Tag Archives: Kaapo Kakko

Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton Oilers, Edmonton Oilers Post Game Report, NHL

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM5 Game Grades: History Made in New York

15 seconds into this game Connor McDavid coughed up the puck at the Rangers blue line (a big no-no at any level) and sent a red-hot Mika Zibanejad on a partial breakaway. Lucky for Edmonton, Mike Smith was up to the task and he stopped the Swede from getting his 9th point on the year. But I’ll say honestly, that wasn’t a good sign for me. However, they did it folks! The Edmonton Oilers, for the first time in franchise history, defeated all three New York-based NHL teams on a single road trip, but that’s not all! They won the possession battle as well! More on that in a second.

I just want to comment on something I’ve read since the game ended from another other Oilers blog that I found interesting,

Kurt Leavins from the Cult of Hockey wrote this in his latest 9 Thoughts post,

There continues to be some talk that the Oilers may be interested in Julien Gauthier in Carolina. The right-shot winger was the Hurricanes 1st over-all pick in 2016. That’s the same draft as you-know-who. Gauthier scored 27 for AHL Charlotte last season and 2 more in 2 games this year before his call-up. If indeed Edmonton scouts watched Saturday’s ‘Canes game against Columbus they would have seen Gauthier play 4th line minutes (8:25 TOI, and all but a few seconds of it 5×5) and register 0 points, 0 shots and 2 hits. One thing that perhaps may make the player attractive in such a deal though is the fact that Gauthier is waivers exempt. He could go to the AHL without fear of losing him for nothing.

I still don’t think that a Puljujarvi for Gauthier trade is a good trade. Puljujarvi is leading his team in scoring and the entire SM-Liiga in shots. His NHLe is good for 37 points at the NHL right now and I get that if the Oilers did make the swap, there’s some value in the fact that Gauthier could be sent down but at the sacrifice of who when he gets there? Yamamoto is on the first line, Currie is on the 2nd line, Gagner is the 3rd line winger, and Peluso is on the 4th line. But let’s say he stays in Edmonton, that creates another issue, who is he displacing on their roster? Kassian, Neal, Archibald, Chiasson, or Russell?

It’s simply a trade that unless the Oilers are trading someone from their AHL or NHL roster, it doesn’t make sense to me. But if they dealt Josh Currie or Sam Gagner, then absolutely. Puljujarvi for Gauthier just causes roster problems. The other thing is, they have a player in Kailer Yamamoto who has started the year in even better form who is also waiver eligible. The NHL is getting faster and quicker every year and from my viewings, Julien Gauthier’s first few steps need work. Yamamoto, not so much.

Notes

  • According to Bruce McCurdy on the Cult of Hockey’s post-game podcast, the Oilers went 5-0-3 in afternoon games last season. Perhaps the curse is lifting…
  • Oscar Klefbom is third in scoring for defensemen with seven points (1g-6a-7pts) and I hope for the sake of every Oilers fan’s sanity, he stays healthy. He’s an absolute rock for this team and it’s a bloody shame he wasn’t officially given an “A” to put on his jersey. No other defender on this team is as impactful as he is at both ends of the ice.
  • Special teams are humming along. Both the PP (41.2%) and the PK (94.1%) are 2nd in the league.
  • The Oilers are the first team in NHL history to start a season 5-0-0 by overcoming a deficit in each game. (h/t to Dan Rosen)
  • With the way that Ethan Bear, Joel Persson, and Matt Benning are playing, what happens when Adam Larsson returns?
  • Colby Cave has been waived and assigned to Bakersfield. We’ve already spoken about the traffic jam going on with the wingers down there, the one at center is no different. I have a feeling some sort of roster move is going to take place. Maybe nothing substantial like a trade but more someone getting moved to Wichita or loaned to another AHL club.

Game Grades

Mike Smith – 4 – His posts were playing as well as he was! Humor aside, he came up mighty large early in the game stopping that Zibanejad breakaway as well as a Panarin one-timer on the PP and a point-blank scoring chance by Lias Andersson. New York didn’t test him very much but when they did, Smith was up to the task. He toned down his stretch passes as well and stuck to the short passes for the most part. Saved 20/21 and threw up a .962 SV%.

Josh Archibald – 2 – The play where he shot the puck way wide and subsequently in the back of the net thanks to Kaapo Kakko, I don’t think Archibald was being careless. Either he was trying for a hook pass or the puck rolled on him and just got stuck on the end of his blade when he was releasing the shot/pass. Maybe a bit too much mustard on it is what I might critique. Right after that, he fired one off the iron. So an excellent bounce-back shift. Wallpapered Brett Howden later in the second period. The 5×5 fancies LOVED him though. 83% CF% and a CF% rel of 17.88… What?!

