Have you ever seen a complete draft list from an NHL team? They sometimes shake loose and surprise the hell out of people, not just for the ranking but also for names not on the list.
THE ATHLETIC!
Great perspective from a ridiculous group of writers and analysts. I am proud to be part of The Athletic. Here are the most recent Oilers stories.
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: A look at 5 questions facing the Oilers midway through their first week of camp
- New Lowetide: Zack Kassian’s role on Oilers top line must include responsible play
- Lowetide: What should Oilers fans expect from Connor McDavid in the playoffs?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Oilers observations: Connor McDavid shines, Caleb Jones MIA and more
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers get good cap news: Long-term outlook is tight but workable
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ approach to Russians at the draft? Trust but verify
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Mike Green’s opt-out isn’t ideal, but Oilers defence should manage without him
- Lowetide: Joakim Nygard’s Oilers season reveals speedster with range of skills
- Lowetide: Dave Tippett’s postseason strategy against the Blackhawks
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Oilers notebook: Bear’s contract quandary, Broberg’s mini camp, bubble goalies
- Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi’s comparables suggest a possible future with Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: Every Oilers AHL prospect rated by how close they are to the NHL
- Lowetide: Setting the record straight on Oilers prospect Cooper Marody’s future
- Lowetide: Tough decisions face Oilers’ Ken Holland as cap forces painful choices
- Lowetide: How Oilers winger Kailer Yamamoto can increase his value
- Lowetide: Everything you forgot (but need to know) about Oilers’ 2019-20 season
- Lowetide: Injury is biggest factor in the Oilers’ hopes for extended playoff run
- Lowetide: Tyler Benson’s struggle to score might affect future role with Oilers
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s second Oilers draft should deliver high-octane offence
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘It’s all surreal’: Kevin Lowe’s Hall of Fame nod nets surprise and satisfaction
- Lowetide: 10 things to look for at Oilers training camp and the 2020 playoffs
The Montreal Canadiens had part of the team list leak (looks like Philip Broberg was No. 13 overall) last year at the draft, but the 2010 Vancouver Canucks list remains the gold standard on what teams are looking (and not looking) for at a draft. Here are the picks that raised an eyebrow back in the day for this blog’s author:
St. Louis drafted Jaden Schwartz No. 14 overall, Vancouver had him No. 38. Schwartz more than covered the bet and has played over 500 NHL games with the Blues, who won Stanley in 2019. Schwartz led the Blues in playoff goals with 12.
Buffalo drafted Mark Pysyk No. 23 overall, Canucks had him No. 50. Pysyk has enjoyed a successful NHL career, playing in 417 games and moving up to forward at times this past season.
San Jose drafted Charlie Coyle No. 28 overall, Vancouver listed him No. 78. Coyle has played 570 NHL games.
New York Islanders drafted Brock Nelson No. 30 overall, Cancucks ranked him No. 63. Nelson has played 548 NHL games and has scored 20 or more goals five times.
Who did Vancouver prefer? Defenseman Julian Melchiori was ranked No. 23 by Vancouver, he went No. 85 to Atlanta. He played 30 NHL games. Mathieu Corbiel-Theriault was ranked No. 24 and was drafted No. 102 by Columbus. He did not play in the NHL. Vancouver ranked U.S. High School defenseman Patrick McNally No. 26 overall and were no doubt thrilled to get him with their first pick in the draft (No. 115 overall). He did not play in the NHL.
It would be easy to rip Vancouver’s scouts, but it’s likely they placed a bunch of guys near the end of their first round that represented their target list. The other men were there because it’s possible for a player to fall in a draft, but in all honesty the Canucks list is a guess on the industry’s opinion as opposed to a list created with real hope in landing a player in that range. McNally is about No. 3 on their list of possibles.
THE 20 BEST PLAYERS NOT ON BOB MCKENZIE’S LIST
Every year players go under the radar and every year teams get exceptional value from players outside the accepted group of draft-eligible prospects. I love McKenzie’s list but it doesn’t project teenagers perfectly. Mitchell Moroz was ranked No. 56 overall, Ethan Bear was not ranked. Here are the 20 best players in the 2020 NHL draft not listed on McKenzie’s rankings.
