2019 NHL Draft: Edmonton Oilers
I’ve done my top 62 list. I’ve done my mock draft (subject to change). I felt like putting out more content this morning though and felt as though a piece on the Oilers draft was the best route to take. If you follow my work, you’re likely an Oilers fan. Not all are, but most.
I won’t spend much time setting this up as it’s pretty long, but since it’s the most accurate I slotted the later picks using McKenzie’s list. So if I’m talking about a guy for the 85th pick and you’re questioning it, chances are he’s around that area on Bob’s list. I’d never use my own list because simply put I have my own views that I believe strongly in, so we won’t see much alignment with my list and what NHL teams do.
We’ll start by looking at what the team needs. Unlike certain TSN personalities who did a mock draft the other night where picks were made based on immediate team needs, the reality is that teams are looking at what the needs are organization-wide. That can include what is needed on the big club, but more so looks at what is in the system. After that I’ll go through each of the picks and just simply give some players I like in that range.
Let’s begin.
Organizational needs
Speed and skill up front – I’ll put this as a blanket first and foremost. They’re very thin on the big club, and even though there are kids I like in the system, a lot of those kids have skating concerns.
Wing – More so on the left than the right side, but neither side is stacked. I’d say they have two quality LW’s (Benson and McLeod) and two quality RW’s (Yamamoto and Maksimov).
Centre – Some of you are likely screaming right now “McLeod is a centre!!!!!” Fair enough, but better safe than sorry in my books to consider him a winger. That leaves just Marody. Obviously the age and contracts of both McDavid and Draisaitl impact, but it is STILL (despite me screaming about it for three years now) bare in the system.
Gamesmanship/spark plugs – You’ll see me harp on this throughout this blog, but I’ve said it before and will say it again, if “miserable pricks” could be measured analytically, the Oilers would rank 31st. And they have nobody coming who plays a hateable game.
Goaltender – This ends up 5th on the list mainly because the blueline is so loaded in the system. But they probably should take yet another goaltender in this draft. I like Skinner, I like Wells, and they took Rodrigue…not to mention Starrett, but none of those guys are close to certainties and until someone is an organization needs to stockpile at the most important position in hockey. I wouldn’t take one before the 100th pick, and I’d look to Europe or the USHL to find a project who you’ll have time to assess his game before deciding if he is worthy of an ELC.
Defencemen – They’re pretty stacked on both sides at the moment, but you can never have enough D-men.
8th overall
I believe it’s safe to say that the top four is set in stone. It’s Hughes, Kakko, and then I strongly believe it’ll be Turcotte/Byram to the Hawks and Avs, though I’m not 100% on which to whom. I THINK the Kings take Dach, but if they want speed (as they’ve been pretty loud about) then Zegras might make more sense for them. So I believe they’re looking at six possibilities with that pick. I’ll speak on them, plus two guys whom I can’t believe they from all accounts aren’t giving consideration to.
Philip Broberg
Team: AIK League: SWE-Als
Pos: LD Ht: 6’3 Wt: 203 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 41 G: 2 A: 7 P: 9
DOB: 06/25/01
Comparison: Jay Bouwmeester
Let’s just get right to this one. I hate the idea, most hate the idea, and there is a shit ton of smoke here. It does sound like more teams than just the Oilers love the idea of Broberg up around this point though. Buffalo and Vancouver are definitely up there, and I also wonder if the Wings aren’t too. All three teams BADLY need D, which is what makes Broberg most interesting is that the Oilers in their organization have very little need to take (let alone reach) on a D-man here. I’m really wondering if it’s not a smokescreen because it’s very unlike Ken Holland to let things get out. Maybe someone within the organization knew that the teams colour analyst wouldn’t shut up if he got what he believed was juicy information and so a seed was planted? Very conspiracy theory type shit, but it just doesn’t make ANY sense to take Broberg and I can’t believe this would be lost on people in the organization, even given how awful they’ve been. Should they do this though, as fans we shouldn’t be overly distraught about it. Broberg does have the size and skating ability to become a number one D-man someday. You listen to him interviewed, he seems very humble and to have a very high IQ which is intriguing. If they give him two or three years to develop, we might all be singing a very different tune on him. But it is a scary gamble in this particular draft with the 8th pick. Those who want to tell you “just make a trade down the line” are not giving any thought to how insanely difficult it is these days to make a trade.
