One decade ago, May 17 2015, we were talking about the prospects and the coming Connor McDavid draft. This week 10 years ago, I re-listed my top-20 prospects with comments. Here is that article, with updates on each player. My latest at The Athletic is here, please read if you get a chance. Thanks.
UPDATED TOP 20, SPRING 2015 (PRE-DRAFT)
(Winter ranking in brackets, comments around trade value and wisdom of using them as assets).
1 (1) C Leon Draisaitl. A strange year but he’s shown a lot since getting sent back to junior. Idiotic decision to keep him in the NHL aside, it’s been a good year for the German. Interesting to hear the Habs moan about not being able to find a big center. I know Chiarelli needs assets to acquire help, but he can’t trade LD. He’s a keeper. Update: One of the greatest draft picks of all time. Full stop.
2 (2) D Darnell Nurse. The Oilers future on blue, it’s just a matter of when he arrives. My guess is early—EARLY—in the season. Big, strong, mobile and he’s got a mean streak. He’ll be a star in Edmonton for a long, long time. He’s a keeper. Update: He has delivered as expected, although Nurse did not develop as a shutdown defenseman.
3 (4) C Bogdan Yakimov. Big center impressed like crazy during training camp and early in pre-season but he was struggling to post crooked numbers in the AHL at the start (9GP, 1-1-2). After that, it was 48GP, 11-15-26 and he hit his stride in the final 13 games (6-6-12) before injury ended his year. MacT wouldn’t trade him ever, I expect, but Chiarelli may find that teams are interested. Remember who drafted him. Update: It was the boots. When a player of promise who has some prospect buzz all around him stalls in the AHL, it’s about the boots.
4 (5) W Iiro Pakarinen. Underrated signing by MacT, he showed extremely well in both pro leagues. On his first goal in the NHL: “I don’t even remember. I was a little bit shocked. It was so fast of a situation. I jumped on the ice and the rebound was there and I tried to shoot as hard as I can.” Source He is absolutely expendable but hasn’t built enough value to be considered a cashable asset. He could also catch on with the Oilers and play five years here. Update: He had a longer career than expected, and could beat a goalie from distance. Not all the time, but enough to notice.
5 (6) R Greg Chase. Gritty forward who had a strange start to the season in Calgary and ended up getting traded to better weather because of it. Began the season 15GP, 2-13-15, then finished 36GP, 18-16-34. He’s an excellent pro prospect, there are things to learn and he’ll get that chance in OKC. We should be patient with him and set his time line at three minor league seasons. If he beats it? Music! Update: Chase had real talent, but couldn’t find traction in pro hockey.
6 (9) C Kyle Platzer. Emerged as a genuine NHL prospect in his final junior year. Began the season 24GP 9-20-29, then went 44GP, 25-27-52, before posting three points in four AHL games at the end of the regular season. This is from a player who had a two-way reputation on draft day. Very important not to overreact to a final junior season, but he appears to be a really good prospect. Like Chase, he will build his resume and the trade value would be low at this time. Update: He is STILL playing (DEL) and has enjoyed a solid pro career mostly in Europe. A nice story, albeit outside the NHL.
7 (16) G Laurent Brossoit. Tremendous step forward in one season, his .918SP in OKC included some wonderful performances. His NHL debut was splendid, a .961 SP in front of a tough support blue. He’s still developing but after two AHL seasons Brossoit appears to be on track as a future NHL option. The Oilers are razor thin in net so he’s not tradeable, but the value doesn’t warrant a deal either. Still writing his resume, but this season pops off the page. Update: Emerged as an NHL goaltender, mostly backup but has played in some big games over the years. A trade win for MacT.
8 (17) L Anton Slepyshev. A big development season for the scoring winger. Began the KHL season 39GP 5-7-12, then posted 19GP, 10-3-13 and forced his way up the depth chart. There were rumors he was going to sign with Edmonton a couple of weeks ago, but Chiarelli may have different ideas about him. As with Yakimov, Chiarelli may find teams are interested. Remember who drafted him. Update: He had NHL talent, but eschewed the Oilers for the KHL. He has been a productive KHL season since flying home, although he didn’t play much this year.
9 (14) D Joey Laleggia. Quality offensive defenseman at the NCAA level, he was 14GP, 6-6-12 to start at Denver and then finished 23GP, 9-19-28. He’s an exciting talent, people say he can play defense and now we’ll see. Remains a long shot but the truth is he was a long shot to get a pro contract and we are here. Doesn’t have established trade value. Update: Laleggia was close to playing in the NHL but never made it. Still playing in Sweden, great skaters never fade.
