Edmonton Oilers: Draft Day Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

With the 2011 NHL entry draft approaching, the talk is whether the Oilers will draft playmaking centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or smooth-skating Swede Adam Larsson.  In either player, the Oilers have the opportunity to add another young player to a promising core that already includes Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi. With two more picks in the top 31 and a number of moveable assets, it's possible that Steve Tabellini won't have to decide which player to take.  

Boston Bruins

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ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 16: Ales Hemsky #83 of the Edmonton Oilers skates prior to the start of the game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on January 16, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Boston

1st-9th(Tor)

2nd-40th(Min)

Edm

Ales Hemsky

3rd-74th(Cal)

Despite only playing in 47 games this season, Hemsky's 42 points would rank him 8th on the Bruins in scoring. Given its heavy reliance on aging wingers Mark Recchi and Michael Ryder, Hemsky could be exactly what the team needs next season.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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EDMONTON, AB - SEPTEMBER 30: Known as the kid line, are Robert Nilsson #12, Sam Gagner #89 and Andrew Cogliano #13 of the Edmonton Oilers skate in a game against the Calgary Flames in the third period during a preseason NHL game on September 30, 2008 at

Tor

1st-25th(Phi)

1st-29th/30th(Bos)

D-Jesse Blacker

Edm

Andrew Cogliano

Sam Gagner

The Leafs are looking for depth at centre, and Cogliano and Gagner could be the answers for the Leafs.  While they are not necessarily Burke-type players, they should not be overlooked.

Tampa Bay Lightning

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 23: Ryan Whitney #6 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up before the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on November 23, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Oilers 5-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen

Tampa Bay

F-Dana Tyrell

F- Carter Ashton

1st-27th

Edmonton

Ryan Whitney

Kurtis Foster

Whitney is a potential replacement in Tampa for Brewer, who is set to become a free agent this summer. Although his season was shortened, he still managed to put up solid numbers for the struggling Oilers team.

New York Rangers

Jonathan Klein/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Chris Drury #23 of the New York Rangers skates in warmups prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jonathan Klein/Getty Images)

New York

F-Chris Drury

1st-15th

Edmonton

F-Ryan O'Marra

1st-29th/30th(Bos)

The Rangers expected to make a run at Brad Richards.  This trade lets them clear $7 million for next season so they can sign Richards and still resign their RFA's.

Winnipeg

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Zach Bogosian #4 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates against the Ottawa Senators at the Philips Arena on March 27, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Thrashers defeated the 5-4 in the shoot out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Winnipeg

D-Zach Bogosian(rights)

1st-7th

3rd-67th

Edmonton

D-Ladislav Smid

D-Tom Gilbert

1st-9th(Bos/Tor)

1st-25th(Tor/Phi)

1st-27th(Tmp)

2nd-(2012)

There are reports that Bogosian does not plan to re-sign with the franchise this summer. Winnipeg gets a number of picks as well as two good defenseman in Ladislav Smid and Tom Gilbert, each of whom are still pretty young. 

New York Islanders

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MONTREAL , QC - JUNE 27: General Manager Garth Snow of the New York Islanders (C) and assistant General Manager Ryan Jankowski (R) sit at the draft table during the second day of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on June 27, 2009 in Montreal, Q

New York

1st-5th

3rd-63rd

Edmonton

1st-7th

2nd-40th

Pretty simple the Oilers trade up.

Florida Panthers

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - JUNE 23: General manager Dale Tallon attends the 2007 NHL Entry Draft at Nationwide Arena on June 23, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Florida

1st-3rd

Edmonton

1st-5th

3rd-62nd

3rd-63rd

3rd-67th

Colorado Avalanche

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

MONTREAL - JUNE 26: Colorado Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman (l) confers with scouts Richard Pracey and Alan Hepple during the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on June 26, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce

Colorado

1st-2nd

2nd-2012

Edmonton

1st-3rd

2nd-31st

3rd-2012

Draft

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #9 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Ande

1st-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

2nd-Adam Larsson

15th-Jamieson Oleksiak

19th-Ty Rattie

2011-2012 Roster

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DETROIT - NOVEMBER 11: Jordan Eberle #14 of the Edmonton Oilers and teammate Taylor Hall #4 prepare for a face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on November 11, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/

Hall-Nugent-Hopkins-Eberle

Paajarvi-Tyrell-Aston

Omark-Horcoff(C)-Drury(A)

MacIntyre-Fraser-Jones

Larsson-Bogosian(A)

Strudwick(A)-Blacker

Peckham-Teubert