The Edmonton Oilers received some good news at the 2010 NHL Draft Lottery Drawing yesterday evening when they were selected to recieve the first overall pick at this year’s NHL Amateur Draft in June. The Oilers, who finished dead-last in the NHL rankings, had a 48.2 percent chance of taking home the first overall selection. No team that participated in the draft lottery moved up or down in the selection order.
The Oilers have stated that they intend to hold on to the first overall pick instead of looking to trade down. The team desperately needs an overhaul and their first-round selection could certainly make an immediate impact on the team, although the Oilers are keeping tight-lipped on who their first round selection will be.
Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall, both of the Ontario Hockey League, are predicted to go one-two in the draft, although there is much debate over which player will actually be taken number one overall. The two players tied for the league-lead in points with 106, although Seguin edged Hall in goals with 48 in 63 games while Hall accumulated 40 goals in 57 games.
Whichever player the Oilers decide to go with will depend heavily on what they determine their strongest needs are. Seguin is pegged as the better overall player who is proficient in all aspects of the game and has the ability to make those around him better players. On the other hand, Hall is considered to be a more dynamic player capable of making an immediate goal-scoring impact, although he has also been viewed as a selfish player at time and his ability to back-check has been called into question. Hall also benefits from a better support staff in the OHL where he plays for the Windsor Spitfire. Two other players on the Spitfire roster are expected to go in the first round of the draft while none of Seguin’s teammates from the Plymouth Whalers are ranked in the top 30 for draft analysts.
This year’s amateur draft will be held June 25-26 in Los Angeles. The Boston Bruins will get the second overall pick (from Toronto) in the draft with the Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders rounding out the top five.
