With captain Shawn Horcoff currently wearing the number 10 on the Edmonton Oilers, fans will likely have to wait a few years before seeing Nail Yakupov wearing his junior number in Oiler silks. That being said, the highly skilled Russian winger will do just fine with whatever number he decides to put under his name bar.

PHOTO CREDIT - NHL.com

Windsor - June 22, 2012 - What’s in a number? Let’s take a look at the junior numbers of the top five picks in tonight’s NHL Entry Draft and see if they have a chance to wear their familiar number in the big league.

With captain Shawn Horcoff currently wearing the number 10 on the Edmonton Oilers, fans will likely have to wait a few years before seeing Nail Yakupov wearing his junior number in Oiler silks. That being said, the highly skilled Russian winger will do just fine with whatever number he decides to put under his name bar...especially playing alongside three of the games best young players in Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected defenceman Ryan Murray from the Everett Silvertips from the Western Hockey League. Murray who has been compared to Mark Howe wore number 27 in junior. Currently, prospect Martin St. Pierre has been assigned 27, so it may be possible to see Murray get his number.

Alex Galchenyuk work number 94 for the black and gold of the Sarnia Sting. Currently, there is no player on the Montreal Canadiens who wears this number, so look for Galchenyuk to done his familiar 94.

Former goaltender of the Cornwall Aces, Garth Snow used the fourth overall pick to pluck Griffin Reinhart from the Edmonton Oil Kings. Reinhart wore number 8 for the Western Hockey League Champions and no current NHLer wears this number on Long Island. Prospect Ryan Strome has been assigned this number.

With the fifth pick overall, Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Canadian defenceman Morgan Reilly from the Moose Jaw Warriors. It is unlikely that Cody Franson will give up number four to Reilly, however number 44 is available. Reilly is often compared to Penguins’ Kris Letang.

While it is still very early to speculate on what number these young players will wear, I find it fun to speculate on what might be available.