2010 NHL Entry Draft
ROUND 1 | ROUND 2 | ROUND 3 | ROUND 4 | ROUND 5 | ROUND 6 | ROUND 7

NHL scouts agree -- Hall first, Seguin second

Thursday, 06.03.2010 / 9:00 AM / 2010 NHL Entry Draft

By Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

Share with your Friends


NHL scouts agree -- Hall first, Seguin second
NHL.com has made its picks for the first round of the 2010 Entry Draft, but now we want to know what the real experts -- NHL team scouts -- think.
The debate over who will be selected first at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft seems endless, with the pick seemingly coming down to Plymouth Whalers center Tyler Seguin and Windsor Spitfires left wing Taylor Hall.

The NHL.com staff has weighed in with its picks; less than a month before the annual selection process begins in Los Angeles, June 25-26, we turned to a pair of experts.

For the second year, NHL.com has asked two personnel executives -- one from an Eastern Conference team, one from a Western Conference club -- to give their picks on the first round. In return for their honesty, we guaranteed their anonymity.

In a draft so full of question marks, however, the scouts were unanimous on whom the Oilers would take -- Hall, the high-scoring forward with the two Memorial Cup MVPs and World Junior Championship silver medal.

Our scout from the East said Hall in Edmonton would evoke memories of the 1980s dynasty teams, while our scout in the West said Hall was just too good to pass on.

With Hall going first, both pegged Seguin going No. 2 to Boston. Our Western scout said Seguin would make Bruins fans forget all about Phil Kessel, who the club had to sacrifice to get this pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Both scouts also had high-scoring Windsor defenseman Cam Fowler going third to the Florida Panthers; giant Kingston Frontenacs blueliner Erik Gudbranson going fourth to the Columbus Blue Jackets; and versatile Moncton Wildcats defender Brandon Gormley going fifth to the New York Islanders.

Their opinions begin to diverge beyond the fifth pick, but rather than give away the end, take a look at what the real experts think.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]
NHL.TV™ › SHOP.NHL.COM › NHL AUCTIONS › FOLLOW ON: FACEBOOK TWITTER