Grading each NHL team's 2014 draft

PHILADELPHIA -- The NHL draft is first and foremost about distributing the league's future talent among its franchises, but it's also an opportunity for each team to assess its overall needs and set the course of the organization for the coming weeks and months. With that in mind, we set to grade each team's efforts at the hockey-palooza that is the draft weekend. Each team received a grade for the talent they managed to acquire and another grade for how well the team's fortunes fared in the same 48 hours.

Corey Pronman provided the talent grades and emptied his notebook (including re-printing each first-rounder's scouting report from Friday's live blog) to give you a comprehensive glimpse at each team's future, while Frank Provenzano graded each front office's weekend.

Buffalo Sabres | GRADE: A

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately.

Top Pick: Sam Reinhart is the best pure passer in the draft class. His ability to dictate tempo elevates his game to a distinct level. Reinhart can make all kinds of plays with the puck, and his elite hockey sense stands out regularly. He has average size but will work hard in battles for the puck. Some of the skills that distinguish Reinhart are his smart play in the defensive zone and his ability to shut down opposing top players, and he is an asset on the penalty kill.

Day 2 picks: Lemieux is a very strong winger who is physical and intense every shift. He is an above-average skater, though I've gotten mixed reviews from scouts on that area of his game. He isn't an overly skilled player, but he's decent offensively, with good instincts. Lemieux needs to work on reigning in his emotions and not taking bad penalties, which he does often. ... Cornel is a skilled puck-possession forward with top-six upside at the NHL level. As with many skilled prospects, he can try to do too much on the ice, turning the puck over. He works hard, but his off-puck reads and value are underwhelming. Cornel needs to bulk up, and isn't the best in the physical game. ... Karabacek controls the puck with some flashy skills, and good overall instincts and decision making. His shot has developed well, as he gets the puck off his stick quickly and with accuracy. His size (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) is a limitation, but not to the same degree as some of the other skilled forwards on this list. ... Johansson is the kind of goalie who doesn't move very much in the net, but takes away shooting space with his angles. He can be effective taking away second chances. Scouts are split on his athletic skills, with some saying he's good in that area and others saying he doesn't wow them as much when he has to move a lot. His reads and reactions are solid to above average. ... Martin's first-pass and transition game get praise from NHL sources. Martin is a clear above-average skater with solid to above-average puck skills. He's a physical player who leans on his checks and battles well. Martin can be fine in his own end, and while he'll still make the odd mistake typical of players his age, he understands the game defensively. He doesn't really stand out in any area. ... Max Willman is a bit of a late bloomer, but he's certainly toolsy. Willman can skate, and has above-average puck possession tools. The Brown commit is a bit of a project, but he's an intriguing upside pick. ... Chris Brown has intrigued some scouts with his above-average skating and puck skills. He plays in Michigan high school though, which is a pretty low level of play though and has made it tough to evaluate him.

Summary: With Reinhart the Sabres' depth down the middle in young players is elite currently. They added a bunch of talent after Reinhart, adding several top forward prospects and a former top prospect in Brycen Martin who has been up and down in the WHL. There were no pluggers, and even though Lemieux is a physical player, he has offense to his game too. They have an elite farm system, and after today, you need a really convincing argument to say they don't have the best pipeline in the NHL. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Sabres used this draft to continue their trawl of the hockey talent ocean, adding the highly-talented center Sam Reinhart in the first round to go along with five other picks in the subsequent two rounds. With probably the best prospect pipeline in the NHL and oodles of cap space, the Sabres are poised to rapidly scale the NHL standings ladder in the near future. Grade: A+ -- Provenzano

Florida Panthers | GRADE: A

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Aaron Ekbald is a monster on the back end that plays the game with an edge and elite defensive value. He does so much more than just hit and win battles: he skates well with good power in his stride and excellent pivots; he has really developed the offensive side of his game, with above-average puck skills; and he sees the ice well, can be creative along the point and join the attack or run the point with a high-end shot from deep.

Day 2 picks: Hawryluk can make plays in open ice, but is more impressive as a passer. His intangibles are more of a standout quality than his skills: He has a great work ethic, and is a strong, physical player, plays the tough defensive minutes and projects to be an all-situations player in the NHL. ... Juho has an intriguing tool kit as he's a big forward (6-foot-3, 189 pounds) who is strong on the puck. He also has good offensive tools as an above-average puck handler with offensive creativity. ... Skating is the most notable area of weakness for Lammikko, as he's not the quickest out of the gates. ... Joe Wegwerth is big, strong and he hits at a plus level. I've seen him flash some skill here and there, so it's buried deep, deep within his game, but overall he wasn't much of an offensive player this season.

Summary: While some may cringe at Ekblad going 1, given the ok development of Erik Gudbranson, he was the right choice as the top prospect. Not only is he a far better prospect than Gudbranson was, but you can't limit your analysis to the downside, but rather weigh the risks/rewards. Hawryluk and Lammikko provide physical value with skill as well. Ekblad gives Florida an A as he's the moderately clear best prospect in this class. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: After allegedly fielding multiple offers for the first overall pick, Florida GM Dale Tallon deemed Aaron Ekblad to be more valuable for the future than anything offered his way. The Panthers are an organization that continually promises its fans hope for the tomorrow. It is time for the future to arrive in south Florida, and the next 2 weeks will determine if tomorrow is finally here. Grade: A- -- Provenzano

Nashville Predators | GRADE: A-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Kevin Fiala can make highlight-reel plays with the puck, and he's also a really good passer with a great hockey IQ who doesn't seem to turn the puck over. On the power play, Fiala is the kind of player you want controlling the puck and starting the puck movement. While his size isn't ideal, he does battle hard and has a lot of drive to his game. He does need to improve his defensive positioning.

Day 2 picks: Kamanev is a skilled puck handler, but can try to get too fancy sometimes. Defying the stereotype of skilled Russians, Kamanev plays physical and has some defensive value. He's a 6-foot-2, 200-pound player who can protect the puck quite well, and battles for pucks in his own end. His skating, however, can use some work; he's not slow, but he's about average in that area. ... Dougherty is a pretty toolsy defende. His skating ranges from good to excellent. He's dangerous with the puck as a rusher and distributor, and despite being an average-sized player (6-foot, 185 pounds), has some bite to his game. Where he struggles is with his decisions and reads. ... Justin Kirkland is a big winger who engages well in the physical play and has a fine work ethic. He played on both special teams units this season. On the PP he showed some stick skills, and net-front ability. ... Arvidsson is a high-end puck handler who can be dynamic at times. He always plays with a lot of energy, showing above-average speed. For a 5-foot-9 forward, he does not mind putting physical pressure on his opponents. He also has a plus shot, and he can score from distance. Still, his size is his main concern, and that is why he has been passed over multiple times. I had him as a top 3 round prospect last year, didn't rank this season due to no views. ... Irving has average size (6-1, 190 pounds), but he is really tough to play against. He's strong in one-on-one battles, often coming out with the puck. Irving gets in lanes, gets his stick in the right spot, plays simple positional hockey and makes good outlets. He's not an overwhelming offensive talent and Irving's skating can stand to improve.

Summary: Nashville, who has for so long needed high-end talent in young forwards, now has it in bunches in some part thanks to this draft. Fiala and Kamanev are really talented, and while Dougherty has talent too, he was much more up and down this season. I love Arvidsson, and was surprised he stayed undrafted up to this point. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Predators added skilled forwards both in the draft (which they usually don't do) and through trade. The focus in Nashville is clearly addressing the team's inability to score, and the question surrounding the acquisition former 40-goal-scorer James Neal is whether he can replicate his offensive production minus the elite distributing center icemen he is accustomed to playing with. Grade: A -- Provenzano

Calgary Flames | GRADE: A-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately .

