LIGHT OF A CLEAR BLUE MORNING

The Edmonton Oilers cash their third #1 overall pick today, adding the final name to the fab four. In a very real way, it’s the biggest test for the scouting group in Oilers history.

Nail is going to be a famous hockey player and an extremely good one. You can’t find a mock draft or a top 30 on the internet without Nail’s name at the top (actually you can, but this has happened only recently). The “gap” between Nail and the rest is sliding, but he’s still #1 as draft day arrives and will be known far and wide for doing the hardest thing in hockey: scoring goals.

I enjoyed Robin Brownlee’s series with Stu MacGregor and the item on Ryan Murray was very informative. MacGregor told Robin that Murray’s weakness was “he’s only six feet and a bit. What will be the determining factor is if he can be that shutdown-type D-man you require in that sort of position.”

Murray has been described as being a “safe” pick, and I think most of us think he’ll be the pick should Edmonton decide not to draft the gifted Russian.

Griffin Reinhart arrives courtesy a strong regular season and a deep run into spring in which he showcased his talents. A team looking for a combination of size, skill and truculence would have to take a long look at the Oil King defender. In Jason Gregor’s article yesterday he got a wonderful quote from MacGregor:

Macgregor: “It’s almost like he got a bit more determined and decided he was going to show people he is a high-end prospect. Not to say that he wasn’t, but he’s growing into his body and now he’s getting that physical strength that young kids with his size don’t always have right away because they are tall and lanky.”

 

Stu MacGregor and his scouts have reached a conclusion. There has been speculation, guesstimation, hunches, sneaking suspicions, trick knees, deduction, theory, supposition.This is the final member of the fab four, these men must choose well. Why is this the most important draft decision in Oiler history? They are selecting number one overall with a gigantic “team need” glaring them in the face. BPA may take a holiday.

Is it Nail? We wait.