Jarome Iginla is a longshot at best to be an Oiler this season. That being said, If one of the younger guys on the right wing shit the bed during training camp or there’s an injury, I’d say that Iginla would be the first phone call.
“Bosco” says that the Oilers and Iginla are talking, Treenas Oil seconds that and they’re not completely wrong but it’s the timing of the conversations that they’ve got wrong.
Of course, the two camps (Iggy’s and the Oilers’) have spoken. Iginla is a free agent that has something to offer to the Oilers. How irresponsible would it be if Peter Chiarelli didn’t touch base with Jarome Iginla’s agent and see what it would take to bring him in?
Now, that being said, is it the right thing to do for the franchise?
PROS:
The shot never goes and Iggy can still find the back of the net.
Iginla is the right kind of veteran you’d want to bring into a young team like the Oilers.
He’s tough as nails and amongst the most respected players in the NHL.
CONS:
If you didn’t like Eberle’s 200ft game, you won’t like Iginla’s at this point in his career.
He can’t skate at the required level to be effective in the top 6.
He may very well be quite an expensive 4th liner.
I’ll just keep that brief. I mean, realistically, is Jarome Iginla going to usurp Zack Kassian, Jesse Puljujarvi, or Anton Slepyshev from a spot on the right side?
Peter Chiarelli has already stated that he’s looking to grow from within and let the kids take the reins this season. I’m with him on that one. I want to see if Slepyshev can flourish on a line with Lucic and Draisaitl. I want to see if Puljujarvi can find some offense playing on McDavid’s wing.
I don’t want to see a perfectly good young player pushed out right when he’s on the cusp of realizing some of his potential.
I like Jarome Iginla and I think there’d be elements of his game that would benefit the Oilers but maybe not in the regular season but the playoffs where his experience and leadership would flourish a bit more.
You do have to ask yourself why Matt Hendricks has a contract and not Iginla though and how much better is Iginla than Hendricks on the 4th line?
Lastly, what kind of Oilers fan would you be if you really wanted an old Calgary Flame who used to terrorize the Oilers for years, on the Oilers?…
Just kidding!!! Or am I?
2018 TOP TEN NHL ENTRY DRAFT PROSPECTS
Here’s the BLH September top ten for the upcoming draft featuring the likes of:
Rasmus Dahlin – Is he the Swedish Bobby Orr?
Andrei Svechnikov – A new Tarasenko?
Joe Veleno – Ripper of the Q!
Filip Zadina – The next elite Czech dangler!
Brady Tkachuk – You thought Matthew and Keith were beasts… Brady might eat your soul.
Hopefully, the Oilers aren’t in a place to be picking any of these players unless through a trade.
Watch the video to see who 6-10 are!
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There are some major players going to unrestricted free agency at the end of the 2017/18 season and I reckon Peter Chiarelli is going to push hard to add a significant player or three at next season.
See, at the moment, the Oilers have as few as 12 roster spots or as many as 18 remaining under the 50-man limit depending on the RFA’s they sign. If you’d like to read more on who’s left to sign and of those players, who the Oilers will/should be signing, visit Lowetide’s post here.
The image below is from said post of Lowetide’s.
Care of Lowetide, This is the Oilers 50-man list as of 5/21. Click the image to read more.
The trend at the moment is to pay your important players the big bucks and surround them with cheaper and efficient players out of the AHL or NCAA. I think the Penguins and Blackhawks are obvious models for this.
So Spencer Foo is on the Oilers radar and he’s exactly the kind of player I’m talking about. They Oilers have already signed Joe Gambardella, Nick Ellis, Drake Caggiula, Patrick Russell, and have to re-sign Joey Laleggia. I might be missing someone but I can’t recall right now.
Oh! Jordan Oesterle is another that would be a good candidate for re-signing with Edmonton. Boy can skate and move the puck! I’m hoping he puts on a few more pounds of muscle and comes back next year.
Of the players mentioned above, only Russell wouldn’t really have a chance at playing some NHL hockey next season.
Chiarelli is going to give his roster a chance to show what they can do and make moves accordingly. I’d be willing to bet there are already trades in place as contingency plans if things start on a sour note in 2017/18.
Yes, there are players that Chiarelli will need to send away in order to enact this plan of adding some major names next year. Pouliot and Fayne are for sure and then possibly Nugent-Hopkins and/or Jordan Eberle.
