This idea came to me shortly before Stu MacGregor was served his walking papers, just prior to the draft. It lost a bit of lustre with his dismissal, but I figured it was still worth exploring.
A friend and non-Oilers fan asked: ‘Would Edmonton be a better team (on paper) if it had picked the next guy in every draft?’
He was referring primarily to the first-round picks, but Edmonton’s track record outside of the top 30 is well documented. For those not familiar, abysmal and putrid would be fitting adjectives.
The Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since their improbable run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final — a span of nine years now — and that lack of success is largely due to poor drafting and developing.
MacGregor was named Edmonton’s director of amateur scouting in September 2007 when Kevin Prendergast was promoted to assistant general manager. Counting that 2007 draft, the Oilers have made 61 total picks and only a handful of them from past the first round have played in the NHL — the most notable being early second-rounders Anton Lander and Tyler Pitlick, plus fourth-rounders Linus Omark, who dazzled then disappeared overseas, and Tobias Rieder, who was traded away long before his impressive debut this past season. Hang that one on head pro scout Morey Gare, who also met his demise in the recent firing spree.
The Copper & Blue blog did a great job dissecting Gare’s shortcomings, but this is all about Edmonton’s missteps at the draft — ranging from 2007 to 2014, beginning with Prendergast’s last year in charge and culminating with MacGregor’s final go-round before Bob Green took the reins in January for the 2015 draft.
Ever wonder what Jakub Voracek would look like in an Oilers jersey? That could have been possible had Edmonton picked Voracek rather than Sam Gagner at sixth overall in 2007.
2007
Oilers Pick: Sam Gagner, first round, 6th overall
Last Season Stats: 81 GP-15 G-26 A-41 PTS (Arizona Coyotes)
Career NHL Stats: 562 GP-116 G-220 A-336 PTS
Next Pick: Jakub Voracek, Columbus Blue Jackets
Within 5 Picks: Voracek, 7th/Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks, 9th/Brandon Sutter, Carolina Hurricanes, 11th
ANALYSIS: Gagner was rushed into the NHL and despite playing more than 500 games to date is a borderline bust and was nearly bought out upon getting traded to the Philadelphia Flyers last week. Now, he’s teammates with Voracek, who led the Flyers in scoring last season with 81 points in 82 games. Yeah, I think the Oilers would rather have that guy in hindsight — Couture and Sutter would be welcomed additions right about now too.
Oilers Pick: Alex Plante, first round, 15th overall
Last Season Stats: 54 GP-3 G-10 A-13 PTS (Austria)
Career NHL Stats: 10 GP-0 G-2 A-2 PTS
Next Pick: Colton Gillies, Minnesota Wild
Within 5 Picks: Ian Cole, St. Louis Blues, 18th
ANALYSIS: This was a bad pick from Day 1 and it didn’t get any better for Edmonton. Gillies didn’t really pan out either, only playing 154 NHL games as a checker, but Cole has been a serviceable blue-liner with 187 games under his belt.
Oilers Pick: Riley Nash, first round, 21st overall
Last Season Stats: 68 GP-8 G-17 A-25 PTS (Carolina Hurricanes)
Career NHL Stats: 178 GP-22 G-37 A-59 PTS
Next Pick: Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens
Within 5 Picks: Pacioretty, 22nd/Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames, 24th/David Perron, St. Louis Blues, 26th
ANALYSIS: Ugh, it went from bad to worse in that first round, as Nash essentially demanded a trade before ever playing for Edmonton. The Oilers could really use a guy like Pacioretty up front. They did end up with Perron on the roster years later, so I guess that’s some consolation.
Oilers Pick: Linus Omark, fourth round, 97th overall
Last Season Stats: 60 GP-16 G-31 A-47 PTS (Jokerit, KHL)
Career NHL Stats: 79 GP-8 G-24 A-32 PTS
Next Pick: Sebastian Stefaniszin, Anaheim Ducks
Within 5 Picks: Matt Frattin, Toronto Maple Leafs, 99th
ANALYSIS: Omark was probably the best player available within this range, or at least the most skilled. Frattin is an Alberta boy and might still carve out an NHL career, so you could make a case for him being a better pick. Stefaniszin was a goalie who busted.
Oilers Pick: Milan Kytnar, fifth round, 127th overall
Last Season Stats: 53 GP-20 G-18 A-38 PTS (Slovakia)
Career NHL Stats: 1 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS
Next Pick: Austin Smith, Dallas Stars
Within 5 Picks: Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, 129th/Chris Terry, Carolina Hurricanes, 132nd
ANALYSIS: Yikes, Kytnar was a bust and Benn is the reigning Art Ross winner as the league’s leading scorer. Talk about a swing and a miss there. Even Terry is establishing himself as a depth player.
Oilers Pick: William Quist, sixth round, 157th overall
Last Season Stats: 38 GP-11 G-7 A-18 PTS (Sweden, second division)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Allen York, Columbus
Within 5 Picks: Anthony Peluso, St. Louis Blues, 160th/Patrick Maroon, Philadelphia Flyers, 161st
ANALYSIS: Quist never crossed the pond, but Maroon has sure looked good for the Ducks the last couple seasons. Peluso has at least shown a knack for busting skulls with the Winnipeg Jets. York has become a journeyman minor-league goaltender, but he at least has 11 NHL games on his resume.
As good as Jordan Eberle has been for the Oilers over the years, that 22nd overall pick could have just as easily been John Carlson and he might have been an even better fit.
2008
Oilers Pick: Jordan Eberle, first round, 22nd overall
Last Season Stats: 81 GP-24 G-39 A-63 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 356 GP-120 G-164 A-284 PTS
Next Pick: Tyler Cuma, Minnesota Wild
Within 5 Picks: Tyler Ennis, Buffalo Sabres, 26th/John Carlson, Washington Capitals, 27th
ANALYSIS: Eberle has been great for the Oilers over the years, so you can’t really complain about that pick. Then again, Carlson would look awfully nice on the blue-line.
Oilers Pick: Johan Motin, fourth round, 103rd overall
Last Season Stats: 51 GP-4 G-9 A-13 PTS (Sweden)
Career NHL Stats: 1 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS
Next Pick: Jordon Southorn, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Michal Jordan, Carolina Hurricanes, 105th/Harri Sateri, San Jose Sharks, 106th
ANALYSIS: Motin busted for all intents and purposes, but it was slim pickings in that region. Southorn didn’t amount to anything more, although Jordan is just now starting to establish himself as an NHLer. Sateri had some upside as a goaltender, but never quite made it.
Oilers Pick: Philippe Cornet, fifth round, 133rd overall
Last Season Stats: 55 GP-9 G-13 A-22 PTS (Hershey Bears, AHL)
Career NHL Stats: 2 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS
Next Pick: Jacob Lagace, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Tomas Kubalik, Columbus Blue Jackets, 135th
ANALYSIS: This was a bad spot full of busts, including Cornet and Lagace. Kubalik got into 12 NHL games to Cornet’s two, so I guess that makes him a slightly better option. If you go six picks down, at 139th, the Ottawa Senators snagged rugged blue-liner Mark Borowiecki, but he just misses my cutoff.
