Tag Archives: 2020 NHL Entry Draft

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Latest NHL Speculation feat. McDavid, Stamkos, Fleury, Maroon, and More! (10/6/2020)

Happy Draft Day!!! Speculating from an Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest NHL news and rumors feat. Connor McDavid, Steven Stamkos, Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Maroon, the 2020 NHL entry draft, and many more!

McDavid has tested positive for the COVID last night. That is unfortunate and I hope he has a speedy recovery!

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

The News and Rumors

  • Bob McKenzie (TSN): Cup champs TB have let it be known to other teams they aim to be aggressive in offloading. How aggressive? Hearing teams have been told only four Bolts are unavailable/untouchable: Vasilevskiy; Hedman; Point; Kucherov. Presumably, RFAs Cirelli, Sergachev, and Cernak, too.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve been musing upon the idea perhaps Steven Stamkos could be moved to open up cap room for some time now… How many Maple Leafs fans are flooding the roster builder over at capfriendly right now trying to figure out a way to bring him home?

  • Ryan S. Clark (The Athletic): The Colorado Avalanche want to add a top-4 defender with the plan to sign him on a one or two-year deal around $4M.

BLH’s Thoughts: Tyson Barrie anybody?

  • Aaron Portzline (The Athletic): There’s a very good chance the Blue Jackets will buyout Alex Wennberg if they can’t trade him soon.

BLH’s Thoughts: I think the Oilers would have interest in this player as their third-line center if CBJ bought him out. Although, ideally, you’d like a player who’s more defensively-slanted in that spot. Not sure that’s where the Swede shines. 

  • Ben Pope (Chicago Sun Times): Dawson Mercer, Brendan Brisson, Braden Schneider, Seth Jarvis, and Connor Zary are all in contention for the Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick in today’s NHL entry draft.

BLH’s Thoughts: You know, Brendan Brisson played for the Chicago Steel in the USHL last season and his dad represents both Jonathan Toews AND Patrick Kane…

  • Sean Shapiro (The Athletic): The Dallas Stars will look to draft a forward in round one of today’s draft. The pick is likely available to trade down and add more capital.
  • David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period): The Tampa Bay Lightning are interested in bringing back Patrick Maroon, but if he wants to stay he’ll have to wait until they sort out their cap.

BLH’s Thoughts: If the Toronto Maple Leafs are serious about adding some beef to the lineup AND winning the Stanley Cup, what better solution than Patrick Maroon?! He’s effective! 

  • Rick Dhaliwal (TSN): “Very positive talks between the Canucks and pending RFA forward Zack MacEwan on a new contract. Expecting a one or two-year deal.”
  • Bruce Garrioch (Ottawa Sun): Keep an eye on Ottawa’s pick at 28th overall because there’s a possibility it may be moved for immediate help. Lots of teams interested.

BLH’s Thoughts: If there’s one team that could grant the Oilers’ draft day wishes, it might be the Sens if they agreed to trade up and give Edmonton the 28th, 33rd, and 58th overall picks. I mean, think about it. They deal those picks to the Oilers for the 14th overall and then flip that pick for immediate help! Edmonton picks Ridley Greig 28th overall! It’s a win-win for both teams. 

  • Garrioch cont: Winnipeg Jets trying to sign Dylan DeMelo but there’s still a sizeable gap.
  • More Garrioch: Keep an eye on Brandon Saad in Chicago… The Blackhawks have been trying to deal contracts for cap space.

BLH’s Thoughts: Saad’s name has been out there for a while now. If I were a betting man, I’d say that Chicago is going to have to part with something of substantial value in order to get rid of the winger’s $6M/yr deal… 

  • Even more Garrioch: The Florida Panthers are making a last-gasp effort to sign Mike Hoffman but it appears to be a long shot.

BLH’s Thoughts: Man, how good would Hoffman look flanking McDavid or Draisailt? And is it just me or does anybody else think this guy could be on the market for a while. He doesn’t seem like the type that’ll be interested in taking a paycut. 

  • Chris Johnston/Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): OEL has most certainly played his last game for the Arizona Coyotes.

BLH’s Thoughts: Man, Arizona is going to have to soften their demands or find a way to get OEL to broaden his list of teams he’ll be willing to go to. Why Vancouver and Boston only? That baffles me. 

  • More Johnston/Friedman: The Buffalo Sabres are interested in Nick Schmaltz.

BLH’s Thoughts: He’d be a really nice middle-six pivot for the Sabres. Can his health hold up though? He’s a young guy though, aside from a pretty fair contract ($5.85M/yr), why would they be looking to move on from him. He’s good for 50pts+ per year. They’ve got three more years until his yearly salary jumps up over $7M. 

  • Johnston/Friedman cont: The Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens like Columbus Blue Jackets winger Josh Anderson and CBJ is considering offers for defenceman David Savard.

BLH’s Thoughts: Anderson, Sean Monahan, and Matt Tkachuk on a line would be a hard one to stop. 

  • Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks were in talks for a trade involving Matt Murray but the Hawks couldn’t work out an extension with the RFA goalie. Both sides have moved on and are exploring other options.

BLH’s Thoughts: Geez, what is Matt Murray demanding? For Chicago not to be able to come to an agreement with him whilst having $11M in cap room is telling. No wonder the Oilers conversations with Pittsburgh were short. 

  • Kevin Paul DuPont (Boston Globe): Growing buzz regarding clubs interested in dealing for Bruins RFA winger Jake DeBrusk.

