The draft was held June 22–23, 2012, at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The top three picks were Nail Yakupov going to the Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Murray going to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Alex Galchenyuk going to the Montreal Canadiens.
Ice hockey players born between January 1, 1992, and September 15, 1994, were eligible for selection in the 2012 NHL entry draft.
Thus, only the bottom five teams were eligible to receive the number one draft pick.
Beginning with the 2013 NHL entry draft all fourteen teams not qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs will have a "weighted" chance at winning the first overall selection.