Joel Persson – 2 – Dominated the possession metrics with Klefbom. 78% CF% and 18.95 CF% rel at 5×5. I loved his little dangle and shot in the Rangers’ zone with about six minutes gone. He shows a bit of flair now and then but he’s smart about it and doesn’t get caught.

Joakim Nygard – 2 – Great pass on the first 2v1 with Chiasson and then did a fine job of drawing the defender on the second 2v1. I feel like he’s getting buried a bit in the lineup but perhaps his lack of offense is a factor there. That said, the team is winning so why muck around with it?

Oscar Klefbom – 4 – Scored a goal from the point not with a huge clapper but a subtle wrister. Then assisted on McDavid’s goal. He was the best defenseman on the ice for both teams hands down. His positioning was great and his passes were the tape. He didn’t waste any time or energy being careless (apart from the Kakko goal). He’s on his game right now and the Oilers are the beneficiary.

Riley Sheahan – 2 – Solid performance. Gifted with a short-handed chance off of the Kassian penalty that was stopped and then nearly another on the same PK but Lundqvist beat him to the puck. 70% on the dot.

Zack Kassian – 2 – Woof! He made some shocking plays in this one. Who gives up a breakaway like that? I know Leon is on fire right now, but Zack has to be a bit more selfish there. He must be getting tired because his mistakes looked like mental ones. Took a questionable penalty that negated a goal early in the second frame. I’m wondering if the staff at MSG have scraped Brendan Smith off of the boards after Kassian creamed him.

Connor McDavid – 4 – Gastly night on faceoffs (37.5%) and misplayed the puck on more than one occasion. Took a lazy penalty in the final frame too but not 30 seconds after leaving the box, drew a penalty. On that PP, 97 banked the puck in off of Jacob Trouba’s leg and that was all she wrote. Two more points for the GOAT.

Leon Draisaitl -5 – Wretched first period, but he wasn’t alone. Got his shit together in the first intermission and then made up for the gaffe by getting in on the Oilers’ final three tallies and also by making Jacob Trouba look very foolish on his empty-netter.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – 4 – Won a very important faceoff that lead to Oscar Klefbom’s goal. Was really buzzing in the second and third periods as he had multiple scoring chances with Neal and Jurco doing the heavy lifting. It’s getting obvious that if it’s possible, they want Neal in front of the net when Nuge has the puck. They’re going for the screen and/or tip or at least they did against the Rangers a lot.

Ethan Bear – 4 – Another day and another Ethan Bear pass up the middle of the ice start a breakout that would end up with the Oilers scoring a goal. Had puck ride up his stick and catch him in the hand at the end of that horrid first period. Luckily, no damage down though. I hope he can keep this great play going, but I can’t help but remember Caleb Jones going on a similar run last season before fizzling out a bit.

Jujhar Khaira – 2 – Was really good on the PK. I feel like JJ and Nuge are forming quite the partnership on the PK. They’ve been very efficient with a man down so far.

James Neal – 2 – No goals for The Real Deal, but he pinged one off of Henrik Lundqvist’s cranium that had him grinning. Bit of an up and down game for him, he tried to hit Kaapo Kakko in the 2nd but missed and got a taste of the old Sherwood sandwich instead. Was THIS close to getting goal #8 off of an RNH tip that might’ve gone in the net had Neal not touched it.

Tomas Jurco – 2 – Tough night for Oilers taking pucks off of sensitive places. Jurco got one in the face half-way through the second. His size and skill are very apparent and really important to his line. Defensively he’s meh, but with the puck going the other way, I like how he’s utilizing his strengths. To be honest and I love Puljujarvi, but it’s how he should’ve been playing when he was in Edmonton.

Darnell Nurse – 4 – I really enjoyed this game from Darnell. He simplified his game a bit. His passes were much more precise and on point. He wasn’t trying to do more than he could or should. He was awarded an assist on Leon’s empty-net goal.

Alex Chiasson – 4 – I liked his game. He had a hilarious little battle with Marc Staal late in the second period where Staal sent Chiasson’s stick flying in the air, the Oiler then grabbed Staal’s stick out of his hand, took a step and then dropped it when he could grab his own. Fair play I say and good on the refs. Nearly scored on a 2v1 with Joakim Nygard. He brings a very different element to the roster when he’s in. He’s physical and aggressive but also kind of clever around the net. Had the third best SF% rel 5×5 (12.17), meaning when he was on the ice, the shots on goal share was very much in Edmonton’s favor. I wonder if he might get a look beside Sheahan and Khaira?

Matthew Benning – 4 – VERY solid game. Took on some of the Rangers’ biggies and held his own. He’s had a quiet but effective start to the year. I suppose that has a bit to do with progressing as an individual but also because he’s being deployed correctly. Took a nasty shot off the back of the hand in the first but it didn’t slow him down, however, he nailed the post in the third period.

