Prospect Info: The 2016 Draft Thread [Draft Lottery April 30th]

[OilTastic]

i wonder if the Oilers might be able to pry Faulk out of Carolina? one of the media wags on TSN radio made an off comment the other day about how the guy is not happy in Carolina or some such thing?

 

[McWeber]

i wonder if the Oilers might be able to pry Faulk out of Carolina? one of the media wags on TSN radio made an off comment the other day about how the guy is not happy in Carolina or some such thing?

That sounds too good to be true. I wonder what issue Faulk would have there?

 

[MoneyGuy]

I'd be totally embarrassed to get another of several firsts overall.

But bring on Matthews. I can take the embarrassment.

 

[Delicious Pancakes]

I get that fans here might be embarrassed if the Oilers win the lotto again this year. I would be too.

But frankly I don't care that much about how embarrassed I would feel. Winning the lotto gives the Oilers the best asset to help shape the team. At the draft the pre draft shine on all of the 1-2-3 picks will be at its peak. GMs will have the full attention of their head of amateur scouting and they will be told comparisons like Eichel->Matthews. Talk like that, combined with the exemption of the picks this season from expansion and cost control for years. Some GM that didn't make the playoffs will off up a 1D for Matthews, maybe with some kind of add. OEL, Petro and Faulk could possibly be legit targets for him.

Well fwiw Chia said if the Oilers get #1 overall they're not trading that pick. GMs of course have been known to lie, and if a big enough offer came along he probably pulls the trigger.

I think St. Louis if they crumble in the playoffs again would be most likely to overpay for Matthews. They probably look to move on from Backes and Matthews can slot in there. Maybe you get Pietro or Shattenkirk plus another piece possibly and the rights to Backes. If they signed Backes the Oilers could then turn around and move RNH for more blueline help if they wanted although I'm not sure Backes would sign here.

The Coyotes aren't trading OEL. That's a pipe dream by people assuming Arizona would bend over to get Matthews. I would also be surprised if Carolina moved Faulk.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

All I will say is this, if you draft Matthews, you better make some big changes to this team. Hall, RNH, Eberle, Yakupov maybe even Drai. None of them safe, fix the mess!

 

[Joey Moss]

i wonder if the Oilers might be able to pry Faulk out of Carolina? one of the media wags on TSN radio made an off comment the other day about how the guy is not happy in Carolina or some such thing?

If Faulk is actually unhappy in Carolina, we need to do everything we can to get him. Whether that means moving our 1st, or Hall, you have to do it. Carolina would want to move him to the West and for something of equal value going back. We would be one of the few teams capable of offering that. Say Hamonic is still a possibility, and you can also get Faulk that's two top end defenseman with fantastic contracts. Dream scenario if possible.

You go the 4-4 route in expansion.. protect Klefbom, Hamonic, Faulk, Sekera, Draisaitl, RNH, Hall/xxx, xxx

Then I woke up.

 

[Tarus]

i wonder if the Oilers might be able to pry Faulk out of Carolina? one of the media wags on TSN radio made an off comment the other day about how the guy is not happy in Carolina or some such thing?

If that were true, the Oilers would have to jump on that.

Carolina is about to lose their top line center, Oilers have an extra center around that would probably be a better fit in the eastern conference, might be a deal there. Hopefully something could be worked out there if things ever moved to that point, we have Faulk's old defensive partner in Sekera too.

 

[McJadeddog]

I get that fans here might be embarrassed if the Oilers win the lotto again this year. I would be too.

But frankly I don't care that much about how embarrassed I would feel. Winning the lotto gives the Oilers the best asset to help shape the team. At the draft the pre draft shine on all of the 1-2-3 picks will be at its peak. GMs will have the full attention of their head of amateur scouting and they will be told comparisons like Eichel->Matthews. Talk like that, combined with the exemption of the picks this season from expansion and cost control for years. Some GM that didn't make the playoffs will off up a 1D for Matthews, maybe with some kind of add. OEL, Petro and Faulk could possibly be legit targets for him.

i know you are just giving examples of the "type of player" that may be available, so this is not directed at you.... but there is no way that i trade matthews for petro or faulk.... it would have to be an overpay for me to move the #1, so something like OEL, or karlsson, or subban, or josi or something like that.... additionally, they would have to be signed long term for a decent cap hit.... so in other words, there would be very few players that would fit the mold... in fact i'd likely remove subban from the conversation as i think he's overpaid, and maybe OEL as well, as he's only signed for 3 more years

 

[McJadeddog]

If that were true, the Oilers would have to jump on that.

