Category Archives: NHL Entry Draft

Beer League Hero, Keith Fries, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

@Keithfries Mid-Season 2020 NHL Draft Rankings WITH Top-15 Mock Draft Included!

Hello, Heroes! Welcome back to another round of draft talk. 

Last time, I promised you guys a top-100 ranking which you can find in the images below.  

Additionally, an early mock lottery draft was promised and here that is, as well. Thanks to the folks at tankathon.com for providing a draft simulator – in which: San Jose, Montreal, and Anaheim moved up into the top-3 spots, respectively. 

1. Ottawa Senators (San Jose Sharks) – Alexis Lafreniere (LW) – Rimouski, QMJHL

This couldn’t have worked out better for Ottawa who are in need of a quick rebuild with a big ol’ Band-Aid to cover up their scars. While teams are always looking to build down the middle, Lafreniere’s potential as a franchise-level talent matches, if not exceeds, that of a first-line center. 

BLH’s Pick: No doubt, the Sens take the elite goal-scoring Lafreniere here and hope he doesn’t turn out like the last one they picked 1st overall… I don’t even know who to compare this guy to. He shoots like Stamkos, handles the puck like Nugent-Hopkins, sees the ice like Crosby, and hits like Tkachuk. He’s also got that “it” factor so many people respect Jonathan Toews for. He’ll be an impact player immediately. 

2. Montreal Canadiens – Quinton Byfield (C) – Sudbury, OHL

Montreal have been looking for a new face of their club and a true #1-Centerman to anchor their top-6, and Byfield is the godsend they’ve been praying for. With ideal NHL size and skill, already, I’d expect Montreal wouldn’t waste time getting him into the line-up – possibly alongside Max Domi. 

BLH’s Pick: If this is how the draft lottery played out, I wonder how hard Marc Bergevin would work to try and get to 1st overall? That said, he has to go with the next Evgeni Malkin here in Byfield. The way that this behemoth controls the ice when he has the puck will leave Habs fans with mouths agape on a nightly basis. Montreal would surely be a team to reckon within three years having Byfield, Suzuki, and Kotkaniemi as part of their spine. 

3. Anaheim Ducks – Tim Stutzle (C/LW) – Mannheim, DEL

I don’t know why but the Ducks seem to always select the player I’d like the Kings to select. Anywho, Stutzle has risen in many rankings and holds a solid billing as a top-5 selection. Anaheim adds another offensive, playmaking, dynamo into their system – a strong 1-2-punch with Trevor Zegras.

BLH’s Pick: I’m not sold Stutzle will get taken this high nor would Anaheim take him. They’ve got lots of talent coming at forward but nothing really on defense. Jamie Drysdale makes a lot of sense here for the Ducks in my opinion. A slick puck-moving defender whose hockey IQ is off the charts. Anybody else reminded of ex-Duck Scott Neidermayer here? 

4. Detroit Red Wings – Yaroslav Askarov (G) – St. Petersburg, MHL

Detroit is still in the midst of a full-on rebuild and it likely won’t be another 3-5 seasons until they’re back to being the club that made the playoffs 25 years in a row. Goaltenders take a bit longer than skaters to develop and, by the time Detroit’s ready to make a run, Askarov will fit in nicely like a custom fit glove.

BLH’s Pick: Now here I could see Steve Yzerman going with another German. Stutzle is flashy and clever like Stevie Y used to be and the Red Wings will be envisioning a 1-2 punch of Zadina and Stutzle driving them to future Stanley Cups. Throw Joe Veleno in there and someday Detroit might have a line that could remind folks of who they’ve got running the show in Boston right now. 

5. Los Angeles Kings – Lucas Raymond (RW) – Frolunda, SHL

The Kings end up with the worst scenario, again, falling from the 2nd-overall slot down to the 5th. But, with Raymond still on the board, the Kings may have found their final piece to their future-forward puzzle. LA hasn’t been shy about their affinity with Swedish-born prospects and Raymond seems like a natural fit.

BLH’s Pick: I agree with Keith here. Raymond terrorizing defenses on the wing alongside Alex Turcotte will provide maximum entertainment for years to come. This guy should probably be a top-3 pick to be honest, but for whatever reason, he’s not been able to stick. He doesn’t get a lot of TOI with his team in the SHL mind you. So I would say that has something to do with it but he sure impresses on the international stage. Such a smart and talented hockey player. 

6. New Jersey Devils – Jamie Drysdale (D) – Erie, OHL

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Devils continue to build up their prospect pool with as much forward talent as they can get their hands on, but Drysdale’s offensive skillset from the backend could prove to be the point producer that New Jersey is seeking.

BLH’s Pick: Alexander Holtz would give the Devils a ridiculous youth core and NJ a bonafide scoring threat from the wing and a target man for Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. If you like Filip Forsberg, you’re going to love Holtz. 

7. Ottawa Senators – Marco Rossi (C) – Ottawa, OHL

It doesn’t matter who Ottawa picks on day two as both the selections of Alexis Lafreniere and Marco Rossi should be enough to reward the Senators with an A+ draft grade. In my early number run, both are leading ALL prospects in points. That should sound like a symphony to the Ottawa contingency. 

BLH’s Pick: I can’t argue with taking Rossi here. Last time they had the chance to pick a hometown boy, it was Cody Ceci. Even with centers like Logan Brown, Josh Norris, and Filip Chlapik on the brink of making the team, you can never have enough high-end pivots but none of the aforementioned have the vision and playmaking abilities that Rossi has. Lafreniere will need someone of equal intelligence and skill to be feeding him the puck too. 

8. Buffalo Sabres – Alexander Holtz (LW) – Djurgardens, SHL

Like LA, Buffalo has a lot of love for the Swedes and is looking to fill the last hole (or two) in their forward core of the future. Holtz would apply to both categories and, as arguably this draft’s best sniper, could bolster Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt, and Dylan Cozens’ points when they hit a scoring slump.

BLH’s Pick: I reckon center Anton Lundell would be a good pick for the Sabres here. In my opinion, he’s going to be a great two-way forward when he achieves his potential and Buffalo will need someone reliable on the 2nd line. On the other hand, it wouldn’t shock me if they traded this pick for immediate help given the disaster they’ve got on their hands right now.

