Hope springs eternal on draft day. It’s the day hockey takes a few hours to reward the gifted, and all involved in each selection receive the ultimate award for all those 5am drives through the land of the ice and snow.
Draft day fogs the mind and stirs the soul, it’s the first chance, last chance, only chance to set sail for the dance. Photographs and memories, your team picking the right guy who might be the wrong guy but today is draft day and everything is blue skies, good arrows and the nation of Canada anticipating -35 on a plus 35 day.
Is this damned country a half bubble off plumb? Probably. Tomorrow the devil drives ’til the hearse arrives, but not today. It’s draft day.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Realistic draft options for an Edmonton Oilers team low on picks
- New DNB: What I’m hearing about the Oilers 3.0
- Lowetide: Why Connor Brown is a fit for the Edmonton Oilers in free agency
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s top-5 moments from another awards-laden season
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Jayden Grubbe and his organizational importance
- Lowetide: 4 impact QMJHL centres for Oilers to target late in 2023 NHL Draft
- DNB: 10 questions with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright
- Lowetide: Why Oilers’ Dylan Holloway is in prime position for a major role
- DNB: Five burning Edmonton Oilers questions ahead of the NHL Draft and free agency
- Lowetide: 5 quality Edmonton Oilers trade targets for low-budget offseason
- Lowetide: The Oilers and Russian draft picks haven’t worked — yet
- DNB: How Emily Cave found that ‘joy and grief can coexist’ in writing her book about Colby
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s Oilers roster construction missing one final piece
- DNB: What I’m hearing about the Oilers 2.0: Evan Bouchard offer sheet? Klim Kostin to KHL?
- DNB: Oilers GM Ken Holland on salary cap space, Steve Staios, 2023 NHL Draft
- Lowetide: What are Oilers’ best NHL Draft bets for 2023 second-round pick?
- DNB: Oilers’ offseason options: Comparing conservative and aggressive approaches
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers targets early and late in NHL free agency.
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers position-by-position depth chart entering offseason
- Lowetide: Why Edmonton Oilers’ right wing overhaul is about to hit overdrive
- DNB: Why the Oilers are preparing to hold on to Cody Ceci this offseason
- DNB: What I’m hearing about Oilers’ offseason plans: Trade candidates, Erik Karlsson interest, more
- Lowetide: Identifying a 2023 NHL Draft sleeper prospect for the Oilers
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
LOWETIDE TOP 126 FOR 2023 DRAFT
- RC Connor Bedard, Regina Pats (WHL). Incredible talent, elite offense. Best since McDavid?
- LC Adam Fantilli, Michigan (Big-10). He’s 6.03, 192 and a complete player.
- RC Will Smith, US Natl Development Team (USHL). Impact offense, future star.
- LC Leo Carlsson, Orebro (SHL). Mature center with terrific skills and good size (6.03, 195).
- RW Matvey Michkov, St. Petersburg (KHL). There’s just too much to keep him outside the top five.
- RW Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (OHL). 6.01, 195. Speed, great shot, throwback type. 36
- LW Zachary Benson, Winnipeg Ice (WHL). 5.10, 160, possesses great hands and is highly creative.
- RW Gabriel Perreault, US Natl Development Team (USHL). Incredible skill.
- RW Eduard Sale, Brno (Czechia). Eye-popping stats in junior give his resume a Miro Satan feel.
- RD Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skelleftea AIK (SHL). Speed and has skill, moving up lists.
I’m certain Connor Bedard will go No. 1, Fantilli No. 2, but after that it’s going to be a little wild. The top five should go in some order, I suspect Colby Barlow, Zach Benson and Gabriel Perreault will fall but deserve these spots. Eduard Sale will fall, I like him here. Sandin-Pellika is here on merit, it’s a good bet one other defenseman makes the top-10 overall but it will be a reach.
- 11. LC Oliver Moore, US Natl Development Team (USHL). Burner, skilled, fine passer.
- 12. RW Otto Stenberg, Frolunda (J20 Swe). Owns a complete skill set.
- 13. LW Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (WHL). 5’10, brilliant offense, skating a concern.
- 14. LC Dalibor Dvorsky, AIK (Allsvenskan). Two-way center with impressive skill.
- 15. RD Tom Wallinder, Rogle (J20 Swe). Smart, mobile defender, fine passer.
- 16. LW Quentin Musty, Subdury Wolves (OHL). PF with great numbers, speed. Playmaker.
- 17. LC Riley Heidt, Prince George Cougars (WHL). Strong skater, a little undersized, productive.
- 18. RW Ryan Leonard, US Natl Development Team (USHL). Good skater, great shot, agitator.
- 19. RC Braydon Yager, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL). Great skater, dangerous pivot who can score.
- 20. RC Calum Ritchie, Oshawa Generals (OHL). Good skater with size and skill.
