Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Seguin Overtakes Hall In Draft Rankings



Well, that's the headline, right up there, but does it really matter when the names are called this June at the National Hockey League draft in Los Angeles.

Tyler Seguin, a center for the Plymouth Whalers, has been rated the top North American skater eligible for the 2010 NHL draft. The rankings, determined by the league's Central Scouting Service, placed Taylor Hall, a left wing with the Windsor Spitfires, in the No. 2 position, which Seguin occupied in the mid-season rankings.

Seguin has been mentioned as a player in the Steve Yzerman mold, while Hall's style of play has been mentioned as a junior version of Mark Messier's actions on the ice.



In other words, it comes down to filling a team's need. Maybe your club needs defense; in that case either Erik Gudbranson of the Kingston Frontenacs or Cam Fowler of the Windsor Spitfires may be your picks to click. Maybe your club does something stupid and hires Mike Milbury before the draft. In any event, things happen. Things change. Things can go very very wrong.





All four of these players are in the Ontario Hockey League. The top-rated North American skater from the Western Hockey League is Brett Connolly, a right wing with the Prince George Cougars. He is rated third overall.

Brandon Gormley, a defenseman with the Moncton Wildcats, is the top-rated skater from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Derek Forbort, a defensman who plays for the U.S. Development program, is the top-rated player from the United States Hockey League.

Nick Bjugstad, a center from Blaine High School in Minnesota, is the top rated skater among American schoolboys. The top-rated skater from the NCAA ranks is the center Tyler Pitlick of Minnesota State University-Mankato.

The rankings for skaters in North America are here. The North American goalies are here. International skaters are here. International goalies are here. All are in PDF form.

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