9. Minnesota Wild – Dylan Holloway (C/LW) – Univ. Wisconsin, NCAA

I don’t need to elaborate much further… This just sounds right, doesn’t it?!

BLH’s Pick: Charlie Coyle much, Keith? I’m not sure Holloway goes this early. That said, they like their College boys there. I see them taking Cole Perfetti here though. They’ve already had plenty of looks at him since he’s a teammate of Wild prospect Damien Giroux, so it’ll be a comfortable pick for them. Perfetti will give them a player who’s positionally flexible and can contribute with the shot or the pass. A very smart player here who could help transform this team. 

10. New York Rangers – Noel Gunler (RW) – Lulea, SHL

Every year, you’ll hear/see the word “polarizing” appear next to various prospects’ names and such is the case for Gunler. Still, this offensively gifted Winger has some grit and bite in his game, a solid combination of skills that should make him a favorite amongst the blue shirt faithful. 

BLH’s Pick: Here’s a team that seems tailor-made for forward Dylan Holloway. He’s not as strong and powerful as Chris Kreider right now, but he could get there. I really feel like he could give New York a twin threat with him and Kakko. Now, if Kreider decides to re-sign with the Rangers, he’ll be a perfect mentor for Holloway. 

11. Chicago Blackhawks – Anton Lundell (C) – HIFK, SM-Liiga

Having fallen much further than he should have, the Blackhawks select Lundell in what could be the steal of this draft. The solid, two-way, Centerman’s upside is as high as he wants it to be. With both Lundell and Kirby Dach as their future anchors down the middle, Chicago’s future looks very, VERY, bright.

BLH’s Pick: With Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner offering more question marks than exclamation marks, I think they’ll should take uber-goalie Yaroslav Askarov here and solidify their netminding future. If he can be as good as that guy over in Tampa, the Hawks could return to domination sooner than later. 

12. Winnipeg Jets – Jan Mysak (C/LW) – Hamilton, OHL

The Winnipeg Jets seem to be a cultural melting pot and their winning ways are reflected in their decisions to draft the best player available, in each draft class. Mysak (arguably) is the best player on the board and will be a solid gear to put into the machine once it’s in need of repairs. 

BLH’s Pick: Connor Zary, one of the WHL’s top-scoring centers, would be a dazzling pick for the Jets here. Winnipeg have a nice future set for them down the middle with Scheifele, Roslovic, and Gustafsson, but I think that Zary has a higher offensive ceiling than the latter two gentlemen and he’ll be an NHL player sooner than later.  

13. Nashville Predators – Zion Nybeck (RW) – HV71, SHL

The Predators have established themselves as one of the NHL’s high-powered offenses and Nybeck fits the mold of their play. He can distribute the puck as well as he can bury it – the kind of offensive flexibility that will serve Nashville, well. A country-singer might even write a song about him…

BLH’s Pick: The Predators are finally heading into a rebuild after years of being one of the leagues best teams thanks to its spectacular goaltending and unbelievable defense. Pekka Rinne has slowed down and its defense isn’t what it used to be. For that reason, I see them taking USNTDP blueliner Jake Sanderson. His skating and ability to defend and recover is amongst the best in this draft class. 

14. Carolina Hurricanes (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Roni Hirvonen (C) – Assat, SM-Liiga

If there’s one team in the NHL that the country of Finland roots for, it’s undisputedly the Carolina Hurricanes. They continue to add another highly-skilled Finnish-born prospect to their pool – a legit playmaker with top-6 potential. 

BLH’s Pick: As if Carolina needs another draft pick… LOL! I don’t share Keith’s sentiment that they’ll take another Finn though. Knowing how much they rely on analytics, I think it’s winger Noel Gunler for the Canes here. Fact is, this guy scores at will against his peers and when he’s ready to do so in North America, he’ll provide the Hurricanes with some sublime secondary scoring to complement that of Andrei Svechnikov’s. 

15. Philadelphia Flyers – Cole Perfetti (C/LW) – Saginaw, OHL

Like last year, a sniper named “Cole” falls to the 15th-overall slot for reasons that should leave you scratching your head. While the Flyers have been known as the “Broad Street Bullies” and a bunch of rabble-rousers, Perfetti’s scoring touch could be the catalyst for a change on identity, in Philly. 

BLH’s Pick: To me, the Flyers should be looking at defender Jeremie Poirier. His skating and edgework is amazing to watch and the way he moves the puck reminds me a bit of Kris Letang. Shit, if there’s a team who’s seen a lot of that guy over the years, it’s Philly. At some point, they’re going to move on from Shane Gostisbehere and one of Morin, Hagg, and Myers is going to be a miss too. If they’ve got Cam York and Poirier ready to go, they’ll be sorted. 

That’s it for me this week, Heroes. Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @BeerLeagueHeroe/@keithfries and don’t forget to tip your waitresses. Until next time… Cheers! 

The one time it’s okay to be a JERK! Grab this shirt while supplies last!
Click the image above to get the new Pulju shirt!
Elias Pettersson’s nickname is “Alien”. Here’s a shirt to celebrate it! Click the image to buy one!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Pageau, Strome, Broberg, and Edmonton’s Summer Plans

Edmonton Oilers insider and play-by-play colorman Bob Stauffer has had some really interesting things to say this week regarding his feelings on some of Edmonton’s future plans. I’m going to show you some of his comments over the week that has passed so far where he’s touched on the Oilers 2020 trade deadline plans, who he thinks the Oilers will target at the 2020 NHL draft, and some very fascinating news on some of Edmonton’s prized prospects.

Two things before we get into all of that though. I recently wrote that I thought the Oilers should forget about adding a significant piece to their top-6 and focus on improving their bottom-6. Most notably their third-line center. Well, to my surprise, TSN’s Frank Seravalli has pointed out that Ryan Strome could be someone who might be available over the next month according to long-time New York Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks.

Listen, if Ryan Strome is available it really is incumbent on Oilers GM Ken Holland to see what he can do about re-acquiring him. He’s the perfect 3rd line center who probably won’t cost the team an arm and a leg, unlike JG Pageau.