10 (11) C Marco Roy. Two-way center on a deep team, Roy had posted strong numbers (22GP, 15-10-25) early and closed 37GP, 11-14-25, a downward trend. He recovered in the playoffs but was injured after a fine start. Guy Flaming of the Pipeline Show tweeted out last night about Roy: “he’s back skating and SHOULD be cleared to play in Memorial Cup.” Unsigned, but he might have some value in a trade for a team looking to add a prospect center so Chiarelli may find teams are interested although the return would not be significant. I’m hopeful the Oilers sign Roy, although his career looks eerily similar to Marc Pouliot’s. Update: His pro career just finished up one year ago. I don’t think he got a fair shake in the AHL, and the Oilers never did sign him to a deal.
11 (NR) G Eetu Laurikainen. This signing was badly needed and Laurikainen’s immediate ranking reflects the low (current) quality of the prospect stable. It’s a legit ranking, a .933SP in any league is eye-popping, and the SM-Liiga is a good pro league. We’ll have to see, and he won’t have trade value yet, but this was a nice signing. I wonder if the analytics guys were helpful in this add, seems to me a math whiz would have a hard time finding a free agent goalie from a good league with a better ‘previous employer’ reference. Update: Played well in the German second league this season.
12 (7) C Jujhar Khaira. The concern for Khaira (and many of the Oilers forwards who have size) is offense and that continues to be a distant bell at this time. Began the year 13GP, 1-2-3 and then finished 38GP, 3-4-7. In the playoffs, Khaira is 3-1-4 in 6GP but we need to invoke the small sample size clause. Doesn’t have established trade value. Update: Enjoyed a significant NHL career (337 games) and played for the Abbotsford Canucks and Syracuse Crunch of the AHL this season. He played last night for the Canucks, matter of fact.
13 (8) D Dillon Simpson. Offense will never be his calling card, he began 20GP, 2-3-5 and then went 51GP, 1-11-12 to close the season. His progress based on anecdotal evidence suggests this season has been uneven, but he is one of five Barons defensemen who have played in all eight playoff games this spring. Building trade value. Update: He had a solid pro career, mostly in the AHL.
14 (29) R Andrew Miler. Sign. College. Players. A really good season has Miller in position to have an NHL career. Seriously. Massive spike in performance year over year in the AHL was followed by a very effective 9-game stint in the NHL. He should be in the mix this fall and the new coach could take a liking to a forward who does a lot of things right, has speed and can play with skilled men. Low trade value, still building. Update: Got into some NHL games, that’s a victory.
15 (10) R Tyler Pitlick. He went 17GP, 2-0-2 in his second NHL season, but injuries have derailed him. The Oilers under MacTavish gave his job to Rob Klinkhammer for next season (when signing him to a contract). He may get another chance this fall, but (ahem) remember who drafted him. Pitlick is now a complete orphan, with the men in power at this time of his draft (Tambellini, MacGregor) outside the decision room. There’s a chance Chiarelli may find teams are interested although the return may not be much. Update: Enjoyed a strong career (420 NHL games) and played well this season in the AHL. I always had faith he’d make it, pleased he did.
16 (15) D William Lagesson. Interesting defender with a reputation for physical play and coverage skills began the season with an offensive surge. He was 25GP, 1-11-12, then went 27GP, 1-3-4 to end the season. He is one of a few ‘physical’ shut down prospects in the system and has the size/speed combination to succeed. No significant trade value at this time. Update: Found his way into 107 NHL games, including a few this season. A draft success.
17 (21) D Brandon Davidson. Slow and steady wins the race. I was surprised to see him perform so well when he got an NHL chance, faster, more mobile and more efficient than you’d expect from a first time callup. It is vitally important we don’t project Davidson where he doesn’t belong—he is going to be a depth defenseman if he has an NHL career—but it’s also true that three pro seasons into his career Davidson has passed a few higher picks. Low trade value, all NHL teams have players of this type. Update: Davidson’s career was derailed by injury, but when he arrived in the NHL he looked like a real difference maker and that’s no lie. The words above miscast him. 180 NHL games.
18 (22) D Jordan Oesterle. Sign. College. Players. I don’t know if he’s going to be an NHL player but he’s a fast train. Oesterle has some gaps defensively, we saw them at the NHL level. Still, great bet. He played well in the AHL, moving up the depth chart during the season and playing a feature role in the playoffs. A prospect to follow next season. Low trade value, still building. Update: Speed and college defenseman. Sign them all! Oesterle went on to play 408 NHL games, including 37 this season for two teams.
19 (36) L Josh Winquist. I’m not sure they’re going to sign him to an NHL contract, but I sure as hell would do it. If you’ve ‘seen him good’ down in OKC then you know he can be a tremendously effective player at that level. Smart player, really good at finding seams and making the right play. No trade value at all, but I’m a fan. Update: Long pro career, played in the German second league this season.
20 (20) D Brad Hunt. There’s just too much here. I know he’s chaotic defensively in the NHL and hell Hunt may never have a career in the big leagues, but the AHL is a helluva league and he’s crazy good there. I’d absolutely keep him in the system and see if the new coach can find a role for him, hell McLellan might make him a PP God for all we know. Chiarelli may find teams are interested because what he does well is very difficult to accomplish. Update: Sign college defensemen with speed! Played 288 NHL games, and delivered half a season in the AHL this year.
