In a draft crop that is rich with top tier defensemen, a pair of Ontario Hockey League forwards – and teammates – are expected to hear their names called very early at the NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh.

Russian-born forwards Nail (pronounced Nah-eel) Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk of the Sarnia Sting are projected to be among the top players picked when the draft gets underway on June 22. The offensively-gifted Yakupov is unanimously considered to be the best player available this season despite only playing 42 games due to injuries. However he was able to score 69 points in those games, following up a rookie campaign where he set franchise records with 101 points and 49 goals. Galchenyuk was held pointless in just two regular season contests after tearing his ACL in the preseason, but was able to collect four points (2+2) in six playoff games. Both players appear to be fully recovered from their injuries, and acquitted themselves well in the fitness testing portion of last weekend’s Scouting Combine in Toronto.

Mikhail Grigorenko is another Russian-born skater that should be selected early, after scoring 85 points (40+45) in 59 games with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. He’s a big body (6’3”, 200 lbs.) who is more physically imposing than Yakupov and Galchenyuk, but his work ethic has been called into question by several scouts. Grigorenko attended the Scouting Combine but did not take part in the fitness testing because he’s been hampered by a bout of mononucleosis. Several mock drafts have him going anywhere from third overall (The Hockey News) to ninth (McKeen’s Hockey).

COMING UP:

• Wednesday – Top 10 European Forwards
• Monday, June 11 – Top 10 North American Defensemen
• Wednesday, June 13 – Top 10 European Defensemen
• Monday, June 20 – Top 10 North American Goalies
• Wednesday, June 22 – Top 10 European Goalies

	Nail Yakupov North American Skater - Sarnia, OHL Final Rank: 1 Midterm Rank: 1 Position: Right Wing Shoots: Left Height: 5' 10" Weight: 189 Born: October 6, 1993 Hometown: Nizhnekamsk, RUS Born in: Nizhnekamsk, RUS
	Mikhail Grigorenko North American Skater - Quebec, QMJHL Final Rank: 3 Midterm Rank: 2 Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6' 3" Weight: 200 Born: May 16, 1994 Born in: Khabarovsk, RUS
	Alex Galchenyuk North American Skater - Sarnia, OHL Final Rank: 4 Midterm Rank: Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6' 0" Weight: 198 Born: February 12, 1994 Born in: Milwaukee, WI, USA
	Radek Faksa North American Skater - Kitchener, OHL Final Rank: 7 Midterm Rank: 4 Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6' 3" Weight: 202 Born: January 9, 1994 Born in: Vitkov, CZE
	Brendan Gaunce North American Skater - Belleville, OHL Final Rank: 13 Midterm Rank: 11 Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6' 2" Weight: 215 Born: March 25, 1994 Born in: Sudbury, ON, CAN
	Colton Sissons North American Skater - Kelowna, WHL Final Rank: 14 Midterm Rank: 14 Position: Center Shoots: Right Height: 6' 1" Weight: 189 Born: November 5, 1993 Born in: North Vancouver, BC, CAN
	Thomas Wilson North American Skater - Plymouth, OHL Final Rank: 15 Midterm Rank: 33 Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6' 4" Weight: 203 Born: March 29, 1994 Born in: Toronto, ON, CAN
	Stefan Matteau North American Skater - USA U-18, USHL Final Rank: 17 Midterm Rank: 13 Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6' 2" Weight: 210 Born: February 23, 1994 Born in: Chicago, IL, USA
	Zemgus Girgensons North American Skater - Dubuque, USHL Final Rank: 18 Midterm Rank: 12 Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6' 2" Weight: 198 Born: January 5, 1994 Born in: Riga, LVA
	Martin Frk North American Skater - Halifax, QMJHL Final Rank: 20 Midterm Rank: 25 Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6' 0" Weight: 204 Born: October 5, 1993 Born in: Pelhrimov, CZE