A better scenario would be Holland bringing both in, but that would most definitely cost the Oilers dear and it doesn’t sound like something that would fall under Holland’s plan for the Oilers since he was hired.

The other thing, Elliotte Friedman reported in his 31 Thoughts post that the Oilers are working on extensions for a trio of players. Riley Sheahan, Josh Archibald, and Joakim Nygard. Man, Edmonton’s GM works his ass off, eh? In addition to those three players, he’s been trying to nail down a deal for Zack Kassian and has had preliminary talks with Darnell Nurse’s camp too. Toss in the trade negotiations he’s been going through… Respect.

What does Kassian 3:16 mean to you? Click the pic above and get this design today!

Now, speaking of JG Pageau, the aforementioned Bob Stauffer recently had this to say about the Sens star pivot,

Now, I did hear over the weekend, ’cause I was of the belief that Pageau there was a high likelihood that he would re-sign in Ottawa. I was told “Not so fast there Stauffer. There’s been a little bit of fatigue that has taken place in that relationship.” 

That changes things a bit, doesn’t it? Pageau has been on Edmonton’s radar basically all year and it wouldn’t surprise me if they did find a way to acquire him. This situation reminds of the draft when about a week (I think) before the draft it came out that the Oilers were going to take Philip Broberg. Nobody believed they’d let everyone know who they were picking, but that’s exactly what they did.

As for Pageau’s price, Stauffer said this,

I’d heard that Pierre Dorion (Sens GM) was looking for a guy back with term. Like a guy like Nugent-Hopkins. Seriously. Which I would not do. I would not do that trade. OR a first round pick. Now if we’re talking Puljujarvi and a second-round pick, I might consider doing that, but Ottawa would have to take a swing on Puljujarvi.

I know what the immediate reaction to the RNH comment is and I can’t blame you. That said, what if the Oilers could pick up both Pageau and Strome with contract extensions that didn’t eclipse the $8M per year total?

I agree that the first-rounder shouldn’t be in play for Pageau if it wasn’t in play for Taylor Hall. The second-rounder and Pulju is an intriguing proposition though but I think you have to pass on that too. Could the Oilers pick up a player better suited for their team’s development plan for that package?

A lot of debate this season has been which defenseman might be on the move and from the beginning of the year, two names have dominated that discussion, Adam Larsson and Kris Russell. Mr. Stauffer commented on both of those players this past Monday during the call-in portion of his show.

People say, would you trade Larsson, as an example right now, for Kasperi Kapanen? I wouldn’t do that deal during the season. I may evaluate something in the offseason and in terms of Kris Russell, he’s a $4M cap hit. I think there’d be some limitation on the takers around the league on that. I do think Larsson would have some currency for teams looking for defensive shut down D, but the Oilers need him right now. – January 20th on Oilers Now

The next day Stauffer and Sportsnet’s Mark Spector also spoke about the pair of defenders,

They need Larsson right now, do you now agree on that? Well, let’s see what happens in the offseason… Here’s the thing, there’s teams in the league that like Larsson, no disprespect to Kris Russell, he’s got a year left at $4M; that’s a tough contract to move.

Adam Larsson? You can move that contract. There’s teams that would do a deal. I mean, I think Toronto would probably consider doing a deal sooner rather than later, I just don’t think the Oilers can afford to at this time. Edmonton’s built a bit of depth there. Benning, we’ve got to see where he’s at as well in terms of his return to the lineup cause I think he’s a useful player. Some might say he makes too much at $2M. – January 21st on Oilers Now

I don’t know what it sounds like to you, but to me, it sounds like Bob is of the belief that the Oilers will be moving on from Adam Larsson or at the very least, IF they wanted to, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to do so.

Personally, I wouldn’t move him. I get the urgency to transform the defense into more of a mobile puck-moving unit, but the Oilers do not have another right-shot defender that can do what Larsson does at his current ability coming. Plus I reckon Ken Holland likes his physical shutdown defenders that come from Sweden. We have to consider what a great contract Larsson is on too. Two more years at $4.166M for a top-pairing 20+ minute per night defender is damned good in today’s NHL.

As for Russell, Edmonton might have to include a prospect with him in order to facilitate a trade. That said, there are teams like Colorado ($17M), the Islanders ($14M), and the Jets ($10M) who have a ton of cap room who would value a gutsy player like Russell for a playoff run. Would those teams be on his 10-team trade list though?

OILERS PROSPECTS AND THE UPCOMING DRAFT

I’m just going to put these comments in point form for the sake of time. If you’d like to check what Stauffer or his guests said if full, I’ll include the audio at the end of this segment.

  • Oilers Director of Player Development Scott Howson said Phillip Broberg might be spending another season in Skelleftea next year.

Howson also believes that if the European players aren’t ready to come over, the Oilers should just keep them over in Europe and allow them to come over when they’re ready. He felt that Evan Bouchard will be more of an offensive defender than Broberg but that the Swede would end up being a top-4 defender.

  • Due to improved skating, Broberg’s d-partner in Skelleftea, Filip Berglund has more than put himself into consideration for the Oilers to sign him before they lose his rights this year.

If Evan Bouchard graduates to the NHL by next season, the Condors will be in need of an offensive defender on the right side. I suppose Joel Persson could be an option should he agree to re-sign with the Oilers, but I’m not 100% confident of that happening. Phillip Broberg could come over as well and be paired up with his SHL partner and in fact, that very well could be one of many determining factors for him.

  • Markus Niemelainen is another player the Oilers need to make a decision on. Howson said that he’s now playing 20-22 minutes a night for his club in the SM-Liiga as a defensive defenseman. He noted that he moves really well, has range and size (6’5″) but he’s average with the puck and that will be the issue with him but there are lots of guys playing like him in the NHL that can skate and move but are merely adequate puck movers. Howson also said that Niemelainen is content with who he is as a player and not worried about point production.

