Philadelphia, PA (Best E Casino) - The National Hockey League will hold its annual Entry Draft this weekend at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, and the
Tampa Bay Lightning will get the first shot at this year's pool of talented youngsters.
The Lightning have the No. 1 overall selection for the third time in team history, and for the first time since taking centerman Vincent Lecavalier in 1998.
Tampa Bay finished tied with the Los Angeles for the worst record in the NHL this past season, as both teams managed just 71 points. The Kings will have the second pick in this year's draft.
Unlike last year, there is little question as to who the first pick will be come Friday night in Ottawa. The Lightning have all but stated that they will take 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.
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. Heled 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.
However, after Stamkos there is a great deal of defensive talent with fellow OHLers Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pietrangelo topping that list.
All three blueliners are considered to be complete packages who excel at bringing the puck up ice and contributing on offense as well as stopping the opposition from scoring.
There is also a rising talent coming out of Russia in Nikita Filatov, an 18- year-old left winger from Moscow.
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.
The young Russian 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.
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 occur in the days leading up to the occasion or the day of the draft. This year isn't expected to be any different in that regard.
The first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft will begin Friday evening at 7 p.m. (et) and rounds 2-7 will start on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. The entire first-round order is as follows:
1. Tampa Bay; 2. Los Angeles; 3. Atlanta; 4. St. Louis; 5. NY Islanders; 6. Columbus; 7. Toronto; 8. Phoenix; 9. Nashville (from FLA); 10. Vancouver; 11. Chicago; 12. Anaheim (from EDM); 13. Buffalo; 14. Carolina; 15. Nashville; 16. Boston; 17. Calgary; 18. Ottawa; 19. Columbus (from COL); 20. NY Rangers; 21. New Jersey; 22. Edmonton (from ANA); 23. Washington; 24. Minnesota; 25. Montreal; 26. Buffalo (from SJS) 27. Philadelphia; 28. Los Angeles (from DAL); 29. Atlanta (from PIT); 30. Detroit.