There isn’t much in terms of trade value here, at least not much Chiarelli can trade without badly hurting Edmonton’s future up the middle. I count Bogdan Yakimov, Anton Slepyshev, Marco Roy, Tyler Pitlick and Brad Hunt as holding some value, with only the two Russians being significant assets. I do think an NHL team may come calling for Yakimov in trade and that Chiarelli—looking at a future depth chart of McDavid, Nuge and Leon—might be open to dealing him.
A quick note on the list: With so many (10) selections in a deep draft, there’s a good chance the last four or five names here won’t appear on the list I produce the morning after the draft is over. It’s interesting then to look at these players and their progress over the last year. Josh Winquist, Jordan Oesterle and others are nice stories, and despite being well down the prospect list it’s important to acknowledge a strong season.
21-30
- No. 21: D Ben Betker.
- No. 22: L Curtis Hamilton
- No. 23: L Mitch Moroz
- No. 24: D David Musil
- No. 25: D Martin Gernat
- No. 26: F Tyler Vesel
- No. 27: R Jackson Houck
- No. 28: G Zach Nagelvoort
- No. 29: F Kellen Jones
- No. 30: L Kale Kessy
I was hoping Winnipeg would win for historical reasons; it would have been an exciting matchup. Winnipeg and its fans demonstrated commendable effort. We wish them better luck next year.
NHL 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings – The Athletic
Dom from the Athletic’s model has the following odds for winning Stanley.
1 Oilers 28%
2 Hurricanes 26%
3 Stars 22%
4 Panthers 12%
5 Leafs 11%
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I have zero sympathy for Loserpeg and their loser fans. As a Riders fan and an Oilers fan, they can piss up a rope.
I am also a little drunk* right now.
Bring on the Stars and their hillbilly fans.
*OK, more than a little.
No love lost for either franchise, really.
I have reasons to want to see EDM vanquish either foe.
Piss Up A Rope by Ween.
Slightly annoyed that the NHL is giving Dallas 3 full days off……
Actually, more than “slightly”.
American Airlines Stadium shows a Katy Perry show in there on May 21, also surprised they aren’t going Tuesday/Thursday. Are the dates confirmed?
Yes – starts Wed and every 2nd day (all games at 6 except Sunday (game 3) at 1).
A Sunday Matinee game – Uggh
All games at 6 MST, or 6:30 ish?
I’m going to be hard pressed to make the start of games either way for this series. But at least they won’t end so late, so I won’t be as hard pressed to finish them as before.
I’m OK with the full week off for the Oilers. Halfway through the playoffs. Remember how much the narrative was last year that the Oilers were gassed? That they needed 1-2 series to go short so they had endurance to go the whole way? This.
Stars won in 6 games. Seems reasonable that they get one game day off.
As I said earlier today, while the Stars are clearly an elite team and it will be a very hard series, from watching them in the playoffs, they don’t scare me as much as I thought they would.
They “seem to have depth” but the depth isn’t giving them much at all – they’ve been basically a one line team.
The Oilers have been a much deeper team up front through the playoffs – and they also have the “greater stars”. No offence to Rantanen and Hintz but I’ll take McDavid and Draisaitl.
Miro H. and T. Harley are a very good 1/2 D-punch but their defensive depth is weak (just like last year).
They are not a physical team and I think the Oilers can take a bite out of them physically like the seemed to the Knights.
Jake O. is good and can be great and is playing well but that is the same as last season and the Oilers got to him (and Skinner outplayed him). I feel the Oilers will get to any goalie through the course of a series.
Should be alot of fun – just bought tickets to home game 1 (game 3) – although annoyed that it turned out to be Sunday afternoon (thought it would be Saturday night when I bought).
Agreed, the Stars the last two games do not look as threatening originally thought. Ratanen played nearly 7mins more than every other forward in game 6. They are riding him along with Miro and Hartley hard, and rightfully so. Jake made some primo saves but you have to ask why those saves had to be made in the first place, given how lacklustre the Jets were in offensively skilled plays.
Our depth and physicality should be able to punish their D and secondary lines.
Saves had to be made cause the Dallas D is not that good.
Not sure if you watch Dallas games and can comment on their D core in more detail, but man for man, how do they stack up?
Heiskanen better than Bouch?
Harley better than Nurse?
Lindell assuming worse than Walman?
Codi Ceci…. haha
Bichsel assuming worse than Kulak?
Lyubushkin not as good as playoff Kling or Stecher?
I’m trying to be conservative and assume Eckholm is unavailable for the whole series.
Man, would a healthy Eckholm ever tie that Oilers D core together.
With Eckholm Oilers have a huge D advantage.
Even without Eckholm, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.
Why does that new PK stink so much? Because there is no universe where Harley is that wide open with a more traditional kill. Absurd.
