Day One at the Draft
The Edmonton Oilers enter day one of the Entry Draft with only one selection in the top 100. For a team with two bona fide NHLers in the last three drafts (Gagner and Cogliano) and at least four who look like the real deal (Nash, Petry, Peckham and Chorney) from the same crop perhaps there is no pressing need for additional picks.
Kevin Lowe is in both dailies and on the radio today saying that there have been about two dozen specific trade discussions and they may add one of two more picks.
History tells us that Lowe will do something today or tomorrow, even if it’s only a swap of picks. I think there’s a chance they deal Jarret Stoll today but there hasn’t been any specific talk I’ve read about in the last couple of days.
Lowe did speculate that Pitkanen would be here in the fall and that’s fine by me.
As for who they take at #22, I’m sticking with player in photo (Colby Robak) because the guy they really want (Eberle) will be gone by the time they reach the podium.
We’ve read enough from management in the last couple of days that it’s probably fair to go ahead and say that day 2 of the draft will be back to the Coke Machines. If they do end up adding a second round pick today that’ll probably be for a Coke Machine too.
The Oilers dealt Jason Chimera to move up and grab Geoff Paukovich a few years back, so it’s possible Jarret Stoll could be dealt for a second (and maybe another, later pick) or they may have found a home for JF Jacques or Marc Pouliot.
Either way, the draft is always fun. Things I’ll be watching closely include the Leafs trading their first round pick, Brian Burke thanking Kevin Lowe for Kyle Beach and the annual “wtf?” top 5 selection that has recently involved Blake Wheeler and Tom Hickey. My guess this season? Joshua Bailey.
Here are my predictions for the Oilers picks today:
- 22nd: Colby Robak (unless Eberle is still there)
- Added 2nd: AJ Jenks
I’ll be updating all day and if the Oilers make a deal it’ll be here. I also suggest NOTHING TO SEE HERE (click on right), Mirtle and Team 1260′s coverage starts today at 3PM.
Two final notes: we should probably prepare for the possibility EDM chooses a goalie. Bad asset management in a deep skill draft imo but Brownlee mentioned it as did Guy and they are connected.
Also, watch Toronto. Something tells me they are going to do something real and spectacular. They may end up moving down in the first round and it could be a blockbuster. No inside info (obviously), but the moment is right: Fletcher’s a riverboat gambler, they’d love to upstage Ottawa and freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.
Six of your top twenty left LT. Plus Gustafsson.
I think we’re going to get a good pick.
Grachev has Mikhnov written all over him.
No Niinimaki you all say.
No Marc Pouliot I say.
Six of your top twenty left LT. Plus Gustafsson.
Nah, I want Gustafsson (not in a Pierre way) too much for it to actually happen.
Cammalleri is a helluva player, he really is.
No doubt. I had him two years running in the office pool, so I’ve watched him a lot. Who knows. He’s quite dynamic and might click with a guy like Iginla.
DON’T BLOW IT, LOWE.
Lowe’s holding on. List is falling exactly the way we want it.
….as I feel a cold shudder echoing across Oilerdom.
We’re going off the board.
ok so if their list is falling to what they want he’s not going off the board, right?
Goalie!
Someone get Pierre a towel.
Gee, let’s bring 25 people up to the stage. Geesh!
It’s like the air pressure dropping before a storm…
Chet Pickard. say that fast 5 times.
i don’t think we want a goalie whose name rhymes with ‘shit picker’…
I’m now searching for photos of Yellow Horn and Grachev. Maybe it’ll be a hyphenated player like that guy who played for Atlanta this season. Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman.
Or that Chris From Bjork guy.
We’re going off the board.
*gulp*
Sbisa off the board. Yay!
Robak, Eberle, Tedenby remaining.
We’re going to get a good player.
Don’t go off MacKenzie’s board!
We’re going off the board.
*gulp*
If it’s for Gustafsson, that’s good.
If it’s for Colton Yellow Horn-Lavalle, not so much.
Cuma.
quick Kevin, call Slats and try to get another 1st rounder.
Sbisa sounds like Smid in his draft year.
I still think Lamoriello picks Eberle.
ok – two more picks
Eberle? Robak? Tedenby? DelZotto?
