Mikael Granlund appears to be a clear top 5 option for this year's Entry Draft. Redline Report is now ranking their top 10 forwards, defensemen and goaltenders and the forwards were published this week. The OHL (5) and WHL (3) dominate the top 10, although there are 4 European prospects in the group.
Redline's scouting reports have brevity and clarity. Woodlief on Granlund: Mikael Granlund is supremely skilled with the puck and likely the smartest player in the entire draft at any position. This brilliantly imaginative center makes sublime set-ups with touch off both sides of the blade, can create and finish his own chances around net, and plays just as hard in the defensive end as he does on offence. And despite his diminutive size at 5-10, 178, he excels playing in traffic and is a feisty and physical competitor who gives as good as he gets in the one-on-one puck battles.
I really, really Granlund. For all his accolades I still think his shooting ability is underrated. He can really get off hard, high shots without much space. It'll be interesting to see how he makes a career for himself in the NHL with his size.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo the Oilers consider trading for a mid first round pick and take a flier on Brett Connolly. I suspect with his hip injury and less than stellar world U18's that he might fall into the low teens. He could be an absolute steal if his hip is capable of rehabbing
ReplyDeleteFigure out where he goes in the draft and see if you can get a pick there.
ReplyDeleteThen you can take Hall. :)
True impact players are rare in each draft year, are well-scouted, and go high. However, you don't have to have a bunch or even necessarily one impact player to have a great team. Philly stands out having picked very well in the late first round in recent years. Giroux, another of their late first round picks scoring the game winner tonight in the SCF, his 9th goal of the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteGiroux also serves as a good example of how you don't have to draft fridge-sized boys to have a successful NHL hockey team. A mixture is good, but if there is talent on the draft board, sweet Jesus, pick the talent, not the fridge. The big boys invariably get picked way too high for the talent. It always seems that for players in the top 150, for every inch over 6'1", the player gets overrated by 10 draft positions. The Oilers have made this mistake often enough, but sadly, are stuck thinking that this is the way to go since they have had poor performance from some of their pint-sized men, and a coach who likes 'em big. They would be thinking differently if it was Raymond instead of Cogliano, Parise instead of MAP, and anyone else other than POS.
I don't like the way Woodlief compares Granlund to Saku Koivu like somehow I'm supposed to be blown away by that. Koivu had a nice career, but its not exactly the characteristics that I would be looking for in a top 5 pick. Its either a weaker draft than I was expecting or he was an old school Habs fan.
ReplyDelete1st pick: Hall
ReplyDelete31st pick: ???? whoever drops out of the first. This pick is tough because I like 10 players from 15-30 that could fall out
54th pick:Kevin Hayes
i saw him once, in an exhibition game. he reminded me of fleury. wide stance without strides that somehow keeps him accelerating. a water bug in the neutral zone.
ReplyDeleteNow Redline comes out with the inevitable: Hall is first in line at the draft.
ReplyDeleteThen I'm reading that 70% of the scouts now favour him.
But hey, loser franchises always find a way to fuck up and keep their fans in a state of perpetual expectaion! Let's find a way to trade away the right for the best player! We can get even more assets to stockpile for our 30th place team!
The combine changed very little in the big picture. Hall was always going 1 and still is. Sure Seguin closed the gap, but the gaps still significant enough in favor of Hall. We are in NEED of a player to want to be in the spotlight, and to excel in the spotlight. That's much more Taylor Hall than Tyler Seguin. We're setting the franchise back not taking Hall IMO.
ReplyDeleteThough a massive overpay from Boston would be nice, it's a dream.
Too much drama over nothing lately, it's always been Hall unless Tambellini's blown away.
The problem with this franchise since the Messier trade is it overnight turned from dynasty into also ran and has been in the same sorry state for the past twenty years. An entire generation of fans have grown up following a Cleveland Indians style hockey team, and knows nothing else.
ReplyDeleteThe so-called management, unable to play with the big boys ala Detroit, tend to have a deep seated need to appear incredibly clever and astute. This is why Lowe trades down to pass on Parise, because in his opinion it's far more sensible to trade a reasonable sure thing for a pair of less sure prospects - because if they both pan out he comes out looking like Sam Pollock.
