Josh Cooper

jcooper2@tennessean.com

It’s the one major mark against the Predators organization throughout its existence: the failure to draft and develop an elite-level forward.

“That’s probably the toughest (player to find),” Predators scout Janne Kekalainen said. “If you look at all the forwards in the NHL who are first-line players, who really help you win, probably 90 percent of those were drafted top-five. There are some second-round picks and some late-round picks. It’s not a lot.”

With the 11th overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft (June 27-28 at Philadelphia), the Predators hope to finally find that elite scorer.

“What is the difference between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks?” Predators assistant general manager Paul Fenton said of the defending Stanley Cup champions. “To me it’s two players: it’s the first overall pick in Patrick Kane and the third overall pick in Jonathan Toews.”

The Predators have picked in the top five only twice — 1998 and 2013.

They took David Legwand second overall in 1998, and he turned into a solid two-way center, but he never scored more than 63 points in a season. They selected defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall last year.

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All but two of the NHL’s top 10 scorers this season were drafted in the first round, the exceptions being Sharks center Joe Pavelski (seventh round in 2003) and Stars winger Jamie Benn (fifth round in 2007).

Four of the top 10 scorers this season were top-two picks (Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Oilers wing Taylor Hall and Capitals wing Alexander Ovechkin at first overall, and Stars center Tyler Seguin at second overall).

That doesn’t mean scorers can’t be found later in the first round.

Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, the 19th overall pick in 2003, was second in the NHL in scoring this season. Ducks winger Corey Perry, the 28th pick in 2003, was fifth. Flyers center Claude Giroux, the third-leading scorer in the league, was picked 22nd overall in 2006.

“The game-breakers are pretty obvious, but then if you pick a little later you’re going to have … some flaws in their game,” Predators scout Lucas Bergman said. “You have to see — can they fix that flaw? And hopefully he still excels on the good things with him.”

The Predators actually drafted and developed an elite talent in forward Alexander Radulov, the 15th pick of the 2004 draft. He left the team before his contract expired and went to play for the KHL in his native Russia.

His 26 goals as a second-year player in 2007-08 would have led the Predators this season.

“Everybody tries to find those guys,” Kekalainen said. “But to eventually land an elite forward other than that high, it’s hard.”

The Predators have unearthed some offensive talent in later rounds. Craig Smith, who led the team with 24 goals this season, was a fourth-round pick in 2009. Patric Hornqvist, a seventh-rounder in 2005, scored 30 goals in 2009-10.

But on teams with elite offensive players, they would be considered more complimentary parts to the one or two stars.

“If you match up our lineups (with Chicago) from (Kane and Toews) on out, it’s pretty even,” Fenton said. “Sometimes you have to be really bad to get them.”

Reach Josh Cooper at 615-726-8917 and on Twitter @joshuacooper.

MOVING FORWARD

The first forward picked by the Nashville Predators in each draft (overall selection in parentheses):