Oilers kick off 2011 NHL Entry Draft

EDMONTON – Last year it was Tyler vs. Taylor. This year it’s Ryan vs. Adam. The Edmonton Oilers are once again, in a position to take the top prospect in the NHL Entry Draft. The big question this time around is, will the Oilers again go for a forward in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a center for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, or defenseman Adam Larsson. Let’s take a look at the Oilers and what they might do this time around. Edmonton has needs all over the roster. The Oilers were 28^th in both offense and defensive rankings. On special teams they were 27^th on the power play and 29^th on the penalty kill. To top things of they were ranked dead last (30^th) on face-offs. Three of the top five scorers on the roster were right wingers. That is a good thing because the Oilers don’t have quality prospects along the right wing. Linus Omark is listed as a right winger but on the Oilers’ website he is listed as a left winger. If that’s true, that means the Oilers have no right wingers who are considered a top 10 prospect in their system. In terms of defensemen, the Oilers had only two players who were a plus in the plus/minus category: Ryan Whitney and Richard Petiot who only played two games this year in an Oilers uniform. They Oilers top two prospects however are considered to be defenseman: Martin Marincin and Jeff Petry.

Left wing isn’t in dire straits because Taylor Hall is in the house. Magnus Paajarvi is also a left winger and had a solid season with 15 goals. He and Hall will only get better with time. The center position however could use an upgrade. Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano were solid but so far are having a hard time living up to their high draft positions. The same goes for Shawn Horcoff who only had 9 goals in 47 games but when healthy can be a force. Still, Adding another center like Hopkins who can score like Hall woudn’t be a bad thing, especially if they were put on the same line. The Oilers need help on defense that much is certain. The Oilers are known however for building from the forward position back. The last time Edmonton took a defenseman with their first pick overall was in 2006 with Petry but that was only a second round pick 45^th overall). The last time a defenseman was taken in the first round was Alex Plante (15^th overall) in 2007 but he was their second pick behind Gagner who was taken 6^th overall. The last time the Oilers actually took a defenseman with their first pick in the first round was back in 1989 with Jason Soules (15^th overall). Larsson might become the exception to the rule. He is listed at 6’ 3”, 200 pounds and compares himself to a Nicklas Lindstrom who most scouts compare him too as well. He is considered very strong at both ends of the ice, something the Oilers, and most teams around the league lack. With the Oilers also having the 19^th overall pick thanks to the Dustin Penner deal with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton could do what they did in 2007 which is take a forward first than a defenseman later in the draft. Nugent-Hopkins is a gifted center who some are comparing to Joe Sakic. The Colorado Avalanche would love for the Oilers to pass on him and fall to the Avs who have the second overall pick. Our gut feeling is, that won’t happen. As mentioned before, the Oilers build their team from the forward position back. The Oilers do have quite a few players on the blueline who are free agents, both RFA’s and UFA’s so if taken Larsson could step right into the role but despite all the signs that the Oilers might take Larsson the Oilers will do what they always do and make the following statement at the draft. “The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select, from the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey league, Ryan Hugent-Hopkins.” To learn more about Ryan Hugent-Hopkins click here . Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com