Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has done a masterful job and undoing the handy work left by former general manager Peter Chiarelli. The bottom six forwards are deeper than they’ve ever been, the goaltending tandem is of NHL caliber, and the Oilers top-6 has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in the league just as long as James Neal’s season last year was an “outlier” as TSN1260’s Jason Gregor is calling it.
It’s really hard to refute Holland’s performances to date, I mean, a week ago everyone was up his ass giving him failing grades for the Oilers off-season so far and then he found a way to do the unthinkable by dealing Milan Lucic’s contract. I reckon some folks just don’t have the patience to see things through these days… The summer is long when there’s no hockey to watch.
I’ll go back to what I’ve said previously, Ken Holland is simply reversing some of Chiarelli’s mistakes.
Drake Caggiula out, Josh Archibald in.
Jordan Eberle out, James Neal in.
Ryan Strome out…
And so here we are waiting to see who Mr. Holland is going to bring in to replace Ryan Strome and on that note, I was passed this message a couple of days ago but life got in the way of getting a post out at the time.
“Keep an eye on 98. It sounds like a there’s a team from a small hockey market in the states, who just moved a major piece off their blueline, that has their eye on him.”
I’m under the impression that before he re-upped with his team, the Oilers were in on Nashville’s most recent RFA signing, Colton Sissons. Considering the message from my source above, a trade to acquire him (and perhaps more) might’ve included Jesse Puljujarvi and possibly a defenseman, my guess that defender might’ve been Matt Benning but I’ve got nothing substantial on that. It’s just a hunch given how he’s been in the rumor mill for some time and that the Oilers have guys like Joel Persson and Ethan Bear coming not to mention Evan Bouchard at some point as well. Bob Stauffer sort of spoke to that a couple of days ago on his show,
“Maybe the way to go might be to get a prospect from another organization that’s looking for traction/chance to breakthrough as well. I wonder if you’d consider doing that with an organization that’s maybe short of 45 contracts. Maybe there’s a guy you’d like to get off your 50-man list and maybe no money-wise but maybe just to create a bit more flexibility moving forward.”
I asked around about a possible Eeli Tolvanen exchange and was told: “No way that happens.”
Personally, I can’t really see that deal having made sense from NSH’s point-of-view. They are stacked on the wings and they have seven NHL defenders ready to go, so why add another winger and dman? So anybody reading this might chalk it up to hearsay, but then I think we could politely remind ourselves of the trade Calgary just made to acquire Milan Lucic and how that didn’t really make much sense to their team either…
The one last thing that makes me wonder about a Puljujarvi to Nashville is their coach. Would Peter Laviolette have time for Jesse? I mean, of all the teams, the Preds are really laden with vets and maybe that’d be the perfect place for Pulju. Also, he’d be closer to his best friends in Carolina (Sebastien Aho) and Dallas (Roope Hintz).
Trades happen for a plethora of reasons and they don’t always make sense. Sometimes perfectly reasonable trades don’t happen too. It’s just how NHL hockey works sometimes.
TPE Hockey’s 2019/20 WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE PREVIEW
The World Junior Summer Showcase (WJSS) is an off-season showcase to give an idea of who could be on the roster come the World Juniors at New Years. Sweden and Finland each field a roster of their best U20 players while Canada and the US roster two different teams. The showcase isn’t a tournament so the teams don’t compete for anything, although the players are competing for a roster spot at the real World Juniors.
The competition is set to begin on July 26th and run until August 3rd in Plymouth, Michigan according to www.teamusa.usahockey.com
Canada
Canada’s team will be highlighted by the consensus #1 pick for the 2020 draft in Alexis Lafreniére. He’s expected to put on a show and display why he will go 1st next summer. Two other 2020 prospects in Justin Barron and Braden Schneider will also appear on Team Canada on their blueline. Both are projected 1st rounders. Speaking of the blueline, Bowen Byram and Noah Dobson will be their top players. For forwards expect Joe Veleno, Alex Newhook, Barret Hayton, and Kirby Dach to dominate. In net, Edmonton’s Olivier Rodrigue is the Team’s go-to-guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1GlzDh6Drw
USA
The Americans, unfortunately, don’t feature any 2020 prospects due to a weak year from the US. Nonetheless, this team is very good. The 2019 draft class featured a ton of American talent. Obviously, Jack Hughes won’t attend, but Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, Cam York, Cole Caufield, and Spencer Knight will all be there. This team is stacked with great players. Even when divided into two squads the Americans will be the best at this showcase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOgi9bbsZu4
Finland
After last year’s WJC victory the Finns are in a rebuild of sorts. Without Kaapo Kakko the team isn’t great. Anton Lundell will be very fun to watch as he’s a top 5 prospect for the 2020 draft. He’s coming off a strong performance as a draft minus one player at last year’s WJC. Finland will look to their top 2019 picks in Patrik Puistola, Ville Heinola, Mikko Kokkonen, and Anttoni Honka. In net, they’ll play Justus Annunen, but with Ukko-Pekka Luukonen gone their goalie crop is weak.