I reckon Ebs is going to bounce back not because the narrative sounds nice (like the one in the playoffs about McDavid “having” to show up because it’s about time) but because he has to, unless he wants to be the next Justin Schultz…
I have a hard time believing the Oilers will get a fair fare for Benoit Pouliot but I don’t think they need to necessarily move him right away either. He’s a player that can float throughout the lineup and I like his play on the PK. I imagine someone will take him at some point though, probably with the Oilers retaining salary.
Mark Fayne… Has to be moved because he’s not an NHL defenseman anymore but therein lies the problem… He’s not an NHL-caliber defenseman anymore and when McLellan chose Reinhart over him in the playoffs, that was set in stone.
Speaking of Stone, Mike Stone is a player that may pop up in FA rumors related to the Oilers this summer. I know the Oilers were keeping an eye on him all year and even going back to the season previous.
Other rumored players: Justin Faulk and Tyson Barrie will most likely be linked to Edmonton again.
But with the cap possibly going up to $77M, one or two of those names above might make it easier for the Oilers to hold onto them.
So going back to the beginning of this post, the Oilers adding notable players to the roster next season in an effort to go “all out”. If these 2018 UFAs aren’t re-signed and their teams are heading for the golf course instead of the playoffs, they could be targets of the Oilers this season.
If these 2018 UFAs aren’t re-signed and their teams are heading for the golf course instead of the playoffs, they could be targets of the Oilers this season.
Zdeno Chara, LHD ($4M) – Has a history with Chia Pete and is still a monster. If he’s on the back end next season, Getzlaf, Perry, Ritchie, Thornton, Pavelski, and whoever else thinks they’ll take liberties with the Oilers, won’t be. Don’t forget about that shot either… Lastly, if I’m not mistaken, did Big Z partner up with Sekera at the World Cup last summer?
Mike Green, RHD ($6M) – Here’s a player with playoff pedigree from his days with the Caps. Has struggled to score in his more recent post-seasons though. A nice veteran powerplay option though.
Paul Stastny, LHC ($7M) – Quite a good faceoff man (55.7% in 2016/17) and scores in the playoffs (35 pts in 55gp). Health might be a problem though.
Evander Kane, LW ($5.25M) – Character deficiencies aside, this is a one-year deal only. He hits, he shoots, he skates like the wind, and he doesn’t take shit from anybody. Buffalo wants to get rid of him too…
Antoine Roussel – LW ($2.4M) – A move for the French Esa Tikkanen would obviously be predicated on the Oilers getting rid of Pouliot but isn’t Roussel the kind of guy Edmonton could use for a playoff run? He will not fill the net with points but he will drive the opposition nuts. I mean, did you see what Kadri did to the Caps? These are players that take their opponents attention off of the game at hand and on to them.
I’d much rather have a 40-year-old Zdeno Chara than Kris Russell if we’re being honest here and the money would be the same (approximately).
So you go into the playoffs (hopefully) with a roster that looks something like this:
You could swap Chara and Sekera and replace Chara with Mike Green if you prefer. Also, if you’re not into Roussel, move pouliot down to 4th line and Maroon to the 3rd line, then toss Evander Kane on the 1st line with McDavid. I imagine Stastny only comes in if one of Eberle or RNH is moved.
I also wonder if Slepyshev gets moved to another team in this push for the Cup…
I do think if Ethan Bear makes a good impression down in the AHL that he could get a look-see up in Edmonton. With Sekera being out, that might make it more likely.
**Wishful Thinking**
I really wanted to say the Sedin Twins here and there’s a previous working relationship between Jim Benning and Peter Chiarelli going back to their days in Boston but I just don’t know if the Oilers have the pieces to acquire them nor do I think the Canucks want to be facing them over and over if they chose to re-sign in Edmonton. I mean it’d be rad if they though did, right?
Would you send Nugent-Hopkins, Caleb Jones, and Tyler Benson over to Vancouver for them?
Weird, the more I think about it, the more I can be convinced that Edmonton might actually be a fit for them. Not the best fit mind you but if they were to re-sign at a reasonable price, is there a better team for them to win a Cup with in the next 5 years than the Oilers? There’s already a strong Swedish presence on the team too. Would that make it easier to waive the no-trade clauses?
I know, they’re both 36 years old and their production is going down (I imagine that has more to do with Vancouver being a poor team) but I’ve heard some analysts say the twins could play into their 40s if they wanted…
I blame EA Sports and NHL hockey sim games for granting me the power to make up fictional rosters like this… I’m feeling a little bit of shame at this point.
