Monthly Archives: June 2016

Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Oilers Draft Goalie, Finn, and Another Dman To Complete 2016 Draft

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Dylan Wells was the Oilers first pick in the 5th round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Wells, a goalie for the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, was ranked tenth in North America by NHL Central Scouting and TSN’s Bob McKenzie had him at 55th.

I seen his numbers and the first thing I thought was Kevin Bouchard. Great, another wasted pick but his team wasn’t great this year and from all accounts he’ll be tasked with taking the reigns in Peterborough next season.

Date of birth: January 3rd, 1998
Place of birth: St. Catharines, ON
Ht: 6’2″  Wt: 183 lbs
Catches: Left

“One of the top goaltender prospects in the class, he has confidence, concentration and rebound control. Tracks puck very well and almost always makes the first save. Attacks rebounds with his soft pads and works his tail off in games and in practice. Has shown he can carry the heavy load game after game. Traffic in front doesn’t faze him, and plays the angles well.” – Bill Placzek, Draftsite.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG-bETwbkzE

At #149, the Oilers took Graham McPhee. The son of former NHL GM and one of the “toughest SOBs in NHL History for his size” according to Bob Stauffer, George McPhee. Very high level of compete and given his bloodline, not a surprise. The Younger McPhee is slated to go to Boston College next season. A long-term project surely.

Graham McPhee

BIRTHYEAR: 1998-07-24
BIRTHPLACE: Bethesda, MD, USA
AGE: 17
NATION: USA / Canada
POSITION: LW
SHOOTS: L
HEIGHT: 5’11”
WEIGHT: 172 lbs

“”Graham is a solid two-way player with a solid compete level,” NHL Central Scouting’s Greg Rajanen said. “He battles hard, sees and protects the puck well.”

Aapeli Rasanen

At pick #153, the Oilers went back to Finland to select right-handed centre Aapeli Rasanen. He joins countrymen Jesse Puljujarvi and Markus Niemelainen as 2016 draft picks of the Oilers. He was ranked #157 by ISS.

I dig this pick because Rasanen is all business and he’s a right-handed pivot, something the Oilers pipeline could use. He’s a self-proclaimed 200ft player but he’ll take some time. He might be headed over to the USHL, so keep an eye on this fella.

BIRTHYEAR 1998-06-01
BIRTHPLACE: Tampere, FIN
AGE 18
POSITION C
SHOOTS R
HEIGHT 6’0″
WEIGHT 196 lbs

“All signs point towards this special teams dynamo becoming one of the better two-way players this draft produces. Not only does he do it all on the ice — playmaking, speed, escapability, tenacity, versatility — but he’s a student of the game who spends time honing his craft away from the rink. Rasanen clubbed the international circuit to a tune of almost a point per game, and he’s close to 200 pounds before turning 18 in June. He won’t disappoint teams in search of skill players, but the fact that he forechecks and backchecks better than most of his draft peers makes him even more desirable. In a draft thin on two-way types with a strong understanding of both sides of the red line, there’s a strong possibility Rasanen gets gobbled up earlier than anticipated. He’s strong at the dot and can be leaned on for tough checking assignments, yet he has a hunter’s mindset in that he is always looking to make opponents pay for the slightest mistake. Rasanen is a very good skater with a variety of moves to get inside the offensive zone, and he immediately identifies multiple pass options and greets them with a clean, crisp set-up. Rasanen has excellent work habits and should be groomed for positions of significant responsibility.” – Steve Kournianos, The Draft Analyst

With the last pick, number 183, the Oilers selected overage defenceman Vincent Desharnais out of Providence College. HA! The Oilers just couldn’t resist… Desharnais spent some time in the BCHL before committing to Providence. Large frame with few penalty minutes?… Hope he’s good at moving the puck or else this is a failed pick. I mean it’s the 7th round and all but if there’s a better player there, why not pick him?

BIRTHYEAR: 1996-05-29
BIRTHPLACE: Laval, QC, CAN
AGE 20
POSITION D
SHOOTS R
HEIGHT 6’6″
WEIGHT 209 lbs

That’s it folks! Surely there’ll be a Oilers draft review coming shortly but I’m bushed and could use a break from the desk! How do you feel about the draft picks? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Oilers Get Defensive In Third Round

The third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft garnered some very nice defensive prospects for the Edmonton Oilers.

#63 – Markus Niemelainen (D) Saginaw (OHL)
#84 – Matthew Cairns (D), Georgetown (OJHL)
#91 – Filip Berglund (D), Skelleftea (SHL)

I love that the Oilers decided to address an organizational need here but I’d have loved for them to grab a goalie here or address some skill at forward. Surprised David Quenneville wasn’t selected because Matt Cairns is completely off the map. I expect them to touch on the forwards and at least one goalie in the 5th round as the don’t have a 4th round pick.

The Oilers first pick in the third round had them take Markus Niemelainen. The towering Finn is a left-shooting defender that plays the right side.