Sweden
If you’re looking for an exciting team, look to Sweden. With two electrifying 2020, top 10 picks in Lucas Raymond and Alex Holtz you don’t want to miss a single one of their games. Aside from those two the Swedes still poses some fun, fun players. Jonatan Berggren, Nils Höglander, Sam Fagemo, Victor Söderström, Toby Björnfot, and Philip Broberg are all can’t miss players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3YNqwlJNB0
I’m really looking forward to seeing these powerhouses go at it! Give Max (@TPEHockey) a follow if you’re a draft geek like me!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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With the NHL Entry Draft this Friday and Saturday, let’s circle the wagons one last time with a questionnaire for both of our contributing scouts, Max (@TPEHockey) and Keith (@keithfries). I’ll be participating in this exercise 🙂
Question #1: With the 8th-overall pick, do the Edmonton Oilers move up, trade back, or stay put?
Max: Personally, I always prefer staying put. Moving forward can work out if a team really has an eye on a certain player, but at the 8th-overall spot moving up just a few picks can be costly. Trading back is risky as your guy may be off the board. I’d see Edmonton staying put and selecting from the various talents in the deep #5-#14 range, of this class.
Keith: If you look at Ken Holland’s recent track record, at the draft, he doesn’t usually move up or down. I see him staying put because a) it’s in his nature and b) because the options at #8 are probably as equal as they would be if he moved up to, say, 6th-overall. He might slide back a spot-or-two if he can pick up a valuable asset in a trade, but I just don’t see that happening.
BLH: I concur with the scouts on this one. I don’t really see the advantage in moving up to anything apart from 3rd overall and I can’t see that happening. Trading down would be a more likely event given the group of players ranked #4 to #12, but even then, I just don’t see the point. Get your guy at 8 and walk away happy. Don’t mess around.
Question #2: Playing armchair GM, if you stay at the 8th-overall pick, who would you draft if the following players had already been selected?
Max: In this scenario, Peyton Krebs is my guy. Krebs was on a weak Kootenay team but found success, nonetheless. He can run his own line and drive offense even without great teammates.
Keith: I think Trevor Zegras would make a lot of sense. He’s, in my opinion, the smartest player at the top of this class, on-and-off the ice. Really good kid – and when you couple that with all the gifts he has in the rink, it’s really a no-brainer. …See what I did there?
BLH: Krebs and Zegras would definitely be of great value to the Oilers going forth. They’d add an element of flash to the Oilers center depth and if I had to choose one or the other, I’d probably side with Max here and go with Krebs due to his work ethic and two-way game.
With that said, I’m a Matthew Boldy man. For my money, he’s the best all-around forward in the draft and the Oilers are really lacking in those. He can stir the drink from the wing and there aren’t many players in the game you can say do that. He can play across the board and in every situation. To add to that, he’s most likely physically ready to play pro right now and his vision, hands, and hockey IQ are right up there with the best in the draft. A season or two in the NCAA will develop him into an impact player upon his NHL debut.
Question #3: Who do you think (realistically) will be on the board at #38? Who should the Oilers draft with that pick?
Max: A good option might be Patrik Puistola. Puistola is a popular pick for an under the radar, 2nd-round, option, who’s found a lot of success in the Mestis – the 2nd premiere adult league, in Finland. Puistola is a creative goal scorer who will make the jump to the Liiga, next season.
Keith: A guy that doesn’t get enough love is Maxim Cajkovic. The definition of a “journeyman,” he’s played pretty much all over the world, already, and when you look at how well he’s performed at every stop along the road, he’s the kind of guy that teams will trade for at the deadline to go on a ‘Cup run.
BLH: This will really depend on who the Oilers take at 8th overall. I reckon it’ll be a pretty offensive player, so… I really like John Beecher here. He’s one of the fastest players in the draft, he plays center, and he likes to get mucky. I don’t feel he’s quick like Hughes, but he’s fast like jersey flapping Mike Modano fast. He’s got a pro frame and at the end of the day, it wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up being 6’2″ and 210lbs. Just a beast on skates. The downside is he’s not all that offensively gifted, so the Oilers might be developing a defensive center/wing here in Beecher if they take him.
Question #4: Do you think Edmonton selects a goaltender in this draft? Why or why not?
Max: Edmonton has six picks in this draft and, with no NHL level netminder in their system, it might be worth spending at least one on a goalie. Spencer Knight might be out of the Oilers’ range, but there’s a deep class behind him who could be available in the 3rd-round.
Keith: It depends on who’s available and when. For me, there are three goaltenders in this draft that matter: Spencer Knight, Dustin Wolf, and Ilya Konovalov. If any of those guys are sitting there in the 3rd-or-4th rounds, I don’t care how good of prospects Stuart Skinner or Olivier Rodrigue are, I’m making the pick.
BLH: I’m not sure. With only six picks, I’d be hard-pressed to take one knowing there are four already in the system. I’d probably wait until next season or if I felt the urge to add another one, sign a free agent out of the NCAA or Europe.
Question #5: Another armchair GM scenario… You’re approached by the Avalanche to trade up to #4. It will cost you the: 8th, 85th, and 100th-overall picks. Do you make that trade, knowing the following players are off the board – and who would you select?
1) Jack Hughes
2) Kaapo Kakko
3) Bowen Byram
Max: Alex Turcotte is my 3rd-ranked prospect, in this draft, and I’d jump at the chance to take him. He’s by far the most complete player in the draft. When you combine his skating, creativity, scoring, intellect, and playmaking abilities, he’s easily the best option available after Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko.