BLH’s Thoughts: I still think DeBrusk would be an outstanding addition to the Oilers but last time his name came up the plan was for Edmonton to deal a top-four defender for a 1st rounder and then flip that pick in a package for Louie’s boy. That sounds less likely now. 

The Oilers Speculation

Oilers GM Ken Holland reckons the trade action in the league will go down between today and Thursday and likely calm down while free agency opens as teams try to fill needs that way and then after a few days of signings the trades might pick up again.

More pertinent to the Oilers themselves, Holland said that if he is making trades that they’ll be money in, money out kinds of deals. So, similar to the Chiasson/Bjork rumor that’s been going around.

With regards to Jesse Puljujarvi, I feel like my boy is looking for some guarantees that the Oilers aren’t willing to give him. Hence why Holland and coach Tippett are trying to build some trust with him and show him how things are done. This might take some time before we get a signature on a contract and that only makes sense for Jesse. He wants to see how Holland improves the squad and how he might fit into it before getting locked in.

Bob Stauffer talked a lot about Tyson Barrie again this morning and also brought up Sami Vatanen. Which is intriguing because they’re both right-handed. I wonder if the club is looking to bring them both in? Maybe move Adam Larsson for a skilled winger and some cap-relief and go with Barrie, Bear, and Vatanen on the right-side? What would that mean for the left side, then? I’m assuming that Kris Russell is on the move and that would tell us Darnell Nurse, Caleb Jones, and William Lagesson would run the show over there.

Hmmm. Not so sure about that, Ted.

Although, I will say it seems like it would be a lot easier to feed Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl from the right side of the ice when they’re curling in to gather the puck in their own zone…

Jason Gregor came out yesterday and disclosed that Oscar Klefbom is dealing with severe arthritis in his shoulder and surgery could make things worse and possibly be career-ending and this is the reason Klefbom’s taken so long to make a decision on what to do about it.

Anybody else wondering who it benefits (apart from Gregor) by disclosing what Klefbom is dealing with? I can’t imagine Oscar or the Oilers would be happy with the radio jockey putting that info out there.

Anyways, Holland has said that he expects to go into next season without Oscar for most of, if not all, of next season but it sounded like he was putting some pressure on the Swede to hurry up so he can make the necessary adjustments to his roster for next year.

Do you think Kris Russell gets traded now?

As far as the draft goes, we’ve been hearing Portland winger Seth Jarvis’ name over and over and over lately. So if he’s there when Edmonton is picking, I would consider it a lock the Oilers take him. Add to that the fact that Holland said they’re “probably” not taking a defenseman because he’s happy with the depth there.

Edmonton will have five picks in this draft. At the time of writing, one in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th round, and since I’ve been on Draft Prospect Hockey.com‘s draft simulator all week, I will present to you my Oilers mock draft.

  • 1st round – Anton Lundell – C – HIFK (SM-Liiga)
  • 3rd round – Alexander Pashin – RW – Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
  • 5th round – Ethan Cardwell – C – Barrie (OHL)
  • 6th round – Daniil Zaitsev – LD – Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)
  • 7th round – Yegor Chinakhov – RW – Avangard Omsk (KHL)

I love Anton Lundell. I think he’s probably the smartest guy in the draft and he’s one of the closest to becoming an impact player at the NHL level. Another season in Finland, one in the AHL, and then, in theory, he should be ready for the big leagues. He reminds me of Mikko Koivu (pretty good player) overall but more specifically I get a Sean Couturier vibe from him and we remember how his draft went, right? Concerned about his skating? Don’t be. He’s not fast off the block, but if you want an NHL comparable, look no further than Florida Panthers star Sasha Barkov.

I remember Pashin lighting up the Hlinka/Gretzky tourament last season with seven goals in five games. He’s electrifying and I have to admit, a bit of a high risk/high reward selection in the 3rd round. He’s not even 5’10”, so that adds to that, but he’s one nimble MFer! He’s fearless, the puck sticks to his blade, and he can finish. I wonder if there’s a bit of Pavel Bure in him?…

Ethan Cardwell is a player with an excellent work ethic and a never die attitude on the puck. His skating, shot, and hockey IQ is well above average. This fella could be a mainstay on the Oilers PK for years. He plays the Canadian way and he throws a bit of flash and dash in there too. Really cool hockey player.

I wanted at least one defenseman and so I picked Russian defender Daniil Zaitsev. He’s 6’1″ 183lbs and defensively, very solid. He takes care of his own end quite well and knows where to place himself in his own zone. He skates very smoothly, has a cannon of a shot, and is not afraid to mix it up physically. He sounds a little like Dmitri Samorukov but Zaitsev holds onto the puck and distributes it a bit better I’m told.

Lastly, Yegor Chinakhov. An overager that was passed over last year, this guy is 19 years old and lighting up the KHL. That’s right, the KHL. Not the VHL or the MHL, the 2nd-best hockey league in the world. In 12 games for Avangard, he has five goals and two assists. Last year in the MHL he had 69 points in 56 games. This guy scores for fun at every level. Here’s what the Draft Prospects Hockey guide had to say about him,

“A hard-working, two-way winger. Solid foot speed, strong first steps. Pivots well, balanced. Protects the puck and is a reliable puck carrier in all three zones. Overall awareness is strong. Hits his teammates with soft and accurate passes. He shoots the puck hard and creates quality chances. Strong for his size. Good defensive stickwork. Solid closing speed, good range. Disrupts passing lanes. Effective on the forecheck. Works hard. Wins battles with his stickwork and excellent positioning. There is improvement to be made on his edgework. He is a streaky player and needs to bring consistency shift after shift. Has bottom six two-way NHL potential.”