It was off a dump in. The PK was not set in any structure. 2 Jets and 2 Stars went to the puck. Stars won the puck battle and sent it around the net. The extra player (Duchesne) picked up the puck, making it a 3 on 2… Duchesne found Harley and that is all she wrote.
The winger should never chase to the same side when the other is already there. His place is in the slot, max, and closer to the point normally.
Dallas it is.
Next series is effectively the Stanley Cup Final. Whoever wins from Dallas or Edmonton will take it IMO
I’m sure HH will be along momentarily to fill you in on the powerhouse that is the Carolina Hurricanes.
How dare you sir?!?!
Nah he won’t switch to a Canss fans until the Oilers boot the Stars
Oiler vs Stars Part VIII or is it 10 when you include the North Stars? Gonna be a tough out but you don’t win Stanley by beating up the dregs of the league.
Damn. My heart is absolutely broken for Scheifele right now. Like a punch to the gut watching these last two minutes.
Dallas it is. This is known.
Or what delooper said.
3rd period shots: Jets 7 Stars 4.
With 15 seconds left Scheiffle hauled down Steele and penalty shot not called.
Those are the 2 scorers tonight.
Heading into OT 1-1 with Jets shorthanded for 1:45.
Update: Jets do not survive the power play. Finis.
I can’t decide who I want the Oilers to face in the semi-finals. Dallas would help the Oilers deal with their demons from the 90’s. Winnipeg would be a historic event. All I’m sure is I want the Winnipeg-Dallas series to go 7 games, with extended overtimes.
The Dallas demons were exercised last spring, no?
I feel like the Oilers can light up either D core.
The exorcism of the Dallas demons will require about 6 consecutive playoff beatdowns of the team currently known as “Dallas”.
Fair.
Or, we can take it out on LA for their purchase of Gretz.
Or both.
I’m up for some retribution to both franchises. It’s certainly been a long time coming.
Summarizing!
Berry was denied soup and Muskegon couldn’t replicate their overtime magic in losing 3-2. Series is making like Cake and going the distance.
Prospecting takes a break until Game 5 on Tiw’s Day.
He’s not shutdown, he’s not a puck mover. He’s a physical scoring defender (who doesn’t meet expectations at zone exits).
Following the numbers, and keeping things “mostly” the same, on a healthy EDM defensive squad the scratches are likely Nurse and Emberson. Although, credit where credit is due Nurse is second in blocks per 60, to Walman.
Kulak-Bouchard
Ekholm-Stecher
Walman-Klingberg
Stetcher, while playing well, has a drastically small sample size from which to base any conclusive opinions on scratching Nurse in favour of him.
How do Nurse’s numbers look if one takes out the first two games against LA?
The numbers don’t look much different.
The statistical evidence against Nurse has accumulated over three post seasons.
Stecher plays the right side, as you know. If you like the balance that was achieved versus Vegas, provided that Ekholm is 90 percent or better, the numbers point to one player who hasn’t met playoff expectations.
I doubt Coffey would ever do it, but the numbers are screaming it: Ekholm in for Nurse.
How do the numbers look the last two games where Nurse was over 70% expected goals in each game (including one offensive zone start in one of the games), was a combined 3-0 real goals, assisted on the series winner and played the most 5 on 5 minutes in one game (and 2nd in the other, I think)?
So by lawyer logic you take a two game sample over the 47 game sample.
I’m just not sure how much weight I put in those numbers when it would seem the missing context would have to factor in quality of competition.
Ty Emberson, Gord love him, does not face the tier of opposition that Nurse does on a regular (and substantial) basis.
Nurses xGF numbers look fine. If he’s lower than teammates it’s probably due to level of competition. He doesn’t get the McDavid or Drai push like say Bouchard. Right?
Why then does he leak goal over 47 games of post season?
It’s only the 2nd round but now we’re starting to see smothering hockey 1-0 Oilers Leafs game was the same thing. The Refs will continue to put away whistles except delay of game and high sticking calls. As a series gets deeper there’s less and less penalties this is right in the Oilers wheelhouse not only can we roll the best 4 lines our 5th line is not to shabby either. Collectively by far best forward group since the mid eighties. With Skinner digging deep and finding another gear that more than a few of us thought he didn’t have has this team rolling.
Tarik El-Bashir
@Tarik_ElBashir
Alex Ovechkin, on the final media availability of the season, sure sounds like a guy who intends to fulfill his contract, which has one more year on it. “For me—it’s first of all—to make a roster at 40 years old,” Ovi cracked.
@Sportsnet
“I just packed my stuff. I’m going to Hershey… see you there.”
Alex Ovechkin jokes that he’ll be playing for the Hershey Bears next season when asked about his future.
I do like how him and Sid just refuse to quit
Not sure if this was posted the other day, but Samwise is now a shepperding Senators.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/sam-gagner-ends-playing-career-takes-role-with-ottawa
It was posted earlier, but you’re not HH so your posts are welcomed haha
I’m oddly excited to watch a Jets/Stars game……
TMI
End of year avail for Mcrimmon saying no excuses we didn’t do enough yadda yadda.