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The 2006-07 season marked the beginning of the end for the Edmonton Oilers, and kicked off a ten-year playoff drought in which the team managed a record of only 298-398-90. Over the course of that ten-year window, the Oilers selected 76 players in the NHL entry draft, and a total of 13 were selected in the first round.
In hindsight, the 2007 draft was a colossal failure on behalf of management as they went on to select three players who failed to make an impact on the long-term success of the organization. Sam Gagner, the sixth overall pick in the draft was coming off of a monster season playing alongside first overall pick Patrick Kane where he was able to put up 118 points in the regular season while chipping in another 29 in the playoffs.
Even now, it’s hard to argue the selection as he was clearly one of the most skilled players in the draft class, however, he was never able to become that elite playmaking forward at the NHL level. Alex Plante, the fifteenth pick had a short-lived, ten game NHL career, where he was never able to transfer his defensive defenceman style to the NHL game. Riley Nash was the Oilers final selection in the first round, and though he’s begun carving a role as a bottom-six NHL forward, the fact the Max Pacioretty was the next pick will forever loom over them.
As we’ve learned from looking back at drafts in years past, it’s a hit and miss exhibition, with the best of the best having notable misses throughout their career. Taking that into account, with the respect to hindsight, this re-draft focuses on which player would have made the greatest impact on their new team, rather than who will accumulate the most amount of points. So take a look, and let me know what you think.
2007 NHL Re-Draft
1. Chicago Blackhawks – Selected: Patrick Kane
Re-Pick: Patrick Kane
No-brainer here, he’s one of the league’s elite and has been since he stepped into the NHL.
2. Philadelphia Flyers – Selected: James Van Reimsdyk
Re-Pick: Jamie Benn (DAL / 129th)
There were two elite level forwards in this class, and Jamie Benn would have been a more natural duo than democrats and Kleenex back in November.
3. Arizona Coyotes – Selected: Kyle Turris
Re-Pick: P.K. Subban (MTL / 43rd)
With Yandle on the way up, and Ekman-Larson soon to be acquired, the Yotes could’ve rolled with one of the strongest defensive corps in the west for a few years.
4. Los Angeles Kings – Selected: Thomas Hickey
Re-Pick: Jakub Voracek (PHI / 7th)
This pick would not have only bolstered the Kings offense, but would have saved them money down the stretch on a player like Marian Gaborik.
5. Washington Capitals – Selected: Karl Alzner
Re-Pick: Ryan McDonagh (MTL / 12th)
The Caps have always seemed to be stronger on the right side, and adding a player like McDonagh to the mix with Mike Green and eventually, John Carlson would have been huge.
6. Edmonton Oilers – Selected: Sam Gagner
Re-Pick: Max Pacioretty (MTL / 22nd)
Pacioretty has really emerged into a solid two-way scorer, with the leadership skills that would have likely expedited the rebuild, even if only by a year or two.
7. Columbus Blue Jackets – Selected: Jakub Voracek
Re-Pick: Kevin Shattenkirk (COL / 14th)
With Voracek off the board, Shattenkirk fills an obvious hole in Columbus as their number one defenceman. For years they struggled with an average defensive group, Shattenkirk helps there.
8. Boston Bruins – Selected: Zach Hamill
Re-Pick: Wayne Simmonds (LA / 61st)
Not only does Simmonds play match what current management is trying to achieve, he’s also one of the most uniquely valuable players in the league given what he brings to the table.
9. San Jose Sharks – Selected: Logan Couture
Re-Pick: Logan Couture
He’s fit into their system quite well, and though he likely won’t ever be considered an elite playmaker, he’s efficient at his role.
10. Florida Panthers – Selected: Keaton Ellerby
Re-Pick: Jake Muzzin (PIT / 141st)
The Cats have struggled to find consistency with their defense, and Muzzin brings a lot of tools that would really stabilize the blue line. Muzzin-Ekblad would be a nice pair.
In a mix with the two Staals, Carolina would have had one of the deepest center corps in the east and would have had an easy replacement following Eric’s trade to New York.
12. Montreal Canadiens – Selected: Ryan McDonagh
Re-Pick: James Van Riemsdyk (PHI / 2nd)
Having their original pick in McDonagh would be ideal for their team today, JVR brings a Pacioretty-like game to the Habs.
13. St. Louis Blues – Selected: Lars Eller
Re-Pick: Karl Alzner (WSH / 5th)
Alzner’s defensive two-way game would have made him an easy fit in the Blues system, especially now next to one of Pietrangelo or Parayko.