You’ll probably notice I picked quite a few Europeans and there’s a reason for that. I am curious if there’ll be a run on Euro-trained players at the draft this year with all the uncertainty due to COVID in North America. As far as I know, only the QMJHL and the AJHL are going ahead with their seasons right now. So where are all these North American players going to continue their development if the junior leagues and the minor pro leagues are shut down?

The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!
The one time it’s okay to be a JERK! Grab this shirt while supplies last!
Hockey players are the toughest athletes on the planet. Click the pic and purchase this shirt right now!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Edmonton Oiler 2020 Draft: These Three Players Are on Edmonton’s List

Not sure if you listen to a lot of Edmonton sports talk radio shows like Oilers Now or read Oilers blogs like The Cult of Hockey, but they’ve been dropping names like crazy over the last two weeks or so and I would like to take a closer look at them for you.

This tweet by Oilers play-by-play colorman Bob Stauffer, who incidentally is VERY connected throughout the west thanks to his connections via the University of Alberta hockey program. was sent back on the 11th of August.

There are two names on this list that he spoke to this morning on his daily radio show, Oilers Now, Seth Jarvis, and Anton Lundell.

The other name that is constantly coming up is that of Prince Alberta Raider defender Kaiden Guhle. This is what Cult of Hockey scribe and Oilers insider Kurt Leavins said in his latest blog,

 Fair to say most people think the Oilers have good depth in the organization on the blue line. That has many thinking that Edmonton should take a forward at #14 in the upcoming draft. Well…not so fast. What if you subscribe to the “take the best player available” theory? A run on forwards in the first 10 rounds could send a guy like Kaiden Guhle as low as 14. The 6’2 LHD out of Prince Albert has a tantalizing mix of size and speed. People who have seen him play lots say Guhle’s skating is more than a plus-asset. More like “plus-plus” boots. The Sherwood Park native went 11-29-40 in 64 games for P.A. last year and was a +23. Food for thought.

That mirrors what Stauffer has been saying on his show as well.

Guhle, being raised 5-minutes outside of Edmonton in Sherwood Park and related to a current member of the U of A Golden Bears, it makes sense that he’d be on Stauffer’s radar. Bob also has a lot of ins with some big agents like Gerry Johansson (reps Jarvis) and Allain Roy (reps Guhle). As far as I know, Lundell is represented by Acme World Sports, Markus Lehto’s old company, but now that agency falls under the Wasserman umbrella. Can’t say I know of a relationship between Stauffer and Lehto there.

Anyways, what I’m getting at is maybe these well-respected hockey media men are scratching some backs. Not to take anything away from those three players, but as we know, hockey is all about who you know and what you can do for them.

Let’s get to the scouting reports though.

Seth Jarvis

Right Wing/Centre — shoots Right
Born February 1st, 2002 — Winnipeg, Manitoba
Height 5’10” — Weight 172 lbs
NHL Comparable: Brayden Point

2019-2020 Portland Winterhawks WHL 58 42 56 98 24

He produced at an excellent rate, despite playing about 18:30 minutes per game. Marco Rossi averaged around 21:00 and Jack Quinn at about 20:00 minutes as examples. He’s a versatile, well rounded, line-driving winger who had a tremendous second half of the year. Jarvis is a player who is willing to make the on-ice sacrifices, by putting his body on the line to make plays. He has the hockey sense, the skating, the skillset and the mental approach needed to make him one of the safest picks in the draft.

The only real drawback, is that Seth’s offensive ceiling caps just slightly lower than some of the talent we have featured both in-front of him as well as a couple of prospects placed behind him on our list. That said, if we were on the draft floor and drafted Jarvis, we wouldn’t think twice if we could take him where we have him ranked. He’s the type of player you win with, and he can lead by example out on the ice. –  (Hockey Prospect Black Book)

What scares me off of this player is the fact that there have been many skilled prospects that have come through the program in Portland and have failed to make the impact everybody thought they would because they tore up the WHL. I’m thinking of players like Nic Petan, Cody Glass, Brendan Leipsic, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Sven Baertschi.

What I do like about this player is that he gets in the muck. He’ll go to the dirty areas to get the job done and I love players who will sacrifice themselves to make a play. His speed combined with his tenaciousness allows him to win puck races which in turn gives him the ability to make a play before the opposing team’s defense can. A small player without determination and drive and fearlessness is going to have a really tough time making it at the NHL level and we see it all the time. Look at Jeremy Bracco in Toronto of Josh Ho-Sang in Long Island for example. Those guys have a metric tonne of talent but he can’t get out of the AHL.

Would I take him 14th overall? It’s a really tough call. You’d hate to be the guy who skips over him and he turns into Brendan Gallagher or something to that effect, right? But you don’t want to be the player that was mesmerized by his skill in junior and end up with another Nic Petan either…

Kaiden Guhle

Defense — shoots Left
Born January 18th, 2002 — Sherwood Park, Alberta
Height 6’2″ — Weight 186 lbs
NHL Comparable: Darnell Nurse/Jacob Trouba

2019-2020 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 64 11 29 40 56

Guhle is a physically mature, highly-mobile, two-way defenseman. He’s a tenacious and imposing defender who can dictate on the defensive side of the puck by using his physical gifts. He’s most aggressive when looking to step-up on players crossing his own blueline, showing a tenacious defensive approach that some defenseman fail to initiate very often. He has a wide frame that gives him a lot of leverage when he’s attempting to stick press his opponents and was consistent with ability to pin along the boards. This extends to the penalty-kill, where he’s willing to use his frame and leverage to his advantage to box out opposing players near the front of the net. When projecting his game, the most enticing element to this player is his willingness to make life difficult for his opponents when they cross his line. There’s an overwhelming and swarming aspect to how he defends in one on one situations, generating a lot of pressure as a result.

