"Now is the time when the anxiety really starts to set in for Martin Madden.

The Ducks' director of amateur scouting is running his third draft for the club, and the hours are ticking down to the event for which his work over the next two days at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., ultimately will come under judgment.

The first round is tonight.

Rounds2-7 take place Saturday.

"It's the exciting time of the year for us," Madden said. "We've done our work watching games. We've done our work getting background info. We've done our work challenging each other in a meeting setting. And now we're getting a little nervous waiting for the actual drafting to start.

"We can't control what the 29 other teams do. It's a nerve-racking time but it's exciting. We're hoping for another surprise like last year."

Madden's first two drafts showed the potential to bear serious fruit.

The class of 2009 has seen Kyle Palmieri make his NHL debut, and Peter Holland, Igor Bobkov and Sami Vatanen are three of the franchises better prospects.

And then there was the 2010 draft.

Defenseman Cam Fowler had a strong rookie season in the NHL. High-scoring winger Emerson Etem could be the best prospect, and forward Devante Smith-Pelly had another big season in the Ontario Hockey League."