Top Cat of the Draft

This is Ed Jovanovski, and he is going to segue into today's topic, which is the Florida Panthers have won the NHL Lottery, which means they get the first overall pick in this year's draft.  This will be the second time in franchise history that the Panthers will pick first overall.  The other time?  1994, when they took Jovanovski out of Windsor.

As for what the Panthers could do, it appears that it is a three player race, with Barrie Colts defenseman Aaron Ekblad and centers Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs) and Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) leading the way.  The only certain spot on the ice for the Panthers is in goal, where Roberto Luongo resides.  For all of the youth on the roster, there hasn't been a true breakout star, which may very well mean Bennett is a favorite.  However, Reinhart is a more complete player that would be the safest pick of the three.  Ekblad is in the same spot Seth Jones was last year, and while Florida bypassed Jones for Aleksander Barkov last year, the Panthers are still in relatively good shape as far as defensive depth.  However, the Panthers could use a true number one, something that the Panthers haven't found yet.

Decisions are ahead for the Panthers, with Brian Campbell being a possible buyout candidate, and certainly, it would be wise if the Panthers figure out where everyone is in their development, especially the likes of Barkov, Nick Bjugstad, Quinton Howden, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Erik Gudbranson.  The Panthers are on the clock, and they have three doors to choose from.  Choosing wisely is imperative here.