Keith: I’d likely ask for additional draft pick in-return – 3-for-2 deal – but ultimately, no. I’m projecting the same ceiling for guys in the 3rd-to-12th-overall range. No need to move.
BLH: No, I wouldn’t. I do like Keith’s idea though. The M.O. in Edmonton is draft and develop and removing half of your picks to move up and get a player that might not be any better than the guy you take at 8th overall, doesn’t make sense to me. There should be enough players around 86th and 100th that interest me too. So, no. I wouldn’t do that trade.
Question #6: Who, in your opinion, is the most underrated player? The most overrated player?
Max: My pick for most underrated would be Domenick Fensore. He’s a 5’7” defenseman with high caliber offensive tools. A top-5 skater that defend both sides of the ice. My pick for most overrated would be Vasili Podkolzin. He failed to produce in Russia’s lower leagues while other less-known prospects thrived. A top-10 or even top-15 pick should be owning the MHL.
Keith: If we’re speaking in terms of the entire draft class, then Simon Holmstrom would be my most underrated. Really skilled winger. Good playmaking IQ, and did a lot down the stretch that showed a return to his dominant form. The most overrated would be Arthur Kaliyev. The kid can score like nobody’s business. It’s a beautiful shot, and it’s really something fun to watch. But that’s it. I see no compete. I see no hustle. For a kid who’s 6’2” – 190, I see no checking. It’s incredibly frustrating. Do I think he’s a first-round talent? Absolutely. But a late first-rounder. Anyone telling you he’s a top-10 pick lives in a padded cell.
BLH: My most underrated player might be Anttoni Honka. This guy has got some real talent but has disappeared off of scouts’ radars due to a really tough season he’s had. At the beginning of the year, I had him as the 3rd best prospect in the draft. Honka reminds me of Sergei Gonchar so much in his ability to stay cool under pressure. His offensive game is really good and he can thread a needle as well as any other prospect in this draft I feel. Some people might say he looks lazy on the ice, but I just find he’s just so collected it appears that he doesn’t care. I think that some scouts are scared off of him due to his brother Julius’ inability to develop into the player he was expected to. Some team is going to get a good player later on in the draft here, book it.
The other guy who’s being underrated is Vasili Podkolzin. He might not be putting up very much on the scoresheet, but make no bones about it, the Russian Hockey Federation doesn’t push its young players to play at higher levels often and Podkolzin is getting just that from them. He’s special. You try traveling as much as this guy has over the season and still maintain a high degree of production. You’ll see, once he’s settled in one spot for a year, he’ll start to tear things up.
Question #7: Final question… We’ll do one last armchair GM scenario. What kind of deal would you be asking for in return for Jesse Puljujarvi?
Max: The ask would probably be a high pick in his draft and an NHL-ready prospect. You’re taking a chance that he just needed a change of scenery and could look like a real fool if he ends up overperforming.
Keith: Realistically, a 1-1-and-1 – as in: a player, a prospect, and a pick. But, I think the trade market has soured a bit on JP. While there are teams that likely have interest, they probably also have that lingering concern of “is he another Yakupov?” So, a 1-for-2 would be nice, and realistic. Let’s say, for example, if they made a deal with the Los Angeles Kings, it might look like: Jesse Puljujarvi for Alec Martinez or Tyler Toffoli + 64th-overall pick.
BLH: My feeling is that he’s right on the cusp of breaking out. The double hip surgery might slow down the beginning of his season, but I’d be willing to bet that he’ll be producing in the 2nd half and teams are cognizant of that. They’re aware of how young he still is and how the Oilers management, coaching, and playing staff have treated him, and they’ll try to fleece Ken Holland, but I can’t see him falling for it.
There are two trade scenarios for me,
The “futures” ask, meaning picks/prospects.
The “help now” ask, meaning an NHL player.
So for scenario “A”, I’m asking looking for the kind of prospect that will even out the scales in the case that Puljujarvi does turn things around. I’m not sure if we’re talking about an Eeli Tolvanen here, a Drake Batherson/Filip Chlapik, or possibly a bigger deal that would bring a Nolan Patrick to Edmonton. Roslovic out of Winnipeg is an interesting option as well. But something in that range. Gotta play hardball in a deal like this.
In scenario “B”, I’d look at oft-maligned players. Maybe guys who are on the outs with their current organization. Nikita Zadorov, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Jason Zucker are names that come to mind immediately. There are also teams that need to shed salary badly, so what about a Tyler Johnson or Nazem Kadri trade?
Be sure to follow both Max (@TPEHockey) and Keith (@keithfries) on Twitter and tune into the NHL Entry Draft, this weekend, and have a cold one on us. Or… 8 cold ones. Cheers!
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Today’s guest post is from a fellow Oilers fan named Terrance Grise. He wanted to have a mock draft of his published and I’m happy to help him out.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the water with regards to blogging, feel free to reach out and get in touch with me! Best bet is probably on Twitter here.
I’ll turn it over to Terrance now. Enjoy!
Elias Pettersson’s nickname is “Alien”. Here’s a shirt to celebrate it! Click the image to buy one!
