Despite how often people try to evaluate a draft class as players are selected,
 it can take years for new draftees to grow into their roles with the teams
that selected them. As time rolls on, you can begin to see who struck gold
with their first-round selections, and who would love to take a mulligan on
their pick.

With the 2012 NHL Draft now a distant memory, it is a good time to look back at
 the first 10 players selected in order to see who developed into their
projected talent, and who ended up as a draft day bust. The 2012 NHL Entry
Draft was held June 22 & 23 at the Consol Energy Center (now PPG Paints Arena)
 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.#1. Nail Yakupov - Edmonton OilersDespite being
the first overall pick in 2012, Nail Yakupov failed to reach his potential in
the NHL. (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

Of the four first overall picks made by the Edmonton Oilers over the last
decade, Nail Yakupov was the most disappointing player for the team. While he
had top-end scoring talent, he lacked the hockey IQ and intangibles necessary
to make the step from juniors to the NHL.

Yakupov';s rookie season was his best year in Edmonton, as he scored 17 goals
and 31 points in a lockout-shortened campaign. After that year, though, his
career largely stalled, only managing to break 30 points once more with the
Oilers. In 2016, after playing four seasons in Edmonton, he was traded to the
St. Louis Blues for a conditional third-round pick and prospect Zach Porchiro.
He would spend one year with the Blues before signing with the
Colorado Avalanche in 2017, where he put up nine goals and 16 points as a
depth winger for the team.

At all points in his NHL career, Yakupov failed to meet the expectations of a
first-overall pick. Even as a depth winger, he was unable to find that scoring
magic that made him the top-prospect within his draft class. After this
disappointing NHL career, he is set to return to the KHL when he signed a
one-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg in July 2018. Perhaps he will be a
late bloomer and find his game in KHL, but for now, he is one of the biggest
draft busts of the last decade.#2. Ryan Murray - Columbus Blue JacketsWhile
injuries have limited Ryan Murray';s career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he
has played meaningful games in the 2017-18 postseason. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey
Writers)

When the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Ryan Murray second overall, they did so
with the expectations that they had found the top defensive prospect in a draft
 loaded with high-end defensive talent. While it is difficult to judge
defensemen due to how long it can take for them to develop a complete game,
it looks likely that Murray will never become the top-pairing defender the Blue
 Jackets hoped he could.

This isn';t necessarily his fault, either. Injuries have severely limited
Murray';s development throughout his professional career, with the young
defender only playing a complete season once in five years with Columbus. His
point totals have also dramatically fallen in recent years, as he as only
posted 23 points over the last two seasons.

Murray still has the toolset to put it all together in the NHL, but it is
seeming less and less likely that this will happen in Columbus. He has been
supplanted by star defenders like Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, and if his
injury struggles continue, the team may have to move on from him in the near
future. For now, he is signed through the 2018-19 season, but as he approaches
restricted free agency in 2019, a change of scenery may be exactly what he
needs in order to reach his full potential.#3. Alex Galchenyuk - Montreal
CanadiensAfter playing for the Montreal Canadiens for six seasons, Alex
Galchenyuk was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in June 2018. (Photo: Eric
Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)

Throughout his career with the Montreal Canadiens, Alex Galchenyuk struggled
with one thing: consistency. He would show flashes of greatness throughout his
career since being drafted third overall and joining the team as an 18-year
old, but he hasn';t been able to reach this dominating play each and every
night.

In 2014-15, he appeared to be the next star in Montreal after scoring a
career-high 30 goals and 56 points in 82 games. Over the next two seasons,
though, he would fail to break the 20-goal mark, while only posting 44 and 51
points respectively. During these years, he was moved up and down the Canadiens
 nightly line-up, playing at both center and wing. As said by Kyle Meideros of
habseyesontheprize about the start of Galchenyuk';s sixth year with the team:

Now entering his sixth NHL season, his descriptors have become: a defensive
liability, an underachiever, untrustworthy.

After years of rumors and speculation, the Canadiens traded Galchenyuk to the
Arizona Coyotes for Max Domi in June 2018. This change of scenery could provide
 him with the exact fresh start needed to reach his full NHL potential. If he
can find a consistent starting role in Arizona, he could thrive alongside their
 roster filled with young, high-talent forwards.#4. Griffin Reinhart - New York
 IslandersGriffin Reinhart played less than 30 games in Edmonton after the team
 traded a first and second-round pick for him in 2015. (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY
Sports)

Sometimes you have to know when to admit you were wrong and try to turn around
a bad situation. After drafting Griffin Reinhart fourth overall, he was sent
back to the WHL to continue development until the 2014-15 season, when the New
York Islanders decided to pull the plug on their top pick of 2012. They sent an
 underachieving Reinhart, who had played just eight games with the team, to the
 Edmonton Oilers for a first and second-round pick in the 2015 draft.

This trade has since become infamous for both teams, as Reinhart became a
staple of the Oilers AHL team after floundering through just 29 games with the
team. Eventually, he was left open at the expansion draft and was claimed by
the Vegas Golden Knights, where he has continued to play for their AHL
affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.

