As the playoffs wind down and we edge closer and closer to crowning another Stanley Cup champion, the NHL draft is right around the corner. I figured this year I would take the initiative and cover some of the NHL draft. After the jump, I give you the lowdown on the upcoming draft.

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1. Edmonton Oilers- Taylor Hall-LW- Windsor Spitfires (OHL)- NHL Comparable: Pavel Bure

Stats: GP 57, G 40, A 66, Pts. 106

Hard to pass up this explosive offensive player. The duo of Hall and Jordan Eberle will be dangerous.

Future Lines:

HALL-Eberle-Hemsky

Paajarvi-Gagner-R.Jones

2. Boston Bruins (from TOR)- Erik Gudbrandson D- Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)- NHL Comparable: Chris Pronger

Stats: GP 41, G 2, A 21, Pts. 23, +11

The Bruins shock everyone by not picking Tyler Seguin because of their depth down the middle. Instead, they pick a successor to Zdeno Chara. He is a future #1 with good size at 6'3" and good passing

Future Lines:

GUDBRANSON-Wideman

Alexandrov-Cross

3. Florida Panthers- Tyler Seguin C- Pylmouth Whalers (OHL)- NHL Comparable: Joe Sakic

Stats: GP 63, G 48, A 58, Pts. 106, +17

The Panthers build around this exremely talented young playmaker

Booth-SEGUIN-Horton

Olesz-Weiss-Repik

4, Columbus Blue Jackets- Brandon Gormley D- Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)- NHL Comparable: Duncan Keith

Stats: GP 58, G 16, A 54, Pts. 70, +31

A great two-way and potential #1 d-man, he could fit nicely into the current group of offensive d-men in the jackets organization

GORMLEY-Moore

Russel-Tyutin

5. New York Islanders- Cam Fowler D- Windsor Spitfires (OHL)- NHL Comparable: Brian Leetch or Tomas Kaberle

Stats: GP 55, G 8, A 47, Pts. 55, +38

Fowler is a very skilled and smart puck-moving defenseman. Just what the Isles need. Also a good complement to de Haan.

FOWLER-de Haan

Harmonic-Gervais

6. Tampa Bay Lightning- Nino Niederreiter LW- Portland Winterhawks (WHL)- NHL Comparable: Rick Nash

Stats: GP 65, G 36, A 24, Pts. 60, +11

One of the most talked about prospects entering the draft, Swiss-phenom Niederreiter has shown great hockey sense along with great two-way play, back-checking, and somewhat of a mean-streak. Could be Stamkos's go-to guy for years to come

NIEDERREITER-Stamkos-Ashton

Malone-Tyrell-Panik

7. Carolina Hurricanes- Brett Connolly RW- Prince George Cougars (WHL)- NHL Comparable: Jeff Carter

Stats: GP 16, G 10, A 9, Pts. 19

Connolly missed much of the year with a hip injury which ended up requiring surgery dropping his stock, but nevertheless, he has great size and strength, along with great hands and the potential to be a big time goal scorer.

Ruutu-Staal-CONNOLLY

Bowman-Boychuk-Dwyer

8. Atlanta Thrashers- Ryan Johanssen C- Portland Winterhawks (WHL)- NHL Comparable: Jean Ratelle

Stats: GP 71, G 25, A 44, Pts. 69

This kid has seen his stock rise all year and the Thrashers will need a new first line center to replace Nik Antropov in the near future. He is a strong skater, great puck distributor and scorer.

E.Kane-JOHANSSEN-Little

Bergfors-Cormier-Armstrong

9. Minnesota Wild- Alexander Burmistrov F- Barrie Colts (OHL)- NHL Comparable: Vincent Lecavlier

GP 62, G 22, A 43, Pts. 65, +32

Burmistrov has the flashy goal scoring moves and finesse that will fill the seats of the Xcel Center and be the go-to man for Mikko Koivu for many years

BURMISTROV-Koivu- Latendresse

Kalus-Wellman-Kobasew

10. New York Rangers- Emerson Etem F- Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)- NHL Comparable: Tomas Holmstrom

GP 72, G 37, A 27, Pts. 64, +8

Etem is very hard to knock off the puck, a terror near the net, and has good hands. Too good for the Rangers to passover.

ETEM-Grachev-Gaborik

Dubinsky-Anisimov- Callahan

picks 11-20 coming soon...

I put off writing this article until after the trade deadline and I'm glad I had. As we all very well know, Luca Caputi was traded to Toronto in the Poni deal. After the jump, I'll explain my takes on the Caputi trade, future forward lineups, and stock up and stock down prospects

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I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I have many fond memories of my dad taking me to Penguins games and getting to see Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr play. But I moved to an area that is inhabited by Flyers fans, Capitals fans, and just general Crosby haters.  No, not Hell, but Hershey, Pennsylvania. After the jump Ill tell you about watching the playoffs behind enemy lines

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