This player sounds a lot like Martin Marincin, doesn’t it? There’s a possibility that both players (Niemelainen and Berglund) could come over and play in Bakersfield next season but it sounds like there’d need to be some extra work into convincing Ken Holland that they’d be worth it given they’re not his guys. Howson felt that these players have really improved to the point to where they’ve forced the Oilers to seriously consider them.

  • Howson believes that Raphael Lavoie has get stronger and become a better skater cut out some of his junior habits like taking breaks on the ice when he’s been playing too much. He figured that since Lavoie’s TOI has been cut down since his trade to Chicoutimi that this would happen naturally. Howson called him a “one-shot scorer”.

I’m not as convinced with this player as some are. To me, he could end up being either an Alex Chiasson or a James Neal. Depends on him. I like how he’ll graduate to the AHL next season though as I want to see more of him. He was decent at the World Juniors but not a game-breaker. What I want to see from him is more urgency in his game. He’s a big guy so I want to see him use that frame accordingly.

  • Stauffer mentioned that he wouldn’t trade either the first or second-round picks in the next draft and he’d try to acquire a forward using Jesse Puljujarvi in order to replenish Edmonton’s cupboards.

If the Oilers were drafting today, they’d be picking 19th and 50th I believe. In those spots, I reckon Edmonton could come away with a very good shooter like Jack Quinn (Ottawa 67s) or possibly Hamilton’s newest import forward Jan Mysak in the first round and in the second round, it wouldn’t be out of the possibility to see a player like Barrie’s Tyson Foerster, Sarnia’s Jacob Perreault, or Sherwood Park Crusaders forward Carter Savoie still on the board.

I wonder though if Edmonton Oil Kings star Jake Neighbours is around when Edmonton is picking after the first round, would they take him? He’s got a ton of heart and as much skill to go with it.

So could you imagine Holland being able to add that much firepower to the pipeline in Edmonton AND another talented player with a Puljujarvi trade over the summer? Now think three years down the road when these players are closer to being NHL ready and the Oilers are an annual playoff team. Holland is sitting pretty with a bunch of talented young forwards that he could either use in the lineup OR as trade fodder at the deadline.

Click the image above to get the new Pulju shirt!
Grab this sweet Nintendo parody shirt! Click the image above!
Edmonton Oilers, Keith Fries, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

2020 NHL Draft News and Notes w/@Keithfries PLUS Who the Oilers Should Take in the First Round!

Hello, Heroes. It’s great to be back. 

Let’s not waste any time and jump right into it with my updated top-20 draft rankings for the month of January. 

1 Alexis Lafreniere
2 Anton Lundell
3 Quinton Byfield
4 Lucas Raymond
5 Yaroslav Askarov
6 Tim Stutzle
7 Noel Gunler
8 Alexander Holtz
9 Jamie Drysdale
10 Marco Rossi
11 Cole Perfetti
12 Dylan Holloway
13 Kasper Simontaival
14 Jan Mysak
15 Zion Nybeck
16 Jeremie Poirier
17 Justin Sourdif
18 Connor Zary
19 Justin Barron
20 Jaromir Pytlik 

I’ll have my official mid-season top-100 available during the All-Star break but expect this top-20 to remain intact. Additionally, I’ll release my first mock draft (only the lottery picks) which will include a simulation for the top-3 spots. 

Mavrik Bourque? 

BLH: I’d read over at Lowetide’s blog that this Bourque kid was someone to keep an eye on for the Oilers and to be honest, I had only seen his name in the rankings but not really heard or read anything on the guy. So I asked Keith here to give me a little write-up on him so that I could get more of an understanding of the player as he’ll most likely be in the range that Edmonton will be selecting in and I know that they’ll be aiming for a forward with some offense to his game. 

Bourque, in June, will likely slot into the 15–30th-overall bracket which speaks both to how deep this class is and how he’s perceived within it. Where he succeeds is below the dots, jumping up and finishing on a rebound or finding an open shooting lane for a one-timer. He doesn’t have the hardest or most accurate shot but his compete level is elite, always capitalizing on his opportunities. Bourque’s skating is probably the area he should address most, as he’s not a speedster and sometimes looks like he’s got two left feet. But, as I mentioned before, he competes and disguises his warts because of it.  

Bourque leads the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes in points with 53 (23Gs|30As) in 40 GP, which is 15 more points than the second-best point producer on the team, Xavier Bourgault. On a stacked roster, featuring: Vasili Ponomaryov, Valentin Nussbaumer, and Kirill Nizhnikov (to name a few), Bourque running away with the team’s scoring title could certainly increase his draft stock. 

2020 NHL Draft Mailbag

https://twitter.com/marcvollebekk/status/1216773616869806080

There are always a handful of solid prospects that go undrafted, each year, and such was the case in 2019. Kristian Tanus likely hears his name called, this June, maybe even as early as the second-round (somewhat like Samuel Fagemo, last year). He’ll likely be joined in that conversation by Oleg Zaitsev (WHL – Red Deer Rebels) and Ilya Mironov (MHL – Yaroslavl), but who I’m keeping a close eye on is Mironov’s teammate at Yaroslavl, Daniil Gutik. Already up to nearly a PPG in 34 MHL GP, Gutik is a fantastic puck-handler whose deceptive hands make dangles and toe-drags look like child’s play. His size is desirable at 6’3” – 176 lbs., but he could stand to improve his two-way game. Not the fastest skater either, but his hands help create space that his feet don’t. All-in-all, still a prospect in need of some molding but has the primary tools that scouts are looking for in an 18-year-old. …To that last point, Gutik has a late-August birthday meaning he’ll still be 18 if he’s selected, in June.  

I can’t see any other scenario than Lucas Raymond being the first Swedish-born prospect drafted, this year. I’ll circle back to the second part of your question in a second, but one point I want to make first is rankings are all subjective. Some people see Alexander Holtz as the best Swede available this year, and his shot certainly makes a case. Yet, I feel as though it’s Noel Gunler who is the second-best Swede available due to a more well-rounded style of play. He’s gritty and has real finishing abilities, which is what NHL teams claim they want. I’ve seen Gunler’s name appear all over various draft boards, some thinking he’s a top-10 prospect while others claim he’s lucky to be drafted in the first-round. Between the three, Raymond is 1, Holtz is 2, but Gunler is 1A – meaning he supersedes Holtz. 