Top Pick: Samuel Bennett is a fantastic all-around forward, a really fast and energetic skater who sees the ice well and can dominate the puck in terms of possession by combining all his physical talents with a high hockey intellect. Bennett battles well for pucks with what one NHL exec coins "superb natural balance" in terms of his center of gravity in board confrontations. He also embraces the physical game, can lay some quality hits and is a fine defensive forward.

Day 2 picks: McDonald is a really toolsy goaltender, with notable upside. His lateral quickness is fantastic, and while he hasn't filled out his frame yet (he's 186 pounds), he knows how to get his body in front of pucks. On second efforts, McDonald is solid battling for pucks and he fights through screens well. At times, he can get a little too energetic with his movements. ... Hunter Smith is a huge, strong forward who uses his body very well and embraces the physical game. He hits, fights and pressures. He has a little offensive skill, but there's not a lot in that area, and he certainly needs to improve his skating. Hickey is a plus skater with explosive movements in all four directions. He's a smart two-way player who can outlet the puck at a high level. Hickey has some creativity to his game, though scouts think he has more to show in that area. Scouts are also divided on his physicality. Olas Mattson is huge -- 6-foot-4, 209 pounds -- and has fine mobility for a player his size. He's a solid defender who uses his body very well to separate players off pucks and win battles. His positioning is mostly fine, but he can suffer from the odd brain cramp in the defensive zone. His main weakness is with the puck, as he's pretty limited from puck skills standpoint.

Summary: Calgary now has two pillars down the middle to build around in Bennett and Sean Monahan. Mason McDonald was the top goalie at the U18s. Their next three picks features a combo of low-upside/low-risk players and Hickey, who hasn't put up points but could very well. The pick of Smith at 54 is one I know a decent number of scouts endorse, but that I'm not crazy about. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Flames are just starting out on their total organizational makeover, and their biggest acquisition this draft weekend was getting center Sam Bennett with the fourth overall pick. The real work for the Flames will be in forging a new culture and identity that will return them to respectability, and that process began in earnest this weekend. Grade: B -- Provenzano

Winnipeg Jets | GRADE: A-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Nikolaj Ehlers is an electrifying offensive talent who stands out on a regular basis. His skating is easily plus -- especially his top gear -- as he turns defenders regularly. Ehlers doesn't just ooze skill, but he can make all the tough skill plays at a high tempo. He sees the ice pretty well and can make the really difficult passes. Ehlers isn't the biggest guy or the most physical, but he battles well.

Day 2 picks: At his best, Glover has the tools to excel at both ends of the rink. He's a good to very good skater, with solid puck skills. At 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, he makes distinct plays for a man his size. The downside is his decision-making. Glover has improved on defense; during the latter part of the season, he was one of the best players defensively for the National Team Development Program (NTDP). De Leo's certainly an above-average skater and flashes beyond that. When you combine his shifty skating with his good puck skills, it makes him a pretty tough player to check. ... De Leo's size isn't ideal at around 5-foot-9, but he works hard on both ends. ... Nogier's combination of skating and size (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) makes him an appealing prospect. He makes stops by getting in shot and passing lanes, but also stays with his checks well and has fine overall positioning. He isn't an overly physical player, but he will use his body when needed and battles fine. His main weakness is evident; his offensive capabilities are next to nothing. ... Franklin impressed me at the Jr. A Challenge. ... A hard worker with very good speed and fine hockey IQ, Kraskovsky is a very gifted prospect. He's a 6-foot-4 forward with a ton of puck skills and ability to create chances. But I saw him play a fair bit this season, and he never really had a good game for me where he was really involved in the offense.

Summary: The Jets continue to build a nice young core, adding a high-upside player in Ehlers to some of their recent impressive top picks. Ehlers is a high-end prospect, while their next few picks were either guys I had in my top 100 or at one point debated. The Jets have had strong drafts the past few years. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Jets added skill and, in a first for the team since moving to back to Manitoba, drafted a Russian player. Their next (and more pressing) task is to permanently shed the cultural ghosts of Atlanta that still seem to permeate this team and establish an identity that is less plain vanilla. A trade (or two) is probably needed to ratchet this team into the next echelon of the standings. The issue this offseason for the Jets braintrust is making sure they move the right pieces. Grade: B- -- Provenzano

New York Islanders | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately .

Top Picks: With their first of two eventual first-round picks, the Islanders took Michael Dal Colle, who is known among scouting circles as a "puck possessor." His puck skills and instincts make him a force when he's on the ice, but what makes him a top-end prospect is the size he brings to the table. In terms of pure offense, he's right in the same category as Reinhart and Bennett. He'll have some good moments in the defensive zone but could stand to work on his positioning. He could also stand to be less bashful in corner play.

With Dal Colle in the fold, the Islanders traded up to get one of the best skaters in the draft in Joshua Ho-Sang; his first few steps and overall stride are high-end, and his top speed is elite. Ho-Sang is also a high-end -- if not better -- puck handler. This combination allows him to be a dynamic player who can create scoring chances out of nothing. However, Ho-Sang can struggle with his decision-making at times with the puck, frequently turning it over or losing the opportunity by trying to do too much.

Day 2 picks:: Sorokin has shown very advanced play as a goaltender, playing at the professional level and showing that he understands the game well. ... Soderstrom is tough to read. Some games he looks like a pure blocker, and then he'll make a really tough save out of nowhere. I'm not sure he has NHL tools, but there's enough to his game to be worth waiting on if he develops well. ... Toews has skill as a puck mover, but not sure he's overwhelming in that area. ... Sutter is a re-entry after not being signed by Winnipeg as their second round pick two years ago. He works hard, but hasn't developed really on offense, and his defense is just fine.

Summary: In adding Dal Colle to an org very strong at young center and wing, the Islanders added the perfect player in terms of talent and fit to the team. Their draft was mostly on their top-round picks, although I like Sorokin (was unranked due to lack of viewings) and think he could be an NHLer if he continues to progress as he has. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: For as much as the Islanders were panned for their asset management in the Thomas Vanek trade, they did a good job in the draft by securing a bona fide blue chip prospect in Dal Colle and a potential skill jackpot in Ho-Sang at a position (wing) in which they are deficient. They key to realizing a full return on their draft day bet is to have a solid development plan in place for both players. A speedy and full recovery for star center John Tavares wouldn't hurt either. Grade: A -- Provenzano

Toronto Maple Leafs | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: William Nylander might be the most gifted pure offensive talent in the draft. Nylander's pucks skills are elite, and he has been described as "an artist" by some scouts due to how well he controls the puck and the unique plays he creates. Nylander's hockey sense is fantastic, as well, in terms of his vision and offensive intellect. However, he's not the biggest guy, his defensive play needs work and he can try to do too much sometimes

Day 2 picks: Valiev went undrafted last year but looked solid this year, showing good hockey sense in both ends, and nice touch with the puck. I don't think there's a ton of skill to his game, but he's intriguing enough to be worth a pick. ... Piccinich has massively improved from last season. He's a playmaker with pretty good hands. Some scouts are concerned with his physical game not only in terms of size but that he can be taken out of games.

Summary: Toronto's draft is mostly about Nylander. He's an elite prospect and a huge add for this team. While I think Valiev and Piccinich are decent prospects I'm not too sold on them. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Leafs added skill in their draft efforts and addressed the leakiness in their current backend by drafting the highly skilled William Nylander and trading for rugged defenceman Roman Polak. The less-than-anticipated cap limit of $69 million will put a potential dent in the Leafs plans to make many more bold changes to their current NHL roster. Grade: B+ -- Provenzano

Edmonton Oilers | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Leon Draisaitl's quick passing skills, his knowledge of how to make defenders move to open lanes and the creativity he shows as a playmaker are unique and make him a dangerous player from inside the offensive blue line. When he gets going, his speed is average, but his first few steps are a bit sluggish and his stride isn't the cleanest. He has, however, a developed sense of how to protect the puck.

