erik Gustafsson has been able to have a more productive career at the NHL level.
The offensive defenseman didn't get his NHL career started for a while after being drafted, making his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season with the Chicago Blackhawks after his rights were not retained by the Oilers.
After a couple of seasons bouncing back-and-forth between the NHL and the AHL, Gustafsson finally exploded onto the scene in Chicago with a 60-point season (17+43) from the blue line during the 2018-19 season. However, he came crashing back to Earth the next season with just 29 points (6+23) in 66 combined games with the Blackhawks and Calgary Flames.
After a brief, but disappointing tenure with the Flames, Gustafsson ended up signing with the Philadelphia Flyers, before being traded again to the Montreal Canadiens during the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened season. Most recently, Gustafsson re-signed in Chicago with the Blackhawks and ended up with an 18-point campaign (3+15) in 59 games played.
Despite consistency being an issue, the left-shot defenseman has provided a nice dose of offense and decent advanced stats in his playing time per-season. He recently signed this offseason as a free agent with the Washington Capitals.
* - Gustafsson was originally taken with the 93rd overall pick in the fourth round by the Edmonton Oilers.
27.) Phoenix Coyotes
Original selection: Henrik Samuelsson - D - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Re-draft selection: Chandler Stephenson - C - Regina Pats (WHL)
Stephenson never really became an offensive threat down the middle of the ice until he got the chance to be traded from the Capitals to the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2019-20 season.
After producing a measly 33 points (14+19) in 168 career games in the nation's capital, Stephenson has since scored 43 goals to go along with 78 assists for 121 points in 171 games in "Sin City".
While never really being known for his offensive production, Stephenson was able to produce nicely in Vegas as a top-two center given the team's lack of depth down the middle and injuries. This past season saw the 28-year-old put up, by far, a career year with 64 points (21+43) in 79 games.
With Jack Eichel now in Vegas and some healthy bodies returning down the middle of the ice, expect Stephenson to return to more of a depth player in the lineup as a third or fourth-line center for the Golden Knights.
* - Stephenson was originally taken with the 77th overall pick in the third round by the Washington Capitals.
26.) Vancouver Canucks
Original selection: Brendan Gaunce - C - Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Alex Kerfoot - C - Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
After playing a full four years at Harvard University and captaining the Crimson during his senior season, Kerfoot elected to take the college free agency route and leave the New Jersey Devils hanging.
From there, Kerfoot went on to sign with the Avalanche, where he spent two seasons in Colorado, putting up 85 points (34+51) in 157 games. From there, he was traded to the Maple Leafs as part of the Nazem Kadri deal, where the 27-year-old has grown into a nice depth player in Toronto.
This past season saw Kerfoot put up career-best numbers in Toronto as a middle of the lineup player with 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points.
While not the biggest of bodies at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Kerfoot plays a very solid game, and has the flexibility to play down the middle, or shift over to the wing. Kerfoot is also a very solid two-way presence with the ability to be featured on the power play, and also be relied upon on the penalty kill.
* - Kerfoot was originally taken with the 150th overall pick in the fifth round by the New Jersey Devils.
25.) St. Louis Blues
Original selection: Jordan Schmaltz - D - Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Re-draft selection: Andreas Athanasiou - LW - Barrie Colts (OHL)
Two words best describe Athanasiou's game at the NHL level: Speed and scoring.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound winger can fly down the ice at top speed, while also being able to let go of a lethal wrist shot that has the ability to often beat some of the better goalies in the NHL.
The 27-year-old stormed onto the scene in Detroit with the Red Wings, where he put up 83 goals and 154 points in 294 career games in the "Motor City". Athanasiou's best season came in the 2018-19 season, where he put up a 30-goal season and a career-high 54 points in 76 games.
However, Athanasiou's career has taken a bit of a decline, spending parts of a season in Edmonton with the Oilers, and the past two seasons in Los Angeles with the Kings.
This past year in Los Angeles was another rollercoaster ride, as not only was he in-and-out of the lineup due to injury, but he was also scratched a good amount of time. But in his limited 28 games played, Athanasiou managed to score 11 goals and produce 17 points.
If he can manage to stay healthy and maybe carve out a nice role somewhere for the 2022-23 season, Athanasiou may find a way to get back to form and keep his NHL career going.
* - Athanasiou was originally taken with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round by the Detroit Red Wings.