14. Colorado Avalanche – Selected: Kevin Shattenkirk
Re-Pick: Nick Bonino (SJ / 173rd)
Though the reason many recognize Bonino because he was part of the HBK line, his hard nosed two-way play and ability to occasionally chip in offensively would help in the West.
15. Edmonton Oilers – Selected: Alex Plante
Re-Pick: Brandon Sutter (CAR / 11th)
The fact that the Oilers would be considered likely final four (maybe top eight) candidates with the added center depth Sutter brings makes this an easy pick.
16. Minnesota Wild – Selected: Colton Gillies
Re-Pick: David Perron (STL / 26th)
Adds some scoring to the top six, and depth on the wing was missing from Minny for quite a while. He’s a player that leaves you wanting more but still, brings some good tools.
17. New York Rangers – Selected: Alexei Cherepanov
Re-Pick: Carl Hagelin (NYR / 168th)
They nailed the pick, only in round six instead of round one. Hagelin’s speed and puck skills allow him to be a consistent offensive threat, glad he’s found success in Pittsburgh.
18. St. Louis Blues – Selected: Ian Cole
Re-Pick: Alex Killorn (TB / 77th)
Killorn gives just about any team in the league a boost in the 3C spot as he’s proven to be a scoring two-way center who can be relied upon in a number of situations.
19. Anaheim Ducks – Selected: Logan MacMillan
Re-Pick: Carl Gunnarsson (TOR / 194th)
There are few defenceman in the league who play a consistent defensive defenceman style, but Gunnarsson has managed to be effective in that role for more than a few years.
If Gagner could have instant, sustained success anywhere, it likely would have been on the right side next to Crosby. He’s proven he can put up points, now carving out a depth role in CBJ.
21. Edmonton Oilers – Selected: Riley Nash
Re-Pick: Justin Braun (SJ / 201st)
Braun is one of the more under appreciated defenders in the league and has proven to be a consistent two-way defenceman for the Sharks. The fact he’s a righty helps the current Oilers quite a bit.
22. Montreal Canadiens – Selected: Max Pacioretty
Re-Pick: Alec Martinez (LA / 95th)
So Montreal gets ripped off in the re-draft, BUT Martinez addresses an area where the Habs weren’t overly strong at for a number of years. If that makes up for losing Subban, McDonagh, and Pacioretty…
23. Nashville Predators – Selected: Jon Blum
Re-Pick: Mikael Backlund (CGY / 24th)
They had a chance to take him at the time, and he would have looked good in a Preds jersey. Backlund is a decent offensive two-way player who fills a 3C role and can step into the 2 hole with injuries.
24. Calgary Flames – Selected: Mikael Backlund
Re-Pick: Lars Eller (STL / 13th)
Eller has had an alright NHL career and has been leaned upon to be a consistent defensive third line player. Replaces the loss of Backlund quite easily.
25. Vancouver Canucks – Selected: Patrick White
Re-Pick: Scott Darling (ARZ / 153rd)
This pick is primarily based on value, and the fact that seeing another goalie added to the Luongo/Schneider saga would have been added comedy.
26. St. Louis Blues – Selected: David Perron
Re-Pick: Brendan Smith (DET / 27th)
Smith doesn’t “bolster” their defence, but he makes them much more competitive in what would likely have been a number five spot. He’s a decent number four NHL defenceman.
27. Detroit Red Wings – Selected: Brendan Smith
Re-Pick: Thomas Hickey (LA / 4th)
Would have been interesting to see what Detroit could have done for the development of Hickey, who is now showing he’s a fairly reliable two-way defender.
28. San Jose Sharks- Selected: Nick Petrecki
Re-Pick: Patrick Maroon
Though he never fully hit his stride until he was on McDavid’s wing, Maroon next to a guy like Joe Thornton might have been too powerful a duo for even Western conference teams to stop.
29. Ottawa Senators – Selected: Jim O’Brien
Re-Pick: Ian Cole (STL / 18th)
Cole has really carved out a role in Pittsburgh, providing a (somewhat) consistent two-way game, currently playing in the number five spot.
30. Arizona Coyotes – Selected: Nick Ross
Re-Pick: Dwight King (LA / 109th)
King has proven to be a strong bottom six player in LA, and clearly, has value on the open market.
Thanks for reading! Be sure to let me know who you would have taken in this draft and why. The top five was loaded with high-end players, so I’m sure the Benn vs. Subban debate will be heated!
