I always watch the 1st round of the draft, and I always enjoy the process now matter where the Oilers are in the order, or if they do next to nothing as far as trades go. As you can well imagine however, with the Oilers drafting 1st overall at this years NHL Entry Draft, I’m just plain old jacked about next Friday. The whole city is for that matter. To illustrate that further consider this, I usually sit at home, by a computer for the 1st round, but this year there are 8 of us heading to the pub for beers and food, it’s an event. It’s Edmonton’s playoffs if you will, this is the payoff for watching brutal hockey for 6 months!! The best part is, we don’t know who’s name is going to be called next Friday night by GM Steve Tambellini. Not having a consensus #1 pick in this years draft has made the whole experience and build up to the draft lights out, I can’t wait.
The draft isn’t just about the Oilers though is it? So I figured I’d take a stab at how the Top 10 picks play out.
1. Edmonton Oilers: Tyler Seguin
Obviously anyone’s guess. In the end I firmly believe that when the scouts say it’s a two way tie, it’s a two way tie. The Oilers can’t go wrong here, which in my opinion means you draft the big, right handed shot, center. You can’t get that player any other way these days, so I hope the Oilers don’t pass on the chance to draft one.
2. Boston Bruins: Taylor Hall
You have to believe the Bruins are hoping and praying it plays out this way. With a log jam of centers already on the big club and a high end prospect in Joe Colborne already in the system, getting their hands on a scoring winger has to be the dream the club is hoping for.
3. Florida Panthers: Eric Gudbransson
After the first two pick it would seem the best players are defensmen, Florida will have their pick of the lot in Gormly, Fowler, and Gudbransson. I think they have the puck mover in Kulikov, so adding the big rock of a defensemen that can eat up minutes and like to punish opposing players makes sense.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cam Fowler
Rumor has it the Jackets would be interested in tarding for a puck mover, so why not draft one? No matter what the Panthers do in front of them, the Jackets will have nice choices at defense if that’s in fact what they are looking to do. There might also be a small chance that the Jackets might trade this pick, as they are in full playoffs or bust mode it would seem.
5. New York Islanders: Brett Connolly
The kid was porjected to be in the conversation for 1st overall until he got hurt in a big way this past season. I risky pick in that he suffered the big injury, but if he turns out to be healthy and happy, he could be the biggest sleeper in the draft. The Islanders don’t pass on having a combination of Tavares and Connolly as the clubs centers.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning: Nino Niedereitter
They might pick another defensemen, as my list here still has Brandon Gormly available, but I think after watching how Stamkos can play with the right winger, the Bolts will add a young talent to replace the timeless St. Louis.
7. Carolina Hurricanes: Brandon Gormley
When was the last time the Hurricanes had a player on their back end that was consider something more the vanilla at best? The play making ability of this guy is unreal and to be honest, there is a good chance he goes sooner, then 7th in this draft. I still think the Canes draft 1 of the big 3 defensemen in Gormley, Fowler, or Gudbransson if they are stillo on the board.
8. Atlanta Thrashers: Vladimir Tarasenko
Do you replace one Russian with another? When the upside is as high as Tarasenko’s I think the answer is yes. Combine that with the fact the kid could be close to NHL ready, and the Thrashers need a name to put bums in the seats, the fit could be near perfect.
9. Minnesota Wild: Jonathan Merrill
The Wild had one of their best seasons when Burns had a breakout year a few seasons back, since then Burns has struggled and so has the team. Merrill is a Power Play QB that also can also play the position very well. The Wild need a brighter furtue on the backend, picking Merrill would be a great start.
10. New York Rangers: Jeffrey Skinner
Not counting Tayler Hall, Skinner is the pure goal scorer of the 1st round. The Rangers could use a defensemen as well, but the need to put pucks in the net is a greater issue in this guys opinion. Not to mention Skinner’s work ethic is second to none, as he isn’t the best skater. Someone with some heart on the Rangers club can’t be all bad.
Enjoy the draft!
Then again, this is just another damned opinion.