24.) Boston Bruins
Original selection: Malcolm Subban - G - Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Radek Faksa - C - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
While Faksa may not be all that he was expected to be with the 13th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars, the Czechia native has managed to become a very solid bottom-six, defensive forward in the NHL.
It took Faksa a few seasons to finally carve out his role in the NHL, but the 28-year-old has managed to stick with it in Dallas for parts of seven seasons, producing 161 points (71+90) in 483 career games.
Faksa still has three years remaining on his current contract with the Stars, and the Dallas organization is hoping he can return to form a bit after a mediocre 19-point season (5+14) in 77 games during the 2021-22 season.
* - Faksa was originally taken with the 13th overall pick in the first round by the Dallas Stars.
23.) Florida Panthers
Original selection: Mike Matheson - D - Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Re-draft selection: Chris Tierney - C - London Knights (OHL)
Tierney has carved out a nice role for himself as a solid depth player in the NHL.
After a successful junior career in the OHL with the Knights, Tierney made the jump to professional hockey, where he managed to get some quality time in the NHL with the Sharks during his first season. Over four seasons in San Jose, Tierney turned into a pretty nice depth asset, producing a 40-point season (17+23) in 82 games during the 2017-18 season.
Following that, Tierney ended up being a piece in the Erik Karlsson trade that saw the two-way forward to the Senators and the offensive defenseman going back to San Jose.
Tierney's first season couldn't have gone any better for him or the Senators, as he managed to produce a career-high 48 points (9+39) in 81 games. After a 37-point campaign during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, his production has dipped a bit since then, with just 37 points over the last two years. This includes a mediocre 18 points (6+12) in 70 games this past season.
It's yet to be seen if Tierney can bounce back from a couple of down years. He signed a free agent contract with the Panthers this offseason, so we'll see if he can land a spot on Florida's 23-man roster.
* - Tierney was originally taken with the 55th overall pick in the second round by the San Jose Sharks.
22.) Pittsburgh Penguins
Original selection: Olli Maatta - D - London Knights (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Josh Anderson - RW - London Knights (OHL)
Anderson's path to the NHL was an interesting one, as he ended up developing into a prototypical power forward with a scoring touch during his time with the Blue Jackets organization.
Despite not making the full-time NHL roster until his third full season in Columbus, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound winger was finally able to win a roster spot in the 2016-17 season and appeared in 78 games, scoring 17 goals and 39 points. Anderson then became a bit of a fan-favorite with the Blue Jackets, scoring 65 goals and registering 115 points in 267 games with the team.
Following an injury-riddled 2019-20 season, the Blue Jackets traded Anderson to the Montreal Canadiens and went on to sign a massive seven-year contract extension with the team worth $38.5 million.
So far in two seasons in Montreal, Anderson has managed to continue his power forward style of play, while putting up 36 goals and 56 points in 121 games.
In his first season with the Canadiens, Anderson helped Montreal make a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final with five goals and an assists in 22 games. This included a pair of overtime-winning goals in the Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, as well as the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Canadiens fans will be hoping Anderson can continue to stay healthy and play his style of game, while also being part of the rebuild in Montreal going forward after a last place 2021-22 season.
* - Anderson was originally taken with the 95th overall pick in the fourth round by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
21.) Calgary Flames
Original selection: Mark Jankowski - C - Stanstead College (CAHS)
Re-draft selection: Scott Laughton - C - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
After getting a taste of NHL action following the 2012 NHL Draft, Laughton didn't make the NHL roster on a full-time basis until the 2015-16 season, but then lost a roster spot in Philadelphia until getting back to the Flyers in the 2017-18 season.
Over parts of nine seasons with the Flyers, Laughton has scored 64 goals and registered 156 points in 441 games. While his role has been more of a middle of the lineup player in Philadelphia - his best season coming during the 2018-19 season - Laughton is a player with the capability to jump up the lineup when needed and contribute without missing a beat.
This past season saw Laughton needed to be called upon due to injuries, and he managed to produce well with 30 points (11+19) in 67 games.
* - Laughton was originally taken with the 20th overall pick in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers.
20.) Philadelphia Flyers
Original selection: Scott Laughton - C - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Esa Lindell - D - Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-Liiga)
While Lindell is, by no means, a flashy player from the blue line, he certainly is a calm, cool and collected player for the Dallas Stars.
The Finnish defenseman took some time to make it to the NHL, but finally managed to crack a full-time roster spot during the 2016-17 season. In his seven seasons with the Stars, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound blue-liner has been a decent two-way presence with 36 goals and 141 points in 440 games.
