Knee Jerk reaction to the oilers draft

[Jumptheshark]

the five picks

2018 Entry	NHL Totals
Draft	Num.	Round	Player	Pos	Drafted From	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018 Entry	10	1	Evan Bouchard	D	London Knights [OHL]
2018 Entry	40	2	Ryan McLeod	C	Mississauga Steelheads [OHL]
2018 Entry	62	2	Olivier Rodrigue	G	Drummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]
2018 Entry	164	6	Michael Kesselring	D	New Hampton School (New Hamp. H.S.)
2018 Entry	195	7	Patrik Siikanen	C	Blues-2 (Finland Jrs.)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

goalie we traded for

Hayden Hawkey


My knee jerk reaction is I like the Bouchard pick and I can see the McLeod pick could pay have a huge payoff

then due to trades of picks--we get into the "project" area off drafting and trading I do not know a lot about Rodrigue and Hawkey--but since they got drafted by the oilers and both goalies I view as long term projects--might just be me. People say "Rodrigue was ranked number 1 for NA goalies" based upon stuff I read prior to the draft--this was not going to be a draft known for goalies and the fact we traded 2 picks to move up to grab him--he is the son of the oilers goalie coach? I am having flash backs to the OBC and the crap they pulled. Both Kellering and Siikanen are very long term projects and will be out of sight and out of mind for maybe 5 years--but that could be a good thing.

I give the draft a C--I think we lucked out with the guys who were available at 10 and McLeod dropping down to 40 could be good-- but it is the two goalie additions that cause me to pause --If I am not mistaken Hawkey is going back to Uni for one more year so we do not have to worry about him till August 15th 2019 when he will be a UFA and hopefully we sign him before that--and I have made it clear I am not a fab if the QJHL--it might just be me--the only positive to a goalie from that league is that he has faced a lot of pucks--it is bad D league that loves to shoot--in my opinion. For me when it comes to Q goalies ignore their GAA and pay attention to their save % and Rods save % while not bad is not that good.

For me going 100 picks between picks is hard to swollow--it is in the 3rd and 4th rounds were most teams find depth players and or draft steals and this draft I think in about 8 years times we will talk about the steals of the 3rd and 4th rounds--which were picks we traded away

I like Bouchard--only concern in his skating--but he is a big guy with a big shot and McLeod could be very good in a few years--but it is trading of picks and adding of these goalies that has me concerned

what are your guys knee jerk responses to the draft and trades today?

Click to read more...

 

[StevenF1919]

Chia didn't f*** anything up so I'm happy. Bouchard will be a hell of a player, Merkley didn't fall to the Leafs, and the Flames made an awful trade. All in all a pretty good weekend.

 

[Skolman]

The 1st three rounds does it for me, I'm very happy

 

[Cloned]

Bouchard alone makes it a B.

 

[belair]

Quality over quantity.

With their first three picks they've added their top prospect in terms of ceiling organizationally at forward, goaltender and defense.

Solid B. A was theoretically impossible to attain.

 

[McJesusSaves97]

We got 3 guys in Bob Mackenzie's top 50. He's an expert...I'm not. Sounds like a good draft to me

 

[Mr Tadakichi]

For once, Chiarelli was not a dolt.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

I don't believe in holding it against anyone for "lucking out", the cards were dealt you got to make the most out of what is there and while I'm quite happy with Bouchard it wouldn't surprise me if either one of Dobson or Wahlstrom ended up being the better or more valuable hockey players down the line, so while happy and content I'm not certain we made the best pick.

With respect to loading up on goaltenders I find it to be a rather questionable strategy. I look towards the Capitals who are probably the best current goaltending factory in the NHL and while they did draft and find their superstar goaltender, which is certainly something to covet and hold on tightly to, they've traded off multiple goalies who looked to have starting upside and didn't get great returns for the most part, the closest to a really solid return was Varlamov, but Colorado was expecting to be a much stronger team the year they traded for him and that 1st round pick wasn't projected to be that high. Generally stud goalie prospects fetch a late 1st or early 2nd rd pick in a trade, it's only your proven superstar starting goalie that can generally fetch substantially more than that. Quality goalies are simply in too high of abundance, back-ups and mid-tier goalies have negligible value, where as a top end 3rd line center can fetch a 1st round pick at the deadline, like wise for a mediocre top 4 D.

Chia has made many bad trades from an asset perspective and if you are looking to replenish organizational asset value. investing in goalies is a bad strategy. Plus we've only drafted and developed 3 starting goalies in the history of this franchise, unlike Washington it is far from an area of strength for us.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Good picks in top 3. Rest look like long bombs that might pay off big if players develop. If not no great loss. A for me, we needed a top end rt shot D. We got one and this munchkin D trend isn’t going to continue. Ours is an actual size person. Great pick.

 

[jukon]

Love the first two picks but honestly I think it's a waste for us to even think about spending assets on goalies. Leave it to Anaheim or Nashville to draft and develop top goalies. We can pick them up on waivers, sign free agents, or use picks to acquire them when they are much closer to NHL ready.

 

[MessierII]

Killed it

 

[Beerfish]

Not crazy about the 2nd round pick the rest is okay.

