Some hockey execs will tell you that there's no good reason to rush a just-drafted kid into a NHL line-up -- certainly that's the mind-set in Detroit where prospects can look forward to a long apprenticeship in the minors. Other questions that have to be considered are the physicial risk, starting the meter on free-agent eligibility and a team's budgetary concerns.
Factoring all of that in, only six kids from last June's draft are on NHL rosters right now, but that doesn't mean the others aren't on track with their development. Nor does it mean those in the NHL will stick it out for the whole campaign. We examined where the top 12 picks from the 2010 draft are four months after being drafted. Here's how they break down and who we think will have the most impact on the 2010-11 season.
To read more about how much each of the top 12 picks of the 2010 NHL draft will contribute this season, you must be an ESPN Insider.
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Your home for in-depth reports on the NHL draft and its top prospects.
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Grant Sonier
Grant Sonier has scouted for six NHL organizations over the past 13 years, most recently for the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-11 season. He is a special contributor to ESPN Insider.
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Victoria Matiash
Victoria Matiash has served as a Fantasy Hockey columnist for ESPN.com since 2007, and contributor to NHL Rumor Central since 2010. She lives in Toronto.
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