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The Edmonton Oiler prospect depth has been suspect for more than a few years, and it’s safe to say that their inability to draft and develop beyond the first round contributed to their failures over the past decade. Between 2006 – 2014, the Oilers made a total of 56 post-first round selections, with only 20 of those players having played NHL game, and of those 20, only five have played more than 100 NHL games. Of the 56 players selected, only two are currently active on the Oilers roster (Davidson and Slepyshev), and 14 of the 56 selected remain under Oilers control. The most notable misses over that eight year window include the selection of Mitchell Moroz with the 32nd overall pick, a selection Oilers management took flack for after missing out on Ville Pokka who went only two picks later.
With a new management crew in charge we’ve seen a much different approach to the drafting and development of prospects, seeing many more college prospects added at the draft, as well as a focus on adding proven junior players instead of taking big risks on projects. The shift in philosophy came to light in the 2015 draft when the Oilers were able to add both Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones outside of the first round. The addition of college players looks good long term as they will then be afforded additional years to sign ELC’s.
There are many ways different services rank players and project potential, but the criteria for this list is fairly simple. Level of play and production given level of league. For example, a player who spent half of a season in SuperElit and was then promoted and able to produce at the SHL level is likely going to be ranked higher than a player in the OHL who was just under a point per game in their draft year, and a hair over a point per game this year. Now I understand many will say “you can’t just look at stats and say this guy is going to be better than another” which I fully agree with, however, given the inability to get a look at all of the prospects, the list is more so based on the way their career path is trending. So take a look, and let me know your thoughts.
Edmonton Oilers Prospect Grades (U-21)
A – Projected to be a top 6 forward, top 3 defenceman, or NHL 1A or 1B goalie. Very little uncertainty regarding these prospects, and their trade value would be a first round pick or a first round pick plus.
Jesse Puljujarvi (RW) – Bakersfield Condors
Expect him to be a full time top six NHL player next season. Has been able to produce at just under a point per game at the AHL level, and may earn a call up before the end of the season. Going to be a point producer in the top six, just have to be patient.
B – May not be a big time player, or even a top six forward/top three guy, but they are the most likely to carve out full time role in the NHL. Trade value is fairly high, likely a second rounder, or a second round plus.
Caleb Jones (LD) – Portland Winterhawks
Gained a lot of attention at the World Juniors when he logged over 30 minutes in the gold medal game. Has been stellar for the Hawks this season, and is on pace to pass his point total from last season. High on him given his ability to be a sound defensive zone player as well as jump in on offense.
He’ll be an NHL’er if he can get past the injury problems. The positive on that is the lack of repeating injuries. Good nose for the net and is likely a bottom six forward. The real test for Benson will come next year on what will be a Giants team that should be able to score, so we’ll see how big of a factor he is.
Hasn’t had the most consistent year, but is on pace to blow past 70 points from the blue line. Reminds me a lot of Duncan Keith, could be a big time player. Good skater, good hockey sense, will see him in the AHL next year, with the hope being his game transitions easily.
Taken in the third round and was able to jump up to log full time SHL minutes this season. Has a contract through 17/18, and will hopefully make the jump to North America in two years, but the Oilers are able to be patient and hope he’s able to continue to develop.
C – Projected to be a fringe NHL player, and there’s quite a bit of optimism with these players. Unlikely to ever be a top six forward or top three defenceman, but could carve out a role at the NHL level.
Dylan Wells (G) – Peterborough Petes
Strong year with Peterborough, maintaining above a .910 save percentage throughout most of the season. Has performed well internationally and has sound fundamentals. Have to be patient with goalies, but he’s proving to be a good pickup.
Hasn’t had the best season in terms of offensive production, but has been held to a fourth line role for the majority of the season. He has a good offensive toolset, and may be a bottom six forward down the road. Would like to see what he could do in a more prominent role.
Strong first year in North America, earning a spot on the Finnish World Junior roster where he was a point per game player. Right handed center who has been very strong in the dot. Heading to Boston College next season.
Was left off the Swedish World Junior roster after playing with them the year before. He’s a mean two way defenceman who can pass the puck. Defends well. Next two years at UMass will be extremely beneficial.
Strong freshman campaign with Harvard. Plays a steady two way game. Strong skater who will see his role with Harvard expand in the coming years. Right handed shot adds value, especially to the Oilers.
D – Unlikely to ever be a full time NHL player, and may be considered a project or labelled as enigmatic. May have some trade value, but would likely be a later pick.
Matthew Cairns (LD) – Powell River Kings
After moving from Fargo to Powell River, Cairns picked up his offensive production logging 16 points in 18 games. He’s heading to Cornell next year where we will get a more accurate idea of what his game really is.