Kirby Dach
Team: Saskatoon League: WHL
Pos: C Ht: 6’4 Wt: 198 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 62 G: 25 A: 48 P: 73
DOB: 01/21/01
Comparison: Ryan Getzlaf
I don’t have Dach getting past five. But if he does, this becomes very realistic in my mind. I believe if the Oilers had their way, he’s who they badly want at eight. And Dach has the potential to be a home run. You can’t find 6’4 playmaking centres like this. I know he has a questionable motor, but don’t confuse that with doesn’t put in the work. He’s captain serious away from the rink. I’ve been told he doesn’t party, doesn’t drink, and his life is hockey. So when you look at it that way, he’s very similar to Draisaitl. I don’t think fans would be pissed about getting a right-handed Leon Draisaitl.
Trevor Zegras
Team: USA NTDP League: USHL
Pos: C Ht: 6’0 Wt: 173 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 27 G: 14 A: 26 P: 40
DOB: 03/20/01
Comparison: Mathew Barzal
He could go 5-7, easily. But you can also make the case that Zegras falls to the 8th pick. Kings take Dach, Wings take Podkolzin, Sabres take Broberg. That order wouldn’t stun me in the slightest. My buddy SPR doesn’t like him and he is the only one. Reason being, he is a VERY flashy player who looks to make a lot of plays with the puck which are extremely high risk. He’s big-time flash. But the question I and others have is once he stops having success playing that way if he’ll adjust and start making much more intelligent plays with the puck? I believe he will, but you can name a lot of kids over the years who never wanted to change their game.
Dylan Cozens
Team: Lethbridge League: WHL
Pos: RW Ht: 6’3 Wt: 183 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 68 G: 34 A: 50 P: 84
DOB: 02/09/01
Comparison: Chris Kreider
Again I’ll state: you draft him as a winger and he’s a home run of a pick. If you’re hoping he can play the middle, you’re asking for trouble. But I fully believe had he played the wing all season we’d be talking about Cozens in a much different light and most would have him in their top five. Size, speed, shot, physical. Going into the Hlinka/Gretzky last year I did my top 32 list and I had him compared to Iginla. I’ve changed it to Kreider, but when I say that I don’t mean that Kreider is his ceiling. He has 30-40 goal, 70-80 point potential, just that his game is like Kreider in that he’s big, fast and physical. I love the idea of the Oilers building with speed AND size and Cozens definitely brings both.
Cole Caufield
Team: USA NTDP League: USHL
Pos: RW Ht: 5’7 Wt: 163 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 28 G: 29 A: 12 P: 41
DOB: 01/02/01
Comparison: Mike Cammalleri
He’s the choice of the Oilers Twitter world! So as you can read, I’m not as high on him. I LIKE the kid, and I’m pulling for him because he’s exciting to watch, but a lot of people who are screaming for the Oilers to take him are missing what the concerns are on him. It’s not his size. It’s his skating for being that size isn’t very good. It’s probably better than DeBrincat’s was, but still not where you want or need it to be. His play away from the puck is very suspect. He had a very nice luxury of not needing to play away from the puck all season, but I know those who have tracked him a lot more than I have, say it’s not good. Finally, the big one for me is that he displayed no playmaking ability. Guys who only score at lower levels of hockey historically haven’t stuck in the show. Think of who I got him compared within Cammalleri, his assist numbers were great at Michigan and lower levels. Same with DeBrincat. So he played with three of the best playmaking centres in the history of the USNTDP all season and racked up goals…ok. AND?! But having said all that, I’m really just trying to open some eyes to some who are overrating him and I don’t dislike him near as much as I make it sound there. His shot is ELITE already. And if he were drafted by the Oilers, someday he’d likely get put with McDavid who obviously has the ability to carry a one-dimensional shooter like this. If they picked him, I wouldn’t be crying, but I would be cringing a bit because there are a lot of legitimate concerns. It feels to me that people see his shot, see his goal totals, and for those reasons alone they just feel like you have to take that kid out of fear that if you miss on him the hate will rain down on your organization because it was “so obvious”.
Matthew Boldy
Team: USA NTDP League: USHL
Pos: LW Ht: 6’2 Wt: 196 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 55 G: 30 A: 39 P: 69
DOB: 04/05/01
Comparison: James Van Riemsdyk
The complete opposite end of the spectrum from Caufield. Some wonder if Caufield has a game that doesn’t translate, where most feel Boldy has more of a pro game and his numbers don’t tell enough of the story. Big, skilled, good (though not great) skater, and apparently all the intangibles check out with Boldy. He’s not getting talked about much with the Oilers, yet it’s been made pretty clear he’s on their radar. I think there was one guy they could realistically pick here who everyone would be at least ok with, it’s Boldy.