Carolina is about to lose their top line center, Oilers have an extra center around that would probably be a better fit in the eastern conference, might be a deal there. Hopefully something could be worked out there if things ever moved to that point, we have Faulk's old defensive partner in Sekera too.

what center are they about to lose?

 

[McJadeddog]

If Faulk is actually unhappy in Carolina, we need to do everything we can to get him. Whether that means moving our 1st, or Hall, you have to do it. Carolina would want to move him to the West and for something of equal value going back. We would be one of the few teams capable of offering that. Say Hamonic is still a possibility, and you can also get Faulk that's two top end defenseman with fantastic contracts. Dream scenario if possible.

You go the 4-4 route in expansion.. protect Klefbom, Hamonic, Faulk, Sekera, Draisaitl, RNH, Hall/xxx, xxx

Then I woke up.

to be honest, i'd rather just get one of hamonic/faulk, and protect more players in the expansion draft... if klefbom can miraculously recover from his injury, the defence would be something along the lines of:

klefbom-hamonic/faulk
davidson-sekera
nurse-fayne
gryba/reinhart

while that isn't an all-star defence, it's likely good enough to make a playoff push

 

[MessierII]

to be honest, i'd rather just get one of hamonic/faulk, and protect more players in the expansion draft... if klefbom can miraculously recover from his injury, the defence would be something along the lines of:

klefbom-hamonic/faulk
davidson-sekera
nurse-fayne
gryba/reinhart

while that isn't an all-star defence, it's likely good enough to make a playoff push

I don't agree. That defence is still terrible let alone when some injuries inevitably occur.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

i wonder if the Oilers might be able to pry Faulk out of Carolina? one of the media wags on TSN radio made an off comment the other day about how the guy is not happy in Carolina or some such thing?

We'd need to be all over that. Adding Faulk and Hamonic would make us a playoff team.

You'd think that they'd ask for Drai or the 1st or 1st + depending on the pick for Faulk. I'd hate to part with Drai, I think that I'd rather deal the 1st than Drai at this point.

 

[McJadeddog]

We'd need to be all over that. Adding Faulk and Hamonic would make us a playoff team.

You'd think that they'd ask for Drai or the 1st or 1st + depending on the pick for Faulk. I'd hate to part with Drai, I think that I'd rather deal the 1st than Drai at this point.

i'd rather deal drai than the 1st overall, as we have to protect drai in the expansion draft, while matthews would be auto-protected.... if by some miracle you could get faulk for drai and hamonic for eberle... you could protect the 8 skaters as: faulk, hamonic, sekera, klefbom (if recovered), hall, RNH, maroon, pouliot, davidson (if klefbom is not recovered)... mcdavid, nurse, and matthews are auto-protected.... the unprotected one of davidson/klefbom likely gets claimed ... for the example below i'll pretend davidson gets claimed

hall-RNH-kassian
pouliot-mcdavid-yakupov
maroon-matthews-pakarinen
korpikoski-letestu-hendricks
lander

klefbom-faulk
sekera-hamonic
nurse-fayne
gryba

talbot


that would be a playoff team, or at least should be

 

[McJadeddog]

in reference to my two posts above... i don't think that the following defence (which would require trading drai and eberle):

klefbom-faulk
sekera-hamonic
nurse-fayne
gryba

is significantly better than this defence:

klefbom-hamonic
davidson-sekera
nurse-fayne
gryba

which would only require trading eberle, and maybe losing pouliot in the expansion draft.... the difference between davidson and faulk + losing pouliot isn't worth losing drai in my opinion... pouliot is replaceable on the UFA market, drai isn't

 

[40oz]

I'd be totally embarrassed to get another of several firsts overall.

But bring on Matthews. I can take the embarrassment.