Of course playing long odds is how people end up going into debt in Vegas. But, the Oilers brass never seems to learn this simple truth.
Now they have the opportunity to draft someone that by every indication appears to be a generational talent. There is someone else, who in some people's eyes looks even better, but the current majority opinion is that Hall looks NHL ready, and has superstar written all over him in spades.
But this is the team that drafts Pouliot/Jacques over Parise, Niinimmaki out of the blue, lets a potential game breaker in Rob Schremp plus it's goalie prospects to wither and die on the farm, all the while welcoming Mike Comrie back
as if he's going to make any difference at all to the teams culture.
The Oilers are a laughing stock with their rivals, who gleefully see Lowe for what he really is - a moron out of his depth, unable to manage a salary cap, in the position of a job for life, which is totally unearned according to results.
Now according to a large percentage of the fans of this losing proposition of a hockey club, the way forward is to pass on Hall, the generational talent, for Seguin, who although looks to be another excellent to outstanding prospect, simply hasn't proved anything near to what Hall has done. But to the Oilers fans of the post-Messier trade, brought up to think that there's always a cleverer way to do things, the idea of trading away Hall for some Boston castoffs just looks too good to be true.
I'm embarassed to be a fan of this team.
On the other hand, if the scouting staff decides Hall is a less durable version of Rick Nash, and Seguin is Pavel Datsyuk with better offense, why pull your hair out all summer?
ReplyDeleteHunter: You are pretty much just copy / pasting your "loser franchise" posts at this point.
ReplyDeleteCan you please find a new drum to bang on? This one is getting as ragged as the Horcoff mem.
Hunter: I cannot understand the venom in regard to Hall vs. Seguin. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteIt makes little sense to be so aggressive about one player over another when it is clearly so close.
With both yourself and PJ Oil, the aggression on this issue is a mystery to me.
I think Hall is the better player, but the clearance is not as you suggest.
hunter,
ReplyDeleteaside from the repetitiveness of your position on Hall, you seem to cherry-pick your evidence to fit your argument.
-Hall is clearly number one and no one says otherwise (when most say it is 1A 1B when it comes to the top two and very little separating them)
-Hall is a future superstar/generational talent (but his numbers aren't as good as Tavares, Stamkos, Kane, Toews, etc, etc)
-Oilers are a loser franchise; just look at all the good players they missed drafting (when drafting outside the top 10 is a crapshoot and there are at least 14 other teams that missed out on a Parise and 29 who have sure-fire prospects drop out of development due to injury or bad luck)
-Schremp is a good hockey player (ummm, really?)
Dude, I get the frustration with the team, I express it myself often enough that I have gone from being hopeful fan to pessimistic fan. But you are not letting other viewpoints affect your perspective at all and it makes your comments small. You have good things to say on occasion, but the rants on Hall or the management don't ring credible anymore.
Saku Koivu used to be a hell of a player, and an impact one at that. It's too bad he had so much injury trouble in his early career, because he had PPG paces his 2nd and 3rd seasons. From what I've read he used to be a pretty good outplayer, but now he's obviously declined and is a soft minutes secondary scorer.
ReplyDeleteGranlund looks to be better in all regards, and if he can stay healthy he's a decent pick to go in the top 5 of a draft. If he can consistently flirt with a PPG and can play in all situations then I'd be happy.
Matt.N, Hunter seems like a decent sort, it's just that sanity left him a long time ago. I can't blame him fully since following the Oilers would probably induce that effect. Now he's kind of like that crazy person who gets on the bus and spends the entire time ranting off by himself making everyone uncomfortable vis a vis Horcoff and Hall. I'm hoping that after the draft he'll have lucid spell again =).
Maybe Hall is Hunter and PJO's love child? You know what they say about mothers and their kids, love is blind.
ReplyDeleteAnd angry apparently. Of course pushing that big shiny head out of your peehole would make me angry as hell too.