Some great players here, a player like Oliver Moore or Ryan Leonard or Braydon Yager could have an exceptional career. I bet there are teams that trade in to around No. 15 and give up a king’s ransom to do it. If you’re a bad team, like Philly, the pick at 7 is going to be loud. If Daniel Briere can move up from 22 to (say) 15, that’s a foundation for a decade. It’s my belief everyone in the top 20 will go in the first round tonight.
- 21. RD Lukas Dragicevic, Tri-Cities Americans (WHL). Big, mobile, skilled.
- 22. RC Nate Danielson, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL). He can skate, good size and real skill.
- 23. RW Jayden Perron, Chicago Steel (USHL). Small and extremely talented offensive player.
- 24. RW Matthew Wood, UConn (H-East). Big winger with skill, he’s a February 2005
- 25. RW Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (WHL). Power forward with great numbers
- 26. LD Mikhail Gulyayev, Omsk (KHL). Dynamic, undersized, two-way ability.
- 27. RD David Reinbacher, Kloten (Swiss). He has size and defensive strengths.
- 28. LD Theo Lindstein, Brynas (SHL). Dynamic puck mover in junior.
- 29. LD Etienne Morin, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). Smart puck mover, impressive outscoring.
- 30. LC Samuel Honzek, Vancouver Giants (WHL). Big, talented winger.
In a different time, this would be a great spot for Edmonton. The defensemen in this group of 10 could go higher, David Reinbacher will for sure. Samuel Honzek is a real player, lots to like in the first 30 of this draft. Jayden Perron is the first name the Oilers could draft, he has been fading since about January. I dont know why, but remain convinced of him. Bob McKenzie has him at No. 58 overall, Edmonton drafts No. 56 overall. We’ll see.
- 31. LC David Edstrom, Frolunda (SHL). Big two-way C impressed from Hlinka to SHL.
- 32. LW Daniil But, Lokomotiv (MHL). 6-5, 203 and he’s skilled. Climbing.
- 33. LW Danny Nelson, US Natl Development Team (USHL). PF with plus shot.
- 34. RW Bradley Nadeau, Penticton Vees (BCHL). Undersized and skilled. Bet the Oilers like him.
- 35. RW Ethan Gauthier, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL). Skilled, not as dynamic as names ahead of him.
- 36. C-RW Mathieu Cataford, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). Substantial offense, range of skills.
- 37. RW Felix Unger Sorum, Leksands (J20 Swe). Exceptional passer, undersized.
- 38. LW Roman Kantserov, Magnitogorsk (MHL). Small, extremely skilled winger.
- 39. LC Kalan Lind, Red Deer Rebels (WHL). Speed is his calling card.
- 40. RW Will Whitelaw, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL). Fast, great hands, slick. Small.
This is where the draft arrives to a hazy shade of winter. I like Felix Unger Sorum as an early second-round pick, McKenzie has him at No. 85 overall. That happens when a draft’s quality goes from black and white to shades of grey. Kalan Lind has been falling in rankings, don’t know why. I can name 10 teams that would draft David Edstrom higher than my ranking just based on his size-skill resume.
- 41. LW Aydar Suniev, Penticton Vees (BCHL). Impact junior, complete skills, skating a worry.
- 42. RC Gracyn Sawchin, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Solid offensive prospect, good speed.
- 43. RW Kasper Halttunen, Helsinki (Liiga). He has skill, size and projects as a power forward.
- 44. RC Jonathan Fauchon, BB Armada (QMJHL). A quality two-way center, late arrival to the list.
- 45. G Michael Hrabal, Omaha Lancers (USHL). He’s 6.06, could go in the first round.
- 46. LD Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks (WHL). Small, very skilled blue.
- 47. LW Felix Nilsson, Rogle (J20 Swe). June 2005, quick, smart, underrated.
- 48. RD Beau Akey, Barrie Colts (OHL). Two-way D with plus speed.
- 49. LC Andrei Loshko, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL). Quick, creative, great passer.
- 50. RW Yegor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (WHL). Huge numbers, older prospect. Big shot.
My list is officially off the grid as we hid the midway point of the second round. There are names in this group of 10 (Jonathan Fauchon) that may not be drafted through all seven rounds. I like Yegor Sidorov plenty, wonder if he lasts through three rounds. He’s a talent. I don’t know that the Oilers love Luca Cagnoni, but they should.
- 51. RD Oliver Bonk, London Knights (OHL). Smart two-way D who counts defending as a strength.
- 52. LC Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, HV71 (SHL). Impact offense at lower levels.
- 53. LD Dmitri Simashev, Yaroslavl (MHL). Mobille defenseman, shutdown ability. Bet Oilers like him.
- 54. RW Coulson Pitre, Flint Firebirds (OHL). PF prospect, impressive offense, good skater.
- 55. RW Jesse Kiiskinen, Pelicans (Liiga). Under the radar talent goal scorer, outscorer.
- 56. RW Ryan Conmy, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL). Huge spike during the season. October 2004.
- 57. RD Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). Modern player-type, has size.
- 58. RW Connor Levis, Kamloops Blazers (WHL). Big forward, fine passer.
