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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Drafted No. 1 | 2011 NHL Draft Picks

Shea Matthews weighs in with his 2011 NHL draft summary, results, sleepers and top picks. The 2011 NHL Draft is officially in the books. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins went No. 1, here are the grades…

2011 NHL Draft Results – Draft Recap – Sleepers – Best Picks

Over the last decade, few pro sports leagues have been as predictable in the first round of drafts as the NHL. But the 2011 draft class was considered both weak and deep.

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As a result, player values fluctuated wildly from team to team and the first round unfolded differently than we expected.

Here’s a recap of the top 10 plus some of the hits and misses.

THE TOP 10

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Red Deer (WHL)

The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. By the Edmonton Oilers’ logic, the key to a championship is picking two top-three forwards in different draft years. They arguably got the most talented guy in the draft with Nugent-Hopkins and he’ll make for an exciting tandem with Taylor Hall for years to come.

2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Kitchener (OHL)

Colorado was already strong up the middle with Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny but needed to right the wrong of trading top winger Chris Stewart away. Gabriel Landeskog’s ceiling may not be infinite but he looks like he could be an above-average regular with natural leadership ability right away

3. Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau, C-LW, Saint John (QMJHL)

Kudos to Florida for understanding its team needs. In Jacob Markstrom and Erik Gudbranson, it already had future pillars at goaltender and defense. The Panthers needed to swing for the fences and pick a dynamic offensive player; Huberdeau was that guy.

4. New Jersey Devils: Adam Larsson, D, Skelleftea (SEL)

Looks like the endless Nick Lidstrom comparisons will now become endless Scott Niedermayer comparisons. The Devils were no doubt ecstatic to get Larsson at No. 4 when most scouts had him no lower than second.

5. New York Islanders: Ryan Strome, C, Niagara (OHL)

I guess the Isles will look to free agency for defensive help? Strome is a hot offensive prospect for sure but you’d think the Isles would change it up after using so many first-rounders on forwards in recent years.

6. Ottawa Senators: Mike Zibanejad, C, Djurgarden (SEL)

Bit of a reach here? Zibanejad has solid upside and the Sens’ logic was probably that they could afford some risks since they had several first-round picks.

7. Winnipeg Jets: March Scheifele, C, Barrie (OHL)

We’re at pick No. 7 and Dougie Hamilton still hasn’t gone? Sheesh. Did scouts not have Scheifele ranked 16th among North Americans? I guess the word of his junior coach, Winnipeg Jets legend Dale Hawerchuk, is worth a lot. [ad-4437448]

8. Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

With Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn and James Van Riemsdyk to build around and an aging defense, you’d think the Flyers would pick Hamilton. But, instead, they grabbed high-ceilinged center Sean Couturier. Feels like this was a PR move to appease anyone worrying the Flyers’ forward corps was toast after the Carter and Richards trades.

9. Boston Bruins: Dougie Hamilton, D, Niagara (OHL)

How much more can fall into one team’s lap? The Boston Bruins were already celebrating a Cup win, not to mention, smiling after grabbing Tyler Seguin second overall last year, and a guy I personally ranked fifth was still available to them at ninth.

10. Minnesota Wild: Jonas Brodin, Farjestad (SEL)

Brodin projects to be a solid NHLer but I haven’t heard any scouts talk him up as a potential No. 1 defenseman. Shouldn’t Minnesota have used its top pick on a guy with higher upside?

BEST PICK

I really liked Florida taking a chance on Huberdeau at third overall. Many scouts had him ranked below a few guys picked after him but Dale Tallon and the Panthers new exactly what they needed and went after it.

WORST PICK

There was just so much more talent on the board than what Jonas Brodin could offer Minnesota at 10th overall.

BIGGEST STEAL

While Larsson could one day be viewed as a steal even at fourth, I have to go with Boston’s gleeful selection of Dougie Hamilton at No. 9. Is there any scout out there that didn’t project him as an eventual top-two NHL defenseman?

BIGGEST REACH

Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Winnipeg. I don’t care what Hawerchuk says. According to scouts, the guy you drafted at seventh overall may not have even been a first-round talent.

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By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.