What was most intriguing was when Hall, of the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Windsor Spitfires, was ranked number two behind the Plymouth Whalers’ Seguin, ranked number one at the midway point of the season. Both players brought game-breaking abilities to the table, but in different forms throughout their major junior hockey careers.
Who would be drafted first overall?
It was Taylor over Tyler.
Why?
Hall dominated the league as a member of the talent-laden and Memorial Cup winning Spitfires. The team included other first-round picks Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks, 2010) and Ryan Ellis (Nashville Predators, 2009) along with other successful prospects Luke Pither and Eric Wellwood (Philadelphia Flyers).
Hall took the OHL by storm with 280 points in 183 games throughout three seasons. He was a consistent force up front that not only could snipe from distance on a regular basis, but draw attention away from his linemates to set up beautiful plays. Hall finished with 34 more assists than goals in his tremendous OHL career.
The Edmonton Oilers were looking for just that sort of gamebreaker to headline their new generation.
The Oilers finished dead last in the NHL standings last season, giving them the best shot at getting the first overall pick in the 2010 draft. The lottery ended in their favor, allowing them to draft an absolute gamebreaker, Taylor Hall, to headline a new force that could resemble the Oilers of the 80s once this group matures.
Edmonton saw it fit to start building the team by stockpiling standout amateur players such as Canadian Junior hockey hero Jordan Eberle, dangle specialist Linus Omark and the broadcaster’s worst nightmare, Swedish power forward Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson. Defensive prospects Alex Petry and Alex Plante as well as goaltending prospect Olivier Roy (that hockey famous last name should sound familiar to you) round out the Oilers’ top prospects.
All of these players are tremendously well-rounded in their skillsets, and most are only a few years away from breaking into the NHL. Expect Hall, Omark and Eberle to have a good chance to make the team next season.
That balance is absolutely key to the Oilers’ successes in the future. Hall, as well as the rest of the prospects, will have the opportunity to work with seasoned veterans on the below-average Oilers team. Once GM Steve Tambellini clears out some veteran contracts that are strapping the team and the prospects mature, I believe he will pursue some high-priced veteran help on the blueline to give the Oilers a real chance at the Cup. Their forward core is absolutely set with this stockpile of offensive firepower, headlined by Hall himself.
The Edmonton Oilers have had a rough go of it with their hockey fortunes since the great era of the 80s, but with this plethora of promising prospects, the Oilers will be back and seriously contending for the Stanley Cup within the decade. Count on it.
-Jordan Kuhns (guest writer)
Poor kid. Edmonton is hockey's equivalent of hell. It is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey there. Not to mention it's not a big town either. And nobody volunteers to go there, seeks to go there. Look up on Down Goes Brown or somewhere the Dustin Byfuglien short sketch and you'll see what I mean. I wish him all the best. Which takes the shape of him getting traded early to somewhere less hellish.
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