C’mon!
ooh she’s cute
Rangers will take Tedenby, NJD will take Eberle and we’ll get Morris Titanic.
Hello Sarah Orlesky, my name is Michael…
If Pierre hadn’t slammed it down our throats every 8 seconds that Del Zotto wasn’t picked yet…I would have missed his name completely.
Del-Zorro goes 20th. Which means we should get Eberle or Tedenby.
I wish Sam Gagner’s Mom were there.
Sara, Michael is like Beach – a good guy who does bad things. Stay away from him.
So Eberle or Tedenby, yes?
LT – did you see that Danish kid’s mom?
hubba hubba
LT: YES! What a MILF.
Really is a shame that Dad’s working for the Canucks now.
I wish Sam Gagner’s Mom were there.
Pics or it didn’t happen.
Sara, Michael is like Beach – a good guy who does bad things.
The cops were called but it’s all been way overblown.
What a team of 12-year olds. That’s like… the Harlem Globetrotters of timbits hockey.
Here comes Lou pulling his usual tricks.
Eberle could be ours!
Washington flips up. There goes Tedenby. Book it.
Geez, I thought they were going to say the Oilers.
Or the goalie?
I didn’t even know it was possible for Blogger comment threads to go to a second page.
Anyway, I’m totally feeling a midget Swede high-event defenseman. And I think the Oilers will pick one here, too.
bdhs: Caps have Varlamov and Neuvirth. They don’t need goaltending prospects.
Hey is that Sam Gagner? I swear I saw him (with a horrible mullet)!
There are some real ugly kids between 20 – 30, going by TSN’s page.
Who?
Talking about Oilers, dg.
Gustafsson. Huh.
Eberle and Robak and Tedenby OH MY!
Eberle and Robak and Tedenby OH MY!
Gustafsson gone.
Eberle available. Don’t fuck it up, Lowe.
Okay Oilers turn finally!
GAH! GUS! NO! 1 pick!
NO!
In place of this sentence, please insert in your mind a long string of words that LTs daughter should never read.
*(&^%&*())*)(&*&TH%E$W
And this is where we trade down.
Mike – looks like that same photog who did the Oilers’ pics in 06/07 – the bug eyed, big eared look
Washington, too, thought the Oilers would take Gustafsson
LT:
Disagree on Camm.
Secondly,
Who do you want? Say it now!
Lots of nice picks left – trade down a couple of spots for a third?
Oh I cant Wait.
“The Edmonton Oilers Select, from the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, Adam Comrie”
“And this is where we trade down.”
NO! There’s a 40-goal man from the fucking Dub within our grasp!
Don’t fuck this up!
Eberle or Tedenby, do it.
Wooohooo Anderson! Nice to see him there!
Glenn Anderson, you loveable spaceball!
WTF? We’re pulling a Washington and putting our superstar in the making forward up on the stage?
Okay. Whatever. Just pick Eberle.
I liked Anderson better before he became respectable. Maybe he’ll cut Bettman when he gets on the stage.
So I root for Cuma, thinking that it would land Gustafsson. It backfired.
*cries*
Samwise looks bigger. Thanks be to god.
Shut up Anderson. Make the fucking pick.
Oooh, this Eberle character apparently has a good wrist shot, just like 600 goal scorer Schremp!
This isn’t the Miss America pagent.
EBERLE!!!!!!!
Gagner is freaking me out.
YES!! FUCK YES!!
dg – its his lid
there you go – Eberle
Anyway, I’m totally feeling a midget Swede high-event defenseman. And I think the Oilers will pick one here, too.
Lord Bob, I just wanted to assure you that that didn’t go unnoticed.
Emotions. Anderson. A goal-scorer’s pick.
Hilarious Brick Tournament footage.
What are all these extremely easy on the eyes hockey moms I keep hearing about? Is it worth Pierre to fire up the feed on TSN?
His mom is checking your site on the blackberry to see the reaction LT.
Hey Gordon Miller, by the way, there’s no fucking relationship between the Oilers pick and the Ducks pick.
Good pick. 216 goals in novice plus the Mikhnov like footage.
Can’t miss, I say!
keeping the hyenas at bay: Kevin Lowe
Nice pick.