Oilers Pick: Teemu Hartikainen, sixth round, 163rd overall
Last Season Stats: 60 GP-15 G-25 A-40 PTS (Ufa, KHL)
Career NHL Stats: 52 GP-6 G-7 A-13 PTS
Next Pick: Nick Crawford, Buffalo Sabres.
Within 5 Picks: Mike Murphy, Carolina Hurricanes, 165th
ANALYSIS: Hartikainen was the best of the bunch in that grouping and might still have some potential if he returns to the NHL. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the last team to own his rights. Murphy got into two NHL games and had some decent years in the NHL before also heading to Europe. Again, six spots down, at 169th, was the Chicago Blackhawks taking Ben Smith, now of the San Jose Sharks, but he’s nothing to write home about either.
Oilers Pick: Jordan Bendfeld, seventh round, 193rd overall
Last Season Stats: NA
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Drew Daniels, San Jose Sharks
Within 5 Picks: Joacim Eriksson, Philadelphia Flyers, 196th
ANALYSIS: This wasn’t a very good draft in Edmonton’s range, but at least Eriksson got into an NHL game with the Vancouver Canucks a couple years ago. The Swedish goaltender returned home this off-season.
Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators, seen here battling against the Oilers, could have been drafted by Edmonton instead of Magnus Paajarvi at 10th overall in 2009.
2009
Oilers Pick: Magnus Paajarvi, first round, 10th overall
Last Season Stats: 10 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS (St. Louis Blues)
Career NHL Stats: 228 GP-32 G-39 A-71 PTS
Next Pick: Ryan Ellis, Nashville Predators
Within 5 Picks: Ellis, 11th/Calvin de Haan, New York Islanders, 12th/Dmitri Kulikov, Florida Panthers, 14th
ANALYSIS: There might still be hope for Paajarvi, but his Edmonton days are a thing of the past. He did put up 11 goals and 29 points in 36 regular-season AHL games, followed by three goals and four points in five playoff games for the Chicago Wolves this past season. Obviously Ellis would have been a better pick or any of those three defencemen for that matter. There were also two forwards within the next five picks, Zack Kassian to the Buffalo Sabres and Peter Holland to the Anaheim Ducks, who arguably would have been better selections too.
Oilers Pick: Anton Lander, second round, 40th overall
Last Season Stats: 38 GP-6 G-14 A-20 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 132 GP-8 G-20 A-28 PTS
Next Pick: Zach Budish, Nashville Predators
Within 5 Picks: Drew Shore, Florida Panthers, 44th/Jeremy Morin, Atlanta Thrashers, 45th
ANALYSIS: Lander finally started to live up to his NHL potential last season under Todd Nelson and now optimism is high for him heading into 2015-16. With that promise, it’s easy to say he might be the best player in that grouping of five, but if you extend it to six again, the Ottawa Senators selected Robin Lehner at 46th and he would have been a nice fit between the pipes in Edmonton. Oddly, the Oilers were in the mix to acquire him this off-season before the Buffalo Sabres made that move and Edmonton settled for Cam Talbot from the New York Rangers.
Oilers Pick: Troy Hesketh, third round, 71st overall
Last Season Stats: HA
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Michael Latta, Nashville Predators
Within 5 Picks: Latta, 72nd/Andrej Nestrasil, Detroit Red Wings, 75th
ANALYSIS: Hesketh was another total bust, apparently quitting hockey a few years ago. Latta is a fourth-line enrgy guy and Nestrasil is showing a bit of offensive upside in Carolina as a bigger body, so either of them would have been far superior selections.
Oilers Pick: Cameron Abney, third round, 82nd overall
Last Season Stats: 38 GP-1 G-5 A-6 PTS-51 PIMS (Bakersfield Condors, ECHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Kevin Connauton, Vancouver Canucks
Within 5 Picks: Connauton, 83rd/Nicolas Deslauriers, Los Angeles Kings, 84th/Cody Eakin, Washington Capitals, 85th
ANALYSIS: This will go down as one of Edmonton’s worst picks of the last decade, and most everybody outside the Oilers’ scouting staff assumed as much as soon as it was announced. Abney was a pugilist in junior, but proved to be a one-trick pony without the skating ability or hockey sense to keep up at the pro levels. Looking back on this pick, it’s painful to see another Edmonton-area kid taken with the next selection in Connauton, who is a budding defenceman now with Columbus. Eakin went three picks later and he’s a top-six forward for Dallas. A damn shame.
Oilers Pick: Kyle Bigos, fourth round, 99th overall
Last Season Stats: 43 GP-1 G-12 A-13 PTS (Ontario Reign, ECHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Chris Wideman, Ottawa Senators
Within 5 Picks: Wideman, 100th/Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators, 102nd/Marcus Foligno, Buffalo Sabres, 104th
ANALYSIS: If Abney was supposed to be the next Milan Lucic, then Bigos was hailed as the second-coming of Dustin Byfuglien. But that didn’t come to fruition either and he’s since been dealt to San Jose’s organization. Wideman was the AHL’s defenceman of the year this past season and is looking like a legitmate prospect for the Senators, while Ekholm is already well established in Nashville. The same can be said for Foligno in Buffalo, a nice package of size and skill on the wing.
Oilers Pick: Toni Rajala, fourth round, 101st overall
Last Season Stats: 31 GP-14 G-13 A-27 PTS (Sweden)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators
Within 5 Picks: Ekholm, 102nd/Foligno, 104th/Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks, 106th
ANALYSIS: This is just embarrassing, the Oilers had two picks within three spots and blew them both. They could have picked two of Wideman, Ekholm, Foligno or Vantanen who all went within the next five selections. Brutal.
Oilers Pick: Olivier Roy, fifth round, 133rd overall
Last Season Stats: 40 GP-.911 Save %-2.44 GAA (Idaho Steelheads, ECHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Mark Adams, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Corban Knight, Florida Panthers, 135th
ANALYSIS: Goalies are always tough to pick and there was plenty of promise surrounding Roy at that time. He even played in the world juniors for Canada, but he couldn’t hack it at the highest pro levels. Knight is a fringe NHLer who has got into nine games with the Calgary Flames over the last two seasons.
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin, seen here roofing a backhand on former Oilers goalie Viktor Fasth, was selected second overall behind Edmonton’s Taylor Hall in 2010.
2010
Oilers Pick: Taylor Hall, first round, 1st overall
Last Season Stats: 53 GP-14 G-24 A-38 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 299 GP-106 G-157 A-263 PTS
Next Pick: Tyler Seguin, Boston Bruins
Within 5 Picks: Seguin, 2nd/Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets, 4th
ANALYSIS: Taylor versus Tyler, the debate rages on. Seguin is coming off a much better season than Hall, but poll the league’s 30 general managers and it might still be an even split. Now that Connor McDavid has been added to Edmonton’s fold, Hall could take his game to the next level in the coming seasons and become a dominant force for the Oilers. I doubt too many GMs would take Johansen over Hall, but I guess it’s possible some might prefer him too.
