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: Skilled forward

Year after year Detroit does a good job of finding talent in the later rounds under the guidance of assistant GM Jim Nill, Joe McDonnell and Hakan Andersson. The last time the Wings drafted a forward in the first round was in 1992, which is amazing considering the franchise's success. The group of forwards they have are skilled, but are considered late bloomers. Do not be surprised to see Tomas Tatar, Landon Ferraro and Gustav Nyquist in the lineup in three years. With Nick Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski getting long in the tooth on defence, the pressure is on to make sure they have prospects to groom. The Wings do have a few defencemen with promise in Jakub Kindl, Logan Pyett and Brendan Smith. The Wings need to add some forwards that have potential to play at an elite level, which is always a challenge when drafting late in the first round.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (G) Thomas McCollum, (D) Jakub Kindl, (D) Logan Pyett, (C) Tomas Tatar, (D) Brendan Smith

Strengths: Good depth and talent on defence

Weaknesses: Lack of game-breaker on the wing and a potential top-line centre

Draft Needs: Skilled forwards

After 10 drafts the Columbus Blue Jackets almost have a full cupboard of prospects. It looked like the cupboard was bare a few years ago, but the last three drafts have replenished the stocks. The back end has a potential top defenceman in John Moore and four solid depth defencemen in Will Weber, Cody Goloubef, Brent Regner and Ted Ruth. Moore is projected to be an elite defenceman and others are expected to be No. 4- to No. 7-types. The trio of Kevin Lynch, Matt Calvert and Nikita Filatov are the top skilled forwards in a system that lacks a bit of depth in that area. An elite offensive forward or defenceman on the farm should be a top priority going into this draft.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (D) John Moore (D) Cody Goloubef, (LW) Nikita Filatov, (RW) Matt Calvert.

Strengths: Solid depth and talent on defence

Weaknesses: Skilled forwards

Draft Needs: Skilled forward

Blue skies are on the horizon for St. Louis as their prospects are blossoming quickly. In the past the farm system was glutted by trades, but a new philosophy has changed that. The man who has come in to work the same magic he did in Ottawa has begun collecting assets. The main priority for assistant GM Jarmo Kekalainen is to build from the goaltender and defence out. The forwards are led by a solid group of prospects in Lars Eller, Simon Hjalmarsson, Nick Drazenovic, Phillip McRae and Brett Sonne. The defence is the strength with Alex Pietrangelo, Ian Cole, David Rundblad, Brett Ponich, Cade Fairchild and Jonas Junland, so they should be set for a while. They have talent with Jake Allen and Ben Bishop waiting behind in the wings.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C) Lars Eller, (D) Alex Pietrangelo, (D) David Rundblad, (G) Jake Allen, (G) Ben Bishop, (D) Ian Cole

Strengths: Defence and goaltending

Weaknesses: Skilled forwards

Draft Needs: Skilled forwards, physical defenceman

This organization always finds quality NHL players and the scouting staff has done a fine job identifying talent in the first rounds. The area that stands out is their talent and depth on defence where they boast the best young core in the NHL. However, the depth and talent on the farm has been reduced recently by trades, but the defence is still solid with Ryan Ellis, Jon Blum, and Charles-Olivier Roussel as prospects. It would not hurt for Nashville to add a defensively responsible defenceman with a physical presence. Nashville still needs another skilled forward to go with Cal O'Reilly, Nick Spaling, Mike Santorelli, Zach Budish, Taylor Beck, Mike Latta and Blake Geoffrion. The goaltending does not need as much attention since they have goaltending prospects Chet Pickard and Jeremy Smith to develop. The key for the Preds is to shore up a few neglected areas because of their hording of offensive defenseman. Fortunately they have a first-round pick in the top 20 to find an elite prospect.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (D) Ryan Ellis, (RW) Mike Santorelli, (G) Chet Pickard, (G) Jeremy Smith, (D) Jon Blum, (C) Cal O'Reilly

Strengths: Offensive defensemen, goaltending

Weaknesses: Skilled forwards

They no longer have the deepest prospect talent in the league, but the pool is still good. The good news is the dearth is due to prospects developing into NHL players at the same time. It is up to the scouting team of Mark Kelley and Michel Dumas to find the next wave of future Blackhawks. They have good depth at forward with players such as Kyle Beach, Brandon Pirri, Akim Aliu, Nathan Davis and Jack Skille. They are missing a big skilled centre to round out the forward ranks and if one is available over the first two rounds it may be something they consider. The goaltender of note is Corey Crawford and they could use another couple of netminders to develop. The Hawks have three high-end defencemen in Dylan Olsen, Nick Leddy and Shawn Lalonde so this does not have be the priority going into the draft. For long-term needs the Hawks could use some skill down the middle and another goaltender.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (LW) Kyle Beech, (D) Dylan Olsen, (D) Shawn Lalonde (RW) Jack Skille, (C) Nathan Davis, (G) Corey Crawford, (D) Nick Leddy

Strengths: Solid group of forwards

Weaknesses: Goalie, centre