It’s hard to imagine this phenomenon of a player has any competition for the number 1 spot in this year’s draft, but alas, he does. Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman is making headway to the top of the 09 draft. Often mentioned in the same breath as fellow country man and six-time Norris trophy winner Niklas Lidstrom, Hedman has quickly drawn favorable comparisons to the Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Pronger. Certainly, there will be doubters, especially with the recent trend of over hyped prospects emerging out of Europe. Including but not limited to: classic late-bloomer Fabian Brunnstrom, who has yet to step foot on NHL ice, but is already drawing comparisons to Henrik Zetterberg and Daniel Alfredsson, which mind you is very possible, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Lest we forget glorified Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman Anton Stralman, who by many accounts from over-zealous Maple Leaf followers is considered to be the next Bobby Orr. However, while these players receive warranted attention, this particular 6’6, 220lbs defenseman is considered the complete player. He skates like the wind and plays a risky, bordering on dirty game, and completes that with sublime offensive skills. Last year at the age of 17, he was playing full-time for MoDo in Sweden’s Elite League (SEL). A paucity in a league deemed to be not that far removed from the caliber of the NHL. This upcoming season, he will be expected to be a staple on the parent squad. He has franchise defenseman written all over him and has proved time and time again, whether it be in the SEL or a circuit in the World Juniors, that he can play with the best of them.

Of course, there are a select few others that may take the ranks of the #1 spot this fall. 2006 1^st overall selection of the Spokane Chiefs; Jared Cowen is turning heads in the WHL, and is widely considered to be a lock in the top 5. Another standout comes from the WHL, his name is Brayden Schenn. Sibling to Toronto Maple Leaf’s first round selection Luke Schenn. Unlike his brother, he plays forward. In his inaugural season, he amassed 28 goals and 43 assists, for 71 points in 66 games. By all accounts, he is expected to improve on those numbers with aplomb. Rounding out the top 5 is Swedish prospect; Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi. A name I still have trouble trying to pronounce, this slick Swede is being mentioned in the same breath as Ilya Kovalchuck. While these players have an amazing amount of skill, scouts across the globe believe that the number 1 pick belongs to one of John Tavares or Victor Hedman. This upcoming season will be the mitigating factor in which we see these potential franchise players end up.

Personally, I believe that these two players have an inordinate amount of talent. They are both masters at their craft and equally skilled in their own regard. That is why I imagine that when D-day arrives, it will be a choice of position rather than skill. For years, the philosophy amongst NHL GM’s is that they will always take the best player available. While that statement still rings true, I believe that these two franchise players are equal in talent and will ultimately be up to the specific teams needs. For the purpose of simplicity, let’s analyze only the projected bottom five teams of this years’ NHL season. The Atlanta Thrashers, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings & St. Louis Blues all have a legitimate shot and receiving the 1^st overall pick this June. With Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract coming to a completion at the conclusion of the 09-10 season, the Atlanta Thrashers will be desperate for offence. Furthermore, with the inclusion of recently drafted Zach Bogosian, they already have a potential franchise defenseman. Could the addition of John Tavares entice Kovalchuck to stay? Next is the New York Islanders. Seemingly devoid of any top-line talent at forward or defense, they could go either way. A duo of John Tavares and Kyle Okposo could be very intriguing. However, they are severely lacking in defensive prospects as well. The Toronto Maple Leafs recent drafting of Luke Schenn pretty much eliminates them from choosing Hedman, as they are desperate for a scoring forward. What better way to replace long-time captain Mats Sundin with home-grown native John Tavares, something that will certainly please Leaf nation. The Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are two teams that are stock-piled with defensive prospects. While the former has Drew Doughty, Thomas Hickey and Jack Johnson, the latter has Eric Johnson, Alex Pietrangelo and Steve Wagner. These two teams would almost certainly jump at the opportunity to bolster their lineup with some much needed offence. At first glance, it almost seems that the glaring need for these five bottom-feeding teams is offence, in which John Tavares certainly fits the bill. But, in what may become one of the biggest debates throughout the NHL’s 08-09 season, it really comes down to choice. Who would you pick?