Not sure who wears the skirt in the relationship though. PJO seems a little shrill these days though so ... ;)
I find it funny that so many fans are passionate that the Oilers have to take Hall. Just a question how many of you have actually seen Seguin play other than clips on youtube? I trust the opinions of PROFESSIONAL scouts who are have actually seen all of the players first hand. Also despite the terrible drafts over the past decade the new administration under Tambelli seems to have gotten it right so far so my suggestion is to trust the professionals and make your judgement 5 years from now when the players are actually in pro hockey and all of us can see them first hand.
ReplyDeleteNow they have the opportunity to draft someone that by every indication appears to be a generational talent.
ReplyDeleteThis is just wrong.
A great junior player for sure, but his number don't come close to the "generational talents"
Hell, even Gagner outscored Hall at this point in their careers.
I'll stick with MBS.
He says he sees Iginla in Hall and Sakic/Yzerman in Seguin.
Two very good players for sure, but I'll take the Sakic/Yzerman upside to the Iginla upside every day of the week.
with Penner and MPS on left wing I see a potential log jam introducing Hall. Seguin would be a nice challenge for top dog in center.
ReplyDeleteI don't think our team has enough positions being challenged by the farm team atm. As part of a rebuild would this not be a consideration going into TC?
I think the Oil will target a Dman over a forward if the swap picks with BOS. Boychuk or Wideman would look good in Oil silks if they take POS and Souray off our hands.
There has been a of debate on the Oilogosphere about Riley Nash's future as an Oiler. I think it would be fair to suggest that if the Oilers do take Seguin, Nash has no hope of playing a game in the Oilers Organization.
ReplyDeleteConsidering his counting numbers, his size, and draft pedigree, it would be hard to argue that he doesn't have the potential to be a 2nd line centre, and would have to be considered a lot closer to acheiving that potential than a lot of players currently being drafted.
Obviously his value would varry to different teams, but if the Oilers were to trade him straight up for a draft pick, what range of pick would people expect to get back? Could he be part of a package to get a mid to early first rounder?
To be honest, it does get a little repetitive.
ReplyDeleteIf a potential future log-jam at LW is coming into their reasoning AT ALL when considering who to spend the franchise's first ever #1 overall pick on, they're insane.
ReplyDeleteIf they think Hall is even a hair better, draft him.
Didn't see this posted anywhere yet
ReplyDeleteMPS Salary Structure
Riley Nash isn't coming here.
ReplyDeletecommonfan13 - I do see your point on snagging the best player. I think everyone has forgotten we are in a rebuild which could take a few more years. Hall is impact now. The route taking Seguin could land us another top round pick. I would rather have a really good forward (2 hairs below Hall) and pick up a Dylan McIlrath or Jack Campbell to fill some holes. Plus in the process getting rid of Souray and POS to get some immediate holes to fill.
ReplyDeleteOil have a very good crop of prospects coming, but do not sacrifice now for the rebuild we have been told the team was doing. Could be a opinion of safe rebuild of take a chance again. Just my opinion
A great read starting with MPS and then going in many different directions, culminating with roughly a page's worth of Dean Lombardi talking very candidly about the Kings' core.
ReplyDeletethis team has Gagner and Horcoff at center, and really just Riley Nash in the system that MAY have a chance to be productive offensively. at the same time, this team does have depth at the wings, so i wouldn't be surprised that Seguin is the one picked! if they do pick him, Nash is gone.(if he isn't already).
ReplyDeleteAccording to Hockeysverige Oilers are planning to sign Lander soon, they are about to begin contract negotiation. Most likely he will stay in Timrå for next season even if he is signed.
ReplyDeleteNice player, but no thanks. We're all topped up on hobbits here.
ReplyDeleteAlso, calling Hall a 'generational talent' puts him in Gretzky-Lemieux-Orr territory. Which is, in a word, ridiculous.
Also, I was just in the U of M Bookstore where I heard "Private Eyes" sung by a female voice... and with less emphatic clapping! Is this new?
ReplyDeletelol---not really up on my Swedish, honkey, but i get the point. as far as Lander being a "hobbit", he'll be around 6'1" and 200+ pounds when he's ready to play here. he's apparently a great 2 way player with some potential in the offensive department. not a O'Sullivan or Nilsson type, this team's real hobbits.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarassed to be a fan of this team.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed that you're a fan of this team too.
