The Oilers would have been worse.
Hall is still the better player, and he's also the more committed professional.
Seguin's immaturity and off ice issues would have been magnified in Edmonton.
I was sitting on the fence between the two leaning towards Hall until I saw the Oil Change episode too. Leading up to that all I heard was how smooth Seguin was in the media and how awkward Hall was. I loved Hall's answers in his interviews and I was very uncomfortable with Seguin's answers. I got the feeling that Hall wanted to be an Oiler and Seguin wanted to be drafted first overall. It could have just been the way it was edited but that was the feeling I got. I was relieved when the Oilers went with Hall.
Now with having the benefit of hindsight I wonder how impactful Seguin would have been here. His problems in Boston were well documented. Would he be the driver of this team that Hall is or would his off ice behavior in this fish bowl market been too much for him? He's a great player but I'm not sure he would have been here.
I am a Bruins fan and an Oilers fan and i can tell you that...with certainty...the atmosphere of the Bruins team is alot different than the atmosphere that Horcoffs Oilers had. I think Horcoff did a good job and the Bruins played roullette after hours.
If i could do it again, id still try hard to take both Seguin and Hall. People like to knock on Horcoff but i would be of the mind that Horcoff in charge of the entry level boys would have seen less of the Boston rediculousness. Boston is also a completely different world than Edmonton. Boston is sports insanity, like Chicago, and they are a party town. I havent been to any place in the world that feels like Boston.
Personally i feel if Edmonton had taken Seguin...and Hall... BOSTON DOESNT WIN CUP IN 2011....which sucks double for me since Vancouver would have likely won (my most hated team even prior to the cup final) AND my Bs wouldnt have won. AND Seguin would be a different person. Hall is the player that best fit the Bruins...Seguin, Eberle and Hemsky (rumored parts to a deal) never did/would have fit.
All and all i am happy seguin was a bruin. Won a cup in 2011 while punching the sedins faces. Made vancouver riot. Put it in Torontos faces. Edmonton selected RNH (with the pick that was rumored as part of package for seguin), and could have had RJ.
It all worked out for the best.
The only thing i respect Tambo for was going hard for second high picks...going hard for seguin...and going hard for RJ.
In other news...
Dallas has worked their management butt off to make a rediculous team. :O (it helps when guys like Spezza approve trades to go to your city)