Now some of you may say; the last four years have been horrendous for Leaf fans.   They have had to endure a half-decade long playoff drought; so, the Leafs must make the playoffs.  Others would say; rebuilding a team is a process, this method takes time.  This recent trend of black and white thinking has become an eternal struggle, it is an argument I have had with many followers of the Maple Leafs.  Though I do not have a dogmatic, narrow-minded view of the current Maple Leaf situation, I am inclined to agree with the latter.  Simply because while the Maple Leafs do have a myriad of future assets including but not limited to; Jiri Tlusty, Nikolai Kulemin, Justin Pogge and the newly-acquired Mikhail Grabovski, to name a few. None of these potential stars really stands out to attain the status of super-star.  Now that they have finally obtained one of these superstars in Luke Schenn, it is time to acquire someone equally as high in status and talent to launch the Maple Leafs into triumph.

Take a second to look around the league, while the most extreme example being the Pittsburgh Penguins (Crosby, Malkin, Fleury) there are many others around the league who have had high draft picks over the last few years and will surely be successful in the near future.  Perhaps the most talked about turn-around in hockey, the Chicago Blackhawks, have a dynamic duo in Jonathan Toews (3^rd overall in 06) and Patrick Kane (1^st overall in 08) to go along with their abundance of other career NHLers such as Cam Barker, Dave Bolland and Jack Skille.  The Los Angeles Kings who have been quietly stock-piling future talent for years, made there biggest splash this year with 2^nd overall pick Drew Doughty to accompany future stalwart Jack Johnson (3^rd overall in 05).  Another standout of course is Wayne Gretzky’s new and improved Phoenix Coyotes who acquired Danish prospect Mikkel Boedker (8^th overall in 08) to complement Kyle Turris (3^rd overall in 07) and Peter Mueller (8^th overall in 06). FYI: I firmly believe these aforementioned teams will be a top the NHL standings in no later than two years.

These are just mere examples of what the Leafs are now facing. But one thing is abundantly obvious; most dominant teams are built on at least two or three standout prospects.   It has been 41 years since the great city of Toronto has seen the Leafs hoist the Stanley Cup.  Is it really too much to ask to endure one more season of failure?  Personally, I do not wish for a top 10 pick, I believe it’s imperative to obtain a top 3 pick.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have the choice between mega-prospects John Tavares, Victor Hedman and Luke Schenn’s brother; Brayden, among others. The Maple Leafs have been mired in mediocrity for so many years, it has certainly become an exercise in futility.  Many Leaf followers wish for the return of Mats Sundin and for some strange reason, Maple Leaf brass is seemingly leaving the door open for his return.  The team Cliff Fletcher has fielded for the 08-09 season has hockey pundits everywhere saying that not only is this team not good enough to make the playoffs, they will be lucky to escape with the 13^th spot in the Eastern Conference.  It is almost set in stone that the Leafs are a shoe-in for another playoff mishap for the fifth consecutive year. With presumably the only bottom-feeders below them being the Garth Snow inflicted; New York Islanders and the one-pony show; Atlanta Thrashers.  So if Sundin loyalties get their wish, it is my belief that it may only move them up a mere one, maybe two spots in the standings.  Is that really what we want?  You really have to ask yourselves Leaf-fans, do you want another Nik Antropov in the 09 draft, or someone who can vault this team to Stanley Cup success? So I implore you Leaf fans, as a life-long fan myself, we must lose, really lose, to win.

GM Garth Snow conducted an extensive search for a head coach following Ted Nolan’s departure in July. He interviewed several former NHL coaches, some of whom have won Stanley cups (John Tortorella and Bob Hartley).

In the end, though, Snow decided that Gordon was the man to reverse the Isles’ fortunes. Gordon earned AHL Coach of the Year honors last season and compiled a 221-141-20-27 record with Providence.