However, Lindell has really become a reliable force in the defensive zone over the past few seasons, getting a majority of his zone starts in his own end of the ice and defending the ice quite well.
Lindell may not be looked at as the offensive weapon he could've been at one point of his career, but he managed to transition well into his new role with the Stars.
* - Lindell was originally taken with the 74th overall pick in the third round by the Dallas Stars.
19.) Tampa Bay Lightning
Original selection: Andrei Vasilevskiy - G - Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
Re-draft selection: Connor Brown - RW - Erie Otters (OHL)
Following a stellar career in the OHL with the Otters, Brown was able to explode on the scene in his first professional season with the Maple Leafs organization with 61 points (21+40) in 76 games with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.
After getting a small taste of the NHL with the Maple Leafs during his second professional season and scoring a goal and registering five assists for six points in seven games, Brown was able to make the NHL roster on a full-time basis starting with the 2016-17 season. In three full seasons with the Maple Leafs, Brown never missed a single game, while racking up 93 points (42+51) in 246 games.
Following his success in Toronto, Brown was traded to the Senators just before the 2018-19 season, where he has become more of an integral piece to the future in Ottawa. In 191 games with the Senators, Brown has managed an impressive 117 points (47+70) despite having his consecutive games played streak end this season.
Brown was recently acquired by the Capitals in a trade to provide Washington some additional depth on the wing with injuries likely having an early toll on their 2022-23 season. He has one year remaining on his contract before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent.
* - Brown was originally taken with the 156th overall pick in the sixth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
18.) Chicago Blackhawks
Original selection: Teuvo Teravainen - RW - Jokerit (SM-Liiga)
Re-draft selection: Damon Severson - D - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Following an impressive junior career in the Western Hockey League with the Rockets, Severson made an immediate impact at the NHL with the Devils as an offensive defenseman.
While never being the most reliable player in the defensive zone - registering a class-worst minus-129 rating - Severson has produced quite well from the blue line over the years in New Jersey. In 566 games played with the Devils, the 27-year-old has netted 51 goals and tallied 179 assists for 230 points.
This past season actually saw Severson put up his best season to date with a career-best 46 points (11+35) in 80 games in New Jersey, while averaging 23:36 of ice-time.
While the Devils have not been all too successful over the years, Severson might be a nice asset for New Jersey to either build around on the blue line, or even move at the trade deadline with him entering the final year of his contract this upcoming season.
* - Severson was originally taken with the 60th overall pick in the second round by the New Jersey Devils.
17.) San Jose Sharks
Original selection: Tomas Hertl - C - Slavia Prague (ELH)
Re-draft selection: Shayne Gostisbehere - D - Union College (NCAA)
While Gostisbehere's career has had its ups and downs, there's no denying that, at one point, "Ghost Bear" was one of the better offensive defensemen in the NHL.
After a successful three-year career at the collegiate level with Union College, including a NCAA title in 2014 that saw him win tournament MVP, Gostisbehere signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers. However, his true impact wasn't felt until the 2015-16 season after missing most of the 2014-15 season with a knee injury.
During his rookie season, Gostisbehere managed to produce 46 points (17+29) in just 64 games, earning himself a spot on the NHL's All-Rookie Team and a second place finish in voting for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.
Over the course of his first four NHL seasons, Gostisbehere lit up the NHL with 46 goals and 141 assists for 187 points in 296 games with the Flyers. While his defensive numbers weren't all too attractive, he was not relied upon to be that type of player.
However, Gostisbehere's final two seasons in Philadelphia saw him have a huge fallout, producing only 32 points (14+18) in 83 games during the two pandemic-shortened seasons. While it may not look that bad on paper, the downfall of the Flyers and his salary cap hit made him a whipping boy in the "City of Brotherly Love".
Just before this past season, the Flyers dumped Gostisbehere in a salary cap move, trading him to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for... nothing.
In an increased role with the Coyotes in Year 1 in the desert, Gostisbehere performed well with 14 goals and 37 assists for 51 points in a full 82 games. The 29-year-old has one more year left on his current deal, and could be another piece the Coyotes can flip before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline to acquire future assets.
* - Gostisbehere was originally taken with the 78th overall pick in the third round by the Philadelphia Flyers.