Then goes on to mention the OT they lost with the missed call on Arvi changed the series.
It was still 5 on 5 Kelly, if your team folded from that you didn’t deserve to win imo. Series was 2-0, Florida and Edmonton both clawed back from those.
Cassidy was intelligent, also mentioned Minny was alot harder on them than ppl gave them credit for. Watch out for them next year.
Kelly McCrimmon implicitly blaming the refs is a bit rich. Both Edmonton and Vegas received 15 penalties each, and Vegas actually won the special teams battle 3-1. Let’s not forget the non-suspension for Roy either—thanks to the ever-consistent Department of Player Safety.
Blaming the officiating is easier, though, than admitting what really happened: Vegas lost the goaltending battle (worst save percentage of the second round at just 87.18%), couldn’t generate offense at 5v5 (only 2.02 GF/60, bottom half of the second round), and had “stars” like Pietrangelo and Stone who just aren’t elite difference-makers anymore.
I’m glad to hear McCrimmon is blaming the refs. Clouds the mind from fixing the real issue this off season.
My personal favourite oiler drafted player that didn’t quite “crush it” but was undeniably an NHL player:
Matts Lindgren
Much younger me was convinced we had a star on our hands
For a while that was Tony Salmelainen.
Except Lindgren was actually drafted by the Jets.
He went to the Oilers with Bobo Mironov in a trademark Sather fleecing.
Nathaniel Day is also writing his story. For me, FWIW, he is my current favourite prospect to follow.
His numbers in the ECHL, albeit small samples, are very intriguing. This is a player that has generally been overlooked in the organization because his CHL stats are so unimpressive. As a result, I think he gave off Dylan Wells vibes, and you can lump me in there.
But Flint played the hell out of Day the past 2 seasons and became their starter in the back half of his Draft year. He played in 122 of Flint’s 145 games, including playoffs. He had a record of 52-58-8 and had a 3+ GAA and a sub 0.900 Save Percentage.
In Fort Wayne, he played in 8 games, 5 in the playoffs and 3 regular season games and had a 4-1-1 record, with a 1.62 GAA and a save percentage of 0.933.
Day is a very athletic 6’4” goaltender. With a decent team in front of him he may very well prove to be a bonafide NHL prospect.
That being said, if Vinni gets back to full-time play next season, the goaltending prospect depth on this team, in my opinion, will present itself as the most promising in Oilers history.
I was definitely following his run with the Comets and will do so next year as well. I think he’s a real prospect.
Per Sin Bib Vegas:
Thx.
That is an astounding compliment!
Sin Bib: something that only happens and should stay in Vegas. What if we had told him that they had the lowest SV% of the second round? Does he still figure they win?
Everything the same at practice today except Arvidsson in Brown’s spot.
Brown not on ice.
I haven’t listened to coach yet but I suspect illness.
Coach says maintenance day and that he will not miss any time.
This pretty much works on every goalie but the traffic on Kuemper and especially Hill was very effective. I do think we can get inside Oettinger head with traffic Kane-Perry-Hyman are all very smart at creating traffic taking away Jake’s eyes. Even with Vegas big-ugly-nasty D we were able to get inside Hill’s head Oettinger can also be thrown off his game.
It’s a big deal that the Oilers have learned how to score the non fancy way. Could also be the forwards they changed
I watched some Leafs, and while they won they really weren’t getting much traffic, and Bob wasn’t giving an easy one. They also weren’t elevating the puck, and the broadcast was saying he’s the best along the ice in the league, pretty hard to beat him there. When they did get guys there, often they were there looking for a rebound but not actually screening. Perry is so good at screening while being ready for a deflection or rebound
A lot of times when fans way the team got beat by the goalie, it’s really that the team wasn’t playing in a way that would successfully create offense. If the Oilers stay committed to doing what they have to to score I like there chances. Some games things might go so that they can have more off the rush, or room to pass it around the O zone. But if not get in the goalies face
Foegele-McLeod both speed demons but afraid of their own shadows. Foegele has the make-up of a John Tonelli but he seems to disappear when the games get heavy. I expect Kane-Frederic-Brown-Perry-Hyman-Janmark-Pod-Arvy to score at least 1 goal against Dallas preferably the uglier the better.
Samanski and Leppänen each with a helper this day.
What’s up with our #64 pick in 2024 draft Eemil Vinni? The stats only have him in 1 game this year.
One of the biggest goalie prospects in Finnish hockey, Eemil Vinni, 19, will continue his career next season in Mestis. Vinni, who has been suffering from injuries, has signed a one-year contract with Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat. Vinni underwent back surgery last summer, as a result of which the goalie only played nine games this season. One of them in HIFK’s representative team, one in Kiekko-Vantaa’s Mestis team and seven in HIFK’s U20 team.
