NHL Draft Preview: 3 things you need to know

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Ah, the NHL (don't call it entry) Draft. It's like a fresh spring morning, only in a stuffy arena.

It's where all 30 teams are relevant once again. And it doesn't matter if your team is fine-tuning for a fourth championship run in seven years, or looking to plunge further into the NHL abyss, because there's reason for optimism, grounds for encouragement, and an excuse to cheer – for all.

The talent pool is deep and trade possibilities involving those plucked from a previous draft board appear endless.

Here are three things you need to know about the 2015 NHL Draft:

Who'll be active, who'll need to be creative

There will be overindulgence and severe starvation.

Thanks to the tank, the first few rounds will see a marked imbalance, with a handful of teams – some good, some bad – who will need a stable to house the talent added to the system.

The Buffalo Sabres own four of the first 51 picks, while the Edmonton Oilers boast four of the first 57. The Arizona Coyotes, meanwhile, who sold assets more effectively than anyone, will add to their exciting core with two picks in each of the first three rounds.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets have two first-round selections, helping the Canadian franchises to 10 of the first 30 picks, and the Philadelphia Flyers will also be on the clock twice Friday night, barring a deal.

On the flip side, the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers won't select until late in the second round, while the New York Islanders, who built their exciting young roster through the draft, are not scheduled to pick until No. 72.

It starts at three

Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will have their deserved moments, but the popcorn doesn't necessarily have to be out of the microwave until the Coyotes – or whoever pries the pick out of Don Maloney's hands – are put on the clock.

Elite talent absolutely oozes in the first round and will leak into the second. But at the top of the class, there are Patrick Kane-like puck-handlers, noted snipers, brawny power forwards, catalyzing defensive swingmen, and all-around polished blue-liners. And the names of Mitchell Marner, Dylan Strome, Lawson Crouse, Noah Hanifin, and Ivan Provorov may as well be chosen out of a hat.

Arizona, Toronto, Carolina, New Jersey and Philadelphia – the five teams who will select after the Generationals are chosen – require all of the above, so it will truly come down to preference, not obvious need.

But with game-changers in position for teams who might be more interested in proliferating picks and prospects, it's only inviting contenders to trade up in an effort to meet their specific needs.

There isn't a fraction of intrigue with the first- and second-overall selections, but how it shakes down from there simply cannot be forecast.

What brings Bettman to the podium?

A storm is coming.

Pundits and trolls alike have been hurling rumors back and forth throughout draft week, but nothing, save for the rights of Carl Soderberg, has stuck to the wall.

But when the market settles, and firm prices on the likes of Phil Kessel, Ryan O'Reilly, Milan Lucic, Patrick Sharp, and Dion Phaneuf – along with the strong contingent of potential No. 1 goaltenders – are finally determined, this draft weekend may prove to be unprecedented. There are always deals made, but the ball typically starts to roll well before the general managers locate their chairs on the draft floor.

If the deals that are supposed to happen are concentrated into one wild weekend, Gary Bettman would have been wise to pack those repulsive runners he wore to the White House, because he'll be hiking up to the stage to sort out trades all night.