MONTREAL — Evander Kane is almost can’t-miss material. He is the third-ranked skater in North America, which is a sign he has a chance to play right away for whichever team selects him in tonight’s NHL entry draft.

But the rating by Central Scouting isn’t what has Kane excited about his opportunity. What showed Kane he has the ability to play in the NHL is how he competed against the Buffalo Sabres’ top prospect.

Kane is a forward for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. His biggest rival in the WHL was Kelowna’s Tyler Myers, who was selected 12th overall by the

Sabres last June. The 6-foot-8 defenseman recently signed a contract with Buffalo and is expected to be on the roster this season.

Kane figures if Myers can make it, he can, too.

“Playing against a guy like that, who’s definitely going to be in the NHL next year, being that big and that strong — an NHL-style defenseman — really helped me improve my game and show me where I need to be,” Kane said Thursday. “That definitely helped me see what it’s going to be like in the next level.”

Kane and Myers saw a lot of each other, facing off 11 times and coming together as teammates on Canada’s world junior team. Kane did well against Myers in the regular season, recording eight goals and five assists in five games. But Myers led Kelowna to the WHL title by limiting Kane to three goals and an assist in their six-game playoff series.

It was a challenge the 17-year-old Kane enjoyed, one that made the 6-1, 176-pounder feel he’s ready for more big tests.

“If I continue to have the summer that I know I’m going to have, I’m going to have an opportunity going into an NHL camp to make a team right away,” Kane said at a luncheon for top prospects.

While Kane still has work to do, there are two surefire bets to be on opening-night rosters: John Tavares and Victor Hedman. The only question is which player will be selected first overall by the New York Islanders, and which one falls to Tampa Bay at No. 2? The Sabres select 13th.

Tavares has seemed destined to be the top pick since he was 14. The nephew of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse legend with the same name set an Ontario Hockey League record with 215 goals in 247 games. The 18-year-old, media- savvy center could be a catalyst to a much-needed Long Island revival.

“I don’t know about being a savior, but I want to be a big part of a team’s rebuilding phase,” Tavares said. “Obviously, New York’s trying to get a new arena and turn things around. If I can be the guy to help the team in many ways, I’d love to be.”

Hedman, though, is hard to pass up. The 6-6, 220-pound defenseman from Sweden drew high praise from master of ceremonies and hockey analyst Pierre McGuire, who coached future Hall of Famer Chris Pronger when the defenseman first joined the NHL.

“You’re as big as Pronger,” McGuire said, “but you’re a much better skater.”

Said Tavares: “Me and Victor are definitely two different types of players. I guess whatever the team feels is going to help them move forward and move them the best to their goal as fast as they can, that’s what it’s obviously going to come down to.”

While the drama of the first pick is intriguing, it could be overshadowed by trades. Dany Heatley has asked out of Ottawa, and Florida is accepting offers for the rights to pending free agent Jay Bouwmeester.

“I’m excited to see how it all goes,” Hedman said. “There’s going to be a lot of activities, a lot of trades maybe, so it’s going to be great.”

NHL entry draft

Round 1: 7 tonight, Versus

Rounds 2-7: 10 a.m. Saturday

The Sabres' picks:

Round 1, 13th

Round 3, 66th

Round 4, 104th

Round 5, 133rd

Round 6, 163rd

Round 7, 193rd