1 RW Connor McClennon, Winnipeg Ice (WHL). I have him No. 44 overall, that’s mid-second round. He scored 21 goals in 42 WHL games and is a June 2002. He’s 5.09, 145 shots in those 42 games and 15 even-strength goals.
2 LW Veeti Miettinen, Espoo (Jr Liiga). Similar story to McClennon, small winger with great skill. He is a September 2001, so a little older but he’s a pure scorer.
3 LW Pavel Novak, Kelowna Rockets (WHL). Speedster with skill, he’s a scorer. He’s a little bigger than the first two names, he scored 25 goals in 55 games. Red Line loves him, called Novak a speed demon.
4 LW Oskar Magnusson, Malmo (SuperElite). Smaller winger good speed and two-way acumen, he can also play center and has a plus shot. I like his year over year improvement (19 to 48 points in SuperElite) and he’s a January 2020. I’m way out in front, so maybe there’s something I’m missing but the scouting report looks complete. The four men listed here are all ranked in the second round on my list.
5 RW Owen Pederson, Winnipeg Ice (WHL). We finally get to a bigger player (6.03, 188) on my list. Pederson scored 28 goals in 61 games. He has some range (can play center, two-way type) but speed isn’t a strength.
6 RD Michael Benning, Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL). Impressive skills (fine skater, excellent passer). He’s undersized but plays an effective defensive game. The lead story here is the young man with the puck on his stick. I think he’s worth a late second, earl third round pick.
7 LW Kyle Crnkovic, Saskatoon Blades (WHL). Small (5.07) winger doubled his point total season over season. He isn’t ranked by most scouting services and 5.07 is very small for an NHL prospect. However, he scored a point per game and posted 21 goals in 63 games, turning 18 in February. He’s got some nice bullet points on his resume.
8 LC Elliot Ekmark, Linkoping (SuperElite). High skill, elusive, great speed, undersized. That’s the scouting report on most of these players, but the thing these kids have to punch up the resume is results. Ekmark posted 26 points in 31 games, The Draft Analyst says he’s similar to Oskar Magnusson above.
9 RW Wiljami Myllylä, Jr Sm-Liiga. Skates well, plus shot, scores goals in bunches. More shooter than passer or transporter. He’s a little bigger (6.0, 161) but also older (April 2001) by a year over some of these names.
10 LC Theo Rochette, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL). Undersized two-way center, intriguing offense. He might be a little shy offensively but would be worth a pick in the middle rounds.
11 RD Luke Prokop, Calgary Hitmen (WHL). A giant (6.04, 218) able to close gaps and suppress offense. He’s a raw talent, don’t know if the Oilers are going to draft a defenseman, but Prokop has some promise as a shutdown option. Can pass the puck.
12 G Sam Hlavaj, Sherbroke Phoenix (QMJHL). Boasts a .915 save percentage and stands 6.04, 218. Slovak goalie is an actual giant who (according to Red Line) is ‘scrambly like Spiderman’.
13 LC Daniel Ljungman, Linkoping (SuperElite). Emerged from nowhere at the Hlinka Gretzky. Great release. He’s 6.01, 161 and April 2002.
14 LC Cameron Berg, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). Good speed and skill. He is a one dimensional player but he’ll score goals in pro hockey.
15 G Dylan Garand, Kamloops Blazers (WHL). Eye popping SP (.921) for June 2002, but he’s only 6.0 and for that reason is unlikely to get drafted.
16 LW Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (OHL). Now 20, he is fast and has a great shot. He scored 45 goals in 63 games in the world’s best junior league. He is 6.01, 181. Draft him and turn him pro. Why not?
17 LC Juuso Mäenpää, Jokerit (Jr Liiga). Very small but highly skilled playmaker. Very much under the radar.
18 RD Kasper Puutio, Everett Silvertips (WHL). Talented puck moving defenseman. He’s 5.11, 180 and a June 2002.
19 LW Yevgeni Oksentyuk, Flint Firebirds (OHL). Impressive season for Feb. 2001, under the radar skill winger. You must be tiring of reading about “small skill wingers” but the thing to remember is these men have offensive success in junior. He scored 33-45-78 in 58 games. He. can. play.