Hey, hockey fans! If you think you’ve read every 2019 mock draft you can handle then you’re wrong cause I’ve got one more for you! Don’t worry it is slightly expedited as I chose to only cover the first 15 picks. I am a big draft nerd largely due to Edmonton’s positional tendencies over the past decade.
So this is how I think the top-15 picks should play out. Having said that as with most drafts this will most likely play out very differently than I think it will but that’s half the fun!
1.) Jack Hughes – (NJ Devils)
Posting 34 goals and 78 assists (112 Points) in 50 games (2.24 PPG), Jack Hughes is the bell of the ball for the 2019 draft class. Every aspect of his game screams franchise player, to the point that comparisons have been drawn to Connor McDavid. I am hesitant to draw the same parallels only because Hughes plays much more of an East-West game and forces openings by getting the defense out of position. He doesn’t seem to possess the same breakneck speed that #97 uses to embarrass defensemen. Having said that, he is an elite skater who will break his opponent’s ankles with perfect edge work and stick handling.
A part of me wanted to predict a Kaapo Kakko upset at first overall, largely due to the fact that New Jersey has done it before with the Nico Hischier selection back in 2017, that saw Nolan Patrick fall to Philadelphia. But given New Jersey’s need for a centerman and how elite of a prospect Hughes has proven to be, I just couldn’t justify it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR7VH4Xirr4
2.) Kaapo Kakko – (NY Rangers)
It was awesome watching Kakko in the Word Championship tournament less than a month back. You really got to see why he always seems to be mentioned in the same breath as Jack Hughes. It was also very apparent that he has been playing above his age class for a while now, looking very comfortable going up against some of the best that the NHL has to offer. He had a very strong season in the LIIGA scoring 22 goals and 16 assists for TPS. He is so strong on his skates and stick, this allows him to control the game down low and really dictate the play in the offensive zone. Being a left shot on the right wing, he really uses the inside angle to his advantage, beating goalies on either the short or far side from outside the slot. He also has the ability to make defenders look silly from in tight.
Considering how far the Rangers jumped at the lottery they will be thrilled with this consolation prize and that there is a strong chance that in five years’ time we will be looking back at this draft and arguing about who should’ve been taken first overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0QpejmAih0
3.) Bowen Byram – (CHI Blackhawks)
Bowen Byram is my favorite player from this draft class. Growing up I loved watching Scott Niedermayer, and let’s just say when I watch Byram play, a feeling of nostalgia washes over me. I truly believe if he was eligible for the 2017 draft that he would’ve been the consensus #1 choice. His lateral movement on the blueline alone is enough to make scouts and GMs fall in love with him. Then you add his passing and playmaking ability to the fold and you have the most complete defenseman the draft has seen in a long time. Although his shot does not possess overwhelming power, he beats you with ridiculous accuracy and a fast release.
Byram potted 71 points in 67 games and also carried 33 +/- rating. Really good when you consider he went -3 and -5 in his previous two seasons with the Vancouver Giants. Quite frankly, Chicago would be crazy not to take him at 3rd overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96A0xmTFTkA
4.) Alex Turcotte – (COL Avalanche)
If there was a comparable to Alex Turcotte it could be said he resembles a smaller version of Leon Draisaitl. His passing ability is eerily similar and I find that he also likes to slow the game down in the O-zone, even though he is a very good skater and can generate speed through the neutral zone. Any team would love to have his playmaking ability down low, especially on the power play. He has a strong, active stick and always seems to be in the right spot in all three zones. Teams are going to like this guy because he plays a pros game and probably only requires one more year of development before he’s ready for the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvR0e2wpj3c
5.) Kirby Dach – (LA Kings)
I am just going to come out and say it, I really like this kid. He just may be the most polarizing player in this draft class, cause people seem to love him or hate him. Not too many people (that I’ve heard from anyways) seem to have a neutral opinion on #77. By all accounts, however, he seemed to really impress at the combine. I think he’s going to take a big step next year for the Saskatoon Blades and prove that he deserved to be a top-5 pick in the draft. Being the other large WHL centermen in this draft, Dach and Cozens have been compared to each other all season.
Personally, I feel that Dach can have more of an impact on the game and is not limited to being solely a point producing centerman. The knock on him, however, is consistency. This is the main area that I am predicting will improve sooner rather than later in the years to come.
I do also foresee the possibility of him transitioning to the wing as an NHLer. Having said that, forwards that can play multiple roles are becoming extremely valuable in this league. So having a big right shot guy who can take faceoffs every now and then could prove to be a game changer for the team who drafts him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOgVdIz6mi4
6.) Cole Caufield – (DET Red Wings)
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS! Alex DeBrincat may be the best thing that has ever happened to Cole Caufield. So many comparisons can be made between these two players, so we’ll see if teams have learned anything from Chicago back in 2015. For most of the year, Caufield has been ranked somewhere in the top-20, finishing the year with an unbelievable 72 goals for the USNDP, has seemed to shoot him up the rankings with the draft now only days away. Elite finishers are becoming increasingly hard to come by nowadays and Caufield may be competing for the Rocket Richard Trophy in the near future. It will be interesting to see how well his game converts to the NHL, but I think that he has proven to GMs and scouts that he has the ability to score goals and be effective in more than just one way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XXIDv7Gy0I
7.) Matthew Boldy – (BUF Sabres)
Like Dach, Boldy has incredible hands for a guy his size. His passing ability may also be the most underrated part of his game, as he is known largely for his heavy and accurate shot. He can also use his strength to get past defenders, and usually ends up making space for his teammates in the process. Already weighing in at 192lbs, Boldy may be the most physically prepared prospect in this draft class. There are a couple of aspects of his game that do require a little attention. Unlike his USNDP teammates, he can be caught out of position from time to time. He is also more willing to make riskier plays in the offensive end of the ice, something that he has been able to get away with because of the strength of his team in comparison to their competition. The good news is that these are habits that are arguably some of the easiest to remedy, and the positives that Boldy can provide to the team that drafts him, far outweigh the current downsides.