Day 2 picks: Lagesson stands in at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, and thinks the game through very well in his own end, which allows him to excel on the penalty kill as well. His passing is solid, and while Lagesson doesn't look like a player who will get much power play time at the pro level, he's a calm, smooth puck mover who can aid in the transition game. ... Nagelvoort ticked way upwards in his third draft eligible season, becoming a key part of Michigan's team as a freshman. He's technically sound, with some but not a lot of athleticism. ... Bouchard has a pretty good frame for his age uses his body well in terms of angles to cut off space. He has above-average hockey sense, and enough lower body power to moves across the crease at an average level. He lacks that extra athletic gear in explosiveness and reflexes though.

Summary: Edmonton added the big center the org needed, especially with the so-so development of Sam Gagner. The Oilers draft for me is mostly around those top two picks as while Nagelvoort was quite impressive this season I certainly need to see more of him. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: Yet another draft, yet another Edmonton high draft pick. The key for the Oilers this summer isn't necessarily acquiring new personnel, but instead revolves around finally forging a team culture/identity that stiches all their high-end young talent into a cohesive, successful NHL on-ice product. Grade: B -- Provenzano

Carolina Hurricanes | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately.

Top Pick: Hayden Fleury is one of the two defenders in this class with top-pairing upside. He is physical, very mobile in every direction, has a top gear to rush the puck and is agile with his turns/pivots. He also has the ability to quarterback the power play. His main drawback is his hockey sense, as he can be an overly risky player who can try to do too much, leading to costly turnovers.

Day 2 picks: Nedeljkovic essentially has every tool except for size (6-foot-0, 183 pounds). His athleticism is top-end; his quickness, side-to-side movements and reflexes allow him to make a lot of tough stops other goalies don't make. While he has those dynamic qualities, he remains effective in net in terms of reads and patience with his depth. He battles well on loose pucks, and gives good second efforts. ... Foegele is a standard heart-and-soul type of forward, with some puck ability. He has a non-stop engine during every shift and battles hard at all ends of the ice. He attacks the high percentage areas and has an attitude that can make him a fan favorite. ... Wesley is the son of longtime NHLer Glen Wesley. He's a big, tough defenseman who is pretty mobile especially for his size. His offensive upside is next to nothing though, and he's still a bit of a project who struggles with his reads and maintaining pace. ... Wallmark went undrafted in 2013 as health and skating scared teams away. He can QB a power play with the best of them, and his patience and vision are distinguishable traits to go along with above-average hands. His soft touch allows him to elevate the puck well as a passer, on top of being able to maneuver well in tight spaces. He's lacking as a defensive presence. ... Bishop is an above-average to plus skater who gets up and down the ice well due to a great natural stride on top of an elite work ethic. The issue with Bishop is how much offense he ultimately will produce. A minority of scouts feel he will score in the NHL, but most see him as a third-line player, due to average puck skills and below-average finishing ability. ... Kyle Jenkins is a pretty smart two-way defender who moves the puck at an above-average level. He has enough skating skill to evade pressure. He certainly needs to bulk up a lot to help his defensive value, but if he physically adjusts, he may be able to defend versus pros.

Summary: Carolina took a potential horse in Fleury, who while risky, has so much ability to work with and is a top-end defense prospect. They got a mix of low upside/low risk players like Clark Bishop to combine with some talented players like Wallmark and Jenkins. Nedeljkovic is tough to read. He could be a decent pro, or a top-end one. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Hurricanes blew into draft weekend and have been downgraded to a tropical depression, as they haven't had a particularly eventful (positively or negatively) couple days in Philadelphia. If they want to get back to the playoff dance in 2014-15, they'll have to be a little more bold this offseason. Grade: C -- Provenzano

Vancouver Canucks | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Picks: Jake Virtanen is an all-engines-go type of player who might be the best skater in this draft class. His ability to gain the zone is sought-after, and he's a player you want with the puck in transition because of his speed and impressive puck skills. His shot is plus, as he gets it off quick, with torque and accuracy.

Jared McCann's hockey sense translates to plus creativity, vision, positioning and defensive awareness. He regularly lined up against the opponents' best players in tough even-strength minutes and was effective in doing so. He's an above-average stick handler, but his best offensive asset in the offensive zone is his shot. He's got a bullet and can score from a distance -- and, at times, overshoot. Despite a good physical work ethic, he projects as a below-average physical player at the top level.

Day 2 picks: Demko has the natural look of a goalie from a physical standpoint -- 6-foot-4, 192 pounds -- and by how he plays the game, as his high-end positioning and angles leave little room for shooters. He's sound technically, but Demko also has aggressiveness in his game and doesn't shy from challenging shooters. Demko can still use some more explosiveness in his push-offs, and his tracking of the puck also is a little inconsistent. ... Tryamkin's size is his clear best asset; he's 6-foot=7, 228 pounds, and skates and handles the puck well for a big man. Tryamkin doesn't have fantastic puck skills, but he did fine on Russia's second power-play unit at the World Junior Championship and has solid projection offensively. ... Forsling is a toolsy offensive defenseman who impressed in league play during the second half of the season. He excels controlling the flow on the power play. He's a smart and creative player, but also knows how to make the safe plays. His defense has improved notably; however, he can still be turned or beaten by better forwards.

Summary: I might not be a fan of Virtanen at pick No. 6, given who was available, but at the end of the day, the Canucks brought in a good amount of talent at several positions into the organization. They got the top goalie prospect in Demko and a lot of offensive ability overall. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: Vancouver has done the best they could to make the most out of a bad poker hand, but the speed of the decline for a franchise that was the President's Trophy champion just two years ago has been breathtaking. Their ability to get a great return on Ryan Kesler was compromised by the limitations he placed on them with his No Move clause. Having said that, the real price that the Canucks are currently paying is a function of the fumbled management of their previous goaltending tandem. Grade: C -- Provenzano

St. Louis Blues | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately.

Top Pick: Robby Fabbri is an above-average skater who has good natural speed, but it's his great work ethic that allows him to jet up and down the ice. Fabbri sees his options well, understands where to be and what plays to make to generate scoring chances. He's got an accurate shot, though it could use more zip. He's not the biggest guy, and that's his biggest weakness, if not his only real notable issue. Fabbri does battle really well, however, and will initiate contact.

Day 2 picks: Barbashev is the kind of player who can be set up on the point on a power play, due to the way he can control the puck and see all the options. He's a very hard worker who plays with a physical edge and can land some crushing blows. He's committed defensively with fine skills on the penalty kill. ... Letunov is a dynamic forward whose puck skills and offensive creativity are high-end. His skating is subpar, however. His overall physical game is also poor, despite a good work ethic, and at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds, he's a bit of a string bean. ... Walman recently changed positions from forward to defense. He's an explosive skater who gets out of the gates really well. He is slightly below-average size-wise and needs bulk. Walman is a pretty skilled puck mover with a big shot who has all the tools to be a big-time offensive player. His defense needs a lot of work, though, understandably. ... Husso's main strengths are his hockey sense and his calmness between the pipes; he makes the game look simple in terms of how efficiently he squares up pucks, anticipates the play and tracks shots. He's not flashy, and that might be seen as a weakness, but his quiet effectiveness has worked very well for him. ... Poganski entered the season as a potential top-two-round player. He's always impressed with his speed and physical game, but the creativity and offensive creation seemed to vanish from his game this season. He could still rebound, as he has the tools to score but hasn't shown it of late. ... Descheneau was passed over in last year's draft. His hockey sense is exceptional. He really understands how to make plays to avoid defenders and create chances through his vision and plus puck skills. His speed isn't fantastic, which isn't ideal for a small player. The main issue with Descheneau is clearly his frame. When you're under 5-foot-10, you need to blow people away offensively, and currently, Descheneau is on the fringe.

