Draft Review: New Coach, New Centerpiece
Just days after the Edmonton Oilers named Tom Renney their head coach, the team selected a franchise winger in Taylor Hall. The move gives this team a whole new identity after finishing with the worst record in hockey last season.
Renney came over to the Oilers after helping the New York Rangers to three straight playoff appearances using a defensive system. Despite his preference to keep games tight, he let players like Jaromir Jagr and his linemates play a looser offensive style while they took the ice.
If Hall shows he can produce he will play an excellent amount of minutes. Expect the Oilers to fill their roster with inexpensive and responsible forwards who will teach the young players like Jordan Eberle to play a regular shift. Both players are expected to make the team out of camp, but the question marks surrounding them means there will likely be growing pains.
Hall projects to be a Dany Heatley style scoring winger although TSN thought he would be a Pavel Bure in his prime. Either way he should be an excellent player and should be the best rookie to enter the free agent pool in keeper leagues.
If the production of Steven Stamkos and John Tavares are any indication, 20 goals and 50 points should not be out of the question.