Who goes first? NHL.com experts can't agree

Saturday, 05.16.2009 / 10:00 AM / 2009 NHL Entry Draft

By NHL.com Staff

With the order for the 2009 Entry Draft coming into greater focus, NHL.com's draft analysts decided to take another crack at who we think the teams will consider taking in the first round of this year's selection process.

Staff writer Brad Holland says London Knights center John Tavares, NHL Central Scouting's top-rated North American skater in its final rankings, will be the top choice by the New York Islanders.

Staff writer Adam Kimelman, however, sees the Isles opting for giant Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, Central Scouting's top-rated European skater.

There were a few other changes since the last time Kimelman and Holland looked at the potential first round choices. You can follow along and see is rising and falling in the eyes of the clubs.

The Draft order is based on the lottery and the teams eliminated in the first two rounds of the playoffs, in inverse order of points. Non-division winners eliminated in the first round will pick 15-21, and eliminated division winners taking spots 22-26. Picks 27 and 28 will go to the teams that lose in the conference finals; the loser in the Stanley Cup Final will pick 29th; the Stanley Cup champion will pick No. 30.
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