Oilers Pick: Tyler Pitlick, second round, 31st overall
Last Season Stats: 17 GP-2 G-0 A-2 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 27 GP-3 G-0 A-3 PTS
Next Pick: Jared Knight, Boston Bruins
Within 5 Picks: Alex Petrovic, Florida Panthers, 36th
ANALYSIS: The Oilers haven’t thrown in the towel on Pitlick just yet, extending him a qualifying offer this week. He was starting to gain some momentum this past season until he suffered a lacerated spleen on New Year’s Eve. Injuries have been a bit of an issue and next season will be a big one for Pitlick’s development. That said, I think the Oilers would probably still trade him straight up for Petrovic. Or better yet . . . for some strange reason, six spots away has been producing excellent talent and this time it is Justin Faulk of the Carolina Hurricanes at 37th who just misses the cut for this experiment.
Oilers Pick: Martin Marincin, second round, 46th overall
Last Season Stats: 41 GP-1 G-4 A-5 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 85 GP-1 G-10 A-11 PTS
Next Pick: Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings
Within 5 Picks: Toffoli, 47th/Calvin Pickard, Colorado Avalanche, 49th/Calle Jarnkrok, Detroit Red Wings, 51st
ANALYSIS: The Oilers gave up on Marincin this past weekend, shipping him out to Toronto in exchange for a draft pick that they flipped to Ottawa for physical defenceman Eric Gryba. Marincin still has decent upside should he ever reach his potential. But the Oilers would much rather have Toffoli, a budding sniper, if they could go back in time.
Oilers Pick: Curtis Hamilton, second round, 48th overall
Last Season Stats: 1 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS-5 PIMS
Career NHL Stats: 1 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS-5 PIMS
Next Pick: Calvin Pickard, Colorado Avalanche
Within 5 Picks: Pickard, 49th/Calle Jarnkrok, Detroit Red Wings, 51st
ANALYSIS: The Oilers cut ties with Hamilton this week, opting not to issue him a qualifying offer. He did show improvement throughout the season with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons — tallying 12 goals and 32 points in 63 games — but got ejected from his first (and only) career NHL game on his very first shift for a boarding hit. Chalk that up to bad luck, and injuries held back Hamilton too, but Jarnkrok has proven to be the better forward option thus far. Picking goalies is an inexact science, but Pickard certainly would have been a good one in that spot.
Oilers Pick: Ryan Martindale, third round, 61st overall
Last Season Stats: 64 GP-16 G-11 A-27 PTS (San Antonio/Syracuse, AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Greg McKegg, Toronto Maple Leafs
Within 5 Picks: McKegg, 62nd/Max Reinhart, Calgary Flames, 64th/Radko Gudas, Tampa Bay Lightning, 66th
ANALYSIS: Everybody covets a centre with size and scoring ability, so you couldn’t fault the Oilers for picking Martindale at the time, despite a lot of fans holding out hope for freefalling Kirill Kabanov, who went four picks later, at 65th, to the New York Islanders but also ended up busting. Martindale moved on to the Florida Panthers’ system but wasn’t qualified and is now an unrestricted free agent, while the Panthers recently acquired McKegg from Toronto in exchange for college holdout Zach Hyman. McKegg has only played four NHL games to date, but is still considered a decent prospect. The best pick in that range was Gudas, who was traded to Philadelphia in this year’s deadline deal for Braydon Coburn.
Oilers Pick: Jeremy Blain, fourth round, 91st overall
Last Season Stats: 41 GP-5 G-24 A-29 PTS (ECHL)/14 GP-0 G-4 A-4 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Sam Brittain, Florida Panthers
Within 5 Picks: Brittain at 91st
ANALYSIS: Blain was another bust in a draft that the Oilers badly needed to pick some future NHLers. The fourth round wasn’t overly good in general, with Brittain an average goaltending prospect followed by a few more busts. Six picks later produced a depth NHL player in Craig Cunningham, while Detroit forward Teemu Pulkkinen (111th) and Washington backup goalie Philipp Grubauer (112th) have been the best of the bunch thus far.
Oilers Pick: Tyler Bunz, fifth round, 121st overall
Last Season Stats: 17 GP-.890 Save %-2.97 GAA (Wichita Thunder, ECHL)
Career NHL Stats: 1 GP-.750 Save %-9.00 GAA
Next Pick: Chris Wagner, Anaheim Ducks
Within 5 Picks: Wagner, 122nd/Zach Hyman, Florida Panthers, 123rd
ANALYSIS: Another goalie pick gone wrong for the Oilers, taking a chance on a local product in Bunz, who was cut loose this off-season. These depth picks do take longer to develop, but Wagner played nine games for Anaheim this season and Hyman could have an NHL future with Toronto after being a contender for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s MVP this past season.
Oilers Pick: Brandon Davidson, sixth round, 162nd overall
Last Season Stats: 12 GP-1 G-0 A-1 PTS (NHL)/55 GP-4 G-6 A-10 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: 12 GP-1 G-0 A-1 PTS
Next Pick: Konrad Abeltshauser, San Jose Sharks
Within 5 Picks: Abeltshauser, 163rd/Zane McIntyre, Boston Bruins, 165th
ANALYSIS: Davidson has been a other bright spot from this mostly doom-and-gloom draft class. He’s had to battle testicular cancer in the process of climbing the depth chart and making his NHL debut. Davidson will be in the mix for the seventh defence spot on Edmonton’s roster and will be among the top call-ups if he falls short. Abeltshauser has yet to debut and was recently traded to St. Louis but still has NHL upside, while McIntyre was a Hobey Baker finalist this past season and recently signed with Boston after backstopping the University of North Dakota for three years.
Oilers Pick: Drew Czerwonka, sixth round, 166th overall
Last Season Stats: NA
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Tyler Stahl, Carolina Hurricanes
Within 5 Picks: Anthony Bitetto, Nashville Predators, 168th
ANALYSIS: Czerwonka was picked in a run of busts, but — and it’s a big BUT — Mark Stone was taken 12 picks later at 178th. Yes, the Calder Trophy finalist from the Ottawa Senators. If only the Oilers could have that mulligan.
Oilers Pick: Kristians Pelss, seventh round, 181st overall
Last Season Stats: NA
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Josh Nicholls, Toronto Maple Leafs
Within 5 Picks: All Busts
ANALYSIS: This turned into a tragic story as Pelss died in a bridge-jumping accident in his native Latvia during the 2013 off-season. He had been trending upward for a seventh rounder, earning a contract and putting up eight points in 20 AHL games the season prior to his passing. Six picks later — the trend continues — was goalie Frederik Andersen, who was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes but most recently helped the Anaheim Ducks reach the Western Conference final this spring.
