About half an hour to go until the New York Islanders do one of two things: Take to the stage and announce who their number one pick is or trade down with the Toronto Maple Leafs and watch them take to the stage to announce John Tavares as their number one pick. The later is the certain bet if Brian Burke is to believed who just a few months ago promised he would do everything he could to move his team up to the top pick to get their dream player. But it isn’t crucial that the Leafs get Tavares, giving up too much just to get one player is never to wise, but it should be exciting to see what happens regardless.

Tavares is a gifted player, no doubt about it, but a lot of people are wondering if he is being built up to more than he is. Is he the next Sidney Crosby or the next Jason Spezza? Both great players but one a go-to elite superstar, the other just a superstar. Tavares will have a great career in the NHL but whether he could be the Leafs man to build a team around remains to be seen … We mightn’t even get the chance to find out if the Islanders do not bite.

Of course there is the possibility that the Leafs might not need to move up to the number one spot to get their man as it is not a given that the Islanders want Tavares as their number one pick. Defenseman Victor Hedman is the predicted number two pick but the Islanders might well be looking for a young defensive stud to build their team around at number one.

The trades are indeed just as exciting and not just trading picks to move up in the draft but moving the players also. Some big names could be moved in the next few hours. Dany Heatley has requested a move out of Ottawa and so this could be the chance for Ottawa to move up in the draft if necessary. Chris Pronger is also on the block as Scott Niedermayer has decided he will come back to play another year with Anaheim and so Pronger might well be used as bait tonight. Vincent Lecavalier has been a trade rumor for over a year now with Montreal and Los Angeles linked and although it is his big salary that Tampa are struggling to cover, it seems unlikely that he will be moved tonight since they have the second overall pick and will likely go for Hedman should he still be available. Tampa who went from Cup Champions in ‘04 to the NHL’s worst team in ‘08 took Steve Stamkos with the first pick last year and he cracked the NHL straight away. He struggled through the first half of the year before exploding into fine form in the run-in. Hedman for their defense in their re-build would be an excellent compliment to Stamkos.

But right now the whole thing is a case of, ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ for what might happen, but one thing is absolutely certain … the first round of the NHL draft is one of the highlights and most exciting moments of the NHL year where the future of the game develops before your eyes and teams make a lot of trades to further shape their futures. The majority of the first round picks will reach the NHL in some capacity at some point, the majority of the top 10 will be expected to make an impact in the NHL while the top 3 will be expected to be stars.

There is less than twenty minutes until the show starts now and the clock will start on the Islanders shortly after.

Read more about: John Tavares, Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Victor Hedman | ALL SUBJECTS |

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