We’re continuing our mock draft exercise with ISS’s list today. If you’re new to the blog or haven’t seen previous posts where we used Hockey Prospect’s draft list and Central Scouting’s list, click on the links and check them out. You’ll be surprised at how much variety there is this year at pick #10 through to pick #195 but that’s great because you’ll learn about so many different prospects.

THE ISS OILERS MOCK DRAFT

• 10th overall: Joe Veleno (C), Drummondville Voltigeurs, 6’1″, 196lbs

Depending on who you ask, Joe Veleno is the second or third best available center in the first round. He’s a wonderful playmaker but scouts are concerned that his lack of goal-scoring will prevent him from being a top-6 player in the NHL. However, he has good speed and is an industrious worker down low. Akin to Matt Duchene, Veleno can turn on a dime. Scouts in the Black Book really were impressed with his character.

My Pick: I’d take Joel Farabee here if given the chance. He’s ranked #11 by ISS. A player who also has been heralded for his outstanding character and high-end motor, I feel like Farabee’s skating and scoring are a bit better than Veleno’s and I think he’ll be a top-6 forward without doubt.

• 40th overall: Danila Galenyuk (D), St.Petersburg SKA, 6’1″, 200lbs

Galenyuk is a very effective but boring defenseman. No flash in his game whatsoever. ISS says he’s a “tough to play against two-way defender”. Mobile and powerful in his skating but imposing in front of the net. Maybe an Alex Petrovic-type?

My Pick: Ty Dellandrea is ranked 43 according to ISS and I’d be happy to have him here but it’d be tough because Calen Addison is here too and I know there are some that see him as a more offensively gifted dman long term than Ty Smith. I’ll take Addison because I know the Oilers have an organizational need there.

• 71st overall: Kody Clark (RW), Ottawa 67s, 6’0″, 180lbs

I’ve been looking forward to seeing what Wendel Clark’s boy would turn out to be and he has a dusting of his old man’s game in him. Quite a good skater and shifty too. Clark uses that speed to effectively forecheck the opposition’s defenders. At times he was Ottawa’s best player. He’s a more complete player than his dad in my opinion but ISS has him topping out as a bottom-6 energy player.

My pick: I’d be happy taking Kody Clark here.

• 133rd overall: Billy Moskal (C), London Knights, 5’11”, 185lbs

Moskal does many things well but nothing amazing. A very average player who isn’t physical, is sometimes faster than the other team’s players, more of a playmaker than a shooter, and one who shows a good level of compete.

My Pick: Kyle Topping is ranked 140th by ISS and I like what I read about him. One scout said that Topping was one of the most consistent players he’d watched all season. Black Book said Topping has above average hockey sense and strong compete level, he has great knack for knowing where to be in the gap of seam or being able to find teammate when either receiving or giving a pass and quite often his passes lead to easy goals for teammates. I like that. 

• 164th overall: Dan Kowalczyk (D), Brno, 6’2″, 218lbs

Big-hitting Czech with a bit of a mean streak. Average puck skills and needs to work on his mobility. Very much a rugged stay-at-home defenseman. Not sure if he’d be a candidate to move on to North America from Europe with his poor boots.

My Pick: Paul Cotter, a left-shot centre playing for Lincoln in the USHL. Ranked 100th by the Black Book and 185th by ISS, he’s described as a hard working power forward who likes to play an up-tempo game. Projected to be a bottom-6 forward at the next level but his high Hockey IQ and work ethic could change that for the better. One HP scout said that Cotter has no weaknesses and could see an NHL team trading up to get him.

• 195th overall: Linus Nyman (RW), Kingston Frontenacs, 5’9″, 156lbs

The little Finn could be compared to Vladdy Tkachev (remember him?) with the skill set that he employs. Strong puckhandler, good vision, and playmaking. Knows how to open up space on the ice for his teammates and is shifty! Not the fastest and gets overmuscled in the corners and puck battles.

My Pick: I’m happy with Nyman here. Solid gamble that could pan out but in the 7th round, who’s really hitting home runs here. That and there’s only 5 more players to choose from on ISS’s list, all of which I’m not as sold on reading their reports.

BLH’S PICKS

• 1st round – Joel Farabee (LW), USNTDP, 5’11”, 164lbs
• 2nd round – Calen Addison (D), Lethbridge Hurricanes, 5’10”, 180lbs
• 3rd round – Kody Clark (RW), Ottawa 67s, 6’0″, 180lbs
• 5th round – Kyle Topping (C), Kelowna Rockets, 5’11”, 185lbs
• 6th round – Paul Cotter (C), Lincoln Stars, 6’1″, 190lbs
• 7th round – Linus Nyman (RW), Kingston Frontenacs, 5’9″, 156lbs

I feel like this is the least favorable mock of the three we did up this year and that I had the team really adding some depth to the Oilers forward group whereas ISS had the Oilers taking a more bruising approach with their players.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget we’ve got some pretty rad draft videos up at the Beer League Heroes YouTube page. Please, go check them out and if you can, subscribe to our channel and that way you’ll be the first to know when a new video is up and you’ll be amongst the first 2000 to subscribe!!!