8.) Dylan Cozens – (EDM Oilers)
As one of the strongest skaters in his class, the pride of Whitehorse – Dylan Cozens – may just turn out to be one of the sleeper picks in the top-10 of this draft. Big right shot centers with skill aren’t easy to come by, and that is why at #8, this could prove to be a value pick. Although he has a big frame, he is more likely to use his speed to overpower the opposition and generate scoring chances. He’s a guy that likes to find the unoccupied areas on the ice, especially in the offensive end. Being one of the most complete two-way players, teams will be very excited to call his name at the podium on Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HkcX4Sf_aU
9.) Trevor Zegras – (ANH Ducks)
At this point in time, Zegras is the best passer in this draft. His vision and hockey sense allow him to predict where his teammates will be, and his execution allows him to get the puck to that exact spot when they arrive. It is beyond impressive watching him place the puck in vacant ice, at the exact moment it needs to be there, time and time again, rarely turning it over. He is a guy that coaches will design set-plays around just because of how perfectly he can execute passes. He loves to use his feet and the boards to his advantage to maintain possession, and also has an above average shot. Would not surprise me in the least if he was not available for the Ducks at #9.
10.) Vasili Podkolzin – (VAN Canucks)
No matter where Podkolzin is drafted, he is going to be one of those picks where the GM will say “We could not believe he was still on the board when Bettman called our name.”. Just based on his skill and the fact that he already has an NHL first step, he should be a lock at 4th overall. But for whatever reason, Russian prospects usually seem to fall a few places. Podkolzin is a big right winger with bite that plays a responsible game and takes pride in helping his defensemen out in his own end. Sample size may be the biggest factor for this pick but this is a guy that always seems to show up when the spotlight is on him, something that will occur quite a lot throughout his career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFCA6GHrTOg
11.) Peyton Krebs – (PHI Flyers)
You always hate to see guys get injured, but it is especially rough when it happens just before their pro draft. Being that he is very young and has arguably the highest ceiling in this draft, I would hate to see Krebs fall due to this unfortunate Achilles injury. Krebs likes to stir the pot and set the tempo of games, he also has an uncanny ability to avoid taking bad penalties. He is a very competitive player who will out skate opponents to both ends of the ice and will beat them there more often than not, demonstrating his incredible hockey sense and positioning. Krebs may be the only player in this draft that has the potential to be just as effective on both the powerplay and the penalty kill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJjAj3v8ks
12.) Phillip Tomasino – (MIN Wild)
Tomasino is a guy that has flown under the radar due to the forward strength in this draft class. However, after researching this kid and watching every one of his highlight videos on YouTube, I cannot see a scenario where 15 straight GMs pass on him. He refuses to be outworked and has one of the quickest releases I have seen out of a major junior player. If I was only given one word to describe him, “dynamic” comes to mind. Another right shot guy who can play multiple roles and has the potential to make GMs who pass on him look back and wonder “what if?” down the road.
13.) Philip Broberg – (FL Panthers)
This may turn out to be one of the most interesting/active drafts in recent memory. I say “active” because I can totally see picks being swapped and teams wanting to move up or down based on what selections occur in the top 5. I say this now because we are at pick #13 and this is only the second defenseman I have on the board. I honestly can’t justify placing Broberg any higher. Although he has very good skating and playmaking ability, he frequently makes questionable decisions with the puck that constantly burn defensemen at the NHL level. That is why I don’t think he is a top 10 player in this or most drafts. Having said that, if he can clean his game up, he does possess the upside to be a solid two-way, top 4 defenseman at the NHL level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylLjmJ3tQQ
14.) Spencer Knight – (ARZ Coyotes)
This is probably the pick that I am most skeptical about just because of how reserved GMs have proven to be about drafting goalies early in the first round. I am convinced that Spencer Knight deserves to be taken in the top 15, but would not be shocked at all if he fell as far as the early 2nd round. Knight has ice in his veins and remains composed under pressure. He has also perfected his technique, standing at 6’3” he positions his glove and blocker perfectly, as to not be caught too high or too low, reducing the amount of movement and energy he has to exert to make a save. Another reason I could see him falling is based on the strength of the USNTDP team in front of him, a justification that I acknowledge, but do not believe justifies ranking him lower.