Markus Granlund – 4 – Well well well… Look who decided to show up. Actually, Granlund played a really good game to the eye. The move to center seemed to reinvigorate him somewhat. He looked way more engaged in the play compared to his previous four games.

Kris Russell – 2 – Nothing spectacular on the night. A Good recovery after a poorly executed pinch at his own blue line as his pass block around 5 minutes into the 2nd period prevented the puck from being moved right into the middle or Royal Road to a wide-open Ranger. His CF% rel was fugly though at -19.49…

What did you think about the game? Let us know in the comments below!

Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick

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Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

BLH Guest Post: A 2019 NHL Mock Draft (Picks 1-15) by Terrance Grise

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).

Click the pic and grab a 16-bit McDavid tee!

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.

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

Edmonton Oilers: Weekly #AskBLH Mailbag + The 2019 NHL Entry Drafts 1st and 2nd Team All-Stars from @KeithFries

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.

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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NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects, TPE Hockey

TPE Hockey’s Ultimate Top 50 List of Undrafted NHL Prospects

This year the Hughes vs Kakko debate has raged over who will and should go 1st. As Hughes sets records for USA National Team Development Program (USNTDP), Kakko is also setting records in the Finnish Liiga. Both seem like historic prospects but they may pale in comparison to the NHL draft prospects that are coming up after them.

Already, the hype has surrounded the projected number one pick in the 2020 draft, Alexis Lafreniére. This while the rest of the 2020 draft is loaded with high-end players that could be considered 1st overall quality players. Quinton Byfield, Noel Gunler, and Anton Lundell plus others have received a lot of hype in scouting circles. Despite this Alexis Lafreniére still ranks 6th on my list of the top 50 draft eligible prospects. So who are these young star athletes and when will we get to see them in the NHL?

In this list, I’ll combine my draft rankings from 2019, 2020, and 2021, but I’ll also add 5 world class prospects from the 2022 and 2023 drafts. I don’t have extensive rankings for the 2022 or 23 drafts so other than those 5 there won’t be any other prospects from those drafts on the list. Also, no goalies will be included in the top 50.

We begin this list with “The Big Five.” These 5 prospects are players we previously only saw once in a decade, but this time we are seeing 5 in only two drafts, 2022 and 2023. We haven’t seen players this good at their age since Connor McDavid tore up the GTHL, the top youth league in Ontario, in 2012.

Number One
Matthew Savoie
Center | 2022 Draft | Jan 1, 2004 | St. Albert, AB, Canada
NAX – CSSHL

He loves to cut down the wing with speed and use his edges and strength to cut to the net and create a scoring chance. Matthew Savoie also holds a great shot in his arsenal. He can rip pucks where ever he wants and catches goalies off guard with a quick release. His shot has even been compared to that of Steven Stamkos. On the power play, he can often snipe a goalie from the blue line or the tops of the circles. Savoie has been a stellar playmaker as well. He can thread passes to and through the slot to give his winger a one-timer. He can often do this due to his off the charts hockey IQ and eye for the ice. He’s by far the best passer in his league and can set up a multitude of opportunities at any given moment. All this not to mention his elite puck skills and hands. His immense toolset of skills plus his top-end processor make him the top prospect in all of hockey right now.

Number Two
Shane Wright
Center | 2022 Draft | Jan 4, 2004 | Burlington, ON, Canada
Kingston Frontenacs – OHL

While Savoie was denied Exceptional Status, Shane Wright was not. He will play in the OHL at just 15 next season for the Kingston Frontenacs as they drafted him 1st overall at the 2019 OHL Draft. Wright was undisputedly the best player in Ontario minor midget hockey (2003 born players) as a 2004 born this past season. He scored a ridiculous 150 points in just 72 GTHL games. For perspective that’s a 2.08 PPG total while McDavid had a 2.38 and Tavares a 2.15 in the same league at the same age. He was the centerpiece of a super team in the Don Mills Flyers that have lost one singular game all season and went unbeaten in league play. But don’t think that his team being so good is why is point totals are so good. It isn’t. Wright is the clear driver of offense in Don Mills, nobody stands close to him. In the OHL Cup, a tournament between the best minor midget teams in the OHL’s territory, Wright led his team to victory and a huge comeback from a 4-1 deficit in the finals. He scored 8 goals and 18 points in his 7 games. Coming away with not only the championship but tournament MVP as a 2004 born. What makes Shane Wright so great is hard to put a finger on. He’s one of the best playmakers I’ve ever seen at 15 with only Savoie on his level. His passes are perfect and he reads the play so well. He can use his strength and skating skill to take the puck to a dangerous area and create a shooting and passing option. While he’s a pass-first player he has a very accurate shot with good power behind it too. Often on the rush, he can skate the puck in and dangle defensemen to get to the net and snipe the goaltender the second he spots netting. There’s nothing Wright can’t do. He an extremely complete player. In the past, Wright has said that he models his game off of Matt Barzal.

