The 2019 NHL Entry Draft is just around the corner and I’ve got a plethora of draft guides sitting on my desktop and in my tablet just waiting to be utilized. So I thought a good idea might be to use the picks from each guide’s rankings to perform the draft for the Edmonton Oilers.
Now, some guides don’t have enough players ranked to do the entire draft, so we’ll just have to do with rounds one to four in that case, but for the rest that do have enough, I’ll lay them out for you and give you the best brief reports on those players that I can. I haven’t watched all of the players and therefore I’ll be forced to go with reports from other publications and my own digging about to get a good idea on them in order to present it to you.
Today we’re going to begin with the Future Considerations draft guide, which you can find here. It’s $24.99 CDN +GST but if you use the code 2019DRAFT, you should get about $5 off.
The Oilers have the no.8, 38, 85, 100, 162, and 193 picks in the draft and this is who Future Considerations has ranked at those numbers.
8 – Trevor Zegras – C – 6’0″ 169lbs – USNTDP (USHL/NCAA) – 60gp 26g 61a 97pts 94PIM
If Jack Hughes is Mitch Marner then Trevor Zegras would be Elias Pettersson. Zegras’ ability to find his teammates with a highlight reel pass is unrivaled in this draft class. He is by far the flashiest player available this year. While his unpredictable creativity and ability to make high-risk plays are his bread and butter, other aspects of his game shouldn’t be ignored. If he gets a sniff of the net, he’s going to finish the play on his own because the lightning-fast release on his shot allows him to. His escapability along the boards and the way he uses his edges to slip out of dodgy situations is phenomenal. To add to that, he’s added an element of tenacity to his game this season that was lacking previously.
What you’re not going to like about this player is that sometimes he tries to do it all on his own. He’s very confident in that way to a fault. He’s infuriated a number of NHL scouts over the year because he’s been in situations where a simple play would’ve sufficed but he’s tried to dangle and failed.
So while he’s very gifted in the skill department, you have to wonder if that’s enough going forward. If it was, there’s a tailor-made spot ready for him when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leaves the team on the 2nd line.
BLH’s Pick: Matthew Boldy – LW – 6’1″ 192lbs – USNTDP (USHL/NCAA) (ranked 9th)
I’m a HUGE Boldy fan. I feel like he’s the most complete player in the draft and the Oilers could really use a guy with his skill set as they start to become perennial playoff contenders under the new regime. If you like a player like Ryan O’Reilly, then you’ll love Boldy’s all-around game.
“If you take Hughes and Kakko out of the mix, this kid has probably shown me the next best game out of a draft-eligible player this year.” – The Hockey News
“Boldy is a multi-faceted forward who is one of the more talented players in this class. He has a unique blend of size, skill, anticipation, and vision. The combined attributes allow him to make some of the higher-end plays we’ve seen from any forward this season” – Hockeyprospect.com
38 – Yegor Spiridonov – C – 6’3″ 192lbs – Magnitogorsk 2 (RUS2) – 43gp 15g 26a 41pts 28PIM
As I watched the right-shooting Spiridonov at the u18s, I noticed how big this guy was. I thought that he would be so dominant because of his size but I was left wanting with his performances. That said, his shot is ridiculous. It’s NHL-level.
Problem with the big Russian is his boots. He’s not a good skater… At all. A good way to think of his as an Oilers fan might be to compare him to Alex Chiasson. He’s very industrious and his game thrives in the dirty areas. Like, he’s an ox out there. So Strong.
So if the Oilers needed to upgrade their grit and add a player who pays attention to the defensive side of the puck but aren’t worried about skill, Spiridonov might be their guy.
BLH’s Pick: Ryan Johnson – D – 6’0″ 173lbs – Sioux Falls (USHL) (ranked 42nd)
I picked Johnson here because of his skating and puck moving abilities. At this point in time, the Oilers only really have Caleb Jones who can both move the puck effectively but also skate really well. Bouchard, Samorukov, nor Bear can skate like Jones can and I feel like adding Johnson would give the team a good NHL-ready option in about three or four years.
“A smooth skater with high-end skills, Johnson plays a simple game and is calm when he has the puck in and among pressure. Due to his skating ability, he’s a great option to carry the puck up the ice. His positioning is good, his transition game is above average and he plays strong on his skates. Showing awesome aggressiveness in front of his own net, he ties up bodies and the sticks of opponents well.” – Future Considerations
85 – Samuel Fagemo – LW – 6’0″ 194lbs – Frolunda (SHL) – 42gp 14g 11a 25pts 80PIM
After reading multiple scouting reports on this guy, I’ve come to the conclusion that he is Pontus Aberg 2.0 sans the quickness. He’s got a fantastic shot and he preys on goalies from the left half-wall because he’s a righty but he’s inconsistent, he’s lazy in his own zone, and he lacks the speed necessary to make an impact in the NHL.
