Soli
Supervision Required
- Sep 8, 2005
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Never too early to talk draft, right?
This is not a thread to complain about the Oilers standings in the 2019-2020 season. This is a thread to discuss the 2020 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: C. Marody, R. McLeod, A. Rasanen, G. McPhee, T. Mazura
LEFT WING: T. Benson, J. Gambradella, O. Safin, M. Blumel
RIGHT WING: K. Yamamoto, R. Lavoie, K. Maksimov, P. Russell, C. Hebig,
LEFT DEFENSE: P. Broberg, D. Samorukov, C. Jones, W. Lagesson
RIGHT DEFENSE: E. Bouchard, E. Bear, J. Persson, F. Berglund, J. Marino, P. Kemp, M. Kesselring
GOALTENDER: S. Starrett, S. Skinner, D. Wells, O. Rodrigue, I. Konovalov
- Netminders - For a team without stability in net, I understand the bullets, but if we use a 3rd rounder on another goalie in back-to-back-to-back drafts, I will be less understanding.
- Top-6 Offensive Forwards - An organizational drought. Need to improve our stock of forwards that can project as Top-6 Forwards at the next level.
- The Blueline - The Leftorium was reopened. We could use more projected solid Top-4 RHD stock and it'd always be nice to add a stud top pairing potential calibre defenseman of any handedness to finally fawn over in the prospect pool.
- Stop Throwing Away Later Round Bullets Rant - You look back at the past 5 years or so of drafts and there's something to be said about sticking to the CHL. We've wasted plenty of bullets on walkabouts in Russia & Europe or players going to college with little promise. Hell, even our college prospects that track well don't want to sign with us (Nash, Desharnais, Hawkey, whispers of Marino). Our most successful picks in rounds 4-7? CHL picks tracking well like Maksimov, Wells, Bear, Jones, Davidson, etc. Sorry Lagesson, I love you.
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Quick recon of the projected highlights of the 2020 class, we’re looking at a draft with plenty of offensive forward talent. The OHL rebounds in a big way and Sweden looks to have a Tre Kronor of stud wingers. Contenders will emerge from those leagues, but the current projected #1 resides in the QMJHL. If you care about that sort of thing, this is likely the year that a Canadian will be the 1st OV pick, first since McDavid in 2015.
Future Considerations is on top of things and has an early 2020 Rankings:
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I know absolutely nothing, but I shall share what I know:
LW Alexis Lafreniere (QMJHL) - The projected #1 pick. Left wing, likely not a center at the next level.
LC Quinton Byfield (OHL) - Big complete package center. I think he’ll end up being a challenger for 1OV
RW Lucas Raymond (SHL) - Electrifying dynamic winger can create and finish. Hockey IQ through the roof. Gamebreaker.
RW Alexander Holtz (SHL) - Same boat as Lucas, dynamic winger a threat to score every game, was the cream of the Swedish crop until he was usurped this season.
RW Noel Gunler (SHL) - Gunler’s a pure sniper, a few months older than Holtz and a lil more polish to his game.
LC Anton Lundell (Liiga) - Being compared to Barkov, whispers of being NHL ready come his draft.
LC Cole Perfetti (OHL) Otten: Marner-esque in the way he controls the pace in the offensive end
LC Tim Stutzle (DEL) The German product is garnering massive talk. TBD where he’s playing next season, eligible for import draft?
RD Jamie Drysdale (OHL) 6’0 RHD. Otten: Drysdale has everything you look for in a future number one defender at the next level; tremendous mobility, puck skill, poise, vision, and positioning. Right up there with the likes of Drew Doughty and Ryan Ellis as some of the best 16 year old defenders I've seen in the OHL.
RD Justin Barron (QMJHL) Speaking of defenseman, 6’2 RHD is a fluid effortless skater, puck carrier, hockey IQ, strong on the boards.
LC Marco Rossi (OHL) - Austrian import is undersized, but ripped up the OHL, skilled, creative, dangerous, excellent ES producer
RC Joel Perrault (OHL) - 30 goals as a 16 year old. Quick strike, fearless game.
LC Jean Luc Foudy (OHL) - Brother of Liam, also a speed demon, excellent primary assist playmaker.
LW Antonio Stranges (OHL) - Hands are electric, wizard with the puck, impressive edge work, got a bit lost in the London shuffle. Fun to watch.
LC Connor Zary (WHL) - Was a driving force and Jason Williams clutch down the stretch for the Blazers willing them into the playoffs. Capped off with a strong U18 showing.
RD Braden Schneider (WHL) - 6’2 mobile 2-way defenseman, crisp outlets, good defensive positioning on rush
LD Kaiden Guhle (WHL) - 6’3 LHD Sherwood Park native. Brendan’s brother. Great mobility, poise, hockey IQ.
LC Dylan Holloway (AJHL) - Has been getting press recently with his rights traded to the Savoie & Krebs show in Winnipeg. The trade to the Ice has not made him reconsider his commitment as of now. The Calgarian plays for the Okotoks Oilers.
LC Hendrix Lapierre (QMJHL) - slick playmaker won QMJHL offensive rookie of the year.
RW Dawson Mercer (QMJHL) - Nygard got lifetime mozzarella sticks, can you imagine the side deal Mercer would get in Edmonton? 30G scorer in the Q last year.
G Yaroslav Askarov (MHL) -The next touted premiere goaltender. More highly regarded than Spencer Knight?
LD Jake Sanderson (USDP) - Geoff Sanderson’s kid. Mobile PMD has the strong work ethic of a kid of an NHLer.
RW Kasper Simontaival (Liiga) - Creative & dynamic offense.
RW Daniil Gushchin (MHL) - Top Russian winger shoots left. More than doubled Afanasyev’s point total at the same age with the Lumberjacks (no context of TOI or GP!)
LW Jan Mysak (Czech) - Young for the draft class and already playing against men in the highest Czech league.
LW Jake Neighbours (WHL) - The Edmonton Oil King rub.
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Going to be keeping an eye on hometown(ish) boy Kirby Dach and Raphael Lavoie.
Something I said last year at this time. A week ago I may have wrote something about being okay with looking at an Oil King with our 2nd rounder in 2020 (Jake Neighbours), but after seeing McLeod and Lavoie fall to us in successive draft years, must dream bigger. Let's put my powers of premonition to good use. Any of Sweden's stud wingers would be an unfortunate dream of a nightmare season, so I'll look on the bright side and keep an eye on Joel Perrault and Jean Luc Foudy. After a down year in 2019, 2020 may boast some top pairing calibre RHD available in the 1st, and I'd love to add Jamie Drysdale or Justin Barron to the prospect pool.
Who are you interested in for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft?
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Finally, we had about 7 Draft Threads last cycle, so that means we need ~4 names for stages of life to join "Premature" and "Adolescence". Discuss!
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