The draft represents both closure and renewal. The ‘harvest moon’ posts come at the end of the draft, usually late afternoon and sometimes in the evening. The sun shines into my room when I’m writing the harvest moon post, it’s easily my favourite.
It’s a beautiful night on the day it ends, kind of like when harvest is done and the long work of spring to fall finally produces a good crop. That’s why I call it harvest moon.
The year is 2007. The Oilers have drafted three men in the first round and some interesting names later. Read on, friend.
THE ATHLETIC!
The Athletic Edmonton features a fabulous cluster of stories (some linked below, some on the site). Great perspective from a ridiculous group of writers and analysts. Proud to be part of The Athletic, check it out here.
- New Jonathan Willis: How Edmonton could have left 2010 draft with both Taylor Hall and Ryan Johansen
- New Lowetide: Kailer Yamamoto’s NHL comparables offer Oilers fans hope for the future
- Lowetide: Top 20 prospect update: A lot of movement and some impressive graduations
- Lowetide: Mavrik Bourque a quality option for the Oilers in the draft
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Inside the franchise-altering decision to pick Leon Draisaitl over Sam Bennett
- Lowetide: Adam Larsson’s Oilers future uncertain as ‘sexy’ options emerge
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: One-on-one with Wayne Gretzky: On the time he visited Moscow during the Cold War
- Jonathan Willis and Lowetide: Discount forward options the Oilers could pursue in free agency
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘Oh my God, Edmonton’s picking first’: An oral history of the 2015 NHL draft lottery
- Lowetide: Comparison of Oilers, Flames drafts 2010-19 closer than it should be
- Lowetide: The most potent lines in Oilers history
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: On the time Dave Semenko fought Muhammad Ali
- Lowetide: Why Jan Mysak could be a value pick for the Oilers at the 2020 Draft
- Jonathan Willis: The Oilers overcame malice in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to join the NHL
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Remembering Jacques Plante’s brief tenure with the Oilers at age 45
- Lowetide: Oilers need to find (or get) real value in William Lagesson
Harvest Moon 2007
I saw Kevin Lowe on television a few times today, he didn’t look like he was having fun. Too bad really, when you consider it’s extremely unlikely he’ll be back next season at the helm of the Oilers.
The day began with the usual spin about big deals ahead (“Oilers close on a couple of fronts”) but sputtered for obvious reasons (the Oilers CAN trade Staios, but they need to trade for someone better in return. No one wants to do that, since there are free agents straight ahead one week into the future).
The draft started well. With Voracek and Gagner on the board, Edmonton chose well with Sam Gagner: I like him because he can take and make a pass at high speed and makes good decisions with the puck. I could tell you how MUCH I like him if you would give me his ATOI totals. No matter, I like the pick.
At 15, the Oilers went back to two old chestnuts: SAW HIM GOOD and DRAFT FOR NEED. You just KNEW they’d take a defenseman with the second pick even if Christ Almighty was available up front.
I talked to Guy Flaming earlier today and he mentioned Alex Plante at 15 (he really did, I’m not making this up). Guy mentioned a nice size, decent speed package with skill and that he didn’t get beaten much one on one. I think Plante is a classic example of draft for need, an Edmonton Oilers tradition that dates back several years.
The draft up to that point was somewhat controversial but you could defend the decisions. However, by paying a supreme price (30+36) and trading up for a future role player in Riley Nash I believe the Oilers wasted assets that should cost someone their job.
All we’ve heard about this draft is that the picks from 15-50 are interchangeable and it seems to me that if you’re going to trade up it should be for a Mikael Backlund or David Perron. Losing two early picks in a draft that resembles 2002 made zero sense. Buffalo got Jochen Hecht for the 31 and 36 picks in 2002, Edmonton gave up 30 and 36 for the chance at a guy who should have been available at 36.
No. 6 overall RHC Sam Gagner. Nice range of skills: creative, terrific playmaker, good skater, can take and make a pass and make plays in traffic. I saw him take a terrific hit at the WJC’s and he got right back into the play. Scouts have said he can play well without the puck but we can also guess he’ll need work in that area. Played in the USHL and this was his rookie OHL season. Gagner’s points per game at age 17 (2.23) is exceptional, but we need to temper expectations for the same reasons Schremp’s numbers needed to have some air taken out of them (Schremp’s 17-year old ppg was 1.15 btw). Lots of ice time for London Knights. I don’t think the Oilers will move him along as quickly as they did Hemsky, but he’s the most talented forward they’ve drafted since Hemsky in 2001. ISS comparable: Marc Savard.