BLH’s Pick: Judd Caulfield – RW – 6’3″ 207lbs – USNDTP (USHL/NCAA) (ranked 87th)
The reason I chose Caulfield is because of the game he specializes in. I don’t feel like Edmonton has this sort of player coming through the ranks and to me, he’s got a bit of that JJ Khaira in him. The team is going to need heavy players if it wants to go deep into the playoffs and if they can develop him right, what’s stopping him from being a Sundqvist-like player for them.
“A power forward, Caulfield has a big frame and plays a heavy game, which is a compliment to his demeanor. He moves well on his skates. Although he needs to gain more speed, he does not play slow. Quick with his decision-making skills, he’s able to make moves with the puck on his stick while skating through high-traffic areas. He has soft hands and a good, quick release. He also shows nice consistency with his shot.” – Future Considerations
100 – Luke Toporowski – C – 5’11” 179lbs – Spokane (WHL) – 67gp 21g 28a 49pts 62PIM
I think that coaches going forward will like this guy. He spends quite a bit of time inside the dots, he’s a great skater with sharp edgework. He’s feisty and he’s very positionally aware resulting in the puck finding him more often than not. To me, he sounds like an energy forward in the same vein as a Brandon Tanev.
BLH’s Pick: Semyon Chistyakov – D – 5’10” 168lbs – Tolpar UFA (RUS-JR) (ranked 104th)
I really liked watching this little Russian defender play at the U18s. He was that team’s general on defense and the plays really flowed through him. He’s a mini-tank out there too that doesn’t take any guff. His puckhandling, decision making, and shot from the point were all really impressive to me. He can make a pass like nobody’s business too, short or long.
“Although he has a below average frame, his body is strong and athletic and he plays a very physical game. He also has a lot of grit and throws his body around willingly. He battles opponents in the slot and crease effectively and can be really nasty along the boards.” -Future Considerations
162 – Anthony Romano – C – 5’11” 182lbs – Sioux Falls (USHL) – 60gp 26g 21a 47pts 34PIM
From what I’ve gathered, Romano is a chihuahua trapped in a bulldog’s body. His compete level is very high and his home is as close as he can get to the blue paint as possible. Some have compared him to Patric Hornqvist with regards to his net-front abilities and playing style. The skating still needs work, mind you.
BLH’s Pick: Nicolas Guay – RW – 6’0″ 185lbs – Drummondville (QMJHL) (ranked 177th)
I’ll be honest here, I just went with the scouting reports on this one. We’re getting into the nitty-gritty here and there’s not a lot out there one these late round projected picks. Guay is an overager, but 40 goals and 47 assists in 64 games jumped out at me right away. Plus from all reports, his work ethic, attitude, and leadership abilities are top notch. I dig that.
“A complete two-way forward, he is above average in every aspect of the game. He has great hand-eye coordination, which helps him deflect powerful shots and chip-in quick rebounds.” – Future Considerations
193 – Radek Muzik – LW – 6’3″ 179lbs – Lulea (SWE-JR) – 38gp 8g 14a 22pts 18PIM
Not the greatest skater in the world but if that’s the only complaint against him, I can live with that but it isn’t. His hands and puckhandling need improvement and even though he has a hard wrister, he doesn’t it enough. That said, he’s not flashy and he plays an honest game. Muzik excels in the areas of the game where gritensity is required. His size allows him to be effective along the boards and in the defensive zone. He’s a very passionate player that will do what’s necessary to get the job done. He’s also captained the Czech team in their intl appearances over the last year.
BLH’s Pick: Josh Williams – RW – 6’1″ 194lbs – Edmonton (WHL) (ranked 213th)
I’m willing to take a shot on Josh Williams with a late-pick for the Oilers here. I don’t know what happened to him this year in Medicine Hat and then in Edmonton, but it was enough to throw his whole season out of whack. I saw him light goalies up at the Hlinka/Gretzky tournament last summer and I got a bit of the Mark Stone feeling. As in, poor skater, pretty good everywhere else. I feel like this pick would be very low risk but potentially a high reward.
“Williams greatest strength lies in his ability with the puck. Makes good decisions and has the balance and hands to play in traffic. He’s got a good shot; he flashed some of his good shooting skills at the Hlinka/Gretzky cup with 5 goals in 5 games” – HockeyProspect.com
What do you think about who Future Considerations has picked for the Oilers or who I picked instead? Let me know in the comments below!