16.) Washington Capitals
Original selection: Tom Wilson - RW - Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Matt Murray - G - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Although the fallout of Murray's career has been pretty stark over the last few years, it's so hard to ignore the fact he helped carry the Penguins to two-straight Stanley Cup titles by the time he wrapped up his rookie season following the 2016-17 season.
Murray jumped into the Penguins' crease for 13 games during the 2015-16 season, and ended up grabbing hold of the reins during the playoffs, where he performed well with a 15-6 record, a 2.08 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and one shutout. That resulted in a Stanley Cup win over the Sharks in six games.
The next season saw Murray continue his excellence while splitting time in net with Marc-Andre Fleury, posting a 32-10-4 record in 49 games played with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and four shutouts. Once again, Murray won the net during the playoffs, especially later in the postseason when he posted a 7-3 record in 11 games played with a 1.70 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage and three shutouts. That resulted in a Stanley Cup win over the Nashville Predators in six games.
With Murray's success, that put Pittsburgh in a bind with the 2017 Expansion Draft coming up for the Vegas Golden Knights. In the end, they chose Murray over Fleury, and their veteran netminder was off to "Sin City".
In the three seasons that followed with the Penguins, Murray's time in goal was very much so-so, posting a 76-41-14 record in 137 games played with a 2.82 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and six shutouts.
As he was set to become a restricted free agent following the 2019-20 season, the Penguins traded Murray to the Senators, where he then signed a four-year contract worth $25 million in Ottawa.
That contract quickly became an albatross for the Senators, as the two-time Stanley Cup winner's first season in Ottawa resulted in a 10-13-1 record in 27 games played with an ugly 3.38 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage.
While his first season with the Senators was in the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened season, Murray's first full season this past year did not go too well either. Not only did Murray go winless in his first six games during the campaign, he was then placed on waivers in late November, and eventually demoted to the Senators' AHL affiliate in Belleville.
Although Murray only played two games in the AHL with Belleville, his final stats for the 2021-22 season in Ottawa reads a 5-12-2 record with a 3.05 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Luckily for Ottawa, the team was able to dump Murray's contract off to the Maple Leafs this offseason to provide some additional salary cap relief.
Can Murray bounce back and win the starting job in Toronto over fellow newcomer Ilya Samsonov? It's tough to tell, but there's no denying that Murray has excelled in the past with two Stanley Cups to his name.
* - Murray was originally taken with the 83rd overall pick in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
15.) Ottawa Senators
Original selection: Cody Ceci - D - Ottawa 67's (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Alex Galchenyuk - C - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
It has been a stark rise and fall of Galchenyuk since entering the NHL right out of the 2012 NHL Draft.
Galchenyuk immediately jumped into the Canadiens lineup, where he posted nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in all 48 games of the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season.
From there, Galchenyuk showed flashes of brilliance with 228 points (99+129) in 370 games with Montreal. This included a career-best 56-point campaign during the 2015-16 season, where he managed to reach the 30-goal mark. The American was being considered, by some, to be the next great players in Canadiens franchise history.
However, the love in Montreal did not last, as the Canadiens ended up trading Galchenyuk to the Coyotes during the 2018 offseason. In his one season in the desert, Galchenyuk performed alright with 41 points (19+22) in 72 games.
Over the next two seasons, Galchenyuk never seemed to get his grasp anywhere, as he ended up with four different teams, combining for 37 points (13+24) in 93 games played with the Penguins, Wild, Senators and Maple Leafs.
This past season saw the 28-year-old making a return to Arizona, where he produced just six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 60 games as a depth forward.
While his future in the NHL is currently unknown, his 354 points ranks fifth in the 2012 draft class, while his 643 games ranks third in the class.
* - Galchenyuk was originally taken with the third overall pick in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens.
14.) Buffalo Sabres
Original selection: Zemgus Girgensons - C - Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Re-draft selection: Colton Parayko - D - Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)
Parayko's path to the NHL has been a unique one, but he has managed to develop nicely into a solid two-way defenseman with the Blues over the years.
Following a three-year collegiate career spent at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound blue liner made the jump to the professional level, where he managed to earn a roster spot in St. Louis during his first full year of pro hockey.
In seven seasons with the Blues thus far, the right-shot defenseman has dressed for 498 games, potting 47 goals and 159 assists for 206 points from the blue line. While his impact has been felt more in the defensive end of the ice over time, the 29-year-old has been able to provide a nice offensive presence when called upon.