20 LD Anton Johannesson, SuperElite. Small puck mover is a wizard, could be a steal. He’s a March 2002, stands 5.09 and could be the most valuable name in the 20. That’s the catch with these 20 (mostly) smaller players: Not all will make it but those who do are going to make their scouting director look like a genius.
OILERS DRAFT
As it stands, Edmonton has just four picks in a seven-round draft. Even more distressing the picks are in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. That’s a problem.
However, all is not lost. There is a strategy that can deliver four legit talents in those picks.
Let’s start by listing the players above who will be drafted before the fifth round. In my opinion, Connor McClennon, Pavel Novak, Michael Benning, Dylan Garand and Yevgeni Oksentyuk will be gone by selection No. 175.
So, let’s give the Oilers Jacob Perreault in the first round, since many of you like him as a first-shot scorer for Edmonton. If Holland and Wright add Oskar Magnusson (fifth round), Pavel Gogolev (sixth round) and Anton Johannesson (seventh round) the club will have drafted four legit prospects. They aren’t perfect, there are holes in their game, but offensively they are dynamic and project as productive players in pro hockey. Here are their NHLE’s:
- Jacob Perreault (OHL) 32.5
- Oskar Magnusson (SuperElite) 25.9
- Pavel Gogolev (20) (OHL) 40.4
- Anton Johannesson (SuperElite) 24.6
That’s an impressive list of talent and my bet is that those names or similar will in fact be available to the Oilers. When the team drafted Ethan Bear in the fifth round in 2015, we all knew it was a better bet than Evan Campbell. I don’t know if the Oilers will do it, but the idea makes a lot of sense.
Sail on, Mr. Granlund, we hardly knew you. You did play for all three western Canadian teams and that’s a rare thing.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, we kickstart the weekend and make a lot of noise, MAN! TSN1260, we’ll talk to Steve Lansky about the NHL broadcasts to come in Edmonton and Toronto, and what the industry will be talking about two weeks from now in regard to the broadcasts. Matt Iwanyk will join me at 11 to talk about the Eskimos name change and the leak at Ford Hall. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
And less and less sense of humour.
defmn,
You never were
defmn,
You can still offend people using sign language. Its a language.
And you can also still offend people if you insist (though its a weird thing to lament the passing of) just now people who take offense are less likely to put up with it than when you were in High School.
Some perplexing logic on this web site lately.
If we can no longer use any word that offends anybody we are all going to have to learn sign language.
https://oilersdeathmarch.com/playoffs-2020/
The Hunter1909 2020 Death March™ is Back!
Simply: Follow the link and make your prediction and join the current Playoff Death March™
Seems Darnell Nurse has been able to tone down his natural meanness to concentrate on hockey but come playoffs I expect Nurse to celebrate his “Scott Stevens moment” lol
I wouldn’t complain if we had another 1 or 2 Adam Larssons – someone who can be nasty to play against without taking too many stupid penalties or getting suspended.
Yamamoto isn’t far off from that guy. Drai certainly has a temper but seems to take a bit to rile him.
As long as CONNOR gets to lift the Covid Cup, the rest of the world outside of the Lowetide world, can go to hell. I’m so sick of all the other crap.
I was informed yesterday that it was offensive to call people “skinny”, too. What is this world coming to?
He’s not the only one. I wished we had a talented competitive prick maybe Leon goes beast mode and gets the keys to the city.
This is true but I don’t even think they can/will come to that result. Hope I don’t prove to be naive….
Well Kharlamov knows…
I can tell you some stories, I was there from June 68 to sept. 70. Very proud of the man Reggie Leach has become.
I don’t know much about him but it seems he had the best pts/game of all D in the U20 league (at age 17). Impressive, and I’ll join you for a drink, and then another if Holland picks him in the late rounds.
When Kate Smith was belting out God Bless America for the Flyer team led by Flin Flon hero Bobby Clarke it was a powerful moment in time I’ll never forget. Do you know how tough you had to be to live in Flin Flon in the Sixties
No way Holland loses the 3rd. The flames can have Roman Horak back as compensation.
This is the NHL.
Pick transferred, end stop? No compensatory pick?
CGY getting nothing is egregious.