I feel that Snow made the correct move. Gordon has extensive experience grooming young players, a facet that made him attractive as the Islanders roster will certainly feature plenty of inexperience in the next few years. He stresses a strong defensive and positional hockey philosophy which should keep the team involved in many close games. A key factor is that Gordon is a former goaltender and should be in a position to enhance All Star netminder Rick Dipietro’s strengths and work with him on his weaknesses.

I like the fact that the job was given to a man who will be motivated to prove he can coach at the NHL level. Gordon brings an energy to the position that should be infectious and my guess is that the Islanders will ice a hardworking team every night.

The noted philosopher Lao Tze once said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” The team has a long way to go before they will be considered to be serious contenders. However, with hiring of Gordon, they make have taken that all important first step.

Kirill Petrov-RW-6′3, 218 lbs.-Shoots Left- 3rd round pick (73rd Overall)

Positives: Power forward type who can dominate a game…powerful skater who is tough to knock off the puck…possesses a wealth of talent in the goal scoring and creativity departments

Negatives: His motivation level is suspect…doesn’t always utilize his talents to their greatest potential…may never see the NHL due to his Russian playing commitments

Analysis: Petrov was rated a top ten talent at one point, but fears about him staying permanently overseas scared off many potential suitors. If (admittedly, a huge if) the Islanders can woo him over to America when his contract expires in two years, he may be the steal of the draft. However, the Russian Hockey Federation will be much more vigilant about letting their brightest stars slip away in the future, so the odds of seeing him in an Islander uniform seem slim at this point.

My grade for this pick: B-

Aaron Ness-D-5′9, 157 lbs.-Shoots Left- 2nd round pick (40th Overall)

Positives: Is an extremely fast and agile skater…possesses great passing ability and can quarterback the power-play…has great hockey sense and vision and clogs up passing and shooting lanes instinctively

Negatives: Small stature will keep him from reaching his potential unless he grows significantly…he will also need to get much stronger physically to play defense in the NHL…needs to work on his defensive skills more as he is primarily an offensive weapon right now.

Analysis: The Islanders fell in love with Ness’ puck moving abilities and hope he will someday be a factor in overcoming their power-play woes. He’s still quite young and should fill out his frame a little bit more. However, he’ll have to work extremely hard to overcome his size issues and become New York’s answer to smaller, swifter players in the new NHL.

My Grade for this pick: B-

Frank Mazzola: You were drafted 8th overall in 1994. Obviously, being selected that high comes with high expectations. Did you feel any adverse pressure to perform because of this and, if so, how did the pressure affect your approach to the game?

Jason Wiemer: There was definitely pressure, but I think, being that young, I didn’t even realize the magnitude of it. Looking back now, the ignorance was probably a blessing.

(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Los Angeles Kings ties up Jason Wiemer #28 of the Minnesota Wild in front of the net in the first period during the NHL game on January 26, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

FM: You’ve played with 6 different teams (Tampa Bay, Calgary, Florida, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey) during your career. Where was your favorite place to play and why (location, fans, the area…etc.)?

JW: Of course, playing in Florida was nice. However, my favorite place was Minnesota. They have a great organization, some of the best coaches and fantastic fans.

FM: Tell us about the most memorable goal you scored in the NHL.

JW: It would have to be my first one. I would like to tell you it was end to end, top shelf, but I’d be lying. It was against Quebec and I think it went off my shin pad. But it was my first N.H.L goal and it was pretty exciting.

FM: Were there any particular players you dreaded suiting up against (due to their skill, fighting ability…etc)?

JW: I don’t know if I dreaded playing anyone, but there were a few I didn’t look forward to. Tony Twist was a guy that made you look over your shoulder. I was lucky enough to play against some of the game’s greats like Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier. Playing guys like that was always a thrill and something I’ll never forget

FM: Who was your least favorite goalie to face and why?

JW: I’d have to say Hasek. He was in his prime and was pretty much unbeatable. Not to mention, he would be out in the corner playing pucks or at the blue line, flopping around like a fish.

FM: Hockey players are notorious for having pre-game and season-long rituals. Can you share with us any particular superstitions or routines you might have employed during your career?