That first-round pick the Islanders got back for Reinhart, however, was used to
 draft Mathew Barzal, who went out and had one of the best rookie seasons in
over a decade en route to winning the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2018. While
Reinhart was a bust for them, they still salvaged the situation and turned a
mistake into a true star.#5. Morgan Rielly - Toronto Maple LeafsThe 2017-18
season was a real breakout for Morgan Rielly, who scored 52 points in 76
games. (Photo: Amy Irvin)

For the better part of a decade, the Toronto Maple Leafs struggled with a
mediocre defensive group that held them down as a team. When they drafted
Morgan Rielly fifth overall in 2012, they were attempting to address this area
of weakness by bringing in a young, top-end defenseman whom they could build
their team around.

Five years into his professional career with Toronto, one can safely say that
the Maple Leafs found their man on defense. Throughout the 2017-18 season,
Rielly experienced a breakout year, scoring 52 points in 76 games. This ranks
him 16th in overall defensemen scoring, putting him in line with some of the
best defenders in the league... all while making $5 million a year through the
2021-22 season.

The best part for Toronto, though, is the fact that Rielly is only 24 years
old. He still has time left to develop both his body and hockey instincts into
a truly elite player. If this development continues, he could become a Norris
candidate in the upcoming years.#6. Hampus Lindholm - Anaheim DucksHampus
Lindholm is one of the cornerstones of the Anaheim Ducks'; defensive revolution
 that has rebuilt their blueline with young talent. (Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
 Sports)

On the day of the draft, Hampus Lindholm was expected to be a mid-first round
pick with high upside. The Anaheim Ducks, however, believed that he was the
real deal, and took him with the sixth overall pick, well ahead of projections.
 As Collin Insley of THW said in his draft day profile of Lindholm:

Lindholm is an awfully intriguing prospect that, in time, might be considered a
 steal for Anaheim.

While he may not have reached 'steal'; status as a high draft pick, the Ducks
still have to be satisfied with their selection five years into his playing
career. When healthy, Lindholm is that smart, two-way player that every
franchise wants to build around. While his scoring numbers are not staggering,
he has consistently posted around 30 points each season since joining Anaheim.

As one of the many young and talented defenders who started with the Ducks this
 season, Lindholm looks to be a major keystone for the future of the franchise.
 As long as he can stay healthy, he will continue developing alongside the
franchise';s young core, and could still grow into a top all-around player in
the league.#7. Mathew Dumba - Minnesota WildWhile there are few sure things in
the draft, Mathew Dumba was seen as a relatively safe pick for the Minnesota
Wild, and he has quickly developed into a top defender for the team. (Brace
Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

There was little doubt about the quality of player that the Minnesota Wild were
 getting when they drafted Mathew Dumba seventh overall. With the size, drive
and grit necessary to become a top-pairing defender, he had the full toolkit
coming into his professional career. If given the proper time and space, he
seemed like a player who would quickly put it all together.

During the 2015-16, Dumba experienced a breakout with the Wild, playing in 81
games and collecting 10 goals and 26 points along the way. After increasing his
 scoring totals in 2016-17, he would have a career year in 2017-18, scoring 14
goals and 50 points, all while playing upwards of 23 minutes each night. After
this successful year, he was rewarded by Minnesota with a five-year, $30
million extension to keep him with the team through the 2022-23 season.

At 23 years old, Dumba hasn';t even started reaching his prime years yet. If he
 continues to develop his game and can stay healthy, he will find his way into
the discussion as one of the elite defenders in the league. While his career is
 still young, the Wild have already struck gold with Dumba.#8. Derrick Pouliot
- Pittsburgh Penguins (From Carolina Hurricanes)Despite his high draft
position, Derrick Pouliot never found a place with the Pittsburg Penguins and
was eventually traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2017. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey
 Writers)

The mood around the Pittsburgh Penguins after the 2012 draft was pure
excitement due to a massive trade that sent Jordan Staal to the Carolina
Hurricanes and brought Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and the eighth overall
pick back to Pittsburgh. With this pick, the Penguins selected Derrick Pouliot,
 who was seen at the time as a sure-fire NHL defenseman.

As time went on, though, Pouliot was unable to establish himself on the stacked
 and highly talented Pittsburgh blue line. He would go on to play less than 70
games with the franchise over three seasons before being traded to the
Vancouver Canucks in 2017. This change of scenery has done Pouliot relatively
well, as he played 71 games in Vancouver in the 2017-18 season, registering 22
points along the way.

