Toronto Maple Leafs: Re-Drafting the 2012 NHL Entry Draft

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on February 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on February 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
ST. PAUL, MN – DECEMBER 11: Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba  Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

2012 Re-Draft

11. Washington Capitals

Actual: Filip Forsberg

Re-Draft: Ryan Murray

12. Buffalo Sabres

Actual: Mikhail Grigorenko

Re-Draft: Tom Wilson

13. Dallas Stars

Actual: Radek Faska

Re-Draft: Jacob Slavin

14. Buffalo Sabres

Actual: Zemgus Girgensons

Re-Draft: Nikita Gusev

15. Ottawa Senators

Actual: Cody Ceci

Re-Draft: Alex Kerfoot

16. Washington Capitlas

Actual: Tom Wilson

Re-Draft: Eric Gustafson

17. San Jose Sharks

Actual: Tomas Hertl

Re-Draft: Damon Severson

18. Chicago Blackhawks

Actual: Teuvo Terravainen

Re-Draft: Tanner Pearson

19. Tampa Bay Lightning

Actual: Andrei Vasilevskiy

Re-Draft: Nail Yakupov

20. Philadelphia Flyers

Actual: Scott Leighton

Re-Draft: Brady Skjei

21. Calgary Flames

Actual:  Mark Janowowski

Re-Draft: Josh Anderson

22. Pittsburgh Penguins

Actual: Olli Maata

Re-Draft: Olli Maata

23. Florida Panthers

Actual: Mike Matheson

Re-Draft: Shayne Ghostibiere

24. Boston Bruins

Actual: Malcom Subban

Re-Draft: Connor Brown

25. St. Louis Blues

Actual: Jordan Schmaltz

Re-Draft: Anthony Anthousiua

26. Vancouver Canucks

Actual: Brandan Gaunce

Re-Draft: Vinnie Hinostroza

27. Arizona Coyotes

Actual: Henrik Samuelsson

Re-Draft: Colin Miller

28. New York Rangers

Actual: Brady Skjei

Re-Draft: Joonas Korpisalo

29. New Jersey Devils

Actual: Stefan Matteau

Re-Draft:  Chris Tierny

30. L.A Kings

Actual: Tanner Pearson

Re-Draft: Devon Shore

That’s it!  Obviously it’s way easier to draft with the ability of full hindsight, but it’s really fun to compare how players were selected and how they turned out.

One interesting thing – to me at least – about this draft is how there were three elite goalies whose draft selection could have altered history so much.

Another thing to think about of course, is the Oilers and how they totally blew the first overall pick (surprise!).  I remember the Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke saying at the time he would have taken Rielly 1st overall, and in retrospect that isn’t a ridiculous brag.

Rielly would have been a worthy choice and I think that, after Terravainen, he ended up being the second best position player in his draft.  Certainly he turned out better than all four guys selected ahead of him.

My final thoughts about the 2012 NHL Entry Draft are about the Buffalo Sabres, who had two picks and screwed them both up.  Some things never change!