Prospect Info: 2019 Draft Thread: Oilers Picking 8th

[Tobias Kahun]

If we hadn’t beat Calgary in that last meaningless game we would have won the second pick.

Same thing happened the year Kane went first, we beat the flames on the last game, passes the Hawks who won the lottery and we got Gagner instead.

That is not how the lottery works, no guarantee we would of had those numbers assigned to us

 

[Beerfish]

There is almost always one big surprise by some team in the top 10. Some team loves a guy projected outside the top 10. I would put it Hughes and the Finn and one unknown and then start the list of other 't0p 6 or 7' guys after that.

 

[dustrock]

Tweet from @BlueBullet1981: There is a bigger gap in value between 8th and 9th than between 4th and 8th with my draft model.

Honestly this is easy for the Oilers. Just pick whichever of the non-Podkolzin players are available at 8. Probably Cozens Dach or Zegras I expect.

I'm fine with any of them.

 

[Oilers in NS]

The Oilers will draft a centre and they will be RNH replacement . RNH will be trade for a winger ++ . RNH is not a 8 million dollar player and with 2 years left on his contract and his stats from this past year I can see him demanding that . I see our centres as this in the next few years .

Draisaitl McDavid XXX
Benson Pick at 8 Yamamoto
XXX McLeod Marody
Khaira Cave Kassian

XXX coming in from UFA and RNH trade .

D I think both Russell and Sekera will be gone along with Larsson . Maybe Nurse as well as he wanted too much on his last contract for what he brings

Klefbom Bouchard
Jones
Bear
Lagesson

Prospects who may be able to step into the NHL and help soon

• Kirill Maksimov. ...
• Dmitri Samorukov. ...
• Joel Persson. ...

I think you have some valid points . I'm really anxious on Maksimov. He has an edge and can score. MacLellan had him playing 4th line in camp. The year before he looked great

 

[oilynutz]

Would like to trade down and take Arthur Kaliyev. 51-51 6'2 sniper. Seems to have decent speed and hands as well.

 

[nally]

Would not surprise me at all to see Podkolzin fall to us. I think you gotta take him if he’s the BPA at that point.

I feel like this is whats going to happen. Huge boom/bust potential with him. I for one would be happy to have him. As long as he comes over...at some...point

 

[CupofOil]

Edmonton would rather trade good players at a loss than draft picks at a premium. Whoever they get at 8 is not going to be significantly good enough to help them in the next two years. If they were that good, they'd be a top 5 pick.

The NHL forward you get for that 8th overall pick will help you, immediately and in the future.

The other option is trading Nugent-Hopkins or Larsson, both of which will make the Oilers worse.

It's the 8th overall pick. Trade it. This one is easy.

I don't understand this "trade the pick" rationale.
I will pose these questions for those who so adamantly want to trade the pick....

Which team that wasn't remotely close to being a contender benefited from trading a top 10 pick?
What do you think is a suitable return for the pick? Which impact forward do you think a team will part with for a lower end top 10 pick?

You know what the last trade was involving a top 10 pick? 9th overall (Horvat) for Schneider. A now washed up goalie who didn't lead them to the playoffs once (Kinkaid was their #1 last year) for a player who is now a core member of the Canucks.
Do you remember the Reinhart trade? Oh, I remember.

I'd also add that with the expansion draft coming up, you are dealing the pick and a better player or expansion non-exempt prospect lost to Seattle because you now have to protect the new forward. For a team like the Oilers that's capped out, trading the pick is a really REALLY bad idea. Good organizations don't take the easy way out like that. They find creative ways to add good players without breaking the bank.
I'd trade the pick for somebody like Ehlers but that's not realistic so what's the solution here?

 

[780il]

1. Hughes
2. Kakko
3. Turcotte
4. Zegras
5. Byram
6. Dach
7. Krebs

Say this is how the draft board shakes out before the Oilers pick. Who do you take?

This is pretty much worst-case scenario for me with Cozens and Podkolzin still being on the board.

I think the guys I'd look at here would be York, Boldy and Heinola.

Honestly not sure who I'd take or if I'd trade down a few spots for some team desperate to get one of Cozens/Podkolzin.

Heinola though is someone that really keeps growing on me the more I watch him. So smart and so poised with the puck. His four-way mobility gives him so many options too, really deceptive player. I think he definitely has top pair upside. Most underrated prospect in this draft right now. There's a legit case to be made for him as the best D in the draft.

I'm still taking Cozens there. There is concerns about his game for sure. But he still has massive upside if he pans out and has the most out of any player remaining on the board. Easily Cozens for me.

 

[thadd]

I'm still taking Cozens there. There is concerns about his game for sure. But he still has massive upside if he pans out and has the most out of any player remaining on the board. Easily Cozens for me.

Some friends of mine watched Cozens this year and said a ton of awesome stuff. When mentioning this on a previous Oilers draft thread I was met by a few people claiming that he's the next Puljujarvi as they claim him to have no hockey sense.