Oilers Pick: Kellen Jones, seventh round, 202nd overall
Last Season Stats: 49 GP-5 G-10 A-15 PTS (AHL)/27 GP-7 G-18 A-25 PTS (ECHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Christian Isackson, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: All Busts
ANALYSIS: Jones and his twin brother Connor, also in the Oilers’ system, remain long-shots despite pretty impressive pro debuts this past season. They are the small, skilled type and face an uphill climb to ever see NHL time. Jones has been the best of his grouping, but eight picks later — with the last pick of the 2010 draft, at 210th overall — the Boston Bruins took defenceman Zach Trotman, who has played in 29 NHL games.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was the consolation prize after the Oilers took Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall in the 2011 draft.
2011
Oilers Pick: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, first round, 1st overall
Last Season Stats: 76 GP-24 G-32 A-56 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 258 GP-65 G-123 A-188 PTS
Next Pick: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Within 5 Picks: Landeskog, 2nd/Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers, 3rd/Adam Larsson, New Jersey Devils, 4th/Ryan Strome, New York Islanders, 5th
ANALYSIS: Nugent-Hopkins has been really good for the Oilers and is still showing signs of potential greatness. Not on McDavid’s level of greatness, but coming off consecutive 56-point seasons, Nugent-Hopkins could top 70 points sooner than later. For comparison sake, Landeskog has put up five more points in 23 more games to date while captaining Colorado. Would the Oilers make that trade today? I’m not convinced.
Oilers Pick: Oscar Klefbom, first round, 19th overall
Last Season Stats: 60 GP-2 G-18 A-20 PTS (NHL)/9 GP-1 G-7 A-8 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: 77 GP-3 G-20 A-23 PTS
Next Pick: Connor Murphy, Phoenix Coyotes
Within 5 Picks: Murphy, 20th/Joe Morrow, Pittsburgh Penguins, 23rd/Matt Puempel, Ottawa Senators, 24th
ANALYSIS: Klefbom really came into his own this past season and is looking like the best of the bunch in this grouping — a solid pick by Edmonton. Klefbom had to overcome several post-draft injuries, but he’s trending upward and could still have top-pairing potential. Murphy and Morrow will probably stick in the NHL eventually too, but they don’t have quite as much upside in my opinion.
Oilers Pick: David Musil, second round, 31st overall
Last Season Stats: 4 GP-0 G-2 A-2 PTS (NHL)/65 GP-2 G-9 A-11 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: 4 GP-0 G-2 A-2 PTS
Next Pick: Ty Rattie, St. Louis Blues
Within 5 Picks: Rattie, 32nd/Rocco Grimaldi, Florida Panthers, 33rd/Scott Mayfield, New York Islanders, 34th/Tomas Jurco, Detroit Red Wings, 35th/Adam Clendening, Chicago Blackhawks, 36th
ANALYSIS: Musil got into some NHL games this past season thanks to injuries and Edmonton’s lack of defensive depth, but he still wasn’t a good pick in this spot. This was widely seen as a favour to his father Frank, a former Oilers player-turned-scout, but there were evidently better prospects available. Clendening has more upside as a defenceman, while any of the forwards — Rattie, Grimaldi or Jurco — would have been nice fits in Edmonton as well. Or if you go down six picks again, you’ll find Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets, a budding power forward who really fits the bill for what the Oilers are currently lacking. Instead, they have Musil.
Oilers Pick: Samu Perhonen, third round, 62nd overall
Last Season Stats: 17 GP-.911 Save %-2.06 GAA (Finland)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Andrey Pedan, New York Islanders
Within 5 Picks: Vincent Trocheck, Florida Panthers, 64th/Adam Lowry, Winnipeg Jets, 67th
ANALYSIS: MacGregor and his staff really shouldn’t have wasted picks on goalies. They clearly didn’t have a clue when it came to evaluating that position, as difficult as it is for any team. Perhonen amounted to nothing, while Trocheck and Lowry both appear to have bright futures in the NHL.
Oilers Pick: Travis Ewanyk, third round, 74th overall
Last Season Stats: 69 GP-3 G-5 A-8 PTS-120 PIMS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Blake Coleman, New Jersey Devils
Within 5 Picks: Coleman, 75th/Daniel Catenacci, Buffalo Sabres, 77th/Klas Dahlbeck, Chicago Blackhawks, 79th overall
ANALYSIS: Ewanyk, like Musil, was another in a long line of Edmonton Oil Kings selected by the Oilers. That obsession hasn’t really paid dividends, and new general manager Peter Chiarelli packaged Ewanyk in the deal to land Eric Gryba from Ottawa. For Edmonton, it was more a means of shedding a contract. Dahlbeck, on the other hand, was a key piece coming back to the Arizona Coyotes in the trade that sent Antoine Vermette to the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks.
Oilers Pick: Dillon Simpson, fourth round, 92nd overall
Last Season Stats: 71 GP-3 G-14 A-17 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Joachim Nermark, Colorado Avalanche
Within 5 Picks: Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa Senators, 96th
ANALYSIS: The son of former Oilers forward Craig Simpson made his long-awaited pro debut this past season and had a decent rookie campaign coming out of the University of North Dakota. Pageau has already secured a one-way NHL contract, so he’s ahead of the curve as a depth forward. A better defence option might have been Mike Reilly, who went six picks later to the Columbus Blue Jackets but just signed with the Minnesota Wild as a coveted college free agent.
Oilers Pick: Tobias Rieder, fourth round, 114th overall
Last Season Stats: 72 GP-13 G-8 A-21 PTS (Arizona Coyotes)
Career NHL Stats: 72 GP-13 G-8 A-21 PTS
Next Pick: Marek Tvrdon, Detroit Red Wings
Within 5 Picks: None Better
ANALYSIS: The one that got away, Rieder was traded straight up for face-smasher Kale Kessy. A bad move at the time and even more so now that fighters are going the way of the dinosaur — nearing extinction from the sport. The Oilers had the best pick from the latter half of the fourth round and gave him away. How typical.
Oilers Pick: Martin Gernat, fifth round, 122nd overall
Last Season Stats: 54 GP-1 G-8 A-9 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Garrett Meurs, Colorado Avalanche
Within 5 Picks: John Persson, New York Islanders, 125th/Brenden Kichton, New York Islanders, 127th
ANALYSIS: Another Oil King who is struggling to stay afloat in the pro ranks, Gernat will likely have one more season to prove his worth. Without significant progress, it is difficult to see him getting another contract from the Oilers. Kichton would have been a better pick as a fellow WHL defenceman. Persson, a forward, played 10 games with the Islanders a couple seasons ago but doesn’t have as much potential as Kichton going forward.
