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 forwards

Director of scouting Tim Burke and his staff have done a great job collecting prospects. From 1997 to 2003 the Sharks have had one the highest success rates of drafting and developing NHL players. The Sharks have had many prospects graduate to the NHL recently, but the ranks have thinned. The emergence of Jamie McGinn and Logan Couture has made the Sharks lacking in talent and depth up front in the system. The Sharks do have Phillip Varone and Marek Viedensky, but their NHL projection is unclear. On defence San Jose has a highly regarded, tough defenceman in Nick Petrecki, as well as William Wrenn, Taylor Doherty and Julien Demers. They have good depth and talent in goal with Taylor Dakers, Tyson Sexsmith and Alex Stalock, who showed promise in his rookie year in the AHL. The challenge now is to pick up another couple of skilled forwards and restock the depth.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (D) Taylor Doherty, (G) Taylor Dakers, (D) William Wrenn, (D) Nick Petrecki, (G) Alex Stalock

Strengths: Defence, goaltending

Weaknesses: Skilled forwards

Draft Needs: Defence

In Dallas, the term big D once meant defence in the system, but those prospects have developed into NHL players. Tim Bernhardt, Les Jackson and the scouting crew have done a good job finding gems in North America and Europe. Since Ivan Vishnevsky was traded they are lacking defenceman in the system. They have an underrated group of forwards such as Scott Glennie, Alex Chaisson, Tomas Vincour and Colten Sceviour that are versatile and could fill parts of the first to third lines. They have addressed some top-end elite skill, which should help them in the next couple of seasons; however it would not hurt to have a few more skilled forwards. The Stars have a couple of bodies in goal with Tyler Beskorowany and Richard Bachman in the system and they have some time to develop. The focus the next two drafts should be to pick as many defencemen as they can before their young NHL defencemen move on.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C/RW) Scott Glennie, (RW/LW) Tomas Vincour, (RW) Alex Chaisson, (RW) Colten Sceviour, (G) Tyler Beskorwany

Strengths: Forward depth

Weaknesses: Lack of defensive talent and depth

Draft Needs: Skilled forwards

Up front, the Kings are solid with Brayden Schenn, Trevor Lewis, Andre Loktionov and Oscar Moller following in the footsteps of the previous group. Talking about solid, the defence is loaded in talent, starting with Thomas Hickey, Colten Teubert, Andrew Campbell, Alec Martinez and Vyacheslav Voynov. The Kings are also flush with NHL potential in goal with Jonathan Bernier and Matt Zatkoff cutting their teeth in the AHL. Now that Matt Jones will be added to the mix they will have some hard decisions to make about goalies in the next couple of years. The Kings do not have any specific needs, but the forward ranks have the least amount of talent and depth overall.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (D) Thomas Hickey, (G) Jonathan Bernier, (C) Trevor Lewis, (D) Colten Teubert, (D) Vyacheslav Voynov, (C) Brayden Schenn

Strengths: Good talent and depth on defence and goal positions

Weaknesses: None, but having more skilled forwards does not hurt

Draft Needs: Skilled Wingers

Martin Madden (director of amateur scouting) and Alain Chainey (assistant director) will head the scouting team once again and build on the success of late. The Ducks have seen many of their prospects make the jump permanently to the NHL, so the farm system has taken a hit. They have done a great job over the past couple of drafts adding talent and depth in every area. The offensive group of Peter Holland, Logan MacMillan, Matt Beleskey, Nicolas Deschamps, Kyle Palmieri, Brandon McMillan, Maxim Macenauer and Josh Brittain gives hope for the future.

The defence has good depth and talent with Matt Clark, Brendan Mikkelson, Mark Mitera, Jake Gardiner, Justin Schultz and Brett Festerling, but none of them stand out as a potential top No. 1 defenceman in the NHL. However, the Ducks are expected to get three or four good NHL defencemen out of that group. The Ducks think one of their goalies -- Igor Bobkov, Marco Cousineau and Timo Pielmeier, who they received in a trade from San Jose -- can develop into a top netminder.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (D) Mark Mitera, (LW) Nicolas Deschamps, (D) Justin Schultz, (D) Jake Gardiner, (C) Patrick Holland

Strengths: Depth at forward and defence

Weaknesses: Skilled wingers

Draft Needs: Elite defenceman, goaltender

The impact of new GM Don Maloney has shown some positive effect on the organization, and all eyes will be on Keith Gretzky and his scouting staff. Now the focus will turn to another group of prospects who should be able to make the roster in next few seasons. The Coyotes have a good mix of prospects with unique talents who can fit various roles in the future. They are set at centre with Kyle Turris, and they have skilled forwards in Brett MacLean, Victor Tikhonov, Chris Brown and Mikkel Boedker. On defence the Coyotes do have some talent and potential in Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Summers, Michael Stone, Nick Ross and Jonas Ahnelov. Perhaps it would be wise for the Coyotes to add another high-end defenceman since they have an extra firs-round pick. In net they only have two goalies -- Mike Lee and Joel Gistedt -- under the age 22, which is something the Coyotes will have to address.

What's on the Farm

Key Prospects: (C) Kyle Turris, (LW) Brett MacLean, (LW) Victor Tikhonov, (RW) Mikkel Boedker, (D) Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Strengths: Good depth at forward and defence

Weaknesses: Elite defenceman, goaltending