DARNELL NURSE, NO.  7 OVERALL 2013

• Nurse was a famous player on his draft day, he was the second defender (Seth Jones) plucked in the draft that year. His father (Richard) was a CFL player, his sister Kia a successful basketball player and his uncle (Donovan McNabb) had an outstanding NFL career for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Nurse is an impressive physical player, standing 6.04, 213 and possessing terrific speed. It’s an unusual and valuable combination and contributed to his draft number.
• During his junior career (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL), his offensive numbers improved each season (.603, .781 and .917 points-per-game by year). His NHLE’s suggested a two-way defender, someone who would deliver much of his career value on the defensive side of the puck.
• Nurse was a rock for Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship.
• As a pro, Nurse arrived in the NHL early (19) and has played only nine AHL regular-season games. Although some time on the farm may have benefited him, Nurse arrived in the NHL and quickly moved up the depth chart due to injury.
• Nurse’s rookie season in the NHL saw a lot of raw talent on display and plenty of chaos. Year two (this past season) saw him make real progress, although injury impacted him (Nurse played just 44 regular season games.
• Summary: Nurse is one of many young Oilers playing in his first playoff spring. His combination of size and mobility have been on display, and we’ve seen mistakes of youth (as is to be expected). In 115 NHL games (and playoffs), Nurse has given Oilers fans a lot to be excited about and won the trust of coach Todd McLellan. Still miles to go.

MARC-OLIVIER ROY, NO. 56 OVERALL 2013

• In July of 2011, Steve Tambellini traded young forward Andrew Cogliano to the Anaheim Ducks for a second-round pick two years down the road. The odds of a second-round pick being worth a young NHL player like Andrew Cogliano is very low, and of course it has come to pass. That should not reflect on Marc-Olivier Roy.
• On the day he was drafted, Roy was described as being a solid two-way center. That’s the kind of player NHL teams grab in the second round, as all or most of the high-end skill guys have been plucked by No. 56 overall.
• Roy did not progress enough offensively (draft year and following points-per-game: 1.03; .897 and .847) and the Oilers chose not to sign him in the summer of 2015.
• Roy did not land an NHL contract that summer, so signed an AHL deal with the Bakersfield Condors (42gp, 8-12-20). In the summer of 2016, he signed another AHL deal with the Utica Comets (Vancouver’s affiliate) but played only 23 games.
• Summary: Roy went in the range of expectation, so he could be judged as a reasonable bet on draft day. His offense did not develop as hoped, and after two seasons in the AHL he is at something of a crossroads. Expansion may offer opportunity, Europe too, and we may see Roy back in the AHL. He needs to get ice time in order to have success and re-establish himself as a prospect. That may mean Europe.

BOGDAN YAKIMOV, NO. 83 OVERALL, 2013

• Bogdan Yakimov is the first player we will discuss who was involved in that crazy trade on the draft floor, 2013. Craig MacTavish traded down from No. 37 overall (LAK chose Valentin Zykov) in exchange for No. 57 overall (William Carrier was chosen by STL, more in a minute), No. 88 overall (Anton Slepyshev) and No. 96 overall (Kyle Platzer).
• MacT then dealt No. 57 (Carrier would be chosen) for No. 83 (Bogdan Yakimov), No. 94 oerall (Jackson Houck) and No. 113 (Aidan Muir).
• We’ll discuss each Oiler pick as we go through this piece, but the current NHL games played standings in this deal are: Anton Slepyshev (52); William Carrier (41); Valentin Zykov (2) and Bogdan Yakimov (1).
• In his draft year +1, Yakimov put together a solid if unspectacular season in the KHL with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik (33gp, 7-5-12). The Oilers brought him over to North America for year two, and early training camp talk had him pushing for full-time duty in the NHL (he would play his one and only game in this season).
• Yakimov began the 2015-16 season in Bakersfield but jumped back to the KHL mid-season. He has been there since.
• Summary: Yakimov had a pedestrian season in the KHL (50gp, 3-8-11) that in many ways is less impressive than his draft+1 season. It’s impossible to know where he is as a player, but at 6.05, 232 and 22 years old, he’s going to play somewhere this coming year. We all have our opinions of his status with the Oilers organization, we’ll find out this summer what the organization has planned for him. He is RFA and we will see what happens over the next couple of months.