Raymond is a really in a league of his own and should be drafted with the 3rd-overall pick but if he slides further than that it won’t be outside the top-5. 

Oilers Draft Talk 

And finally, what would a post of Beer League Heroes be without some Oilers talk? As I mentioned above, my next post will feature a mock draft lottery and based on Edmonton’s current standings they might either be featured in that article to jump up a few points to a playoff position. 

Sitting in the middle of the standings, Edmonton has a few options that may fall out of the top-10 who shouldn’t have. Gunler could be available, even Marco Rossi if size bias plays a factor, but, if he’s still on the board, I could see Dylan Holloway becoming the newest member of the Oiler family. Already playing in the NCAA for the competitive U. of Wisconsin, Holloway has fit in very quickly against much older, more physical, competition in what would otherwise be his senior year of high school. 

He battles well in the corners and isn’t afraid to attack the puck when it sails into the dirty areas of the ice. Holloway currently leads the team in PIMS, with 41, but that’s largely due to him adjusting to the older, more physically taxing, NCAA. His inside-out versatility as forward would provide Edmonton with some nice options while setting the line-up and could help bring stability to their top-6. 

Anyways, that’s it for me. Until next time… Cheers!

BLH: Not to shit on Keith’s wonderful prognosis here, but I’m not sure Holloway will be around when Edmonton is picking unless the wheels completely fall off the bus down the stretch here. It’d be nice though, wouldn’t it. A guy with this combination of size, skill, and sandpaper… Very nice!

My feeling is that they might opt for someone like Hendrix Lapierre or the aforementioned Mavrik Bourque, but to buy them some more time for development they could go Russian with Snipers Alexander Pashin (Tolpar, MHL) or Vitali Ponomaryov (Shawinigan, QMJHL) as easily. I will say to keep an eye out for Jack Quinn (Ottawa, OHL) too though. The first two names there are playmakers, but the latter three will take you to Snipe City.

 

The one time it’s okay to be a JERK! Grab this shirt while supplies last!
Elias Pettersson’s nickname is “Alien”. Here’s a shirt to celebrate it! Click the image to buy one!
Click the image above to get the new Pulju shirt!
Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM44: Oilers @ Bruins – 3P2W Plus A Little Prospect Talk

The Boston Bruins’ pace has slowed considerably lately. They’re 4-5-1 in their last ten games and I’m hoping that’s some sort of blessing for the Edmonton Oilers. A win will take them right back up into 3rd spot in the Pacific should the Rangers find a way to beat Vancouver.

On Twitter, I sent out a tweet that said that I believe that JJ Khaira’s days are numbered and with the way that Tyler Benson has been playing lately, the writing is basically on the wall. Now, we’ve seen the Oilers not be afraid to move NHL vets to Bakersfield, will that be the route they take with Khaira? Tough call. Is there a market for him out there? Also an unknown. He’s a big guy who’s not afraid of the physical side of the game but I don’t know if he owns a fast-twitch muscle in his body. On the other hand, he’s been a decent penalty killer during his career… So, who knows?

The 2020 Draft and Current Oilers Prospects

I had an extra hour to sit down and watch a bit of the Bakersfield Condors game against the San Diego Gulls. This is what I noticed,

  • Ryan McLeod has elite speed. The way he skates reminds me of Mike Modano. In this game, he was absolutely flying! The best game I’ve seen him play in a Condors uniform for sure. One of the big knocks on him is that he’s a perimeter player, but in this game, he was getting mucky and driving the net. I’d say he’s got one more year in Bakersfield before he’ll be ready for the NHL.
  • Kirill Maksimov had a really slow start to this season but he’s really come on since being placed on a line with Colby Cave. I think Cave’s speed and tenacity really opens things up for Maksimov to use his frame and shot. His confidence has really grown over the last month and that’s displayed in his point production. Both he and McLeod are feature penalty killers for the Condors and that speaks to the trust that their coach has in them. Another full season in Bakersfield with some more responsibility and he could be ready to go for the Oilers.
  • Evan Bouchard is ready to go as a bottom-pairing defender in the NHL. In this game, his passing and his shot were too obvious. It was the final minute of the game that should have the Oilers grinning like a butcher’s dog though. He was fully engaged in forcing the Gulls passes to the outside and their final shot of the game he blocked, then gathered the rebound and skated it right up the guts of the ice nearly dangling between two defenders. He was stopped before getting a shot off on the open net but his efforts drew a penalty and wound down the clock. BEAST MODE!
  • Tyler Benson, as we spoke about before, is stirring the drink for the Condors this year. For a second consecutive season, he’s one of the team’s leading scorers. I’m still not convinced by his skating, but I can put that aside since he’s basically scoring at a point and a half per game. What he’ll bring to the Oilers is someone who is very smart on the walls. His vision is outstanding and he’s got fantastic hands. The thing I really like about Benson’s game though is that he’s gritty. When the game’s not going his way, he inserts himself into it physically.
  • Joel Persson, he’s racking up points like it’s nothing in the AHL but the problem is he’s pretty chaotic away from the puck. He makes some mistakes that have you wonder how he got to this level as it is. Sometimes his urgency on the ice simply isn’t there and that goes back the Gaetan Haas story where he told Bob Stauffer that the first time he was asked to forecheck was when he arrived in Edmonton. I get that the game is a bit slower (or can be) in Europe, but sometimes it looks like Persson’s feet are stuck in wet cement. He can make a three-zone pass on the tape if you want though…

If I had to make a prediction, I would say that it’s the end of the road for the likes of Joe Gambardella and Cooper Marody. They’ve not really progressed in my opinion. These two players might simply be good AHLers at the end of the day.

The 2020 NHL Draft is set to be a pretty decent affair. I don’t know where the Oilers are going to be picking, but here is a list of names in different ranges that I think the Oilers should have peak interest in.

