So while there may not be a projected "franchise player" in this draft class, there are still plenty of solid prospects to choose from.
Jourdon LaBarber filed this yesterday after taking a tour with some of the top prospects around Chicago. It's looking like it could be one of those drafts where the Top 15 to 20 prospects could go in almost any order:
With barely 24 hours to go until their futures are decided at United Center on Friday, media day on the Chicago River served as a welcome distraction. Most of the prospects were in agreement that the reality of their situation was only now starting to set in.
"A little bit, yeah," Mississauga forward Owen Tippett said. "You try not to think about it too much. I'm not really picky, just trying to be grateful and thankful for whatever team picks me."
The thing is, as much as any year in the past, uncertainty is abound for all of these prospects. Even Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier, the projected top two picks, don't know which order they'll go in. Beyond them, anything can happen.
"I think for the most part, besides Nolan and Nico, it's pretty up in the air," Casey Mittelstadt, a center committed to the University of Minnesota, said. "We'll see what happens. But like I said, I don't really don't think there's a bad spot."
Who could the Sabres choose? We'll have more on that for you later today, but if you want to start doing your homework, Kris Baker's Top 31 is a very good place to start.
If you're more of a visual learner, take a half hour and watch all five episodes of Prospect Avenue. There's no chance you'll regret it.
Forward Options at 8:
