This year’s coverage of the NHL Draft is some of the best I’ve ever seen in any sport. Much of that is due to the social media saturation of hockey, a sport whose earlier decline led to an early adoption of social media, which has led in part to a public resurgence. (But that is a story for another evening.)

While I seriously lack any unique knowledge or insights, I wanted to share some of the story lines, Twitters and blogs I’m following as the draft unfolds this weekend.

– Are the NHL scouts as high on Charlie Coyle as we all are?

Could BU bound Charlie Coyle be the first college player taken in the draft? the most optimistic of projections have him going in the late first round, and even the college-player-shy Boston Bruins have worked out and dined the Massachusetts local. Will Coyle be the sixth BU player to be the first college player picked in the draft in history? (Fun facts provided by these interesting-to-college-hockey-geek-me College Hockey News charts.)

Not so fast, says SB Nation’s In Lou We Trust. While the rest of the media have been touting Coyle’s upside, this New Jersey Devils blog is a great summation of some realistic reviews of his ability. Will his offensive playmaking translate over from his EJHL days? While I believe the dismissal of the EJHL as a “weak league” is incorrect, I may agree with In Lou We Trust that Coyle’s talent on bigger stages may not be easily predictable.

I did speak with one person deep in the know in the EJHL last Friday who says that BU fans won’t be disappointed in Coyle, and that he is quite fun to watch. Could it be that Coyle is one great college hockey player – one BU fans sorely need after having all the fun sucked out of their 2009-10 season – but not first or second round draft pick worthy?

– Joe Pereira’s brother could be really good/UMass-BU games will be interesting…

UMass Amherst bound Mike Pereira, little brother of BU captain Joe, is being brandied about as one of the best New England nurtured players in this draft. His strong individual performances leading Avon Old Farms to a championship has scouts interested. According to New England Hockey Journal’s analysis, the younger Pereira sounds like the selfish, more competitive, big-playmaking version of his older brother. Both brothers have serious speed, but similar size doubts.

While I had heard snippets about Pereira here and there for the past year, I hadn’t yet found any great analysis of his abilities until this week. Most of this is thanks to @fearthetriangle, a UMass Amherst hockey blogger/Twitterer, who has been all up on the UMass Amherst player draft coverage. Two thumbs up.

– Why this Bruins fan is watching the Thrashers and Panthers this weekend?

Both the Atlanta Thrashers and Florida Panthers have new leadership – Thrashers with former Boston Bruins assistant Craig Ramsay as their head coach, and the Panthers with former Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon now serving as their GM.

As a Rochester Amerks fan, I want to see what talent the Panthers could send up to my hometown to develop next season. With the Amerks fan base hanging on a thread, will the 2010-11 edition of the team have enough talent to follow a great start all the way through the playoffs?

As a college hockey fan and one who is quite critical of the Bruins lack of development or interest in college players, I’m interested in seeing if Ramsay brings a similar disdain to the Thrashers. The Thrashers as a franchise keep continuing on the road to obscurity, but a team made up of dynamic young prospects is the only way their fate in the Atlanta area could change for the better.

Even as a Bruins fan, the Sequin-Hall debate is tired. Both are great players now, both with the real possibility of busting big time. Sequin didn’t make this year’s Canadian World Junior Team. While that allegedly motivated him to perform better, who is to say he won’t regress and or not be motivated to improve in the future? Hall has speed and has developed to a great all around player, but is used to making plays on his own and may struggle chemistry wise with older NHL players who won’t stand any twinge of selfishness or flashiness from a teenager. Then again, I’m not even a serviceable hockey scout, so what do I know?

What I do know is that when it is all said and done, the Edmonton Oilers effectively make two picks – their own and the Bruins’. Watching what a team’s new leadership does or what a team seeking a new identity does in a draft is more interesting to me. As a hockey fan, I’m more interested in picks that will paint the picture for an organization, not just add a stroke.