Number Three
Brad Lambert
Left Wing | 2022 Draft | Dec 19, 2003 | Lahti, Finland
Lahti Pelicans – Jr A. SM-Liiga

https://youtu.be/NqGvXqhv99Q

There is a STRONG argument to be made that Brad Lambert could be the #1 player on this list. He may be an ’03, but he’s less than a month older than both Savoie and Wright. Already Lambert has played junior hockey in Finland’s U20 league. As an ’03 he would’ve required Exceptional Status to do that in Canada. (European junior systems don’t have Exceptional Status, if you’re good enough you can just get called up from your U18 team). As a December birthday he was doing this at a ridiculously young age. He scored an impressive 11 points in just 17 games as a 15 year old. Lambert is a well rounded player with both goal scoring and playmaking upside. In the U20 league he wasn’t the goal scoring dynamo he was at lower levels, but his playmaking skill was on full display. He’s got a nasty wrist shot and good vision with the puck. He’s very mobile and moves very well with the puck on his stick. Lambert has a breakaway speed, going from a glide to full speed before you know what happened. Size isn’t a problem for him either as at just 15 he’s already pushing 6’0”. Lambert also has some crazy hands as many saw in his viral shootout clip.

Number Four
Connor Bedard
Wing/Center | 2023 Draft | July 17, 2005 | N. Vancouver, BC, Ontario
West Van Warriors – CSSHL

At just 13, the Canadian media has already created a storm of hype around 2005 born Connor Bedard, and rightfully so. Bedard played a year up with the 2004 crop of Western Canadian players in the CSSBHL, but not only did he play, but he also won the MVP. Bedard scored over 2 goals per game and almost 3 points per game. Often Bedard went on streaks of not goals, but hat tricks. If you compare his season to Savoie’s in the same league, at a similar age (only a few months off), Savoie did have a higher point per game total, but Bedard’s goal-scoring prowess is unmatched. Next year it is assumed that he will be in the CSSHL against 18-year-olds. So what makes Bedard such a great goal scorer? Connor Bedard has what must be the best shot of any 13-year-old ever. It’s accurate, hard, fast, has a quick release, and he knows where to put it. Bedard is great at identifying what a goaltender is giving up and picking him apart for it. His shot drops jaw regularly. His other qualities are very intriguing, skating, hands, smarts, but nothing compares to the ridiculous shot of his.

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Number Five
Adam Fantilli
Wing | 2023 Draft | Dec 10, 2004 | Ontario, Canada
17-18 Team: Toronto Red Wings – GTHL | 18-19 Team: Toronto Jr. Canadiens – GTHL

Adam Fantilli spent this season putting himself on the map. As an underager in the GTHL, similarly to Shane Wright, Fantilli showed that Wright had a challenger. While there is no debate that Wright is clearly the better player Fantilli isn’t too far behind and is 11 months younger than Wright. At just 14 and 15, 11 months makes a huge difference. At the OHL Cup, Fantilli wowed crowds as he helped lead his team to the finals. Fantilli did not apply for Exceptional Status, but it’s now clear he is far and away the top prospect for the 2020 OHL Draft. Although rumors have swirled about where he will play. Fantilli said himself his dream is to play in the NCAA and go on to the NHL. At 14 Fantilli already stands out as a superb athlete. The 6’2” power forward is an explosive skater. With his skating, he creates separation from any defenders as he hits his top speed before the defenders can get their first few strides in. His quick feet make him impossible to catch, and his edges allow him to weave through defenders. He also frequently capitalizes on odd-man rushes as not only can he create them with speed, but he can catch up with his teammates on a breakaway and turn a 1 on 1 into a 2 on 1.

Fantilli also uses a big shot to beat goaltenders. He’s great at sending a howitzer at full speed catching goalies off guard. He’s also an exceptionally smart player who knows where and when to shoot the puck. He’s got a lot of skill too allowing him to work his way to dangerous areas with his puck skills. Adam Fantilli is a player that overwhelms opposing teams with his sheer power. Whether it’s his shot or speed it’s impossible to stop him.

