Stu MacGregor, others on the 2010 Draft Top 5

Oilers head scout gives his comments on the top five North American-ranked skaters at this Friday's NHL Entry Draft

Monday, 21.06.2010 / 2:02 AM / 2012 OILERS DRAFT CENTRE
By edmontonoilers.com staff
More Players: NORTH AMERICAN SKATERS | EUROPEAN SKATERS | NORTH AMERICAN GOALIES | TOP 5


Tyler Seguin
North American Skater
Plymouth, OHL
Final Rank:  1 Midterm Rank:  2
Position:  Center Shoots:  Right
Height:  6' 1" Weight:  172
Born:  January 31, 1992 Hometown:  Brampton, ON
Born in:  Brampton, ON, CAN

Oilers Head Scout Stu MacGregor
"Tyler is Is an offensive centreman with very good hand skills. Quick hands, quick reads, excellent reads. He's worked extremely hard to improve his shot and release. He's proven that he's a legitimate goal scorer at the junior level and projected through the NHL. He's a Good skater that plays at a high tempo. Extremely offensive-oriented. A competitive, hard-working guy that brings it all every night."

NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards
“Tyler Seguin makes things happen every time he is on the ice and he makes his teammates better. He's a skilled forward. He's a guy that's obviously a top-line forward with all kinds of puck skills and playmaking abilities. ... He's an elusive guy in traffic, avoiding checks with the puck.”

Plymouth Whalers head coach Mike Vellucci
“I knew he was a great player, knew he had the skill level to do it. The surprise to me is he has the determination and the heart for it. He never stops moving on the ice, even in practice. He's always moving, trying to get better. That's what surprises me. Surprised by his talent and ability? No, but by how much he wants it.”

TYLER SEGUIN VIDEOS


FAVOURITES

  • NHL Player: Henrik Zetterberg
  • Shootout move: “Fake forehand, backhand, forehand, mid cheese”
  • Goal celebration: “Glass jump”
  • Video Game: Call of Duty
  • Movie: Miracle
  • TV Show: NHL on the Fly
  • Actress: Jessica Alba
  • Cartoon Character: Bart Simpson
  • Website: plymouthwhalers.com
  • Book: Air Jordan
  • Pump-up song: “There are many. A classic would be Eye of the Tiger by Survivor”
  • Restaurant: Omelette Cafe
  • Sport (other than hockey): Lacrosse
  • Superhero: Superman
Taylor Hall
North American Skater
Windsor, OHL
Final Rank:  2 Midterm Rank:  1
Position:  Left Wing Shoots:  Left
Height:  6' 1" Weight:  185
Born:  November 14, 1991 Hometown:  Kingston, ON
Born in:  Calgary, AB, CAN

Oilers Head Scout Stu MacGregor
"Taylor is an offensive dynamo who plays the really hard take-it-to-the-net kind of game. He's extremely hard working. Uses his great skating and power to get to the hard areas and score goals. A player that has extreme focus. He was a highly-ranked scorer in Midget hockey in Kingston. Previous to that, he was a highly-rated player coming out of Calgary. He went 2nd overall in the OHL draft to Windsor. They banked on him turning around that franchise which he did do."

Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire
“When you talk about Hall, you talk about quickness, acceleration and hands. Easily and arguably, could have actually been our No. 1 pick overall. Taylor has done it all; he's the reigning MVP of the Memorial Cup tournament and has played on two medal-winning world championship teams.”

Windsor Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner
“Taylor is a dynamic skater who is fearless when he goes to the net. He is very difficult to knock off the puck once he gets it and his hunger for the puck is special. He reminds me of Pavel Bure. Taylor’s desire to be the best is also very unique and has also contributed to his success, and made him the great player that he is.”

TAYLOR HALL VIDEOS


FAVOURITES

  • NHL Team: Calgary Flames
  • NHL Player: Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby
  • Shootout move: “Backhand Cheese”
  • Goal celebration: “One knee fist pump”
  • Video Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
  • Movie: Avatar
  • TV Show: Friends
  • Music Group: Theory of a Deadman
  • Book: Playing with Fire by Theoren Fleury
  • Pump-up song: “Lalala Girl” by Paffendorf
  • Home cooked meal: Lasagna
  • Activity away from the rink: Cooking
Brett Connolly
North American Skater
Prince George, WHL
Final Rank:  3 Midterm Rank:  4
Position:  Right Wing Shoots:  Right
Height:  6' 2" Weight:  181
Born:  May 2, 1992 Hometown:  Prince George, BC
Born in:  Campbell River, BC, CAN

Oilers Head Scout Stu MacGregor
"Brett Connolly is a highly-talented offensive scorer. He's tall, slender build at this moment but should put on strength. Skates well, great offensive skills around the net. Shoots the puck well. Has a knack to score goals. A player that can bring you out of his seat with offensive talent."

NHL Central Scouting’s Peter Sullivan
“He puts the puck in the net, he's got good size, great on-ice awareness. He's not a crasher or a banger, but he finishes his checks. He does everything well."

