While the 2011 NHL Playoffs are underway for 16 teams, the other 14 teams who missed the playoffs have their eyes set on this June's entry draft. The New Jersey Devils won the NHL Draft lottery and moved up four spots to the number four selection. This means that the Edmonton Oilers will have the top pick for the second straight year. Rounding out the top three are the Colorado Avalanche at the second spot and the Florida Panthers at the third spot.
The big question heading into the draft is who the Oilers will select with their number one pick. A plethora of talent is available for the Edmonton squad who finished with a mere 62 points this season. The new consenus number one pick is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL. Nugent-Hopkins is a dynamic center who can flat out put up numbers, 31 goals and 106 points this season. Ryan's stock has risen throughout the 2010-2011 season and just recently passed Adam Larsson as the number one ranked prospect. The main question mark concerncing Nugent-Hopkins is is lack of size, standing at only six feet tall and 160 pounds. Most top scouts quickly dispel any size concerns as the 18-year-old will surely pack on the pounds and his quick hands and feet are world class.
Adam Larsson, who plays for for Skellefteå AIK in Sweden, is the top defenseman in this year's prospect pool and number one rated international prospect. Larsson stands at 6' 3" and weighs just over 200 pounds. His size and hockey intelligence have placed Larsson on the radar for years now. His game is scouted as a franchise building blue liner who can log huge minutes night in and night out while shuting down the opponents top line.
While Edmonton has a tough decision ahead of themselves, one would think that the Oilers would be wise to fill their needs in the defensive zone and select Larsson. Edmonton has a wealth of young offensive talents in their system already and could really use a strong blueliner to back them up. Edmonton is only five years removed from playing in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, and many may remember a certain Chris Pronger logging huge minutes on their defense. Larsson could echo the play of Pronger and deliver Edmonton the size and strength they need to get back to their championship winning ways of the 1980s.
Look for the Colorado Avalanche to select who ever is left over from the Oiler selection. Colorado may have already found their franchise blue liner in Erik Johnson. Drafting a young kid with the immense talent of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could provide a deadly scoring punch alongside Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny.
While Colorado and Edmonton may not have had many reasons to cheer this past season, their fans should be equally excited about the prospects of either Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Adam Larsson joining their respective clubs.
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