Summary: In Fabbri, the Blues got the highly skilled center the org has needed for quite a few years. The addition of Barbashev was gravy on that front. Their top seven picks were a huge addition of overall skills and upside to the org, including at goaltender. Given their draft slot, the Blues should be pleased with how their system has improved after this weekend. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Blues are in their Stanley Cup window now, so this draft weekend had less to do with five years from now and more to do with five months from now. With the Ryan Miller experiment a failed exercise, the Blues will have to find an answer somewhere and somehow to get past both perennial power Chicago and rising force Colorado in the very tough Central Division. Grade: C- -- Provenzano

Los Angeles Kings | GRADE: B+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Adrian Kempe came into the draft as one of the better skaters available, with the first-few-step acceleration and overall top gear to simply fly through the neutral zone and pressure defenders. When you combine Kempe's speed with a strong frame and a willingness to attack the net, he becomes a dangerous physical threat. He needs to improve his pace and reads, as he can get a little lost in the play at times.

Day 2 picks: McKeown is one of the better skaters available in the class. He outlets the puck very well, and though he might not make a highlight-reel rush he can execute pretty difficult passes. His defensive game has grown a ton over the past 12 months. He can be a little too aggressive with his decision-making at times, but mostly he tends to make the right calls. ... Lintuniemi uses his 6-foot-3, 227-pound body well to win battles and regain puck possession. He had some issues defensively in the OHL, but I do think he has solid defensive projection as a physical, aware defender. He needs to work on his skating and can make some bad decisions. ... Amadio has average size, works hard and can use his frame to protect the puck. He shows good flashes of speed and skill, but that's not always there. He has upside to score as a pro, but he needs work to draw that out of him and understand the game better. ... Mistele came into the season as a potential top-45 pick but trended downward significantly. He's a fine skater with a good body who can show the ability to hit and be a net front guy on the powerplay. Other than that, he needs work in his other areas to get back on track as a top NHL prospect. ... Watson has the ability to make highlight-reel plays due to his creativity with the puck. He is an above-average passer and can make impressive plays under pressure and in tight spaces. Watson is a great finisher, who can score from a distance but also understands how to bury the puck when playing in tight. He's small at 5-foot-10, 166 pounds, and is not great defensively or in the skating department. ... Middleton is big, developed physically for his size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) and does a lot physically in terms of winning battles and boxing out forwards. Middleton is not just a bruiser, though, as he's an aware positional defender who makes a lot of stops. His puck skills aren't the best, and Middleton hasn't been the most consistent player too.

Summary: The Kings got a lot of talent and value at various points of the draft, acquiring Roland McKeown in the middle of the second round, as well as Watson and Middleton with their final two picks. Overall, a system that needed some depth got it during this year's draft, thanks to the Kings having a lot of picks. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Stanley Cup champion Kings are well positioned to defend their prize, but they probably over-extended themselves term-wise on keeping Marion Gaborik in the fold. With some potential storm clouds on the down-the-road horizon in terms of contracts, the Kings' focus is clearly on the now. Grade: C- -- Provenzano

Anaheim Ducks | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Nicholas Ritchie's tools are tremendous, and at his best he can be dominant. Ritchie's aggressive physical game is fantastic. He'll be up against stiffer competition in the pro game, but it was near impossible to get the puck off of him at the junior level. He's got a good skill level too. Ritchie's shot is of the high-end variety with a lot of weight behind his snaps. His defense needs some work, and he has a tendency to disappear at times.

Day 2 picks: Pettersson recently converted to defense from forward, and there are understandably raw elements in his game due to his transition, but he's also an intriguing player due to his upside and how he's tracking. He has quick feet, and his skill and offensive instincts are still evident from his forward days. His defensive sense and reads are a significant work-in-progress. ... Brandon Montour was named USHL Defenseman of the Year. He skates well, can move the puck and, despite average size, can be a solid hitter. I'm not sure how well he defends as a pro, but there's some ability in that area. ... Berkovitz is a good puck mover from the back end, displays the vision and overall instincts to be an effective player with his outlets and rushes when he gets his power-play time. Scouts note that his hockey sense does stand out, but the main issue with Berkovitz is the level of competition he's faced and trying to evaluate him there. ... Kase is a skilled player who has the ability to dazzle with his puck skills. On top of his puck creativity, he has good overall offensive instincts and above-average speed, acceleration and edge control. He has a long way to go physically, as he's 6-foot-0, 165 pounds, and loses a lot of battles as a result.

Summary: The Ducks added the best power winger option to their system that they've had in a few years. Devante Smith-Pelly can play that style, but Ritchie has immense size and skill and can be a great player if he can find consistency in his game. The Ducks had only five picks, but all of them in some form have a good level of upside. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Ducks had a good draft from an organizational standpoint. The President's Trophy runner-up added a key piece in second-line center Ryan Kesler without seriously degrading their NHL roster, and they also managed to hold onto the higher of their two first-round picks, which they used to take power winger Nick Ritchie, who adds to their already formidably sized group of forwards. Grade: A+ -- Provenzano

Tampa Bay Lightning | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: I've heard Anthony DeAngelo's skating described by scouts as anywhere from good to great, with my observations leaning to the latter. He can play with pace and makes creative plays. DeAngelo is not the biggest guy, and while he competes on the ice, he tends to lose his fair share of battles. He has a long way to go defensively. On top of his flaws in the physical game, he often gets beat by skilled players and really needs to work on his angles/positioning. He can also be too risky with the puck.

Day 2 picks: Masin is a heady defender who understands how to position himself on the ice, and anticipates the play well. His stick skills are decent, and his skating is about average as well. ... MacLeod can land quality hits, and is effective battling for pucks. His hockey IQ is good, as he possesses a calm demeanor in regard to how he goes about the game. While MacLeod probably won't be an NHL power-play guy, he demonstrates great puck-moving ability, flashes of good offensive awareness and an accurate shot through traffic. ... Point is a high-pace player who brings speed and intensity to every shift. He's a player who plays bigger than his size (5-9, 161 pounds) with unusually good physical and defensive value for a smaller player. Point has above-average puck skills and vision, and can show some pretty significant moments in the skill area. He also is a pretty good shooter. ... Thomas is an above-average skater with a nice, quick burst. He outlets the puck well, has anticipation of when to join the rush and makes quick decisions with the puck. He's a pretty hard-working player on defense who will battle and get in front of pucks. ... DiGiacinto is a small D, but he plays hard, blocks shots and has a fine skill level. ... Cam Darcy was a touted prospect at one point whose development tailed off a bit, but he had a great 19-year-old season in the QMJHL. He skates and competes well with some skill. The question on him has always been his hockey sense, but maybe with what he showed this season he's started to really understand the game.

Summary: Tampa Bay's talent strategy in the Yzerman years has been to take the most gifted players even if they carry risk. DeAngelo has a ton of upside, with a fair amount of risk, too. While they picked a lot of guys higher than I would have preferred, at the end of the day they still got a lot of players that I think are talented. I think any of DeAngelo, Masin or Point could eventually be their best player from this class, but I think Point was a big add for them. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Lightning potentially addressed both short-term and long-term needs on their back end, as they added Jason Garrison in a trade with Vancouver and took a flier on talented Anthony DeAngelo with their first-round pick. With not a ton of cap space, that might be the extent of their maneuvering this summer. Grade: A- -- Provenzano

Columbus Blue Jackets | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: When you watch Sonny Milano, "soft hands" and "offensive instincts" are the things that stand out immediately. He's not selfish with the puck, as he sees the ice and distributes at a high level. Milano is also a good, if not an excellent, skater with high-end acceleration. His defense is not amazing, but he's improved significantly in that area, even taking on some penalty-killing duty for the U.S. national development program. His most notable weaknesses are his size (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) and strength.