#3-#10

Anton Lundell (C) – HIFK, SM-Liiga: 20gp 6g 6a 12pts
Yaroslav Askarov (G) –  SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, VHL: 12gp 2.38 GAA .922 SV%
Alexander Holtz (RW/LW) – Djurgardens, SHL: 21gp 5g 3a 8pts

I love the idea of Anton Lundell suiting up in Oilers silks. This is the elite two-way centre that Edmonton has been needing since Shawn Horcoff was in his prime. Lundell is a mix between Alexander Barkov and Mikko Koivu.

The Oilers haven’t drafted and developed an elite goalie since the dynasty days and I’m not sure even then if Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog spent much time developing in the Oilers’ system. Times were different then though. So, could it be inferred that the last goalie to be developed into a starter was Devan Dubnyk? And in his case, he never turned elite until he hit Minnesota. Askarov is a rare breed of netminder but is looking like he’ll fall in line with the Luongos, Prices, and Vasilevskiys.

If you like Filip Forsberg, you’ll love Alexander Holtz. He’s a pure sniper with skills to kill. He can also skate very well. I know we said it with Puljujarvi and it should’ve worked out with him, but with Holtz, McDavid or Draisaitl would have a guy on their flanks that they know and trust will shoot when the puck is given to him.

#11-#20:

Dylan Holloway (F) – Univ. of Wisconsin, NCAA: 17gp 3g 4a 7pts
Jan Mysak (LW) – HC Litvinov, Czech Extraliga: 26gp 5g 4a 9pts
Connor Zary (C) – Kamloops, WHL: 34gp 22g 25a 57pts
Dawson Mercer (RW) Drummondville, QMJHL: 26gp 18g 24a 42pts

Dylan Hollaway is an all-round forward in the mould of a Charlie Coyle. Big bodied and isn’t your typical power forward in that he skates around banging bodies. He can dangle, pass, check, and basically play any role required.

Jan Mysak is a guy that I’m really leaning towards if he’s in Edmonton’s range. I love his speed, his offensive IQ, and to be frank, he reminds me of David Pastrnak a bit.

Zary and Mercer I’ve got to do some more homework on but by the way that they’re putting up stats, and from what I’ve heard from talking to scouts in the WHL and QMJHL, these are players that will have definite NHL careers. To me, they seem more middle-six than top-six forwards, but I could be convinced otherwise.

#21-#31:

Zion Nybeck (RW) – HV71 U20, SuperElit: 26gp 13g 30a 43pts
Vasili Ponomaryov (C/LW) – Shawinigan, QMJHL: 31gp 14g 16a 30pts
Alexander Pashin (F) – Tolpar Ufa, MHL: 23gp 11g 13a 24pts
Jake Neighbours (LW) – Edmonton, WHL: 40gp 13g 29a 42pts
Noel Gunler (RW/LW) – Lulea, SHL: 29gp 1g 7a 8pts

I reckon if the Oilers are picking in this range, there’s no better time to swing for the fences. Nybeck has Yamamoto-like size but with a little bit more skill and a higher offensive ceiling. I don’t think he’d be killing penalties in the future like Kailer is.

The Russians, Ponomaryov and Pashin, can really move and they’ve got a history of scoring a lot of goals against their peers. They’re both sub-6 ft but in their cases, that won’t matter going forward. If you’re an Oilers fan and you’re a tad scared of Edmonton drafting Russians, I get it. But let me assure you, times are changing with this new regime. Ken Holland has a history with the Ruskies and we should feel at ease knowing he’d be at the helm in the event Edmonton does pick one here.

Those that are living in Edmonton know Jake Neighbours very well. He’s your blue-collar favorite. At the junior level, he’s highly skilled but he plays a meat and potatoes style of game. His own coach likened him to the Islanders Anders Lee.

Noel Gunler is that player this year. The Josh Ho-Sang or Ryan Merkley of this draft class. They say he’s got some attitude issues and the Swedish Ice Hockey federation keeps leaving him off of their national junior squads. That’s not great, but if you listen to the scouts who describe his game, you’d think he’s a top-ten talent. This guy has the tools to be a top-six goal-scoring winger, but he likes to do things his way. He really is the kind of skater that you’ve got to do all your homework on because you could be passing up on a really good player by taking a shot at him if he doesn’t work out. But if everything does come together for him, he’ll make a GM and scouting staff look really good.

The Next Ten Games (41-50)

  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – The Oilers should be bitter as hell coming back from the Christmas break and looking for retribution. In terms of gf/ga on the year, the Flames are -12 and Edmonton could feast on that. The Oilers have taken two of the past three contests. (WIN) LOSS
  • vs. New York Rangers (17-15-4) – Edmonton will get its first look at 2019 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko and welcome back former Oiler, Ryan Strome. This should be a scheduled win for Edmonton as the Rangers aren’t anything special this year. The Oilers have won three on the trot vs. the Rags. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Buffalo Sabres (17-14-7) – Generally, over the years the Oilers have had pretty good luck in Buffalo, but this year Jack Eichel is a man possessed and last time Rasmus Dahlin was out of the lineup. If Dahlin is back in for this game, he’ll add a significant threat. I like Edmonton’s chances here though. (WIN) LOSS
  • @ Boston Bruins (22-7-9) – The Bruins went into the Christmas break on a bit of a slump going 2-4-4 in their previous ten. This is going to be a challenge for the Oilers to win even when Boston is at their worst and there’s no better team to bust a slump against than Edmonton, right? (LOSS)
  • @ Toronto Maple Leafs (20-14-4) – Toronto’s confidence was sky high before baby Jesus’ bday, but guess who comes to play each time he’s back home. That’s right, Connor McDavid. It will take a complete team effort for the Oilers to beat their nemesis, Freddy Andersen, though as he’s really had Edmonton’s number. (OT LOSS)
  • @ Montreal Canadiens (18-13-6) – I really enjoyed Edmonton’s performance against the Habs in their earlier match. If the Oilers can replicate that, I don’t see why a win is out of the question. (WIN)
  • @ Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Round two! Ding. Ding. In Calgary, I think the Flames might be able to muster up a win here. (LOSS)
  • vs. Nashville Predators (18-12-6) – Is Pekka Rinne in net? If so, I’ll give this one to the Oilers. If it’s Saros, the Preds have a much better chance of success. They’ve been an interesting team to watch this year and are playing in a tough division. Their 42pts at the break had them in 3rd last in the Central… (WIN)
  • vs. Arizona Coyotes (21-14-4) – Hallsy’s back and if the Oilers would like to go that extra mile, they could show him how much of a powerhouse they plan to be next season by wiping the floor with Arizona, but it’ll be a tough game. Arizona is a lot deeper than the Oilers and their netminding has been much better. This needs to be a game where Edmonton’s defense shines. (OT LOSS)
  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Coming off of a 10-day break, Mikko Koskinen and the Oilers will be well-rested. In theory, they should be as ready as they’re ever going to be to take on their inter-province rivals. (WIN)

