(Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

The 2009 NHL draft is coming up this June and everyone wants to know who will go first overall. Well, it's going to be John Tavares or Victor Headmen. So everyone knows those are the top two guys, but this article is not about them. This article is about who deserves the first pick in the 2009 draft.

I watched SportsCenter this morning, as I always do, and I could not help but notice that the New York Islanders are still leading the way for best shot for the first pick in the 2009 draft. Behind them sit Colorado, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

Now, I know that the Bolts have struggled this season, but I think a lot of people would agree with me that seeing another great Canadian kid go to Tampa Bay and waste away in a franchise that is not going anywhere with horrible ownership and probably the worst coach in the NHL would not be in the best of interest.

Colorado is right behind New York for the best shot at landing the first pick in the draft. The Avs are most likely happy to see this season come to an end, as it's the worst in Colorado's franchise history.

Since their existence in 1996, they have won two Stanley cups and eight straight Northwest division titles. Their scouting is among the best in the NHL, finding Wojtek Wolski 21st overall. Look at him this year—14 goals, 27 assists, a total of 41 points.

Paul Stastny, another Colorado draft pick if you can believe it, was drafted in the second round 44th overall. Stastny scored 20 goals in each of his first two seasons but is having an off year in this campaign, with only 11 goals in 45 games.

Needless to say, Colorado does not need John Tavares there just plagued by injury.

Atlanta has not had it very easy either, with only one division title and one playoff appearance since their creation in 1999.

The team traded away superstar Danny Heatley to a conference opponent and pretty much handed the Senators a 50-goal scorer to complete the top line on the team, Alfredson, Speeza, and Heatly, which is one of the most feared lines in hockey now.

The New York Islanders are one of the most storied franchisees in NHL history. In their glory days in the early '80s, they won four straight Stanley Cups.

Now, the Islanders are in need of a franchise saving player, and that said, John Tavares would be the perfect savior for New York.

So, with that said, I would say that New York is a real hockey market, unlike Tampa Bay or Atlanta.

Those are my thoughts on who deserves the first pick in the 2009 draft. What are you thoughts? Who do you think deserves first pick in this year's draft? New York Islanders? Colorado? Tampa Bay? Atlanta? Someone else?

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