The 2009 NHL Entry Draft is set for Friday and the major debate revolves around the player the New York Islanders will take with the top pick.
It is widely expected the top two players taken will be Sweden's Victor Hedman (D, Modo) and John Tavares (F, London - OHL), but the order they go in remains to be seen. On Tuesday, NHL on TSN's Pierre McGuire and former NHL general manager Craig Button sat down and explained who they think teams will select in the draft.
The Islanders have been quiet over the way they are leaning with the first pick, but McGuire and Button did not have the luxury for waiting until Friday. The two Mock Draft participants had differing views on the player the Isles will take.
"It has to be John Tavares," said McGuire. "The biggest reason why is 58 goals last year playing for both London and Oshawa. He is a complete player offensively and has great offensive fundamentals. His stick is on the ice at all times and he knows how to elevate his game at key times."
McGuire has Hedman going to the Tampa Bay Lightning at two.
In Button's mind, Hedman would be the top selection and Tavares would go in second spot.
"[Hedman] can play every area of the game, he is complete. He can play with the puck, without the puck, offensively, defensively, he is a 30-minutes a night defenceman," explained Button.
They agreed on the three and four picks, both taking Brampton Battalion forward Matt Duchene at three and Vancouver Giants forward Evander Kane at four.
With regards to the Canadian teams; the Toronto Maple Leafs have the 7th overall selection and McGuire has them taking bruising defenceman Jared Cowen (Spokane - WHL). Button thinks there will be a Schenn family reunion in Toronto with Brayden joining older brother Luke.
The Ottawa Senators have the 9th pick and Button thinks they will add depth on the blueline by selecting Sweden's Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Leksand). McGuire thinks the Sens will go with a forward and take Nazem Kadri (London - OHL).
Button and McGuire agreed on winger Scott Glennie (Brandon - WHL) going to the Edmonton Oilers at the 10th spot in the first round, but disagreed on who would end up in Montreal.
McGuire has the Canadiens using their 18th pick on centre Louis Leblanc (Omaha - USHL). Button selected Jordan Caron (Rimouski - QMJHL) for Montreal and had high praise saying the winger reminded him of John LeClair.
The pair once again agreed on defenceman Dylan Olsen (Camrose - AJHL) being taken by the Calgary Flames at number 20. Olsen has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for 2009.
The Canucks will be the final Canadian team to pick in the first round on Friday. McGuire sees defenceman Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon - WHL) as potentially being a good fit for Vancouver. Button thinks the Canucks will go with a forward and take Carter Ashton (Lethbridge - WHL).
