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Arctic Ice Hockey’s First Annual NHL Mock Draft: Pick #21

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

Darcy Regier: With the twenty-first overall selection in this years draft, the Buffalo Sabres are pleased to select…


Matt Finn

Defenseman / Guelph Storm – OHL

6-0

February 24 1994
Hometown: Toronto, ON

Shoots: Left



GP G A P +/- PIM
2011-12 Guelph Storm (OHL) 61 10 38 48 -13 58

Rankings: CSS (16 NA), ISS (18), TSN (9), Hockey Prospectus (19)

The Skinny: At this point, Finn is the best player available (BPA) left on the board. After drafting Zemgus Girgensons earlier in this mock, the Sabres could look to solidify the prospect pool on the back-end, specifically after trading away Marc-Andre Gragnani in a package deal which netted them Cody Hodgson.

Hockey Prospectus:

Finn took a ton of steps forward in his 17-year-old OHL season and really emerged onto the prospect scene. Finn was looked at last year as a fine defensive defenseman, but now has the looks of a great two-way player. He is much more conditioned than last year, which shows up in his skating. Finn is an above-average skater with fluid mobility and good acceleration, but he also doesn't lose a step late in the game even after logging big minutes. Finn is a "pretty" skater as he has natural yet powerful movements. He has above-average puck skills which combined with his skating make him a good puck-carrier coming out of his zone and penetrating the opposing blue line. Finn displays high-end hockey sense, making very quick decisions while his reads remain correct and creative and he always seems to be making things happen with the puck. Defensively, he shows good awareness, is a fine stick-checker, and uses his mobility well to close gaps. Finn isn't that threatening physically, as he's slightly short for a defenseman and has a frame that needs a ton of filling out, but he does work hard and shows the grit needed for a 6'0" defenseman. – 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)
15 Ottawa Senators Pontus Aberg LW SWE Djurgardens IF (Allsvenskan)
16 Washington Capitals Tomas Hertl C CZE HC Slavia Praha (Czech Extraliga)
17 San Jose Sharks Brendan Gaunce C CAN Belleville Bulls (OHL)
18 Chicago Blackhawks Hampus Lindholm D SWE Rogue Jr. (J18 Elit)
19
Tampa Bay Lightning (via DET)

Thomas Wilson RW CAN Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
20 Philadelphia Flyers Olli Maatta D FIN London Knights (OHL)
21 Buffalo Sabres (via NSH) Matt Finn D CAN Guelph Storm (OHL)

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 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 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 Djurgardens IF (Allsvenskan)
14 Calgary Flames Olli Maatta D FIN London Knights (OHL)
15 Ottawa Senators Sebastian Collberg RW SWE Frolunda Jr. (SuperElit)
16 Washington Capitals Zemgus Girgensons C LVA Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
17 San Jose Sharks Brendan Gaunce C CAN Belleville Bulls (OHL)
18 Chicago Blackhawks Hampus Lindholm D SWE Rogue Jr. (J18 Elit)
19
Tampa Bay Lightning (via DET)

Matt Finn D CAN Guelph Storm (OHL)
20 Philadelphia Flyers Slater Koekkoek D CAN Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Option Votes
Tomas Hertl 5
Scott Laughton 0
Derrick Pouliot 1
Colton Sissons 1
Thomas Wilson 2
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