Projecting the first round of the 2007 Entry Draft

When the NHL gathers in Columbus on Friday for the 2007 Entry Draft, you'll hear tones of quiet optimism amid all the talk about a relatively weak crop of talent.

"There's no [Sidney] Crosby or [Alexander] Ovechkin here," one scout says. "There are no quick fixes. But there are a lot of kids with a chance to become good NHLers, and more than a few who could be pretty special players."

The consensus heading into the weekend is that there are three top-end talents: Patrick Kane, Kyle Turris and James Van Riemsdyk. Once you get past them, it's a total crapshoot.

That's what makes this year's mock draft so challenging. A player that looks like a steal for one team is on the do-not-draft list of another. So in compiling this list, I've looked at who is most likely to make sense at a certain spot for a certain club.

It's worth noting that most teams don't draft for need -- they go for the player they believe to be the best available when it's their turn. The draft is all about acquiring assets that either will line up for you, or can be dealt for a missing piece later on. Most players in this year's class aren't expected to contribute for a few years anyway ... and who knows what a team will need at that point.

With all that in mind, here's how we see things playing out during Friday's first round:

Mock NHL Draft Pick Team Pos. Player Team Ht./Wt. Age 1 RW Patrick Kane London Knights (OHL) 5-9/160 18 The Hawks have never before had the first overall pick, and while they won't get a Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin-type superstar on Friday, they have the chance to pick up a crowd-pleasing offensive dynamo. Kane -- who led the OHL in scoring in both the regular season and the playoffs as a rookie -- may be small, but he's fearless in traffic and equally adept at dishing and finishing. He'll play a key role in revitalizing this moribund franchise alongside 2006 first-rounder Jonathan Toews. 2 LW James Van Riemsdyk USA NTDP 6-3/192 18 As the Ducks proved, size still matters in the new NHL and that makes this massive winger a likely bet at this spot. He has good speed and enough offensive skill that he led the Under-18 team in scoring. But the element that excites scouts the most is the belief that he has more upside potential than any player in the draft. In time, he should develop into a first-line scoring winger with a nasty physical edge. Van Riemsdyk will join the University of New Hampshire in 2007-08. 3 C Kyle Turris Burnaby Express (BCHL) 6-0/170 17 Turris remains a viable contender to go first overall, but odds are he'll drop to Phoenix at No. 3. If that happens, it's a great break for the Coyotes. Turris has drawn comparisons to Joe Sakic for his elite playmaking and finishing skills (66 goals and 121 points in just 53 games), but a more accurate comparison may be Paul Kariya because of his skating and unflagging work ethic. He's one of those pay-any-price kids that make life easy for a coach. All that stands between Turris and NHL stardom is some time to add weight and strength. He'll begin working on that in earnest next season at the University of Wisconsin. 4 D Karl Alzner Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 6-2/205 18 There are no true No. 1 defense prospects in this draft, but Alzner looks like the next best thing: a legitimate No. 2. Scouts routinely describe him as responsible and reliable. While that may not seem like glowing praise, it accurately describes the sort of dependable, 25-minute effort you'll eventually get from Alzner. His game lacks offensive flash, but he's physical, reads the play as well as anyone, and he makes a great first pass. 5 C Sam Gagner London Knights (OHL) 5-10/191 17 The son of ex-NHL sniper Dave Gagner has the same top-end hockey sense as his dad, but is more of a playmaker than a finisher. Scouts rave about his leadership skills (he'll make a solid captain some day), vision and willingness to go into the tough areas to make a play. He projects to be an elite second-line center, and would be a natural fit with Alexander Semin. 6 RW Jakub Voracek Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 6-1/192 17 "Playing it safe" may equal death on the ice, but there's something to be said for it on draft day. Voracek doesn't have the upside of the top-three forwards, but he doesn't have the downside either. He's also closer to NHL-readiness. Voracek has good size, great hockey sense and he's a willing competitor. The Oilers can pencil him in as a top-six forward when he makes the jump. 7 D Keaton Ellerby Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 6-4/186 18 The Blue Jackets haven't taken a defenseman in the first round in seven years, making this the perfect opportunity to fill that void. There's a lot to like about Ellerby's potential, starting with that big body. He also boasts a howitzer from the point -- he won the CHL's hardest shot contest -- and is very mobile for his size. But he's dogged by questions about his hockey sense, and that leaves many scouts pegging him as a second-unit blueliner at best. 8 C Logan Couture Ottawa 67s (OHL) 6-0/195 18 The Bruins are looking for character guys and Couture fits that mold. An early-season bout with mono derailed his quest to be a top-five pick, but Couture won't fall too far. He's a natural playmaker, blessed with great vision and top-end hockey sense. He plays a dependable two-way game and brings consistent energy to the rink. Some scouts question his skating, but he's not a plodder. He'll mature into a dependable second-line pivot. 9 RW Alexei Cherepanov Omsk (Russia) 6-0/185 17 He's the biggest enigma of the draft, dogged by questions about his consistency and motivation as well as issues revolving around the lack of a transfer agreement with Russia. Still, this dynamic winger has too many plus-skills to drop any further, especially considering St. Louis' desire to grab offense in this draft. At his best, Cherepanov looks like an elite point producer with game-breaking ability. He led the World Junior Championship in scoring, and as a freshman in the RSL topped the rookie scoring totals of Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. He could emerge as the most productive player in this draft. 10 C Zach Hamill Everett Silvertips (WHL) 5-10/180 18 The first thing scouts mention when talking about Hamill is that he captured the Western League scoring title. The second is that his skating is a real concern. So how is he a top-10 pick for a team that can't afford a mistake? Simple. Hamill is a gutsy player who's willing to pay the price to create his offense. He's smart and makes the most of his teammates. He leads by example and plays bigger than his size. He could become a decent second-liner.