It's funny how the Oilers keep finding new rock bottoms

At this point I think we can be all be pretty damn proud of how resilient Oilers fans are.

 

[PKSpecialist]

In an attempt to return this thread to discussing prospects rather than trades, here are my top 15 goaltenders for this draft. For the record, I watch a pile of hockey. Lots of WHL live, but many leagues and players specifically online. I don't care about the consensus that is out there as that is other people's opinion. I do study the consensus and use it to help my rankings, especially when comparing players in different leagues and against different comepetition, but I make my rankings based off of my personal viewings while taking into account the opinion of people I trust.

1. Evan Fitzpatrick - 6'2, 223 - Sherbrooke Phoenix - Big, smooth and smart. Has the highest ceiling of any goaltender in the draft in this observer's opinion.
2. Mikhail Berdin - 6'2,163 Team Russia U18 - Patient, composed and technically sound.
3. Carter Hart - 6'1,170 - Everett Silvertips - Technically sound and fantastic positional play.
4. Jack LaFontaine - 6'2,185 - Janesville Jets - Shows off fantastic athleticism and is a big time sleeper in this draft.
5. Filip Gustavsson - 6'2,185 - Lulea HF - Shows incredible focus while making himself look big.
6. Evan Cormier - 6'3,201 - Saginaw Spirit - Improving technically while struggling statistically on a poor team.
7. Zachary Sawchenko - 6'1,179 - Moose Jaw Warriors - Solid technical goalie has the ability to track the puck and take away the bottom of the net.
8. Niilo Halonen - 6'2,165 - Jokerit U20 - Excellent reflexes and mobility but struggles with rebound control.
9. Joseph Woll - 6'3,196 - US NTDP - Big netminder stays square and has loads of potential.
10. Dylan Wells - 6'2,183 - Peterborough Petes - Smoothest off all the goalies in the draft. He passes the eye test of what you want in a netminder, but hasn't put together the mental game yet.
11. Vladislav Sukachev - 5'10,181 - Team Russia U18 - Incredible reflexes, agility and recovery ability, but size will hold him back.
12. Adam Brizgala - 6'0,209 - HC Sparta Praha U20 - Big, mobile goaltender needs to stay healthy.
13. Tyler Parsons - 6'1,185 - London Knights - Solid positionally and good at tracking the puck but doesn't really wow you oion the crease.
14. Severi Isokangas - 6'1,187 - Karpat U20 - Excellent mobility and lower net coverage to go along with an aggressive nature.
15. Stephen Dhillon - 6'4,181 -Niagara Ice Dogs - The youngest draft eligible goalie is smart and sound technically, but athleticism is average.

I know a lot of people around here think that we shouldn't draft a goalie, but the truth is that drafting goalies in the top 3 rounds is almost a must at some point. Somewhere in my history is a post breaking down the top 40 or so goalies in the NHL and where they were drafted. All I know is that a big portion of the good goalies in the NHL were drafted with a top 90 pick. There are some late round gems just like with any other position. I want to see the Oilers take a goalie with one of our first 3 picks. Sure, he will take 5 years to develop, but the draft is about the future.

 

[Zaddy]

In an attempt to return this thread to discussing prospects rather than trades, here are my top 15 goaltenders for this draft. For the record, I watch a pile of hockey. Lots of WHL live, but many leagues and players specifically online. I don't care about the consensus that is out there as that is other people's opinion. I do study the consensus and use it to help my rankings, especially when comparing players in different leagues and against different comepetition, but I make my rankings based off of my personal viewings while taking into account the opinion of people I trust.