Day 2 picks: Collins is a monster of a man at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds. He's an above-average skater for a player his size, and can evade pressure fine. He's a very heady defenseman who scouts praise for his cool demeanor and overall reads defensively. He also uses his big frame well to win battles and knock players off pucks. His obvious flaw is a lack of offensive skill. ... Merzlikins has been a big part of Latvia's U-20 program the past three years. He's a big, athletic goalie who can make tough stops. ... Siebenaler has the ability to escape pressure, rush through the zone and burst well in all directions. His upside is what you dream on, because for now he's a bit of a work in progress defensively. By OHL standards, he's raw in his own end in terms of the physicality required and his overall defensive reads. ... Pelletier is a small forward but he's decent physically due to his great work ethic. He's a good skater who thinks the game well enough to be effective in all zones. It's questionable if he can do enough with the puck for his size, but he's certainly skilled. Tyler Bird has fine size at about 6-foot 2, 200 pounds, has a good physical game, decent skill and can lean into his shots. His skating needs a lot of work, though. ... LeBlanc is a mobile, skilled puck-mover with the talent level to be seen as a bit of a home run swing type of player. He's significantly underdeveloped physically and need to improve his defense.

Summary: With the addition of Milano, the Blue Jackets have an extremely strong group of young forwards both already in the NHL and on the verge of it. Collins was a little bit of a reach, but getting a talented blueliner in LeBlanc at 197 evened things out. The Blue Jackets added talent at all positions except center, which was not an organizational need. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: Not only have the Blue Jackets continued on their charted course of patiently adding prospects to their system, but they added a top-six winger in Scott Hartnell and gave up a player (R.J. Umberger) who was a rumored salary buyout candidate. Grade: B+ -- Provenzano

Dallas Stars | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately.

Top Pick: Julius Honka is a great skater and puck mover, but his physical game remains a major liability, as he's small, not that strong, and not an intimidating guy when contact is initiated. Overall, he can play a risky style of game, but most of the time he doesn't get caught and knows how to make the most of his offensive gifts without giving up too much on the back end.

Day 2 picks: Pollock has above-average puck skills with impressive coordination and ability to maintain possession. He's not a blazing skater, but he has a good top gear with decent first steps. Pollock can really lean into his shots as well. Despite his size (6-foot-2, 183 pounds), he's is a bit of a gentle player when it comes to physical play. He trended up since my original ranking posted. ... Peters is a big defender, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 205 pounds. He uses his frame well, competing hard in battles. Peters is an average skater but fine for his size. He's a pretty aware defensive player, who understands all the things he needs to do to get possession of the puck back. His puck skills are poor. ... Prapavessis was the top defenseman in the OJHL. His skill level isn't outstanding, but he moves the puck fine and has some tools. For a player with mediocre size I'd like to see more physicality and intensity from him, though. ... Moran's size (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) is evident in his play, but he's also athletic and moves extremely well for a man his size. His lower-body movements are great, and his lateral quickness is also an above-average skill. On the other hand, Moran remains very raw in terms of his angles, reads and general technique. ... Haydon's physical tools are very good and drive his value as a 6-foot-3, 200-pound defender who is physical and wins a ton of battles. He closes gaps well due to his quality mobility with enough speed to be an asset on the rush. Haydon's decisions in his 16-year-old season were a significant concern, but he's played a style this season that incorporates much less risk, and the results have been positive.

Summary: While the Stars have some fine puck movers in their system in John Klingberg and Ludvig Bystrom, Honka becomes the org's top offensive defenseman. Honka went a little high for me, but the draft was short on top defenders. After Honka, they added a lot of size to the organization in offensive and defensive players. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Stars aren't going to do anything rash under GM Jim Nill based on one playoff appearance, and this slow-and-steady approach has defined their draft philosophy. Having said that, if Dallas is to push through and become more than just a first-round playoff participant, it is going to have to add a bona fide second-line scoring threat to its offensive attack. Grade: B- -- Provenzano

Boston Bruins | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: David Pastrnak is a smooth, coordinated puck handler who can make the tough, evasive moves on a frequent basis. His hockey IQ is really high, as he sees all his options, processes the game very quickly and understands how to play with pace. He's a good skater with shiftiness and an above-average top gear who also possesses a quick release on his shot. Pastrnak's main weakness is his physical game, as he loses a fair number of puck battles

Day 2 picks: Donato's offensive instincts are tremendous in terms of his creativity, vision and positional play, although there is some element of uncertainty given the level of competition against which he played. He's an average-sized player (6-foot, 176 pounds), who needs to add bulk, but he has two-way value. He's not a slow skater per se, but he's not the quickest guy when you adjust for his size. ... Bjork is a quick, agile skater and when combined with his puck skills, he can be tough to check, is a hard-working forward who can kill penalties at an OK level, and understands how to position himself off the puck. ... Johansson skates well in terms of both speed and agility, and is a capable defender, despite average size (6-foot, 194 pounds). He reads the play at a high level in terms of body and stick positioning, and makes the right decisions off the puck. He's not a great puck handler, but he sees the ice fine and is able to make decent plays offensively due to his hockey IQ.

Summary: Pastrnak gave Boston the top-end skill boost they needed to complement Ryan Spooner and Alex Khokhlachev. Donato is also a highly talented prospect they added on top of two other players I had ranked in my top 100. This was a draft that went a long way to balancing out their system. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The good news: The Bruins are still the elite team in the Eastern Conference. The bad news: The draft has been a relatively ho-hum affair for the Beantowners. The biggest news for Boston on draft weekend had nothing to do with actual players, but instead revolves around the determination of the lower-than-anticipated salary cap for 2014-15 of $69 million, which leaves them in a bit of a cap space bind and makes re-signing UFA Jarome Iginla that much more difficult. Grade: C -- Provenzano

Minnesota Wild | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately .

Top Pick: Alex Tuch packs a lot of skill in an impressive frame. He's highly creative and is at his best from the hash marks in. Tuch protects the puck quite well and can be very effective in the cycle. He won't bulldoze guys but is pretty physical and wins a lot of battles due to his size and strength. Tuch's skating has gotten better, but he still has room for improvement. He also needs to improve his defensive positioning and awareness.

Day 2 picks: Belpedio is part of the rare breed of right-handed defenders who play the left side well. He has pretty quick feet and skates well for a defender, and while he may be a bit small (5-foot-11), he's strong and works hard to win battles. This combined with his very high hockey IQ makes him a good penalty killer, and he logged some tough minutes for the NTDP. ... Kahkonen is already 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, and fills up the net well thanks to great technique. He also understands how to angle off shooters to make the most of his physical tools. Kahkonen has above-average lateral abilities, with what many scouts have described as an "explosiveness" in net. He exhibits a calm demeanor and is rarely rattled by bad goals. ... Sjalin is very raw, but a high-tools type of player who can skate and handle the puck very well and is a typical late-round home run swing. ... Duke is a highly talented forward with the offensive IQ, hand-eye ability and creativity to make distinct plays with the puck. Duke has to round out his game, though. In addition to overcoming less than ideal size (6-foot-0, 187 pounds), scouts also note that he needs to work on his consistency. ... Jenys is a big, strong winger who got a lot of games in the top Czech league this season. He has some skill, but not a ton, and I see him more as a bottom six type of player but projecting some scoring is not unreasonable.