- 59. LW Nick Lardis, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL). Pure scorer, plus skater, spiked late.
- 60. LW Beckett Hendrickson, US Natl Development Team (USHL). June 2005, size, skill.
We hit the 50’s and there are still some defensemen who could go in the first round. It’s a weird year for blue. Nick Lardis spiked after I listed my final 126, we’ll see if he is gone by the end of the first round. I have Ryan Conmy at No. 56 overall, Edmonton won’t take him there but he’s a fine prospect. I have Oscar Fisker Mølgaard here, but he could go higher. He dominated lower levels, and then showed impressive two-way play for 41 SHL games. If you’re looking for a “why in hell didn’t my team take him?” candidate, Mølgaard is the one.
- 61. RC Charlie Stramel, Wisconsin (Big-10). He’s 6-3 and can skate. Physical.
- 62. LC Anton Wahlberg, Malmo (SHL). Another big C who has skill and plays a responsible game.
- 63. LC Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). Pure scorer, he’s also a fine skater.
- 64. LW Tyler Peddle, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL). Great shot, big risk-reward potential.
- 65. LD Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon Blades (WHL). Solid two-way D, mobile.
- 66. RW Gavin Brindley, Michigan (NCAA). Great skater, skilled, he’s 19 in October.
- 67. LW Jesse Nurmi, KooKoo (Fin Jr). Fast, playmaking winger is underrated.
- 68. RW Cam Squires, Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL). Throwback forward with skill.
- 69. G Carson Bjarnson, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL). Huge (6.03, 186) and young (June 30, 2023).
- 70. RD Andrew Gibson, Soo Greyhounds (OHL). Big (6.03, 197) two-way D brings toughness, some skill.
Plenty to like i this group and all but Tanner Molendyk should be around when Edmonton makes their pick at No. 56. I wrote a piece at The Athletic today giving my opinion on the options the Oilers may consider, several are in this group. Gavin Brindley’s scouting report describes a player who might be impossible. I’d love to see Edmonton draft him, McKenzie has Brindley No. 30 so uh-uh, no sir.
- 71. RW Alex Ciernik, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan) Speedy skill winger.
- 72. LW Nico Myatovic, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Big winger skates well, net-front presence.
- 73. RW Lenni Hameenaho, Assat (Liiga). Throwback winger wins battles, has some skill.
- 74. LD Caden Price, Kelowna Rockets (WHL). Two-way D, average in size.
- 75. LC Carey Terrance, Erie Otters (OHL). Great skater, two-way F, 30 goals.
- 76. LD Andrew Strathmann, Tri-City (USHL). Puck mover, creative, some chaos.
- 77. LW Emil Jarventie, Ilves (Liiga). Explosive winger, high skill. Undersized.
- 78. LC Markus Vidicek (QMJHL). Smart, skilled, undersized. Second-year eligible.
- 79. RC Jaden Lipinski, Vancouver Giants (WHL). Big C, huge improvement year over year.
- 80. RD Cam Allen, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). He’s a RH defenseman who can move the puck well.
I think we’re in an area of the draft where as many as five of 10 listed here don’t get taken. We’ll see. Cam Allen has fallon off a cliff, Nico Myatovic is moving on up. Lenni Haneenaho would be a great pick for Edmonton (young F who played in the Liiga and scored goals) but the Oilers don’t do Finland anymore.
- 81. LC Noah Dower-Nilsson, Frolunda (J20 Swe) Smart player, plus shot, impressive numbers.
- 82. LD Albert Wikman, Farjestad (J20 Swe). Shutdown blue with speed and good coverage.
- 83. LD Jakub Dvorak, Liberc (Czechia). Big shutdown defender. A load.
- 84. RD Aram Minnetian, US Natl Development Team (USHL). Great skater, nice range of skills.
- 85. RD Carter Sotherin, Portland Winterhawks (WHL). Big, shutdown defender. Impressive.
- 86. RD Dylan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). Big, defensively sound prospect.
- 87. LC Jakub Stancl, Vajxo (J20 Swe). Smart two-way pivot with size and skill.
- 88. RD Matthew Mania, Sudbury Wolves (OHL). RHD, great speed, skill.
- 89. LC Luca Pinelli, Ottawa 67’s (OHL). Undersized, average speed, skilled, determined.
- 90. RW Daniil Bourish, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL). Pure skill, great shot. 19.
I think we might see a shutdown blue chosen by Edmonton in this draft, and there are a few here. Some of these fellows may be available when Edmonton chooses in the final two rounds. All would be exceptional value at that time. Matthew Mania might be a strong pick for Edmonton.
- 91. G Trey Augustine, US Natl Development Team (USHL). .928SP and 6.01, 179.
- 92. LD Axel Landen, HV71 (J20 Swe). Impressive defensive defender.
- 93. LD Rodwin Dionicio, Windsor Spitfires (OHL). Overager, 6.02, 205, big offense. Hire this man!
- 94. RW Easton Cowan, London Knights (OHL). Small, fast skilled.