Bob Stauffer pegged him as a late first rounder and he wasn’t the only pundit that had Niemelainen ranked in or near the 1st round. The Oilers might feel as if they’ve gotten another player who could’ve been a 1st round player.

Team: Saginaw Spirit(OHL)
Position: Defense
Height:6’6″  Weight: 205 lbs.
Shoots: Left
Stats: 65 games 1 goal, 26 assists, 27 points, -23

“Niemelainen’s calling card is his defensive game, but his developing offensive skills go largely unnoticed playing for a rebuilding squad in Saginaw. While he still doesn’t post eye-popping numbers, Niemelainen is very low-risk in his style of play and can be counted on in any situation. He is very good at making the first pass out of his own zone, and can stretch the ice with a long pass. In the offensive zone, he has a booming shot that is a weapon on the power play as well as at even strength. He isn’t one to carry the puck and quarterback the play, but he is no slouch offensively and is quite good at handling the puck.” – Joseph Aleong, The Hockey Writers

The Oilers second pick in the third round seen them take Matthew Cairns, a defenceman out of the Ontario Junior Hockey league. I’ll be honest, this one is WAAAAY off the radar. From what I can gather he’s a more offensive defenceman putting up 9 goals and 24 assists in 46 games for the Georgetown Raiders. He’s slated to go to Cornel in 2017, so he’s got one more year playing for Georgetown.

He was also coached by former Oiler Paul Coffey. Not sure if you know him or not.

“The Ontario Jr. A League doesn’t produce a ton of NHL draft picks these days, but there’s always a couple good reps – such as Jake Walman or Jake Evans, in recent years. Cairns will be a flagbearer in 2016 thanks to his big frame (he’s 6-foot-2, 190 already) and great skating ability from the back end. His Raiders are in the league final and Cairns is tied for tops among OJHL defensemen with 14 points through 17 games.” – Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News

The Oilers picked a right-handed overage Swedish defender Filip Berglund with their third pick in the 3rd round. He comes out of the Skelleftea hockey club in Sweden. I had the Oilers taking him in my extensive mock draft earlier in the week.

BIRTHYEAR: 1997-05-10
BIRTHPLACE: Skellefteå, SWE
AGE: 19
POSITION: D
SHOOTS: R
HEIGHT: 190 cm / 6’3″
WEIGHT: 95 kg / 209 lbs
STATS: 43gp 19g 22a 41pts 6PIM 8+/- 

“A big and strong two-way defenseman with good hockey sense and passing ability. Valuable on the man advantage with a strong release and good puck control. Not a speedster and should use his large frame to his advantage.” (EP 2016)

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Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Oilers Take Local Boy With 2nd Rounder

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The Edmonton Oilers selected Vancouver Giants Captain Tyler Benson with their 2nd rounder 32nd overall. I’m skeptical of this pick because, and I don’t really know if there’s a true correlation here apart from the obvious, but he reminds me of Tyler Pitlick. Difference being he’s smarter but is not on the same level skating-wise and I’m always weary of players who have an injury history in junior. I should probably holster that opinion though as we’ve seen players like Alex Galchenyuk and Ryan Murray come out okay and become very good NHLers.

Some believe that the Oilers might feel as if they’ve gotten another 1st round pick here in Benson. I hope his injury troubles behind him and I can’t wait to see him play! Bob Stauffer described him as a lesser version of Dustin Brown. He could be an interesting player in a couple years for the Oilers.

Stauffer loved the pick!

What do you think about the pick? Let me know in the comments section under the Youtube clip of Benson below.

Position: Center/Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0 196 lbs
Born: March 15, 1998, Edmonton, AB

“He is a nightmare to defend because he is as physically punishing with the puck as he is without it. There are only a few of his 2016 draft-eligible peers (Auston Matthews in particular) who makes successful on-the-spot corrections once a chance to create offense in a specific area of the ice is no longer an option. Benson is very shifty with tremendous balance, meaning he can continue to move if he gets hit at the same time he decides to change direction. Possessing the kind of vision and IQ he owns makes it no surprise the CHL came close to giving him “exceptional” status to play a full season as a 15 year old (cut short by a knee injury).” – Steve Kounianos, The Draft Analyst

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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects, Rumors, Trades

What Does It All Mean For Eberle and Yakupov?

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Yesterday the hockey gods pulled one out of their back pocket for the Edmonton Oilers and somehow tricked the Columbus Blue Jackets into taking Pierre Luc Dubois over Jesse Puljujarvi. The Oilers were so taken aback that they didn’t even prepare a nameplate for the grinning Finn. Immediately Oilers fans started sending their goodbyes to Jordan Eberle and to a lesser extent, Nail Yakupov. But I think we need to step back and take a look at this roster before we punt those two out of town.