6) Alexis Lafreniére
LW | 2020 Draft |Oct 11, 2001 |Saint-Eustache, QC, CAN
Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Everybody knows who Alexis Lafreniére is. He was drafted 1st overall in the QMJHL Draft and lead all QMJHL rookies in scoring in the 17-18 season, ahead of Filip Zadina. Lafrenière then went on to compete at the U18s as a 16-year-old where he stood out as one of Canada’s best players. At the conclusion of the season, he won CHL Rookie of the Year over the 2018 2nd overall pick Andrei Svechnikov. This was as a 2020 draft eligible compared to the #2 pick in the 2018 draft. This season Lafreniére hasn’t disappointed at all and has only increased the hype around himself. He finished top 3 in QMJHL scoring 105 points in just 61 games this season. This was good enough to outpace Connor McDavid’s draft minus one season (Lafreniére was 3 months older). And while Lafreniére is not McDavid he is by far the best player to come through the CHL since. What makes Lafreniére such a special player is undoubtedly his mind for the game. It’s possible that at this stage in his career he has never played a game where he wasn’t the smartest player on the ice. He not only makes the right decisions, but he makes them quickly. Lafreniére has an elite processor and somehow even better vision of the ice. His smarts and IQ is nothing less than world class. On top of his smart play, Lafreniére is exceptionally skilled. Unreal hands, and confidence in his ability to dangle defenders. He’s also a good shooter with a nice wrister with a real quick release. Lastly, his skating ability, while not world class, is very good. Smooth, quick feet with a good top speed.

7) Jack Hughes
C |2019 Draft |May 14, 2001 | Orlando, FL, USA
USNTDP (USHL)

Jack Hughes has had plenty of attention already so I’ll keep it fairly short. Hughes has spent the entirety of his career dominating at every single level. He put himself on the map with the Toronto Marlboros in the GTHL. While he applied for Exceptional Status he was denied and headed off to the NTDP. Hughes then went on to set the NTDP all-time points record and has become arguably the best player in program history. Over the course of this season, Hughes has remained at above 2.00 PPG in the USHL. He’s been the best player in all of junior hockey if you ask me. Internationally Hughes has put on a show. At one tournament he managed to put up 16 points in only 4 games, that a 4.00 PPG. Jack Hughes is a can’t miss player. He’s one of the most skilled players we’ve seen come through the draft. To consider him an elite skater is a vast understatement. He can get up and down the ice faster than anybody he’s ever played against. And to combine this with his unmatched edge work makes him the best skater since McDavid. Hughes also has hands and a processor as quick as his feet. His puck skills are stellar and he thinks the game at the highest pace.

8) Quinton Byfield
C |2020 Draft |August 19, 2002 | Newmarket, ON, Canada
Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Quinton Byfield has been high on NHL radars since he played youth hockey for the York Simcoe Express. He scored at almost 3 PPG for the Express and got picked 1st overall by Sudbury in the OHL draft. Byfield then became one of the team’s biggest offensive drivers as a 16-year-old for a solid Sudbury team and won OHL Rookie of the Year. He scored at almost a point per game and led the team to the playoffs. Despite being knocked out in the 2nd round Byfield was phenomenal. He played a huge role in their 1st round sweep of Mississauga. He had 7 points in those 4 games before Sudbury was swept by the juggernaut Ottawa 67s team. Byfield is a big, tall power forward with amazing speed and skill. His height and weight make him one of the most physically imposing players we’ve seen at his age. He’s a 6’3” 214lbs monster who’s physically ready for pro hockey at just 16. Despite his size, Byfield is a fantastic skater and very skilled player. He’s got a superb top speed and is very agile. I’ve never seen a player at his age and size be able to move as Byfield can. In other words, he’s an athletic freak.

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9) Kaapo Kakko
C/RW |2019 Draft |February 13, 2001 | Turku, Finland
TPS Turku (Liiga)

Kaapo Kakko has been making waves in the Finnish elite league. Kakko holds the all-time lead in U18 goal scoring. This while he is also in the top 5 for assists and points. Kakko also is tied for 1st in U18 playoffs points per game with Mikael Granlund and leads in playoffs goals per game. He’s been nothing short of phenomenal at the pro level. This earned him a roster spot on Finland’s men’s team. Even at the men’s international level, he’s played phenomenally. Kakko has controlled play and fit in with Team Finland. In terms of play style, Kaapo Kakko is an all-around offensive threat that doesn’t lack any major offensive attributes. He can do it all in the opposing zone and makes his presence know the second he steps on the ice. Kakko adapts well to any style he needs to play. He can play fast pace, smart hockey or play a little more gritty. Kakko has thrived at every level and doesn’t back down to a challenge. His size, smarts, and speed will translate well to the NHL game, and he will step in right away.

