2010 NHL Draft Results

With enough years in the rearview mirror, we can now begin to see who the winners and losers of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft were. Some players have already evolved into the players most GMs thought they’d become while others have faded away into the land of hockey obscurity (or the KHL). Here are the Top 10 selections of the 2010 NHL Draft. At the bottom you’ll find the complete first round.

2010 NHL Draft – June 25 – 26 at the Staples Center

1. Taylor Hall  – Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall was the first of Edmonton’s three straight No. 1 picks, and has been the best of the bunch so far. The Oilers took Hall over Tyler Seguin amid a much-hyped Taylor-or-Tyler debate that rages on to this day, as both have enjoyed substantial success. Hall has been a force when healthy, but he’s also been a bit injury-prone because of his hard-driving, at times reckless style of play.

A winner at the junior level, Hall led the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires to two straight Memorial Cups and earned MVP honours in both tournaments. Next season will be a crucial one for Hall’s young career, as the left-winger who only turns 24 in November will be looking to rebound from his worst statistical campaign as a pro. He needs to re-establish himself as the player who put up 80 points and finished top 10 in league scoring two seasons ago. – Larry Fisher

Hall on Draft Day [Video] | The Evolution of Taylor Hall | All of THW’s Taylor Hall stories

2. Tyler Seguin – Boston Bruins

As the second overall pick in 2010, behind Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin has grown into an NHL star. From his days in Boston where he put up 67 points in 2011-12 and won a Stanley Cup in 2012-13 to his current tenure with Dallas Stars, Seguin’s proven his ability to compete at a high intensity level – even leading the Stars in points this season prior to a serious knee injury.

While he put up a career high 84 points (37g-47a) in his first season with the Stars (2013-14)  many believe that Seguin has yet to reach his ceiling as an NHL player. At 23, he’s achieved much success and might be just one step away from an NHL scoring title. Add that to his playoff experience and Seguin is a Star – both in uniform and skill set. – Andrew Forbes

Seguin to Dallas Trade | Seguin articles at THW

3. Erik Gudbranson – Florida Panthers

Erik Gudbranson has come a long way. He’s been playing defense full-time for the Florida Panthers since the 2011-12 season. Although his capabilities don’t appear particularly stellar on paper, his on-ice presence is notable.

At 6’5” and approximately 220 pounds, his size alone is a massive deterrent, and he’s known to get into a scrum or two. His penalty minutes are much lower than in past years, his +/- is up and he seems to be growing into himself. Gudbranson is second on the Panthers and 30^th overall in the league in hits (159), showing a vast amount of untapped talent for the years to come. – Kathy Mizera

4. Ryan Johansen – Columbus Blue Jackets

Ryan Johansen was thought to be a reach at fourth overall, but he’s made the Blue Jackets out to be geniuses in hindsight. A bit of a late bloomer, Johansen was a riser throughout his draft year, having made the jump from tier-2 junior in B.C. to the Western Hockey League. He had the frame to grow into and the offensive skill-set to be a big-time player. Scouts saw that potential and raw ability, but realized there would be a maturing process.

Flash forward five years and Johansen is becoming a real game-breaker for the Blue Jackets. But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for this 22-year-old, who butted heads with Columbus coach Todd Richards, was demoted to the minors and missed training camp because of a contract dispute this season. That is all water under the bridge now that Johansen is producing at nearly a point-per-game pace. The scary thing is, the sky is still the limit for this kid. – Larry Fisher

The Johansen Contract Story | Q & A with Ryan Johansen | THW’s Johansen Stories

5. Nino Niederreiter – New York Islanders

Nino Niederreiter was a controversial pick at 5^th overall for the Islanders from the moment he was selected, as many fans saw their team reaching based solely on a huge World Juniors showing. Before being traded to Minnesota, Niederreiter posted just 2 goals and an assist in 64 games with New York, while showing flashes of brilliance in Bridgeport (80 GP, 31 goals, 54 points). Since joining the Wild, Nino has had ups and downs but has been able to contribute a physical presence and show a nose for the net in his nearly two seasons with the club. Though he struggles with consistency, the 22-year-old winger has shown that at worst he can be a solid third liner in the NHL. – Peter Judge

Islanders Mishandle Niederreiter | Niederreiter articles at THW

6. Brett Connolly – Tampa Bay Lightning

Brett Connolly was drafted sixth overall in the 2010 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In his first season with Tampa Bay during the 2011-12 season, he recorded just 15 points in 68 games he played. It was clear Connolly needed more time to develop, so he spent the majority of the next two seasons with the Syracuse Crunch where he excelled to a combined 120 points in 137 games played.

This season he appeared in 50 games for the Bolts and produced 12 goals, but as a result of the abundant amount of depth, Connolly has spent the majority of time as a bottom six forward averaging just over 11 minutes of ice time per game. Before Monday’s three o’clock trade deadline, he was sent to the Boston Bruins in exchange for two second round picks. – Danny Di Nicolantonio

7. Jeff Skinner – Carolina Hurricanes

There’s no doubt that Jeff Skinner is a great young NHL talent for the Carolina Hurricanes. However, He is one of the most prominent examples in the NHL of a player whose career has been tarnished due to concussion problems. At the ripe old age of 18, Skinner won the Calder Trophy In his rookie season by posting 31 goals, and a career-high 63 points. While Skinner posted 33 goals last season, he hasn’t looked like the bright prodigy the Hurricanes took seventh overall back in 2010. He has been a minus player in every season after his rookie year, and only has 26 points, while going minus 17 this season. It’s been a struggle for Skinner, but hopefully as Carolina begins their rebuild process in earnest, Skinner will be the star that leads the Canes back the playoffs. – Corey Spina

Skinner’s 100 Goals | Skinner tagged articles at THW

8. Alexander Burmistrov – Atlanta Thrashers

Alexander Burmistrov was drafted eight overall in the first round of the 2010 NHL draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. Burmistrov’s scouting reports indicated that he was a center that possessed high-end offensive skill and a great awareness of the game.

His final year with the Barrie Colts was indicative of that as he posted 81 points in 79 OHL games (regular season and playoffs). Burmistrov went on to play one hundred ninety-four games in the NHL (all with Atlanta/Winnipeg) and accumulated just fifty-eight points. In 2013-2014, Burmistrov left the NHL to play for the KHL’s, Kazan Ak-Bars. – Cole Querry

Could Burmistrov Return to the NHL

9. Mikael Granlund – Minnesota Wild

The minute the world saw Mikael Granlund score this amazing lacrosse-style goal we knew he would be a special player. While maybe Granlund hasn’t lived up to all the hype, he’s turned into a solid number two center behind team captain Mikko Koivu. What makes Granlund a great fit in Minnesota is he fits the type of style the team plays. He’s only 5 ft. 10 in, but that hasn’t stopped Granlund from displaying a high level of skill in all facets of the game. With time, Granlund could turn into a mirror image of his Finnish counterpart Koivu. –  Corey Spina

10. Dylan McIlrath – New York Rangers

McIlrath is a big, strong defenseman (6’5″, 230 lb.) who was drafted by the Rangers to clear out the crease and protect Henrik Lundqvist. He hasn’t progressed as quickly as the Rangers would have liked. Since being drafted, he has only played in three NHL games. Injuries have certainly slowed his progress; he has battled knee problems since having surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap before the 2012-13 season. While he’s unlikely to play for the Rangers this season, their salary cap crunch could open up a spot for him as soon as next year (2015-16). His window is closing rapidly, but he could still become a punishing physical NHL blueliner in the mold of Erik Gudbranson. He currently leads the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack in penalty minutes with 118. – Kevin Mizera