Oilers Pick: Frans Tuohimaa, seventh round, 182nd overall
Last Season Stats: 33 GP-.876 Save %-3.28 GAA (ECHL)/3 GP-.904 Save %-4.22 GAA (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Dillon Donnelly, Colorado Avalanche
Within 5 Picks: Iiro Pakarinen, Florida Panthers, 184th
ANALYSIS: Tuohimaa came to North America and gave it an honest effort, but he just isn’t NHL material. As it worked out, the Oilers ended up with Pakarinen, inking him last off-season after Florida failed to retain his rights. Pakarinen played 17 games with Edmonton, scoring his first career goal and adding two assists for three points.
When Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs took Morgan Rielly fifth overall in 2012, the boisterous general manager claimed he would have taken Rielly first overall ahead of Edmonton’s Nail Yakupov and a few others. It seemed laughable at the time, but given Yakupov’s struggles and Rielly’s success, Burke might actually get the last laugh.
2012
Oilers Pick: Nail Yakupov, first round, 1st overall
Last Season Stats: 81 GP-14 G-19 A-33 PTS
Career NHL Stats: 192 GP-42 G-46 A-88 PTS
Next Pick: Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets
Within 5 Picks: Murray, 2nd/Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens, 3rd/Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, 5th/Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks, 6th
ANALYSIS: Yakupov has been a disappointment to date, but it’s still too soon to declare him a bust. He’s shown flashes but needs to develop consistency under new coach Todd McLellan. This draft was full of stud defenders and many felt that was the direction the Oilers should have went with the top pick after previously selecting Hall and Nugent-Hopkins. Murray has been injury-prone thus far, but Rielly, Lindholm, Matt Dumba (7th), Derrick Pouliot (8th) and Jacob Trouba (9th) all went in the top 10 and all could prove to be better NHLers than Yakupov. Time will tell, of course.
Oilers Pick: Mitch Moroz, second round, 32nd overall
Last Season Stats: 66 GP-5 G-4 A-9 PTS-169 PIMS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Sebastian Collberg, Montreal Canadiens
Within 5 Picks: Collberg, 33rd/Ville Pokka, New York Islanders, 34th/Matt Finn, Toronto Maple Leafs, 35th/Nicolas Kerdiles, Anaheim Ducks, 36th
ANALYSIS: Another failed attempt to clone Milan Lucic. Moroz is big and he can fight, but he hasn’t shown much offence as a pro. He’s looking more like Luke Gazdic than Lucic at this point in his development. Collberg was traded to the Islanders as part of a package for Thomas Vanek at last year’s trade deadline, but he or Kerdiles would have been better forward picks. Pokka, who went to Chicago in the Nick Leddy deal, is a very promising defender too.
Oilers Pick: Jujhar Khaira, third round, 63rd overall
Last Season Stats: 51 GP-4 G-6 A-10 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Tim Bozon, Montreal Canadiens
Within 5 Picks: Bozon, 64th/Adam Pelech, New York Islanders, 65th/Jimmy Vesey, Nashville Predators, 66th
ANALYSIS: The Oilers were obviously going for size in this draft, selecting another power-forward type in Khaira over smaller, more skilled options like Bozon and Vesey. Khaira is still finding his way as a pro but appears to have limited offensive upside. Bozon had to overcome a near-death case of meningitis to get his career back on track, while Vesey might not be a household name yet, but he’s turning pro after being a Hobey Baker runner-up to Jack Eichel this past season. Pelech is a no non-sense defender, a better version of Musil.
Oilers Pick: Daniil Zharkov, third round, 91st overall
Last Season Stats: 9 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS (KHL)/39 GP-4 G-5 A-9 PTS (Russia, tier 2)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Matia Marcantuoni, Pittsburgh Penguins
Within 5 Picks: Josh Anderson, Columbus Blue Jackets, 95th
ANALYSIS: Most saw Zharkov as a good gamble at the time, a big Russian who had been playing major junior in Canada. He had the tools, but apparently not the toolbox. Anderson would have been a safer pick and he’s worked his way into a handful of NHL games with Columbus.
Oilers Pick: Erik Gustafsson, fourth round, 93rd overall
Last Season Stats: 55 GP-4 G-25 A-29 PTS (Sweden)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Brady Vail, Montreal Canadiens
Within 5 Picks: Josh Anderson, Columbus Blue Jackets, 95th/Kevin Roy, Anaheim Ducks, 97th
ANALYSIS: Gustafsson wasn’t a bad pick and he’s actually still a decent prospect, but he’s no longer Oilers’ property. Gustafasson signed an entry-level contract as a free agent with the Blackhawks during their playoff run this spring. Having taken four straight forwards to start the draft, it’s understandable why Edmonton went with a defencemen here and Gustafsson remains arguably the best pick at his position from the fourth round. Among forwards in that range, Anderson projects as more of a bottom-sixer, while Roy is a real boom-or-bust prospect with a high offensive ceiling if he makes it to the big league.
Oilers Pick: Joey Laleggia, fifth round, 123rd overall
Last Season Stats: 37 GP-15 G-25 A-40 PTS (NCAA)/5 GP-1 G-1 A-2 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Ryan Culkin, Calgary Flames
Within 5 Picks: None Better
ANALYSIS: Laleggia is transitioning to the pro ranks after getting some Hobey Baker consideration to cap off a standout college career. A childhood friend of Nugent-Hopkins, Laleggia is small but very skilled, somewhat similar to Brad Hunt but a better skater. Laleggia looks like the best pick in his grouping of five, but Charles Hudon went to the Montreal Canadiens with the previous pick, and then seven picks after the Oilers, at 130th, the Winnipeg Jets took goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Oilers Pick: John McCarron, sixth round, 153rd overall
Last Season Stats: 31 GP-4 G-8 A-12 PTS (NCAA)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Erik Nystrom, Montreal Canadiens
Within 5 Picks: Connor Brown, Toronto Maple Leafs, 156th/Christoph Bertschy, Minnesota Wild, 158th
ANALYSIS: I’m not sure what McCarron is studying at Cornell, but hopefully he’s doing good in it because there doesn’t appear to be much future for him in hockey. The older brother of 2013 first-rounder Michael McCarron, perhaps the Montreal Canadiens would consider that sibling swap? Or not. The Oilers would have been much better off with Brown, who led the OHL in scoring two years ago and maintained his momentum as a rookie pro with an impressive 21-goal, 61-point season in the AHL.
DISCLAIMER: From this point on, it is probably too early to determine which teams drafted the better prospects, so the analysis is based on their current stage of development as well as future projections.
Darnell Nurse is going to be a horse on Edmonton’s back end for the foreseeable future, but Vancouver Canucks centre Bo Horvat has been exceeding expectations as the ninth overall pick in 2013. In saying that, the Oilers wouldn’t make the swap.
