The Oilers’ Top Ten Most Wanted NHL Draft Prospects

I’m going to put my amateur scouting hat on here and go about releasing my top ten list for this year’s NHL draft. This is a draft where you’d have to be down right inept at your job to miss on a player and where the Oilers are selecting as of today, they’re assured of a quality NHL player for years to come.

But what is it that Edmonton needs most in regards to its prospect pool? Is it skill, character, or toughness? Will they be looking for the best player available or the best player for them? Let’s take a look at what our options are.

1. Connor McDavid – C – (Erie Otters) – NHLe to date is 64 pts.
   The best two-way forward to come through the draft since Jonathan Toews or Sidney Crosby. Silky smooth operator with hands, creativity and vision so rare it only comes around every decade or so. Even apart from his pending superstar status he would bring a wealth of talent and skill that the Oilers don’t have. Doubt he’d be getting scratched due to his inability to play a two-way game.
2. Jack Eichel – C – (Boston University) – NHLe to date is 58 pts.
   The American Jagr. Has size, power, puck patience and a laser of a shot to boot. You build teams around players like this. Would Eichel be the guy that could finally crack open the safe that is Nail Yakupov’s potential? Will Yakupov even be in Edmonton by the time Jack Eichel is running the show?
3. Noah Hanifin – D – (Boston College) – NHLe to date is 21 pts.
   Pairing this guy with Darnell Nurse might give the Oilers the “Pronger/Niedermayer” pairing they’ve been dreaming about for some time now. Hanifin has ice water running through his veins. Extremely high hockey IQ and an elite PP quarterback. Hanifin is possibly the best skater in the draft. But I’m not 100% sold on the Oilers picking him if they are in the three spot. He’s not a banger like Shea Weber nor is a he high octane like Erik Karlsson. He’s a bit boring to put it honestly. But Niklas Lidstrom wasn’t exactly all that dynamic either, he just did everything extremely well.
4. Dylan Strome – C – (Erie Otters) – NHLe to date is 45 pts.
   Clutch on the face-off dot. Outstanding playmaking ability. Great skater and tough to move off of the puck. Think a better skating Joe Thornton. An excellent complementary player but has the ability to take over a game on his own as well. Strome-Draisaitl-Yakupov… Give that trio some thought.
5. Mitch Marner – C/RW – (London Knights) – NHLe to date is 49 pts.
   Skills to thrill. Give this kid the puck and get comfortable. Hell, grab a soda and some popcorn and enjoy the show. Uber-talented with the puck. He’s like that ringer from beer league that just tells you to just get open and he’ll get you the puck. That’s after he’s dangled everyone else on the ice. Even though Edmonton is pretty stacked with top 6 forwards, you can never have enough high-end prospects in the system. Could easily be moved to the wing and play a Pat Kane-like role.
6. Nick Merkley – C/RW – (Kelowna Rockets) – NHLe to date is 31 pts.
   Merkley is a talented two-way playmaking center. He’s very creative and not afraid to go to the dirty areas. I’ve heard him compared to Curtis Lazar in terms of a playing style. We all know how much Lazar was liked in Edmonton during his days with the Oil Kings.
7. Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs) – NHLe to date is 22 pts.
   His numbers are not something to write home about but the feeling I am getting is he is the fancy stats guys pick. A big NHL-ready body that does the little things well. The Oilers don’t have a player like this in their system but we know how much they love the Coke machines. Would Crouse be considered a Coke machine though or is he more of the Tank variety? Mitch Moroz is similar size-wise but Crouse’s speed, technical skills and two-way game set him apart.
8. Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting) – NHLe to date is 23 pts.
   The 6’3″ 200lb Czech is a wildcard with a mean streak but when he’s on his game he’s a game changer. He’s got an NHL-ready physique and a power forward playing style. To me, I have to wonder if his skill set is close to that of former Edmonton 1st rounder Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi but the difference being Zacha is one mean SOB. He’s been suspended on numerous occasions this his first year in the OHL but maybe having a guy with a short fuse on the team wouldn’t be so bad…
9. Mikko Rantanen (TPS Turku) – NHLe to date is 20 pts.
   Loved his WJHC. A big guy at 6’4″ and is already getting a regular shift in the top Finnish league. He’s very stealthy in the offensive zone and is quite apt at finding the scoring opportunities and even more able at finishing them off.
10. Jansen Harkins – C – (Prince George Cougars) – NHLe to date is 30 points.
    One of the better two-way character players available in this year’s draft. Harkins is a whiz on the dot and outstanding in his own zone. The Oilers have been scouting him hard this year and I reckon he’d be one of those guys Edmonton would trade up to get with their 1st rounder they acquired in the Perron trade.

Honorable Mentions: Matt Barzal (Seattle), Oliver Kylington (Farjestads), Timo Meier (Halifax)

Should Edmonton get any of the names in the top 5, who on the current roster would eventually become expendable? I mean the Oilers surely couldn’t keep all of these young superstars could they? Eventually one or more would have to be moved. Would that be a bad thing if it were to shore up some holes elsewhere on the roster?

Thanks for reading! Comment below and let me know who your top ten for this upcoming draft is for the Oilers.

Catch me on Twitter if you please @beerleagueheroe.