JW: Actually, I was one of the rare ones that tried not to get wrapped up in superstitions. Maybe that’s because I never got on a long enough hot streak to keep doing the same thing (laughs).

FM: How did the game change from the time you were drafted up until the end of your career? What sorts of adjustments did you have to make to adapt?

JW: The game has changed in many ways in the last fifteen years. I think the biggest difference has been the size of the players. When I was drafted, teams were all about big guys. Now, they are leaning towards the smaller, faster players. The most important thing for me was to get faster. I dropped six or seven pounds to try and accomplish that.

FM: Now that you are retired, do you have any plans to seek employment within the league (coaching, player agent, league official… etc.)?

JW: I don’t have any plans to get back involved with the NHL, but I am doing some coaching here in Calgary [ Note: Jason is instructing this summer at National Sports Development, a youth hockey camp.]. It’s been fun to stay involved in the game and pass on any knowledge I may have learned to young players.

FM: Has the labor dispute which caused the cancellation of the 2004-05 season affected the relationship between the owners and the players? How did you spend your time during the lockout?

JW: I don’t know if has affected the relationship that much. As you can see, the players are still making big salaries, some even bigger than before. So, I think the players are happy with the new CBA. As for the lockout, I spent most of the time doing things I wasn’t able to do when I was playing…. a lot of hunting, fishing, hiking and skiing. It’s a good thing I could play hockey because…well, I’m a really bad skier (laughs).

FM: In your opinion, can the salary cap continue to rise in the NHL despite falling revenue and flagging interest in the American market? Are the salaries that recent free agents have received out of line with the current economic state of the league?

JW: I don’t know if it can or not. Its funny, though: Before the lockout, all the owners were crying bankruptcy and now they’re paying out more than they were. The amount and length of some of the contracts is concerning, but wiser men than me are running these organizations. So, hopefully, the league will continue to thrive in Canadian markets and grow in some of the American ones

FM: Jason, thanks very much for your time. Good luck with the hockey camp and your other future endeavors.

JW: Thank you.

Ted Nolan and the New York Islanders officially parted company today in a move that has been brewing for months. GM Garth Snow announced that he will immediately begin searching for a replacement and has several candidates in mind.

I feel this was the right move for the organization to make. Clearly, the honeymoon was over and the Islanders weren’t lying when they stated the move was prompted by “philosophical differences”. Those differences couldn’t be more apparent: Nolan did not believe in the current youth movement and the Isles need a coach who will support one.

People can argue all day long about why quality free agents don’t come to Long Island. The fact is that they don’t and, for many valid reasons, I don’t see that changing anytime soon. New York also does not have the assets to improve itself through trades without sacrificing valuable draft picks. Therefore, the only way to right this ship is by drafting and developing quality prospects. There’s no doubt that there are going to be growing pains associated with this route. However, in the end, the organization will be better off.

Speculation is rampant over who might be hired as the next coach. There are several high profile contenders: John Tortarella, Paul Maurice, Bob Hartley and Dave Lewis are only some of the names being bandied about among fans. Rest assured, whoever takes the job must first and foremost be ready to develop young kids into NHL players and shouldn’t expect as much as a sniff of the Stanley Cup for quite a while.

Now Ryder was expected to leave, especially with the venu of Alex Tanguay, but a lot of people in Montreal were hoping Streit was still going to be a Habs next season? Personally, I wouldn’t have payed such a price for Streit since he didn’t really score all his points playing defence, he scored them playing forward and on the power play. People thought Montreal was going to lose their powerplay skills when they lost Sheldon Souray to free agency, but Streit was able to take over. Now I truly believe it is not going to take long before someone else takes Streit’s place and believe, we will forget his name faster than we forgot Souray’s.

Now Danis had already mentioned it to press: he does not intend on having a future with the Canadiens. Good enough. But it is going to be pretty hard for him to build a future when you are behind a guy like Rick DiPietro!

