Ah yes, the 2010 NHL Draft. It was a day that I’m sure many of you will remember as the Oilers called out Taylor Hall’s name from the Windsor Spitfires with the first overall pick. For months there was a Taylor vs. Tyler debate (Chiarelli says neither btw) that obviously ended with the Oilers picking the former with their leadoff selection. It was a story that we all know well. In this article, however, we will once again be looking at the guys that were selected in the 7-15 range to see if there’s anything we can learn as we approach the NHL Draft in late June. Are there lessons to be learned?
Today, my friends, we take a look at the 2010 NHL Draft.

Jeff Skinner (7) – LW – Carolina Hurricanes

2017-18 season: 82GP – 24G, 25A for 49 points
Rookie Season (2010-11 w/ Carolina Hurricanes): 82GP – 31G, 32A for 63 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report: 
“Skinner is a slightly above average skater, but the main strengths of his game are his goal-scoring ability and his intelligence both with the puck and away from it. He isn’t the tallest player, but his a solid base and impressive leg strength that makes him hard to knock off the puck. He does not back down from physical play and relishes competing in small areas.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2017-18
Carolina Hurricanes
NHL
82
24
25
49
34
-27
NHL Totals
579
204
175
379
268

Alexander Burmistrov (8) – C – Atlanta Thrashers

2017-18 season: NHL: 24GP – 2G, 4A for six points. KHL: 10GP – 2G, 4A for six points
Rookie Season (2010-11 w/ Atlanta Thrashers): 74GP – 6G, 14A for 20 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Burmistrov’s main attributes are his speed and his playmaking ability.  He is probably one of the more electrifying players in his age group, having the ability to create offensive opportunities when none might be obvious. Burmistrov’s lack of size could hinder him at the pro level, but he passed his first test in North America by turning in a successful season in the OHL.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-GPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Vancouver Canucks
NHL
24
2
4
6
12
-5
2017-18
Kazan Ak-Bars
KHL
10
2
4
6
12
0
17
1
2
3
6
NHL Totals
348
37
64
101
139

Mikael Granlund (9) – RW – Minnesota Wild

2017-18 season: 77GP – 21G, 46A for 67 points
Rookie Season (2013-14 w/ Minnesota Wild): 63GP – 8G, 33A for 41 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“He has world-class skills, creativity and his hockey sense is potentially his best asset. Like Larionov, he is not a blazing fast skater. However, as smaller playmaking centers, they know how to make masterful plays both by slowing down the play and increasing the pace when it is called for. The young Finn is strong on the puck and has shown that he can more than hold his own against both men and his junior peers.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Minnesota Wild
NHL
77
21
46
67
18
13
5
1
2
3
0
NHL Totals
398
78
190
268
98
39
8
13
21
4

Dylan McIlrath (10) – D – New York Rangers

2017-18 season: AHL: 76GP – 7G, 10A for 17 points
Rookie Season (2015-16 w/ New York Rangers): 34GP – 2G, 2A for four points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“McIlrath is a nasty, in-your-face defenseman who won’t back down and can clear the crease for his netminder. He is not afraid to fight or just intimidate, McIlrath has a good shot and his puck distribution has been improving but he needs to improve his skating and defensive positioning.”
SEASONTEAMLGEGPGAPTSPIM+/-
2017-18
GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
AHL
76
7
10
17
119
8
NHL TOTALS
43
3
2
5
94

Jack Campbell (11) – G – Dallas Stars

2017-18 season: NHL: 5GP – 2.48 GAA, .914 save%
NHL Debut (2013-14 w/ Dallas Stars): 1GP – 6.00 GAA, .872 save%
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Campbell is an athletic goaltender with great reflexes.  He never gives up on plays and competes hard on every shot.  Sometimes he overplays the on-coming rush and can get into trouble.  Campbell has a very good glove and blocker.  He stickhandles very well and is a fine outlet passer. A big pressure goalie during this junior carer, he shows up majorly in big game situations,  loves to compete, has a winning attitude with confidence and is always looking to improve.  As with many young goalies Campbell is still inconsistent at times but should allow fewer untimely soft goals as he continues to mature.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPAPIMMinGAENSOGAAWLTSvsPct
2017-18
Ontario Reign
AHL
26
0
0
1482
70
1
0
2.83
11
10
1
728
0.912
2017-18
Los Angeles Kings
NHL
5
0
0
267
11
0
0
2.48
2
0
2
134
0.924
NHL Totals
7
0
0
0
2.94
2
1
2
0.914