EDM giving up the pick without getting anything back is egregious.
There reasonable solution is somewhere in the middle.
Lowetide,
A reasonable perspective. Thanks for the reply.
No. I’m assuming the Neal trade involves the third round pick so people can get used to it.
Long live the Edmonton Endo-Mesomorphs
– Pfff: another draft with a first round hit, plus a Bear, Jones, Marino and we are set for 10 years
I’ve been out of the loop for a few days.
With LT saying the Oilers only have picks in rounds 1,5,6, and 7 does that mean that a decision has been made to give Calgary our 3rd round pick?
Lady is also on very shaky ground.
I never watched football so my opinion doesn’t matter much but I always thought Eskimos was a really cool name.
If they do change the name I hope they find something better than Empire.
I just don’t like the name itself.
Would be kinda neat if they got Aboriginal people to come up with a new name. Make it some translation of Warriors or something of the sort.
At least it’d be better than Empires.
I wonder if the Oilers name will change in the next 50 years too
I don’t think you are allowed to call people fat anymore. 😉
The Edmonton Eskimos management have so far not made a announcement on the supposed name change. It’s not over till the fat lady sings Ladies and Gentleman.
Bouchard will play 8 games and will be a point maggot with on tape passing racking up 11 points.
For full context:
– Nurse sent two full post-draft seasons in the OHL prior to turning pro. Yes, I think the plan was to give him more time in the AHL but he was the 1st injury call-up and, frankly, he was quite good on the 3rd pairing and pretty much proved he was NHL-ready. Unfortunately, more injuries hit and he was moved up the lineup and struggled playing top 4 with Sekera on his off-side. That part was a rush.
– Klef spent two full seasons playing legit minutes in the SHL and then over half a season in the AHL – to me that is not rushing if the d-man proves ready.
– Yup Bear got a cup of coffee in his rookie season playing out the stretch. The organization then gave him zero NHL games the following season, a full AHL season. When he came up after, he proved VERY ready. That is not rushed. That is development, in my opinion.
– Jones was similar to Bear – after a full AHL season, he was given some NHL games in his 2nd pro season and then started his 3rd season in the AHL and earned a call-up – showed NHL ready when he was called up – again, to me that is not rushing a player but developing a player.
They can bring both – they could simply wave goodbye to Wells and Rodrigue – 28 skaters and 3 goalies.
The question is whether they want to keep Broberg to practice and “be with” or if they want him getting ready for the year and playing over in Skelfeeta – as originally planned.
If there are four d-men hurt and unable to play, I don’t imagine the just-turned 19-year old Broberg will be saving the Oilers’ cup run.
Edmonton Ewoks.
No need to change the helmets. Barely any need to change the parka. You just need to change the rain poncho into a roughly hewn koala hijab. Plus with your curly talonic hindclaws sticking out through your independent toe guards, you won’t need to resort to a staple gun to win the next snow bowl. Supposing that snow is still a thing in the new world order.
[*] In a pinch, emergency footwear can be fashioned from a pair of Vibram FiveFingers, a sharp hatchet, ten D-shaped beer-can pull tabs (these continue to be available in quantity at any uncultivated culvert near you), and a jeweler’s glue gun.
Alternatively, your Edmonton Emirates—in name only.
Damn shame about the Heritage Fund that should have been stockpiled for a
rainysnowless day.That is one reason I like the choice of Holland. A lot of talk, in negative camp, was how he had luxury to leave players. Mantha, for me, is pretty solid case in even without that luxury still waiting until prospect forces issue.
20 years of 1srmt rounders tell a sad tale of why Edmonton is where it has been for so long.
defmn,
Nurse and Klef spent two years post draft in the league they were drafted from, and Kelf lost games in the AHL due to injury. When they played in the NHL they played well, even if tasked with a bit too much due to injury or trade at one time or another.
Bear and Jones played early ish when we were out of the running as a trial and looked like they would need more seasoning. Which they got.
Maybe my ‘Seen ’em Good’ gauge is a bit off but they all seem like they got the appropriate amount of time to develop at lower levels. Or perhaps I haven’t paid enough attention to teams like ANA, CAR, NSH and in their defenseman development programs.