- 95. RD Maxim Strbak, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL). Mobile two-way D with size.
- 96. LD Arvid Bergstrom, Djurgardens (J20 Swe). Mobile defender, quality in coverage.
- 97. RC Matyas Melovsky, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL). Ridiculous playmaker.
- 98. G Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). A .918SP should get scouts attention.
- 99. LW Noel Nordh, Brynas (J20 Swe). Two-way W, more passer than shooter.
- 100. LD Xavier Daigle, Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL). Steady shutdown blue.
Rodwin Dionicio is the new Nando Eggenberger for my list. I like his talent, and his name, so I’m running him out there on every list I can. Maxim Strbak is going to be drafted much sooner than I have him, the defense selections are going to be all over hell’s half acre. Scott Ratzlaff should be a solid pro goaltender.
- 101. LW Antonin Verreault, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL). Playmaking winger. Great passer.
- 102. LC Rasmus Kumpulainen, Pelians (Fin Jr). Big center with skill, some range.
- 103. LD Sawyer Mynio, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Fine skater, two-way type.
- 104. LD Luke Coughlin, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL). Two-way D, solid outscoring, impressive playoff.
- 105. LW Juraj Pekarcik, Nitra MHC (Slovak). Solid offensive player, nice passer. Boots a bit of a question.
- 106. LD Tristan Bertucci, Flint Firebirds (OHL). Good size, mobile, two-way type.
- 107. RC Ty Halaburda, Vancouver Giants (WHL). Small, skilled smart.
- 108. LD Michael Hagens, Chicago Steel (USHL). Two-way D trending.
- 109. RC Timur Mukhanov, Omskie Yastreby (MHL). Small, highly skilled, Russian pivot.
- 110. LC Justin Gill, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL). Big, strong, scorer, he’s 20.
Rasmus Kumpulainen could surprise, I’m not sure about his offense but the size-speed will be attractive to NHL teams. Juraj Pekarcik is getting plenty of love, he closed well and is one of the youngest players in the draft. I faded him due to foot speed, but sometimes that’s a product of being younger in development than others in the same league.
- 111. G Thomas Milic, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Average size, now 20, someone draft him!
- 112. RW Tanner Adams, Tri-City Storm (USHL). Skill winger, late spike.
- 113. LW Denver Barkey, London Knights (OHL). High skill, small, not fast. High danger pick.
- 114. LC Isac Born, Frolunda (SHL). A 2004, he’s a center who played quite a in the SHL.
- 115. LD Isaac Menard, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL). Skilled and effective, he’s 19.
- 116. LW Brady Stonehouse, Ottawa 67’s (OHL). Smaller forechecking demon with skill. 2004.
- 117. LW Arvid Sundin (J20 Swe). Undersized burner spiked in junior age 18.
- 118. LD Emil Pieniniemi, Karpat (Fin Jr). Big shutdown blue, mobile.
- 119. RW Matthew Soto, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL). Talented, Aug 2005, small.
- 120. LD Luke Middlestadt, Minnesota (NCAA). Two-way player, undersized, 20.
- 121. RW Aron Jessli, Pickering Panthers (OJHL). A big, strong winger with an edge.
- 122. LC Zeb Forsfjall, Skelleftea (SHL). Undersized, smart center whose speed is average.
- 123. LC Justin Cote, Drummondville (QMJHL). Under the radar, but he has skill. July 2004.
- 124. LC Cole Burbidge, St. John’s Sea Dogs (QMJHL). Slick center turned a corner.
- 125. RW Zach Nehring, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USHS). Huge winger with skill.
- 126. RW Alexander Rykov, Chelmut Chelyabinsk (VHL). Undersized two-way W.
This is the end of my list, guaranteed most of these names will pass through the draft. I like Arvid Sundin, Isac Born, Matthew Soto and am curious about Zach Nehring but math doesn’t get a good read on high school players. I have 126 names, I’ll predict 95 names go and 31 are left on the board at the end of the draft. We’ll see.
OILERS MOCK DRAFT!
I’m using the consensus list from EOTP this season as a check against my list. The results surprised me.
- No. 56 overall: C-RW Mathieu Cataford, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). Surprised he was available this late, Cataford is No. 38 on the Red Line list. RLR says “very advanced defensively and extremely high IQ” and compares him in style to Phillip Danult. Red Line also likes his skill. NHLE: 25.7, Reid Schaefer was 21.8 NHLE a year ago. I have looked at the QMJHL closely the last two drafts (Adam Sherren did all of the heavy lifting) and can say math likes the league and this player specifically. Sherren measured Cataford’s even-strength goal percentage at 62.7, the team share in the discipline was 62.9 percent last year.
- No. 184 overall: LD Axel Landen, HV71 (J20 Swe). The NHL industry, at least the public portion, can’t make up its damned mind about this year’s defensemen. I have Landen falling from my draft number (92) all the way to the sixth round. He is a bit raw but would be an outstanding bet here. Impressive with the puck, good speed. His coverage and recognition defensively is the issue but he has plenty of time to figure it out and the tools are there.
