TAYLOR HALL

Widely regarded as the top young player in the game today, Hall is a gifted forward who is known for his incredible speed and deft scoring touch.

The Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires drafted him second overall in 2007, and he stayed with the club for three seasons.

He won several individual awards while he was there, including the OHL and Canadian Hockey League rookie-of-the-year awards.

Hall, 18, led the Spitfires to two consecutive Memorial Cup titles, and was twice named MVP of that tournament.

He laced up for Canada at the world under-18 championship in 2008, and helped his team win a gold medal. He also helped the team win the title at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia.

Hall played for Canada at last season’s world junior championship in Saskatchewan, scoring an average of two points a game. He was the third overall scorer in the tournament and helped lead the team to a silver medal.

Leading up to the draft, there was much debate about who would be selected first –Hall or Ryan Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers.

The players competed against each other in the OHL, tying for top spot in the scoring race last season with 106 points each. But they get along well and have even agreed not to criticize each other in the media.

Hall’s father, Steve, played in the Canadian Football League in the 1980s and went on to become a member of the Canadian national bobsleigh team.