Five Oilers on Pronman’s List of the Best U-23 Players in the NHL

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The Athletic (Pronman)

Ranking the best under-23 NHL players: Does Cale Makar or Andrei Svechnikov top the list?

79. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Edmonton: The skating is a separator at the NHL level. He works, he can win battles despite his 5-foot-8 frame and he creates offense around the net front area… I like the way he plays. I think he’s a long-term top-six forward, but he’s not going to realistically come close to the number he hit in the 2019-20 season.
90. Dylan Holloway, C, Edmonton: He won’t be the most dangerous player with the puck on his stick on an NHL line, but he can drive play while also being a physical player off the puck. I see a projected top-six forward in the NHL.
124. Evan Bouchard, RHD, Edmonton: His skating isn’t the best and how good a defender he can be in the NHL is the main question on his game due to his feet. I think over the years he’s shown he can be competent enough there, even if it won’t be his main strength. I see for sure an NHL player, with the possibility to be a good top-four defenseman.
127. Philip Broberg, LHD, Edmonton: Can he make enough plays as a distributor to create offense? Why is his defending and gap work not a standout part of his game given his feet (which scouts think will come with time)? There’s way too much talent here, so I see a top-four defenseman, and there is a possibility for more to justify his draft slot…
159. Xavier Bourgault, C, Edmonton: He’s not an exceptional skater, but he will be able to skate at an NHL level, and has shown he can make skilled plays on the move and play with pace. I wouldn’t describe Bourgault as a physical player or the first guy over the boards on the penalty kill, but he backchecks well enough and creates turnovers with his hustle. Bourgault projects as a middle-six NHL forward, likely on the wing.

BLH’s Thoughts: Pronman’s list is 194 deep and of course there are some players ranked in questionable spots but it’s his list and if one was so bothered, they’d make their own.

That said, the Edmonton Oilers have FIVE players on said list and that sounds fantastic to me. Personally, I reckon Bouchard will be the best of that group of Oilers followed by Broberg, Holloway, Bourgault, and Yamamoto.

Interesting to note that Broberg, Yamo, Bourgault, and Holloway have all had injury challenges early in their careers. Knock on Wood that Evan Bouchard is lucky enough to stave off any time on the IR.

Oilersnation (Yaremchuk)

Who Should Be McDavid’s Linemates at the Olympics?

It’s pretty clear to me that MacKinnon is the second-best player in the league and the idea of putting him on a line with McDavid for 20 minutes every single game is just too good to pass up.
Put Crosby down the middle, throw McDavid and Mackinnon on his wings and just let them run wild.
I think having (Mark) Stone go hard to the net while MacKinnon and McDavid run things around the perimeter in the o-zone would make life very difficult for the opposition.
He (Brad Marchand) has the speed and offensive skill to keep up with the two of them and his willingness to go to the tough areas of the ice would only create more space for the other two to work their magic.
What if Zach Hyman is scoring at a crazy clip and is on pace to have a 40 goal season when Canada has to make their final roster decisions? Could they look at him as a viable option to make the team? He could also kill penalties and that’s something they may need to have on their roster.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Jonathan Huberdeau, Matt Barzal, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares

BLH’s Thoughts: No to Mark Scheifele eh? What has the Winnipeg Jets captain done to deserve such disrespect? You’ve got to be off your rocker if you don’t think he could play on Team Canada’s top line. Simple as that.

Let Sid play with Marchand and Bergeron like they have in the past and throw Scheifele, McDavid, and MacKinnon over the boards and watch the domination commence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63TTnGqMprE

NHLRumors.com

Craig Morgan: (responding to a now deleted tweet) Confirm from sources that Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is not on the trade block. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s not available as they want to build around him

Cory Lavalette: Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell said that they only talked to Jesperi Kotkaniemi and his agent about a one-year deal and he has “no idea” what they would want on a long-term contract.

Shawn Simpson: “If Tkachuk is being offered 8 x 8, I sign that in a minute if I’m BT. That’s great money and security. Nothing stops you from forcing a move down the road.”

Shawn Simpson: Have been told that (Logan) Brown won’t be heading to Ottawa. If he’s not traded, he will go play in Sweden.