- No. 216 overall: RW Ryan Conmy, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL). He isn’t fast and he isn’t big, but what he can do is score goals. His NHLE is 22.9 per 82 games. I’m telling you he’s going to pass through the draft but he’s a valuable prospect.
OILERS POSSIBLE ROSTER
Ken Holland’s situation re: Klim Kostin is outlined by DNB (along with several other items) very well. Edmonton can use Kostin, but the price point can’t be high. He isn’t established yet and there are free agents who should provide similar production for less cap. Opportunity missed for player and team. Here’s a 22-man roster that comes in $32,5000 under the cap. Kailer Yamamoto is in Washington, RFA’s and UFA’s listed here.
I think we’ll get clarity today on Kostin and Yamamoto, DNB’s reporting has Holland looking for value deals on July 2+. I know there are no loud noises but we talked about that in the spring. This is the only real option if the team isn’t going to trade Jack Campbell and that brings its own challenges (trading a player one year in to a five-year deal is going to get noticed by future free agents).
Interesting reads on this blog re: Yams and Kostin.
The one that stood out the most is the reluctance to let go of Kostin.
I think it would have been preferable to keep Kostin, if the price was right.
The fact that Holland isn’t signing players that are looking for a larger payout when realistically they were brought on as a 13/14th forward or 8th d is a good thing. There must be some confidence in our scouting staff to replenish the supplementary positions on value deals no?
Hope Yam has a restful summer. Its too bad height is legitimately turning into a reason why his head injuries are re-occurring (shoulders to his head due to height discrepancy).
There could be some good finds in the bin this summer. The cap is so tight, very strange how they couldn’t do a consistent uplift rather then chop it this year.
Disclaimer I am IN NO WAY player researcher – this morning I looked over the list from Tarkus about who remains and “could” be available at #56. My “selection” process comes down to three things: 1.) Right shot, since the Oilers are always seemingly in need of a right shot F and/or D! 2.) Reasonable skill and size. 3.) No reported skating issues.
Given that – here is a list of players:
Lukas Dragicevic
Koehn Ziemmer
Mathieu Cataford
Ethan Gauthier
Gracyn Sawchin
Kasper Halttunen
Beau Akey
Of course I understand the concept of draft BPA and that these prospects aren’t going to debut this year or next. Trying to “look ahead” at need, and developing a prospect pool.
Thoughts?
Even though Morin is a LH shot, I would seriously consider taking him at 56 if (a) he falls that far and (2) the Oilers still have that pick.
Teams are hoarding RHD like the apocalypse is nigh, so I would be amazed if Dragicevic and Akey are still on the board at 56. Cam Allen might be though…
EDIT: I should reiterate that the list is from LT’s above, edited to show the BPA’s entering today.
1.Maxim Strbak
2.Andrew Gibson
3.Hunter Brzustewicz
1. Oscar Fisker Molgaard
2. Carson Rehkopf
2. Juraj Pekarcik
3. Nick Lardis
5. Aydar Suniev
6.. Martin Misiak
7. Alexander Rykov
Anyone with thoughts on Kasper Halttunen?
I think anyone with a name “Stop the Music” may not be well-received on this blog.
First perfect game in MLB in 11 years for Domingo German tonight.
Needed only 1 decent defensive play.
99 pitches. 72 strikes. 9Ks
An amazing performance.
What do we need to trade to move up to snag Dragicevic?
The best of what’s around (off LT’s list):
That’s 23 players. A handful of them should still be available at 56 if the Oilers keep it.
3/4 first round rated fallers are listed as small. NHL valued size tonight, but also just some reach picks as well.
Let’s hope the oilers draft for skill tomorrow.
Now compare and contrast with Pronman’s list of the best available talent on the morrow.
I have to admit anytime I see “undersized” all I think of is Yamamoto and cumulative injuries, failed board battles and say – um maybe not. There are only a few “small” players that can consistently make a serious impact – I know we can all name several but given a choice I would prefer someone over 5’11” with skill to a “playmaker” at 5’8 or less. I’m not advocating “coke machine” drafting just suggesting should be looking in the big and tall aisle for skill players.
This is just me though.
What a boring draft – not a single trade.
First time that’s happened since 2007.
Now Cowan is gone. Oilers at #56
Molgaard
Rykov
Rehkopf
Lind
Lardis
Gibson
Akey
Would love any of them at 56.
I like Gibson and Lardis
I mean’t Rehkopf and Molgaard
Ziemmer
Vegas takes David Edstrom.
Sources say he’s already been traded.
I think we’ve known for a while, but the Carolina Hurricanes brass has LT’s blog bookmarked.
Pure skill with Nadeau, Tulsky is a smart cookie.
I don’t get why it’s considered smart. I kind of look at it as obvious, and look at the people who overlook players like this as the ones making poor decisions. Basic math is being used and it’s a relatively effective tool, why wouldn’t everyone do likewise?
Blues trying to draft everyone who played in Sweden last year.
