After Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin Are Drafted, What Happens?

The top prospects call them "fly-outs" -- visits to the home offices of teams in the best position to select them early in the first round of the NHL Draft on June 25. The 18-year-olds tour the facilities, meet with the general manager and chief scout, sometimes the team owner. They're told to relax and have fun, but the youngster knows he is on stage. The smart ones take the time to educate themselves on the franchises they're visiting.

"You pick up what you can without over-preparing," said Erik Gudbranson, a defenseman with Kingston of the Ontario League who is likely to be selected with one of the top six picks. "It's only natural that if someone is inviting you to their place, you take a little time to learn about them. All of us are hockey fans anyway, so we usually go in knowing plenty about the teams."

Gudbranson flew to Columbus and New York last week to meet with the Blue Jackets and Islanders, who pick fourth and fifth respectively. Fellow defenseman Cam Fowler of the Canadian Hockey League champion Windsor Spitfires also met only with the teams in Columbus and Long Island. After talking to more than 20 teams at the NHL Draft Combine in Toronto last month after his recovery from a hip injury, the lecture circuit schedule of Prince George power forward Brett Connolly has been shrouded in secrecy -- with a dose of controversy. The medical disclosure has not been as full as some teams are demanding. Moncton defenseman Brandon Gormley has picked up plenty of frequent flyer miles.

Guaranteed top-two draft picks Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin traveled only to Edmonton and Boston and are likely to be selected in that order. So now the question is, what happens next? Just a little more than a week before the big night -- make that late afternoon -- in Los Angeles, here's how it's shaping up.

More: Mock Draft | Top 35 Prospects | Full 2010 NHL Draft Coverage

3. Florida Panthers - Brett Connolly: Dale Tallon's club could immediately end the mystery of where Brett Connolly will play, and few would blame the new GM for not being able to resist. The 6-2 right wing -- who patterns his game after Rick Nash -- is coming off a season wrecked by a hip injury suffered in international competition last August. It says everything about his skill and intensity that he remained near the top of every teams' draft boards and the Central Scouting Service ranked him third among North American skaters. Although Connolly told FanHouse last month that he would let every team doctor see his hip, his agent has kept the medical process very close to the vest. Connolly's selection is a risk, but the upside is tremendous. Also under consideration: Cam Fowler.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Cam Fowler: The Blue Jackets are in a bit of a hurry to get better and will receive offers, but none will tempt them to pass on one of the high-level talents available at the fourth pick. The player most likely to be atop their draft board is Fowler, the pre-eminent puck-moving defenseman in the Class of 2010. There has been a sense among scouts that the likably confident Fowler has been biding his time in the U.S. National program and in Windsor and is talented and determined enough to contribute immediately in the NHL. With Fowler anchoring the defense, Team USA won the gold at the World Junior Championships and the Spitfires won the Memorial Cup. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson may end up pinching himself for his luck if Fowler falls into his lap. Also under consideration: Erik Gudbranson.

5. New York Islanders - Erik Gudbranson: Be prepared for anything. With Garth Snow as general manager and owner Charles Wang sitting at the head of the draft table during the first round, the Islanders have shown the last two years that they will move up or down if they have a strong feeling about a player. In 2008, they moved from 5 to 7 to 9, acquired extra picks in the second and third rounds and selected forward Josh Bailey. A year ago, they traded five picks to move from 26 to 12 and draft defenseman Calvin de Haan.

If Connolly and Fowler are gone, they will have a choice of defensemen Gudbranson and Gormley at 5. The 6-4 Gudbranson is a potential first-pair, shutdown dman who one scout compares to Brent Seabrook. Gormley is not as offensive-minded as Fowler or as tough as Gudbranson, but a strong all-zone player who many believe is the safest pick. It would not be a stunner, however, to see the Islanders move back a la 2008 and end up with right wing Nino Niederreiter or center Ryan Johansen. Both had fly-outs to New York to meet with Snow. Also under consideration: Brandon Gormley.