I don't know what to make of that.
I'll trust the scouts.
If he's not a complete cement head I think I want him too.

Edit:

One thing I'd like to add is the fact that we're drafting 8th overall. Not 1st, 2nd or 3rd and it should be a lot easier to convince a player outside of the top 3 to the AHL route in case he does have kinks in his game that need to be worked out.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Some friends of mine watched Cozens this year and said a ton of awesome stuff. When mentioning this on a previous Oilers draft thread I was met by a few people claiming that he's the next Puljujarvi as they claim him to have no hockey sense.

I don't know what to make of that.
I'll trust the scouts.
If he's not a complete cement head I think I want him too.

Edit:

One thing I'd like to add is the fact that we're drafting 8th overall. Not 1st, 2nd or 3rd and it should be a lot easier to convince a player outside of the top 3 to the AHL route in case he does have kinks in his game that need to be worked out.

Scouts also said Puljujarvi has elite hockey sense

 

[thadd]

Scouts also said Puljujarvi has elite hockey sense

I never ever heard that.
I heard that he was a decent skater with a good shot that was good on the forecheck.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

Scouts also said Puljujarvi has elite hockey sense

The only scout ive evet me was a smug douche who drank beer and hit on my girlfriend in front of me.

He then proceded to feign professionality/confidentiality as he bragged that he was there to watch fabbri.

Needlless to say i fed him his lunch. (I did nothing)

 

[Fourier]

I don't understand this "trade the pick" rationale.
I will pose these questions for those who so adamantly want to trade the pick....

Which team that wasn't remotely close to being a contender benefited from trading a top 10 pick?
What do you think is a suitable return for the pick? Which impact forward do you think a team will part with for a lower end top 10 pick?

You know what the last trade was involving a top 10 pick? 9th overall (Schneider) for Horvat. A now washed up goalie who didn't lead them to the playoffs once (Kinkaid was their #1 last year) for a player who is now a core member of the Canucks.
Do you remember the Reinhart trade? Oh, I remember.

I'd also add that with the expansion draft coming up, you are dealing the pick and a better player or expansion non-exempt prospect lost to Seattle because you now have to protect the new forward. For a team like the Oilers that's capped out, trading the pick is a really REALLY bad idea. Good organizations don't take the easy way out like that. They find creative ways to add good players without breaking the bank.
I'd trade the pick for somebody like Ehlers but that's not realistic so what's the solution here?

Trading the pick straight up is probably a mistake. But I think they should explore options that involve the pick in a package for a possible impact player. It's unlikely to happen and should not result in an obvious over payment.

As of right now the Oilers actually line up quite well with the expansion draft. Both Nuge and Larsson are up that year which mans that one or both could have an unsigned contract in their pocket waiting to be finalized after the draft. This was something that helped a fair number of teams last time. Larsson would make the most sense in this regard as it would allow the Oilers to go the 7-3 route and still protect Klefbom, Nurse and one more defensemen.

For forwards they would protect McDavid, Leon, Nuge and a combination of Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Benson and anyone else they might add at the time. As for Lucic, if he is still with the team and won't waive it would be smarter to simply buy him out and deal with the consequences than it would be to waste an expansion slot.

All this means is that they should do what is best fro the team without really worrying about the expansion draft.

 

[Zaddy]

I never ever heard that.
I heard that he was a decent skater with a good shot that was good on the forecheck.

That is selling him short by a large margin. He was very hyped and pretty much seen to be a guaranteed top line winger.

From http://forecaster.ca/sportsnet/hockey/player.php?15998:

Owns outstanding size and terrific, game-breaking talent. Skates very well and owns a great release. Knows where to go in order to score goals. Can also be a physical presence. Is a great playmaker.

From Dobberprospects:

Jesse Puljujarvi has very good size and plays a game based on his size and strength advantages. He isn’t a huge hitter, but he uses his body to protect the puck and his strength and leverage to win board battles or to position himself in front of the net. He is excellent in the cycle game controlling the puck on the outside and looking for opportunities to pass to a teammate or to drive the net. He also is extremely skilled with soft hands, good stickhandling, and an excellent wrist shot and release. His long reach is a real asset in protecting the puck. He has all the skills to be a top power forward and goal scorer. Puljujarvi though can do it all, also playing the role of play-maker off the wing just as well. He has excellent vision and the ability to thread tape-to-tape passes through the tightest of openings. Puljujarvi has excellent hockey sense, making smart plays both with and without the puck and finding openings in the opposing defence get his shot off.

Jesse Puljujarvi is an excellent skater. He has the balance and power in his skating stride to fight through checks and take the puck to the net. Puljujarvi also has the speed and acceleration to beat defenders to the outside on the rush, or to get by them when he gets a small opportunity in the cycle game. He has good agility and can weave through traffic to create opportunities.