10) Noel Gunler
W |2020 Draft |October 7, 2001 | Luleå, Sweden
Luleå HF (SHL)

https://twitter.com/jokkenevalainen/status/1094241240806240257?s=21

Despite being a late birthday, Noel Gunler has had one of the most impressive draft minus 1 years from a prospect in a while. After dominating the SuperElit (Swedish U20) with the highest PPG in the league. He then moved on to the SHL and wowed at the pro level. Some Swedish scouts have said they haven’t been as impressed by a player his age since Elias Pettersson and William Nylander. Gunler has functioned as an all offense sniping forward this season. Some Swedish scouts have said he has the best shot of a 17-year-old they’ve seen, and I’d compare his shot closest to that of Auston Matthews. He’s great at changing the angle of his shot and tricking goaltenders. It also has a shocking release. Overall, Gunler’s shot is absolutely lethal. Although Gunler doesn’t score off shooting ability alone. He’s an exceptionally smart player. He’s great at putting himself in an area to collect rebounds or receive a pass in an open area. In addition to his scoring ability, he’s shown he can drive play at any level with his playmaking skill.

11) Anton Lundell
C |2020 Draft |October 3, 2001 | Espoo, Finland
HIFK (Liiga)

https://twitter.com/jokkenevalainen/status/1066031834704867329?s=21

Anton Lundell is simply a fantastic player. He was key in Finland’s World Junior win in his draft minus 1 year. Despite his age, he was arguably Finland’s best center. He played this season in the Finnish Liiga and was unbelievable, scoring 19 points in 38 games. It’s entirely possible, even likely, that he outdoes Kakko in terms of Liiga production next year (although he would be older). Lundell is an extremely cerebral, two-way centerman that NHL team would die for. He’s not flashy, but he makes the right play. Lundell also sees the ice very well and has a terrific shot.

12) Lucas Raymond
W |2020 Draft |March 28, 2002 | Göteborg, Sweden
Frölunda (SHL)

The Swedish hype train has surrounded Lucas Raymond as he’s lit up Swedish and international hockey. Raymond was one of the better players in the SuperElit and earned a temporary spot on Frölunda’s SHL team. He was the first 2002 born player to play in the SHL. Raymond showcased his absolute howitzer of a shot. Like Gunler, Raymond can really shoot the puck and has no problem putting the puck past even a pro goalie. He’s also a phenomenal passer and better at setting up teammates in dangerous areas than anyone.

13) Aatu Räty
C |2021 Draft |November 14, 2002 | Oulunsalo, Finland
Kärpät (Jr. A SM-Liiga)

The 1st prospect from the 2021 draft finally comes off the board. The 2021 draft doesn’t have a real first overall quality player like Hughes or Lafreniére, but rather it’s an extremely deep draft. You’ll see a lot of 2021 names on this list. Räty himself has had himself a season. He started at the U18 level in Finland, but absolutely annihilated the competition. He moved onto the U20 level and performed very well. He compares similarly to Anton Lundell in terms of production. Räty is another big shooter out of Scandinavia and has some mad hands too. He’s a versatile player that can get the job done in any role, and do any job a team needs him too.

14) Alexander Holtz
W |2020 Draft |January 23, 2002 | Saltsjö-Boo, Sweden
Djurgårdens (SHL)

Alex Holtz is the 2nd part of the Swedish duo of him and Raymond. Holtz, like Raymond, got his share of time in the SHL as a 16-year-old. He had a similarly dominant SuperElit season to Raymond as well. Holtz captained the Swedish U17 team and lead them to a bronze medal. Holtz, like Gunler, Raymond, and Räty, is another big shot goal scorer. Holtz probably has the hardest shot of the group too. He is the definition of a goal scorer. There is not a moment when Holtz is on the ice and isn’t dangerous.

15) Brandt Clarke
D |2021 Draft |February 09, 20013 | Nepean, ON, Canada
Barrie Colts (OHL)

Brandt Clarke is one of the best 15-year-old defensemen since Rasmus Dahlin. From the blueline, he scored 113 points in 73 games on the Don Mills Flyers. Clarke was integral in their OHL Cup victory, and there were times where Clarke was the best player on the Flyers over Wright. Wright is obviously a year older, but still. Clarke is one of the craftiest defensemen I’ve seen. He plays very similarly to Quinn Hughes, but I would say better. He’s quite good defensively and better physically than Hughes. He’s also got a laser of a shot. Clarke is also extremely deceptive and smart in the offensive zone. Other Names to Note:

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Four More Players of Note

17) Dylan Guenther W, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 2021 Draft

The 1st overall pick in the WHL Draft is looking like he could be quite the player for the Oil Kings. In his short stint in the WHL as an underager (many top WHL prospects play at 15 for a few games since their draft us a year early) he impressed going half a point per game including a few nice goals. Guenther is a phenomenal goal scorer with all the right instincts to be a threat at the NHL level. Masterful powerplay guy.