 

[McDrai]

It was an A for me until late in 2nd round. If you're going to draft a goalie then that's fine. But giving up your 3rd & next pick to move up a few spots to select a goalie whose Dad works for the organization? That moved it down to a B for me.

 

[Game 8]

I don't believe in holding it against anyone for "lucking out", the cards were dealt you got to make the most out of what is there and while I'm quite happy with Bouchard it wouldn't surprise me if either one of Dobson or Wahlstrom ended up being the better or more valuable hockey players down the line, so while happy and content I'm not certain we made the best pick.

With respect to loading up on goaltenders I find it to be a rather questionable strategy. I look towards the Capitals who are probably the best current goaltending factory in the NHL and while they did draft and find their superstar goaltender, which is certainly something to covet and hold on tightly to, they've traded off multiple goalies who looked to have starting upside and didn't get great returns for the most part, the closest to a really solid return was Varlamov, but Colorado was expecting to be a much stronger team the year they traded for him and that 1st round pick wasn't projected to be that high. Generally stud goalie prospects fetch a late 1st or early 2nd rd pick in a trade, it's only your proven superstar starting goalie that can generally fetch substantially more than that. Quality goalies are simply in too high of abundance, back-ups and mid-tier goalies have negligible value, where as a top end 3rd line center can fetch a 1st round pick at the deadline, like wise for a mediocre top 4 D.

Chia has made many bad trades from an asset perspective and if you are looking to replenish organizational asset value. investing in goalies is a bad strategy. Plus we've only drafted and developed 3 starting goalies in the history of this franchise, unlike Washington it is far from an area of strength for us.

Washington is not afraid of using draft currency to go after goalies either. Samsanov first round pick 2015.

 

[Aerchon]

It was an A for me until the 3rd round. If you're going to draft a goalie in the 3rd then that's fine. But giving up your 3rd & next pick to move up a few spots to select a goalie whose Dad works for the organization? That moved it down to a B for me.

Uh. We drafted him in the second round and he was the best ranked goalie in the draft. A third and a 5th for a second is a steal generally speaking and of course depending on the draft. This draft was not noted for its depth so moving up seems like a very good strategy.

 

[McShogun99]

Normally I’m nit a fan of reaching on a draft pick to draft someone’s kid that isnornwas part of the organization but in this case it was a good pick. A late second to draft the highest ranked goalie in the draft is a great deal.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

It was an A for me until the 3rd round. If you're going to draft a goalie in the 3rd then that's fine. But giving up your 3rd & next pick to move up a few spots to select a goalie whose Dad works for the organization? That moved it down to a B for me.

aye. Agreed. They could have taken Lauka and Shmid or Emberson, Jenkins and Ingham (over Kesselring).....and gotten a goalie while still adding players.

That said Chiarelli has been good at adding FA guys and trading for half-finished players so maybe going that route and taking your higher rated goalie is a decent strategy. As I said before its mostly just more boring draft-nerd wise. But the strategy might be fine with how he adds depth overall.

 

[McDrai]

Uh. We drafted him in the second round and he was the best ranked goalie in the draft. A third and a 5th for a second is a steal generally speaking and of course depending on the draft. This draft was not noted for its depth so moving up seems like a very good strategy.

My bad, last pick of the 2nd round haha. I would have preferred another forward or dman with our 3rd rounder, considering this draft was pretty weak in terms of goalies. There were a lot of great specs still on the board. Oh well, i just have to hope that the daddy pick works out.

 

[FlameChampion]

I give it a B.

I watched the Lowetide draft radio special on tsn and they mentioned that the Oilers drafted for need instead of bpa. They believed that Wahlstrom was the bpa. The majority of media scout lists have Dobson and Bouchard over Wahlstrom.

I have also heard that after Svechnikov, theres alot of gray in the draft and not much separation. I think ehen you look at Hughes, Dobson, Bouchard and Boqvist theres a question mark with all of them. And based on how the draft went, it did seem like a lot of gray. Bouchard checks all the boxes for the Oilers. I think hes a good fit. I don’t think it was a reach.

This will be an interesting draft to look at in 3 years. Some teams will look good. Some will look foolish.

I don’t have a problem with McLeod pick. Seems like he has a lot of upside and at worst he should be a serviceable player. Every player in round 2 has some warts. Hes only 18. I know theres some question marks about compete level, but he seems like a good kid. He was one of the highest rated kids left and the Oilers didn’t overthink the pick.

Rodrigue was the number 1 rated goaltender in a weaker goalie draft class. Didnt really like tossing in the extra pick but Chiarelli after day 1 made a comment about the draft not having much depth. If they moved up because Rodrigue was highest player on their board and no cluster of players around him, I think its a good move. Goaltending is the most important position in the league and Oilers are starting to build a pipeline. Picking goaltenders isnt sexy but I think its probably a smart move. Seems like most people had more of a problem with the pick because his dad works for the Oilers. I understand that but its not like they really reached to get him.

The 6th and 7th round picks are projects but that should be expected.

I personally would of liked more picks. More bullets to hit the mark. But I have no issues with the first 3 picks.