Last September, Parayko inked a long-term contract extension with the Blues, keeping him in St. Louis for the next eight seasons. As long as his production continues to remain consistent and injuries do not creep up on him, the Blues can continue to look to Parayko as a reliable piece to their back end for years to come.
* - Parayko was originally taken with the 86th overall pick in the third round by the St. Louis Blues.
13.) Dallas Stars
Original selection: Radek Faksa - C - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Hampus Lindholm - D - Rogle BK (Allsvenskan)
While injuries have always been a concern with Lindholm's career, the Swedish defenseman has provided some nice puck-moving abilities from the back end, mostly with the Ducks.
After two seasons spent further developing his game in the Swedish Hockey League and the American Hockey League, Lindholm earned a roster spot with the Ducks for the 2013-14 season as a 21-year-old on a team in their prime.
Lindholm's first two seasons in the NHL were, arguably, his most productive ones with 64 points (13+51) in 164 games, including a career-best 34 points (7+27) in 78 games during his sophomore season. As a rookie, Lindholm also finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting and was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team.
In parts of nine seasons spent in Anaheim, the left-shot defenseman produced 221 points (57+164) in 581 games before being traded at the NHL Trade Deadline in 2022 to the Bruins, where he only appeared in 10 games, registering five assists.
After a relatively successful nine seasons in Anaheim, the 28-year-old is now gearing up to spend the next several years in Boston. Shortly after his trade to the Bruins, Lindholm went on to ink an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6.5 million.
As long as Lindholm can stay healthy in the years to come, this deal may be of nice value for the Bruins going forward.
* - Lindholm was originally taken with the sixth overall pick in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks.
12.) Buffalo Sabres
Original selection: Mikhail Grigorenko - C - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Re-draft selection: Mathew Dumba - D - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Although not appearing to be much of a force on the blue line at just 6-foot and 182 pounds, Dumba has been a very solid two-way contributor for the Wild in parts of nine seasons in the NHL.
The right-shot defenseman got his first taste of the NHL with 13 games played during the 2013-14 season, where he a goal and an assist. After spending most of the 2014-15 season in Minnesota with some action in the AHL, the Regina, Saskatchewan native earned a full-time NHL spot for the 2015-16 season.
Following a combined 78 points (30+48) in 228 games with Minnesota in his first four seasons, Dumba went off during the 2017-18 campaign with a career-high 50 points (14+36) in 82 games that year. It helped him earn a nice five-year contract extension from the Wild that paid him an average of $6 million per-year.
However, in the years that followed, Dumba's style of play as a rugged two-way presence has taken its toll a bit, while the production that was there in the 2017-18 season has tapered off. In a total of 209 games since 2018, the 27-year-old has racked up 31 goals and 63 assists for 94 points.
Dumba's future in Minnesota will likely be a focal point this upcoming season, as he enters the final year of his current contract in the prime years of his NHL career.
* - Dumba was originally taken with the seventh overall pick in the first round by the Minnesota Wild.
11.) Washington Capitals
Original selection: Filip Forsberg - RW - Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
Re-draft selection: Jacob Trouba - D - U.S. National Team Development Program
Trouba is just another rugged two-way defenseman from this draft class that has thrived pretty well over the course of his nine-year NHL career.
After one solid season of collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan, Trouba made the jump to the pros and signed his entry-level contract with the Jets. As a rookie, the right-shot defenseman put up an impressive 29 points (10+19) in 65 games on the Winnipeg blue line.
In 408 games spent with the Jets, Trouba developed into a pretty consistent and reliable presence on the blue line with 42 goals and 137 assists for 179 points. This included a career year during the 2018-19 season, where he racked up 50 points (8+42) in 82 games played.
That 50-point campaign would be his last in Winnipeg, as the Rangers went on to pay a premium for the 6-foot-3, 209-pound defender, giving up young defenseman Neal Pionk and a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. In addition, New York rewarded Trouba with a new seven-year contract that pays him $8 million a year.
Since heading to the "Big Apple", Trouba has continued to produce well with 78 points (20+58) in 189 games. This past season saw the 28-year-old score a career-high 11 goals and register 28 assists for 39 points in 81 games.
Trouba is expected to continue to be a solid top-four presence on the Rangers' blue line over the coming years. Nothing has yet to show any sort of slow down in the right-hander's play.
* - Trouba was originally taken with the ninth overall pick in the first round by the Winnipeg Jets.