Summary: The Wild added the rare combo of size and skill in Tuch and complemented the pick with talented players in Belpedio, Kahkonen, Sjalin and Duke. I like Jenys in the seventh round, and while he's not the most talented, he's big, has hockey abilities and has shown he can handle the pro level. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Wild were fairly quiet on draft weekend, but that might change come free agency, as they have something that might be in short supply this summer: cap room. Grade: C -- Provenzano

Arizona Coyotes | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Brendan Perlini has probably the best size-to-skating ratio in the draft; a 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger who gets up the ice at an elite level. His physical package and skill level fit the desirable power forward mold, a role he could play if he improves in the physical part of the game. He's a great scorer who can finish from mid-distance but still needs to find consistency in terms of puck creativity and two-way play.

Day 2 picks: MacInnis is a 6-foot-4 playmaker who is tough to get off of the puck. He's a really smart player who makes plays under pressure, can see the ice even when he's not looking down his options. MacInnis needs to work on his skating and his shot also has some room for improvement. ... Dvorak didn't get much ice time this season and was hurt as well. He's a good skater with penalty-killing abilities who may be able to generate offense as a pro through skills apart from his work ethic. It's so tough to get a read on him because of a lack of repetitions or usage in significant situations. ... The progress Bunting has made in such a short amount of time is telling to why many rave about his character. He possesses a high level of skill, and has the coordination to make tough plays with the puck. At his best, he can be an offensive force, but he's a pretty raw player due to the lack of high-level play. ... Mayo is a strong skater with the speed and burst to lead the attack effectively. His skill set leans more to the offensive side but I'm unsure exactly what type of role he would have as a pro. But there's enough to his game in many areas and he progressed well as the season went along. ... Westlund is a defender with size and decent two-way hockey sense. ... Jared Fiegl is the kind of player who if he makes it, his role will be as a depth player. He's got pro-average size, solid speed and can kill penalties with no offense. ... Edgars Kulda become a bit more of a known prospect with his MVP performance at the Memorial Cup. He does a little of everything well. He works hard, can skate, has some skill, and can finish. A bit of a tweener for me who probably ends up a minor leaguer, but he's trending upwards.

Summary: Arizona adds size and skill on the wing with Perlini, and given Henrik Samuelsson's OK development, he becomes its top wing prospect. The Coyotes overall added a lot of forward talent to the organization and prospects of different styles. Dvorak seemed a little high to me, although he's talented. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Coyotes haven't had a great 48 hours here in Philadelphia. They used their first-round pick to add winger Brendan Perlini, which is a good down-the-road asset. They also made the decision to buy out the remaining three years of center Mike Ribeiro's contract, and at roughly $16 million for one year of service, that works out to about $1 million for each of the 16 goals Ribeiro scored as a Coyote, and leaves them perilously thin down the middle. Grade: D- -- Provenzano

Pittsburgh Penguins | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Kasperi Kapanen is a very good skater with a blistering first few steps and an above-average top gear. He sees the ice at a high-end level and regularly makes all kinds of impressive passes. Kapanen also has a good shot and works hard in the corners. He needs to work on his defense and is undersized but makes up for it with surprising strength.

Day 2 picks: Lindo is fun to watch as an all-engines-go type of forward who pressures physically and is full of energy. Some scouts I talked to aren't a fan of his skating, but I think he's looked fine in that area.

Summary: Pittsburgh took advantage of a sliding Kapanen, who had a below-expectations draft season in terms of production but has a ton of talent. The question about Kapanen was whether his season was due to injuries and/or a really poor offensive team, but I'm not as skeptical about him. Kapanen is potentially great value at 22 if he rebounds, but after him, I didn't think Pittsburgh did a lot. He's a top prospect, though, and the best forward prospect they have had in a number of years. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: It has been a strange, strange offseason for the Metropolitan Division champion Penguins. Gone are the GM/head coach combo of Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma, who between them guided Pittsburgh to four conference finals and one Stanley Cup. From afar, this looks like an organization being buffeted by the winds of internal angst, which is almost always a dangerous place for organizations to navigate. The trade of winger James Neal to the Predators has the whiff of change for change's sake. Grade: D- -- Provenzano

San Jose Sharks | GRADE: B

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Nikolay Goldobin is a gifted playmaker, which allows him to be the primary creator on the power play from the side wall. Goldobin sees his options quickly and delivers all his passes on the tape even if he has to elevate the puck. At the risk of furthering a stereotype about Russian forwards, Goldobin's main issues are off the puck. He needs to win more battles, gain strength and improve his defense.

Day 2 picks: Bergman is average in size (6-foot-1, 196 pounds), but has fine physical value because he plays hard and wins battles. Bergman plays a smart, steady defensive game with his positioning and overall reads, and his potential value will be as a penalty-killing defenseman who plays against talented players. He's not the most skilled puck handler in the world. Rod has average size, but a pretty good strength level already, and he couples it with an overall above-average physical game. ... Rod skates well and overall brings a lot of energy to his shifts. He has some ability with the puck, but his game is more off the puck. ... Schoenborn has good speed and work ethic, but roughly average offensive upside. ... Sadowy scored a ton of goals in the OHL this year. He's a hard-working, physical forward with defensive value and a great shot. I'm not sold on him being a great skill guy, though, and his skating needs work. ... Vanier is a giant on the ice at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, and on top of that he throws the body around regularly. He also has the capability to get his entire frame into a bomb of a shot, which makes him quite dangerous on the power play. His skating is a weakness, as his turns are a little awkward, and while he has a great wingspan, he can still be beaten wide. ... Chartier's been an all-situations player for Kelowna but really impresses in the defensive parts of the game. He's a pretty good skater and can be a nuisance on the forecheck or getting in lanes on the penalty kill. He understands the defensive game very well and with his good faceoff skills, projects as a potential tough minutes player at the NHL level. Chartier's notable weakness is his height, as he stands 5-foot-11. ... Labanc was a role player for the NTDP in 2012-13, and that's the type of player he could project into as an NHLer. He's a good to very good skater who doesn't have ideal size, but works hard and can be a fine penalty killer. He has some vision/puck ability, but for the most part his value is off the puck.

Summary: The Sharks got a good mix of players in this class while getting a lot of prospect value. Goldobin and Vanier have great offensive abilities, Bergman is a shutdown D, while Rod, Schoenborn and Chartier play in both ends. This was a potential shot in the arm for their system. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Sharks seem to be locked into a standoff with captain Joe Thornton. The difficulty here is that they are too good a hockey club to be stripped down to the floorboards yet not good enough to just stand pat and hope for yet another shot at punching through the ultra-tough Western Conference playoff crowd next spring. With a trade unlikely, and not a ton of cap space to spend in a thin free-agent market, the Sharks will have to find a way to heal the internal sores that seem to be festering this offseason. Grade: F -- Provenzano

Washington Capitals | GRADE: B-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Jakub Vrana is a shifty player with very good speed and a nice first few steps. His defense could use work. He also can try to do too much and be selfish at times. The most troubling thing with Vrana is that his development seems to be flattening out, and a downward trend is always a red flag. He's one of the few Czech players to ever play as an underage player for their under-18 and under-20 teams, following in the footsteps of Michael Frolik and Jiri Hudler.

Day 2 picks: Gersich is one of the better skaters in this draft. He can be effective offensively because of how well he gains the zone. He's equally as fast on the backcheck, and fights for loose pucks. He can certainly make some plays offensively in open ice, although he's more of a secondary option. ... Spinner has high-end work ethic and energy to his game. He darts all over the ice throwing his body around and pressuring opponents. He doesn't have all that much in terms of puck skills or offensive instincts but his intangibles and skating could get him to a lower role. ... Elgestal is mostly speed and work ethic, but I think he has average skill as well, which makes him appealing as a pro prospect. ... Nathan Walker ranked low due to lack of viewings, but in past years I've seen him as a top-100 player. He's a good skater with skill who despite his small stature works really hard and attacks the net.

