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Arctic Ice Hockey’s First Annual NHL Mock Draft: Pick #14

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 fourteenth overall pick of Arctic Ice Hockey's 2012 Mock Draft.

Jay Feaster: With the fourteenth overall selection in this years draft, the Calgary Flames are pleased to select…


Jacob Trouba

Defenseman / USA U-18 – USNTDP

6-2

February 26 1994
Hometown: Rochester, MI

Shoots: Right



GP G A P +/- PIM
2011-12 USA U-18 (USNTDP) 50 9 22 31 8 65

Rankings: CSS (9 NA), ISS (5), TSN (13), Hockey Prospectus (12)

The Skinny: Under the guidance of Jay Feaster, the Flames are currently stuck in NHL purgatory known better as the “We’re Going For It!” abyss. Despite an aging roster, Feaster continues to believe this group is good enough to make the playoffs and, furthermore, contend for a Stanley Cup. With that said, they at some point will need to come to the realization that Chris Butler won’t be an every-day defenseman in the NHL. Additionally, Scott Hannan and Cory Sarich both become UFA’s this off-season, and neither should be re-signed given their age and past performance with the club. With Trouba still on the board in this mock draft, he should be a slam dunk pick as he projects as a future top four NHL defender.

Hockey Prospectus:

Trouba is a very well-rounded defenseman who has developed nicely in his draft year and has a chance to be one of the better if not the best defenseman the NTDP has developed in the last few years before Seth Jones gets picked in 2013. His best tool is his skating which is plus. While his straightaway top is only above average, it's his four-way mobility that really impresses. Trouba has great acceleration and gets up to his top gear in an instant. He's also able to skate backwards as seamlessly and quickly as he can forward and rarely does a forward get behind him. Aside from his skating no part of his skill set truly stands out aside from maybe his physical game, but what makes Trouba valuable is he is above-average across the board. He has solid puck skills and while he isn't a flashy puck handler he can certainly hold his own in that regard. Though he won't be a premium power play defenseman, he will be able to perform at a good level there in terms of his puck-moving and he has good technique on his passes with fine vision. Trouba is a standout in the defensive end of the rink with great energy and work ethic on top an impressive physical game. Trouba relishes in laying opposing forwards out and is pretty strong for his age. He reads his assignments well, uses his great mobility to close gaps quickly, and consistently shows the ability to shut down good players. – Corey Pronman

AIH Draft Board

Pick Team Player Pos Nationality Amateur Club
1 Edmonton Oilers Nail Yakupov
LW RUS Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2 Columbus Blue Jackets Mikhail Grigorenko C RUS Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
3 Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk C USA Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4 New York Islanders Ryan Murray D CAN Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5 Toronto Maple Leafs
Filip Forsberg RW SWE Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
6 Anaheim Ducks Matt Dumba D CAN Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
7 Minnesota Wild Teuvo Teravainen LW FIN Jokerit Jr. (SM Liiga)
8 Carolina Hurricanes Morgan Rielly D CAN Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
9 Winnipeg Jets Radek Faksa C CZE Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
10 Tampa Bay Lightning Cody Ceci D CAN Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
11 Washington Capitals (via COL) Griffin Reinhart D CAN Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
12 Buffalo Sabres Zemgus Girgensons C LVA Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
13 Dallas Stars Sebastian Collberg RW SWE Frolunda Jr. (SuperElit)
14 Calgary Flames Jacob Trouba D USA USA U-18 (USNTDP)

Community Draft Board

Pick Team Player Pos Nationality Amateur Club
1 Edmonton Oilers Nail Yakupov
LW RUS Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2 Columbus Blue Jackets Mikhail Grigorenko C RUS Quebec Rempats (QMJHL)
3 Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk C USA Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4 New York Islanders Ryan Murray D CAN Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5 Toronto Maple Leafs Filip Forsberg RW SWE Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
6 Anaheim Ducks Teuvo Teravainen LW FIN Jokerit Jr. (SM Liiga)
7 Minnesota Wild Matt Dumba D CAN Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
8 Carolina Hurricanes Morgan Rielly D CAN Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
9 Winnipeg Jets Radek Faksa C CZE Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
10 Tampa Bay Lightning Cody Ceci D CAN Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
11 Washington Capitals (via COL) Jacob Trouba D USA USA U-18 (USNTDP)
12 Buffalo Sabres Griffin Reinhart D CAN Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
13 Dallas Stars Pontus Aberg LW SWE Djurgarden IF (Allsvenskan)

Option Votes
Sebastian Collberg 6
Brendan Gaunce 7
Zegmus Girgensons 5
Olli Maata 16
Other (provide name in comments) 1
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