"I'm embarrassed that you're a fan of this team too."
ReplyDeleteLoser.
Children, please.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the wherewithal to comb through the LT archives, but I guarantee this exchange:
Hunter: I'm embarassed to be a fan of this team.
[insert Hunter-aggravater]: I'm embarrassed that you're a fan of this team too.
..has cropped up at least a dozen times. This year.
And Hunter, answering back with namecalling is the furthest thing from taking the high road. People may slag you for your views, repetitive or not, but if you stuck to your guns without the preschool squabbling, you might gain a bit more respect on this board.
And those taking potshots at Hunter without responding to his argument (lookin' at you, LF), please refer to LT's statement for remedial reading.
Why can't we all just get along?
ReplyDeletecue police beatings
Oh Hunter...
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, if you guys are going to flame war, do it on the flames site. At least it might be appropriate there.
Oh, and well said DF.
As off topic as it gets, but this soccer clip shows how I always imagined Bobby Orr must have thought the game of hockey. Scan to the 9 minute mark and watch Lionel Messi blow by half a soccer team in a series of instantaneous decisions that always end up being exactly the right move to make. I seem to remember an Orr quote to the effect that he didn't necessarily plan his whole route up the ice but that each time he came to a new defender, Orr had a sense of what to do.
ReplyDeleteThoughts?
I think it would be fair to suggest that if the Oilers do take Seguin, Nash has no hope of playing a game in the Oilers Organization.
ReplyDeleteV. Velde
Lander
No chance already!
Dug - sorry, I wasn't clear. I was referring to Granlund with the hobbit comment.
ReplyDeleteah, no probs, Phil....rickibear...if we did choose Seguin, that would seal Nash's fate i guess is what i meant. it sounds like Nash wants to go back to the NCAA again, doesn't he? wasn't there also talk of him not signing and re-entering the draft?
ReplyDeletepoor Oilers, trade up in a mediocre draft to get Nash, and may have actually passed on lesser players after being questioned about moving up to get him, then he ends up not signing here when all is said. Oilers just can't win sometimes.
Just to clarify (I know it came up before but I forget the specifics). The Oil don't sign Nash and he re-enters the draft. The Oil get a compensation pick of 51 overall this year (2010) or next year(2011)?
ReplyDeleteFunny how Hunter is embarrassed to be a fan of a team for a decision they might make.
ReplyDeleteAnd they are projecting which is the best guy 3-5 years from now...which isn't what guys are doing in fandom. They want the flashy kid that is scoring all the goals.
But it is like an Ovechkin vs. Malkin....not Ovechkin vs. Travis Zajac.
People need to put it in perspective.
And those taking potshots at Hunter without responding to his argument (lookin' at you, LF), please refer to LT's statement for remedial reading.
ReplyDeleteHunter doesn't have arguments. It's just a constant stream of wharrgarbl. I'm actually beginning to think he's not an actual person, but a sophisticated new breed of spambot trying to sell us on the benefits of Zoloft.
Thanks for that Littlefury. That's an apt theory on Hunter.
ReplyDeleteBut then what does that make PJO?
HAHAHAHHA...
ReplyDeleteSophisticated new breed of Spambot, fuggin hilarious
(I know that this adds nothing to the conversation, and I dont mean to pile up on hunter, that is just tooo funny...)
Little Fury, your posts are H-I-larious. You out to post more often. We need some comic relief from Hunter's anti-Seguin rants.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else worried about a Souray for Spezza swap? They are both overpaid injury prone players and, like Souray, Spezza is still unhappy . The Oilers should be addressing the black hole on D but given the history between Murray and the Oilers, the conversation will at the least be made. What if we throw in Cogliano and they take on some of our salary (ie Moreau, Nilsson, or POS)? I still think its a bad idea but I'm worried.
ReplyDeleteSourray for a D or Souray+ for a D and Dubinsky pls :)
I say we go after Spezza in a very splashy fashion but wait until his NTC kicks in after July 1st.
