They may not go in these slots to these teams, as the recent two drafts have shown us. The kids usually go around where they should, with some NHL clubs making a case if they think there is a need. And last minute elevators never go to the top, but they do crack the top ten. Without further do-do (ah,adieu) I present:

DRAFT TALK: The only truly confirmed draft talk is the following:

1) The Isles 2nd first round selection, 26th overall and their surplus second rounders are DEFINITELY going somewhere in a move up, and it will depend upon when they think that 2nd targeted draftee is about to go off the board, and they will act swiftly to jump in in front of others. Snow has said as much.
2) The Phoenix Coyotes are ADVERTISING that pick six is in play if they can just drop a wee bit lower in that top seven group (to the Toronto pick if the the guy Burke targets is there) they would be most happy, but probably would be fine in the top 15 and WILL find takers.
3) Columbus will choose at slot 16 but are hoping to get an additional pick to move back in the first, and are hoping that the Islanders will turn over the number 26 in the first round, and 37th overall in the second round for a ten slot bump up for the Isles. They may want to give 26th and 56th overall, the last of their three seconds. Who knows? Maybe the Bluejackets won't want to drop back that far to reclaim a second... 

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1. New York Islanders - John Tavares, forward, 6.25 foot, 187 lbs.
The recent past suggests the Isles willingness to trade out to secure more picks (as they did in the 2008 trade downs) because picks are now Cap number stabilizers, if you do get a player capable of helping out anywhere on your roster. I don't think last year is any indication of them venturing out of the top three slots this year, picking first. They might try to misinform Tampa and Colorado on who they really want, hoping to snooker an extra pick to take the player the Isles really want and let the trading partner get the player they want. Even if John Tavares is a one zone, average speed skater, you cannot teach goal scoring skills, so you take him here, unless the offer is so good you have to be tempted to move out.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning - Victor Hedman, left defense, 6 foot six, 220 lbs.
I don't see them going anywhere else if JT is gone at #1. Matt Duchene is a great player, but far too similar to Steven Stamkos. Which begs the question: Can an NHL team grow two #1 centremen? Look to Pittsburgh for your answer. Hedman is a man mountain and the ones that skate like deer are few and far between. Pure unbelievable mix of skill skate and size. He is what every team HOPES Tyler Myers can become. Very mobile, with fluid, long stride, turns and edges really, really well. Always has his head up with excellent vision, makes solid decisions. A strong passer who leads the rush up the ice. Exceptional hockey sense in all three zones, huge shot, never looks rushed. If you wanted to find fault, you might say he doesn't use his massive body to play physical very much, as he counts on his long reach, anticipation, and strong positioning. But he may be Godzilla when a Cup win is in the balance. While he doesn't have forward/goal scoring wow factor, he fills a huge need.

3. Colorado Avalanche - Matt Duchene, left centre, 5 foot eleven, 198 lbs.
If any slot is in play it might here. Colorado is in trouble with organizational needs all over, and with only one solid prospect that they know can come in and make the roster, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Do you trade out when Matt Duchene does answer an impending need at centre? Only if you can drop a little and get a lot. They need some now help, because the fan base is proving itself fair weather when the team isn't a dominant one. The management already tried to hire a former popular player, Patrick Roy, and tried to get him to do two jobs at once in a time when you need two men at work 24 hours to do them well. Common sense says keep the pick, but when needs are aplenty, gambles are taken. In a draft as strong as this one, they can get a player later. But do you get one like THIS one? A quality person who always displays great effort and work commitment all over the ice. He simply makes things happen. Displays outstanding moves, stick-handling, and speed.

4. Atlanta Thrashers - Evander Kane, left centre-forward, 6 foot one 1/4, 176 lbs.
Another NHL franchise that is teetering on the brink of extinction with gate problems and little success at improving to a play-off team. You would have to think this spot is in play too, except for the prospect that is slotted here. Evander Kane seems a perfect match for increasing fan interest and maybe giving Kovalchuck a player who can help offensively immediately or at worst a few down the road. Kane is solid and looks to grow even bigger and handles the puck so well and scores consistently, to the tune of 48 goals and 48 assists, fourth in the Western junior league. If Kane isn't picked here, I guarantee someone will later wish they would have chosen him.