Summary: Other than the Vanecek pick, the rest of the Capitals' selections were fair for their slot. Vrana has a ton of upside and it should be interesting to see how he develops. The bottom three picks were more safe players, but they still have some skill. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Capitals did what the Capitals do: take skilled players in the draft. It remains to be seen if Washington can correct the apparent identity issues that consistently plague its on-ice results, but the addition of head coach Barry Trotz is a step in the right direction. Grade: B- -- Provenzano

Montreal Canadiens | GRADE: B-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Nikita Scherbak's vision creates a lot, and he just understands where to go, what to do and how to make all the right plays at a high speed to create offense. His stride is pretty clean and can show a good bursts of speed, although I'm not sure he's a blazer. I think with improved strength, his skating has notable room to grow and excel. His defense isn't the best, but it isn't a major issue.

Day 2 picks: Lernout is a big defenseman who uses the body well defensively. He's not the most skilled player, or the most graceful skater, but he moves well enough to close on his marks and be effective in his position. ... Audette's skill level is great, as he can make plays better than all but a few in this draft class. His high-end vision allows him to make passes of moderate difficulty look routine. Audette is a tremendous power-play asset who can be the primary source of chances. His size is his biggest weakness: He's 5-foot-8, 176 pounds, and his physical limitations make his potential NHL even-strength production questionable.

Summary: Scherbak has upside in all kinds of ways, adding to a very strong group of wingers in the Montreal system. I didn't like Lernout at 73, but really liked the talent level of Audette. We'll have to wait and see on some of the lower-level junior guys who were picked, but Scherbak and Audette are the core of their draft for me. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Canadiens' organizational outlook will likely hinge on how long and, more importantly, how much it costs them to lock up restricted free-agent defenseman PK Subban. With the salary cap expected to rise significantly over the course of the next few years, this might be a negotiation that sees a reversal of the usual bargaining positions, with the player looking for shorter term and the team trying to add years to the deal. Grade: C -- Provenzano

Chicago Blackhawks | GRADE: B-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Nick Schmaltz's puck skills and pure creativity allow him to make a lot of defenders miss and allow him to create scoring chances at times when it doesn't look like there is an opportunity. Schmaltz has pretty good possession skills as well. "He can own the puck during a game," said one NHL scout. Schmaltz isn't the biggest guy in the class, so he needs to bulk up and play less bashfully in battles.

Day 2 picks: Iacopelli led the USHL in goals in his third draft-eligible season. He has solid puck skills, and what one USHL scout calls one of the best shots he's ever seen in that league. His skating isn't the best, though, and he still has a lot of development to go in terms of consistency and defense. ... Starrett is huge at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, and has offensive gifts. He's a good skater for his size and has solid puck skills. He's really raw, though, playing in a pretty inferior league, and it's tough to know what he really is. ... Snuggerud is a high-end skater who is described as "explosive" by scouts. He has a fine shot, and gets the puck through lanes well. He has a few flaws, though; he's a tad small (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), and doesn't project as a great physical player. His reads can be off a little too often in terms of risk-taking and not playing at the ideal pace. ... Nalimov is a high-tools goaltender with a big frame and the athletic ability to make the really tough saves. He can make acrobatic stops that few in his age group can. His hockey sense is below-average, though, lacking the positional soundless and consistency in his reads.

Summary: The Blackhawks added a top-end skill center, which the org needed with the trade of Brandon Pirri to Florida. Staying mostly in America in this draft, they added skilled players in Iacopelli, Starrett, Oloffson and Snuggerud but none other than Schmaltz are probably in the NHL in three years. I thought there were some safer picks available with just about as much talent. However, Chicago will get four years to sign a lot of these players going to college or overseas. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Hawks were reportedly one of the two teams on Ryan Kesler's approved trade destination list, but the lower-than-expected salary cap limit probably dented the Hawks' ability to move the necessary pieces to make that deal work. Chicago GM Stan Bowman has historically done a masterful job massaging the cap to keep his team in Cup-contention status. He will have his hands full this summer landing a true second-line center and negotiating extensions for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Grade: C- -- Provenzano

Philadelphia Flyers | GRADE: B-

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Travis Sanheim has effective size and offensive skill, and his puck-moving ability increased as the season progressed. Sanheim has very good mobility with an effortless, powerful stride and the evasiveness you don't typically see with a player his size. He isn't an overly physical player, but with his reach and IQ he's able to be strong defensively and make a fair number of stops.

Day 2 picks: Aube-Kubel is a really gifted puck handler who on his best game creates chances out of nothing and can be dangerous in open ice. He's not a fantastic skater, but he has a fine top gear and good agility. He also has an impressive shot, but isn't the best off the puck, as he can struggle a bit with his reads. ... Mark Friedman was a top defender in the USHL this year. He's a really smart player and while small at 5-foot-10, he competes as hard as anyone. His offense comes from his IQ, so I'm not sure he makes it unless his skating hits the top-end level. ... Lindblom is a strong power winger who gets praise for the tough brand of hockey he brings out of his 6-foot-2, 187-pound frame. He can be a handful for defenders due to his ability to gain the zone and play a power game. ... Radel Fazleev was intriguing as a 16-year-old, but I wasn't crazy about his draft season. He has good vision and can flash skill, but I don't think his puck skills or skating are that impressive, especially with a mediocre frame. ... I did not rank Jesper Pettersson due to lack of viewings this year, but he was impressive to me as a U-20. He skates well, can move the puck and while small, can hit. I saw him as a midround talent last season.

Summary: If you believe Sanheim is the player he was from February to April, the pick is perfectly justified. I ranked him a little lower due to the sudden uptick, but it wasn't an unreasonable pick. From that point on Philly took a lot of skill and upside, which changes the dynamic of their system somewhat since it lacked those elements. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The host Flyers kicked off Draft week with a rather curious trade, acquiring R.J. Umberger for the popular Scott Hartnell. They then went a bit off the draft board to step up and acquire defenceman Travis Sanheim. The bigger challenge in Philadelphia will be one that they are very accustomed with: creating cap space where none currently exists. Grade: D+ -- Provenzano

Colorado Avalanche | GRADE: C+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Conner Bleackley is a very hard-working forward who "competes so hard in every area of the ice, every shift," per one scout. Bleackley kills penalties effectively and anticipates the flow of the offensive pressure well. He's also a very astute thinker on the offensive side of the puck. Bleackley has a fine strength level right now but certainly has more room to grow on that front. His skating is average.

Day 2 picks: Kyle Wood certainly has a bit of a sleeper tag as a player who didn't get into many games due to injury. As a 6-foot-4, 200-pound defender who can skate and move the puck at a decent level, he has tools to bet on. ... Magyar is an average-sized forward who is strong on the puck, with a good work ethic. He shows flashes of being a creative player with the puck, skates well and is dangerous in transition on top of having an impressive shot. ... Pepin came into the season with high expectations but didn't live up to them. He's a big forward with impressive skill, which makes him intriguing. However, his skating and reads need work, and he's struggled to maintain a proper fitness level. ... Nantel is a hard-working forward who can play multiple positions. He has solid to above-average speed and the ability to play on both special teams, although his lack of offensive potential likely makes him a bottom-six type.