ANTON SLEPYSHEV, NO. 88 OVERALL, 2013

• Oilers fans who have been following the team’s drafts over many years were genuinely shocked when Craig MacTavish grabbed a Russian (playing in Russia) at No. 83 (Bogdan Yakimov). The shock counted double when Edmonton selected another Russian Russian at No. 88, Anton Slepyshev.
• Slepyshev (as mentioned above) is the current clubhouse leader on that crazy draft day trade, meaning Edmonton has the edge (although it is early).
• Draft+1 Slepyshev scored just eight points in 36 games with Ufa (KHL). The following season, at age 20, Slepyshev flourished for the same team, going 15-10-25 in 58 games.
• In the fall of 2015, Slepyshev made the Oilers out of training camp, with new coach Todd McLellan saying all kinds of nice things about him (“He has the ability to play a heavy game and use his shot. He’s played with speed guys and with grinders … he’s getting better night after night and he’s really opening the coaches’ eyes.”) at that time.
• After being sent down during the 2015-16 season, Slepyshev posted pedestrian AHL numbers. Entering training camp 2016, it was anyone’s guess as to what kind of progression we would see from him.
• Summary: Slepyshev won a few roster battles this year and he also had some good luck. His offense (41gp, 4-6-10) doesn’t separate him from the crowd, but his size, speed and skill does. Slepyshev looks like an NHL player, and he is very likely to get an 82-game season to show how much offense he can bring.

JACKSON HOUCK, NO. 94 OVERALL, 2013

• Houck was drafted out of the Vancouver Giants after a solid 17-year old season (69gp, 23-34-57). He scored 34 goals the following year, but the boxcars basically ran in place in his two seasons post draft year.
• At 20, the Oilers didn’t sign him and Houck returned to junior for his 20-year old season. He turned pro in 2016-17 and played in the ECHL.

KYLE PLATZER, NO. 96 OVERALL, 2013

• Kyle Platzer was a ‘draft and follow’ selection, meaning he wasn’t a full-time player in his draft year but looked good in part-time play. Platzer is a center, but the London Knights were so deep at that time Platzer played other positions (including defense) just to stay in the lineup.
• He blossomed in draft+1, scoring 22 goals, 13 after being dealt to the Owen Sound Attack. In draft+2, Platzer had an impact season (69gp, 34-47-81) before turning pro.
• His pro career has been a disappointment, but I can’t tell if he isn’t performing well or simply not getting ice time. His two seasons in the AHL have him at 103gp, 9-19-28.
• Summary: Platzer’s final season on his entry-level deal is to come, and it’s time for him to push up the depth chart.

AIDAN MUIR, NO. 113 OVERALL, 2013

• Aidan Muir was drafted from Victory Honda Midget. He is a big winger (6.04, 212) who scored well in the USHL in draft+1.
• Since then, Muir has been inconsistent (and injured at times) in the NCAA with Western Michigan University.
• His performance as a freshman (36gp, 6-9-15) remains his best college season.
• Summary: It is difficult to know the level of interest in Muir at this time, but his size alone probably keeps the Oilers monitoring the situation. Muir needs to stay healthy and post some boxcars if he is to earn an NHL contract from the Oilers.

EVAN CAMPBELL, NO. 128 OVERALL, 2013

• Evan Campbell is the first member of the Langley Rivermen to be drafted by the Edmonton Oilers.
• He scored nine goals at age 20, in his first NCAA season with U-Mass Lowell. In the following three seasons, he scored 12, 5, and 1 in his senior year.
• He signed an AHL ATO with Bakersfield after his college career ended.
• Note: This has happened countless times before, but the kicker on Campbell’s career is that the Oilers’ monitoring his post-draft career allowed them to follow the progress of Joe Gambardella. Edmonton signed the free agent this spring.

BEN BETKER, NO. 158 OVERALL, 2013

• Ben Betker is 6.06, 228 and has shutdown skills.
• He was drafted from Everett (WHL) and had three solid seasons in junior before turning pro in 2015.
• So far Betker has played in 54 ECHL and 44 AHL games in two seasons since turning pro.
• Summary: Betker has performed well since his draft day and may well play all year in Bakersfield in 2016-17. His progress is difficult to track (not a lot of offense) but with his wingspan, he can play a long time at the level his skill allows.

GREG CHASE, NO. 188 OVERALL, 2013

• Chase was drafted while playing for the Calgary Hitmen. He is one of five men drafted by the Oilers while playing for a Calgary team.
• Warren Yadlowski (Calgary Wranglers  WHL, 1983); Mike Greenlay (Calgary Midgets, 1986); Shaun Norrie (Calgary Hitmen WHL, 2000); Alex Plante (Calgary Hitmen, 2007) were the previous picks. Only Greenlay and Plante have played NHL games.
• Chase had a dynamite draft +1 year with the Hitmen, but the following season found himself traded to Victoria (where he also played well).
• After a successful junior career, Chase has struggled in his two years of pro hockey. Hehas posted 43gp, 18-19-37 in the ECHL, but only 67gp, 4-17-21 in the AHL.
• Summary: Along with Kyle Platzer, Chase is a player who has to perform well in the final year of his entry-level deal.