ReplyDeleteWhat could possibly go wrong?
Anyone else worried about a Souray for Spezza swap? They are both overpaid injury prone players and, like Souray, Spezza is still unhappy .
ReplyDelete"That guys a turnover machine."-DannyfuckingHeatley
I'd not be opposed to sending Souray+Rowbert over for Spezza.
We could also put in something extra to get Volchenkov's rights, then deal those to Calgary for a future first rounder.
ReplyDeleteHall vs Seguin reminds me of Kovalchuk vs Spezza in the 2001 draft - except Hall is not as good as the Russian. Both guys ended up being point per game players (about) and both teams got elite talent.
ReplyDeleteI'll take Ovechkin over Malkin and Kovalchuk over Spezza any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteNot that it matters a whole lot but I'm actually somewhat leaning towards seguin still.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to ignore the spitfires run with Hall leading the charge, there is no doubt. It's also hard to ignore that Hall being more NHL ready now isn't something to be ignored given our poor development history...
But, even given this, one can only really hope that we are finally getting on the right path. Our scouting appears to be putting runners on base even in the later innings, after the disaster that was our minor league affiliate and the firing of a major component in that end of things (KP) we can only hope it appears to be more on the radar.
I don't really want our #1 to start the clock on is ELC this next year. I would prefer all things being pretty close, to take the longer path on this one. Leave Seguin in the OHL, let him destroy it and getting physically filled out and such.
If we can make a deal with the bruins that cleans up our mess a bit short term (souray, pos etc) and suck it up for another year we are clear of all our garbage aside from the bulinwall deal and should have a stable of up and comers on ELC's in the mix that are NHL ready. Fill this out with short term deals on veteran hole fillers and start really moving forward.
Personally, I'm less concerned about Hall/Seguin and more concerned about Penner/Hemsky in the grand scheme of things.
Chartleys
And now for something completely different: SI.com presents "The Best of Hockey Hair".
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Smytty is in there. As is Dave Schultz, cast as a dead-ringer for Seth Rogen.
Just to clarify:
ReplyDeleteI'm less concerned about the drafting order given MBS history to this point.
I'm more concerned with the GM plan given Lowebellini history to this point
Chartleys
@commonfan
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that two of Kovalchuk, Spezza, Ovechkin and Malkin have been to the SCF, and two haven't right?
Not that I am trying to prove my point, just that any day of the week and twice on Sunday sounds a little more drastic than a slight edge, which many have given to Hall over Seguin at this point.
I'm also somewhat hoping there is a possibilty the B's are thinking about swinging for the fences next year either.
ReplyDeleteIf the believe the are looking at a pretty opportune window (was praying they'd make it to the final). There could really exist a gem of a deal for both sides here.
Penner - cup winner
Hemsky - pretty clinch in near cup win
Souray - he can put up points, solid on ice leader
If we can sandbag up on B's short term contract deadweight for a cache of picks and prospects it has to be considered.
B's get hall
Souray
Hemsky
Penner
Edmonton gets Seguin
Ryder
Wheeler
Wideman
B's pick this year
T dots pick next year
This stacks the bruins for two years of solid cup contention assures we blow next year (adding likely a lottery pick next season on top of two more first rounders).
Far fetched likely but these are two teams heading in opposite directions right now. If thomas's contract wasn't so long I'd be tempted to toss him in as well (luckily he has a NMC).
Also I'd be looking at pumping POS Nilson, Moreau for whatever type of picks I could get at the deadline as well as any other agents I could sign to low cap hit deals for 1 year term. We are not going to win the cup next year period. Penner and Hemsky are as likely to resign here as UFA's if we look like an emerging monster after the 11-12 season so why hold them?
Chartleys
Looking at that, I'd probably throw in some second round picks coming back as well.
ReplyDeletethe toronto 2nd this year and possibly the bruins next year.
I appoligize for my shite writing and all but leaning on speeds and MC's work stacking up picks next year and hammering the RFA market strategically we could really do a 180 degree spin here going the right direction by next summer.
chartleys
ALright scramble that
ReplyDeleteLooking for Tdots and B's 1st and 2nd rounders next year.