No. 15 overall RD Alex Plante. Alex Plante is a big kid (6-3.5, 225 according to ISS) who has a variety of skills. The Oilers should have taken Cherepanov. Even if he never played for them, the “asset” would have had more value (and quicker return) than young Plante. Redline: Alex Plante has come a long way since the beginning of the season. At 6-4/215-pounds, he showed surprising offensive skills, particularly on the PP, where he can act as either trigger man or quarterback. He’s not a big baggage smasher, but will use his body in front and to tie forwards up along the walls. ISS comparable: Kyle McLaren.
No. 21 overall RC Riley Nash. Most of the comments I’ve seen since the completion of the first round have had to do with passing on Cherepanov and Esposito. As much as I can agree it was an oversight, the real crime by the Oilers in the first round was giving up picks at #30 and #36 for the pick that brought them Nash. I like what Redline wrote about him: A really well schooled, all-around player who can play it any way you want. Big, raw, naturally athletic kid who can skate, shoot and pass. Also likes to get his nose dirty and really carried his club down the stretch. ISS comparable: Patrick Eaves.
No. 97 overall LW Linus Omark. Omark is small, 5-9. That’s Bobby Sheehan territory. Scouting report: A flashy player with first-class technical skills and hands. Very creative player with good hockey sense and natural scoring ability. Defense is okay, although it can be fine-tuned. The Oilers have had success drafting overage players both in Europe (Markkanen, Haakana, Pisa, Luoma) and in North America (Brodziak, Syvret, Roy).
No. 127 LC Milan Kytnar. Reliable two-way center plays hard every shift. Great hand-eye, anticipates well, coachable. Strong skater with a minus first step, good hands and size. Accurate passer, can shadow his man. Good playmaker who sees the ice well. (Source: ISS). According to today’s Journal, the Oilers selected one of the Euro’s on day 2 because Kent Nilsson was passionate about him. This is probably the most depressing thing I’ve heard in a year.
No. 157 L William Quist. Raw. A project.
Quick note: I hope you enjoyed the 2007 harvest moon post. Now, a spoiler: It was several posts that I threw together for you. Every word appeared on this blog, and the overall thrust is the same (I didn’t add in Perron’s name, as an example, it was there) but this is the first exposure for the 2007 harvest moon.
2020 ENTRY DRAFT
Bruce Garrioch from the Ottawa Sun has the latest on the 2020 entry draft, looks like a decision will come soon.
My April list is here and the final ranking will be published June 1 (as it is every year). Here’s a reasonable mock for Edmonton.
No. 20 overall: LC Connor Zary, WHL. He is an older prospect (September 2001) so his offensive (NHLE: 37) potential is more clearly defined than some of the younger available players. That said he’s a two-way center who has bona fide skill. Steve Kournianois: Zary is an above-average skater in terms of straight-line speed and agility, but he is among the best in his class when it comes to balance, as he stays on his skates and can absorb punishing hits. Playmaking is just one of his distinguishable assets, as he can deliver precision passes from either his forehand or backhand. Strong and well-balanced, Zary displays deceptive quickness and requires only two or three strides to accelerate to top speed and become an open-ice threat.
No. 82 overall: LD Yan Kuznetsov (NCAA). I missed him early but have marked him now. Kuznetsov is a teenager in the NCAA, a big man with shutdown ability and at least some offensive chops. He went 2-9-11 for UCONN in 34 games, that’s a 10.2 NHLE. He’s a kid, turning 18 in March, in a league that employs men in their 20’s on the front lines. Ken Holland doesn’t draft much from Russian lists, but I think Kuznetsov might be worth the risk.
No. 144 overall: LC Daniel Ljungman, Linkoping (SuperElite). Emerged at the Hlinka-Gretzky and scored well in the SuperElite league. He has a terrific shot.
No. 175 overall: LC Joe Carroll (OHL). Big center who was eligible a year ago went on a scoring spree late in the year and is worth a draft and follow.
No. 206 overall: LW Emil Heineman (SuperEite). He is not highly rated but is a first time eligible (November 2001) who scored 26 goals in 29 games in the SuperElite league. Plus skater, scores goals. Sign me up.
Of course it is okay to disagree that the League might deploy this strategy, but DEFMN’s idea is viable considering all the other weird things–like contracts possibly extending beyond July 1–that will be happening.
Your original stance was that it was impossible, glad to see you’ve come around.
For sure – talk about whatever you want.
I don’t log in and post specifically to bitch about the topics that don’t interest me, I just skim and skip and move on looking for hockey talk.