18) Joshua Roy C, Saint Johns Sea Dog (probably) (QMJHL), 2021 Draft

Roy is the likely 1st pick in this year’s QMJHL Draft in which Saint John has the pick. He dominated in the Quebec Midget league this year with Levis. He led them to a historic season going 41-1. Roy put up similar totals to that of Alexis Lafreniére, although he was a few months older. Joshua Roy is a versatile and skilled forward that is a scary player to defend. His hands are as silky as they get and his shot is an absolute laser.

24) Chaz Lucius C/W, USNTDP (USHL), 2021 Draft

The US Development Program is expecting to have their next star forward in Chaz Lucius. Lucius was just 13 when he committed to the University of Minnesota along with his younger brother Cruz. Chaz put up a ridiculous 63 points in 13 games with Gentry Academy this season including 39 goals. Chaz is a high tempo skilled forward with big goal scoring upside. He’s known for destroying defenders with some nasty moves and whipping a shot past the goalie without a problem. Expect Chaz to light up the USHL next season with the U17s and probably play quite a bit with the U18s.

50) Luke Hughes D, USNTDP (USHL), 2021 Draft

The 3rd of the Hughes gang, Luke is expected to be a key player for next year’s NTDP team. He led the Little Caesars 15s (yes that’s their name) to a national championship including a goal in the finals. Luke is already the biggest of the Hughes brother at 5’11”. He’s almost exactly the same player as Quinn in terms of style. A skills coach for the family said it’s possible that Luke is the best skater of them all, and I’d consider him to be better defensively than Quinn. At this point, Luke isn’t as highly touted as Quinn or Jack, but he still has the potential to rise.

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

Edmonton Oilers: Post-Lottery Mock Draft #1-15

I’ve been stuck in a hospital bed the last two days (hernia surgery) and therefore I had to follow the results of the 2019 NHL draft lottery along with Twitter.

Does Taylor Hall have a horseshoe stuck in his ass or what?

NJ wins the draft lottery days after extending their GM. Is it enough to keep Hallsy in NJ or was the botched job the Devils medical team did on his knee this year the last straw? Hughes or Kakko aren’t going to be enough to get them into the playoffs next year, so does he want to stick through this rebuild with the NJ? I would lean towards no.

It’s a bit of an ironic situation for Shero and his boys in that his team needs an upgrade on defense and Taylor Hall could be the guy that brings in said stud defender. Can Ray Shero do a better job of trading Hall than Chiarelli did?

Can Shero turn his club into a perennial playoff team now that he has three 1st overall picks playing for him?

I’m really happy for my friend who lives in NY and loves Finnish hockey players. It looks like they’ll end up with a good young Finn in Kakko at no.2 unless they lose their minds and go for the Russian Podkolzin instead…

Chicago moving up to #3 is going to be the table setter I think for the rest of the top-10. Will they add the top-ranked defender (Byram), the top-ranked Russian (Podkolzin), or one of the uber-talented kids out of the USNTDP (Turcotte, Boldy, Zegras)?

I would’ve loved for the Oilers to jump up into the top-three for a chance to bring in a stud at forward or defense but it wasn’t to be this year and in all honesty, that’s fine with me. The team will still be able to draft an impact forward at that spot OR use the pick to help elsewhere.

