Piggy-backing off of what hbk stated, there just hasn't been noise regarding some of the defensive prospects vs the forward group. If Soderstrom and Harley were getting the same noise as Caufield and Krebs, then it might be a little different of a story. Like when OEL was rocketing up draft boards and we selected him at 6. I only see 2, and maybe 3 defensemen going before we pick. Still means we have a Newhook or Kaliyev on the radar, but no way that Krebs or Caufield makes it to us. I will happily eat crow if that happens, but no guarantee that Caufield is our pick even if available (a la Zadina last year).
For whom I could see dropping, Podkolzin is a possibility, but I don't see him falling beyond a Philly team at 11 that just got rid of Simmonds and may get a steal at RW that late. Someone is going to take Krebs in the top 10, likely between 7 and 10. Same sort of deal for Caufield. Given where a lot of the defensive prospects appear to be panning out at (about 7-9 between 12 and 25 on boards), those teams with two 1st rounders will probably go forward early and D late. Way more forwards moving up the boards than defensemen, in my eyes.
Still a lot of things to be learned at the combine, etc.