Yes, of course, however, things that change the current CBA will be agreed to among the NHLPA and the Board of Governors and I don’t think this trade scenario will be one.
I don’t see an agreement in place that provides that a team can trade a player for a draft pick, make the pick and continue to use the player for the rest of the season.
I’m sure (well, confident) his game will improve but am not so sure about his faceoffs.
Ribs,
Agree 100%. This blog is much more than just hockey…as is life…
Purse swinging. Not welcomed!
I love the Oilers talk but enjoy the side stuff the same amount (okay, maybe even more) when it comes to this place. In a perfect world we’d have comments about anything and everything in our every day threads. There is a quality quotient when it comes to comments on this blog that is unmatched to anywhere that I have witnessed. To suppress that in any way would be a crime.
There’s the general consensus that we read LT’s excellent write-ups every day and I imagine we usually come to many of the same conclusions. We quibble and confirm and spur on secondary conversations, but we are mostly settled in. It’s fair game from there!
Oilers news? Welcomed!
Timely updates from the wide world of sports? Welcomed!
Important world or local news? Welcomed!
Wild stories from the past (sports related or not!) ? Welcomed!
Recipes for great food or drinks? Welcomed!
Updates on family situations or celebrations? Welcomed!
Recommendations on anything thought highly of? Welcomed!
Lengthy wildly artistic posts that make us look up several words to help us understand? Welcomed!
Rambling lists of statistics that likely only mean anything of substance to the author? Welcomed!
Anything hockey, Oilers, Edmonton/Alberta, or sports in general? Welcomed!
Pimp your warez? Welcomed (if a regular commenter)!
I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch, but this blog has always had a very healthy community setting and my opinion is that we should try to continue this practice as long as possible 🙂
Holland has been doing Sather levels of improvement to this formerly moribund Buffalo Sabres 2020 style team. For example, no more does anyone say McDavid wants out. Nowhere else to get a better complimentary centre lol
Holland still has work to do to clean up the mess left behind, but he’s been very good so far. If a compliance buyout allows the team to jettison Neal and a buyer found for Russell, then we are in good shape.
Only significant holes IMHO are 3C with wheels and 1bG. Those are not impossible holes to fill. We scrapped by with Sheahan but he’s a 4/5C and barely keeping up with his wheels. I do appreciate his PK work though. Smith was wonderful and awful, sometimes in the same game, but the awful stretches will get longer every year until these are the entire year. Don’t want any part of that risk going forward. Those were the most worrisome bets that went OK last year, but I’m not inclined to roll the dice again. Need better players at 3C with wheels and 1bG to keep improving, and Holland has both more time and less pressing needs going forward.
It wouldn’t be the same without an extended purse swinger between OP & HH.
This may well be true but the guy is 28. I’m not sure how much more growth we can expect from him in any area.
I actually think he will improve significantly if he has time to train in what ever the off-season becomes. He needs to get NHL strong to compete along the wall and not get pushed around so much. You don’t understand how much stronger you need to be until you play against NHers every night. He has good speed and enough talent to make a difference but needs to get stronger to win battles.
You always put it so much more succinctly than I manage.
Nom nom nom
Well, in four years he’ll be as old as Rafferty is now and he’s a can’t miss 2nd pairing guy….
Now 6th on the LD depth chart.
How long do I have to wait?
There’s a few things that will be happening that are not covered by, or will directly contradict the CBA.
Trades for future considerations are fairly common. That is what these would be.
I know that trades are not final until vetted and approved by the league but that has nothing to do with the CBA and its relationship with the PA. It is an internal rule dictated by the league that the clubs are required to adhere to.
There is nothing in your response that I can see that corroborates your initial assertion that my suggestion abrogates the conditions of the CBA.
Whether or not Gary would dictate it or not was just my shorthand for the BOG making the decision to proceed in this way since for all intents and purposes their decisions are made public by Gary and usually following on his recommendations according to media reports.
The CBA does not provide for a part of a trade to be consummated in the future.
Trades are not final until they are filed with the league and approved/verified.
Where does the CBA speak to how trades have to be conducted?
You won’t get an argument from me. I’ve said the same things myself.
Would you like to add something to conversation about the Oilers or even hockey or even sports?
I wonder if bragging about the drug induced life is known as mature adult or childish behavior?
In any even, I’ll continue to speak about Oilers related topics on the Oilers-centric blog.
Thank you.
Hitting players in later rounds shows just how valuable picks are and how the implication that the flames couldn’t care less about a 3rd round pick is really silly.
Not really – it goes against the current provisions of the CBA so would need to be an agreement by the two sides and not something Gary dictates. I don’t think he’d dictate it in any event (that’s just my opinion).