10.) Tampa Bay Lightning
Original selection: Slater Koekkoekk - D - Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Tanner Pearson - LW - Barrie Colts
Pearson has done well for himself in the NHL after being the final pick of the first round in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Drafted as an overage player, Pearson was able to make the immediate jump to professional hockey, where he spent his 2013-14 season primarily in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs, posting 47 points (19+28) in 64 games.
After spending a majority of the 2013-14 season with the Monarchs again, Pearson managed to become a key depth offensive contributor in the Kings' Stanley Cup run in 2014, potting four goals and registering eight assists for 12 points in 24 playoff games.
That playoff performance helped Pearson earn him a full-time spot in Los Angeles going forward, as he spent parts of the next five seasons in the NHL with the Kings. Over his 325-game career with the Kings, Pearson managed to score 69 goals and amass 75 assists for 144 points.
As the Kings started their downward trend in the standings, they sold off Pearson in a trade with the Penguins for forward Carl Hagelin during the 2018-19 season. However, Pearson's stint in Pittsburgh didn't last long at all after just 14 points (9+5) in 44 games.
Pearson was then traded again during that season to the Canucks in exchange to defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and finally managed to catch on in Vancouver. In just 19 games with the Canucks that year, he managed to net as many goals as he did with Pittsburgh.
In parts of four seasons with the Canucks, the 29-year-old has managed to find his offensive consistency again with 109 points (54+55) in 207 games played. This included a career year during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, where he registered 45 points (21+24) in 69 games.
* - Pearson was originally taken with the 30th overall pick in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings.
9.) Winnipeg Jets
Original selection: Jacob Trouba - D - U.S. National Team Development Program
Re-draft selection: Jaccob Slavin - D - Chicago Steel (USHL)
Like some other players on this list, it was a unique path to the NHL for Slavin, who has become one of the most reliable and disciplined two-way defensemen in the league.
After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Slavin returned to the USHL and the Chicago Steel before then making the jump to college hockey, where he played two seasons with Colorado College.
The 6-foot-3, 207-pound left-shot defenseman then successfully made the jump to the professional level for the 2015-16 season, as he managed to appear in 63 games with the Hurricanes. The next season, Slavin became a full-time NHL player, where he has been the definition of consistency from the blue line.
Over the course of seven NHL seasons, Slavin has racked up 208 points (36+172) in 508 career games - all with the Hurricanes - while also taking just 70 minutes worth of penalties, and becoming the first defenseman to win the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player combined with a high standard of playing ability since Brian Campbell in 2012.
This past season was Slavin's best campaign to date, where the 28-year-old only scored four goals from the back end, but registered career-highs in assists (38) and points (42).
* - Slavin was originally taken with the 120th overall pick in the fourth round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
8.) Pittsburgh Penguins
Original selection: Derrick Pouliot - D - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Re-draft selection: Connor Hellebuyck - G - Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)
Hellebuyck has, arguably, been one of the best goaltenders in the NHL over the last 4-5 seasons with the Jets.
After a successful two-year stint in college hockey with UMass-Lowell, Hellebuyck made the jump to pros and spent his first season in the AHL with the St. John's IceCaps, where he played 58 games with a 28-22-6 record with an impressive 2.58 goals-against average an a .921 save percentage. Following another season split between the minors and NHL, Hellebuyck finally earned the full-time starting job at the start of the 2016-17 season.
In his six seasons as the full-time starter of the Jets, Hellebuyck has started 346 games for Winnipeg with a 188-118-34 record, a 2.71 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and 26 shutouts. Over that time, Hellebuyck has been named a Second-Team All-Star in 2018 and a First-Team All-Star in 2020.
During his 2019-20 pandemic-shortened season, Hellebuyck was dominant, at times, registering a 31-21-5 record in 58 games played with a 2.57 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and a league-best six shutouts. That helped the American-born goalie earn the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's Goaltender of the Year.
Hellebuyck has been very busy over the last four seasons in goal for Winnipeg, as the 29-year-old has led the league in each of those years with the most shots faced and the most saves in goal. If the Jets expect to keep Hellebuyck on top of his game over the course of the next couple seasons he remains under contract, Winnipeg will have to shore things up defensively.
* - Hellebuyck was originally taken with the 130th overall pick in the fifth round by the Winnipeg Jets.
