Oshawa Generals right wing Hunter Smith is one year removed from slipping through the cracks at the 2013 NHL Draft at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The expectations are much greater this year when the 2014 draft is held at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, June 27-28.

"I didn't expect to be drafted after the year I had [in 2012-13], so it just gave me motivation to want it more this year and clearly it has paid off," Smith said. "I wanted to prove to teams [at the NHL Scouting Combine] that even though I'm a year late I still have a lot to bring. I wanted to give them a reason to draft me and show them that I'm going to be a pro one day."

After being passed over at the 2013 draft, following a season in which he played just 30 games after sustaining a hand injury, Smith rebounded in 2013-14 with 16 goals, 40 points and 100 penalty minutes in 64 games for the Generals. He followed that up with a great postseason, generating three goals, 11 points and 25 penalty minutes in 12 OHL playoff matches.

A gifted power forward projected to be a future second-line performer, he has a propensity for dropping the gloves whenever needed to defend a teammate.

Ottawa 67's defenseman Jacob Middleton might be a few years away from beginning his professional hockey career, but he has a good idea on what it might take to reach the highest level.

"You have to be the strongest guy on the ice both physically and mentally," Middleton said. "When you have guys like Sidney Crosby coming down on you, you must be mentally prepared for what's to come and physically prepared to take on someone of his ability."

Does Middleton, who stands 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, feel he's up to the challenge?

"I'm a physical defenseman and pretty aggressive," he said. "I'm a defensive-defenseman, but I was given opportunities on the power play in Ottawa as well because we were a younger team. I was able to showcase some skills up there, but as a pro, I think I'll be a stay-at-home guy."

NHL.com will take a look back at the NHL Draft from five, 10 and 20 years ago this week, leading up to the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. How would those drafts look today?

It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the 2004 NHL Draft gave us three of the best players in the game today.

There was a bit of a delay for the elite crop selected that year in Raleigh, N.C. Players had to wait to make their NHL debut due to the lockout that cancelled the 2004-05 season.

Edmonton Oilers head amateur scout Stu MacGregor doesn't believe the 2014 NHL Draft is as deep as previous years, but is confident several prospects within this class will ultimately develop into solid NHL performers.

The Oilers hope to target one of those future stars with the third choice in the first round slated to kick off at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on June 27. It marks the sixth straight year the Oilers will be picking among the top 10 and fourth time in the past five years they will hold a choice in the top three.

One thing is certain, MacGregor and his staff need to make the pick count as the organization currently doesn't own another selection until the fourth round (No. 91).

Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Kevin Devine knows nothing is guaranteed, even with a multitude of high draft picks past and present.

"We're excited about our prospects, but at the same time, just because we get all these picks doesn't mean it's not going to be a challenge," Devine said. "We've seen other teams have early picks for a long time and struggle, so nothing is guaranteed when you go down this route.

"It's just something you hope turns out well and you can surround the younger players with guys who can support them, develop them the right way, and hopefully it all works out in the end."

NHL.com will take a look back at the NHL Draft from five, 10 and 20 years ago this week, leading up to the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. How would those drafts look today?

Looking back at the 1994 NHL Draft, it might be best to start from the bottom when searching for star players.

Of the 26 players taken in the first round, seven scored more than 100 NHL goals. Fourteen played more than 300 NHL games; three never reached the League at all.

Then look at the sixth round. Six of the 26 players picked reached the NHL; five of the six played many more than 300 games, and the sixth played 296.