Mats Sundin is not sure yet of where and if he wants to play next season? Good, we respect your decision, we’ll allow you a week, maybe two. What? You need a month? Hell no. Sundin has been acting very disrespecful to all the teams that are showing interest for him. If he feels he is not interested now, don’t make them wait after you so that you can say no later and watch them end up with nothing. That is not professional at all and coming from a classy guy like Sundin really dissapoints me. What he is doing to the Montreal Canadiens could en up hurting them real bad, after all the interest they have shown in him he still doesn’t have the guts to say yes or no and always come up with the same miserable excuse he uses over and over again, the ones that says he’s not sure if he’s coming bac to the NHL for next season. Montreal might have had a chance to sign other very good players on the first of july, but ww are never going to know what they could have gotten their hands on if Sundin was not in the picture or if Sundin would have said no from the start. The latest rumors about Sundin is that the Habs are still all over him and appearently they have just offered him a 2 years/15millions$ contract for next season.

Will he say yes, will he say no? Is it even true or is Bob Gainey simply working on something so big it has to be kept underground? I am definitly dying to find out all of the answers, but I guess like Mr. Sundin said, it could very well take up to next month to know them.

Josh Bailey-C- 6′1, 188lbs.- Shoots Left- 1st round pick (9th Overall)

Positives- A strong, two-way player…has excellent on-ice vision and is a gifted playmaker…is regarded as being a high character player

Negatives- Is believed to have a limited offensive upside for such a high pick…tends to pass instead of shoot when the opportunity presents itself…needs to add more physicality to his game

Analysis: If you believe Garth Snow, Bailey was the player the Islanders wanted all along. He is regarded as one of the safest picks to reach the NHL from this class. However, opinions differ greatly on how effective he’ll be once he gets there. In any case, he does address an organizational need (center) and should certainly find himself with an opportunity to play significant minutes for the Islanders in the future.

My Grade for this pick: B

To be honest with you I consider Ryan Malone a good forward, while he may not enter in the elite category of the NHL he can still raise some eyebrows.

But don’t you think 7 million dollars a season is just too much for a guy that has not yet produced over 70 points?

In my opinion I believe Tampa bay will either sink or swim during the next season.

Either way it should be fun for everyone to see Steven Stamkos play along with Vinny Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Dan Boyle and Martin St. Louis.

Take the NHL Draft that was held last Friday in Ottawa. The Islanders held the 5th overall pick and let it be known around the NHL that they would be taking the best player available with it. This seemed like a fairly straightforward, logical approach. If you’ve kept up with this site, you know that I just finished a long series of articles that detailed the different players who might have been potentially available at the #5 spot and speculated about what the Islanders might be thinking in regards to choosing them.

On Draft Day, GM Garth Snow was quoted as saying he’d have to be “blown away” by a trade offer in order to relinquish his team’s pick. As the Draft progressed, it came to light that, even though the three highly touted defensemen (Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pietrangelo) had already been selected as predicted, both the immensely talented Russian winger Nikita Filatov and hardnosed shutdown defenseman Luke Schenn were available to be picked by Snow. Supporters of the team who were attending a Draft Day party at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum exploded with joy. For months, Islander fans had debated the merits of both Filatov and Schenn on the the team’s message boards and, either way, a large contingent of the fanbase was going to be deliriously happy after their favorite had been chosen. Right?

Wrong. (Remember, this is the Islanders we’re talking about here.)

Snow decided that Toronto’s offer of the 7th pick, a second round pick and a 3rd round pick qualified as being “blown away” and Islander fans watched in horror as Schenn became a Maple Leaf with the #5 pick and Filatov was selected by Columbus at #6. Snow then proceeded to trade even further down to the 9th spot, passing over fall-back option Mikkel Boedker in the process (he was drafted at # 8 by Phoenix.) The Islander faithful marched out of the draft party in protest before it was announced that Josh Bailey was selected with the 9th pick.

Rarely simple. Never Easy.

However, once the Islander fans stepped back off the ledges upon which they were perched and took a look at the draft’s second day, many were pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Instead of netting one star player, the additional picks Snow dealt for resulted in a large haul of quality prospects. Will they be good enough to make the long-suffering masses forget that their favorite player was once within their desperate clutches? Only time will tell.