Vinni is considered a really high-class prospect, as the Edmonton Oilers drafted the youngster in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Juho Ahopelto, 26, will continue as the second goalie of Kiekko-Pojat. Juho Markkanen, who has had the main responsibility in goal this season, will not continue in Joensuu next season.
He is still very highly thought of by some of top goaltending prospect evaluators.
Health is a massive concern for this player.
Even with the mention of him playing Mestis again next season, I wonder whether he might get taken in the CHL Import Draft.
Starting next season, CHL teams can have three Euros, so the draft has been expanded to three rounds. Vinni is 19, turning 20 in December.
Is it all 3 leagues?
I thought it was just WHL with 3 Euros…
All three.
Imagine London getting away with it yet again, and going for a third Championship in a row!
Per Rishaug:
Mark Scheifele’s father passed away over night.
Awful to hear (read).
Murat Ates
@WPGMurat
Kevin Cheveldayoff shares that Mark Scheifele’s dad passed away last night. Scott Arniel is back at the team hotel speaking with Scheifele now.
It is too soon to know whether or not he will play tonight. The team asks that the Scheifele family’s privacy is respected at this time
Mark Scheifele is playing tonight!
Stars fans on X already planning the standing ovation.
Classy.
I hope he plays and scores 3 for his dad. These moments remind us that the hockey games matter a lot less than all the other aspects of these men’s lives. My thoughts are with him. So tough.
The worst.
Hope he lights it up tonight.
Also hope panthers keep the chirps respectful.
10 years later and Edmonton is signing NCAA players, as well as Euro players.
Lowetide, how do you think the players that they’ve signed so far this year compare to the players in this post?
The Finnish defenseman Agro Leppanen and the Swedish league forward (David Tomasek) who led his league in points are going to be heard from right away. I think those two will get most of the attention this fall.
As for the underlying talents, I am most intrigued by Quinn Hutson.
My favourite among the draft picks who signed is Samuel Jonsson. I think he’ll be a big story in the next 12 months.
Interesting that you noted Hutson. I saw his first game and even squinting I didn’t see an NHL player (too small & too slow) – it’ll be fun to watch how he develops. Hope I’m wrong
Agreed
I would suggest some AHL development time will be required but I’m not going to put too much stock in to a couple of games in the dog days, with an injured Oilers lineup, and skating with Max Jones.
Leppanen is a very unique player. He looks different, kinda reminds me of a middle aged beer leaguer when he is standing waiting for faceoff. He moves and plays very different, lots of subtlety to his game, he is an exceptional puck mover, big brain.
I think his defending will be a detriment and his skating is very average. I am very intrigued to see how he looks with NHL players on an NHL sized rink. I see an interesting player with limited NHL potential.
Keep in mind I was a huge fan of Yohann Auvitu and thought (still do) he was an NHL player. The coach ignored the numbers and used the eye test to judge the player. These risk-averse HC’s are to the detriment of unique talents like these. I really hope Paul Coffey is still on staff next season….
I think Carfagna will be exciting to follow, his tools are very intriguing.
Slepyshev was a player. Sad that the org wasn’t in a place to refine.
Because of the Jack Campbell buyout the Oilers have 2.6 million against the cap next two seasons then 1.5 the year after that. Can the buyout be traded? For example a 1st round pick? Just curious
No it cannot.
A little luck with Leon too. I believe Leon choosing the WHL rather than the OHL is the only reason he wasn’t 1st overall. Big centres like Leon in the OHL seem to get more hype.
It was also only until he was traded to the Rockets that he really took off. At the time though, I actually really wanted him. And the name was great. Everyone loves German Gretzky.
I disagree, his draft year in Prince Albert was pretty darn good.
64gp and 38-67-105
You disagree that I wanted him?
What I was trying to convey was, the player that was lighting up Germany was playing like Kopitar for his draft. Which is very good, and what we needed at the time.
He then became something else when he returned and was traded to Kelowna. Not just Kopitar with skating, either. I mean beyond even that.
I think the shift had a lot to do with playing for a middling team and going to a stacked club that could wheel. He was productive in PA, but really took off when he was surrounded by more talent.
Yeah, I would have taken him first overall without hindsight. So many years looking for a big skilled centre.
It took me years of being an Oilers fan to pay attention to any draft pick past the first round leading up to the draft.
Around 2009, I started posting at Oilers message board and HF Boards. I started looking as far down as the second or third round picks.
Shortly after that I found LT’s former blogspot website.
Now if I fail to recall important information, I have LT to thank that I’ve wasted precious mental RAM cluttered with names of failed Oilers prospects dating back to Slava Trukhno. Lt, you had a way of crafting their stories with hope and promise that was interesting and memorable.
You’re welcome! If you started in 2009, then you missed the Burninator, Trogdor, the defenseman who actively tried to hurt himself and my obsession with Marc Pouliot. 🙂
Marco Roy was an interesting pick. There’s a backstory there. He was a Parkatti selection.