Vasili Podkolzin
Team: St. Petersburg League: MHL
Pos: RW Ht: 6’1 Wt: 196 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 26 G: 8 A: 5 P: 13
DOB: 06/24/01
Comparison: Gabriel Landeskog
These last two don’t sound like kids they’re considering and I don’t know why. Well, with Podkolzin I do believe it’s likely because of the contract preventing him from coming over for two seasons. It shouldn’t, but knowing the Oilers they would be an organization who would have an issue with it. As I stated with the needs, this team lacks spark plugs. Assholes. Miserable fucks to play against. You wouldn’t think of a Russian player being this guy, but Podkolzin is. If his name is Vince Pederson he’s a slam dunk top-five pick. And don’t get me wrong, I get the concerns. The skating isn’t great (though much like Evan Bouchard last year that is getting greatly exaggerated). I personally downgrade Russian forwards because they bust at an alarming rate (I even did with Svechnikov last year). But at eight you should be at least looking at him. Not to mention we talk about getting McDavid a shooter, Podkolzin has the ability to be a pure sniper in the show along with being a high-end power forward.
Peyton Krebs
Team: Kootenay League: WHL
Pos: C Ht: 5’11.5 Wt: 183 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 64 G: 19 A: 49 P: 68
DOB: 01/26/01
Comparison: Bo Horvat
I don’t get it. I simply don’t get it. He brings everything to the table that the Oilers need. Skill, intangibles, versatility, he’s even a fuckin Albertan!! And yet from the sounds of it, he’s not even on their radar. I think of guys like Zach Parise, Mike Richards, guys who in their primes were the perfect blend of talent and intangibles and that is Krebs. The Achilles injury? Meaningless. He shouldn’t be playing on a team next season anyway and will be healthy by December at the absolute latest. It pisses me off talking about Krebs at this point because unless the local media are badly missing the boat, the Oilers aren’t even giving him the time of day. For the Oilers specifically, I’d take him over any of these kids, even Dach because I feel the Oilers need to be a little safer with this pick and Krebs is the safer bet of the two.
Trade up?
Full credit to Darcy McLeod who made this suggestion on Twitter Wednesday. If the Hawks pass on Byram for Turcotte (as I and many others believe they will), Ken Holland should be offering the 8th pick and Puljujarvi to the Avs for the 4th pick. And I think it’s something the Avs would heavily consider. They don’t NEED Byram (not that anyone should pass on a player that good because of need) and could likely still land a stud up front at eight, while also adding Puljujarvi. Darcy also suggested adding more if need be from the Oilers POV and again, I agree (I got Byram 1st in my rankings, so obviously I agree). What that something else could be? I’d do as much as 8th, Puljujarvi, and Samorukov. Not sure if others would, but I would because I believe that much in Byram.
Trade back?
I believe this is a very good move if they did it. The way I see it is they should be craving a forward of some kind and there are kids like Newhook and Tomasino who look as though they’ll go in the 12-15 range who’d be terrific gets if you could add a 2nd. I’m not sure I’d look to add the 2nd in this draft though. It’s always tough to tell how a draft will shake down (this time last year a lot of people believed this draft was LOADED), but the 2020 draft at this point looks as though it’ll be a lot deeper than this. If you can add a significant piece and move back while still adding the player you need to the system, you should. Ken Holland did say yesterday that he would look at moving back a few picks (or something to that effect).
39th overall
They’re going to get someone good here. I don’t know if they can do as well as they did last year with McLeod, but as far as I’m concerned it looks as though some kids I personally love could be around for 39. Here are five kids potentially on the board at this point:
Vladislav Kolyachonok
Team: Flint League: OHL
Pos: LD Ht: 6’1 Wt: 189 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 53 G: 4 A: 25 P: 29
DOB: 05/25/01
Comparison: Braydon Coburn
I can’t see him being around with this pick, but he is 39th on Bob McKenzie’s list so he does qualify. Wheels. If they do in fact love Broberg so much (and they don’t make the mistake of picking him) then, in theory, they should be all over Kolyachonok at 39 if he remains on the board. You give this kid three or four years development, they’d have a stud on their hands.
Jamieson Rees
Team: Sarnia League: OHL
Pos: LW Ht: 5’10 Wt: 182 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 37 G: 10 A: 22 P: 32
DOB: 02/26/01
Comparison: Sam Bennett
Rees is a risky pick because he’s had some injuries to overcome and scouts are concerned that he plays too reckless. The Oilers though don’t have enough reckless, so at 39 I love the idea of them taking a bit of a risk and addressing that. I’d rather gamble on that then on a talented kid finding a compete level.