Cam Fowler (12) – D – Anaheim Ducks

2017-18 season: 67GP – 8G, 24A for 32 points
Rookie Season (2011-12 w/ Anaheim Ducks): 76GP – 10G, 30A for 40 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Fowler is an offensively oriented defenseman in the mold of a Scott Niedermeyer. He is an excellent skater and puck handler, and his instincts and hockey sense are as good as any defenseman in his draft class. Fowler isn’t all offense, however, as his play in his own end is usually solid.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
Anaheim Ducks
NHL
67
8
24
32
28
3
NHL Totals
561
53
196
249
145
62
6
27
33
14

Brandon Gormley (13) – D – Phoenix Coyotes

2017-18 season: SHL: 41GP – 2G, 15A for 17 points
Rookie Season (2014-15 w/ Arizona Coyotes): 27GP – 2G, 2A for four points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Gormley is a talented two-way defenseman who provides skill, poise, and leadership on the back-end. Although he is an all-around defenseman, Gormley is developing into an exceptional offensive player with lethal power-play skills. His ability as a distributor, his hard, accurate shot, and strong in-zone work compares favorably with other young defenseman.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2017-18
Mora IK
SweHL
41
2
15
17
30
-4
NHL Totals
58
2
3
5
20

Jaden Schwartz (14) – L – St. Louis

2017-18 season: 62GP – 24G, 35A for 59 points
Rookie Season (2012-13 w/ St. Louis Blues): 45GP – 7G, 6A for 13 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Schwartz has excellent skating speed and acceleration along with solid balance which allows him to make plays at high speed. The versatile winger can play all three forward positions as well as on both specialty team units. The 20-year-old has a high hockey IQ, good vision of the ice and can be a playmaker. He needs to work on his defensive zone positioning, add size to play in the corners and strengthen his shot to play at the NHL level. The first round selection projects as a top six forward but could be the first line scorer the Blues are lacking.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-PGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18
St. Louis Blues
NHL
62
24
35
59
26
15
NHL Totals
380
113
158
271
99
49
10
20
30
10

Derek Forbort (15) – D – Los Angeles Kings

2017-18 season: 78GP – 1G, 17A for 18 points
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ Los Angeles Kings): 82GP – 2G, 16A for 18 points
Pre-Draft Scouting Report:
“Forbort had a reputation for exceptional decision-making while playing at the University of North Dakota and has shown steady progress in his two seasons with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs. He has the size, skating ability and agility necessary to be an outstanding two-way NHL defenseman. He does not carry the puck the puck much but his passes are laser sharp. Forbert has added a bit of grit to his game as he has progressed and is in the process of continuing to round out a rock solid defensive game.”
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-
2017-18
Los Angeles Kings
NHL
78
1
17
18
49
18
NHL Totals
174
4
34
38
120

THE WRAP…

Well, well what do we have here? We’ve got another list comprised of some hits, misses, a highly touted goaltender, a blend of forwards and defencemen and another layer to the onion that is our quest for Draft knowledge. Does the 2010 Draft change your mind as to whether or not the Oilers should use their 10th overall pick? Personally, I’m a gambler and the idea of seeing players like Jeff Skinner and Cam Fowler on this list further pushes me into the column of using the 10th overall pick and seeing what happens. That said, Brandon Gormley was selected with the pick immediately following Cam Fowler and he didn’t do much of anything at the NHL level, and there lies the risk.
What say you, Nation? Does the 2010 Draft change your position on the 10th overall pick at all? Reinforce it? Let me know. Tomorrow, we look at 2011.

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