5. Los Angeles Kings - Karl Magnus Svensson Pääjärvi, left forward, 6 foot one, 201 lbs.
With numerous young NHL defenseman and prospects already in the system, this pick comes down to whether you adhere to the best player available tenet when both next best guys may have reasons to possibly be down graded. Jared Cowen, a huge defenseman was slotted even higher than this spot before he injured his knee in February. In the 2006 draft L.A. opted for the under six foot Thomas Hickey over the 6' 2" Karl Alzner. Cowen is three inches more than Alzner and pretty quick footed. Do you pass on a guy this big when they don't come along all the time?
Granted L.A. has had success drafting Euros Anze Kopitar and Oscar Moller recently. There have also been the drafts of Lauri Tukonen and Denis Grebeshkov who didn't work out. The Kings are basically a North American roster. Svensson Pääjärvi would have made this pick no discussion if he had shown scoring prowess in the World Junior Tourney along with his size and speed. Exceptional skater, powerful stride, quick burst of speed, tough to knock off stride. Super soft hands, quick stick, great puck control at speed, and excellent hands in tight. Need more? Excellent finishing touch, finishes his chances although the World Junior reversal may give reservations. Beats defensemen constantly in a variety of ways, like off the rush, using uncontainable speed effortlessly, and can power straight into the crease. Strong on the puck, good puck shielder, battles in the corners. High energy on fore-check, plays with passion, with strong hockey sense. A creative good-visioned forward with a HUGE upside! He was the best player on the ice in the Eight Nations tourney in August 2007, and didn't disappoint in any international tourneys after his World Junior drought. If he becomes a finisher, this is a big piece in the King revival because they get a cocky impact rocket. I see predictors putting Schenn here. I think as much as leadership is important, scoring generation, impact and speed beats it out.

6. Phoenix Coyotes - Jared Cowen, right defense, 6 foot five 1/4, 218 lbs.
The Bettman good ole boy network will be the one paying this guy's salary because they fear that the Blackberry guy be let in their little clique without kissing up or sharing their business network ties. Cowen will need time to develop but this is a need position for the 'yotes. At 6' 5" he has possibilities to be the big defenseman teams look for. Although there are three other defenseman you could easily see fitting in as more dynamic "offenseman", anywhere near the stature of this kid. He has all the tools to be dominant. Combining good decision making, tremendous size, skill and puck ability, he can show an aggressive aspect too. He still has to hone his raw shooting skills and offensive talent. I think that Cowen's potential to build his offensive game makes him the best long term conservative pick, in a time when the Coyotes need very little new controversy.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs - Brayden Schenn, left centre, 6 foot, 198 lbs.
If unable to make the move up that Brian Burke has talked about, he may be able to get the next best publicity bump if brother Brayden is still on the board. Although there was no place on the Canadian Junior team for him this December, L.A. Kings may take him off the board before this pick, or even Atlanta at four, because he exudes winning attitude and team leadership far beyond his years. Already runs the cycle like he is in the NHL. Persistent fore-checker who finishes checks with reckless abandon. He is as close to a complete player as you could ask for, except for maybe wanting him to have one more skating gear. He had a really strong play-off run with production and gritty play that defined what kind of NHL player he is bound to become.

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8. Dallas Stars - Dmitri Kulikov, left defense, 6 foot zero 1/4, 183 lbs.
This looks like a really good fit. Why? He has played and been viewed while developing at Drummondville in the Quebec league and not overseas. He has shown he is mostly a play defense first defender, is big and strong on his skates. He is good at jumping up into the play, is well balanced enough to take a hit while attacking and defending, to finish the play. Has a good point shot and his rushing capabilities will establish him in the NHL maybe sooner than all other defensemen but Hedman.

9. Ottawa Senators - Louis Leblanc, RH centre, 6 foot, 178 lbs.
My first thought here was Ottawa trying to fortify their defense, but it makes sense that a fiery forward with Quebec roots might uproot other prospects earlier on than expected. The rookie of the year in the USHL rocketed up my list with a high tempo (and highlight goal vid) play-off performance where his edge at both ends of the ice was so noticeable that Ottawa has no choice but make him their pick here. He started the preseason with an impressive showing in the Ivan Hlinka Tourney and had the best plus/minus in the USHL. Think centre as in bigger than Doug Gilmour, able to work with little time and in small space, deke like Pat Kane, cut with blazing speed and separation and let it fly, comes back deep on dee, and impacts in all phases with "take no prisoners" attitude. Teams must project how much upside he has. I know one thing: he won't get past Montreal if he doesn't get picked here.

10. Edmonton Oilers - Scott Glennie, RH left wing-Centre, 6 foot one 1/4, 176 lbs.
Many drafts have had line-mates chosen as first rounders, in part to their work of feeding off each other. He is a fast skating player who has good hands and plays well at top speed. When not playing off-wing on Brayden Schenn's line, he has the mobility to move to centre himself. When in the offensive zone, he displays a deadly one-timer, becomes a grinder in the corners, and creates whether Schenn is on the ice or not. Some might quibble and say he has to have a better defensive commitment, works tirelessly in both ends and his quick feet already has him seeing the ice on the PK for the Wheat Kings. Pretty high reach to have the fourth leading scorer in Brandon be off the board in the top ten picks? Maybe, but he only played 55 games, and his point per game percentage and PP goals lead the team.