Puljujarvi is already a strong defensive player. He understands positioning in both ends of the ice, and works to cut down on shooting and passing lanes. He is willing to battle along the boards for loose pucks, and provides good back pressure to support his defense when playing against the rush. Puljujarvi is willing to put his body on the line to block shots as well.

From https://thehockeywriters.com/jesse-puljujarvi-the-next-ones-2016-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/:

It’s not often that players of this caliber come along, let alone three players in one draft. That is the case in this draft when you consider the big three of Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Puljujarvi. The consensus agrees that Matthews and Laine are first and second, while Puljujarvi locks down the third spot. A closer look shows that Puljujarvi can make a case for the first overall pick.
Just look at his masterful performance at the World Junior Championships that saw Puljujarvi win Top Scorer, MVP and most importantly, a gold medal. His 17 points in 12 games at the Championships paced Finland. He was the best player on the ice at both ends. His awareness and hockey IQ really stand out as major strengths. He’s not the flashy scorer of a Laine, but he is a more complete player. He also is a better skater than Laine at this point. He uses his skating to create gaps and uses his élite passing to set up open teammates.

 

[Canovin]

The Oilers will draft a centre and they will be RNH replacement . RNH will be trade for a winger ++ . RNH is not a 8 million dollar player and with 2 years left on his contract and his stats from this past year I can see him demanding that . I see our centres as this in the next few years .

Draisaitl McDavid XXX
Benson Pick at 8 Yamamoto
XXX McLeod Marody
Khaira Cave Kassian

XXX coming in from UFA and RNH trade .

D I think both Russell and Sekera will be gone along with Larsson . Maybe Nurse as well as he wanted too much on his last contract for what he brings

Klefbom Bouchard
Jones
Bear
Lagesson

Prospects who may be able to step into the NHL and help soon

• Kirill Maksimov. ...
• Dmitri Samorukov. ...
• Joel Persson. ...

I'm hoping the Oilers draft a C as well. Not that I hate him RNH but I would trade him for Spurgeon. Sign Duchene.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

That is selling him short by a large margin. He was very hyped and pretty much seen to be a guaranteed top line winger.

From http://forecaster.ca/sportsnet/hockey/player.php?15998:


From Dobberprospects:


From https://thehockeywriters.com/jesse-puljujarvi-the-next-ones-2016-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/:

IIRC you were skeptical about the JP pick?

If so, Zaddy for head scout

 

[Tobias Kahun]

I'm hoping the Oilers draft a C as well. Not that I hate him RNH but I would trade him for Spurgeon. Sign Duchene.

Sign duchene for 9m and bring in a 5m d man while losing a 6m player.

We don’t have the cap space

 

[Canovin]

The Oilers are going to get a good player at #8 regardless unless they go off board and do something stupid. It's who they draft with the 2nd round pick that I'm more concerned about

 

[Canovin]

Sign duchene for 9m and bring in a 5m d man while losing a 6m player.

We don’t have the cap space

Benning and Russell are easily movable even if you have to attach picks.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Benning and Russell are easily movable even if you have to attach picks.

I keep thinking trading Russell for Cogliano, Dallas loses a year of contract, gets a guy familiar with the organization and the Oilers get depth help on the wings

 

[Macblender]

I keep thinking trading Russell for Cogliano, Dallas loses a year of contract, gets a guy familiar with the organization and the Oilers get depth help on the wings

Why not try and swap Russell and a higher pick for a slightly lower pick in that case. You free up a full 4M to spend on a top 6 player or someone who will put up more than 20 points.

 

[MettleMcOiler]

The Oilers are going to get a good player at #8 regardless unless they go off board and do something stupid. It's who they draft with the 2nd round pick that I'm more concerned about

How about these prospects?

Jakob Pelletier
Lassi Thomson
Nils Höglander

 

[Centericedone]

I see the draft order was FIXED as usual...Top three picks to three of the biggest media markets...The Blackhawks at three is bullshit!

 

[Zaddy]

IIRC you were skeptical about the JP pick?

If so, Zaddy for head scout

I was very skeptical about JP, but in the end I placed him 3rd on my list as well. At the time I figured that so many people couldn't be wrong about Jesse, so I kind of stopped resisting. That in combination with him actually having a pretty strong finish to the season led me to believe that maybe I was wrong in my earlier judgement of him. Turns out I was not and that you should stick to your guns and most of all believe in your early viewings of a prospect. It's dangerous when you watch a player too much. You only get a first impression once and that first impression (meaning the first 2-3 viewings of a prospect) is often correct. At least that's how it's been for me so far; more viewings skews my perception of a player (whether its positively or negatively).

 

[Tobias Kahun]

I keep thinking trading Russell for Cogliano, Dallas loses a year of contract, gets a guy familiar with the organization and the Oilers get depth help on the wings

Cogliano? The guy with under 20 points this year?