At least one of them has mentioned having children.
I’m sure you’d admit that having kids doesn’t make someone immune to immature behaviour.
Just wait until Samorukov makes you eat those words. Kids going to have a better NHL career than joulevi or valimaki and yes even Groban Taffery
More petulant childish behaviour from these two FREQUENTLY posting visitors to this space who I am positing don’t have kids themselves.
Just to add..the last third round pick the Oilers “hit” on was Jujar Khaira…eight years ago.
If he were to be traded you might get a third round pick for him.
Quite likely he could easily be replaced by a NCAA free agent or European signing.
That Bear and Jones were picked in the 5th and 6th round proves how much of a crap shoot it is…not how good the scouts are or they would have been picked sooner.
So with the Hass signing I wonder if Holland continues to scour the European leagues and tweeners in the AHL to create competition at training camp like he did last year or was that a strategy he followed due to lack of familiarity with the roster?
Just how does Holland’s history show him to approach summer signings?
Anybody know?
They will if Gary tells them it is the only way it will work.
Totally agree.
Why not?
Its evening time, I’ve put in a great day of lawyering and a couple great workouts and now am looking to real about and talk some hockey – not a ton of actual hockey talk (50 comments now – many of them non-hockey).
I’d rather have this conversation than read about recipes or studies on Covid (which I get elsewhere), etc.
I got that and i don’t think it will work.
A team that trades away a pick to grab a live player is not going to allow that player to continue to play for another organization – injury risk, etc.
I’m still quote confident they want the 3rd round pick.
I’m also quite confident that former flame 3rd round pick Adam Fox will hit the 100 game threshold shortly.
If nothing else, they could likely flip that 3rd round pick for a 6th round pick to try and draft another Norwegian-Gretzky or Mangiapane.
Likely – although at less than 43% on the faceoff dot, I’m not sure that means much.
I don’t anticipate he’ll improve much either – I recall an interview with him in the summer and he professed to no being great at faceoffs but had worked very hard at it and improved to be decent.
No, indeed there are hits along the way but, if you’re looking for NHL help within a reasonable time frame, there are a few other avenues to consider that can be more productive.
See Haas and Nygaard for local reference.
Wailing over a lost third round pick hardly moves the needle.
????
OriginalPouzar,
Haha. I guess that answers my questions of whether his skill advantage stayed with him as he moved up in competition.
Are you sure it’s his hand he is aiming for? 😉
The pickings are slim but the 5 year cutoff is a bit disingenuous. For 2nd round and later draft picks it would be normal for them to have one more year of junior followed by 3 years of AHL time leaving them one season in the league to acquire their 100 games.
Go back to 2010 and look again. Nobody loses sleep over a 3rd round pick – well, maybe some here do 😉 – but it isn’t the wasteland you are claiming it to be.
Why do you keep feeding him?
He will only continue to bite your hand….
Maybe I wasn’t clear. The trade is announced as ‘future considerations’ for the draft pick. Nobody but the two GM’s know what the future consideration is as it is buried in a sealed envelope in the safe at the league’s office to be announced when the season is over. So all players who are traded are not aware they have been traded and the date of their trade is not until the season is finished.
Whether or not teams can actually keep those secrets is another story but theoretically the only people who need to know the details are the two GM’s and either Bettman or Bill Daly.
Pettersson is a Flames draft pick, not a UFA. They are the same player.
In the last 5 drafts the number of third round picks that have played 100 games is a total of THREE.
There are more productive fishing spots.
Swedish UFA forward Mathis Brome signs with Detroit.
I’m quite confidant they would very much want the third round pick no matter who else they’ve signed.
As a rival fan, I’m not concerned about any of these distant bell signings – prove it in the NHL and then I’ll give kudos.
Thanks for the lack of context.
Both players are legit prospects.
I don’t think this will work.
If a trade is consummated at the draft, I don’t think a player traded will continue to be eligible to play for his current team (and, of course, couldn’t play for the acquiring team).
For example, if the Oilers trade Chiasson to Washington for a late pick – Chiassor wouldn’t be able to play for either team.
It will be all but a no-trade event (well except for picks and non-roster players like Puljujarvi).
I do note that he’s one of only two minus players on his team and the only minus player in the top 15 in scoring.
Not worth much but about as news-worth on an Oilers blog as the flames signing their 2018 6th rounder who will move from Denver to Stockton….
I think both players are really good bets to improve their first season in NA. Kudos to them for beating out NHL vets like Granlund, Jurco and AHL guys like Currie, Malone and Gambardella to make the Oilers.