Lessons We Can Learn from the 2012 NHL Draft - Bleacher Nation

The 2012 NHL Draft is often remembered for early picks that did not meet expectations, yet later rounds produced meaningful NHL careers. No player from the draft has reached 1,000 regular-season games, but Cody Ceci leads with 953 games and Morgan Rielly follows with 951 games. Teuvo Teravainen, selected 17th overall by Chicago, has played 827 games. Evaluating the draft by games played shows first-round dominance, but notable quality also appears well beyond the opening round. Connor Hellebuyck became an elite goaltender after being selected 130th overall in the fifth round. The draft also shows that defensemen are difficult to project and require development, and correct selections can strongly benefit organizations. Jaccob Slavin, taken 120th overall in the fourth round, has become a top defensive defenseman.

"No player from the 2012 NHL Draft has appeared in 1,000 NHL regular-season games yet. The leader in the clubhouse is Cody Ceci, who has appeared in 953 games since he was drafted 15th overall by Ottawa. Right behind him is Morgan Reilly, who has skated in all 951 games for the Maple Leafs (though the rumor mill seems to think that could change this summer)."

"While sorting strictly by games played predictably shows us that the first round has dominated the results from the 2012 NHL Draft to date, there was some remarkable quality in this draft class that slid well beyond that first round. I don't think anyone thought Connor Hellebuyck would become one of the best netminders on the planet when he was selected with the 130th overall pick (fifth round) by Winnipeg. Yes, 129 players heard their name called before him - including Andrei Vasilevskiy, whose photo was taken on the stage 111 picks earlier than Hellebuyck."

"One specific learning from the 2012 NHL Draft is that defensemen are hard to identify and take time to develop. But getting it right, in any round, can prove to be incredibly beneficial for an organization. Jaccob Slavin is one of the best defensive defensemen in the entire NHL. Carolina selected him 120th overall (fourth round) and has gone on to appear in 78"

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