Soli
Supervision Required
- Sep 8, 2005
- 21,999
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Never too early to talk draft, right?
This is not a thread to complain about the Oilers standings in the 2018-2019 season. This is a thread to discuss the 2019 NHL Entry Draft from an Oilers-centric view point. We got a good group of draft nerds and it makes us all smarter when we geek out together.
A quick and dirty glance at the prospect pool:
CENTER: R. McLeod, C. Marody, J. Gambradella, A. Rasanen, G. McPhee
LEFT WING: T. Benson, O. Safin
RIGHT WING: K. Yamamoto, K. Maksimov, C. Hebig, P. Russell
LEFT DEFENSE: C. Jones, W. Lagesson, D. Samorukov, D. Simpson, M. Niemalainen
RIGHT DEFENSE: E. Bouchard, E. Bear, F. Berglund, J. Persson, J. Marino, P. Kemp, R. Mantha (?)
GOALTENDER: S. Skinner, D. Wells, O. Rodrigue, H. Hawkey, S. Starrett
- Netminders - well stocked, and we technically used our 5th rounder on a goaltender already. Think we should spend bullets on other positions for a draft!
- Right Handed Shots - Where offense flows througn 97 & 29, it's important to have an abundance of right hander shooters to capitalize on their setups. The Washington & Winnipeg powerplays with an array of RH shots is something I dream of.
- Top-6 Offensive Center Depth - I think we're thin down the middle with offensive potential. Even with elite depth on the big club, good organizations have good depth down the middle of the depth chart. In general, the forwards could use more offensive Top-6 projections.
- The Blueline - The Leftorium is closed. If anything we need to add a left handed defensemen but they are more plentiful. What the blueline could use is more elite and projected Top-4 stock.
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Doing some quick reconnaissance, it looks like a forward heavy 1st round upon early glance. The WHL is going to be heavily involved after a light year in 2018. The USNTDP will be well represented and boast Jack Hughes.
A pretty decent early 1st round ranking is provided here:
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I know absolutely nothing, but I shall share what I know:
Jack Hughes (USNTDP) - first and foremost, this is the Jack Hughes draft. Franchise center. Elite everything in a 5'10 package.
Alex Turcotte (USNTDP) - Will be playing behind Hughes and not get the shine he deserves from it. An all situational center.
Cole Caufield (USNTDP) - diminutive 5’6 RHF is electric
Spencer Knight (USNTDP) - 6’3 goalie was huge at the U18s
Alexander Newhook (BCHL) - Said to be better than Jost & Turris in their BCHL seasons. A Boston College commit; Halifax also owns his CHL rights.
Kaapo Kakko (Liiga) - The top Finnish entry is a 6'1 LHF.
Anttoni Honka (Liiga) - 5’10 RD, better than his brother, better #s than Heiskanen at his age.
Maxim Cajkovic (SHL) - 5’11 Slovakian, ripped up U18s great skater, pace, onetimer
Raphael Lavoie (QMJHL) - 6’3 RW PWF with great hands
Jakob Pelletier (QMJHL) - 5'9 forward was 9% of Moncton’s offense as rookie.
Ryan Suzuki (OHL) - Barrie Colts, High Hockey IQ, Speed and playmaking. finds soft areas in coverage
Arthur Kaliyev (OHL) - Hamilton Bulldog, dual citizen RUS/USA, Mega Sniper LH, PWF
Peyton Krebs (WHL) - Kootenay 5’11, Okotoks native, makes plays at top speed, PLY, LW
Dylan Cozens (WHL) - Lethbridge Hurricane 6’3 Forward, hard-driving skilled PWF. RHC
Kirby Dach (WHL) - Saskatoon Blade 6’4 good skater high IQ , Fort Sask. native. RHC
Nolan Foote (WHL) - Kelowna Rocket 6’3, bloodlines, anticipates play well, good shot, stalled?
Bowen Byram (WHL) - Vancouver Giant, 5’11 2-way top dman entry. Transition and Smarts.
Matthew Robertson (WHL) - Edmonton Oil King 6’2 LHD, the local rub. Sherwood Park native.
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Don't know much about the draft but on first look I'm glad we picked a great RHD prospect last draft. We're likely going to score a forward in this 1st round this year. Even though we could probably use a more guaranteed Top-6 left handed forward in the prospect pool, I'm drawn towards stocking the cupboard with righties. Going to be keeping an eye on hometown(ish) boy Kirby Dach and Raphael Lavoie. I know people scoff at the Oilers and the BCHL, but Alex Newhook looks pretty dynamic. Don't know much about the Oil King's Matthew Robertson but I'm sure I'll become well informed over the next year.
Who are you interested in for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft?
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