The NHL’s Central Scouting Service is all about the “Fail for Nail” campaign.
CSS has Nail Yakupov, the talented scorer from the CHL, listed as their top overall prospect for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft once again. Yakupov topped their preseason rankings as well making him the favorite to be taken first overall at the NHL Draft in Pittsburgh this summer.
Trailing Yakupov is fellow Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko with defenseman Ryan Murray, Czech forward Radek Faksa, and defenseman Morgan Reilly rounding out the top five. Seven of the top ten prospects on the CSS list are defensemen making this a great time to be in need of a future cornerstone blue liner.
The top-rated American skater is defenseman Jacob Trouba. Trouba was the youngest player for Team USA’s World Junior team this year. If goalies are your thing, the top rated netminder is none other than P.K. Subban‘s little brother Malcolm.
There will be one more list from CSS before the draft in late June, but unless Yakupov’s injury he suffered during World Juniors turns out to be a bigger problem for him, it’s hard to see him being unseated as the top prospect before then.
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2012 Stanley Cup finals at a glance: Los Angeles-New Jersey preview
May 27, 2012, 11:50 PM EDT
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A breakdown of Kings vs. Devils.
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Shawinigan Cataractes beat London Knights to take 2012 Memorial Cup
May 27, 2012, 11:06 PM EDT
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Also: air horns.
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Anze Kopitar’s run to Stanley Cup finals creates “pretty big buzz” in Slovenia
May 27, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT
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If you’re there and rooting against the Kings, you’re one serious contrarian.
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Reports: Ducks might file tampering charge regarding Justin Schultz
May 27, 2012, 10:00 PM EDT
AP
Another rumor points to Schultz becoming a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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That Penguins-Flyers series made things kind of screwy.
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Reasons to root for the Kings, Devils in 2012 Stanley Cup finals
May 27, 2012, 8:02 PM EDT
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For those who don’t have a horse in this race.
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Top prospect Grigorenko looks forward to making future teams look bad for skipping him
May 27, 2012, 7:21 PM EDT
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He might go second overall in the draft or as late as 20.
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You know you were wondering the same thing, don’t deny it.
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James Reimer didn’t exactly cut it but is he the answer?
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AP
“Perhaps we had all been convinced we would win before the tie actually started. And that might also have been a problem.”
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DeBoer: “He’s here to win. He’s a team-first guy. He’s very unselfish and he’s just a great person.”
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Here are three guys from each team to consider and vote on.
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It dates back to 2004 in junior hockey in Kitchener, Ontario.
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Lou Lamoriello couldn’t be happier to have the Devils back in the finals
May 27, 2012, 11:15 AM EDT
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‘We’ve had teams that had success during the regular season, but just couldn’t get through the playoffs for some reason.”
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The Blue Jackets captain is looking at getting dealt at the draft or after July 1.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where the Kings are the oddsmakers’ favorites
May 27, 2012, 9:55 AM EDT
AP
A bit of motivation for New Jersey thanks to the gamblers? That and more in the Morning Skate.
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Should the Devils surrender their 2012 first-rounder to the NHL?
May 26, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT
AP
They still owe a pick as punishment for their initial attempt to sign Ilya Kovalchuk.
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Parise helped convince Devils to let players sleep at home before playoff home games
May 26, 2012, 10:33 PM EDT
AP
There was a time when they would stay in hotels in the postseason even before contests in New Jersey.
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A rundown of the some of the most noteworthy winners.
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Either one will best New Jersey in 1995, who won after capturing the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.
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