7.) Minnesota Wild
Original selection: Mathew Dumba - D - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Re-draft selection: Frederik Andersen - G - Frölunda HC (SEL)
2012 was not Andersen's first go-around with the NHL Draft, as he was selected in the 2010 NHL Draft with the 187th overall pick in the seventh round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
After going in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Andersen ended up making the immediate jump to North America, where he spent his first season in the AHL before getting some NHL action for the 2013-14 season with the Ducks. His impressive rookie numbers that saw him win the starting job, as the season went on, earned the Danish-born goalie a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Over the next two seasons as the Ducks' No. 1 goalie, Andersen impressed with a 57-21-12 record in 97 games played, a 2.34 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. This included leading the Ducks to an appearance in the Western Conference Final in 2015, as well as a Williams Jennings Trophy in 2016.
However, with up-and-coming youngster John Gibson ready to take the reins as the starting goalie in Anaheim, that made Andersen a hot commodity in the offseason. The Maple Leafs ended up benefiting from that situation, giving up a 2016 first-round pick and 2017 second-round pick in order to get him.
Over the next five seasons with the Maple Leafs, Andersen continued to succeed as their No. 1 option, posting a 149-74-36 record with a 2.79 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage and 13 shutouts. However, by the end of his tenure, injuries started to become an issue, and the fact that he couldn't help the Maple Leafs get over that first round playoff hump was another.
As a free agent in the summer of 2021, Andersen decided to take his talents to Raleigh, North Carolina and join the Hurricanes, the team that originally drafted him in 2010. While his numbers were impressive as the No. 1 netminder in Carolina, Andersen, once again, failed to stay healthy, which cost him a run during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
We'll see how Andersen can rebound as enters a contract year with the Hurricanes.
* - Andersen was originally taken with the 87th overall pick in the third round by the Anaheim Ducks.
6.) Anaheim Ducks
Original selection: Hampus Lindholm - D - Rogle BK (Allsvenskan)
Re-draft selection: Tom Wilson - RW - Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Although Wilson is one of the most-hated players across the NHL, he's definitely emerged as one of the better players to come from the 2012 draft class.
While some may make the argument that Wilson has only been the benefactor of playing with talents like Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, the 28-year-old has proven time-and-time again that he can hold his own playing the role he does in Washington.
After playing one more season at the junior level with the Plymouth Whalers - now Flint Firebirds - Wilson ended up appearing in a trio of playoff games with both the Capitals and the Hershey Bears at the AHL level.
From there, Wilson has spent the majority of the next nine seasons with the Capitals, playing 647 games and scoring 115 goals and 158 assists for 273 points. On top of being capable of being a top-six contributor on the wing, he's able to be a physical force to protect some of the top players on the roster, accruing 12,221 penalty minutes.
During the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Wilson a key piece to Washington's Stanley Cup run, as he netted five goals and added 10 assists for 15 points in 21 games.
However, his style of play may finally be starting to take a toll, as he ended up tearing his ACL late this past season, where he will likely miss some time during the 2022-23 campaign.
* - Wilson was originally taken with the 16th overall pick in the first round by the Washington Capitals.
5.) Toronto Maple Leafs
Original selection: Morgan Rielly - D - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Re-draft selection: Teuvo Teravainen - RW - Jokerit (SM-Liiga)
Teravainen was drafted as one of the youngest players in the 2012 NHL Draft class, and his upside was huge when his name was called to the stage by the Blackhawks.
After a couple of seasons becoming a dynamic offensive playmaker back in his home country of Finland, Teravainen made the jump to North America, where he ended up winning a Stanley Cup in 2015 with Chicago, where he played 18 games and put up 10 points (4+6) as a rookie.
After one full season with the Blackhawks in the 2015-16 season, Chicago shipped Teravainen to the Hurricanes along with Bryon Bickell as a salary cap dump. While the Hurricanes were taking on an ugly contract in Bickell, they'd be getting a nice gem in Teravainen.
In his six seasons in Carolina, Teravainen has become a top-six asset in their core, scoring 101 goals and registering 224 assists for 325 points in 411 games. In 48 playoff games with the Hurricanes, Teravainen has contributed well with 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points.
Teravainen is expected to still be a top contributor with the Hurricanes for the next couple of seasons, as he hopes to help Carolina finally get over the hump in the postseason.
* - Teravainen was originally taken with the 18th overall pick in the first round by the Chicago Blackhawks.