Prince George Cougars head coach Dean Clark
"Brett is a very gifted player and it's too bad we haven't been able to see more of him this season because of his injury. Brett can take over a game with his skill and puck control and he's also a very intelligent player. He has always been a dependable player at both ends of the ice, whether it be five-on-five or on special teams and he's a real competitive kid. When the game is on the line, he wants to be out there to make a difference."

BRETT CONNOLLY VIDEOS


FAVOURITES

  • NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
  • NHL Player: Sidney Crosby
  • Shootout move: “Fake shot, backhand, forehand, upstairs”
  • Goal celebration: Fist pump
  • Video Game: Call of Duty
  • Movie: The Blindside
  • TV Show: Entourage
  • Actor: Adam Sandler
  • Cartoon: The Simpsons
  • Website: facebook.com
  • Pump-up song: Pretty Green Eyes by Ultrabeat (Hixxy remix)
  • Restaurant: The Keg
  • Sport (other than hockey): Golf
  • Breakfast food: Eggs
  • Superhero: Superman
Erik Gudbranson
North American Skater
Kingston, OHL
Final Rank:  4 Midterm Rank:  6
Position:  Defenseman Shoots:  Right
Height:  6' 4" Weight:  195
Born:  January 7, 1992 Hometown:  Orleans, ON
Born in:  Ottawa, ON, CAN

Oilers Head Scout Stu MacGregor
"A big, physical defensive defenceman that skates very well. Has a real edge to his play. Competes extremely hard, has good leadership and is a team-oriented player that makes the other players around him better."

Director of NHL Central Scouting’s E.J. McGuire
“Gudbranson to me is a guaranteed long-term NHLer. In my opinion, Gudbranson is another Chris Pronger-type, what he brings that (Pronger) really didn't do much of, though, is he'll fight. He is some kind of tough. Chris Pronger is mean and will hit you; Gudbranson will hit you and fight you. Pronger is three inches taller than Gudbranson, so maybe Dion Phaneuf would be an even better comparison"

ERIK GUDBRANSON MULTIMEDIA


FAVOURITES

  • NHL Team: Montreal Canadiens
  • NHL Players: Shea Weber and Dion Phaneuf
  • Shootout move: “Forehand, backhand, at the top of the circle, then shoot”
  • Goal celebration: “A little fist pump and point to the passer”
  • Video Game: NHL ‘10
  • Movie: Billy Madison
  • TV Show: Two and a Half Men
  • Actor: Adam Sandler
  • Cartoon: Family Guy
  • Pump-up song: Crawl by Breaking Benjamin
  • Restaurant: Wooden Heads in Kingston
  • Sport (other than hockey): Golf and baseball
  • Breakfast food: Eggs, oatmeal and toast
  • Superhero: Batman
Cam Fowler
North American Skater
Windsor, OHL
Final Rank:  5 Midterm Rank:  3
Position:  Defenseman Shoots:  Left
Height:  6' 1" Weight:  190
Born:  December 5, 1991 Hometown:  Northville, MI
Born in:  Windsor, ON, CAN

Oilers Head Scout Stu MacGregor
"Cam Fowler is an outstanding skater. He has huge offensive upside from the defensive position. Probably one of the finest skaters I've seen in a long time. Great mobility. Can take away ice with his lateral mobility and speed. Picks up the puck, turns the puck up ice on offensive attack. Makes very good passes and plays as he moves up the ice. Has good size, his whole game is built around being a great skater and good offence. He's a young man that's been on the U.S. Under-18 World Championship team, US under-20 championship team and Windsor's Memorial Cup team. All he's done is win."

Director of NHL Central Scouting’s E.J. McGuire
“He’s your prototypical offensive-defenseman. He's your (quarterback) on your (power-play), he's your great skating offensive-defenseman and he controls the puck with his skills. If you're looking for a comparison, think of Kaberle with the Maple Leafs. But in sticking with his country, maybe even a future Leetch or Housley.”

Windsor Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner
“Cam’s vision, skating and passing are his greatest assets. He gets himself out of trouble with his feet and his mobility makes it very difficult for opposing players to get by him. Cam has good size and once he fills out, he will anchor an NHL club’s back end for many years.”

CAM FOWLER MULTIMEDIA


FAVOURITES

  • NHL Team: Montreal Canadiens
  • NHL Player: Anaheim’s Scott Niedermayer
  • Shootout move: “Backhand to forehand”
  • Goal celebration: Fist pump
  • Video Game: Call of Duty
  • Movie: Tommy Boy
  • Actor: Will Ferrell
  • Music Artist: Lil Wayne
  • Website: google.com
  • Book: Playing with Fire by Theo Fleruy
  • Pump-up song: “Lalala Girl” by Paffendorf
  • Home cooked meal: Enchiladas
  • Activity away from the rink: Golf
2012 NHL SCOUTING COMBINE COVERAGE
We were on location at the 2012 NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto and had the opportunity to chat with almost 30 of the top 100 prospects. Read the recap and watch the interviews.
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