Three Windsor Spitfires are expected to be chosen in the first round of Friday night's NHL Draft in Buffalo.
According to many NHL analysts, Defenceman Mikhail Sergachev will be the first Spitfire off the board.
The 6' 3'', 206 lbs. Russian scored 17 goals while adding 40 assists in 67 regular season games for the Spits last season. He also added two goals and three assists in five playoff games.
Sergachev gives a lot of credit to Windsor Head Coach Rocky Thompson for his development.
"He helped my with my shot," says the 17-year-old. "I brought my eyes up on the powerplay. I'd always been a defensive defenceman with a good shot, but here I kind of became an offensive defenceman."
Right behind Sergachev on many mock draft boards is 6' 6'' Center Logan Brown.
In his second season with the Spitfires, Brown amassed 70 points (21 goals) in 59 regular season games. He added six more assists in the playoffs.
With his Dad being former NHL defenceman Jeff Brown, the 18-year-old playmaker says expectations have always been high.
"It's something that's been my dream for my entire life," explains Brown. "Not just to play in the NHL, but to be a superstar, to be a high draft pick and a Stanley Cup champion."
Brown and Sergachev are expected to be chosen between picks five and ten of the draft's first round.
Logan Stanley is projected to go anywhere in the top 20.
The 18-year-old defenceman's stats don't jump off the page, as he had just five goals and 12 assists in 64 regular season contests, but at 6' 7'' 220 lbs. Stanley's taking strides in his defensive game. His plus-minus climbed from -25 in 59 games during 2014-15, to a +7 last year, and he took 103 penalty minutes.
"I think it was just a long summer of training [in 2015] and working on my skating and quickness a little bit [which helped my development]," says Stanley. "I think just growing into my body too and getting a bit more comfortable. Also knowing what to expect this year, coming into the league."
All three Spitfires say they're nervous and excited for Friday night, but that it's been a much less stressful experience having each other to talk to and lean on throughout their draft-year experiences.