Easton Cowan taken by Toronto. My pick for Edmonton
Cowan to TOR. I have him No. 94 overall. Lordy. Counting on his rise being real. They have a good scouting staff, but there is real quality on the board.
Pronman had him 95.
Huge reach.
FIne pick by the Avs, Calum Ritchie is very skilled.
Smith and Musty go to San Jose, that’s a wonderful draft. Good for them.
NSH picked Tanner Molendyk. LD. Undersized.
BM had him 36, LT had him 65.
67 9-28-37 boxcars for Saskatoon (+31 though).
Button at #48.
I didn’t follow the draft this year at all, but I did get to see a lot of WHL playoffs including all the Saskatoon series with Regina and Red Deer.
I felt just based on just what I saw Tanner do on the ice that he felt like a late first rounder to me.
He’s a very good skater. He can skate miles. He has great vision, anticipation and hockey sense. He’s always in the right position, he always makes the right read, he has a great stick. When players went in on him 1 on 1 I don’t think anyone got the better of him.
He is smaller though and I have no idea what his offense would look like at the pro level, but I did hope he might fall like LT thought and the OIlers would get him. Good player. Real gamer.
Thanks for the report.
Chiarelli seems to be enjoying himself
I still would have done the Ekholm trade.
but this would be a nice pick to have had
Well Nashville decided they didn’t care much for the pick
Avs told him if he was there at 27, they were picking him. They didn’t think he would be.
Nashville went off the board a bit a grabbed a smallish defenseman with unimpressive counting stats.
NYR got very good value at their draft slot.
Oilers pick to Nashville coming up next
Some of these teams just have no idea how the draft works. Wild should have traded down several spots and gotten a pick. If someone else reaches above you let them
Too much time at Tootsies apparently
Is it still too early to speculate about who might fall into the Oilers range given the way things are going so far? Any potential “wow” we have a chance at picking up?
Easton Cowan
Brad Treliving has other ideas.
I had Stramel No. 61. Unlikely he’ll cover this bet.
Moar bigger written all over it certainly.
Coke machines are alive and well
Pronman had him #23.
Fantastic pick for Seattle. Outstanding talent evaluators.
Kraken keep on making smart decisions.
Great pick. Winnipeg gets it. Barlow is ridiculous value here.
Great pick!
Literally just texted my hockey buddy group chat that same thing. Similar to the community here but much smaller and a bunch of Yukoners focused on beer instead of whiskey.
I had him No. 30 overall. Honzek is a good prospect, shocking how much is still out there. Someone is going to trade for selection No. 33 overnight.
I thought they might take Perreault, given their predilection for Yank prospects.
Who is this year’s Greg Nemisz for the Flames to draft?
Hahaha nailed it. Relieved they didnt go for bpa like Barlow
Perreault or Wood for Pitt
When this Yamamoto trade that OP kept talking about the suspense is killing me?
Most likely tomorrow, if at all.
Perhaps tomorrow. No urgency today as Oil are not players in the first round this year. Tomorrow, if someone wants to deal a pick in a mid round or thereabouts…
That OP kept talking about? You mean, pretty much all that discuss the Oilers, right?
I’ve simply posted that there are many views on it:
1) some think he can be traded for some value (3rd rounder).
2) some thing he can be traded for, essentially nothing.
3) some thing he can only be traded by adding an asset or a buyout will be used.
Option 2 has been my thought but I’ve never said option 3 is not plausible.
I’m thinking something along the lines of Yamo and the 6th for a 5th (or 4th).
But’s highlights remind me of Puljujarvi.
Odd. Someone mentioned Arizona did not get a good look at Russian players this season. yet they take 2 from Yaroslavl in the first round. One from KHL, one from MHL….what gives?
Pushing their competitive window waaaay down the road.
Either that or replacing their competitive window with a brick wall, such that that organization never sees the light of day again.
Three russians gone in 12 picks. If Arizona’s trying to exploit a market advantage, they sure picked the wrong guy first.
Arizona’s gonna be known as the Koyotes now.
Ja! You keel me… you keel me! 😉
Buffalo should take Barlow or Benson. Man, this is a wild first round.
Would think Benson if only to reunite him with Matt Savoie.
That’s a good pick for Vancouver, they need this and he isn’t drafted out of order. I had him at No. 15 overall.
He’s chosen an unusual development path.
Rather than stay home in Sweden, he’s committed to Boston University.
Broberg 2.0
Guessing STL Dalibor Dvorsky
Good call. Who’s next at 11 for the Nucks?
Oilers could use a player like Leonard. Holloway has to get his shit together and get rid of that Fragile sign on his back.
Such bizarre commentary on Holloway.
Agreed. He is anything but fragile. My observation is he is fast, tenacious, and needs to find the range shooting more than anything.
I suspect part of it is there is a surplus of forwards and a relative shortage of D at the top of the draft. Top 4 C gone, next run was for a couple of D before the best are gone, now is for best of class wingers maybe? Then mixed bag for best available player with less emphasis on position?
