Now of all the major league sports drafts, the NHL draft is the most difficult to predict. Teams will draft based on Best Player Available rather than team needs and rightly so. The one area I see the Panthers see ignoring unless we get an absolute steal is netminder.

Now this ideal draft depends on one thing: Taylor Hall being drafted by the Oilers, left Tyler Seguin to go to the Bruins.

No3: Trade to the Bruins for David Krejci and No15; Dylan McIlrath D 6ft5, 215lbs, Moose Jaw WHL

The Bruins will be loaded down the middle and in need of moving some salary. Krejci could get the most out of Olesz and Frolik. McIlrath is not too far behind the big three, one of whom the Bruins have been looking to move up to try to get, but offers something our current team lack, a willingness to drop their gloves and adminster several slaps against opponents who target our players.

No33: Petr Straka LW 6ft1, 184lbs. Rimouski Oceanics QMJHL

Played in the QMJHL for the Oceanics, fast, good hands, good vision, 28goals and a total of 64pts in 62games

No36: Greg McKegg C/LW 6ft0, 185lbs Erie Otters OHL

I did consider Ivan Telegin who is slightly bigger but decided 37goals and 85pts in 67games was too good to pass on. He is very slippery and has breakaway speed, but also is defensively responsible, and just a little more dynamic than Telegin

No50: Jacub Culek C 6ft4, 195lbs Rimouski Oceanics QMJHL

Joined at the hip with Straka. They played together in the Czech Republic and now at Rimouski. The big Center we need in the prospects, he is the set up man for Straka though posts respectable enough totals himself in 13 goals and 47pts over 63 games

No92: Curtis Hamilton LW 6ft2, 211lbs Saskatoon Blades WHL

He falls because of injury over the last season but definitely a steal at the top of the 4th

No93: Andrew Yogan C 6ft3, 200lbs Erie Otters OHL

The Panthers fan from Boca Raton, Fl., this has as much to do with marketing as it does with talent. Lacks the hockey sense to be any more than a Checking center, but will hopefully create some positive publicity

No123: Mark Stone RW 6ft2, 201lbs Brandon WHL

Similar to AJ Jenks was considered a high pick early on, but with a senior season marred by hand injuries, didn't kick on. Would have been noticed on the same team as Robak

No153: Adam Polasek D 6ft1, 180lbs PEI Rocket QMJHL

Undrafted last year, he won't suffer the same fate this year. Does not excel in any one area, he is steady and solid and has plenty of room to grow into a late round steal.

No183: Adam Janosik D 5ft11, 176lbs Gatineau Olympics QMJHL

A tidy you Czech who still has room to grow and could form a nice pairing as his career develops.

I think that the team will stick to the CHL as we've enjoyed success drafting here, there is huge talent available here, and many of the players are closer to the EHCL/AHL than some other players

Thinking about the impending NHL draft, I can't help but think that with some skilful trading as a team we could end up with multiple 1st round picks.

At the moment we have the following selections:

Round1: 3

Round 2: 33, 36, and 50

Round 4: 90 and 91

and our own picks in Rounds 5 through 7.

In the 2004 draft of Ovechkin and Malkin, Tallon found himself picking 3rd and ended up drafting Cam Barker. This draft strikes me as similar with two prospects head and shoulders above the rest, with a significant fall off. Tallon might be tempted to trade down and there are 3 possible partners in Atlanta (8 & 24), Anaheim (12 & 29) and Phoenix (13 & 22). There are a number of forwards and defenders available around both of these numbers that would restock the ranks.

When there is considerable debate as to whether Fowler is the best defenseman or whether Connolly is the best forward remaining, I think it is best to trade down rather than reach as Tallon did in a poorer draft with Barker. The best defenseman taken in 2004, was Mike Green at No30.

Ending up with 13 and 22, we could look to see what we could do with our Round 2 picks. A number of teams in the lower half of Round 1 can trade down especially if they are focusing on a player sliding.

Last year, the Red Wings traded out of Round 1 for a R2 and a R3 pick. With no R2 selections both Washington and San Jose could be interested especially San Jose who also lack a fourth round selection.

Trading 36, 90 and 91 for the Sharks for 28 and 33 & 50 to the Capitals for 26 will give us two additional first rounders and a draft looking like:

13#

22#

26#

28#

Considering the spate of mocks around, Connolly is falling because of injury worries so could well be around at #13. Whilst we need offence, we also need defence because we have not many defensemen under contract and it could well be that Ellerby and Garrison might be with the Panthers from the start. We need depth here too. A draft of Brett Connolly LW/C (13), Dylan McIIrath D (22), Ryan Martindale C (26)  and Alex Petrovic D (28) brings size and skill at both ends of the rink

Of course we may mix picks with veterans such as moving Olecz (hopefully) and Vokoun (possibly) but Tallon could easily and immediately put his stamp on this team.