Even with smart math, you’re not going to be batting 1000 at the draft. It sounds like that what the org expected. When that pick didn’t pan out, the org lost faith in analytics which set us back years.
Hard to imagine the irony that the org’s faith in analytics hinged on an n of 1.
Glad he’s back in the fold.
I still maintain Roy was poorly handled. He played fourth line minutes and PK, and outscored a mile of signed prospects. There’s a story there alright.
I hope our PP is going to go back to simply siphon pucks to the net for Hyman-Perry. The passing it around for a minute trying to get Leon or Bouchard the perfect look is not working. If you get pucks to the net it leads to scrambly play which then results in a P.K breakdown.
Both can work, but the Oilers (as you imply) are too predictable. Move feet, add wrinkles, keep them guessing.
This right here ☝️, the Oilers are stationary and it’s too easy for defenders to get into lanes. (Predictable)
I don’t care how they do it, I just hope they do it.
I would like KK to try using both Hyman and Perry on PP1. Nuge off. Clog the crease and get dirty.
I would like them to try the Neal-Chaisson scrambly type of opportunities Bouchard-Connor-Nuge instead of trying to wire a shot just get it to the net kinda like the OT goal.
Nuge is too good along the left wall. He’s constantly keeping plays alive. Rotating Hyman and Perry in keeps the net front fresh while the others guys whip it around.
Was about to reply with something similar, just less well put.
The PP without its witch is demonstrably less effective.
Nugent-Hopkins has demonstrated over and over again that he is as critical to the power play as McDavid and Draisaitl. Multiple people have played the point, and multiple people have played the net front, with little to no dropoff.
I want to say it’s almost a ten percent drop off in results when RNH is sick/injured and not on the PP. This is a huge sample size too, it’s very stark.
Nuge is criminally underrated for the role he plays on the PP. He’s a really, really good playmaker.
I’m no expert but I’d say degree of difficulty for hitting home runs at the draft increased significantly between Messier and Leon’s draft. Not saying it makes Leon the top
pick either, but getting the best player at the draft anywhere but number 1 seems like it’s a lot tougher these days than 40 years ago.
Definitely much higher informational advantage that was exploited in the 21 draft (Johnston). Many drafts still have stories to tell, and agree the ‘top’ of the draft is where you get the gamebreakers. And of course, YMMV.
21-Johnston (23)
20- Stutzle(3)
18- Hughes (7)
17- Makar (4)
14- Leo (3)
12- Forsberg (11) honourable mention Slavin (120)
11- Kucherov (58)
10- Seguin (2) Stone (178)
Of the 11 year sample, the best player (my opinion) went 1st 4 times, top 5 8 times. Some drafts are deeper too; Dahlin is no slouch and Hall isn’t far from Seguin at all.
Thar be gems in any draft.
Could also add Johnny Gaudreau (104) as an HM.
12- Forsberg (11) honourable mention Slavin (120)
I think Vasilevsky (19) deserves an HM here, and Colton Parayko (86) as well.
2013 saw Jake Guentzel (77) drafted late and he’s remained a productive playoff player away from Crosby.
Brayden Point (79) was an astute selection by TBL that continues to pay dividends.
2015’s draft steal was easily Kirill Kaprizov (135).
2016 saw NJD unearth Jesper Bratt (162) very late. While not a gamebreaker, he’s easily the best late pick from that year. Maybe Adam Fox (66) qualifies as a game breaker, and he was certainly chosen late.
I think you’d have to include Evan Bouchard (10), no? What he gives up to Thin Hughes in regular season production, he eclipses in the playoffs. And he’s certainly a game breaker to these eyes.
2019 had an interesting mid first round cluster of Matt Boldy (12) and Cole Caufield (15). Both are the types of players who can come up big in clutch situations.
Seth Jarvis (13) is a contender for a draft steal, but probably a notch below a game breaker.
Agreed about gems being available all throughout the draft. But I think luck and chance plays an enormous factor that’s impossible to quantify.
Dallas Stars:
2015: Roope Hintz #49
2017: Jake Oettinger #26 Jason Robertson #39
2018: Oscar Back #75
2019: Thomas Harley #18
2020: Mavrik Bourque #30
2021: Wyatt Johnson #23 Logan Stankhoven #47
2022: Lian Bischel #18
All of the above are currently active in the 2025 playoffs so it seems there might be a little more than luck involved.
TBY had incredible drafting with Al Murray nailing picks from the nosebleeds.
Sure, I was picking my opinion on the best player from the draft, not necessarily steals. 2015 it’s Mcdavid, 2013 is Mackinnon. 2018 was Ty Dellandrea for the unstoppable Stars.
We know the value of Bouch, I think Hughes on the Oilers would yield similar or better results. Purely my opinion.
Yeah that’s absolutely fair.
I was focused a bit too much on your use of the term gamebreaker, and got thinking about late round picks who can have an outsized impact on the ice (Gaudreau, et al). The gems, as it were.