11. Nashville Predators - Jordan Schroeder, right wing-centre, 5 foot eight 3/4, 174 lbs.
Did Pat Kane pave the way to the NHL for Schroeder? Maybe in some ways, but don't confuse their similar heights with their weights. Schroeder more than makes up for this deficiency with his outstanding hockey sense and intelligence, poise, puck skills and blazing speed. He is the ultimate team player, has excellent creativity and is not intimidated by the physical play despite his size. He is described as more of a playmaker, but the shot he exhibited at the WJC was just as lethal as his passing. Like Pat Kane, he thinks the game well and sets up shop from the half boards and wants the puck in crucial game situations. Similarly, they both need to improve their commitments to the defensive zone. Schroeder can also play centre.

12. Minnesota Wild - David Rundblad, RH defense, 6 foot two, 188 lbs.
The good-sized Swedish d-man is a beautiful skater, adept at making "coast-to-coast" plays on the ice. He has a strong power-play presence, with soft hands, and a booming shot. When he takes off like an unbridled stallion into the attacking zone, he dangles as well as a forward, has puck control to work in tight, and passes well from both sides of the stick. Much of last year's scouting on him was filled with reports of him wandering around the defensive zone, chasing puck carriers, not reading well, and playing the puck and not the man. He has shown considerable improvement understanding his positioning and actions in his zone. It is still his weak point, but he's playing in the Swedish elite every game, and it is helping to further develop a defenseman's mindset, strength, and toolbox. He is first and foremost a puck-moving blue liner, but given time to develop a more efficient defensive side to his game, should become a well-rounded two-way defenseman. (Note: If this pick wasn't this low I could see the new management there trading it to re-acquire the missing two and three picks they traded away. They traded their third pick this year to leapfrog up one spot to beat the NJ Devils to defenseman Tyler Cuma and used the 2nd rounder this year to get Zidlicky. Too bad Dale Tallon will NEVER trade a second to move up to here, because it is a perfect spot to get an impact guy. The Blackhawks need ONE more impact guy.)

13. Buffalo Sabres - Nazen Kadri, left forward, 5 foot eleven 1/2, 167 lbs.
Kadri's a great mix of size, skill and willingness to play in traffic. A fast, creative, versatile forward, Kadri is an offensive spark-plug. His lanky frame was hampered in getting filled in while his cracked jaw healed in November, so added bulk and strength are part of his future prescription. He displays very good vision on the ice as well and this bodes well for his puck possession style of play. Another forward who can play anywhere up front and doesn't need much room to create, and is just shifty no matter what forward position he plays. His great foot speed is why he changes directions on a dime to deke defenders. His defensive game is a work in progress, and more commitment will be necessary as he turns pro. When he plays with passion, his blazing speed and one on one can be dominating. He might end up at wing, because he is still learning to use line-mates effectively. Why doesn't he? I think he knows he is the sniper and has confidence that he can be elusive, so why give the puck up?

14. Florida Panthers - Zack Kassian, right wing, 6 foot three, 204 lbs.
Whether one of the OHL's toughest players will climb up or drop down in the slotting depends much upon how many of the teams drafting in the teens are looking first for speedy puck carriers or creative play-making forwards. He has a heavy shot, strength, a mean streak, and good hands. Some think there are times his game lacks full time intensity, but you wonder if that is the knock so many big men are stereotyped with, because a lot of what they do is off-puck, or not on the scorecard. In my humble opinion, he is a better skater than Milan Lucic was with his Boston arrival. He has scored a coast to coast goal carrying in from his teams goal line. He will fight anyone. He was counted on as a key component to the Canadian contingent in the recent April IIHF World U-18 Championship, in which Canada made it to the semis and lost the Bronze medal in overtime. He had 5 points (2 - 3) in the six games and a plus 2, and was 7th in scoring on that squad, not quite the help they needed. Where he excels is along the wall, where he seems to have the puck glued to his stick on the cycle. He is big and balanced enough to lean the opposition out and off him and is able to keep his movement in the cycle. That translates very well to the pro game. Out of his 63 points, 24 were goals with the last one coming in the third week of February. He did average just over a point per game on a losing club. He has character and will never be a fast skater on the ice, but moves fluidly and patiently into the attack zone looking for the trailer forwards to get the puck to. He gets his entire body behind his big slapper. Fearless standing in front of the goal, if you make him mad, he leads with his left hand, and don't let him use his right hand to latch on to your right arm because that spells curtains for you! The entire package as you hope he gets to be a better scorer as he develops. You have to wonder how many teams would be willing to move up and pluck him a little earlier than this slot.

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