Today, and in the future, I'll go back to last year's draft and look at the Oilers selections and then the players taken a few picks after and make comparisons on the early returns. We'll try and see which players show the most promise and if Stu's Crew is doing a formidable job.
Round 1: 1st overall
GP38, G13-A22-P35
The man in photo above is the NUUUUUUUGE. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had nothing but doubts about making the NHL after he was taken 1st overall. They were all quickly silenced. After popping his goal scoring cherry in his first ever NHL game, RNH never looked back. His third career game he scored a hatty on home ice, one I had the pleasure of seeing live. Clearly, as early signs point, this was the best possible choice for first overall in 2011. RNH is on a different level than anyone else, I hope his shoulder is fine, because the team and the fans miss him.
2nd overall
Gp51, G10-A16-P26
The second coming of Mike Richards (who is all but 26), is Gabriel Landeskog. Gabriel was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche, the pick right after Nuge. In the 2011-2012 season, Landeskog has been used in more of a defensive role. His plus 12, while sometimes misleading, shows that the kid is responsible and strong enough to win battles against older more experienced men. While Landeskog doesn't have superstar written on him as RNH does, this was still a solid choice for second overall.
3rd overall
GP19, G11-A25-P36 QMJHL
Jonathan Huberdeau, Memorial Cup MVP of the Memorial Cup champions. 9 points in 6 games representing Canada here in Edmonton. He has a similar build the RNH, which is why Florida sent him back. Huberdeau is now poised to win the Memorial Cup again because their team is more stacked than last year, which is ridiculous, but the experience is pretty valuable, so the experts say! Anyway, no shot he was going 1st overall, RNH all the way.
4th overall
GP46, G2-A13-P15
Adam Larsson was, as the consensus say, the biggest consideration to draft 1st overall. He is playing nearly 22 minutes a night for New Jersey. This young stud is playing well and his future sure looks bright. He's been steady for New Jersey and has only gotten better. Defense is ridiculously hard to play, especially in the NHL, so having a young kid who is already playing like a 5 year veteran must be exciting, because they don't grow on trees. The biggest question I had with Larsson was with offense. In the SEL his numbers were not stellar at all and you don't take a defensive defenseman 1st overall. If Larsson develops an offensive game he just might rival the Nuge in value. He is the only one, so far, that might catch up to the Nuge in terms of calibre. The early returns say RNH was the best pick, but I don't think we'll know how good Larsson will be until he's about 25. That is why drafting forwards at the top end of the draft gets the most bang for your buck.
The early returns say Stu "Magnificent Bastard" MacGregor won the day picking first
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