Who do you Pick at 10th Overall

[ConnorMcMullet]

Assuming the top 9 is Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zadina, Boqvist, Hughes, Dobson, Bouchard, Wahlstrom, and Tkachuk, which seems to be the overall consensus right now.

I'm not a fan of Ty Smith and we're packed at LHD with Klefbom, Nurse, Sekera, and Russell. I really question his upside at the NHL level.

That said, my two preferences are Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Barrett Hayton. Kotkaniemi has the skill worthy of being a top 5 pick, and just keeps getting better. The Finnish connection with Puljujarvi could also help both of their developments. Hayton just screams, Bergeron to me. He works his ass off every shift and is great defensively. Watching the Bruins and how Bergeron's defensive prowess helps Pastrnak play his game makes me think of how McDavid could benefit playing with him. Both of them were probably the best players on their teams at the U18s.

Both can also play on the wing. A top 6 of this looks great in a couple of years:

RNH - McDavid - Kotkaniemi/Hayton
Puljujarvi - Draisaitl - Yamamoto

At the moment I'm leaning Kotkaniemi. Who do you pick?

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[Markham30]

Assuming the top 9 is Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zadina, Boqvist, Hughes, Dobson, Bouchard, Wahlstrom, and Tkachuk, which seems to be the overall consensus right now.

I'm not a fan of Ty Smith and we're packed at LHD with Klefbom, Nurse, Sekera, and Russell. I really question his upside at the NHL level.

That said, my two preferences are Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Barrett Hayton. Kotkaniemi has the skill worthy of being a top 5 pick, and just keeps getting better. The Finnish connection with Puljujarvi could also help both of their developments. Hayton just screams, Bergeron to me. He works his ass off every shift and is great defensively. Watching the Bruins and how Bergeron's defensive prowess helps Pastrnak play his game makes me think of how McDavid could benefit playing with him. Both of them were probably the best players on their teams at the U18s.

Both can also play on the wing. A top 6 of this looks great in a couple of years:

RNH - McDavid - Kotkaniemi/Hayton
Puljujarvi - Draisaitl - Yamamoto

At the moment I'm leaning Kotkaniemi. Who do you pick?

Kotkaniemi for me as well, no need to draft yet another LHD. Especially one who’s 5’10 (Ty Smith). If one of Boqvist, Dobson, or Bouchard fall, then that would be the time to take a Defencemen. But Kotkaniemi looked great this tournament.

 

[Canovin]

"Cocky Niemi". The Oilers could use a Rantanen clone.

Not interested in another LH Dman

Use the 2nd round pick on Merkley

 

[Blue Line Turnover]

I honestly don't see Ty Smith becoming a top-4 D. I would prefer taking RHDs, but if seems unlikely one will fall

 

[McDrai]

For me it's a toss up between Farabee, Kotkaniemi, Kupari, and Denisenko at the #10 spot. Assuming Dobson, Hughes, Bouchard, all gone.

 

[Seachd]

Boqvist seems like he’d be perfect and the other d-men would be welcome as well. At 10 that could be tough though.

I haven’t seen Kotkaniemi but it certainly sounds like he could be a decent backup plan.

 

[A91]

Big fin is the flavor of the week here so I expect him to win

I would be fine with his pick, I do hope Boqvist/Wahlstrom fall to us though.

 

[belair]

Take the D. Our depth at LD is temporary if we intend on addressing the right side. With Smith we have the ability to develop him slowly with Klefbom, Sekera and Russell signed over the next few seasons. The Yamamoto connection helps, so we likely know this player very well already.

 

[Markham30]

Take the D. Our depth at LD is temporary if we intend on addressing the right side. With Smith we have the ability to develop him slowly with Klefbom, Sekera and Russell signed over the next few seasons. The Yamamoto connection helps, so we likely know this player very well already.

Did you watch the U18’s at all?

 

[Aerrol]

Between Smith and Farabee for me. Pretty disappointed to be out of the top 9 though, I really like 8 of those likely 9. (No Tkachuk fan)

Edit - Smith has had a bad u18s but that's just one tournament. Doesn't erase a very very strong season otherwise. Similar to the world Jr's, which plenty of players under and over perform.

 

[Seachd]

Did you watch the U18’s at all?

Making a decision based off one tournament is usually a very bad idea.

 

[booyakasha]

I think the pick is getting traded.

 

[McJesusSaves97]

I think the Rangers or Hawks will take Kotkaniemi (would be happy with him) right before we pick. One of the consensus top 9 will drop to us, so we should take whoever falls..........but Chia trades the pick for immediate help anyway, or takes Ty Smith (I like him more than most here even with the meh U18 performance)

 

[McDrai]

I think the pick is getting traded.

If Chia has learned anything he will not trade away this pick. A lot of high end players available at the #10 spot (Smith, Kotkaniemi, Farabee, Kupari, Denisenko, etc)

 

[belair]

Did you watch the U18’s at all?

I wouldn't put a whole lot of weight on a tournament where Canada sent a less than competitive product. Ty Smith's production in Spokane this season should speak volumes in terms of his ability to produce offense, which is what the Oilers will ultimately value.

 

[booyakasha]

If Chia has learned anything he will not trade away this pick. A lot of high end players available at the #10 spot (Smith, Kotkaniemi, Farabee, Kupari, Denisenko, etc)

listening to his interwiew (painfully through his incoherent babbling and stuttering), it sounded like, if he didn't land in the top 3, he would look at trading the pick.
that's what I got from his interviews anyway.

 

[McDrai]

listening to his interwiew (painfully through his incoherent babbling and stuttering), it sounded like, if he didn't land in the top 3, he would look at trading the pick.
that's what I got from his interviews anyway.

Generally I would agree with him in trading away the pick, if our aim is to compete right away, but a) we are nowhere near a playoff contender b) Chiarelli is horrible at trading away high value assets

 

[booyakasha]

Generally I would agree with him in trading away the pick, if our aim is to compete right away, but a) we are nowhere near a playoff contender b) Chiarelli is horrible at trading away high value assets[/QUOTE]

that's never stopped him from continuing to do so, and yet he has never learned from past mistakes.

 

[Faelko]

Sekera and Russell will be long gone by time Smith is ready for the NHL. At least 1 more year in juniors plus minimum 2 years in the AHL.

I voted for him strictly because I value D over F. Maybe he's not going to be a player, I don't know, but to not draft him because we are "stacked" at LHD isn't right either.

 

[Markham30]

Making a decision based off one tournament is usually a very bad idea.

Not sure in my post I said I was basing it off of one tournament? I asked if he watched the Canada games at all...

 

[Zaddy]

Missing Kaut and Kravtsov in the poll.

 

[Joey Moss]

I know there's a consensus top 9, but there's no way that one player outside that group does not get selected before us. Happens every year. I think one of those players listed is available and I hope we don't pass on them.

That said, from this list I'm on the Ty Smith bandwagon.

 

[Spawn]

Whoever we pick is likely a couple years away at least from contributing to our NHL roster. I woudn't be too concerned with who is on our roster now in terms of picking this player. If the guy we want is a LHD so be it.

 

[MessierII]

I’d be happy with either kotekneimi or Smith.

 

[McAsuno]

Kotkaniemi or Smith. I still have a feeling one of the D in the top 10 can still fall to us with other teams perhaps going off BPA and choosing a C like Kotkaniemi.