2013
Oilers Pick: Darnell Nurse, first round, 7th overall
Last Season Stats: 36 GP-10 G-23 A-33 PTS (OHL)/4 GP-0 G-4 A-4 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: 2 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS
Next Pick: Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Ristolainen, 8th/Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks, 9th/Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas Stars, 10th/Max Domi, Phoenix Coyotes, 12th
ANALYSIS: There were a lot of nice prospects in this range, including a few that are further along in their development and have already seen significant NHL time, but I don’t think the Oilers would trade Nurse straight up for any of them as of today. Nurse had a dominant season in the OHL, was Canada’s best defenceman in winning world-junior gold and made an immediate impact with Oklahoma City in the AHL playoffs. Edmonton fans have to be happy with who they got in that spot.
Oilers Pick: Marco Roy, second round, 56th overall
Last Season Stats: 59 GP-26 G-24 A-50 PTS (QMJHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: William Carrier, St. Louis Blues
Within 5 Picks: Carrier, 57th/Tyler Bertuzzi, Detroit Red Wings, 58th/Eric Comrie, Winnipeg Jets, 59th
ANALYSIS: This pick will haunt the Oilers for some time. Roy was hit with injuries and didn’t do enough to earn a contract, then didn’t get drafted the second time around as a re-entry this year. The Oilers originally traded down from 37th, which the Los Angeles Kings used on Valentin Zykov, and Edmonton also moved the 57th pick for a few extra selections in later rounds. Carrier ended up going 57th to St. Louis and he’s since been traded to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Ryan Miller deadline deal from a couple years back. Carrier might not be anything special, but he’s certainly a better prospect than Roy. Bertuzzi is a power forward in the making for the Red Wings and Comrie has starter potential for the Jets. Either of those two would have been a great fit for Edmonton.
Oilers Pick: Bogdan Yakimov, third round, 83rd overall
Last Season Stats: 57 GP-12 G-16 A-28 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: 1 GP-0 G-0 A-0 PTS
Next Pick: Jimmy Lodge, Winnipeg Jets
Within 5 Picks: Cole Cassels, Vancouver Canucks, 85th/Sven Andrighetto, Montreal Canadiens, 86th
ANALYSIS: I’m willing to give Yakimov the benefit of doubt for another season or two, simply because 6-foot-5 centres don’t grow on trees. The big Russian looked great in the Young Stars prospect tournament and early on in training camp last fall, and he seemed to get his feet under him in the AHL as the season progressed, so there’s still hope for him. That said, Cassels looks like a terrific shutdown centre — he was largely responsible for shutting down McDavid in the OHL championship series, then Leon Draisaitl at the Memorial Cup — so he might become the better pro. Andrighetto has already played 12 NHL games as a speedy, skillful winger.
Oilers Pick: Anton Slepyshev, third round, 88th overall
Last Season Stats: 58 GP-15 G-10 A-25 PTS (Ufa, KHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Columbus Blue Jackets
Within 5 Picks: Bjorkstrand, 89th/Mason Geertsen, Colorado Avalanche, 93rd
ANALYSIS: There is some hype surrounding Slepyshev coming to North America this fall as a goal-scoring winger, but I’m fairly certain the Oilers would take Bjorkstrand instead if they were granted a do-over. Bjorkstrand won the WHL’s player of the year this past season, scoring 63 goals and 118 points in just 59 games. He’s a stud, while Slepyshev is still a wait-and-see prospect.
Oilers Pick: Jackson Houck, fourth round, 94th overall
Last Season Stats: 65 GP-22 G-29 A-51 PTS (WHL)/7 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Felix Girard, Nashville Predators
Within 5 Picks: Girard, 95th/Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators, 99th
ANALYSIS: Houck suffered the same fate as Roy, cut loose by the Oilers and subsequently passed over in the draft. He’s a gritty winger, but he’s on the small side with suspect offensive upside. Girard is a similar player but with a bit more bite to his game and better hockey sense too. Saros could have been a real steal in this spot as he’s shone in goal for Finland at the past two world juniors.
Oilers Pick: Kyle Platzer, fourth round, 96th overall
Last Season Stats: 68 GP-34 G-47 A-81 PTS (OHL)/4 GP-2 G-1 A-3 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Michael Downing, Florida Panthers
Within 5 Picks: Saros, 99th/Nick Paul, Dallas Stars, 101st
ANALYSIS: Platzer took a nice step forward this past season and could be a diamond in the rough for the Oilers in a few years. He’ll continue his development with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors next season. There is still some risk with Saros, but Paul scored 37 goals and 66 points in only 58 OHL games while also playing a key role on Canada’s golden world-junior team. Paul is now property of the Ottawa Senators, coming over in the Jason Spezza trade, and most (if not all) GMs would take him over Platzer at this point.
Oilers Pick: Aidan Muir, fourth round, 113th overall
Last Season Stats: 36 GP-6 G-9 A-15 PTS (NCAA)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Jan Kostalek, Winnipeg Jets
Within 5 Picks: Kostalek, 114th/Jordan Subban, Vancouver Canucks, 115th/Martin Reway, Montreal Canadiens, 116th/Hudson Fasching, Los Angeles Kings, 118th
ANALYSIS: Muir might go down as unlucky No. 13, as four of the next five selections are looking much more promising. Granted, Muir had a decent freshman year with Western Michigan University, but Kostalek was runner-up to Tampa Bay first-rounder Anthony DeAngelo as the CHL’s defenceman of the year; Reway was a standout for his native Czech Republic at the world juniors; and Fasching is looking like the better power forward, having since been acquired by the Buffalo Sabres. Subban is P.K.’s little — both younger and smaller — brother, but he’s got good offensive upside as a defenceman too.
Oilers Pick: Evan Campbell, fifth round, 128th overall
Last Season Stats: 34 GP-12 G-15 A-27 PTS (NCAA)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Cal Petersen, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Cole Ully, Dallas Stars, 131st
ANALYSIS: Like Muir and Yakimov before him, we have to exercise patience with Campbell’s development as they were all drafted to be more long-term projects. Campbell finished fourth in team scoring at UMass-Lowell as a sophomore this past season but he’s already 22 years old, whereas Ully is two years younger and fresh off leading an offensively-challenged team in scoring, topping the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers with 34 goals and 94 points in 69 games. I’d much rather take my chances with Ully going forward.
Oilers Pick: Ben Betker, sixth round, 158th overall
Last Season Stats: 64 GP-6 G-25 A-31 PTS-63 PIMS
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Sean Malone, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Myles Bell, New Jersey Devils, 160th/Brendan Burke, Phoenix Coyotes, 163rd
ANALYSIS: Betker was a nice pick at this spot, and arguably a top-five prospect from the sixth round. The 6-foot-6 defender is signed and will embark on a pro career in the fall, be it in Bakersfield or the ECHL. Bell and Burke might have seemed like better picks at the time, but neither of them were retained by their respective teams this off-season and are now free agents.
