Philadelphia, PA (Best E Casino) - The 2008 NHL Entry Draft is almost here and unlike last year there is little question as to who will be the first pick come Friday night in Ottawa.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have all but said they will pick 18-year-old Sarnia Sting centerman Steven Stamkos with the first overall selection, but it's anybody's guess as to how the rest of the draft will unfold.

After Stamkos there is a great deal of defensive talent with fellow OHLers Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pietrangelo topping that list.

There is also a rising talent coming out of Russia in Nikita Filatov, an 18- year-old left winger from Moscow.

Once again there isn't a goaltender eligible for this year's draft that could be considered a can't miss prospect. In fact, it would be surprising if any netminder is taken before the latter stages of the first round this year.

The NHL draft is usually loaded with trades, whether they come in the days leading up to the occasion or happen the day of the draft. This year isn't expected to be any different in that regard.

Here is a look at some of the names you will see called this weekend.

STEVEN STAMKOS - C - Sarnia (OHL)

Stamkos is the top-rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and has solidified his standing as the best available player in this year's draft. He led the Sarnia Sting with 105 points during the 2007-08 OHL season, notching 58 goals and 47 assists in 61 games. He also upped his stock by posting one goal and five assists for gold-medal winning Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Championships. The six-foot, 176-pound Stamkos is an excellent skater and strong passer with the offensive skills to develop into a franchise player. The Lightning are hoping the arrival of Stamkos will help ease the loss of pivot Brad Richards, Tampa's former second-line center who was dealt to Dallas at the most recent trade deadline.

NIKITA FILATOV - LW - CSKA 2 (Russia)

Filatov dominated at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic and that's one of the reasons he is the top-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting. He posted four goals and five assists for bronze-medal winning Team Russia and also finished the tournament with a plus-seven rating. Filatov also had an excellent season for CSKA's top junior team, registering 32 goals and 43 assists in 34 games. Filatov possesses blazing speed and an array of offensive weapons, but the 18-year-old's intangible qualities are also driving up his stock. Filatov is considered to be a leader in the making and his ability to speak fluent English should help his transition to the NHL. Also, the youngster has stated that he wants to play in North America as soon as possible and is willing to do whatever it takes to make that a reality.

ZACH BOGOSIAN - D - Peterborough (OHL)

Bogosian, a native of upstate New York, is one of three blue chip defense prospects coming out of the Ontario Hockey League this season. The 17-year-old comes with a solid athletic pedigree, as two of his family members played Division-I football. Ike, Zach's father, played at Syracuse in the early 1980s and his uncle Steve played at Army in the early 70s. Bogosian is the second- rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and the top defenseman on that list. He played in 60 games for the Peterborough Petes in 2007-08 and led the team with 61 points (11 goals, 50 assists). The 6-2, 200-pound Bogosian has solid skating and stickhandling ability as well as a strong shot.

DREW DOUGHTY - D - Guelph (OHL)

Doughty's draft stock rose as a result of his outstanding play for Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Championships. The 18-year-old was named the best defenseman at the tournament after notching four assists in seven games for the gold-medal winning club. Now, he is the third-rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and the second defenseman on that list. Doughty also had a solid season for the Guelph Storm of the OHL in 2007-08, posting 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists) in 50 games. He is superb offensively, but still has some work to do in the defensive zone.

ALEX PIETRANGELO - D - Niagara (OHL)

At 6-3, 206 pounds, Pietrangelo is a highly-skilled defensive prospect out of the OHL. The 18-year-old is the sixth-rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and the fifth-rated defenseman on that list. He played in 60 games for the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL in 2007-08 and recorded 53 points on 14 goals and 40 assists. Pietrangelo is not an explosive skater, but has the overall offensive skill set to quarterback a power play. He is also still growing into his 6-foot-3 frame and should project as a physical defenseman in the NHL.

KIRILL PETROV - RW - Kazan (Russia)

Petrov is an imposing physical specimen with the offensive skills to dominate in the NHL. Petrov, a 6-3, 200-pound right wing, is the second-rated European skater by NHL Central Scouting, coming in one place behind his countryman Filatov. Unlike Filatov, Petrov played at the highest level of Russian professional hockey last year and notched four goals and six assists in 47 games with Kazan of the Super League. He also played for Team Russia at the 2008 U-18 World Junior Championships and had seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in six games for the silver-medal winning squad.

MIKKEL BOEDKER - LW - Kitchener (OHL)

For the second straight season it appears that a Danish player is slated to go in the first round. Denmark, never really known as a hockey powerhouse, had its highest-ever selected player in 2007, when Lars Eller was taken by the St. Louis Blues with the 13th overall pick. Boedker, an 18-year-old winger playing in the Ontario Hockey League, is expected to go even higher than Eller. Since Boedker is playing in Canada he is the 11th-rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, but would be ranked higher than that if he were on the European list. Boedker had a strong first season in North America this past year, notching 73 points (29 goals, 44 assists) in 62 games for the Kitchener Rangers. He was also the second leading scorer in the OHL playoffs, posting 35 points (9g, 26a) in 20 games. Played for Team Denmark at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic and tied for the team lead with six points (2g, 4a).

ZACH BOYCHUK - C - Lethbridge (WHL)

Boychuk hurt his stock with a disappointing tournament for Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Championships, as he was held scoreless in seven games for the gold-medal winners. However, the explosive skater is still the eighth- rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and the third forward on that list. The 5-9, 175-pound Boychuk played in 61 games during the regular season for Lethbridge of the WHL in 2007-08 and posted 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists). He was also second in scoring during the WHL playoffs, notching a league-high 13 goals and eight assists in 18 games. In addition to his superb acceleration, Boychuk is also considered to be a strong skater with excellent offensive instincts and a solid shot.

LUKE SCHENN - D - Kelowna (WHL)

While the OHL has its trio of all-around defenseman, the Western Hockey League boasts the best pure shutdown defenseman available in this year's draft in Schenn. Already 6-3, 216 pounds, Schenn played in 2007-08 for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL and notched seven goals and 28 assists in 57 games. He was also a member of the gold-medal winning Team Canada squad at the 2008 World Junior Championships, leading the Canadians with a plus-five rating in the tournament. Schenn's Kelowna teammate Tyler Myers, a 6-7 prospect, is also expected to go in the first round.

COLIN WILSON - C - Boston University (Hockey East)

Wilson, who was raised in Winnipeg but born in Greenwich, Connecticut, is the top-rated collegiate player in this year's draft and the 10th-rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. The 6-1, 215-pound centerman recently completed his freshman season at Boston University and was third on the Terriers in scoring with 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists). Wilson played for Team USA at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic and notched six goals and one assist in six games. Although he's not known as a strong skater, Wilson's strength and balance are his biggest assets on offense. He also has an NHL pedigree as his father Carey Wilson played for Calgary, Hartford and the New York Rangers.