The main concern is with his hockey sense. He can anticipate the play to the degree necessary to find the first option when it’s presented clearly in front of him, but he sometimes lacks the poise and processing ability to recognize what options could be available if he held the puck slightly longer than what seems to be his current comfort zone. Don’t get us wrong, we like it when a player can immediately assess his defensive partner and use him to swing the puck around the boards and get it out of harms way during an incoming forecheck. But, in the case of Guhle, he relies too much on his initial take of a play unfolding. It puts him in a position where he doesn’t always evaluate what could be available to him if he used his tools to hang onto the puck longer.

Sometimes Guhle shows an inability to assess risk as it relates to his aggression. We welcome his tenacious and almost throwback-like physical approach. But he sometimes steps-up without analyzing where his teammates are positioned as he’s about to do it.

We see Guhle as an effective shutdown defender with second pairing upside. – (Hockey Prospect Black Book)

I can’t believe we’re even talking about the Oilers taking another left-shot defender with their first-round draft pick. If it was Jake Sanderson, I could see it. But I don’t see the hullaballoo with Guhle.

What I don’t like about this player is stated above. His hockey IQ isn’t there and I’m not impressed with his skating to be honest. He skates very very well, don’t get me wrong, but a player with 2nd pairing upside who is a shutdown defender should not be taken this early in the draft. If the Oilers are hell-bent on taking a defenseman who can skate and is a defense-first player, there are plenty of those that will be available in the later rounds like Tyler Kleven.

What I do like about this player is that he’s a mean SOB than can keep up with the best skaters in the league.

I would not take this player with the 14th overall pick.

Anton Lundell

Center — shoots Left
Born October 3rd, 2001 — Espoo, Finland
Height 6’1″ — Weight 185 lbs
NHL Comparable: Mikko Koivu

2019-2020 HIFK Liiga 44 10 18 28 18

Lundell is a two-way, physically mature center whose attention to detail is among the best we’ve seen off the puck in recent years. His anticipation without the puck is what separates him, and it’s also what allows him to maintain excellent positioning. That anticipation allows him to intercept passes across the slot area in his own end, as well as anticipate what the defense is attempting to do when he’s on the forecheck. He’s a takeaway machine. When he’s not looking to intercept passes, he has consistently shown the ability to support his defense. Specifically, at the U20s last season, we thought given the competition he was up against and for his age he looked very comfortable and poised when helping his defenseman break-out of the zone.

The biggest concern regarding Lundell is his skating. You can make a legitimate argument that he was a better skater last season than this season. We know that sentence looks off at first glance but let us explain: This past season, Lundell has gotten bigger and heavier, yet his coordination has not matched his growth spurt as of this writing. The result is a clunkier stride than what we had seen previously. He now relies less on his mechanics which were already average, and more on his power. The good news is that Lundell is as strong as an ox, and this helps him compensate when accelerating or when switching gears in a straight-line.

There’s always room for a two-way center who can shutdown an opposing teams top-line, and that’s exactly what Lundell projects as. – (Hockey Prospect Black Book)

I never thought Lundell would be a player that might be available for the Oilers. At the beginning of the year I had him in the top-7 at least and I still really like him.

What I don’t like about this player is that there’s no guarantee that his skating comes around and in this age of hockey skating is so important if you want to be an impact player.

What I like about this player is that he’s so smart and defensively responsible at such a young age. He’s a big body and he’s shown for two years now that he can compete with men much older than him and excel. Plus there’s potential for some Selke consideration with this player down the road.

I would definitely take Lundell if he was available at 14th overall.

Here’s the thing with this pick, it’s a gift. Edmonton was supposed to be picking in the 20s and now they’re closer to the top-ten.

The Oilers do not have any high-end forward prospects coming through the pipeline. Question marks remain with Tyler Benson, Cooper Marody, Kirill Maksimov, and Ryan McLeod. We’re waiting to see what Rafa Lavoie is going to turn into as he’ll be lacing them up for Rogle in the SHL.

Ideally, they’d be able to select a center with their pick but unless Lundell falls to 14 (highly unlikely) or they really believe in Hendrix Lapierre or Connor Zary, they’ll be looking at a winger.

There is a generational right-catching goalie from Russia available they could take too but who wants one of those? Say, has anybody been watching Tampa recently? Don’t they have a Russian goalie? Like a really good one that was picked in the first round? Bet ya they regret that decision!

As for the theory that you take the best player available, I don’t know if that’s something teams do anymore unless they have a top-3 pick and you’ll see it when this next draft comes about. The fourth-best player in the draft is most likely defenseman Jamie Drysdale but there’s lots of chatter out there that the Red Wings will take Cole Perfetti, a center, and that’s a position Detroit needs to address.

Even if the Oilers were going by that theory, Kaiden Guhle won’t be the best player available at 14th overall. Not even close and if Edmonton’s scouts do believe that a shutdown defender who can skate well is the BPA, they should be fired.