No, this is not the type of production you would expect out of a top-10 draft
pick, but there still is promise for Pouliot';s future. He may never reach the
lofty expectations given to a player with his draft profile, but he can still
become a valuable defender for the Canucks.#9. Jacob Trouba - Winnipeg
JetsSince breaking into the NHL in 2013, Jacob Trouba has anchored the Winnipeg
 Jets'; blue line, helping the team reach the postseason twice during his
tenure. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

If you are looking purely at production, the Winnipeg Jets made a fantastic
pick when they took Jacob Trouba ninth overall in 2012. Since becoming a
full-time NHLer in the 2013-14 season, Trouba has been a stalwart along the
Jets'; blueline, averaging more than 22 minutes on the ice each night. During
his best season in 2016-17, he scored 33 points in 60 games, making him the
second-highest scoring defenseman on the team.

However, once you look past his production, you can see that things may not all
 be well for Trouba. First of all, he has struggled with injuries, only playing
 more than 70 games once in his first five seasons. This has cost him valuable
development time early in his career when he needs it most.

Trouba also requested a trade back in September of 2016 after he felt that he
was not being given the full opportunity to thrive in Winnipeg. While this
issue was worked through and he received a two-year bridge deal to keep him
with the team, he was unable to garner a long-term extension when that bridge
deal ended in the 2018 offseason. Instead, he was awarded a one-year, $5.5
million contract in arbitration, which will keep him with the Jets through the
2018-19 season.

Even with all this in mind, Trouba has developed well throughout his five years
 in the NHL, and he still has room to grow. If they can get a long-term
contract worked out, he will continue to be a keystone on Winnipeg';s blue
line. However, if they can';t reach an extension, the Jets may look to trade
their star defender while he is still a restricted free agent in order to
maximize their return instead of letting him walk away from the franchise for
nothing.#10. Slater Koekkoek - Tampa Bay LightningInjury has severely limited
Slatter Koekkoek';s potential, as the once-promising defenseman has slowly
slipped down the Tampa Bay Lightning';s depth charts. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey
Writers)

Coming into the 2012 draft, everyone knew that the Tampa Bay Lightning were
looking to select a defenseman and goaltender in the first round. With their
tenth overall pick, they chose defenseman Slater Koekkoek, much to the surprise
 of, well, everyone. With a high-talent forward like Filip Forsberg still left
on the draft board, Koekkoek seemed like a real stretch for Tampa Bay.

Injuries can dictate the course of a career more than actual play on the ice,
which has been the case for Koekkoek. He struggled with injuries both before
and after the draft, which stunted his development. While he certainly is a
talented defenseman, he has been pushed down the Lightning';s depth chart,
failing to find consistent ice time with the team. In the 2017-18 season, he
spent the majority of the year as a healthy scratch, playing in just 35 games.

Even though he never found a role with the Lightning, there';s still potential
within Koekkoek. While many believe that he could become a productive player if
 given the right opportunity, that seems unlikely to happen in Tampa Bay.
However, he was given one more chance to find a role with the team after he
signed a one-year extension in the 2018 offseason. As the clear seventh
defenseman this season, he may finally have that chance to put it all together
and work his way into a consistent starting role with the franchise that
drafted him tenth overall.Complete List of 2012 NHL Entry Draft First-Rounders

1Nail Yakupov (RW)RussiaEdmonton Oilers

2Ryan Murray (D)CanadaColumbus Blue Jackets

3Alex Galchenyuk (C)United StatesMontreal Canadiens

4Griffin Reinhart (D)CanadaNew York Islanders

5Morgan Rielly (LW)CanadaToronto Maple Leafs

6 Hampus Lindholm (D)SwedenAnaheim Ducks

7Mathew Dumba (D)CanadaMinnesota Wild

8Derrick Pouliot (D)CanadaPittsburgh Penguins (From Carolina)

9Jacob Trouba (D)United StatesWinnipeg Jets

10Slater Koekkoek (D)CanadaTampa Bay Lightning

11Filip Forsberg (RW)SwedenWashington Capitals (From Colorado)

12Mikhail Grigorenko (C)RussiaBuffalo Sabres

13 Radek Faksa (C)Czech Republic Dallas Stars

14Zemgus Girgensons (C)LatviaBuffalo Sabres

15Codi Ceci (D)CanadaOttowa Senators

16Tom Wilson (RW)CanadaWashington Capitals

17Thomas Hertl (C)Czech RepublicSan Jose Sharks

18Teuvo Teravainen (RW)FinlandChicago Blackhawks

19Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)RussiaTampa Bay Lightning (From Detroit)

20Scott Laughton (C)CanadaPhiladelphia Flyers

21Mark Jankowski (C)CanadaCalgary Flames (From Nashville via Buffalo)

22Ollie Maata (D)FinlandPittsburgh Penguins

23Mike Matheson (D)CanadaFlorida Panthers

24Malcolm Subban (G)CanadaBoston Bruins

25Jordan Schmaltz (D)United StatesSt. Louis Blues

26Brendan Gaunce (C)CanadaVancouver Canucks

27Henrik Samuelsson (C)United StatesPhoenix Coyotes

28Brady Skjei (D)United StatesNew York Rangers

29Stefan Matteau (C)United StatesNew Jersy Devils

30Tanner Pearson (LW)CanadaLos Angeles Kings

The post 2012 NHL Draft Top 10: Where Are They Now? appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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