4.) New York Islanders
Original selection: Griffin Reinhart - D - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Re-draft selection: Tomas Hertl - C - Slavia Prague (ELH)
Hertl might have had one of the most electrifying opening eight games of a career in NHL history. The Czech-born forward managed seven goals and 10 points over that span, which included a four-goal outing against the Rangers in just his third NHL game.
Over the course of his nine NHL seasons with the Sharks, Hertl developed into a key leader in San Jose, amassing 387 points (181+206) in 585 games. During his best season during the 2018-19 season, Hertl managed to net 35 goals and register 74 points in 79 games. In the playoffs, Hertl continued his success with 10 goals and 15 points in 19 games, as the Sharks made a run to the Western Conference Final.
This season for Hertl was one highlighted by the potential of him being traded before the NHL Trade Deadline with the Sharks being a rebuilding team. However, he ended up getting locked up to a nice eight-year contract extension worth $65.1 million. This after the 28-year-old managed to put up another 30-goal season while also remaining healthy to play a full 82 games.
* - Hertl was originally taken with the 17th overall pick in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.
3.) Montreal Canadiens
Original selection: Alex Galchenyuk - C - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Morgan Rielly - D - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Despite a plethora of bad decisions made by the Maple Leafs over the last several years, they got this one right.
After another season spent in the Western Hockey League with the Warriors, Rielly was able to make the immediate jump to the NHL for the 2013-14 season, where he managed a respectable 27 points (2+25) in 73 games.
Over the course of his 654-game career - most among players in the 2012 draft class - Rielly has managed to notch 69 goals and add 304 assists for 373 points. This included a steller 72-point campaign (20+52) during the 2018-19 season.
This past season saw Rielly put up some nice production once again, as he scored 10 goals and added 58 assists for 60 points in 82 games. Despite Rielly doing all he could in the playoffs with six points (3+3) in seven games, it still wasn't enough to help the Maple Leafs surpass the first round.
Rielly will continue to serve as the No. 1 defenseman in Toronto for years to come after he was signed to a hefty eight-year contract extension this past season worth $60 million.
* - Rielly was originally taken with the fifth overall pick in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2.) Columbus Blue Jackets
Original selection: Ryan Murray - D - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Re-draft selection: Filip Forsberg - RW - Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
Forsberg is, by far, the highest scoring player from the 2012 NHL Draft class, leading the next highest player (Hertl) by 82 points.
After falling to the Capitals with the 11th pick, Washington then decided to use Forsberg as the center piece of, arguably, one of the worst trades in NHL history. That was the trade that sent Forsberg to the Predators for Martin Erat and Michael Latta.
While the Capitals missed out on Forsberg's talents, Nashville has taken his acquisition in stride, seeing the 27-year-old become a staple of the franchise.
Over parts of 10 seasons with the Predators, Forsberg has managed to amass 220 goals and 249 assists for 469 points in 566 games. This also includes 53 points (29+24) in 75 playoff games, where Forsberg helped Nashville reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
This past season was a massive contract year for Forsberg, where he was set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. The Swedish-born winger managed to explode with a career year, producing 42 goals and 42 assists for 84 points in just 69 games.
The massive jump in production for Forsberg managed to net him a massive eight-year contract extension with the Predators that will pay him an average annual value of $8.5 million.
* - Forsberg was originally taken with the 11th overall pick in the first round by the Washington Capitals.
1.) Edmonton Oilers
Original selection: Nail Yakupov - RW - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Re-draft selection: Andrei Vasilevskiy - G - Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
Was there any doubt with this decision?
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2021, a 2019 Vezina Trophy winner and a two-time First-Team All-Star, Vasilevskiy has, arguably, been the best goalie in the NHL since earning the No. 1 job in Tampa Bay during the 2016-17 season.
Over the course of his eight seasons with the Lightning, Vasilevskiy has amassed a 229-101-24 record in 365 games played with a 2.50 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and 28 shutouts.
Over the last five-year span, the 28-year-old has posted a very impressive 188-69-16 record with a 2.47 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and 24 shutouts. This resulted in five-straight years of being in the top-five for Vezina Trophy voting.
In 104 career playoff games, that's where Vasilevskiy has really stood out, putting together a 63-38 record in 104 games played, while accruing a 2.30 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and seven shutouts.
The Russian-born netminder will likely continue to lead the Lightning for years to come, as Tampa Bay is a well-built organization from top-to-bottom that is expected to continue to compete for Stanley Cups.
* - Vasilevskiy was originally taken with the 19th overall pick in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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