 

[bucks_oil]

Oh well, i just have to hope that the daddy pick works out.

Haha... can’t win around here. I remember people complaining (in advance) that we’d be making an OBC daddy pick.

The armchairs complainers were wrong that time and it’s too bad... Debrusk would look pretty darn good in Oilers silks.

 

[McDrai]

Haha... can’t win around here. I remember people complaining (in advance) that we’d be making an OBC daddy pick.

The armchairs complainers were wrong that time and it’s too bad... Debrusk would look pretty darn good in Oilers silks.

Like I said, I was very pleased with the draft up to that point. There were a lot of talented players on the board with our original 3rd rounder (Nordgren, Lauko, Khovanov, SDA) that I would have preferred instead of trading up and losing a later pick to select a goalie whose Dad is employed by the organization. I wouldn't have been too pissed off if we just selected him with our 3rd but to go out of our way to move up and draft him while losing an extra pick really bugged me. It just seemed like one of those "convenience" picks to me instead of picking the best player.

 

[Ck1]

Love the first two picks but honestly I think it's a waste for us to even think about spending assets on goalies. Leave it to Anaheim or Nashville to draft and develop top goalies. We can pick them up on waivers, sign free agents, or use picks to acquire them when they are much closer to NHL ready.

Then all were ever going to get are good to very good goalies. The great goalies price,quick,Rinne to name a few will never be dealt until they have run there coarse and are past there time. We will continue to have to pick up teams back up goalies. But by having a few in the system and developing them we could end up with the next great goalie. No different then the rhd hard to aquire so better to draft and develop imo

 

[PKSpecialist]

I'm giving the Oilers draft a C. That makes it very average. Getting Bouchard and McLeod with the first two picks should have made this draft an A, but I knock it down to a C and here's my rationale.

1. D- Evan Bouchard Getting Bouchard is awesome because we didn't think he'd be available, and he fills a need, but so would have Dobson. I'm disappointed in getting Bouchard only because Dobson was left. In the end, I like the prospect a lot, just not the pick between the two players. B+
2. C - Ryan McLeod A very good value pick at this point in the draft. A first round talent, great skater. Great pick. I may have doubled down on right handed defenders here and went with Bode Wilde, or maybe taken Akil Thomas, but I'm not in the least disappointed in this pick. A+
3. G - Olivier Rodrigue I like Rodrigue, and I know many had him rated as the top goalie in the draft, but there's only one reason this pick isnt an absolute fail for me, and that's Rodrigue himself. He is a quality goaltending prospect. That said, we did the same thing last year, trading 2 picks to move up for Skinner when lots of good goaltending prospects were still on the board. In my opinion, Skarek remains the top goalie prospect from this draft, he was still on the board and we traded up and took a lesser prospect. Just like last year when Ian Scott was still on the board and we traded up and took Skinner. Even if you like Rodrigue over Skarek, or Skinner over Scott, the argument remains, with such evenly ranked prospects still on the board, why waste two assets to acquire one? Getting Rodrigue at 71 I would give this pick a solid B, but trading two picks for one and taking him at 62....nope. D-
4. D - Michael Kesselring Has the raw physical tools that are required to be an NHL defender. Good skater and good instincts. He obviously needs seasoning, but at this point in the draft it's the kind of pick a team should make. A
5. C - Patrik Siikanen Skilled winger with some good offensive prowess. Another good value pick in the 7th round, but I would have liked to see them take a chance on Nando Eggenberger or Ryan Chyzowski here. A very 'blah' type pick, but its the 7th round. C

Again, it's a good draft and they added 5 good prospects to the mix and three very good ones. I just think they could have done just as well without making a 2 for one trade to move up. Not disappointed with the outcome of who we got, just disappointed with missing Dobson and the approach used by trading, that's why it's a C for me.

 

[PaPaDee]

Overall, quite pleased. I was really hoping we’d get one of Bouchard or Dobson, but thought we’d have to trade up to get that chance. The only negative was trading up to draft a goalie. Overall, quite happy.

 

[SourOil]

Bouchard made the most sense - it was the right pick.

I had a hard time watching them pass on Wahlstrom. I think he would have been a nice fit here too.

I am a little concerned about McLeods reported compete level. But perimeter players with speed have their place in the game too. I am hoping he proves everyone that passed on him wrong.

Not familiar enough with the talent that was available when they picked up the goalie. Have to trust that scouts had him high up. There must be a pedigree they see to move up for him. Just bad optics with his dad working for the club.

 

[Stud Muffin]

Bouchard-A+
McLeod-A
Rodrigue-B
Kesselring-D-
Siikanen-D

I’ll give it a B, I’m pretty disappointed with the lack of bullets Chiarelli gave Gretzky,Green and the rest of the scouts, not impressed with them going walkabout in the 6th and 7th either especially considering there lack of picks.

 

[Mr Positive]

The reason why Bouchard will do amazing here is that he fits right in. We have lots of Dmen who are good at defense with good two-way games. They can cover Bouchard's problems, and will be feeding him pucks all the time. That's why he was by far the better pick over Dobson