NHL Rookies: Early Season Grades for the Top 10 Draft Picks

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the top pick of the 2011 NHL Draft and he has made the Edmonton Oilers proud thus far, getting off to a solid start.

Nugent-Hopkins is continuing to prove that top 10 picks in the NHL Draft are so valuable because so many of the them turn out to be stars in such a short period of time.

Top 10 picks in hockey are like gold, and it is foolish for teams to trade high draft picks after all the successes for recent drafts.

Let's hand out grades for the top 10 selections in last year's draft, and see what the teams are getting for their high picks.

10. Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild

Grade: B-

Jonas Brodin was the 10th overall pick by the Minnesota Wild and has yet to crack the NHL roster. With the team needing more help on defense, he should be able to find his way onto the roster soon.

Brodin is currently playing in the Swedish Elite League, but has just three points in 24 games. He has been playing well defensively though, and remains a top prospect for the Wild that fans should be excited about.

9. Dougie Hamilton, Boston Bruins

Grade: B+

The Boston Bruins were lucky that Dougie Hamilton, the second best defenseman in the 2011 draft, fell to them at pick No. 9.

Hamilton has great size and is a gifted offensive player. With Boston's depth at the NHL level, there is no need to rush Hamilton to the pros.

He is currently on pace to have his best season in OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs, and has 35 points through 23 games.

8. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers

Grade: B+

Sean Couturier was taken by the Flyers after they acquired the eighth pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and so far, the kid has not disappointed.

He became just the third 18-year-old to play a game for the Flyers, and has five goals with three assists this season.

Couturier has proven he can handle the physical play and pace of the NHL level thus far. His all-around skills have been impressive and he is a leader in shorthanded ice time among rookies.

7. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets

Grade: B-

Mark Scheifele is a good center prospect and will be an important part of the Winnipeg Jets' future. After playing in seven NHL games this season, with one goal scored, the team decided to send him back to juniors.

With the Barrie Colts of the OHL this season, Scheifele has seven goals and 16 assists. Scheifele has done well in juniors and should be a solid physical forward for the Jets quite soon.

6. Mika Zibanejad, Ottawa Senators

Grade: C+

Mika Zibanejad had a chance to compete for an NHL position this season but he was not ready to compete at the top level.

He is a physical player who plays the game with a lot of intensity. In just nine games with the Senators this season he scored only one goal.

In the Swedish Elite League he has just a goal and an assist in seven games.

5. Ryan Strome, New York Islanders

Grade: B

Ryan Strome has a ton of talent and was probably the second best offensive player in the 2011 draft. The New York Islanders drafted a forward with great offensive potential, but he still has plenty of room for improvement.

Through 17 games with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL, Strome has 24 points on 14 goals and 10 assists.

He has progressed well this season and will be a major part of the Islanders' future.

4. Adam Larsson, New Jersey Devils

Grade: A-

The New Jersey Devils have not been managed well since the lockout, but the selection of Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson in the 2011 draft was an excellent move.

Larsson skates like a 10-year veteran and has played very well defensively for the Devils. He has proved to be a player the team must build around.

He has six points in 20 games this season, and Larsson has not tired despite seeing a lot of ice time this year.

He is a star in the making.

3. Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers

Grade: B-

Jonathan Huberdeau is a center that the Florida Panthers can build around for the next decade, and have him playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL this season.

With the Sea Dogs, Huberdeau has 10 goals and 18 assists in just 13 games. He is a solid physical player and will certainly be with the Panthers soon.

He has stood out on a Sea Dogs team filled with big-time prospects.

2. Gabriel Landeskog, Colordao Avalanche

Grade: B+

Gabriel Landeskog was considered by most as the player who could step into the NHL and compete well right away, and through 22 games with the Colorado Avalanche he has not disappointed.

Landeskog has five goals and five assists this year, and ranks seventh among rookie scorers.

His solid physical frame allows him to not be pushed around by bigger players and Landeskog has proven that he belongs at the NHL level and can succeed here already.

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers

Grade: A

Much like last year's top overall pick Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has really impressed for the Edmonton Oilers and has lived up to his expectations.

Nugent-Hopkins leads all rookies in scoring with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists. He has been a very good playmaker for the Oilers and has made the players around him better, which is a true sign of talent.

He is not the biggest guy, but he refuses to be bullied and pushed around by stronger and more experienced players. 

The Oilers are certainly surprised with his level of early success, but most people figured this kid would be a star.

Thus far, Nugent-Hopkins is the leader for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

For updates on all NHL news throughout the season, follow Nicholas Goss on Twitter. Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.