Caleb Jones with a PR coup today. He deserves a lot of credit for his openness and transparency.
Birds eat worms / Pigs eat turds / If I ever say a discouraging word / Slash my face with a rusty rake / It will be something that I deserve
RIP Chi Pig
Depending on how it plays out, the Oilers may have Buddy Robinson to thank for keeping the 3rd round pick – Nealer mentioned he hurt his ankle when Buddy fell on it.
I knew calling that tweener up was a great move by the flames!
Watching today’s post-practice interviews and a couple of things:
1) Great stache on Neal – not quite to Nuge’s level but great in itself
2) Talking about the mentorship that Broberg is getting and, thinking about it, getting to be around, and learn from, Larsson and Klefbom is likely a big plus – sounds like Bro is staying at Larsson’s place
Honestly couldn’t say. I’m sure much like yourself catch a lot of shows anytime I’m home in edmonton or even when I find myself in Calgary for work.
I couldnt even wundi, starlite/rev, old but new new city, new city, dewies, rebar/pawnshop, broken city….etc etc.
maudite,
Hey cool! Mind if I ask what venue you saw us in? We were playing lots there for a few years and some of those venues don’t exist anymore.
And thanks, the name was my idea ?
BornInAGretzkyJersey
Nurse spent 4 games in the AHL in 13-14 and 9 games in 15-16.
Klefbom spent 48 games in the AHL in 13-14 and 9 games in 14-15.
Petry had 41 games in the AHL in 10-11 and 2 games in 11-12.
Those are the 3 on your list from the first two rounds.
Bear played 18 games for Edmonton his first year of pro.
Jones did play his first year of pro in the AHL but was in Edmonton for 17 games in his second season.
Both Bear and Jones were taken in places in the draft where I think you could say they were brought up early because of injuries, didn’t stick and went back down.
I didn’t look for Davidson or Osterle who were both late round picks.
I’d say Edmonton has been rushing their dmen somewhat for a long time if you look at their stats for those first years in Edmonton. You certainly wouldn’t claim that they were left languishing in the NHL due to lack of opportunity.
Thank you and Hunter for the kind words.
I’ll tell you, after playing nothing but dingy venues and festivals outside. Having all those super fancy cameras swinging around took a little getting used to.
defmn,
I keep seeing this line of commentary, but when was the last time the Oilers rushed a defenseman? Jultz, maybe? Doubtful, as he was already fairly mature entering the organization, I think that was more a poor evaluation of ceiling/ability which PIT showed he’s capable when slotted properly.
Jones, Bear, Nurse, Klefbom, Petry, Davidson, Oesterle, Hunt (off the top of my head, I’m sure there are others) all took the slow and steady path into the league. The team has actually been decent at this for about a decade now. Or so it would seem.
LT, please text this info To KH:
16 LW Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (OHL). Now 20, he is fast and has a great shot. He scored 45 goals in 63 games in the world’s best junior league. He is 6.01, 181. Draft him and turn him pro. Why not?
Pavel Gogolev (20) (OHL) 40.4
just in case he doesn’t swing by today 😉
I kind of like the fact that the Oilers are finally in a position to develop their dmen slowly rather than rushing them. I don’t think it guarantees success but I think it offers a better chance of success.
But, yeah, Broberg seems to be making a bit of a statement this week. Nice to hear.
I’d argue that Anton Johannesson has the highest upside of all swedish D in this draft. First half of first round level skillset but size and lots of injury issues will have him drop. If Old Dutch can grab him in the seventh I’ll pour myself one and then another to celebrate. Will be a very interesting kid to follow the next few years either way. So much talent.
The reporting on Broberg’s TC performance has become quite intriguing.
I’m kind of split on him returning to Sweden. On one hand, I’d love to see him here helping the Oilers, but on the other, I’d like him to be in the SHL safely figuring out what he can get away with offensively against adults.
Per Principe, Caleb Jones had tested positive for Covid but was symptom free.
Jones confirmed he tested positive for Covid and was asymptomatic.
He was back with the main group today.
Definitely spent last night spinning snfu lps last night. Next to smalls, artist I definitely saw live the most times. Such a giant on that stage.
I think I’ve seen both those your bands live Shane. I loved the name beatcreeps.