The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2016 NHL Draft with four picks in the second and third rounds, and contrary to expectations didn’t trade any of those selections away. The club drafted winger Tyler Benson No. 32 overall, then turned to defence, taking three blueliners in rapid succession.

While it was surprising to see Edmonton make all three picks, there wasn’t much surprise as to which players they took. The Edmonton Journal‘s Jim Matheson nailed the Oilers’ first two selections Saturday in a tweet last night: 

As a result, we talked about both Benson (the Oilers’ No. 32 pick) and Niemelainen (chosen No. 63 overall) in a post Friday. Here’s hoiw I described both players there:

No. 32: LW Tyler Benson. Benson’s stock fell this year as injuries limited him to just 30 games; he was a top prospect entering the season but now is projected as a late second-round selection in most publications. He did put up 28 points in those 30 games and gets good reviews for intelligence and work ethic. THN questions his skating; ISS wonders if he has the scoring touch to play in the top-six.

No. 61: LD Markus Niemelainen. A 6’5” left-shot defenceman with a history of playing on the right side, Niemelainen gets good marks as a skater. He’s also described as a two-way defender, capable of both handling the puck and defending. He’s not overly physical and there are questions about his offensive upside.

In addition to those players, the Oilers drafted two other defencemen with the picks previous acquired for Teddy Purcell (Florida’s No. 84) and Justin Schultz (Pittsburgh’s No. 91 selection).

No. 84: LD Matthew Cairns. A 6’2″, 190-pound defenceman who plays a two-way game, Cairns was named the OJHL’s top prospect this year. He’s likely bound to the USHL next year and then Cornell the season after, so this is a long-term selection. Cairns is projectable, combining size and decent offensive numbers with skating ability. 

No. 91: RD Filip Berglund. Berglund is an overage selection, as he was born in May 1997 and was thus eligible for the 2015 Draft. He’s listed at 6’3″ and 209 pounds and scored at a point-per-game pace at the U-20 level in Sweden this past season. He’s also a right shot. Elite Prospects praises his size and smarts, but cautions that he’s “not a speedster.”

None of these defenceman should be expected to help right away, but combined with the selections the Oilers made in 2015 it’s clear that the organization is building up a stockpile at the position.