I get it, defensemen are a premium and you’d like to copy the Nashville model, but if the majority consensus is that Guhle is even with Braden Scheider (Brandon, WHL), YOU TAKE THE RIGHT-SHOT DMAN!!! Which is what Schneider is and you take him because right-handers are even more of a premium!

Just on Schneider for a minute. Reminds me of a better skating Shea Weber. That might just be me though.

Take the forward (or the generational goalie), develop him correctly, and sign or trade for the left-handed shutdown blueliner when you need him.

Who would you like to see the Oilers select with their first-round pick in 2020?

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!
Get your “Stanley” today!
The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Podcast

2020 Edmonton Oilers Draft: You’re Gonna Laf When You Read This

I’ll put it out there right now. I think that a Western Conference team is going to win the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes tonight and the reason for that is simple. Taylor Hall. Now, his team isn’t eligible to win the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery tonight because they actually won their play-in series vs. Nashville (as I predicted they would) but I’m thinking that just his presence in Edmonton could very well be enough to sway the odds to the West a bit…

All joking aside, I’m going to Laf if the Oilers win the right to pick first overall for the 5th time in ten years. I mean, you can’t get angry at them for winning it for the very reason that this is the NHL’s “well thought out” plan to begin with! I love the idea of Edmonton getting Alexis Lafreniere if nothing more than to create even more chaos and angst.

Another reason, aside from him being the perfect partner for Connor, I’d like to see it happen is that I envision the battle of Alberta being even more feisty with Lafreniere involved. This is a kid that doesn’t take any sh*t from anybody and you know that Matthew Tkachuk would have his sights on him from the get-go.

But I don’t want to talk about that today. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think that the Oilers will win the lottery tonight, so I’d like to focus on a few prospects that the scouting pundits are projecting to go at 14th overall where Edmonton will be selecting.

Let’s start with the professional scouts:

  • Bob McKenzie (TSN) – Kaiden Guhle
  • Craig Button (TSN) – Dylan Holloway
  • Corey Pronman (The Athletic) – Brendan Brisson
  • Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet) – Dawson Mercer
  • Scott Wheeler (The Athletic) – Jack Quinn
  • Future Considerations – Rodion Amirov
  • Hockey Prospect – Ridly Greig
  • McKeen’s – Kaiden Guhle
  • ISS – Kaiden Guhle
  • The Hockey News – William Wallinder
  • Elite Prospects – Brendan Brisson
  • Central Scouting – William Wallinder (EUR)/Ridly Greig (NA)

I find it very interesting that Darnell Nurse 2.0, Kaiden Guhle, pops up three times here and this year’s Philip Broberg, William Wallinder, comes up twice. I can’t see the Oilers going for another defenseman here as according to my sources, Edmonton will be looking to spruce up the skill of their wing prospects and all of the forwards mentioned above bring something to the table that Ken Holland could use in 2-4 seasons from now.

The following quotes I’ll be gathering from the draft guides produced by McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, The Hockey News, and The Draft Analyst.

“Among the top playmakers in the USHL, Brisson moves the puck around exceptionally well, and his ability to create movement between the dots is especially impressive.

Brisson also shows commendable commitment away from the puck. He backchecks hard and has been known to sneak in behind an opposing puck carrier to strip the puck from him and get the game going back the other way again”. – McKeen’s

“Brisson possesses an elite shot and it is one of the more respected weapons in his arsenal. He is very accurate with his slapper and isn’t afraid to use it.” – The Draft Analyst

“He anticipates the play extremely well, and knows how to identify his options rapidly as the result of his vision, in combination with his anticipation and processing ability. It’s on his stick and off his stick before he gets overwhelmed frequently. There’s a significant amount of deception and it’s rare for him to pass up on high-percentage options; both with his shooting and passing.” – Hockey Prospect

“Amirov is a skilled, two-way winger who plays a finesse style of game. What really jumps out is how shifty and slick he is. Rodion is very difficult to pin down or gain a read on.” – Hockey Prospect

“Shifty, aggressive and incredibly smart, Amirov impacts the game in all three zones with or without the puck. He can play either side of center, and his shot accuracy on his off wing is as accurate as it is on his strong side.

Two of the more noticeable aspects of Amirov’s game are his puck control and board play in all three zones. He is extremely elusive in tight spaces and will use multiple pivots or cut-backs with confidence to keep possession alive, specifically during the cycle.

mirov’s straight-line speed is very good, but it’s his anticipation coupled with the power of his stride that helps him create a sizable gap from back-pressure. He has an acute sense of identifying and evading oncoming opponents, and he’s not shy from stopping on a time and recalculating his next move.” – The Draft Analyst

“Quinn has the potential to drive his own line as a winger because he’s so good in the corners or along the boards, plus his escapability for an above-average skater is a tribute to his poise and the timing of his lateral cuts immediately after of zone entries.

Quinn is a tough competitor who is willing to fight for pucks and handle the disc in tight spaces. Defenders who try to contain or fix him into the corner run the risk of getting their ankles broken, but they also have to respect Quinn’s elite shot-release combination, to include his backhander.

You don’t score 52 goals in your first draft year without having some type of plus shot.