AN AMAZING TOP NINE

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Pouliot – McDavid – Eberle
Hall – Draisaitl – Yakupov
Maroon – Nugent-Hopkins – Puljujarvi

WHAT?! That’s ridiculous…

Ideally you’re not going to want to put Puljujarvi on a line with two younger players, right? You’d keep Eberle with McDavid and Pouliot because that line had some success. Hall and Draisaitl came on like gangbusters last year but tailed off but having Yak on that line would add a different element; and then you have Puljujarvi lining up alongside Pat Maroon and Nugent-Hopkins thus insulating him a bit.

THE OILERS SPECIAL TEAMS

IF everything pans out the Edmonton Oilers finally have a right-handed winger who can actually one-time the puck. That is going to be a huge asset on their power-play as Jordan Eberle does not have said one-timer, actually you can probably give it at least two Mississippis before he releases the puck. Puljujarvi changes the complection of the power-play units in such an amazing way.

As for the penalty kill, Pulju has the speed and hockey IQ to be an asset there as well but I don’t expect him to see him there next year unless to give the regular penalty killers a rest.

SOMEBODY HAS TO GO

Well this is the pink elephant in the room isn’t it. We’re all expecting Yakupov to go but what if they kept the Russian and played him alongside McDavid for the year, then dealt him off? His cap hit is reasonable and there’s still tons of potential there for him to put 20 goals up easily.

But maybe the Oilers should hold on to Eberle, that would give the Oilers two ELITE right-handed snipers and that is something not a lot of teams could boast in having.

DRAFT DAY TWO MOVES

The problem is that the Oilers still need to get that upgrade on defence. As far as I know, today should be the day that Yak is actually moved but he might not be the only one. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins seems to be the name being tossed about in trade rumours and Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was in fact seen talking to Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher on the draft floor yesterday leading some to speculate that the Oilers are looking at one of their young dmen.

Jared Spurgeon is the guy that the Oilers could be looking at. He’s one of the best puck movers in the NHL and of course he’s a local boy. I’ll be honest though, I’m not sure how much Chiarelli buys into the local boy stuff but my theory will be tested today as Vancouver Giants captain Tyler Benson is still available and lots of Oilers pundits are expecting his name to be called by the Oilers in the 2nd round.

Edmonton could also be looking at Jonas Brodin, a good friend of current Oilers blueliner Oscar Klefbom. He can play the right side even though he shoots left, so if he’s actually acquired by Edmonton I’ll be under the impression that other deals for a right-handed defenseman broke down.

Then there’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ former teammate, Matt Dumba. He’s the highest risk/reward of the three. He’s a big time hitter (ask NHL MVP Pat Kane) and he’s got a cannon of a right shot but he’s very unpredictable and I’m not sure that’d be something Todd McLellan would be interested in. I watched him at the World Championships and he looked lost. So there’s that…

Any way you cut it, the Oilers won the draft lottery again. They got one of the Finns they were coveting and the Oilogosphere is a sane place to be in again.

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Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Oilers Draft Next Jari Kurri: Puljujarvi Falls to No.4

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In the day’s first surprise, the Columbus Blue Jackets went a little off the board and selected forward Pierre Luc Dubois. This left Oilers fans with mouths gaping wide open and then collective cheers could be heard across the entire city of Edmonton. Jesse Puljujarvi had fallen to the Oilers at no.4!

The Oilers are getting the best two-way forward apart from Auston Matthews. He’s been likened to Teemu Selanne with regards to his speed and shot but he’s also very smart on the ice and absolutely dominated players of his own age. That being said, he fared pretty well playing against men in the Finnish league.

2015-16 Team: Oulun Karpat (#9)
Date of Birth: May 7th, 1998
Place of Birth: Alvkarleby, Sweden
Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 203 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing

2015-2016 Kärpät Liiga 50 13 15 28 22 | Playoffs 10 4 5 9 2 
Kärpät Champions HL 13 0 2 2 6 |        

Now considering that the Oilers have a complete lack of right-handed shooters, will they still move Jordan Eberle? Could this be Nail Yakupov’s dream come true? Theoretically, the Oilers could trade Eberle to shore up the D and Yak would finally get his spot in the top 6. I mean Chia could use this as an opportunity to pump and dump Yak because we know that Puljujarvi is playing in Edmonton next year.

I’d caution from trading Eberle though. Having two elite right-handed snipers is something a lot of teams don’t have and the Oilers powerplay could finally get going. But if the Oilers don’t deal a Nuge, Eberle, or Hall to upgrade their defence; they’re not going to make the playoffs.

Craig Button couldn’t help himself as soon as it was known that Puljujarvi would be an Edmonton Oiler and made the obvious correlation to the legendary Gretzky/Kurri duo. I reckon Puljujarvi might sound a bit closer to Esa Tikkanen when he talks but that makes no difference to me.

I’m stoked! As soon as the Blue Jackets named Dubois at no.3, the hairs stood up on my arms and I knew the Oilers would be getting that right-winger they’ve been craving. It’s all happening folks!

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