5 predictions for the NHL Entry Draft

The NHL Entry Draft is upon us, and this year's event has the potential to be one of the more memorable in recent years.

Not due to the draft class, though, as this year's crop of prospects is far from the most prestigious.

What will set this year's event apart are teams willing to make bold moves in order to move up or down in the selection process and improve their chances of winning next season or in the long term.

The introduction of an expansion franchise to the mix also has the potential to spice things up.

Here are five predictions for this year's draft.

Nolan Patrick goes 1st

"With the first pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils proudly select center Nolan Patrick from the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings."

Expect general manager Ray Shero to deliver some iteration of that sentence to kick off the evening, despite some projections that Nico Hischier - who will be selected second by the Philadelphia Flyers - would jump into the top spot.

Patrick's stock took a hit due to injury issues this past season, but he's just what the Devils need and will make an immediate impact.

Stars will trade 3rd overall pick

Jim Nill is already on record as saying he'd trade the third overall pick for an established player, and with the Stars looking for upgrades on the blue line, don't be surprised if the Dallas GM tries to work out a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, who went defense-heavy in Wednesday's expansion draft.

Yes, two highly touted defensemen in Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen will be available, but the Stars - who also hold the 29th overall pick - are looking to win sooner than later, and need a shut-down player like Marc Methot, for example.

Vegas has three first-round picks, one of which would likely return to Dallas in such a move.

Coyotes will work to flip the script

Over the course of the past week, the Arizona Coyotes have traded starting goalie Mike Smith, and parted ways not only with the face of the franchise, Shane Doan, but also longtime head coach Dave Tippett.

Some more positive gains (not to mention public relations) are needed, and we expect GM John Chayka to use that newfound salary cap space and his two first-round picks to pull off something big in order to turn the tide.

The Coyotes are believed to be very interested in Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers, and packaging Antti Raanta in that deal would fill some big holes on Arizona's roster.

Duchene will be dealt

Drafts are made better when a blockbuster trade is involved, and the Colorado Avalanche will oblige by dealing Matt Duchene.

It's a move that's been expected, even by Duchene himself, who said after this past season's trade deadline "there's a good chance something will happen" over the summer.

Colorado's coming off a truly abysmal season, and changes are needed. Don't rule out a move to New York, even after the Islanders acquired Jordan Eberle on Thursday.

Hasty conclusions will be drawn

After every selection is made, the analysis will come in hot and heavy, and winners and losers will be declared before the draft floor is cleared.

Let's not forget the process is indeed a bit of a crapshoot, prospects develop and emerge at different speeds, and we don't really know how it will all play out for years to come.

Keep this in mind as well: In 2005, Sidney Crosby was selected first overall and has since become one of the greatest in NHL history. His Pittsburgh Penguins have won two Stanley Cups in a row, in fact, and while Crosby was named playoff MVP in both 2016 and 2017, the player who scored the Cup-clinching goal in the latest championship run was none other than Patric Hornqvist.

And when was Hornqvist drafted? 2005, same year as Crosby, but with the 230th and final pick on the second day of the event.

Every pick matters, but they don't all pan out, and some will surprise down the road.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)