15.) Raphael Lavoie – (MTL Canadiens)
If the Montréal Canadiens want to prove to the league that they are not required to have only small forwards on their team, while at the same time proving that they love their French Canadian players, then they should draft #50 from the Halifax Mooseheads, Raphael Lavoie. Not only does he make dwarves out of the players around him, but he also has tremendous skill and a pro-release. He also has a tendency to show up in big moments and capitalize on his opportunities. Being just 10 days shy from eligibility for the 2018 draft, Lavoie should be eligible to play in the AHL this year, as he turns 20 years old on September 25th. This may be desirable for a team looking to add youth to their pro-roster, sooner rather than later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4dGcSe1ZHs
Some players I believe deserve an honorable mention as potential top 15 picks include: Moritz Seider (D), Cam York (D), Victor Soderstrom (D), and Alex Newhook (F).
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Recently on Twitter, I have seen a lot of discussion about the Oilers potentially trading down in order to acquire some assets, while at the same time hopefully making a value pick slightly later on. While this idea intrigues me, a friend of mine suggested maybe trading the 8th and Puljujarvi up to 3rd, as it sounds like Chicago really wants to take a forward and may be willing to trade down to do it. Given the current situation with Puljujarvi, and that trading him would help the Oilers with the upcoming Seattle expansion draft considering he will be eligible to be selected. Not to mention the fact that the 3rd overall would basically guarantee that you would draft one of Bowen Byram or Kaapo Kakko, I would make this trade all day long if Chicago was game. Based on what we know about Ken Holland and his recent comments, my guess is they make the pick at #8.
Part two is coming folks! I’ll address picks #16-#31 shortly!
Feel free to comment with your opinions and thanks for reading! You can follow Terrance on Twitter here.
It’s time to get into the #AskBLH mailbag one more time! This is where you ask me any question you’d like and I give you my honest answer. Topics might simply be centered on the Edmonton Oilers, but I encourage folks to step outside that box and ask me whatever is on their minds.
Now, I hope to get around to everybody who sends me their question, but sometimes it doesn’t work out. In that case, I will do my best to get back to you on the ol’ Twitter machine.
THE MAILBAG!
@dashate24 asks: Why do we want to trade Lucic for a more useless player?
Good question my friend! I think it’s just a matter of giving guys a fresh start in other markets. What I’m wondering is why the Oilers are the ones having to sweeten the deal if the Canucks are the ones who really want Lucic?
@AhmedMayta asks: Realistic free agents Oilers should target?
You know what Ahmed? I think it’s going to be really hard to gauge this until we know what the roster is going to look like the night before Canada Day. I would say they should go after players like Dan Carr, Brandon Pirri, Joonas Donskoi, and Brian Elliott, but if they find a way to clear up some cap space by trading some of their bigger tickets, that changes things. You might see them go after players like Gus Nyquist, Marcus Johansson, or Anton Stralman then.
@adnacOilGhost asks: You replace Bob Nicholson as CEO, what’s the very first thing you do?
Oh! I like this question. I’d make it as affordable as possible to go to regular season games for everyone. Bringing down the prices on healthier food options would be a must for me. I’d do what it takes to make the in-game presentation one that rivals that of Vegas’ or Nashville’s. The fan experience is really important to me, so I’d try to maximize that potential the most.
I enjoy anarchy a bit, so I’d also give media passes to the Oilers bloggers out there who pass my rigorous interview process.
As for the team itself, I’d encourage my GM to expand the scouting team as much as possible. I feel like teams really skimp out here. I want scouts everywhere, including Asia. I’d be having hockey camps all over the world promoting the brand and keeping an eye out for talent.
@dashate24 asks: Is it possible that Poolparty (Puljujarvi) gets an offer sheet at $2M x 4 years, and if he does, do we take the 3rd rounder?
I’d match it. JP at $2M for four years would be an amazing contract.
@ArchivistSports asks: What do you think JP will do this June/July?
I think he’ll head home and resume his off-ice training and participate in his annual charity games. Whether he comes back in September or not, we’ll have to wait and see on that.
@Tusen_bitar asks: Why and when you have chosen Oilers?
I was born in 1980, so one might consider me to have been born into the Oilers. My father tells me stories of cheering for Edmonton when I was a very young lad during their Cup dynasty days but I don’t really remember much about that.
As I got older I gravitated towards the Red Wings because of Yzerman/Coffey/Federov and the Penguins for Lemieux/Jagr/Coffey in the early 90s. I liked Peter Forsberg and the Avs for a while and also the Maple Leafs when Curtis Joseph was playing net for them too.
But I always had the Oilers in my back pocket. It wasn’t really until they started to get really bad as to when I ramped up my interest in the team and I simply haven’t found a reason to not cheer for them since then.
@OilDoug asks: What happens with Lucic this offseason. Stay? Go? What comes back?
He gone. What comes back for him? Who knows? It sounds like a player who needs a change of scenery like Milan.
@LonnbergMari asks: If Leavins is right and part of the team just doesn’t want to play with him, what should a smart gm do? Resign or trade and in either case, just hope for the best?
I’m torn on this. Aren’t we sick of the locker room cliques on this team yet? If Holland believes there’s still something in Jesse, he could sit down those guilty of alienating Jesse and give them a stern grilling. Then at the same time, sit Pulju down and tell him it’s time to grow up and that we don’t always work/play with people we like.
But if things are simply too broken, he would find a way to move him and get a good like-aged player in return. My fear in this scenario is that Jesse hits his stride on another club and the Oilers get burned though.
When it’s all said and done though, the players have a job to do, so they should go and do it.
