2010 NHL Entry Draft: Taylor Hall Goes First, Tyler Seguin Second

As expected, the Edmonton Oilers used the No. 1 pick to select Taylor Hall, while the Boston Bruins selected Tyler Seguin with the second overall pick.

Hall, who won back-to-back Memorial Cups and Memorial Cup MVPs, gives the Oilers a very talented offensive-minded forward who should bring a certain amount of cache and respect back to the fledgling Oilers franchise.

In Seguin, the Bruins get a player who won the OHL scoring title and is the more well-rounded of the two top picks. Given Seguin’s skillset, the Bruins feel as if he is ready to step into their everyday lineup as a top-six forward.

While I am sure that Bruins GM Peter Chirarelli received plenty of phone calls regarding the second overall pick, there was never any doubt that he would keep the pick.

Many experts have compared Seguin to Steve Yzerman—nice company, indeed.

Viewed as more of a playmaker,  Seguin scored 48 goals in just his second year as member of the Plymouth Whalers this season—eight more than Taylor Hall scored in his third year with the Windsor Spitfires.

The arrival of Seguin may very well spell the end of veteran centre Marc Savard in Beantown. Stay tuned on that one; it will happen sooner rather than later.

No question, both teams got great players and, while I suspect Hall will be a tremendous NHL scorer, I suspect Seguin will emerge as the better/more well-rounded player.

Despite all the speculation, there never really was any doubt as to which player the Oilers would pick. It was always Taylor Hall.

Drafting Seguin with the first overall pick would have been a public relations nightmare. The minute the Oilers had won the coveted No. 1 pick, Oiler fans rejoiced in celebration with nobody but Hall on their minds.

In Hall, the Oilers get a player that can contribute immediately, be a force offensively, and one that will emerge as a player around whom you can build a franchise and championship.

The bigger the game, the bigger Hall plays. He has a competetivness that is off the charts as well as all the skills to be one of the most dominant players to dawn the Oiler jersey since the days of Gretzky and Messier.

I will be updating this article this evening, so please check back later.