The intangibles are plentiful. Quinn will throw bodychecks, stick up for teammates after the whistle, battle hard for low-slot positioning against bigger defenders, and he is one of the league’s craftiest penalty killers in terms of looting pucks and creating scoring chances out of one-on-one scenarios” – The Draft Analyst

“He’s a highly skilled offensive guy who plays all 200 feet.” – The Hockey News

“Greig is a high-octane, two-way winger who can get under an opponent’s skin. He’s one of the younger players in the draft, and he plays with a ton of energy. The energy he consistently brings to the table is complimented by a fearlessness to attack in waves.

What’s even more impressive, is that there’s a maturity and a level of control featured in his game, that allows the grit and determination aspects of him to really thrive

He’s a gifted playmaker who can make high-end passes using a combination of creativity and deception.

One aspect of his shooting that makes him stand out, is that he’s gifted at shooting at top speeds and when using two-to-three step area quickness. He can also rapidly pull the puck and shift his shooting angle, yet also catch goalies off guard with how quick his release point can be.

Another impressive aspect of Greig is that he can attack in a multitude of ways using his aforementioned skills. If he’s moving east-west, he’s dangerous. If he’s moving north-south, he’s dangerous. If he’s stationary or in motion or if he’s attacking directly or making an indirect no look play, he’s dangerous.” – Hockey Prospect

Tell you what, I sure like the looks of Jack Quinn. He’s an older prospect if I’m not mistaken and he’s trending up sharply. He scores goals and he sounds like the kind of player coaches would love! Another guy out of this group of players I could see Edmonton grabbing is Ridly Greig. He’s be skyrocketing up the draft charts since the end of the season and seeing how the Oilers play-in series vs. Chicago just went, they might want to add some grit and determination to their pipeline.

And now the amateur scouts:

  • Steve Kournianos (The Draft Analyst) – Dylan Holloway
  • Larry Fisher (The Hockey Writers) – Jan Mysak
  • Sean Patrick Ryan (The Oiler Knight) – Yaroslav Askarov
  • Allan Mitchell (Lowetide) – Noel Gunler
  • Mark Seidel (NACSIB) – Dawson Mercer
  • Cam Robinson (Dobber’s Prospects) – Seth Jarvis

The players that this fantastic group of pundits is projecting are varied. We’ve even got a goalie in there! Let’s look at a few reports on these players.

“Mercer can play any kind of role on a team. He can play all three forward positions, and he is as good offensively as he is defensively. With his compete level, he’s the type of player you win hockey games with, as he plays like a winner and is very unselfish on the ice. Mercer projects as a top-6 forward at the NHL level. Even if his offense doesn’t translate, he could be a real good 3rd-line player down the road. He’s one of the safest players in this draft class.” – Hockey Prospect 

“Mercer ticks off just about every box. He’s determined and hardworking, plays well at both ends of the ice and has complementary offensive skill. He can play up and down the lineup and adapt to almost any style of game.” – The Hockey News

“He could be the perfect complement to higher skilled play creators because of how intelligent he is and how hard he works.” – McKeen’s

“Dylan is a very good playmaker with excellent vision. He is an accurate passer who also can create chances off his backhand, and he plays with his head up at all times.

Skating definitely is a strong suit and his escapability near the boards while taking hard shoves makes his balance impressive.

Holloway is a hound off the puck who consistently applies pressure with physicality, especially on the penalty kill. He gets involved on the forecheck and creates turnovers thanks to smart reads, proper stick positioning and quick turns towards the direction of puck travel.

Blessed with ideal size and excellent balance, Holloway is a jack of all trades who can play either center or wing; serve as a playmaker or finish around the net; and most importantly, be matched up against opposing top players.” – The Draft Analyst

“Mysak is not an explosive skater, but once he gets his feet moving he’s capable of creating separation. He can beat defenders by going wide and has a danger- ous shot. Mysak is seen as more of a scorer than playmaker, but some scouts noted that his assist total would have been much higher if teammates had been able to capitalize on his passes.” – The Hockey News

“Mysak is a scoring winger with some line driving instincts, who uses a combination of skill and speed to generate points. He has a takeover approach that you can’t teach a player, and the speed necessary to take advantage of his mentality.” – Hockey Prospect

“The skills set starts off with unparalleled athleticism, above and beyond any other goalie in this year’s draft class, and even more impressive than Spencer Knight was last year. His post-to-post movement is explosive, and his skating ability also allows him to play aggressively, telescoping out of his crease to cut down angles from long range shots. His athleticism also shows itself when he is forced to scramble when the play gets too hairy near his crease.” – McKeen’s

“Askarov has superstar potential. Much like Knight last season, he has done more than enough to cement his standing as not only the top goaltending prospect in the draft, but one worthy of being a high first-round pick.” – The Draft Analyst

“Askarov’s movement for his age is the best we’ve ever seen for his size, and it’s due to how seamless he can transition between different technical-movements.” – Hockey Prospect

“Gunler is actually more natural as a finisher than as a creator. His wrist shot is his primary weapon. He can read goalies well, knowing when the best time is to fire and he doesn’t need to be in tight to pick his spot either, as he has the power to connect for long range.” – McKeen’s

“Gunler is a cerebral – sniper, who is one of the most gifted scorers featured in this draft. It is Noel’s offensive abilities that really makes him stand out as he is gifted with a superb offensive toolkit to create and score goals. Gunler’s wrist shot is elite, featuring fantastic mechanics.” – Hockey Prospect