Great pick by Briere and Philly this kid is good.
Well jeez. And here I thought Verbeek would have made the biggest “I’m smarter than everyone” move in the first round.
Did anyone have Simashev the first Russkie off the board?
Run on D?
I had Simashev No. 53, and mentioned he would be a favourite of the Oilers. He’s a good prospect, this is simply too high. I think Philip Broberg has company.
You didn’t have Broberg anywhere near 53 though did you?
No. No. 16 iirc
Thanks – thought it was around there somewhere. Quite the pick by Arizona.
Is this a bigger reach than Jesse Niinimaki was? Wild times so far.
No. Niinimaki was No. 50 Euro, which is about 140 overall.
Good golly, I always had it in my mind it was #50 overall, not #50 Euro. Yikes.
Perhaps they felt he wouldn’t last till their pick at #12. That’s all I got.
Arizona also holds the #12 pick. Did they really think he’d be gone by then? And then there’s the fact we KNOW they haven’t scouted him recently… seems like (yet another) unforced error by the beleaguered franchise.
They are incompetent maybe they’re trying to lose for a reason.
Why collect all these draft picks if they are just going to pick off the board like this? If you were going to pick a Russian that’s not going to play for you for the next 3-4 seasons, why not just take Michkov, a player that would have gone number 1 in any other year, except this one due the Bedard factor, combined with the Russian factor? Even if he says he won’t play for, you can trade him for a great haul of proven players down the road.
I had Reinbacher No. 27. I don’t think he’s going to get PP time, but he’s an excellent defender and has great speed/size.
He looks like he’s 15 years-old.
Oh Anaheim…
As Nancy Kerrigan once uttered Why.. Why….
Shades of the Draisaitl draft.
Columbus made out like a bandit there. Carlsson isn’t better than Fantilli, although both are quality.
Wouldn’t it be ironic, if Fantilli’s career (or at least the first 6-7 seasons) doesn’t go well, that is was Jarmo, surprised that Fantilli was suddenly available one spot later than projected, who might be giddy with this turn of events at the draft. Will people be questioning him on his due diligence and asking why he didn’t learn anything from Pat Verbeek not drafting Fantilli?
Well played, sir.
I thought everyone said Fantilli was going to be picked second.
Ducks loading up at C.
Its a thing.
Good thing they avoided picking the C so they could pick the C.
Lots of chatter Fantilli will play on the wing.
They were taking a C either way….
Pronman’s take.
Thoughts on the pick: In Carlsson, Anaheim gets a dynamic playmaking center with size, a player with the high-end skill and hockey sense to be a big-time offensive contributor in the NHL. Carlsson at No. 2 may be a surprise to some. Many, like myself, have rated Adam Fantilli higher all season. But many in the NHL were concerned by Fantilli’s hockey sense at No. 2 overall over Leo.
If he becomes a Draisaitl clone, then I’ll be happy to eat my words. I think Fantilli grades out higher than Reinhart in this exercise though.
If Gary is going to blather on like this I am going to point out upper deck is a very funny name to have as a sponsor.
If anyone doubts that there are still mind numbing dinosaurs managing NHL teams, check out Kent Hughes telling Elliote Friedman that one of the questions the Canadiens ask prospects is whether that player, if he was involved in WW2, would follow orders and bomb an enemy sub knowing that his own comrades are in the water and would also be killed. Just wtf…nice analysis there Montreal! Highly relevant to being a good player!
“If you could be a vegetable in someone’s fridge, what vegetable would you be and in whose fridge?’
I’d guess that every team has a number of questions that’re “highly relevant” in the same way. These kinds of questions aren’t literal in nature but meant to gauge the player’s responses and underlying reasoning. In the WW2 question example, I can identify 4 clear things the question would be probing for:
1.) response to novel or unexpected scenarios
2.) response to a moral conundrum (of sorts)
3.) respose to the follow-up where they emphasise that “but it’s an order” (and perhaps “what if that submarine is about to destroy a vessel on your side?”)
4.) reasoning behind their responses (can they reason? how articulate are they?)
It’s an attempt to deploy methods used in various kinds of psychological testing to get more information about a prospect. Whether they’re choosing effective questions/prompts or properly interpreting the results isn’t for me to say but I firmly disagree that there’s anything “dinosaur” about it.
You could also get the same results by asking questions which are relevant to hockey.
And you don’t run the risk of asking a kid who maybe didn’t study WW2 in school as much as they should have and getting a blank stare in return. Or not understanding how the military or chain of command works.
As for your 4th point, problem solving (youbsaid reasoning) skills do not necessarily pass across contexts. They are often context specific. Why not ask a question regarding a hockey related problem, or a context the player is familiar with? Go for a novel problem in a familiar context rather than a novel context entirely.
Yeah comparing what someone would do in a war scenario where hypothetical lives are on the line is not even close to what they will ever experience playing hockey. And their answers probably wouldn’t even reflect what they would actually do if they were in that scenario. It’s a very odd question and they would get better results asking a more relevant question so they could get closer to finding out what they would actually do in a hockey context.
