The 2012 NHL Draft is just one week away, and the anticipation around how the first round will unfold is running high. The Columbus Blue Jackets have the second pick in the draft. On Friday, reports of a possible trade circulated, but until a deal actually happens, mock drafts can still attempt to project which player the Blue Jackets might select to bolster their sagging fortunes.
The latest 2012 NHL Mock Draft from SB Nation projects the Blue Jackets to take Filip Forsberg, a forward from Leksands IF in Sweden's Allsvenskan.
Here is the reasoning for the pick from The Cannon, SB Nation's Blue Jackets blog:
Forsberg is the top European skater in this draft, and has the size/frame, speed, and stick skills to make him a potential future star in the NHL. Forsberg is admittedly raw at just age 17, but took home many positive reviews from his play.
For the other picks in the mock draft, see this StoryStream.
The draft will be held in Pittsburgh on June 22 and 23.
For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. More news and analysis on the upcoming NHL Draft as well as the entire world of hockey can be found over at SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.