Had an average first year at BC, however his two way game seems to be a bright spot. Good bloodlines, likely finds a contract down the road, but hard to read an 18 year old playing a depth role in college. Patience.
A bit of a disastrous year for Niemelainen as his offensive totals dropped tremendously and his inability to find consistency really hurt his game. He’s a project worth investing in, and I wouldn’t doubt we see him return to Europe to find his game.
E – Not likely to sign a pro contract, zero trade value at the moment.
Miroslav Svoboda (G) – HC Dukla Jihlava
Has posted good numbers in the Czech 2 league, but has struggled with conditioning and athleticism. He’s still young, and like I said, you never know with goalies, but he seems like a lifetime European player.
With the importance of puck moving defenceman at an all time high, not sure the 6’6 defenceman who has only registered 6 assists in the past three years, his chance at the NHL seems doubtful.
Thanks for reading! I’d love to get your feedback to know where you’d make changes or who else you might push up to an A or B rating. To get ahold of me, send a tweet to @york_dg
Each year there are a number of preconceptions surrounding a draft class. 2015 was hailed as “the best since ‘03” years before it took place, and was praised for its depth in both the first round and throughout the remainder of the draft. With 18/30 first round selections having already played their first NHL game, it’s hard to argue that the preconceptions regarding that draft class were wrong. The preconceptions surrounding the 2017 draft class are vastly different, with many questioning both it’s depth and talent at the top. Though I believe the depth aspect of this draft is lacking, the talent at the top isn’t something to scoff at.
Nolan Patrick vs. Nico Hischier has been the battle presented to the masses this season, and though many, including myself, believe Nolan Patrick will likely be the first overall selection, Nico Hischier has done nothing but impress throughout his rookie QMJHL campaign. Throughout 43 games, Hischier has managed 76 points (1.77 ppg/2nd amongst QMJHL skaters), and has been relied upon in every situation for the Mooseheads, a testament to his ability to think the game at a very high level. His Zetterberg-like approach to the game has made it evident that he will be an effective player at the next level, and given the skills he possesses coupled with his ability to produce at all levels, it’s hard to see him not becoming a top line, point producing NHL player in the near future.
Since his return to the Wheat Kings lineup, Nolan Patrick has been dominant, recording 14 points in 8 games as well as a fight victory against Tyler Wong on January 31st. The Wheat Kings captain has drawn comparisons to Ryan Getzlaf, as the big bodied forward has proven to be an offensive zone force with his ability to push through traffic and be an effective scorer from in tight. He projects to be a top line NHL player, and given his versatility and ability to play in all situations as well as on the wing, he’s an ideal fit for nearly every team. Amongst teams poised to hold the first selection, Colorado would be an ideal fit giving their young core revolving around Nate MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Tyson Jost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3muLUzDVw0
The most intriguing talking point when looking at these two high-end players is the west coast vs. east coast differences in their games. Teams have their choice of Nico Hischier, a true finesse, speedy, skilled type of forward, similar to Henrik Zetterberg or Nolan Patrick, the powerful, dynamic point producer similar to Ryan Getzlaf. Given the current layout of the NHL standings, both are likely western conference property when it’s all said and done, and regardless of which player goes first, I believe both will be successful NHL Players.
Though Patrick and Hischier have been the two players featured in headlines, they are being pushed by some highly skilled and talented players. Timothy Lijegren, the top-ranked defenceman for this draft has had an up and down year, dealing with mono as well as demotion to Allsvenskan following a disappointing return from his sickness. Liljegren is a highly intelligent, smooth skating defender who’s omission from the Swedish World Junior roster left many confused given his ability to play in all situations as well as produce offensively. He’s a defenceman teams will have to be patient with, and we may end up seeing him spend another year or two in Sweden before coming over, though significant AHL time may not be the worst thing for his development. Casey Mittelstadt of Eden Prairie is a player who will garner attention from teams picking in the top five, and in my opinion may be a top three forward when we look back at this draft five years from now, as he boasts a strong offensive two-way game, and has really proven to be difficult to play against. He’s a solid player whose hard to knock off the puck and can be a dynamic offensive force.
Regardless of who is selected first overall, the 2017 draft brings a unique mix of offensive talents, with players who possess a wide range of skillsets and intangibles. It may not have the McDavid or Matthews hype, but any team picking in the top ten is walking away with an excellent player.
Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or comments be sure to reach me at @DraftGeekHockey on Twitter or comment below!