(Standings as of December 26th, 2019)

Three Players to Watch for the Bruins

  • #41 Jaro Halak – He’s been outperforming Tuuka Rask lately with a 2-0-2 record in his last 5 games, a 1.94 GAA, and a .939 SV%. Will that be enough to stop McDavid and Draisaitl?
  • #47 Torey Krug – This little defender has been a consistent point producer during his NHL career and he’s been linked to the Oilers for what seems like forever. Health has been his biggest nemesis though. He’s got a massive shot and doesn’t take any guff on the ice.
  • #63 Brad Marchand – Only two goals in his last ten games, the NHL’s premier pest will be looking to add to that tally.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The Nuge has seven points in his last five games and is on quite the heater which is great to see since he was slumping so badly earlier.
  • #6 Adam Larsson – Bob Stauffer said on his radio show that he thought the Iron Swede was struggling lately and that he needed to get back to his best. I thought Larsson’s been playing well, so I’ll be keeping an eye on him to see if Stauffer’s on to something.
  • #97 Connor McDavid – We could use some McDavid magic in this game. He was clearly frustrated after the Sabres game and I hope he brings that emotion into this one.

Below are the lines Edmonton used against Buffalo. There’s some chatter that Kris Russell might be out tonight and Caleb Jones reinserted into the lineup as his replacement. The d-pairings were mixed up during practice as Bear was back with Nurse and Larsson was back with Klefbom. That’d leave Lagesson to be partnered up with Jones should Russell actually need a game off. Mikko Koskinen will be starting the game.

F*ck Marchand! Click the link and grab one of these beauties!
Hey Flames Fans! Neal with it! Click the pic above and grab this beauty!
Click the image above to get the new Pulju shirt!
Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, Kieron Vick, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects, Rumors

BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors and Ramblings PLUS 2020 Draft Talk w/@Keithfries

The Latest on Tayor Hall

Chris Johnston from Sportsnet is saying that it could take 3-4 pieces to acquire Hall and that the Colorado Avalanche appear to be the front-runners for the former league MVP.

“The feeling in the industry … is that the Colorado Avalanche are the favourites right now pushing to try to get Taylor Hall; perhaps as soon as the Christmas break, which starts Dec. 19,” Johnston said.

Scribes out of Colorado are split on the idea of bringing Hall in. Mike Chambers (Denver Post) said Hall would be the perfect addition to Nathan MacKinnon’s left-wing but Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater reckons re-signing Hall could offer problems when it comes time to re-up the Avs’ other big guns like MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog, and Cale Makar.

BLH’s Thoughts: The Oilers have just recalled defenseman Caleb Jones and sent struggling Swedish dman Joel Persson back to Bakersfield (AHL). It’s odd because Jones and Persson had just swapped rosters very recently, this tells me that Jones is possibly being showcased for the Devils. Is that for a Taylor Hall trade? Possibly. I think that there’s a different line in the sand for each team that is asking about Hall and Edmonton’s is the one that Chris Johnston is talking about above since they’re unwilling to include Philip Broberg or Evan Bouchard in a trade. If I had to guess what those pieces might be, I think that Jesse Puljujarvi, Caleb Jones, a conditional first-round pick, and a player who is on a larger contract but is expendable (Gagner, Manning, Chiasson, Russell?), would be who the Oilers are content to send over for Hall with 50% retention on his salary. 

Long-term, is Jones in the Oilers plans? We know Puljujarvi isn’t and what are the odds that the first-round pick becomes a better player than Hall? This sort of deal clears out a bit of space for Ken Holland to continue his re-vamping of the Oilers roster and I am of the belief that Hall would sign a contract with the Oilers that would be considered “team-friendly” and at a discount. Think what Leon Draisaitl makes which is $8.5M last I checked. 

Galchenyuk Soon to be an Ex-Penguin?

Elliotte Friedman has reported that Nail Yakupov’s BFF is on the outs in Pittsburgh and the Buffalo Sabres are interested. The upcoming UFA has absolutely hit the skids since being dealt from Montreal for Max Domi last year and even playing him on the wing with mega stars like Sid Crosby and Evgeni Malkin hasn’t helped.

“I do think Buffalo was one of the teams that looked at him,” Friedman said during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “I’m sure there’s more. But Galchenyuk is someone who could be finding a new home.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Some might say that if you can’t score on Sid’s wing, who can you score with? It’s not easy to play with elite players, even for skilled wings like Galchenyuk but this player is on his third team in a year and that leads me to believe there’s something else going on. When his own GM is saying that there isn’t a fit for him on Malkin’s wing and that he’ll have to work very hard just to get into Pittsburgh’s top-12, that’s a good indication that things aren’t working out. Might they send the former 3rd overall pick to Buffalo for former Pen, Conor Sheary? 

Could the Rangers move Buchnevich and/or Howden?

In the post below, Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks muses about the futures of forwards Pavel Buchnevish and Brett Howden.

Buchnevich is a taffy-pull for Quinn. The winger is simply not physically engaged consistently enough to warrant the minutes and assignments his skill-set would otherwise merit. It has been a year-plus of cajoling from the coach and a year-plus of intermittent responses from the player. If the 24-year-old Russian cannot get top-six and power-play minutes, then it is probably better for all concerned that he play elsewhere.

