The 2012 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 22–23, 2012, at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As of 2025, 54 players from this draft remain active in the NHL. While the draft produced some solid NHL players, it is also remembered for some significant misses at the top.
Here's a look at the top 10 picks from that draft and where their careers have taken them:
Nail Yakupov (Edmonton Oilers): Yakupov, drafted first overall, is considered one of the biggest disappointments of the 2010s for the Oilers. Despite a promising rookie season where he scored 17 goals in 48 games, he never lived up to the hype. He struggled to find consistency and eventually returned to Russia to play in the KHL.
Ryan Murray (Columbus Blue Jackets): Murray has had a decent NHL career, playing over 400 games. However, he hasn't reached the level expected of a second-overall pick. He is currently a free agent.
Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal Canadiens): Galchenyuk, like Yakupov and Murray, didn't quite live up to expectations. After inconsistent performance with the Canadiens, he bounced around to several teams. Galchenyuk is currently playing in the KHL.
Griffin Reinhart (New York Islanders): Reinhart's NHL career was short-lived, playing only 37 games. After stints in the AHL, KHL, and German League, he is now playing in the UK League.
Morgan Rielly (Toronto Maple Leafs): Rielly has been a mainstay on the Toronto Maple Leafs' blue line. He has developed into a high-end offensive defenseman and a leader for the team. Of all the players drafted in 2012, Rielly has played the most games.
Hampus Lindholm (Anaheim Ducks): Lindholm has established himself as a solid top-four defenseman. He currently plays for the Boston Bruins.
Mathew Dumba (Minnesota Wild): Dumba is a dynamic, offensive-minded defenseman. He is currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Derrick Pouliot (Pittsburgh Penguins): Pouliot has bounced between the AHL and NHL, playing for several organizations, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks. For the 2025-26 season, he signed an AHL contract with the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate.
Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg Jets): Trouba has become a top defenseman known for his physical play. He is currently the captain of the New York Rangers.
Slater Koekkoek (Tampa Bay Lightning): Koekkoek's time in Tampa Bay was disappointing, and he was eventually traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. After a year with the Edmonton Oilers, he retired from professional hockey after the 2022-23 season.
Looking back, the 2012 NHL Draft had its share of hits and misses. While some of the top picks didn't pan out as expected, the draft still produced several successful NHL players. A redraft of the top 10 might look very different today, with players like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was drafted 19th overall, potentially going first overall.
