By SHANE MALLOY

sportsnet.ca

The main considerations for the NHL draft are the long-term needs of the farm system, and what the organization will need five years from now. Expecting any draft pick -- even a first- or second-rounder -- to have an immediate impact on the current NHL roster is unrealistic. If you go back and look at your favourite team's NHL roster or any NHL roster from five years ago, you can see the high turnover rate of players. Generally, a first-round pick will take three seasons before making the NHL club, a second-round pick will take four years and the remaining picks could be five or more years. A long-term approach is needed during the NHL draft and if a prospect happens to make the jump early then that is simply good luck.

Team needs by division:

Atlantic | Northeast | Southeast | Central | Pacific | Northwest

Draft Needs: Goaltending, scoring winger

For the first time in a long time the Rangers have not only good depth, but legitimate NHL potential in the system. They have strength on the backend with Bobby Sanguinetti, Ryan McDonagh, Jiri Niemi and Michael Sauer, who all bring unique skills to the table. Now up front the Rangers have Derek Stepan, Evgeny Gratchev, Chris Kreider and Ethan Werek, who all have the potential to play in the NHL. The next forwards behind them -- Brodie Dupont, Dale Weiss and Dane Byers - all could one day be NHL role players with their defensive responsibility and leadership.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C) Chris Kreider, (D) Ryan McDonagh, (D) Bobby Sanguinetti, (C) Derek Stepan, (LW/RW) Evgeny Gratchev

Strengths: Good depth and talent on defence

Weaknesses: Skilled winger that could play in the top two lines and an elite goaltender to groom

Draft Needs: Elite defenceman, elite scoring winger

The last two drafts have restocked the depth in the farm system, even with Josh Bailey and John Tavares making a quick jump to the NHL. The organization can claim they have depth up front with the likes of Corey Trivino, Rhett Rakhshani, Kirill Petrov and Jesse Joensuu in the system. The addition of puck-moving Calvin DeHaan helped the talent base to go with Aaron Ness, Travis Hamonic, Matt Donovan, Mark Katic, and Dustin Kohn and in building the future. In goal the Islanders have two mammoth netminders in Finn Mikko Koskinen and Swede Anders Nilsson.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C) Corey Trivino, (D) Travis Hamonic, (D) Calvin DeHaan, (D) Aaron Ness, (RW) Jessie Joensuu

Strengths: Good depth on defence

Weaknesses: The lack of top-end talent at forward and a potential No. 1 defenceman

Draft Needs: Goaltender

Regardless of where they draft, the Devils historically always manage to unearth talent and develop them into solid professionals; they understand the dynamics of nurturing young players. It will be up to Dave Conte's crew, which always seems to find the intangibles in players that most teams do not, to be ready to work their magic. In the system the Devils have some quality forwards, such as Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby, Adam Henrique, Matt Halischuk, Nick Palmieri and Mike Hoeffel. The Devils have the depth on defence, with Tyler Eckford, Brandon Burlon, Matt Corrente, Eric Gelinas and Alexander Urbom the one's to keep your eye on. Their goaltending is missing some depth, with Jeff Frazee the only netminder with NHL potential. They could use a couple of more skilled forwards and another elite goaltender to groom before Martin Brodeur retires.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C) Jacob Josefson, (RW) Matt Halischuk, (LW) Mattias Tedenby , (D) Tyler Eckford, (C) Adam Henrique

Strengths: Good depth at defence and forward

Weaknesses: Goaltending

Draft Needs: Everything

How fortunes have changed quickly for Philadelphia's system, as it was once flush but now finds itself depleted of good prospects. To the Flyers' credit, many of their prospects have made the jump to the NHL and that is the whole point. However, after trading draft choices and Luca Sbisa for Chris Pronger, the future is uncertain for now. At forward positions they have role players in Stefan Legein, Andreas Nodl, Patrick Maroon and Eric Wellwood, who all have the potential to play some games at the NHL level. On the back end, with only defenceman Kevin Marshall, Marc-Andre Bourdon and Simon Bertilsson, the Flyers are lacking depth and talent. One area Philadelphia is set is in goal with prospects Nic Riopel, Jacob DeSerres and Adam Morrison. The Flyers must focus on finding diamonds in the rough to add some depth in the system for this NHL draft

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (LW) Patrick Maroon, (D) Kevin Marshall, (RW) Andreas Nodl, (RW) Stefan Legein, (G) Nic Riopel

Strengths: Role players

Weaknesses: Elite talent at forward and defence

Draft Needs: Skilled forwards

It will take some time to renew the stocks and if they wish to build a dynasty, the shrewd draft choices will have to begin now. The system looks thin compared with other clubs after the first- second- and third-round picks in 2008 and first-rounder Angelo Esposito was traded away. On the forward ranks they are hoping Keven Veilleux, Nick Johnson, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Ben Hanowski, Nathan Moon and Eric Tangradi can project. The defence has a promising offensive minded defenceman in Simon Despres, who has potential to be good defenceman in the NHL. Behind him are Phillip Samuelsson, Carl Sneep, Brian Strait, Alex Grant and Robert Bortuzzo, who all have some tools but need more time to learn their craft. They have a couple of goalies in Alexander Pechurski and Patrick Killeen, but neither one is considered elite. Adding another potentially elite forward is a must for the farm system.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C) Nathan Moon, (RW) Eric Tangradi, (D) Phillip Samuelsson, (D) Simon Despres, (D) Carl Sneep

Strengths: Good depth and talent on defence

Weaknesses: Elite skilled forwards