Josh Cooper

jcooper2@tennessean.com

The NHL draft is two months away, but Craig Button didn't mince words when asked what the Predators need.

"It's my humble opinion that the Nashville Predators need to find a way to add some forwards – some real, meaningful forwards," said Button, an NHL draft expert for Canada's TSN and a former Calgary Flames general manager. "They've done a great job of drafting defensemen. They have not done a great job of drafting and developing forwards in my opinion."

The Predators have the 11th overall pick in the draft, which is scheduled for June 27-28 in Philadelphia. The official order for the seven-round affair – beyond the teams that didn't make the playoffs – has yet to be determined.

Forwards have been an issue for several years for the Predators, who do a tremendous job of selecting elite blueliners, but can't seem to find a dynamic scorer up front.

Of the forwards the Predators have drafted, center David Legwand had the best season with 63 points in 2006-07. Forward Patric Hornqvist, a 2005 draft pick, posted 53 points this season. No Predators-drafted forward has a 30-goal season for Nashville since Hornqvist in 2010.

"You can't just continue to rely on hard work. You need finishers," Button said of the Predators. "They simply don't have enough top-end forwards. Until they get some top-end forwards, you aren't going to be successful."

But are there players in this year's draft who fit this mold? Button mentioned a few via phone from Finland:

Brendan Perlini, a 6-foot-2 winger from Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League, could fall to the Predators. He was sixth in Button's most recent draft rankings.

Adrian Kempe, a 6-foot-1 winger from Modo of the Swedish Hockey League, was ranked ninth on Button's most recent list.

Alex Tuch, a 6-foot-4 American winger who played in the USHL last season, is Button's 27th-best prospect in the draft.

There could be some solid centers available, Button said, but they aren't exactly game-changing type players.

"There are some really good two-way centermen there – and I'm talking about at 11," Button said. "Dylan Larkin – I don't think he's a No. 1 center but a No. 2 center. I think he's that type of a player there."

The 6-foot-1 Larkin is Button's 19th-ranked prospect.

Though the Predators are obviously good at drafting defensemen – Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Dan Hamhuis, Roman Josi – and this blueline strength has led to them making the playoffs seven of the last 10 years, they need to be more skilled up front if they're going to be more than a playoff qualifier.

They've already made strides, acquiring Filip Forsberg in a 2013 trade with the Capitals and Calle Jarnkrok in a trade this year with the Red Wings. Both players are more offensive-minded than physical minded.

The Predators deviated from plan in last year's draft, simply because blueliner Seth Jones was too good to pass up with the fourth overall pick, but forward has to be their mindset this year.

"There has to be a concentrated, concerted effort to find forwards – offensive guys," Button said. "That has to be at the forefront of their philosophy."