Agreed
From another comment of mine: “Further, the confidence he’d have in his answer would be something new that I likely wouldn’t get from a direct or hockey question as that’s obviously the domain in which he’s most confident and has most thought about.”
It’s not simply about knowing more about the hockey player, but about learning more about them as people.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I disagree that there isn’t merit to throwing them such curveball scenarios. For one, extreme or non-hockey scenarios are more likely to evoke interesting answers than within-comfortable-context ones. We all bemoan how boring and coded so many “hockey answers” are, so this is way to get around that.
Additionally, if the player gets stressed out by this, you might be able to infer a limited stress threshold. Or a particularly lacklustre response or a classic “hockey response” might allow you to infer a limited degree of lateral or on-the-fly thinking.
Depending on the question, you can also identify aspects about their character. How much have they thought about moral dilemnas? Are they reflective by nature? Do they engage with interests that aren’t hockey?
How much weight you give these things is up to the individual and the interpretations made, but I believe they have merit.
I can only speak intelligently on problem solving, not on the psychology of it all. Not an ideal question to guage ps skills on. But still, you can give a new/novel problem in a familiar context, this is good because they should be able to extend what they know to this new problem, and i would expect a variety of good answers.
I can agree that there are undoubtedly better questions to ask, but the point of my responses is simply to support the asking of this type of question.
But if someone answers the question with “I’ve never served in the military but if I did and I were in that scenario, I would do whatever I was trained to do in that situation” then it doesn’t really answer Montreal’s question because they already stated the choices, but the answer isn’t wrong either. Or maybe Montreal does want that answer, but then if they did, why not include that as a choice?
Or worse, what if the candidate answering the question keeps asking more hypothetical questions to get a better understanding of the hypothetical situation? And what if Montreal doesn’t give the same hypothetical answers to the questions as they did for someone else they interviewed? Now Montreal is steering people in different directions in how they should answer the question.
At the end of the day, it’s just wasting Montreal and the candidates time by not asking more relevant and direct questions.
Well, actually, the answer you suggest could tell them something- particularly if you include the manner in which he said it.
Let’s say he was really quick and decisive about it, I could infer that he defers to authority (whether as a positive or a negative). Alternatively, I could infer that he kinda gave up on trying to really think about it.
If he were to take the time to think about it and then arrive at that answer, I could infer that he’s thoughtful and will consider and reflect on novel situations. Alternatively, I could infer that he spent too much time thinking about what would be the “right” answer and gave a cop-out.
Further, the confidence he’d have in his answer would be something new that I likely wouldn’t get from a direct or hockey question as that’s obviously the domain in which he’s most confident and has most thought about.
The point isn’t strictly that the interpretation ends up yielding THE “correct” piece of information for your evaluation, but it’s in hopes of getting even a bit more information about a bunch of kids that usually are or present as pretty one-dimensional. Further, chances are VERY high that they’ve already asked the more relevant and direct questions and have gotten all they could out of those.
Hard disagree. It is important to assess character, but this example is a ridiculous question to ask a teenager in the context of an athletic interview, and it would be alarming if grown men are assessing a teen’s moral compass and so forth solely based on a question meant to elicit shock and surprise. To be clear, scenario questions meant to assess character, etc. are quite common in interviews, but this particular question seems aligned with the old scouts in Moneyball techniques. Asking a hockey player about killing people in WW2? Really? How is that on the same level as hockey?
What if a young Connor McDavid said he would bomb the sub thereby following orders as instructed and killing comrades? Does that make him morally bankrupt? Or does it make him a good soldier? If you didn’t like his answer do you not take him now? If a team would still take hm regardless, then what was the point of the question at all? etc. People could value these answers in so many different ways, they are a waste of time in this context.
A better approach to a scenario type question would be one involving the actual sport in which the prospect plans to play, or in a team/leadership situation the prospect may actually face.
..I wonder if they changed the question for the German born players.
Reinbacher (who is Austrian) stated he thought it was a very odd question to ask.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6H8MZf5SZM
Everyone around the Oilers has gotten materially worse in the last 96hrs. It’s Christmas.
This is HHs worst nightmare. Every single one of his teams has crapped the bed jettisoning good talent and stockpiling wannabes and has beens at crazy prices.
Sucks to suck when all your hero’s are bro’y tools who can’t evaluate talent and shit the bed simultaneously hahahaha 🥃
Fire sale of good players being moved for Pennie’s on the dollar.
Ya’ll are watching the contracts for McLeod, Klim, Nick and Matt vaporize into thin air. Even Bouch is in trouble.
All of them under $1.5 each and Yamo stays. That’s what a competent GM would do. No self harm when everyone around you is lighting their lineups on fire.
Misfires everywhere. Keep your damn head down Kenny!
Clarify – Bouch gets more than 1.5. He’s around $3.
and right there there is no cap room if Yamo stays.
McLeod won’t be $1.5M, he’d get more in arb