I just yelled out in joy.
From my office at work.
Eberle. He was in my top ten. Good times. Good fucking times.
Sincerely,
The guy who thought that Schremp was a sure thing, Plante was a brilliant pick, Riley Nash would be shipped to prospects camp in a box marked “Complete bust, handle with care”, and we would forever regret not taking Marek Schwarz.
The Oilers have been well under 6-0 since 2004 with their first round centers (Schremp, Cogliano, Gagner).
Nash the exception.
Now if that’s not a sign that NJ wanted Eberle…I don’t know what is. Lou trades down a second time.
uni – the Danish kid’s mom was a beauty
LT – Mrs. Gagner says ‘hi’ by the way. She wishes Sam would cut his hair but I like his new look.
Mrs. Gagner goes first overall in my mock’s.
I’m sure this is a great pick. But I firmly believe Tedenby is the best swedish talent since Zetterberg and is gonna be even better than Bäckström. Feels like he will end up in Wings and they get out of this draft extremly lucky.
Picking up the pieces of my shattered psyche, I guess I can deal with this Eberle fellow.
Hopefully he hastens sugar tits’ trip out of town.
Also, his nickname is now E-Dagger.
Never saw Gagner’s mom, and missed the Danish mom. But seeing Eberle smiling like Chestershire cat was worth installing Silverlight and getting the feed up.
I know nothing about the kid but I like him from that little snippet.
Those Brainiacs from the Hockey News
absolutely nailed the 22nd pick.
I’m happy with Eberle. He was the guy I wanted.
To all you draft junkies:
Who is the better player? Riley Nash or Jordon Eberle?
ANOTHER CENTER. Perhaps he is moved to wing.
Pierre nailed our pick also. I kinda feel bad about that, in that he’ll probably keep his job a little longer because of it.
Ohh no, Tedenby to NHL most boring team. I feel really bad for him right now. What a waste of talent.
PJ Oil: I don’t know the answer, but Nash has a wider range of skills which means there are more spots in the batting order you can play him.
Eberle’s a first baseman who can play LF and hit homers, Nash can help you at CF and play 3B, RF, LF and 1B along the defensive spectrum.
behind every good Pierre McGuire is a good Maggie the Monkey.
gary b:
If not for the fact that the Oilers picked the player I wanted, that comment would have made my day.
Thank you for that.
Is it time to cut ties to Eberle?
The organization is holding him back.
The Oilers can’t develop young finesse players.
They ruin them.
this is fun.
man, somebody drop a puck already!
Does Robak not scream Flames hockey?
Is it time to cut ties to Eberle?
The organization is holding him back.
The Oilers can’t develop young finesse players.
They ruin them.
No, but hopefully he allows them to cut ties with…
Oh. I see what you did there.
Eberle’s a first baseman who can play LF and hit homers, Nash can help you at CF and play 3B, RF, LF and 1B along the defensive spectrum.
That kind of talk does it for me every single time.
I mean…
What!?
Good pick by the Flames. Greg Nemicz has a HOT family.
Pierre is an ass – the Flames added Camallerri (who I like btw) – awesome, adds the offence etc.
no mention that Tanguay is gone.
Slipper: lol. Okay, okay. Nash could still have a career if the offense dries up, Eberle not so much.
lowetide said…
Mrs. Gagner goes first overall in my mock’s.
yeah but did you see those cumas.
i want to see Lowe elbow Burkie in the head on his way past the Ducks table.
islandlife:
Okay, but did you see the Nemicz’s? Hot mom AND sister. That’s a twofer.
Next year someone needs to scout the families.
OMG:
57. HARRI SATERI (G), Finland
LT: I call scouting the sisters.
What’s his mom look like?
DG:
I call scouting the girlfriends
Gary b:
Shut up. I don’t want anyone reading into him. I want the Oilers to steal him somehow. If it costs them Stoll and Torres, so be it.
pdo: You enjoy that. Most smart blondes know that in Canada, if you have a hockey player for a boyfriend, especially one that gets drafted in the first round, you get impregnated by him that very night.
Sisters however…aren’t usually like that, because there are laws.
Philadelphia gets some defensive help from Washington. Good trade.