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THE MOCK
  1. NJ – Jack Hughes (C) – USNTDP –
    No brainer here. New Jersey takes the consensus best prospect. The Devils hope that Taylor Hall stays with the club long enough to realize the potential of the HHH line (Hall, Hischier, Hughes). Interesting fact: Hall was once part of another line of 1st overall picks in Edmonton when he played alongside Connor McDavid and Nail Yakupov for a short time.
  2. NYR – Kaapo Kakko (RW) – TPS Turku – 
    There will be a debate as to if the Rangers should take Kakko or Podkolzin, but in the end, they’ll take the high-scoring Finn and reap the benefits of him scoring 20+ goals in his first year playing alongside fellow Scandinavian Mika Zibanejad.
  3. CHI – Vasili Podkolzin (RW) – SKA St. Petersburg – 
    In search of Artemi Panarin 2.0, Stan Bowman will take Podkolzin not knowing that the Russian is less Panarin and more a hybrid of Toews/Datsyuk. He’ll look fine alongside Dylan Strome on the 2nd line someday.
  4. COL – Bowen Byram (LHD) – Vancouver Giants – 
    Some are saying Byram is the best defender available out of the West since Scott Niedermayer and that’s something Joe Sakic will not pass on. It will also ease the pain of trading Tyson Barrie to the Oilers… All kidding aside, Makar and Byram will be fantastic anchors for that Avs defense for 10 years to come.
  5. LA – Kirby Dach (C) – Saskatoon Blades – 
    After watching Ryan Getzlaf dominate the Pacific for many-a-year, the Kings pick up their own version in Dach and given the slow development of Gabe Valardi, I think the selection is justified.
  6. DET – Alex Turcotte (C) – USNTDP – 
    Turcotte is all you want in a forward in today’s NHL whether you’re old-school or new-school. He’s skilled in both manners of play. Off the chart skills, skating and hockey IQ combined with a motor that never stops and an endless drive are things that have impressed me in Turcotte.
  7. BUF – Dylan Cozens (C) – Lethbridge Hurricanes – 
    The Sabres aren’t ridiculously deep at centre and there are questions about if Casey Middlestadt will be playing there in the future or on the wing. Taking Jeff Carter 2.0 at 7th overall clears that up in a jiffy.
  8. EDM – Peyton Krebs (LW) – Kootenay Ice –
    Mark Edwards, from HockeyProspect.com, referred to Krebs as Alex Turcotte-lite and I’m fine with that. I haven’t been huge on Krebs but I love a player who plays his ass off night-in and night-out. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer compared him to Brad Marchand which would be perfecto for the Oilers. Edmonton could use a bit more depth on the LW as it is.
  9. ANH – Trevor Zegras (C) – USNTDP –
    Anaheim has traditionally gone with bigger more physical players but after this past season’s poor result, they opt to go with the small skilled playmaker. Not saying he’s the next Paul Kariya but he might be the next Clayton Keller.
  10. VAN – Matthew Boldy (LW) – USNTDP –
    Boldy is a fantastic two-way playmaker and in my viewings could almost always find the tape on his teammate’s blades whilst in the most compromising of positions. Canucks fans could dream of him on a line with either Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, or Bo Horvat because that’s most likely where he’d end up. He reminds me of Nugent-Hopkins in the way he plays.
  11. PHI – Victor Soderstrom (RHD) – Brynas – 
    The Flyers need to add to their stable of young defenders an electrifying offensive defender. I think Shane Gostisbehere is a great threat from the point and Ivan Provorov is an excellent two-way defender, Philly doesn’t have that dynamic right-handed dman who can be the 4th forward on a rush into the off. zone on their right side.
  12. MIN – Cole Caufield (RW) – USNTDP – 
    The Wild pick Caufield because they’re looking to add the kind of scoring that they’ve been lacking since Marian Gaborik twinkled the twine for them all those years ago. Even though the Wild could really use a center here, the holder of the USNTDP’s all-time goal-scoring record is the best player available.
  13. FLA – Cam York (LHD) – USNTDP – 
    The Coach Q era begins in FLA with the selection of a smooth-skating puck-moving product of the US National Development Program by the name of Cam York. I wonder if he might be a bit similar to a player they’ve got on their roster right now and someone who gives Connor McDavid fits when Edmonton and Florida play in Mike Matheson. Both are great skating defenders who can pass the puck well and also think the game at a high level. The Panthers have great prospect depth on forward but they’re lacking on the blue line. In fact, the last defenseman they took in the first round was Aaron Ekblad.
  14. ARI –  Alex Newhook (C) – Victoria Grizzlies – 
    Newhook has the quickness, hands, and vision that Coyotes would love to add to their pipeline. He’s been tearing up the BCHL as of recent and I confidently suggest that he’ll be doing the same alongside Matthew Boldy and Cam York for Boston College next season.
  15. MTL – Philip Broberg (LHD) – AIK –
    Broberg will bring back the end-to-end rushes that PK Subban made so popular during his time in Montreal and the fans will love it. I can’t speak for Broberg’s personality, but the Habs could definitely use a puck transporter and it doesn’t hurt to have another bomb from the point.

MY OILERS DRAFT LIST

If I’m making a post-lottery draft list for the Oilers, I’m prioritizing speed, skill, and goal scoring. I want some greedy shooters on the team going forward. My top-8 players are the ones I would take no matter who is there at 8th overall, after that, I take the skillset described above into consideration and draft for that need.

  1. Jack Hughes (C)
  2. Kaapo Kakko (RW)
  3. Bowen Byram (D)
  4. Alex Turcotte (C)
  5. Vasili Podkolzin (RW)
  6. Dylan Cozens (C)
  7. Kirby Dach (C)
  8. Peyton Krebs (C)
    ——————-
  9. Cole Caufield (RW)
  10. Jakob Pelletier (LW)
  11. Pavel Dorofeyev (W)
  12. Artur Kaliyev (LW)
  13. Phil Tomasino (C)
  14. Bobby Brink (RW)
  15. Matthew Boldy (C)
  16. Robert Mastrosimone (C)
  17. Alex Newhook (C)
  18. Raphael Lavoie (RW)
  19. Connor McMichael (C)
  20. Samuel Fagemo (W)
  21. Samuel Poulin (LW)

If you’d like to read some more detailed profiles of the players above, Max from @TPEHockey released his pre-lottery draft rankings yesterday. Check them out!

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