Greetings from Ottawa where the Canada’s capital city is gearing up for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft set to begin at 7 PM ET at the Scotia Bank Place. With the draft comes the customary whirlwind of trade rumors and there are plenty of them swirling around today.

Here’s some things to keep an eye on in the next few hours….

It’s been the worst kept secret leading into the draft, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will draft Steven Samkos with the No. 1 pick overall. But after that, while the talent is strong with the prospects that could be chosen with the following four picks, the main question is who will be picking in those spots?

Many inside sources are convinced the Kings may very well deal the second pick in the draft for a proven veteran and a plethora of picks. That second pick could very well be a shocker as well. For weeks everyone has been convinced that the second and third picks would be Zach Bogosian and Drew Doughty in no particular order. But over the last week, Nikita Filatov has a lot of people talking and there are plenty of teams trying to get within the top five and even now, the top three to grab him there. So don’t be surprised if that second pick is acquired and then used to draft the young Russian star.

Keep an eye on the rising stock of Viktor Tikhonov. My co-host on the FASTHockey Radio ShowTodd Carroll points out that the fact that Tikonov is already fluent in English, grew up in the San Jose area and that his father was an Assistant Coach with the Sharks has helped his stock rise and made teams very comfortable with taking until recently a relatively unknown commodity. As Carroll also pointed out, how is it possible that this talented player was barely talked about after being named best forward at the 2008 World Junior Championships.

Word out Boston Bruins camp here is that they are really high on Nicholas Deschamps of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the QMJHL. and also may pull off a deal with the Ducks. Yesterday Cam Neely and Brian Burke were spotted chatting over a beer in the Marriot lobby bar and spent a lengthy time chatting it up.

Other teams to watch are the Blue Jackets, Penguins, Blues (already wheeling and dealing in the last few days) and the Panthers, with Olli Jokinen refusing to disappear from the rumor wire!