Simon Holmstrom
Team: HV71 League: SWE-J20
Pos: RW Ht: 6’1 Wt: 193 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 21 G: 7 A: 13 P: 20
DOB: 05/24/01
Comparison: Joonas Donskoi
I have Holmstrom four spots ahead of Rees in my rankings, but Rees is more in your face than Holmstrom. Like Rees, he’s got one of the best motors in the draft, but like Rees he has injury concerns.
Albin Grewe
Team: Djurgardens League: SWE-J20
Pos: RW Ht: 5’11 Wt: 190 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 25 G: 13 A: 21 P: 34
DOB: 03/22/01
Comparison: Ryan Hartman
Another kid who brings it. Don’t let the nationality fool you with Grewe, this kid has a lot of Raffi Torres in his game where he can be a bit of a head hunter. But while that’s what he’s best known for, the numbers also check out with him. Elite Prospects had him 28th in their rankings relying heavily on XLS% (Expected Likelihood of Success) and XPR/82 (Expected Point Rate per 82 Games) to do the rankings.
Daniil Misyul
Team: Loko Yaroslavl League: MHL
Pos: LD Ht: 6’3 Wt: 176 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 46 G: 4 A: 6 P: 10
DOB: 10/20/00
Comparison: Darnell Nurse
If you’re reading this, you’re an Oilers fan. If you’re an Oilers fan, then you know the scouting report on Nurse. One of the best skaters in the league and can be a nasty SOB in his own zone. Also like Nurse, not a lot of vision/ability to move the puck. But like Kolyachonok, if you give Misyul time you might have a stud on your hands.
85th overall
From here out, the draft always goes wide ass open. Players who you believe should go 3rd round fall to the 6th, 7th, or even completely out, while kids you’ve never heard of all of a sudden start being picked. I’ll suggest kids in these spots (three for each of the following picks), but it is a complete crapshoot as to where they could end up going.
Pavel Dorofeyev
Team: Magnitogorsk League: MHL
Pos: LW Ht: 6’1 Wt: 176 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 19 G: 17 A: 14 P: 31
DOB: 10/26/00
Comparison: Teuvo Teravainen
Bob has him 82nd! That says to me that the independent guys (none that I could find having him lower than 41st) like him a shit ton more than NHL organizations do. That stunned me. Needless to say, if the Oilers took a swing on him here I’d be thrilled! The kid has tremendous skill.
Aaron Huglen
Team: Fargo League: USHL
Pos: RW Ht: 5’11 Wt: 165 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 28 G: 4 A: 10 P: 14
DOB: 03/06/01
Comparison: Connor Sheary
Speedy, competes hard, and he’s still rail thin as you can read. He’s got 20-25lbs to go, so what kind of damage will he do once he does that? Intriguing.
Ethan Phillips
Team: Sioux Falls League: USHL
Pos: RW Ht: 5’9 Wt: 150 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 50 G: 16 A: 27 P: 43
DOB: 05/07/01
Comparison: Arturri Lehkonen
Basically the exact same line of thinking with Phillips as with Huglen.
100th overall
Reece Newkirk
Team: Portland League: WHL
Pos: LW Ht: 5’11 Wt: 172 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 68 G: 23 A: 36 P: 59
DOB: 02/20/01
Comparison: Andrew Shaw
I just love this kids game. A total “see you next Tuesday” if you know what I mean, with a terrific motor. He physically looks like Brad Marchand out on the ice and as I’ve maintained throughout this, the Oilers badly need more of this. They don’t need to sacrifice speed or skill to do it, but the kids I’m mentioning all have the speed and skill first and foremost.
Rhett Pitlick
Team: Chaska League: USHS
Pos: LW Ht: 5’9 Wt: 161 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 25 G: 28 A: 33 P: 61
DOB: 02/07/01
Comparison: Drake Caggiula
Same line of thinking as Newkirk, Grewe, Rees, etc. I don’t believe Pitlick is quite the instigator those players are, but he definitely has the wheels and willingness to get his nose dirty. Tyler’s cousin (Rem’s brother, son of former Sens D-man Lance Pitlick).
