When it comes to the NHL Draft, Hockey Guy trusts Bob McKenzie’s opinions. The TSN analyst knows his pucks and he talks to a LOT of scouts and team executives.

So we are glad to share his take on the defensemen the Blues are considering with their fourth overall – as well as his assessment on the winger I’d like to see the Blues take.

Drew Doughty, D: “His hockey I.Q. is off the chart and he has an innate understanding of when he needs to step up offensively and create offence for his team, either by doing it himself or making those around him better. As good –- no, make that as great -– as he is, there may still be a huge upside because he has only recently shown any interest in training like a pro. Doughty has lost 20 to 25 pounds since season’s end and while it will take time for him develop NHL-level strength, the fact that he’s finally showing an inclination to get serious about conditioning and maximize his potential suggests he can still make a quantum leap forward in his development. Like Stamkos, his defensive game is greatly underrated.”

Zach Bogosian, D: “A physical specimen who plays every shift with unbridled passion and aggression, Bogosian likes to make things happen. He has a cannon for a shot, gets physically involved at every opportunity and is a natural born leader, not unlike his father Ike, who was a co-captain of the Syracuse University football team. While he maybe doesn’t have the off-the-scale hockey smarts of a Doughty, his competitiveness is as good as it gets. He blew everyone away at the NHL Central Scouting Combine with his strength and conditioning. He is a dynamic skater.”

Alex Pietrangelo, D: “A big, mobile puck mover who makes doing things with the puck appear easy. Scouts believe his upside is huge because he’s only just started to tap into his physical presence and as he matures they believe he could be a dominant force at both ends of the ice, although some scouts say he’s only paid cursory attention thus far to the game without puck. His off-season conditioning has been significantly set back because of the spleen injury that ended his season prematurely, but in the long run there will be no ill effects.”

Luke Schenn, D: “He is without question the best defensive defenceman available in the draft, a big, physical presence with an edge who perfectly understands his role as a shutdown defender. The bonus is that he makes a great first pass, doesn’t try to play outside of his ability and is as mentally tough as he is physically tough.”

Nikita Filatov, W: “The Russian forward is a dynamic goal-scorer whose skill in that area draws comparison to Washington’s Alexander Semin, but Filatov gets high marks from most scouts for being more of a complete package, in terms of work ethic, character and consistency. Fluent in English and the son of parents who received some education outside of Russia, the family is perceived as progressive and North America-friendly. In other words, this is a prospect who desperately wants to play in the NHL and immediately make the move to the pro game on this side of the ocean. He has quickness and a deft touch and while the ‘Russian’ factor could cause him to slide a little lower than he’s rated – this is the consensus second-best forward available after Stamkos – it’s inconceivable to think he could slide as far as countryman Alexei Cherepanov did last year.”

So Blues fans ought to feel good about this pick. Since the organization has some potentially strong stay-at-home “D” like Roman Polak and Ian Cole in development, Schenn seems like the lesser of the options from a need standpoint. On the other hand, he appears to be a player capable of helping sooner than later, unlike Pietrangelo.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: HockeyBuzz.com says the Blues could pursue Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis as a free agent, which would be a very nice addition. Ray Emery is another name linked with the John Davidson goalie search. The Senators don’t want Emery back, but they may put off buying out his contract while trying to get something back for him . . .

Are the Penguins trying to extend Evgeni Malkin’s contract? Or is that team willing to deal the No. 2 center for a mother lode of young players and picks, thus allowing Jordan Staal to move up a notch? Long-term, it’s hard to imagine that team affording both Sidney Crosby and Malkin with maximum contracts . . .

Flames center Daymond Langkow could become an unrestricted free agent, but it appears he has deal pending to keep him in . . . On the other hand, Kristian Huselius, a former Mike Keenan torture victim, has every reason to explore free agency. And the Calgary Sun suggests Alex Tanguay could be offered around at the draft, which would not be a shock . . .

There is plenty of trade speculation swirling around the top picks. Ottawa would love to get LA’s second overall pick . . . Blake Wheeler, a young free agent the Coyotes failed to sign, opted to head east and play in Boston. He intrigued many Blues fans . . . On the other hand, the Bruins seemed ready to buy out winger Glen Murray and give him the axe . . .

Centers Olli Jokinen (Panthers) and Patrick Marleau (Sharks) are mentioned in a lot of trade rumors this days. Old friend Jacques Martin is starting over, again, as the GM in Florida . . . Marleau needs a change of scenery and a chance to become a team’s No. 1 center . . .

Old friend Joel Quenneville had the Sharks coaching job in hand, but didn’t like the monetary offer . . . Oddly, the Islanders are considering bringing Alexi Yashin back from Russia. Haven’t they suffered enough? “We’ve had discussions,” agent Mark Gandler told Newsday. “But it’s been very slow because I told them in the beginning how much I wanted. They’re obviously not happy about that. But clearly, they missed him. They didn’t have a first line last season.”