Beginning next week, I will cover the prospects the Islanders selected and will provide my own analysis about their respective NHL futures.

Kyle Beach - C - 6′3, 203 lbs - Shoots Right

Beach brings a wealth of talent to the table, along with many questions about his attitude. When he is on his game (and not hurting his team by taking undisciplined penalties), he is the best power forward available in this draft. He possesses an excellent shot and above average hands. Beach does play with great passion and is considered by many to be a “Team Leader” type of personality. In addition to potential behavioral problems, Beach has also already suffered concussions in his young career and this may scare off some teams.

How he’d help: Beach could be a player that the Islanders have their eyes on more closely than other prospects who are expected to go higher. If they do decide to trade down in the draft, he would be a leading candidate to be taken by them.

Tyler Myers - D - 6′7, 210 lbs - Shoots Right

Myers, the tallest player in the draft by far, is an intriguing prospect. He has moved up the draft board steadily since the season began and is now considered to be a strong possibility to be taken among the top ten picks. It goes without saying that his reach is incredible, making him a very effective poke checker. He has a decent shot, skates well and is capable of leading the rush from the defensive zone. On the negative side, there are concerns about how his rail-thin body will hold up to NHL pounding.

How he’d help: Myers has naturally drawn comparisons to Zdeno Chara because of his size and many Islander fans might be clamoring for him purely out of nostaglia. Since he projects as a “work in progress”, he is not likely to help New York anytime soon on their blue line and therefore, expect GM Garth Snow to draft someone else.

Cody Hodgson - C- 5′11, 182 lbs- Shoots Right

Cody Hodgson could be one of the most coveted centers in the draft this year. His 85 points this past season for Brampton proves that he has definite scoring ability. He is also regarded as being defensively responsible. He possesses soft passing hands and is an above average skater. While he is a well-rounded prospect, the only potential knock on him is that there is no facet of his game that stands out as exceptional.

How he’d help: As mentioned previously, the Islanders are clearly in need of depth at the center position. Hodgson projects as a very good third line player with the potential to be on the second line. The #5 pick is a little low to consider taking him, but he would be a prime target if New York decides to trade down in the first round in order to pick up an established player or more draft picks.

Colin Wilson - C-6′1, 215 lbs.-Shoots Left

There is much speculation about the future NHL career of Colin Wilson. Scouts seem to view him as either a solid, two-way forward with potential or a big time bust waiting to happen. There are certain aspects of Wilson that are indisputable, though: He does possess NHL-caliber size, is strong in protecting the puck and is reliable defensively. His scoring ability may be limited, but many draft observers like his power in driving to the net and the fact that eschews fancy moves in order to net the puck in an expedient fashion. However, concerns linger over whether he will ever be more than third line player for many teams.

How he’d help: The Islanders are one of the few NHL rosters that does not field a legitimate first line center. This dearth of talent makes almost any prospect who can play the position attractive. Nevertheless, Wilson’s upside seems too low to spend a top 5 pick for and New York will almost certainly look elsewhere to address it’s needs.

Mikkel Boedker-RW-5′11, 201 lbs.-Shoots Left

Mikkel Boedker is considered to be among the top offensive prospects available in the 2008 Draft behind Steve Stamkos and Nikita Filatov. A gifted playmaker, he also possesses top-notch quickness and a laser accurate shot. He recently posted 6 points in 6 games during the World Juniors Championships, proving he has the ability to perform on a big stage. Boedker is a hard worker who toils constantly to improve his game. However, two major detriments to him being drafted are his lack of elite defensive skills and an unwillingness/inability to play the gritty style so crucial for success in the NHL.

How he’d help: Boedker’s offensive skills certainly could land him a spot on an Islander team so desperate for scoring. Coach Ted Nolan would probably like his willingness to improve and would work with Boedker to adapt his technique so that he could flourish in the tough Atlantic division. Be that as it may, the 5th pick could be a bit high to select him as there will still be more well-rounded players on the board at that point.