Summary: Bleackley and Magyar give Colorado some projectable pro players, and in the case of Bleackley, a projectable above-average one. Pepin is the interesting one. He was a former top-round prospect, but just fell apart. Overall, Colorado got fair value on most of its picks. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The surprising Central Division champion Avs would have ideally liked to have added a defenseman to bolster their impressive bevy of young, ascendant talent, but that player simply did not exist at pick No. 23 in the draft. The main issues that Colorado will have to deal with to keep its momentum going into the 2014-15 season is largely contractual. With the likely loss of Paul Stastny to free agency, the Avs will have to get Ryan O'Reilly under contract at a number friendly enough to their internal budget limitations to allow them to pursue a bona fide top-four defenseman who can eat up 5-on-5 minutes. Grade: B- -- Provenzano

Detroit Red Wings | GRADE: C+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: Dylan Larkin was one of the top power forwards available in this year's draft class and is an outstanding skater. He has a fine but not outstanding amount of skill but consistently gains the offensive zone due to his skating ability. He drives the net, muscles out opponents in battles and gets back on defense effectively. He kills penalties well, and he can be a short-handed scoring threat.

Day 2 picks: Turgeon is a player with average skill but fine size and protects well. ... Ehn has above-average possession skills, he's skilled and smart with a good work ethic. ... Holmstrom trended up as the season went along, including a great World U-18 tournament. He's a skilled center who thinks the game well. I ranked him a little low due to lack of notes, but know some scouts who feel he's a top second- to third-round prospect. ... Kadeykin generated buzz last season after his significant production in the MHL as a big forward and had a productive KHL season.

Summary: The Red Wings added Larkin as a nice complement to the high-skill players in their system. Larkin will provide the two-way play, speed and work ethic to the skill of Tomas Jurco, Anthony Mantha, Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist and others. Turgeon fits in that mold as well. After that, they drafted some talented players that I'm not as sold on, but do have tools. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Red Wings haven't had a particularly eventful draft weekend. Given the relatively thin pickings in the upcoming free-agent class (along with their disappointing Stephen Weiss signing last offseason), this summer will probably see them being fairly low-key as they try to retool on the fly. Grade: C -- Provenzano

Ottawa Senators | GRADE: C+

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Day 2 picks: Englund is physically intriguing at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, especially when considering he uses his body well. He's certainly a quality penalty killer who can make stops, and at even strength his sense allows him to check tougher players. While his puck-moving is decent, he'll never be confused for a puck wizard. ... Gendron has the early burst and overall top gear to be a dangerous puck rusher. He has good upside, but is also a risky prospect. He still has a ways to go in learning the position, in terms of reads and improving his physical play. He has decent size (6-foot-2, 172 pounds), but could stand to bulk up more. ... Eiserman is a pretty good skater who plays with physicality, and works hard. At times with the USNTDP and with Dubuque, he would show signs of above-average offensive ability, but that hasn't been a consistent part of his game. ... I have limited notes on Summers, but from what I have seen of him, I like his puck moving in terms of outlets and what he can do on the man advantage. With pro-average size and skill it makes him an interesting prospect. ... Perron is a player I wished I had gotten to see more because he impressed in limited viewings. The former sixth overall QMJHL draft pick is a highly gifted playmaker who can slow the game down but has size/strength limitations and isn't a blazer.

Summary: Englund is a player trending well, and may be able to fast track with how well he's shown in pro hockey. Getting him and Gendron were important for Ottawa's system that was light on defensive talent. They didn't get a ton, but they did enough with limited picks. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Senators could probably use a player like Nick Ritchie, but he is now an Anaheim Duck courtesy of last summer's Bobby Ryan trade. This team looks like it is heading for another retool, and getting a big return for Jason Spezza will be critical in terms of stopping Ottawa's slide toward the lower end of the NHL standings. Grade: F -- Provenzano

New Jersey Devils | GRADE: C

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking.

Top Pick: John Quenneville is strong in puck possession, can make quick decisions with the puck and works hard to get to the net and win battles. Scouts describe him as a very dangerous player from the hash marks in. John's skating needs some work, as his first few steps aren't the best. He's improved a fair amount defensively and has become a fine penalty killer.

Day 2 picks: Jacobs is an above-average if not a high-end skater and also has a good frame and doesn't shy away from the physical parts of the game. While Jacobs has good flashes of defensive value in the USHL, there are concerns about his defense going forward. His hockey sense is below-average, regularly making bad decisions with the puck or missing assignments. ... Chatham has speed, hustle and size to his game and that can make him appealing in projecting him as a potential bottom-six forward. However, I'm bearish on his offensive potential, as I don't see the hands or the creativity to produce at the pro level. ... Rehill's a big bruiser who led the WHL in penalty minutes this season. I don't see a ton of upside there, more a depth-type of prospect who fights. Joey Dudek has above-average puck skills and vision. He thinks the game well enough where he can dictate tempo and control the puck on the power play. He's not the biggest or fastest player, however.

Summary: I'm not the biggest fan of the Devils' draft, as while I do think they got talent, given the slot and who was available, they could have left Philadelphia with more of it. I do think it's good they picked a forward with their top pick, though, as their pipeline needed scoring talent badly. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Devils have had a slow, continuous leak of NHL talent out of the organization over the past few years, and finally getting a first-round pick is a start (but at 30th overall, not a solution) to the cupboard restocking that needs to be done in Newark. As is typical of franchises that have enjoyed an extended run of on-ice success, the Devils have gotten old. If they truly want to return to the level of serious playoff contenders, they need to inject significantly more youth into their lineup than currently exists. Unfortunately for New Jersey's fans, that is a process that takes both patience and time. Grade: C -- Provenzano

New York Rangers | GRADE: C

2014 draft class

*PDR: Corey Pronman's pre-draft ranking. ** Goalies ranked separately .

Day 2 picks: Halverson is a good-sized goaltender who moves well and has elite ability playing the puck. He needs to rough out the edges, as his reads and overall mental skills could improve. ... Iverson's already pretty strong for his age, weighing in at more than 200 pounds. He can protect the puck very well, and doesn't mind throwing his weight around, too. He has enough speed to pressure opponents, and while he has some puck skills, he's much more of a secondary scorer. ... Ryan Mantha is an intriguing prospect. He's a huge defender who plays the body and has some puck-moving skill. His skating, though, is fringe, and he needs to work on his reads/decisions a lot. ... Shesterkin is a fun goaltender to watch because of his high-end athletic abilities and all of the tough stops he can make. He has quick feet, allowing him to make dynamic lateral moves. His reactions are also a plus, and he has the ability to make some of the more difficult stops with his glove. His reads are solid, with good flashes here and there, but he can still work on some of the finer details, and he can stand to bulk up his 6-foot, 183-pound frame in order to fill up more of the net. ... Richard Nejezchleb can at times look like an impressive prospect with moments of high-end skill and flash to his game as a playmaker. I just don't think he shows that enough to compensate for the fact he's not a really well-rounded player. He has scoring upside, so he's worth a pick, but he'll need something else to click to become a real NHL prospect. ... Walcott manages to be a decent physical player despite his 5-foot-10, 160-pound stature. He defends pretty well for a small defenseman with good mobility and he put up points this season in the QMJHL, but I'm not sure he has the ability to be a point producer as a pro. ... Nanne is a good skating defender with above-average skill. He's small, but he can still lay the body.

Summary: I certainly think the Rangers got talent in this year's draft. The players they took have, at some point, shown enough for me to think they have some NHL future, but with no first-round pick to speak of, I don't think they got a lot of top talent this year. -- Pronman

Organizational assessment: The Rangers gambled their first-round pick on getting to the Stanley Cup finals, and it paid off. As a result, they were largely a bystander in the recently completed talent lottery. Their overall organizational grade will rest largely in how they manage to both keep their existing player core in the fold contract-wise and in how they improve their roster to keep the momentum going. Buying out center Brad Richards was a necessarily step in that direction, but one that certainly doesn't help in the short term. Grade: D -- Provenzano