And if Howden is going to continue in a fourth-line role in which he can expect a ceiling of 10 minutes a night, it is probably best for both the center’s development and the organization that he join Andersson in Hartford. Howden has three assists in his past nine games and five points (one goal, four assists) in his past 20 contests.

BLH’s Thoughts: This is a scene from a movie Oilers fans have witnessed far too many times before. Rushing young players before they’re ready and/or not putting them in a position to succeed. 

Look, if the Rangers don’t want Buchnevich, I’m sure they’d find a trade partner in the Oilers. The big Russian would look wonderful alongside one of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He had over 20 goals last year and Edmonton is starving for offense aside from 97 and 29.

Quick Hits

  • Sizing up the backup goalie market. Oilers fans will probably want to read this. (source)
  • Are Sami Vatanen (NJ) and Andreas Athanasiou (DET) available? (source)
  • Should the Islanders be in on Taylor Hall? (source)

2020 NHL Draft Talk with Keith Fries

Breaking Down Craig Button’s Top-5

(1. Alexis Lafreniere, 2. Quinton Byfield, 3. Cole Perfetti, 4. Yaroslav Askarov, 5. Hendrix Lapierre)

I’m not going to completely obliterate Button’s recent top-5 ranking as 3/5 prospects listed are also in my own top-5. But, I will say I am 100% certain that neither Cole Perfetti nor Hendrix Lapierre should be in this conversation.

There seems to be a consensus top-3, in Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, and Lucas Raymond. Then, when you factor in elite-level talents like Anton Lundell and Yaroslav Askarov, that top-5 fills up rather quickly. So why does Button feel like Perfetti and Lapierre are in that discussion? First off, I can’t answer for the man. However, my educated guess is that he’s leaning toward the market he’s selling to – Canadians. One gripe I have with Canada-based scouting services and/or pundits are their leanings in-favor of homegrown players, rather than simply ranking the best prospects in their rightful spots. Such is the case, here, as both Perfetti and Lapierre are (realistically) more mid-to-late first-rounders. What further baffles me about this list is how Button was one of the first analysts to jump on Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz as premiere, international, prospects, well-over a year ago, yet they’re both completely absent from his list.

Rankings that Make Sense; Rankings that Don’t

I thought listing Tim Stutzle (7) and Jamie Drysdale (8) in the top-10 – and notably in the back end of the top-10 – was really accurate. They’re definitely in that draft stock category of, ‘’Ok, now that the first wave of talent has been selected, who’s the best available prospect on the board?’’ Additionally, having Justin Sourdif at 18 was reasonable. His high-end skating should keep him in the running for a pick within that range.

Where Button lost me was, as I mentioned above, having Hendrix Lapierre (5) in the top-5 and not Lucas Raymond (6). But, what’s even more whacky is seeing Anton Lundell at 13 and Noel Gunler at 28. Lundell, as my rankings show, is a highly-regarded prospect in most circles and seen as a guaranteed top-10 selection. Some might even make the same claim for Gunler. But, no one – and I mean NO ONE – will let Lundell slip to 13. Getting back to Gunler… If a team snagged him at 28, we’re talking about one of the biggest steals in NHL Draft history!

“He has Dylan Holloway at 12, do you see him creeping into the top 10?

Holloway isn’t in my top-10 but one could certainly the argument as to why he should be. When you look at how well he’s performed on such a talented U. of Wisconsin team, especially as an underager, it’s easy to see why he’s in that 10-20 range. 12 actually isn’t a bad place to be for Holloway, as a team selecting there may be a consistent playoff bubble team who could use his services sooner-than-later to make that push into the post-season. Furthermore, I think NHL clubs are really seeing the value in sending a high-end prospect to the NCAA for a year-or-two. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him crack the top-10, though, as anything really is possible.

Who the Oilers Should Select from Button’s List?

With Edmonton currently as the third-best team in the NHL standings, at this point, it looks like the Oilers won’t be selecting until late, on night one. Button currently has Ottawa 67’s’, Jack Quinn, at the 29th-overall spot, but, I’m going to include the players from 27-31. These would be Lukas Reichel (27), Noel Gunler (28, as mentioned above), Yan Kuznetsov (30), and Ryan O’Rourke (31).

For myself personally, seeing Lukas Reichel as a first-rounder (in Button’s eyes) puts a huge smile on my face. I absolutely love this kid and would be ecstatic to have him in the Oilers organization – largely so I could watch him during his stint with Bakersfield. However, as I said earlier, if Gunler’s still sitting on the board you’d be hard-pressed not to pull the trigger on drafting him. Either would be a solid pick, but I’m going to lean toward Gunler simply for draft stock reasons – a prospect I feel should be in the top-10.

Antonio Stranges to Edmonton

Start pounding this drum, now, Oilers fans, as Stranges has solidified himself as one of this draft’s best skaters available. The Oilers could definitely stand to add some more speed to their depth chart and Stranges certainly fits that bill. In fact, his offensive success is largely from his pace of play. He can quickly hit the jets and separate from trailing defenders, much in the way that Connor McDavid does. If both were to play on the same line, we’re easily talking about the fastest 2-on-none breakaway in the league. Fortunately for Edmonton when it comes to Craig Button, Stranges doesn’t appear AT ALL in his top-62 ranking. Meaning, if Edmonton really has their eye on him, they could grab him in the second-round, even while picking at #60.

If the Oilers could walk away from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with both Noel Gunler and Antonio Stranges, it doesn’t matter who they select in rounds 3-7 as these two will give Edmonton a high draft grade on their own.

Thanks for joining me, Heroes. Until next time, cheers!

Fries TOP-20 

  1. Alexis Lafreniere
  2. Anton Lundell
  3. Quinton Byfield
  4. Lucas Raymond
  5. Yaroslav Askarov
  6. Tim Stutzle
  7. Noel Gunler
  8. Alexander Holtz
  9. Marco Rossi
  10. Jamie Drysdale
  11. Cole Perfetti
  12. Jaromir Pytlik
  13. Justin Barron
  14. Jeremie Poirier
  15. Alexander Nikishin
  16. Kasper Simontaival
  17. Lukas Reichel
  18. Antonio Stranges
  19. Justin Sourdif
  20. Hendrix Lapierre