Oilers Pick: Greg Chase, seventh round, 188th overall
Last Season Stats: 61 GP-20 G-39 A-59 PTS (WHL)/4 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS (AHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Eric Locke, Buffalo Sabres
Within 5 Picks: Brenden Kichton, Winnipeg Jets, 190th
ANALYSIS: Chase was a rare late-round steal for the Oilers here, although they passed up a second crack at offensive blue-liner Kichton. Chase has a nice touch around the net and brings some sandpaper too, almost like a poor man’s Brad Marchand. He was the right pick in this spot, so props there.
How good was Sam Bennett for the Calgary Flames in the playoffs this spring? Good enough for the Oilers to second-guess their selection of Leon Draisaitl at third overall, one spot ahead of Bennett in last year’s draft? Not quite.
2014
Oilers Pick: Leon Draisaitl, first round, third overall
Last Season Stats: 37 GP-2 G-7 A-9 PTS (NHL)/32 GP-19 G-34 A-53 PTS (WHL)
Career NHL Stats: 37 GP-2 G-7 A-9 PTS
Next Pick: Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames
Within 5 Picks: Bennett, 4th/Michael Dal Colle, New York Islanders, 5th/Jake Virtanen, Vancouver Canucks, 6th/William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs, 8th
ANALYSIS: Draisaitl was playing above his head in the NHL, but he was a man among boys when he went back to the WHL, where he helped the Kelowna Rockets to a league championship and won playoff MVP honours with 10 goals and 28 points in 19 games. Draisaitl was also named MVP of the Memorial Cup tournament in a losing effort, as Kelowna fell 2-1 in overtime to the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in the final. Bennett made his NHL debut in Calgary’s regular-season finale, recovering from shoulder surgery to emerge as one of the Flames’ best players over 11 playoff games. Expect the Draisaitl-or-Bennett debate to rage on for the next decade, assuming they both remain key figures in the renewed Battle of Alberta rivalry. As of today, I still take Draisaitl, largely because he’s a bigger body with sublime passing ability.
Oilers Pick: William Lagesson, fourth round, 91st overall
Last Season Stats: 52 GP-2 G-14 A-16 PTS-79 PIMS (USHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Joe Wegwerth, Florida Panthers
Within 5 Picks: Ville Husso, St. Louis Blues, 94th
ANALYSIS: Lagesson is a hard-nosed defenceman, sort of like a young Ladislav Smid, who hails from Sweden but spent this past season adjusting to the North American game with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints. If the Oilers weren’t so bad at picking goalies, Husso would have been a good one to gamble on and he’s proven worthy of that selection by supplanting the aforementioned Saros as Finland’s starting goalie at this year’s world-junior tournament. Six picks down, the Carolina Hurricanes landed another promising Swede in forward Lucas Wallmark. Time will tell how these prospects pan out, but Lagesson seems to be taking steps in the right direction so far.
Oilers Pick: Zach Nagelvoort, fourth round, 111th overall
Last Season Stats: 22 GP-.906 Save %-2.63 GAA (NCAA)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Viktor Arvidsson, Nashville Predators
Within 5 Picks: Arvidsson, 112th
ANALYSIS: Nagelvoort’s statistics were worse in his draft-plus-one year, following a .929 save percentage and 2.20 goals-against average as a rookie with the University of Michigan in 2013-14. Goalies don’t always take a straight line to the NHL, so give him some more time, but passing up Husso at 91st only to take a goalie 20 picks later is looking regrettable at this point. Not to mention, the very next pick after Nagelvoort thrived in his draft-plus-one, as Arvidsson, a skilled over-age forward, put up 22 goals and 55 points in 70 AHL games, and even got into six games with the Predators.
Oilers Pick: Liam Coughlin, fifth round, 130th overall
Last Season Stats: 54 GP-20 G-40 A-60 PTS (BCHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Ryan Rehill, New Jersey Devils
Within 5 Picks: Rehill, 131st/Dysin Mayo, Arizona Coyotes, 133rd/Shane Gersich, Washington Capitals, 134th
ANALYSIS: Another puzzling pick, almost anybody would have been better than Coughlin in this spot. I’d personally be shocked if Coughlin ever receives an NHL contract offer. Turning 21 in September, he barely managed a point-per-game pace as an over-ager in a tier-2 junior league this past season. For all of the Oil Kings picked in years past, I’m surprised the Oilers didn’t go with Mayo here. Rehill, a big defenceman, and Gersich, a scoring forward, are both showing good potential too.
Oilers Pick: Tyler Vesel, sixth round, 153rd overall
Last Season Stats: 39 GP-8 G-15 A-23 PTS (NCAA)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Aaron Haydon, Dallas Stars
Within 5 Picks: Jake Marchment, Los Angeles Kings, 157th
ANALYSIS: Vesel was drafted after putting up big numbers as an over-age forward with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, recording 33 goals and 71 points in just 49 games. He was fourth in team scoring for the University of Nebraska-Omaha as a freshman this past season and is another long-term project somewhat similar to the Jones twins. That Vesel is a bit undersized raises concern, and you could make a case for picking Jake Marchment instead. A hephew of former Oilers defenceman Bryan Marchment, Jake is a 6-foot-3, 218-pound forward who scored eight goals and 14 points in 19 playoff games as McDavid’s teammate with the OHL’s Erie Otters this spring. Marchment is also a year younger, but Vesel isn’t a write-off by any means.
Oilers Pick: Keven Bouchard, seventh round, 183rd overall
Last Season Stats: 36 GP-.872 Save %-3.85 GAA (QMJHL)
Career NHL Stats: NA
Next Pick: Austin Carroll, Calgary Flames
Within 5 Picks: Carroll, 184th/Cameron Darcy, Tampa Bay Lightning, 185th
ANALYSIS: The QMJHL is generally a higher-scoring league, but those are some ugly stats for backstopping a playoff team. I don’t have much faith in Bouchard becoming a pro, let alone an Oiler, but hopefully Chiarelli can lure one of his goalie scouts from Boston to Edmonton because the Bruins have done a much better job in that regard. Over the same timeframe, 2007 to 2014, Boston has drafted Michael Hutchinson (77th in 2008), Zane McIntyre (165th in 2010) and Malcolm Subban (24th in 2012), and they might have just grabbed another good one in Daniel Vladar (75th in 2015). Within this range, Carroll would have the guy to grab as a bigger bottom-sixer who is strong on the forecheck and has a solid set of hands. Another option that the Oilers overlooked, perhaps assuming he’d go undrafted, was Oil Kings forward Edgars Kulda, who had just been named the Memorial Cup MVP. Edmonton probably planned to invite him to camp and sign him from there, but Kulda was selected 10 picks later by the Arizona Coyotes.
