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

[CornKicker]

I like the descriptions I'm reading but he does seem quite small compared to the other guy we could have picked.

Hopefully he's still got some room to bulk up a bit.

the way our team is built long term a puck moving fantastic skating dman is perfect

 

[Staghorn]

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

Uggghhhh that just made me cringe with that perm mullet of his... My wife sees him on TV guaranteed I don't get laid for a few days cuz shes so turned off.

 

[dustrock]

Wheeler said Drag's skating and weird decision-making reminded him of a lesser-skilled Bouchard at times.

Akey was a better pick for this team I think.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Love this pick. This is what people mean when they talk about a modern-day transitional defenseman.

He’ll be the guy next year in Barrie and I think he’ll thrive.

 

[ehhteen]

Here’s our Cale Makar. (Or Bouchard replacement if he asks for like $10m+ on his next contract after the bridge deal)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He reminds me of Dobson in a way

Yeah, the comparison between him and Dragicevic reminds me of Dobson and Bouchard.

Similar prospects, but very different styles.


Though watching him, it's not Dobson that comes to mind, it's (a poor man's) Niedermayer. I don't remember the last time I've see an Oiler defensive prospect look that "smooth." They've had fast skaters, sure, but there's a difference between "Fast" and "fast, but always in control.

 

[stewy04]

Everyone likes this kid! Oh oh lol.

 

[McBooya42]

Seems like a good pick, hope we grab a goalie later. Goalie depth is thin.

Are you sure? I was just in the other pick thread....

 

[Skolman]

Good name, good player.

Solid pick

 

[JeffSkinner53]

 

[Shizuka]

Decent pick, I'm a little surprised he lasted until our selection.

 

[Patch101]

Are you sure? I was just in the other pick thread....

Well, I also didn't think there would be 5 billion goalies picked, but goalies are a gamble either way.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Doesn't look like a speed demon but he does look like a smooth skating Dman with good offensive instinct

nice shot. Kinda Bouch like

 

[Dan Kelly]

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.

I'd add Benson too as he was the 2nd pick in the 2nd round! People seem to forget that we have had so-so luck in the 1st round in the last, say, 15 years and ending up with nothing for all 4 of the above players, plus the awful Griffin Reinhart trade that cost us #15 in 2015 has been a large contributing factor in the Oilers seeming continuous need for support talent for Leon and McD !

 

[Dan Kelly]

Wheeler said Drag's skating and weird decision-making reminded him of a lesser-skilled Bouchard at times.

Akey was a better pick for this team I think.

Yup, I think we fans see points and want the Oilers to automatically take players based on that and sometimes don't realize that the player we took instead may have better wheels and a more well rounded game. I have certainly done that in the past.

 

[Dan Kelly]

Are you sure? I was just in the other pick thread....

Ya cuz we've had so much success drafting goalies in the later rounds, right?

 

[McTonyBrar]

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

His skating isn't that great to be honest

 

[McAsuno]

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Well, I also didn't think there would be 5 billion goalies picked, but goalies are a gamble either way.

I feel like every team just decided to hell with it and took swings on increasingly random goalies with some size and tools that they hope can pan out.

Akey is a very good pick for that spot. He's primed for a huge year and big minutes with Brandt Clarke gone.

 

[McBooya42]

Ya cuz we've had so much success drafting goalies in the later rounds, right?

Well in that thread not too many peeps were happy with the pick, hence my post. Right?

 

[dem]

Pretty low key draft... but here's an interesting "hot take" answer about him..

MITCH BROWN: I have so many, but here’s one: The best defenceman in the draft won’t be David Reinbacher, Dmitri Simashev, or Axel Sandin Pellikka. It will be one of the toolsy/high-skill late-first and beyond players, like Tanner Molendyk or Beau Akey. I’ll say Akey. Less explosive than Molendyk but just as exceptional defending the rush. One of the best 1-on-1 defenders in the CHL – he’s suffocating out there with his mobility, stick work, and timing. And while we don’t see a ton of offence from him, the flashes are exciting: Weak side activation for one-timers, give-and-goes where he draws opponents first, and manipulation from the point. With Brandt Clarke leaving next season, maybe he gets the green light to run wild. With that mobility and those flashes, he could go off.

Also note... Tanner Molendyk is who was taken with our 1st rounder by Nashville.

 

[Broberg Speed]

fills an organizational need at RD

 

[Broberg Speed]

... but one of Bettman's teams select Dragicevic directly after our pick, soooooo

the draft is fixed, it's a safe bet to assume Dragicevic will be better.

 

[snipes]

Been busy at work, interesting that Dragicevic was still on the board and we passed on him only for him to go one pick later.

Time will tell if that was the right move.

Akey seems like he’s got some high end skating ability which is nice. Will have to go through some tape now as this is the least interested I’ve been in a draft in a long time.

 

[Broberg Speed]

The Law of Averages

Beau Akey
Ranked #48 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #32 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #38 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #61 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #43 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #62 by THE HOCKEY NEWS
Ranked #61 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #48 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #94 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #33 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #51 by HPR/SHANE MALLOY
Ranked #39 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #65 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #52 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #34 by SMAHT SCOUTING

Lukas Dragicevic
Ranked #33 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #38 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #60 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #34 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #33 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #24 by THE HOCKEY NEWS
Ranked #35 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #20 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #55 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #18 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #42 by HPR/SHANE MALLOY
Ranked #26 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #59 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #26 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #44 by SMAHT SCOUTING

Central Scouting uses NA and EU categories but if you average both players rankings you get exactly 36.46666666666667 for both defensemen.