Get two more 3rd rounders at the deadling selling off terminating contracts.
Depending on Tdots final standings
either end up with two great 1st rounders next year
or take our likely lotto pick
and put out two 3-4 million RFA offers to fill out lineup.
That is all.
Chartleys
Chartleys - While I agree that the Oil should look at all options to dump dead weight, you have to build a team to give the young guns easy minutes their first year or at least half a year. Ryder/Wheeler are no replacements for our top 6 you are proposing to give up.
ReplyDeleteI would not get rid of Penner or Hemmer unless we had other top 6 wingers ready, which we do not have.
right idea bout dumping POS and Bobert Nilson for picks...even Nash if we can.
Chartleys, you're a Bruins fan?
ReplyDeleteKamus:
ReplyDeleteLol
SOrta.
I just look at things and unless I can get a solid indication of commitment out of Hemsky/Penner moving forward I really don't see the value in hanging on.
Their current contracts are prime and really if a deal is to be made I think you could really put yourself ahead and the bruins having Toronto's picks locked up really make them the best option. You wait until the UFA season the value drops out on them.
I'm just not against the possibility of really looking forward. WHile I understand you want sheltered minutes for the young guns, I think you can do that with propping up some vet signings and taking the longer development track. We are not going to be a danger next year. There is really no chance. Why gamble return in what is already going to be a wasted year. I would rather be on the other side of the fence in 11-12. Cash in hand a young team with a lot of arrows heading in the right direction sitting down with the likes of the penner and hemsky askin them to come back rather than with a gun to your head.
chartleys.
I laughed when i saw a 20 goals scorer and PPG at N10.
ReplyDeleteWell that all depends on what you expect a N10 pick overall to become.
475 points in 464 with +73.
ReplyDeleteSpezza is a real shitsucker heh?
Nash doesn't have to make the Oilers as a center, does he? If Lander and VV are better than him for our bottom-6 as pivots, why can't we throw Nash out on RW and tell him that if he wants to be a center he'd better go earn it as a winger first?
ReplyDeleteWorked for Shawn Horcoff, didn't it?
Same thing should have applied to Cogliano, but that was because MacT had already lost the room.
Thanks for the link Showerhead. Chris Nicols of sportsnet reports that MPS can play RW as well as LW, so that might resolve some of the logjam with Hall, Penner on LW.
ReplyDeleteAsiaoil said...
ReplyDeleteHall vs Seguin reminds me of Kovalchuk vs Spezza in the 2001 draft - except Hall is not as good as the Russian. Both guys ended up being point per game players (about) and both teams got elite talent.
commonfan13 said...
I'll take Ovechkin over Malkin and Kovalchuk over Spezza any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but that's just me.
The centres mentioned there have played far deeper into the playoffs than the wingers.
Just sayin'.
Oops, sorry, didn't realize that point had already been made. Throw the flag for piling on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Showerhead. Chris Nicols of sportsnet reports that MPS can play RW as well as LW, so that might resolve some of the logjam with Hall, Penner on LW.
ReplyDeleteYeah, because its not like the Oilers have Hemsky and Eberle both playing right wing or anything.
Spoiler: Marcel Dionne, Dale Hawerchuk and Phil Housley never won a cup, and Bourque came close. I'm sorry but that's not a super big factor. I'd take Ovechkin over Malkin anytime.
ReplyDeleteBourque won.
ReplyDeleteSmarmy: He came close to not winning a cup. Check context.
ReplyDeleteMy point is that if Hall is a poor man's Kovalchuk and Seguin = Spezza - there is not much to separate them aside from intangibles. Anyone who says this is clear cut easy decision is wrong - and in fact both guys could and probably will turn out just fine. There may not be a "right" decision here based on available data - just different decisions subject to the whims of lady luck.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Seguin slightly only because I see these 2 prospects in a dead heat and elite centers are more valuable than elite wingers - but I'll be happy to get either.
I think we're all much more hung up with the possibility of the Oilers "blowing it" than the idea that we're getting a really good player.
ReplyDeleteWhat Rick said.
ReplyDelete