Oilers Defensive Prospects Among Best in the CHL.

Martin Marincin

Just a quick stats run-down on some of the Oilers' defensive prospects from the 2010 draft:

Martin Marincin (2nd round, 46th overall)
The 18-year old is actually a rookie in the WHL playing for the Prince George Cougars. He's currently the leading scorer on his team, and has put up 11-32-43 in 42 games, good for 3rd in the WHL. What's more amazing is that he's only a 2nd round selection, and an 18-year old playing in his first year of North American hockey.
Some scouts around the league have suggested he may be hands down the best defenseman in the league, great praise considering there are 20-year old defensemen playing in the WHL. At 6'4, and only 187lb, he's got a ton of growth left to do, and once he can physically mature, it should help transition his already solid 2-way game to the next level.

Jeremie Blain

Jeremie Blaine (4th round, 91st overall)
After starting the season off with a foot injury and missing 28 games, the 6'2, 195lb Blain has come back and been a star for the Acadie-Bathurst Titans. 19-11-0-0 without him, they've gone 13-3-0-1 since his return. He's been an offensive force, pitching in 1-19-20 in 20 games. The point/game clip is good for best in the QMJHL, a position he shares with 13th overall selection Brandon Gormley. He's playing top-unit minutes for the Titans right now, and is starting to look like another great find by Stu MacGregor.

Brandon Davidson (6th round, 162nd overall)
Probably someone who the Oilers would have never noticed if not for scouting Jordan Eberle last year, Davidson has really stepped it up this year for the Regina Pats. A 6'4, 195lb force, he's playing in only his 2nd season in the WHL, and has 6-26-32 in 46 games, good for 13th in the WHL. He's 3rd on the Pats in scoring, and tops for defensemen. He's lauded for his great break-out pass, and dependable 2-way play. He's already on the top pairing in Regina, and has been very impressive for a 6th round selection.

Given where these players have picked and how they've performed, I think the Oilers have done a pretty good job transitioning from a team with horrible defensive scouting to one with the ability to find steals in the later rounds (Petry, Marincin, etc). It's still hard to say how they project without seeing them play in at least the AHL - but it's hard not to get excited looking at their numbers.