Oilers Select Leon Draisaitl

With the third overall pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft, the Oilers decided to select Leon Draisaitl from the WHL’s Price Albert Raiders. Leon is a big and skilled center that could potentially fit as the second line center moving forward.

Draisaitl fills a hole in the prospect system in Edmonton, as the Oilers simply do not have a center in the system that can fill a top-six role. He’s a guy that has put up good offensive numbers in junior, plays a solid possession game, and is a decent overall player. Many compare him to Anze Kopitar, which is exactly what the Oilers lack in their lineup.

Of course, as the Oilers seem to be in love with, Leon has a ton of size, and already becomes one of the biggest top-six forwards in Edmonton. He’s got a lot of potential and could very well be in the lineup come October 9th.

That all being said, I’m not a huge fan of the pick. I firmly believe the Oilers have been putting far too much stock into size, and passed on a great player in Sam Bennett. I think the Oilers missed a chance to get a great player in Bennett, and also missed a great chance to maybe grab some established help for the pick.

We’ll see what Draisaitl does, but ideally he is back to the WHL this coming fall, and not in the Oiler lineup.

Draisaitl’s profile can be found here compliments the Edmonton Journal:

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2014/03/19/scouting-report-top-prospect-leon-draisaitl-impresses-in-biggest-game-of-the-season/

More as it happens from the draft.