Florida Panthers prepare for NHL draft without first-round selections

The Florida Panthers are set for the NHL draft on Friday night in Buffalo, New York, but will not have a first-round pick. Following a recent trade for Brady Tkachuk, the Panthers lost their prior first-round selections. They currently hold picks in every round except for the first and third, with their first appearance at the 40th overall pick in the second round. This marks the fifth consecutive year the Panthers lack a first-round selection, a situation unprecedented since their early years in the NHL. With uncertainty surrounding goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, expected to enter free agency, any draft strategies may focus on addressing that position.

• 12:30 PMYahoo Sports — Florida Panthers prepare for draft without first-round pick