2023 Draft - 1st Pick: Beau Akey (D)

[Dan Kelly]

Drag has serious issues. Plus with Bouch on this team, hopefully forever, we definitely don’t need Drag

Ya a lot of teams took other d-men before him I noticed. I wonder if he has some mobility issues that might not lead to a top d-man role in the NHL in the future?

Hold up, I thought we have no OHL scouts

I thought that was the Q league?

 

[McDNicks17]

 

[CycloneSweep]

The higher-rated Dragicevic goes one pick later, will be interesting to see if the Oilers got this one right.

This reminds me of the Benson pick a little bit. Picked a potentially decent guy passing on the obviously better player.

 

[McDNicks17]

This reminds me of the Benson pick a little bit. Picked a potentially decent guy passing on the obviously better player.

I would argue Dragicevic would be the Benson pick. Lots of points, but lacking NHL tools.

 

[Soli]

But you avoided the chart? lol

 

[CycloneSweep]

I would argue Dragicevic would be the Benson pick. Lots of points, but lacking NHL tools.

People said that about Debrincat too though.

At the end of the day with our track record with 2nd round picks and development in general, the pick should have been traded for help.

Hope the kid turns out.

 

[Canovin]

He reminds me of Dobson in a way

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Excellent stick, defensive aware and gap control.

There might be a hell of a transition defensive defenseman here.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

... in Staios we trust. Have to imagine the ex-Hamilton GM would have an extensive read on Akey. Most def love the Oil prioritizing defense, especially RD with puck transporting ability. Small if his offence doesn't translate. But sounds like there's a growing game with this player.

Little bit surprised they left a bigger, skill RD Dragicevic but likely more questions about his aptitude to defend. Guy had a bit of a greasy Top Prospects game visibly agitating opposition.

 

[AddyTheWrath]

Hold up, I thought we have no OHL scouts

Threw a dart blindfolded

 

[bone]

People said that about Debrincat too though.

At the end of the day with our track record with 2nd round picks and development in general, the pick should have been traded for help.

Hope the kid turns out.

Has Holland even had a 2nd round pick since coming to Edmonton, other than the first month on the job where he grabbed Lavoie?

 

[CycloneSweep]

Has Holland even had a 2nd round pick since coming to Edmonton, other than the first month on the job where he grabbed Lavoie?

I meant in general. Our amateur scouting hasn’t been good since he got here and in the last 20 years our second round picks have produced Petry and McLeod and that’s it.

Either our drafting is still bad or our development is.

 

[bone]

Has Holland even had a 2nd round pick since coming to Edmonton, other than the first month on the job where he grabbed Lavoie?

Confirmed. Interestingly this goes back a lot longer even. Edmonton has only made 3 2nd round picks since Roy in 2013. The three picks were Benson, McLeod and Lavoie. Benson was damn close but unfortunately fell short. McLeod has been a good pick and Lavoie still is showing potential to be a player.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

 

[GOilers88]

Like to see the the pretty unanimous positive reception to this pick. Don't know anything about the kid but that's rare and enough for me.

 

[Beerfish]

Tough choice between this guy and the next guy but I approve of taking an offensive puck mover with the pick.

 

[bone]

I meant in general. Our amateur scouting hasn’t been good since he got here and in the last 20 years our second round picks have produced Petry and McLeod and that’s it.

Either our drafting is still bad or our development is.

How many people currently in the Amateur Scouting group were around before 2015. I'm not sure it's wise to make decisions today based on the failings of a scouting staff 10-20 years ago and considering they've only made 3 2nd round picks in the last ten years, it's hard to say the current regime fails on 2nd round picks.

RD depth was a serious organizational hole, this hopefully helps.

 

[CycloneSweep]

How many people currently in the Amateur Scouting group were around before 2015. I'm not sure it's wise to make decisions today based on the failings of a scouting staff 10-20 years ago.

RD depth was a serious organizational hole, this hopefully helps.

For sure. But I mean, he would be like 4-6 years away from being an NHL player? We have needs now.

But whatever. The way I am looking at our draft picks now is they are all wasted until proven otherwise cause for the most part that is heavily true, even with our firsts.

Yakupov, Yamamoto, Puljujarvi busting have really hurt the org honestly and the lack of anything past the first round outside of a handful of tweeners hasn’t helped.

But that has nothing to do with this player and I wish him well.

 

[bone]

For sure. But I mean, he would be like 4-6 years away from being an NHL player? We have needs now.

But whatever. The way I am looking at our draft picks now is they are all wasted until proven otherwise cause for the most part that is heavily true, even with our firsts.

I understand he's likely years away, but really what help were we going to get for him this year that fits into our cap situation.

At this point we can hope he continues to develop, challenges for a spot on Team Canada at the WJCs and maybe he's an asset that you can convert into help for one of the next two playoff runs, or becomes so good that maybe he's in the conversation year 3 or 4.

Based on the specific situation we're in today, it appears to be a reasonable move.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I understand he's likely years away, but really what help were we going to get for him this year that fits into our cap situation.

At this point we can hope he continues to develop, challenges for a spot on Team Canada at the WJCs and maybe he's an asset that you can convert into help for one of the next two playoff runs, or becomes so good that maybe he's in the conversation year 3 or 4.

Fair. As a right d his value might actually increase a little bit

 

[Hemsky4pm2]

Beau knows.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Hold up, I thought we have no OHL scouts

Lmao I just came here to post this.

This backs up what I keep saying. Oilers had a strong scouting presence in the O this year. I saw it first hand just in one rink.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

And cue Gene with the "Akey Breaky Heart" puns.

 

[bone]

Fair. As a right d his value might actually increase a little bit

Precisely.

 

[joestevens29]

I understand he's likely years away, but really what help were we going to get for him this year that fits into our cap situation.

At this point we can hope he continues to develop, challenges for a spot on Team Canada at the WJCs and maybe he's an asset that you can convert into help for one of the next two playoff runs, or becomes so good that maybe he's in the conversation year 3 or 4.

Based on the specific situation we're in today, it appears to be a reasonable move.

Most late 2nd rounders are years away. I've went back to 2017 and there are a handful of everyday NHLers that are playing.

Really don't know why there is an expectation that anyone we drafted would be playing anytime soon. Maybe we get lucky and he is playing rather quickly. Maybe he develops well and is involved in a trade in a year or two for help, or maybe he just develops in 3-5 years and is an addition to the club at spot we are weak.