Despite Taylor Hall’s MVP performance in helping the Windsor Spitfires win their second straight Memorial Cup last Sunday, it appears the members of the Edmonton hockey media has their hearts set on Plymouth Whalers center Tyler Seguin.
As David Staples, author of "Cult Of Hockey" in the Edmonton Journal pointed out recently, numerous hockey insiders in Edmonton, including Dan Tencer, reporter for the Oilers' rights-holding radio station CHED, want the Oilers to take Seguin with the No. 1 pick overall at the NHL draft on June 25 in Los Angeles.
"Taylor Hall had a hell of year and he's a hell of a player. But, for whatever it's worth, I'd still choose Seguin," Tencer said recently via Twitter.
Staples also alluded to a piece by Robin Brownlee at "Oilers Nation" in which Brownlee interviews Oilers head scout Stu MacGregor. Even though MacGregor did not say outright who the Oilers would pick, Brownlee jumped to the conclusion that Seguin is the kid the Oilers want.
"While MacGregor declined an invitation to slip me his list on the down-low, I'm still of the mind the Oilers will take Seguin, even with Hall's MVP performance for Windsor at the [Memorial Cup] in Brandon," Brownlee wrote.
"With the majority of Oilers fans clamoring for Hall in the wake of his playoff performance, many suggesting there's no good reason to take Seguin first overall — really? — the call will come down to MacGregor. …. Think Seguin. Just saying…"
Both Hall and Seguin have interviewed with the Bruins, who pick second overall, and the Oilers. Neither team or player has given a clear indication of who will be drafted first overall.