I started out the year really loving Holloway’s game. What he did in the AJHL as a 16-year-old was mindblowing to me but then his year didn’t start that well despite playing on the same team as Alex Turcotte and Cole Caufield. So I turned my attention to Mysak. I thought he was outstanding at the World Junior’s and even better in the OHL. But now, I’m torn. Is this the time in Edmonton’s build to take the safe player or risk it on a potential generational goaltender? Mercer or Askarov? Yet, there’s a possible 30-goal-scorer in Noel Gunler sitting there too…

If it was my choice this is how I’d rank the players mentioned above,

  1. Jack Quinn
  2. Yaroslav Askarov
  3. Noel Gunler
  4. Ridly Greig
  5. Dawson Mercer
  6. Jan Mysak
  7. Dylan Holloway
  8. Rodion Amirov
  9. Brendan Brisson

I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that I think the Oilers should consider trading down with teams like the Devils, who have picks 18 and 21 (I think), Montreal (16th), or Ottawa (22nd) in an attempt to recoup some early-round draft picks that they lost at the deadline. A lot of the players I showed you today will most likely still be around by the 16th to 22nd selection. I feel like it just makes a lot of sense and Ken Holland has a history of trading down.

What do you think? Do you have your eyes on any specific players for this upcoming draft? Have your targets changed since the Oilers have moved up? Let us know in the comments below!

Get your “Stanley” today!
The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!
The one time it’s okay to be a JERK! Grab this shirt while supplies last!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers Draft Talk: The Experts Picks for Edmonton So Far…

Tell me this isn’t all a bit too convenient for real life. The NHL expands the playoffs to include 8 more teams because reasons. Then! The NHL draft lottery is held and those teams as a group are given the 2nd best odds of winning the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes and they do?! Not only does this set up ANOTHER live TV event to determine the winner of the play-in losers but it shafts teams who are in desperate need of a player like Lafreniere…

Now, as a draft geek, I’d love nothing more than the opportunity to draft the latest French-Canadian phenom. I’m confident in saying that he’s going to be more impactful from a goal-scoring perspective than the last left-winger Edmonton drafted first overall. I mean topping an average of 20-goals/yr shouldn’t be that hard for a talent like this, should it? But the reality is, this is the Oilers’ best chance to go deep into the COVID Cup playoffs. This roster is as deep as it’s been since 2006, deeper than 2016 I’d argue. So I’m happy to be drafting at 20th overall or later if that ends up the case.

Who could the Oilers be looking at in or around 20th overall? Well, let’s see who the experts have Edmonton taking in their mock drafts or their latest rankings.

Cam Robinson (@hockey_robinson) – Dobber’s Prospects – 

  • Kaiden Guhle – LD – Prince Albert (WHL) – 6’2, 186lbs

“Strapping blueliner with great mobility and a keen eye for defending. Has the potential to be a minute-muncher down the line, albeit with a somewhat limited offensive ceiling. Safe.” – Robinson (source)

I’ve read that Guhle compares well to Darnell Nurse. He’s very athletic, he’s one of the better skaters in the draft on the blueline, and he’s got a mean streak.

I can’t see Edmonton taking another defenseman with their first-rounder this year. From all indications, my sources have more or less said that the Oilers will be looking to select a forward with skill.

Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) – TSN – 

  • Lukas Reichel – LW – Berlin (DEL) – 6’0, 170lbs

“Reichel is a very good skater with great combination of speed and quickness. He is constantly moving and participating in the play even when he doesn’t have the puck. Reichel has very good puck-skills and a great shot. He isn’t afraid to battle for pucks in the corners or go to the dirty areas of the ice which shows his pro-like style. Reichel has shown great hockey sense on both sides of the puck; he is already pretty good defensively which is a positive sign for his NHL future. He isn’t all that flashy, but he is very efficient, and he has legitimate middle-six upside at the NHL level. He is also pretty young for his draft class.” – Jokke Nevalainen (source)

What I like about this player is that he’s very good in the muck. If you’re a team who needs a winger to dig about in the corners or on the walls, Reichel is one of the best players in the draft at doing this. He doesn’t seem to care how big his opponent is either. He wins a lot of puck races and battles because of this regardless of his slight stature. Could be a real handy player to have alongside a highly-skilled center.

McKeen’s 2020 NHL Draft Guide

  • Hendrix Lapierre – C – Chicoutimi (QMJHL) – 6′, 179lbs

“Lapierre may just be the draft’s biggest wildcard this year because of his head and neck injuries. He entered the year as a potential top five pick and now is not even a guaranteed first rounder. However, the Oilers are a team that I believe are positioned to take a chance on Lapierre. They have tried to address their blueline the last few years in the first round, so the Chicoutimi center would certainly give them another offensive weapon in the future.” – Brock Otten

I’m torn on this player. He played 19 games in the ‘Q’ before shutting it down and only scored two goals… Not great but like Otten, I’ve got a feeling that Lapierre is high on Edmonton’s draft list but there’s a feeling that he’ll be long gone by the time the Oilers are selecting according to one of my sources. If you’re taking this player, you’re convinced his neck issues are behind him and you’re taking as much time as needed, or more, with regards to his development. Meaning, he gets the maximum amount of time in junior, then two or three years in the AHL.