Your list was who you saw as the best in class, makes more sense now.
MORNING LT. Does it feel like we are destined to play the jets in think so. Also I went back to try to read mcdavid draft article back in April of 2015 and it’s gone 🙁
I’ve pulled back the distant past in hopes the blog runs better. It still exists, though. I also made the 2015 ‘harvest moon’ available for you.
https://lowetide.ca/2015/06/26/oilers-at-no-1-connor-mcdavid/
https://lowetide.ca/2015/06/27/harvest-moon-2015/
Thank you LT so much
LT Picked;
97
Eriksson Ek
Dermott
Bear
Lauzon
Kolesar
Holy hell good thing math is for nerds these guys all stink. Anytime Chiarelli applies for a job that draft should be on slide 1.
If memory serves me, and I have not confirmed, but I believe the Oil have never won the cup without defeating the Peg in the playoffs. Bring on Winnipeg.
Be careful what you wish for.
I am not saying that facing Winnipeg or Dallas is better or worse. It is probably just better not to express an opinion. One should probably also not be superstitious. The Jets arguably broke the pattern when they defeated the Oilers in the post-pandemic season playoffs.
I can steel man why either opponent would be better or worse. Let Dallas and Winnipeg decide it.
They’re both quality opponents to face from a narrative perspective.
Beating DAL again would be both plausible, and succulent revenge for the late-90s and early 2000s. I’m still bitter (enough so that ABC became ABC&D to me).
In the history of EDM winning cups, the road runs through WPG. Always. So that would be huge as a harbinger of success. And recompense for the 2021 sweep that was closer than a sweep implies.
Most importantly, I think both teams are entirely beatable by this version of the Oilers.
Based on where they were drafted, Messier, Anderson, and Kurri were “better” picks than Draisaitl.
And arguably, the game of backgammon between Nelson Skalbania and Michael Gobuty was more significant game of partially skilled based chance than the 2015 Draft lottery.
History rhymes.
If I had said “the greatest Oilers draft pick of all time” then your post makes sense. What I said was “Update: One of the greatest draft picks of all time. Full stop.” So, in my opinion, your post is picking a nit. Unusual for you.
Arguably Coffey at #6 If Your starting a team who would you take Coffey or Leon? I myself would lean towards Leon I do think Coffey’s game would translate wonderfully in today’s N.H.L.
Dude, Gobuty in WPG had the first offer ot purchase Gretzky’s rights. He turned it down on advice of his GM (too small, too expensive), THEN Skalbania and Pocklington played the backgammon game.
Or so the legend goes.
— Brave AI search results
https://mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/this-game-can-rip-your-heart-out/
Skalbania’s deal was with Gobuty however, and Gobuty was offering cash while Pocklington liked to barter with art and automobiles. Gobuty would not finalize the deal though until he’d spoken with his General Manager Pilous who was waiting in Winnipeg. Noting this, Skalbania challenged Gobuty to a backgammon game. If Skalbania won, he could offer Gretzky guilt-free to the Edmonton Oilers for a higher price should Winnipeg pass on the deal. They played and Skalbania won the game.
That’s awesome.
All these years I thought it was PP on the plane playing backgammon.
Thanks.
There is a still a lot of obfuscation about whether a backgammon game between Skalbania and Gobuty actually occured.
Skalbania and Pocklington supposedly did settle some business deals with backgammon, but not the Gretzky deal.
The precise mechanism of the deal is still obscured by fog.
Love it.
This feels like the central point of a great movie. Something like Rush or The Big Short or Wolf of Wall Street. The entire movie happens across the game of backgammon (didn’t it happen on a plane?).
I’d want Christopher Nolan to direct, but it would probably be Scorcese and it would take wayyyy too long.
Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse is a pretty good 1-2 at the top of a prospects list.
But a whole lot of nothing after the top 2. I really thought Yakimov, Betker, Platzer and Chase would be at least bottom of the roster NHLers in Edmonton. This is very common, but would be nice to see 4 or 5 success stories over every 2-3 seasons.
Prospect following in this organization has been mostly very disappointing over the last many, many years.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I still remain hopeful.
Graveyards for most teams are similar. Tampa outperformed deeper in the draft in the 10’s but also whiffed on first rounders.
10- Connolly at 6
11- Namestnikov at 27, not a whiff
12- Koekkoek at 10
13- Drouin at 3
14 – Deangelo 19, not a whiff technically.
17 – Cal Foote 14
After that it was rare for them to pick r1. They lucked out deeper in the draft so i dont blame them for going scorched earth on the 1st rounders since they were doing well below average on that.
Prospectindle!
Muskegon is one win away from claiming the league crown, which would put a fine end to Bauer Berry’s USHL career.
Speqking of, his apple yesternight gave him 27 points in 137 regular season and playoff games.
Puck drops @ 4 p.m. Hill Spring time.