Is 2010 the best Oilers draft class of the past 15 years?
Posted 6:06 PM ET | Comments 1
With 7 players in pro hockey, 3 who have played NHL minutes this year and Taylor Hall being the 5th most productive and best PPG player drafted by the Oilers since Ryan Smyth in 1994, our 2010 draft class is perhaps the best in over a decade. In looking at other contenders for the "honour", I excluded the too close to tell years 2011-2013 and started with 1997.
Other contenders:
1998
Highlights: Horcoff
Notables: Henry
Also-rans: Morrison
Busts: Henrich
Verdict: Horcoff is a top 10 Oiler in goals, points, GWG, shots and games played, and a former captain. Best value pick for them since Buchberger. But no one else made any impact for the Oilers and Henrich was a miss 13th overall. WORSE
1999
Highlights: Comrie
Notables: Semenov
Also-rans: Salmelainen, Hauser
Busts: Rita
Verdict: Comrie too fractious, the rest forgettable, another miss at 13t. WORSE
2001
Highlights: Hemsky, Markkanen
Notables: Ales Pisa
Also-rans: Haakana. Stephenson
Busts: Doug Lynch*
Verdict: Enigmatic Hemsky will have a mixed legacy when all is said and done, but he's the best skill player drafted by the Oilers since Martin Rucinsky. Re: Markkanen, winning 3 cup final games = highlight, however brief. *Lynch was not our bust, and we did trade him to get Pronger….TIE
2002
Highlights: Stoll, Greene
Notables: Deslauriers
Also-rans: Luoma
Busts: Niinimaki
Verdict: Phenomenal depth drafting here, though we didn't make full use of the spoils . Our pesky teens drafting strikes again. WORSE
2007
Highlights: Gagner
Notables: Omark
Also-rans: Kyntar
Busts: Plante, Nash
Verdict: Easy to forget Gagner is 24. He's top 15 on the all-time Oilers scoring and the 3rd longest-tenured Oiler. Still looks great against his minefield of a draft class. Omark is Omark, but it's solid value in terms of potential if not performance from a later-round pick. The two busts here are understandable, but not excusable. WORSE
2008
Highlights: Eberle
Notables: Hartikainen
Also-rans: Motin, Cornet
Busts: none
Verdict: Hall or Eberle? And will Hartikainen ever return? With such a slight class (think Penner offer sheet) it will all depend on whether Eberle significantly outplays Hall in the go-ahead. I quite doubt it. WORSE
What will things look like in a few years? Have I lost perspective? what's your vote for the best Oilers draft class of the past 15 years?
Other contenders:
1998
Highlights: Horcoff
Notables: Henry
Also-rans: Morrison
Busts: Henrich
Verdict: Horcoff is a top 10 Oiler in goals, points, GWG, shots and games played, and a former captain. Best value pick for them since Buchberger. But no one else made any impact for the Oilers and Henrich was a miss 13th overall. WORSE
1999
Highlights: Comrie
Notables: Semenov
Also-rans: Salmelainen, Hauser
Busts: Rita
Verdict: Comrie too fractious, the rest forgettable, another miss at 13t. WORSE
2001
Highlights: Hemsky, Markkanen
Notables: Ales Pisa
Also-rans: Haakana. Stephenson
Busts: Doug Lynch*
Verdict: Enigmatic Hemsky will have a mixed legacy when all is said and done, but he's the best skill player drafted by the Oilers since Martin Rucinsky. Re: Markkanen, winning 3 cup final games = highlight, however brief. *Lynch was not our bust, and we did trade him to get Pronger….TIE
2002
Highlights: Stoll, Greene
Notables: Deslauriers
Also-rans: Luoma
Busts: Niinimaki
Verdict: Phenomenal depth drafting here, though we didn't make full use of the spoils . Our pesky teens drafting strikes again. WORSE
2007
Highlights: Gagner
Notables: Omark
Also-rans: Kyntar
Busts: Plante, Nash
Verdict: Easy to forget Gagner is 24. He's top 15 on the all-time Oilers scoring and the 3rd longest-tenured Oiler. Still looks great against his minefield of a draft class. Omark is Omark, but it's solid value in terms of potential if not performance from a later-round pick. The two busts here are understandable, but not excusable. WORSE
2008
Highlights: Eberle
Notables: Hartikainen
Also-rans: Motin, Cornet
Busts: none
Verdict: Hall or Eberle? And will Hartikainen ever return? With such a slight class (think Penner offer sheet) it will all depend on whether Eberle significantly outplays Hall in the go-ahead. I quite doubt it. WORSE
What will things look like in a few years? Have I lost perspective? what's your vote for the best Oilers draft class of the past 15 years?
Fuckin good blog Morris. Good to read the names Heinrich,Rita and Ninnimaki again.