For me, what the team decides to do with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will tell me how they plan on developing the club’s future. Taking Lapierre when the team has McDavid, Draisaitl, and RNH ahead of him for the next five seasons doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Steve Kournianos (@thedraftanalyst) – The Draft Analyst – 

  • Emil Andrae – LD – HV71 J20 (Superelit) – 5’8″, 181lbs

“Andrae is a reliable one-on-one defender with a short gap who looks to deliver hits and battle hard for positioning. He may be on the smallish side, but Andrae has a very high compete level and it shows in the way he continues to fight for pucks and uses his lower-body strength and rapier-like stick thrusts. Andrae uses superior anticipation and short routes to intercept passes ranging from chips to cross-ice attempts, and he transitions from defense to offense as well as any of his peers. He also is a solid bodychecker who plasters unassuming puck carriers to the boards or line someone up for a jarring open-ice hit” – Kournianos

Another left-shot defender but this one only a shade taller than Kailer Yamamoto is probably not what the Oilers are looking for right now. I haven’t seen a lot of this player but from what I have he looks like a great puck mover. A smooth operator indeed. I’m just not sure how long his career would be if he was playing the role of Darius Kasparaitis AND Sandis Ozolinsh… As interesting as it sounds, I reckon he’ll fall to the second or third round.

Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) – The Athletic – 

  • Ridley Greig – C – Brandon (WHL) – 5’11”, 165lbs

Greig’s name kept rising in the final months of the season and scouts have told me they expect him to be a first-round lock due to how skilled he is and how hard he competes on the ice. I can see the Oilers valuing those attributes a lot, especially down the middle where the organization doesn’t have a lot of young depth. – Pronman

Now here’s where my previous point about draft a center hits a bit of a wall. Why draft Greig over Lapierre when they’ve got 97, 29, and 93 all locked up and the answer is, the Wheat King brings a different toolbox to the job site than Lapierre. He’s got some Martin Lapointe in him that I’m sure Ken Holland would love. If Lapierre isn’t helping out on offense or is being shut down, how else is he contributing? Can he excel in the muck like Greig can? I’m not so sure he can.

I’d be a little shocked if Mark Greig’s boy was drafted in the first round. He’s good but I think there are some better players that could be taken in the top-31 picks. That said, a team looking to increase its depth and character might take him before the first round is up.

The Hockey Prospect Black Book

  • Connor Zary – C – Kamloops (WHL) – 6’0″, 177lbs

“Zary is a multi-faceted, duel-threat center who might be more translatable on the wing. Arguably his best skill attribute are his hands. He has an excellent set of hands that he can use to break down opposing players at a consistent rate. His hands seamlessly blend into his release, giving him a fairly difficult wrist-shot for a goalie to pick up on. He can catch and release the puck, yet find difficult to hit seams on a goalie. There’s a good balance between accuracy, power, and timing with his shooting talent. He can make high-end passes and knows how to stretch out his passing options and readjust his passing lanes by slowing down the play. What really stands out the most is the deception. His competitiveness is also a plus. He’s consistent at getting into high danger areas, and isn’t afraid to use his body in tight to the net when looking to get a rebound. He can hit as well.”

When I watched Zary at the Top Prospects game I was really impressed. He was very creative with his playmaking and seemed to be in the right place at the right time offensively. Out of the centers discussed in this post, I think I like Zary the best. He’s got wonderful hands and he attacks the middle of the ice with no qualms. Maybe that could bite him in the ass at some point but Matt Barzal has done okay so far. Zary’s skating will need to improve a bit going forward as he looks like he’s got heavy boots. Not much waterbug in his game, he’s more of a straight-ahead skater.

At the start of the year, I was really into Dylan Holloway. I liked everything about the kid and that he dominated the AJHL as a 17-year-old was the catalyst. He had a slow start to his time in Wisconsin but I’m confident he’ll really pick it up in his 2nd season there whenever that gets started.

But as the season wore on, a Czech player caught my eye during the World Juniors and then continued to draw my attention as he made the hop over the Atlantic to play for Hamilton (OHL), his name is Jan Mysak.

An electrifying player in my opinion. Once he’s fully developed physically, he has the potential to be a real game-breaker at the next level. Might I say Pastrnak-like? Probably not to that point, but I’m confident in saying that he could be an effective triggerman at the NHL level.

Now, you’re not going to mistake Mysak for Ryan O’Reilly. Mysak scores goals and contributes to offense primarily and I’m okay with that. I really hope the days of taking elite offensive talents and trying to mold them into 200ft two-way players is over. Imagine if they tried to do that with Pavel Bure back in the day or Teemu Selanne? I don’t think so!

The reason I brought up Holloway is that I think there’s a possibility he may slip from around the 10-14 spot to possibly the 18-22 spot depending on who jumps up. It would be a very difficult decision for me to pick just one of these players as I’m a big fan of both. With that in mind, if Zary, Holloway, and Mysak are available when the Oilers draft, I reckon it’s a win/win/win situation for the club if they take one of them.

Do you have a personal preference for who the Oilers should pick? Let us know in the comments below or over on Twitter (@beerleagueheroe)!

Puck Racism

The sales are starting to trickle in with this design and I’m going to spam the hell out of it on my website and the BLH Hockey Instagram because I feel passionate about it and I feel like Hockey is Diversity deserves the proceeds that I’ll be donating to them.

So, please. If you’ve got an extra $20 lying around and you want to do a good thing for good people, click the pic down below and grab a t-shirt, a mask, a onesie, a tank top, or some stickers.

Hockey is Diversity is a German group whose aim is to draw attention to the ethnic diversity in society, which goes beyond the sporting borders in order to sensitize people interculturally. The diversity that has long been regarded as an enrichment in sport as a melting pot of people of different ethnicities, cultures, and religions should also be transferred to society.

Click the pic and help support this worthy cause! Portions of the proceeds will go to Hockey is Diversity!

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