Maxim Cajkovic
Team: Saint John League: QMJHL
Pos: RW Ht: 5’11 Wt: 187 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 60 G: 22 A: 24 P: 46
DOB: 01/03/01
Comparison: Jakub Vrana
This time last year this kid was viewed as a top 15 pick by pretty much everyone. I’m not sold that coming over to the Q and playing with such a terrible team as the Sea Dogs were didn’t have much more to do with his production than a dog shit effort. Also if you just simply look at his 2nd half numbers, they were good and showed a bit of his talent. Well worth a swing by this pick.
162nd overall
One thing about the 6th and 7th rounders you need to keep in mind is that the USHL/NCAA and European kids become much more valuable as you get extra time to evaluate what you might have before having to make a decision on giving them an ELC. Not many picked in this range that aren’t projects, so better to have that extra time to develop the project.
Alexander Daryin
Team: Loko Yaroslavl League: MHL
Pos: LW Ht: 5’10 Wt: 159 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 47 G: 20 A: 15 P: 35
DOB: 08/16/00
Comparison: Kevin Fiala
My first OA to make an appearance, Daryin got passed over in last years draft. Much like Huglen and Phillips who I liked as possible 3rd rounders, Daryin has tremendous wheels, great skill, and is still lacking 20lbs or so that he’ll put on in time. I actually have Daryin higher in my own rankings than Huglen or Phillips, but Daryin isn’t ranked on McKenzie’s list and is passed over on a few lists. The draft is chess, not checkers. Take a kid where you believe you can get him. Not sure I can get Daryin here, but with the information I have it at least looks possible.
Leevi Aaltonen
Team: Kalpa League: SM Liiga Jr
Pos: LW Ht: 5’9 Wt: 168 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 29 G: 12 A: 24 P: 36
DOB: 01/24/01
Comparison: Bryan Rust
He’s not on Bob’s list, though he is around 40-90 for most. At 162, who in the fuck knows. I love Aaltonen’s wheels though. Around this point, just give me guys with something elite (preferably skating). I have always said, I want later draft picks who can do something elite that can’t be taught.
Nikola Pasic
Team: Linköping League: SWE-J20
Pos: LW Ht: 5’10 Wt: 181 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 33 G: 18 A: 18 P: 36
DOB: 10/16/00
Comparison: Pontus Aberg
Speedy and skilled, but lacks compete (I’ve told you my comparisons are the best…). At 162, obviously I’m not going to be terrified to swing and miss on a skilled kid.
193rd overall
Martin Hugo Has
Team: Tappara League: SM-Liiga
Pos: RD Ht: 6’4 Wt: 187 Shot: R
2019 Stats – GP: 37 G: 9 A: 7 P: 16
DOB: 02/02/01
Comparison: Brandon Carlo
TERRIFIC name!! I wouldn’t say Has is as good of a skater as Carlo, but he does move very well for a big man. And there is some offensive upside with him. Mainly though if you’re drafting him, he’s a project. He has the right tools to work with, so give him three seasons and then see if he’s worth bringing over to North America.
Dominic Basse
Team: South Kent League: Midget
Pos: G Ht: 6’6 Wt: 185 Glove: L
2019 Stats – GP: 42 G.A.A.: 1.91 Sv%: .924
DOB: 04/22/01
Comparison: Pekka Rinne
Please don’t kill me on the comparison, I’m just trying to think of a kid who was raw like this. Rinne went late in the draft, was massive, and moved well. That’s it. You know Basse is pretty obscure when the league he played the majority of the season is just listed on Elite Prospects as “Midget”. He is committed to attend Colorado in the fall. From what I’ve read (I mean, no doubt I’ve seen him play and scouted him a ton…) he moves very well for his size, he’s not just a puck blocker. That’s the key for me with goaltenders. Size and athleticism. Take them late and hope to coach them up. There will be lots of options along these lines at this point.
Cade Webber
Team: The Rivers League: USHS
Pos: LD Ht: 6’6 Wt: 194 Shot: L
2019 Stats – GP: 29 G: 12 A: 14 P: 26
DOB: 01/05/01
Comparison: Scott Mayfield
This is the type of kid they’ve LOVED to take late in the draft. Think Matt Cairns. Think Vincent Desharnais. Think Skyler Brind’Amour. Think Philip Kemp. Think Michael Kesselring. They love their projects and Webber is DEFINITELY a project. Obviously it’s a new regime, but with Keith Gretzky supposedly still running the draft, tough to believe their mentality would change. Two things: size, and he skates very well for that size. Only thing missing is that he’s not a right shot, but they’ve loaded up with RHD over the years that if they weren’t to take one this season it wouldn’t hurt them.
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