Hey all! Welcome to Arctic Ice Hockey's first annual NHL Mock Draft. Over the next thirty days, Ryan, Tim and myself will attempt to telepathically channel the minds of NHL General Managers as they complete their final rankings in preparation for the 2012 NHL Draft being held June 22, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA.

In some instances, our analysis will require less insight than others *cough* *Edmonton* *cough*.

So without further adieu, we present our loyal readers with the twenty-fourth overall pick of Arctic Ice Hockey's 2012 Mock Draft.

Peter Chiarelli: With the twenty-fourth overall selection in this years draft, the Florida Panthers are pleased to select...

Rankings: CSS (28 NA), ISS (23), TSN (24), Hockey Prospectus (30)

The Skinny: The Boston Bruins can use some depth at centre in their pipeline after recently trading Zach Hamiill to the Washington Capitals. Selecting Laughton will go a long way to addressing their depth.

Hockey Prospectus:

Laughton isn't a really flashy forward who I would traditionally project to become a top-six forward in the pro game, but he's a quick, smart effective player with an average skill level who is a "does all the little things" type of guy in the lineup and seems to always be around the play. Laughton's the kind of player who is a great penalty killer and an above-average face off man and can provide some offense while being leaned on for defensive value. He is a quick skater off the line whose top speed is solid and may flash above average. He moves his feet quickly and does well in transition when it comes to his forechecks and backchecks. Laughton is a competitive player who works hard along the boards in puck battles, and despite a frame that needs weight and strength, he doesn't shy away from the rough stuff and can win a decent amount of his one-on-one match-ups. He isn't a null factor offensively as he has some puck skills and will flash solid vision here and there but tends to be a more instinctual player who makes good off-the-puck reads—and while he isn't made in the ideal mold of a puck possession forward—when he's on the ice, there are more shots at the opposing end than there are at his. - Corey Pronman

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