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) June 11, 2019
THE 2019 NHL ENTRY DRAFTS 1ST AND 2ND TEAM ALL-STARS by Keith Fries
With this article, I thought it’d be fun to try and construct all-first and all-second teams for this year’s draft-eligible prospects.
Keep in mind that I went with the player’s primary position.
All-First Team
LW – Matthew Boldy/C – Jack Hughes/RW – Kaapo Kakko
LD – Bowen Byram/RD – Moritz Seider
LG – Spencer Knight
A forward line made up of Boldy, Hughes, and Kakko would likely be nicknamed, “Goals and Grit.”
While Hughes maybe is more on the “goals” side than the grit one, there’s no doubt that he’s flanked by some rough riders with skill. We know of Kakko’s explosive offensive abilities, but Boldy also shows a propensity to score. All three are great puck movers. Speaking of which, there’s Byram whose bread and butter is getting the puck out of his own zone. Playing alongside the physically imposing Seider would make those breakout rushes much easier for Byram. Once the puck enters the offensive zone, both defensemen have the ability to jump into the play as a fourth-forward. In their own zone, Seider is the more reliable defender of the two and is helped in net by arguably one of the best goaltending prospects of all-time. Knight, who some would say has franchise potential, doesn’t need much help in front of him to be the brick wall that he is.
This starting line-up certainly helps, though, but even if playing with an All-Worst Team, Knight would find ways to make his squad seem competitive.
All-Second Team
LW – Peyton Krebs/C – Alex Turcotte/RW – Cole Caufield
LD – Philip Broberg/RD – Victor Soderstrom
LG – Dustin Wolf
Krebs, Turcotte, and Caufield would not only be a hell of a trio, but could legitimately be one of the best power play units, in history.
Krebs’ distribution game is off the charts, and with his smart reads and calculated timing, could dish out some beautiful primary assists to either Caufield or Turcotte. We know Caufield is arguably the best sniper in his entire draft class, but Turcotte’s shooting stroke is just as pretty and just as effective. While he may be more of a playmaker, like Krebs, Turcotte has the kind of slick mitts that you want in a centerman to either set up his linemates or finish with a remarkable shot. On the back end, they’re flanked by two highly-skilled Swedish-born defensemen, Soderstrom and Broberg. While Soderstrom handles more of the defensive duties – sound play in his own end, moving the puck along the boards, or manning the point, Broberg is able to jump into the rush with his lightning quick speed and heads up play. The two would make a formidable pairing, with a complimentary skill set. An argument could be made about who slots in at goaltender, here – possibly Ilya Konovalov or Mads Sogaard – but there’s no argument in my mind. Wolf has been lights out since debuting in the WHL in 2017 and has received nothing but criticism along the way – all because of his undersized frame. His IQ, compete level, and maturity are all well beyond his years.
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It’s been a slow week or so regarding the Oilers until recently. My DMs have been on fire the last couple of days with news about Milan Lucic, Mike Gillis, Ralph Krueger, etc. I’ve also been upping my draft research to boot. All the while recovering from surgery… If I’m gonna be laid up at home, I might as well make good use of the time.
MILAN LUCIC’S LEG
A good friend of mine sent me a private message asking if I’d heard the rumor about Milan Lucic this week and I hadn’t heard anything, so he sent me a pic from facebook and it had a little story attached to it.
Further to Lucic injury – Happened off ice after practice Friday in Calgary. Will remain in cast for 2 more weeks, and the injury won't affect his regular summer training schedule. Expected to be 100% for training camp.
It said that Milan was out at an establishment in Calgary before that final game of the year and a bouncer, who was a Flames fan, got into it with Looch, they fell, and Lucic’s leg is in a cast now.
I’ve also heard this happened in Airdrie (a small sleeper community north of Calgary but very close to the airport) but I lived in Airdrie and who in their right mind would go there to party (no offense if you live there)?
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*Edit*: So I totally forgot that the boys were out in Airdrie at a Boston Pizza before the final game of the year. Apologies to the Airdrie folk! I still love you!
I asked folks around the Oilers organization about this injury and nothing was confirmed or denied. It was all very quiet. Short answered replies and nothing more…
This leads me to believe that there’s some truth to what happened, be that the story or that Lucic’s leg might actually be broken or sprained badly.
*EDIT*: Ryan Rishaug confirmed today that Milan Lucic’s leg is indeed in a cast now.
Milan Lucic suffered a lower body injury and is currently in a cast of some sort. Not sure on timeline at this point or how the injury happened.
Now Mr. Lucic does have a history of fighting in clubs. Apparently, he had a dust-up in Boston during his time there and as well as in Vancouver back in 2013.
Anybody else hear anything about Lucic suffering a LBI before the last game in Calgary? pic.twitter.com/H8rIt2TyAm
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) April 13, 2019
What if that leg is badly damaged? Broken? Well, that’s 6-8 weeks for a minor fracture and 3-6 months if the injury is severe. If it’s only a high-ankle sprain, that’s six weeks to 3 months…
So There go all the plans for getting more on-ice workouts that Looch was talking about in his year-end media avail. And there go the plans the Oilers have for trading him. It might open up a spot on a flight to Ference Island though but I think it’d have to be a pretty bad injury for that scenario to occur.
I hope that Milan has a speedy recovery. Truly. As much as I feel that Lucic isn’t helping the team on the ice or that his contract is a major albatross, he’s still a human being with a family. So all I can wish is for the best going forward.