1. Evan Fitzpatrick - 6'2, 223 - Sherbrooke Phoenix - Big, smooth and smart. Has the highest ceiling of any goaltender in the draft in this observer's opinion.
2. Mikhail Berdin - 6'2,163 Team Russia U18 - Patient, composed and technically sound.
3. Carter Hart - 6'1,170 - Everett Silvertips - Technically sound and fantastic positional play.
4. Jack LaFontaine - 6'2,185 - Janesville Jets - Shows off fantastic athleticism and is a big time sleeper in this draft.
5. Filip Gustavsson - 6'2,185 - Lulea HF - Shows incredible focus while making himself look big.
6. Evan Cormier - 6'3,201 - Saginaw Spirit - Improving technically while struggling statistically on a poor team.
7. Zachary Sawchenko - 6'1,179 - Moose Jaw Warriors - Solid technical goalie has the ability to track the puck and take away the bottom of the net.
8. Niilo Halonen - 6'2,165 - Jokerit U20 - Excellent reflexes and mobility but struggles with rebound control.
9. Joseph Woll - 6'3,196 - US NTDP - Big netminder stays square and has loads of potential.
10. Dylan Wells - 6'2,183 - Peterborough Petes - Smoothest off all the goalies in the draft. He passes the eye test of what you want in a netminder, but hasn't put together the mental game yet.
11. Vladislav Sukachev - 5'10,181 - Team Russia U18 - Incredible reflexes, agility and recovery ability, but size will hold him back.
12. Adam Brizgala - 6'0,209 - HC Sparta Praha U20 - Big, mobile goaltender needs to stay healthy.
13. Tyler Parsons - 6'1,185 - London Knights - Solid positionally and good at tracking the puck but doesn't really wow you oion the crease.
14. Severi Isokangas - 6'1,187 - Karpat U20 - Excellent mobility and lower net coverage to go along with an aggressive nature.
15. Stephen Dhillon - 6'4,181 -Niagara Ice Dogs - The youngest draft eligible goalie is smart and sound technically, but athleticism is average.

I know a lot of people around here think that we shouldn't draft a goalie, but the truth is that drafting goalies in the top 3 rounds is almost a must at some point. Somewhere in my history is a post breaking down the top 40 or so goalies in the NHL and where they were drafted. All I know is that a big portion of the good goalies in the NHL were drafted with a top 90 pick. There are some late round gems just like with any other position. I want to see the Oilers take a goalie with one of our first 3 picks. Sure, he will take 5 years to develop, but the draft is about the future.

I don't mind taking a goalie with a top90 selection as long as it's someone that you really believe in and not just because you feel like you ought to take a goalie there. If you can get the guy that you really want then I think it's a very good idea. For me, that guy would be Berdin. Haven't seen him much but from what I've read and heard about him he really feels like a potential future starter in the NHL. Seems like he might be the next great goalie prospect from Russia after Vasilevski and Samsonov. I hope he plays at the U18's, I'll watch him more closely then.

 

[Jumptheshark]

it will be a long 34 days till the lotto

 

[Tarus]

what center are they about to lose?

Eric Staal. They already lost him of course, but he's been so invisible in NY that he might as well still be in Carolina.

I was talking to a friend who lives out in Carolina though, they are talking about making Faulk the captain. From what I've heard about the media guys talking about things down there and the lack of anything about Faulk being unhappy, I doubt he's on the move.

 

[McJadeddog]

Eric Staal. They already lost him of course, but he's been so invisible in NY that he might as well still be in Carolina.

I was talking to a friend who lives out in Carolina though, they are talking about making Faulk the captain. From what I've heard about the media guys talking about things down there and the lack of anything about Faulk being unhappy, I doubt he's on the move.

ah okay, i thought you meant somebody currently on the team

 

[Stud Muffin]

I want Laine to be an Oiler so bad.

 

[oil Leaks]

I want Laine to be an Oiler so bad.

Laine or Puljujarvi would be a nice addition, especially on the PP

 

[snipes]

I want Laine to be an Oiler so bad.

Same. I was watching some of his highlights from this season. What a shot! He's got an elite level NHL shot right now. 6'4 and can lay the body when required.

He would be great as a trigger man for McDavid or Drai.

I think if we get #1 or #2 we keep it, unless we get a fair offer that gives us a Dman in the Petro/OEL category coming back (this is very unlikely to happen) as a starting point.

 

[BarDownBobo]

Laine or Puljujarvi would be a nice addition, especially on the PP

I kid of course, but the idea of the Finns flanking McJesus for the next 15 years

 

[Jejune]

I'm not so concerned about where we end up.

All of Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi, Chychrun, Dubois, Juolevi and Sergachyev can play significant roles on this team and will likely be impact players. I think chances are we'll end up with one of these guys.

Tkachuk I'm not so excited about.