2017 Draft - 1st Pick: Kailer Yamamoto - Signs ELC

[ToeMcDrag83]

I want to call him Yoshi. Quick and small.

And Japanese roots to boot

 

[McMozesmadness]

Thought this was interesting:

 

[ToeMcDrag83]

^^^

Already repping BOA, love it.

Our hobbit can take on your new defenseman.
Your hobbit has a master and his name is Adam Larsson.

 

[nabob]

This is an Internet forum, I really couldn't care less if you took what I said seriously or not.

Well then continue making noise.

Just wondering who the last small forward we took in the 1st round was? Seems to one of your biggest complaints.

 

[Asher]

Hint: No player we draft, in any position, is likely to play their entire career here.

Including Connor McDavid.

Afaic that's a pattern that needs to change. McDavid would be a great place to start.

 

[Da McBomb]

46 PIMS this year? He better work on that if he wants to win the Lady Byng over Johnny

 

[nafrelio]

So if this kids 6' is he a top 10 pick?

If this kid is 6', he's a top 5 pick.

And...if this kids 6'4" he'd be first overall!

 

[CupofOil]

What has a lower value than a small winger in an NHL trade?

If someone saying that small wingers have the least value is beyond stupid and the dumbest thing you have seen, then you need to enlighten yourself.

Why are you talking about trade value? They literally just drafted the kid.

I get the trepidation about his size but with speed, skill and smarts like this kid has and what appears to be an usually high level of determination based on his combine results, I'd wager that he has a good chance to succeed in the NHL.

 

[Ol' Jase]

Who was the last winger who was drafted by the Oilers and played his whole career here?

Sorry but I'm getting sick of drafting all these wingers and then getting scraps for them 5 years later.

Sick of it.

You had never heard of the player until tonight, so maybe you should see him play a minute first, no?

 

[Nostradumbass]

And...if this kids 6'4" he'd be first overall!

If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

 

[McAsuno]

Thought this was interesting:

I wonder who good ol OKG will compare Valimaki to

 

[KarmaPolice]

This guy will make us forget about Eberle in fairly short order, IMO (a couple years, max). I was really, really hoping for DeBrincat in last year's draft, and think he would've done so, as well, in shorter order, but this is still a great pick. Size doesn't matter so much for scoring wingers anymore. Look at all of the Pens' short wingers: Guentzel, Sheary, Hagelin, Rust, and even Honqvist are all under 6 feet tall. They did just find with those wingers in the playoffs, plus a motley crew of D. Seems you need strong C, speedy skilled wingers who aren't gutless and can actually score when it matters (read: in the playoffs), D who can just move the puck up, and a really good goalie to have success in the playoffs; when the REAL season starts. But those speedy wingers have to be willing to make some hits, take some hits, and block some shots. I think small wingers who are ONLY good for 20-25 goals a year, and literally nothing else, are useless in the playoffs, so I personally wont miss Eberle at all. I'll hope for better from Yamamoto and Strome.

 

[Alexanderthe89]

Edmonton fans, congrats on a great selection. I've lived in Spokane for the past ten years and catch a handful of games a year. Only one other Chief has come close to having the same impact as Yamamoto and that was Tyler Johnson. Yamamoto absolutely dominates on both ends of the ice. Fearless, high character player. You'll be very happy with this pick.

 

[jebs]

Well then continue making noise.

Just wondering who the last small forward we took in the 1st round was? Seems to one of your biggest complaints.

Kailer Yamamoto

 

[jebs]

You had never heard of the player until tonight, so maybe you should see him play a minute first, no?

Says who?

I've never once said said anything negative about the player.

I don't like the drafting strategy, but the player I do have time for.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

Can we still make that joke in 2017? Are we allowed to assume his/her gender?

 

[KenLinsemanFanClub]

There's another diminutive guy who played in Spokane who had a great career in the NHL as well. Ray Whitney. No reason to think that Yamamoto won't make the team and contribute in the future even at his size.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

EDIT:

I respect what McMozesmadness does too much.

Hey McMozes, delete it in your quote.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Can we still make that joke in 2017? Are we allowed to assume his/her gender?

 

[Del Preston]

46 PIMS this year? He better work on that if he wants to win the Lady Byng over Johnny

Yamamoto has to work on his diving and crying if he wants steal the award from Johnny Hobbit.

 

[McMozesmadness]

EDIT: You saw NOTHING.

 

[McVirginOil]

Yamamoto will be an extreme hit or miss IMO, his NHLE is excellent for someone like him ~34 points BUT McDavid can boost that up a bit

He is the most extreme boom or bust in the draft, but his boom would pay the Oil handsomely (think Marchand)
Or he could be a bust (think Schremp)

His size is the only downside BUT if he is insulated by our already big lineup, he succeeds IMO, that's how Marchand succeeded.

 

[The Nuge]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's the highest scoring player in the draft (points and PPG) is he not?

McKenzie just said Yamamoto finished in the top 1% in all the strength contests at the combine.

"Don't let the size fool you" says Bob.

Sam Bennett couldn't do one pull-up. Yamamoto did 12 and finished 2nd amongst all prospects.

He finished 1st on VO2 max, and had a bunch of other impressive scores.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/2017-nhl-combine-results-top-10-drill/

Looks like the most fit kid in the draft.

1st in VO2 Max, 2nd in Pro Agility left & right, 3rd in peak power, 4th in mean power, 6th in pull-ups and 15th in bench press.

Not bad for a tiny guy.

Nice. It's not always about size. It sounds like he really gets that he's got to work for it at his size.

 

[atowalters]

Kailer Yamamoto

Really? Not a guy that was just traded?

 

[TheRebuild]

He'll be our equivalent of Johnny Gaudreau and we'll make fun of the Flames by calling him "Yammy Hockey"