Oilers Drafted Roster
If there was no such thing as trades or free agency, and the Oilers were forced to ice a lineup strictly of players that they drafted and developed between 2007 and 2014, this would be the best-case scenario:
Forwards
Taylor Hall-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Jordan Eberle
Tobias Rieder-Leon Draisaitl- Nail Yakupov
Anton Lander-Sam Gagner- Linus Omark
Magnus Paajarvi-Riley Nash-Tyler Pitlick
EXTRAS: Teemu Hartikainen, Curtis Hamilton, Anton Slepyshev, Bogdan Yakimov, Kyle Platzer, Greg Chase, Mitch Moroz, Jujhar Khaira
Defence
Oscar Klefbom-Darnell Nurse
Martin Marincin-Brandon Davidson
David Musil-Dillon Simpson
EXTRAS: Ben Betker, William Lagesson, Joey Laleggia, Erik Gustafsson, Martin Gernat
Goaltenders
Tyler Bunz
Olivier Roy
EXTRAS: Frans Tuohimaa, Zach Nagelvoort, Samu Perhonen, Keven Bouchard
Next Pick Roster
Now, if the Oilers had simply picked the very next player at each spot over that same timeframe, this roster could have come to fruition:
Forwards
Jakub Voracek-Tyler Seguin-Max Pacioretty
Tyler Toffoli- Sam Bennett-Gabriel Landeskog
Ty Rattie-Sebastian Collberg-Oliver Bjorkstrand
Michael Latta- Chris Wagner- Viktor Arvidsson
EXTRAS: Greg McKegg, Jared Knight, William Carrier, Felix Girard, Austin Carroll, Tim Bozon, Jimmy Lodge, Blake Coleman
Defence
Ryan Ellis-Ryan Murray
Rasmus Ristolainen- Mattias Ekholm
Connor Murphy-Kevin Connauton
EXTRAS: Chris Wideman, Jan Kostalek, Konrad Abeltshauser, Ryan Rehill
Goaltenders
Calvin Pickard
Sam Brittain
EXTRAS: Allen York
Within 5 Picks Roster
If you were to extend this experiment to the next five picks, this dream roster could take shape:
Forwards
Jakub Voracek-Tyler Seguin-Jamie Benn
Gabriel Landeskog-Sam Bennett-Max Pacioretty
Tyler Toffoli-Cody Eakin-Patrick Maroon
Marcus Foligno-Bo Horvat-Adam Lowry
Ty Rattie- Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Oliver Bjorkstrand
EXTRAS: Drew Shore, Matt Frattin, Andrej Nestrasil, Sven Andrighetto, Viktor Arvidsson, Iiro Pakarinen, Corban Knight, Zach Hyman, Jimmy Vesey, Connor Brown, Nick Paul, Josh Anderson, Kevin Roy, Cole Ully, Austin Carroll, Jake Marchment, Myles Bell
Defence
John Carlson-Sami Vatanen
Morgan Rielly-Calvin de Haan
Ian Cole-Radko Gudas
EXTRAS: Alex Petrovic, Michal Jordan, Ville Pokka, Joe Morrow, Klas Dahlbeck, Jan Kostalek, Brenden Kichton, Anthony Bitetto, Dysin Mayo
Goaltenders
Calvin Pickard
Eric Comrie
EXTRAS: Juuse Saros, Ville Husso, Zane McIntyre, Joacim Eriksson, Sam Brittain, Allen York, Mike Murphy
So, how do you like your new-look Edmonton Oilers?
OK, that might not be entirely fair, but nevertheless, here’s a year-by-year review of what could have been within the next five picks. For the record, I tried to go with the alternative here unless Edmonton’s pick was indisputably the best. If a case could be made for somebody else in that spot, I went with that player to make things more interesting:
2007
Actual Draft: Sam Gagner, Alex Plante, Riley Nash, Linus Omark, Milan Kytnar, William Quist
Potential Draft: Jakub Voracek, Ian Cole, Max Pacioretty, Matt Frattin, Jamie Benn, Patrick Maroon
2008
Actual Draft: Jordan Eberle, Johan Motin, Philippe Cornet, Teemu Hartikainen, Jordan Bendfeld
Potential Draft: John Carlson, Michal Jordan, Tomas Kubalik, Mike Murphy, Joacim Eriksson
2009
Actual Draft: Magnus Paajarvi, Anton Lander, Troy Hesketh, Cameron Abney, Kyle Bigos, Toni Rajala, Olivier Roy
Potential Draft: Ryan Ellis, Drew Shore, Andrej Nestrasil, Cody Eakin, Marcus Foligno, Sami Vatanen, Corban Knight
2010
Actual Draft: Taylor Hall, Tyler Pitlick, Martin Marincin, Curtis Hamilton, Ryan Martindale, Jeremie Blain, Tyler Bunz, Brandon Davidson, Drew Czerwonka, Kristians Pelss, Kellen Jones
Potential Draft: Tyler Seguin, Alex Petrovic, Tyler Toffoli, Calvin Pickard, Radko Gudas, Sam Brittain, Zach Hyman, Zane McIntyre, Anthony Bitetto, Kristians Pelss, Kellen Jones
2011
Actual Draft: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom, David Musil, Samu Perhonen, Travis Ewanyk, Dillon Simpson, Tobias Rieder, Martin Gernat, Frans Tuohimaa
Potential Draft: Gabriel Landeskog, Connor Murphy, Ty Rattie, Adam Lowry, Klas Dahlbeck, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Tobias Rieder, Brenden Kichton, Iiro Pakarinen
2012
Actual Draft: Nail Yakupov, Mitch Moroz, Jujhar Khaira, Daniil Zharkov, Erik Gustafsson, Joey Laleggia, John McCarron
Potential Draft: Morgan Rielly, Ville Pokka, Jimmy Vesey, Josh Anderson, Kevin Roy, Joey Laleggia, Connor Brown
2013
Actual Draft: Darnell Nurse, Marco Roy, Bogdan Yakimov, Anton Slepyshev, Jackson Houck, Kyle Platzer, Aidan Muir, Evan Campbell, Ben Betker, Greg Chase
Potential Draft: Bo Horvat, Eric Comrie, Sven Andrighetto, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Juuse Saros, Nick Paul, Jan Kostalek, Cole Ully, Bet Betker, Greg Chase
2014
Actual Draft: Leon Draisaitl, William Lagesson, Zach Nagelvoort, Liam Coughlin, Tyler Vesel, Keven Bouchard
Potential Draft: Sam Bennett, Ville Husso, Viktor Arvidsson, Dysin Mayo, Jake Marchment, Austin Carroll
As you can see, the results speak for themselves and it’s blatantly obvious why MacGregor and a few other amateur scouts are now out of a job.
The draft is always a woulda-coulda-shoulda in hindsight for every team, but the Oilers have struggled more than most over that eight-year span.
With Green overseeing the drafting department going forward, it’ll be interesting to see whether he fares any better for Edmonton.
The 2015 draft class — which was limited to six picks, including two seventh-rounders, following a series of trades for more proven talents — appears promising beyond McDavid, but we’ll be able to better evaluate this latest haul of prospects in a couple years time.
Larry Fisher is a sports reporter for The Daily Courier in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Follow him on Twitter: @LarryFisher_KDC.