Bottom line (which somebody already brought up), is that Tavares will go first. Of the top two/three teams in the draft, someone will want him. Ergo, even if the top team doesn\'t, they can trade down to the second or third pick, still get their man and some extra sweetness.
Also, as drafts are being discussed quite a bit right now in the united states (with the NFL draft close in the rearview mirror)... you HARDLY EVER know until 3-7 years down the road what team did well in the draft, and what player was \"worth\" the high pick.
Tavares could come into the league and score 200 points his rookie year, demand 10 million dollars a year after his entry level contract is up, and then stop trying (ala yashin)... would you then say 20-30 years from now that he was even on the same page as the ovechkins, crosbys, and malkins? NO.
We won\'t know who will become the best player until it happens... teams draft largely based on level of potential, and even if Hedman does have a better year next year... i think that the amount of potential will make tavares the first (even if a team ends up trading to take him first)...
Ten years from now, I PROMISE that hockey analysts (and every one of us hockey nuts) will look back at the 2009 draft and pick someone else as the \"best\" hockey player from the draft. Tavares will be great, but if you don\'t try, and you\'re just looking for a payday, your success at the highest level will be limited (especially once you get your payday).
Who here thinks that Tavares will be like Iginla? Ie, who thinks that Tavares will put up career numbers the year AFTER he gets a nice big contract? I sure don\'t. Tavares will be remembered for his skill when everything\'s said and done, but I don\'t think he\'ll be remembered as a \"great\" player like malkin, crosby, ovechkin, sakic, iginla, etc. will be.