Alex Pietrangelo-D-6′4, 210 lbs.-Shoots Right

Alex Pietrangelo belongs in the group of coveted defensemen in this year’s draft (although he is not considered to be on the same level as Drew Doughty or Zach Bogosian). He possesses strong skating skills as well as the ability to evade forechecking pressure. He has nice size for a young player and should continue learning how to utilize it to his advantage. Pietrangelo is one of the best in this draft at leading a rush up the ice to create scoring chances. However, many feel he needs a lot of work on his defensive game and he is thought to be the prospect with the biggest “Boom or Bust” risk.

How he’d help: Pietrangelo’s offensive prowess would certainly be an asset to a team that lacks a true power-play QB like the Islanders. If he can be taught to use his physicality better, he may have the potential to one day be a part of a Top Two defense pairing. Despite his capabilities, New York would likely prefer to obtain a player who has less uncertainty to his game.

VERSUS will kick-off the Conference Finals with a special 30-minute “Hockey Central” on May 8 at 7 p.m. ET, prior to Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between Dallas and Detroit. VERSUS’ Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage will culminate with exclusive coverage of the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. All VERSUS-produced games are produced in hi-definition.

The network’s studio show, “Hockey Central,” is hosted by Bill Patrick with Brian Engblom and Keith Jones and provides extensive insight and commentary of the games and what’s happening around the Stanley Cup Playoffs each night. VERSUS will, on occasion, bring players and coaches into the studio to serve as celebrity guest analysts. In the Quarterfinal round, Manny Legace, goaltender for the St. Louis Blues and Rick DiPietro, goaltender for the New York Islanders joined the VERSUS studio crew. Additions in the Conference Final round will be announced as information becomes available.

Among the regular segments of the studio show are the following:

• Keith Jones’ Odd Man Rush, Keith’s unique look at the plays and players who have put themselves in the spotlight, whether for good or bad
• Brian Engblom’s Reality Check, Brian’s personal opinion on NHL issues
• Highlights from games not airing on VERSUS, as well as Plays of the Week
• Parting Shots; where Engblom and Jones debate bullet point debate topics in rapid fire fashion
• Live-Look-Ins wherever possible, bringing viewers live action from games being played concurrently during VERSUS’ telecast
• Features on NHL players away from the ice
• Historical recaps which spotlight the defining and greatest moments in NHL Stanley Cup history

Total viewership for “Hockey Central” during the first two rounds of this postseason has increased 65 percent compared to the first two playoff rounds last year.

Luke Schenn-D-6′3, 209 lbs.-Shoots Right

Luke Schenn is a tough-as-nail defenseman who may be the most physical player available in the upcoming draft. He plays with a snarl and is unafraid to take contact in order to dish out punishment. He is a strong skater and has excellent puck control ability. Schenn is a versatile player, able to be utilized on both the PP and the PK. There some concerns about his offensive upside, though.

How he’d help: The Islanders have a dearth of hard hitting d-men as only Brendan Witt and Andy Sutton would qualify for that designation. Schenn’s apparent shutdown abilities would be a boost to G Rick Dipietro and a little added muscle in a division where a team faces the Flyers, Penguins and Rangers regularly certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing. However, offense is what this team lacks the most, so unless it is believed that Schenn can contribute effectively in that area, I could see New York passing on him.

Zach Bogosian-D-6′2, 200 lbs.-Shoots Right

American born Zach Bogosian is projected to be a prototypical NHL defenseman: Tough, smart, possesses a good shot and is capable of leading the rush with his skating and puckhandling abilities. His unflappable composure belies his age and experience level. Strong on his skates, he patrols his side of the zone with vigor and makes opponents pay for their invasion with his physicality. He has a strong shot and his awareness makes him a strong candidate to quarterback a power play. Unlike some others on the draft board, he is not thought of as being a player who can immediately step into an NHL lineup next season.

How he’d help: Bogosian is a top defender in a draft that is chock full of them. His potential as an offensive minded defenseman ranks higher than anyone currently on the Islander roster. Unfortunately, all NHL teams probably know this fact as well and it is doubtful he will slip to #5. If he does, you can expect New York to grab him without a moment’s hesitation.