MIKE GILLIS COMING TO TOWN?
I’ve heard that Mr. Gillis will be arriving in Edmonton this week to conduct some interviews with Bob Nicholson. I’m sure this has the OBC and the local media absolutely running for their lives (not really).
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody. Elliotte Friedman has been talking about it for a few weeks now during his spots on Oilers Now.
You might not like what he did in Vancouver, but what if hiring him meant that the Oilers got Laurence Gilman too. What if it meant a prior relationship with Ralph Krueger could be used to convince him to let bygones be bygones so that he’d come back?
Gillis’ teams were competitive and he thought outside the box quite a bit. Some of the more unfavorable moves he made were influenced by ownership as well. But with this push for investment into analytics and sports science, he’s a really good person to be talking to I feel.
I just think that if he can usher in an era of success, I don’t care if he’s a nice man. I don’t care if he gives a good interview. In fact, I would almost prefer if he was prickly to the Edmonton media. They’ve had a pretty easy ride for a really long time, perhaps it’s time to flip the script.
The fact of the matter is, any new GM could come in and move Nugent-Hopkins and Klefbom for example. And use them to upgrade the wings. The new management team could also come in and use Puljujarvi, Jones, and Yamamoto to do the same.
Difficult decisions are coming…
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My issue with Gillis is his draft record or lack thereof. That’s where I’d need reassurances that he’d adopt the draft and develop philosophy currently being implemented. I’d need input on what kind of plans he would have for the current amateur scouting staff and any future plans for that department.
Whether Mike Gillis gets the job or not remains to be seen but the Oilers are going to spend quite a bit of time with him gleaning as much information as possible. Isn’t that a good thing?
THE DRAFT
I’ve been chatting to scout after scout the last few days, asking them about the kids from the USNTDP, Peyton Krebs, Vasili Podkolzin, etc. I have a burning desire to know what the Oilers are getting themselves into here drafting 8th overall.
I don’t know how you have the top 8 panning out but I have a feeling it’s going to go something like this:
This leaves Trevor Zegras (USNTDP), Peyton Krebs (Kootenay), Cole Caufield (USNTDP), Ryan Suzuki (Barrie), Artur Kaliyev (Hamilton), Victor Soderstrom (Brynas), etc. all on the board. These players display skills that the Oilers organization could desperately use. In Zegras, Suzuki, and Krebs, these are extremely gifted playmakers, Caufield and Kaliyev are elite finishers, and Soderstrom is this year’s Adam Boqvist; a highly offensive right-shot dman.
What I’m wondering is if there’s a team ahead of Edmonton that might go off the board a bit and throw a wrench into everything. Sort of what happened last year when Barrett Hayton was selected by the Coyotes leaving the Oilers to choose from Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, and Oliver Wahlstrom.
My worst-case (best-case) scenario is if the Oilers have to choose between Podkolzin, Turcotte, and one of Dach or Cozens. But that would mean a couple of teams would be taking players in spots unexpected.
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I love what Turcotte and Podkolzin bring. I’ve been told the Russian could be the kind of player you build a team around and with the way the Russian hockey federation is pushing him, I think there’s an outstanding player there, think the dynamic play of Pavel Datsyuk and the PP threat of Alexander Ovechkin.,. If he’s available at 8th overall, I think you sprint to the podium to take him.
There might be some that are afraid that he’s committed to playing for SKA (Yakupov and Datsyuk’s team) for the next couple of seasons and to that I say, no worries. It’s probably a blessing in disguise given how Edmonton treats its 1st rounders anyhow.
Keep him in Russia, bring him over as a 19-year-old like Vancouver did with Pettersson even leave him there until he’s 20 and then sign him and reap the benefits of having a physically mature game-breaker line-up alongside one of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
Read this if you want a complete picture of Vasili Podkolzin.
With Turcotte, I find he’s got everything you want in a player. He’s tenacious, he’s fast, his edgework is outstanding, he’s got a killer shot, he’s a creative playmaker. Add to that, he’s fearless and his 200ft game is polished.
The one concern with him is injuries… He’s had a tough time staying healthy this year. Why is that? Is it his style of play, or because he’s not strong enough or is it genetic? A major question there.
My wildcard right now is Matthew Boldy. The left-wing seems like the most realistic possibility for the Oilers right now. I like his size (6’2″ 180lbs) first off. He should be able to handle the rigors of the NHL when he decides to join.
When I watch him, I see a bit of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the way he moves on the ice, but he’s a much better playmaker. When he passes, he rarely misses the mark. No matter how contorted his body is or how compromised the play, the puck gets to the intended destination.
But last night, as I talked to a scout out of the Northeast, he told me that his shot might be his best attribute. He said that his shot might only be bested by Kaapo Kakko and Cole Caufield in this draft class. That his release is so quick that goalies have a tough time reading where it’s going to go.
Do you know who else has this kind of attribute?
Actually, after watching Vegas dismantle San Jose, Boldy might be more comparative to Max Pacioretty and if the Oilers can come out of the draft with a sniper of that quality, they’re gold.
What do you think? Is Lucic’s leg busted? Should the Oilers hire Mike Gillis? And who’s your pick at 8th overall for the Oilers?