DG:
Your first mistake, was assuming blondes are smart
Burke sure pulled some witchcraft today.
Turned a single first rounder into 3 picks under 40.
Burn him!
pdo: I know a couple. But you do have a point, especially when it comes to the type that date CHL boys. Those types however, are usually lose with the opening of legs. So my argument still applies.
A second Rusky in the first round? Better put Cherepanov on suicide watch after what he went through last year.
I wonder if Tikhnov will be the David Perron of this season’s draft.
LT:
You know, I never thought of that. But after hearing he passed through two drafts already, yeah. Sounds plausible.
“…Raffi gets comfortable on the sofa beside the phone…”
Mikhnov & Schremp to Atlanta for the 29th?
HAH!
Found another hot sister.
Detroit has a nice group of players to choose from at 30. Silly year.
DB:
I’m scouting them.
Hence no draft quite yet.
There goes the 1st round. Time to load up on Keiths and check occasionally to make sure no deal took place….
Detroit should just trade the 30th for two 3rds and a 4th.
Sew up the future.
Detroit drafts a goalie?
Shocker of the draft. And that includes Robak not getting into the first round.
Enjoyable first round. I really like what Phoenix did, Chicago got a lion and there has to be a half dozen kids who can make those bad rosters at the end of the standings.
Oilers need to make a deal tonight to pick up a second rounder early. Call LA.
Anyone want to go knock off the McCollum house with me? I know the way and I’m assuming nobody’s home tonight.
Thanks Bob Mackenzie.
Slipper: Sure. Shall we take your Learjet, or mine?
McKenzie was waxing poetic all over the place tonight. I think he’s trying to find a role for himself after Pierre uses every descriptive word in the English language after each selection.
TSN went 27/30.
LT:
If I were him, I’d just be trying to make sure none of the splatter left any stains on my clothes.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0010042008.html
Regina Stats.
Eberle lead the Pats in scoring as a 17 year old with 75 points. Next closest was 20 year old Tim Kraus with 59 points.
PDO: lol.
Now…I’m confused. John Tavares was drafted first in his year. Stamkos went 2nd.
Does the Tavares selection not count because he was underage?
A. They’re talking about the NHL draft, and B. Tavares isn’t, I don’t think, Macedonian-Canadian.
I don’t like the CBJ selection. They needed a defenseman.
Is an 18-year-old defenceman going to solve anything for them, though? They need to get into the playoffs this year, I think, or the natives are going to be even more restless than they already are.
How come every single guy has a comp like Gordie Howe or Paul Coffey?
I’m waiting for “He reminds me a lot of Brad Winchester” or “He’s the next Ryan Sittler”
Is a first-rounder really going to be compared stylistically to a fourth-line grinder and an oft-injured bust? It’s a stylistic comparison, not a statistical one.
These combines are dumb. What does a guy’s vertical have to do with his ability to play hockey.
It’s an index of leg muscle power, i.e. one’s ability to generate force over a short time. Important for power skating, that first stride, etc.
Shut up Anderson. Make the fucking pick.
Fun fact: I actually met Lorne Davis once, at a Red and White game a couple of years ago. Talked hockey during an intermission. Nice guy; wish I could’ve met him again; not every day you get to talk shop with a Stanley Cup-winning player and scout.
The guy who thought that…Plante was a brilliant pick
Give the kid time. I swear, he’ll be better next year.
doogie – wouldn’t you love to see it though? The Ducks’ pick bears a a passing resemblance to Jason Bonsignore as a player.
It makes me laugh a little, the hype. Teenagers and each one is a sure bet Hall of Famer.
As for vertical leap as an indicator for skating, maybe they could do something revolutionary and watch him, um, skate?
As for vertical leap as an indicator for skating, maybe they could do something revolutionary and watch him, um, skate?
They already have, obviously. These are also standardized tests so that teams know in advance where these kids’ strengths and weaknesses are from a pure physical standpoint, so that teams can make borderline decisions, or have data available for their strength and conditioning coach to work with later. Besides, if they find that someone has high explosive power at the combine, but a mediocre first couple of strides, that could indicate a technique problem, which can also be addressed.
Combine tests aren’t a perfect indicators for many reasons, but they do serve a clear purpose.