WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE 2015 DRAFT?
By Lowetide
8 years agoThe Edmonton Oilers received a stunning gift last month when the lottery went their way and fans (rightly) are still trying to find the words. As we spend more time watching this young man, more questions arise: Could this be the best Oilers draft ever? That’s basically impossible, but how good could it be?
BEST OILERS DRAFTS, ALL-TIME
- 1979-(Kevin Lowe, Mark
Messier, Glenn Anderson). This would be my choice for best draft ever by the Oilers. Messier was a killer, an absolute
killer. Anderson was a legend too, it’s ridiculous they got them same
year along with a durable defender in Lowe. - 1980-(Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Walt Poddubny, Andy Moog).
Kurri played on the best line in hockey for ages and at the peak of his
NHL career scored 45, 52, 71, 68 and 54 goals as an Oiler. Paul Coffey
was the best offensive defenseman of his era and one of the best of all
time, and Andy Moog was a quality goaltender for a long time. Poddubny
established himself as a solid role player in the NHL during his career.
You may prefer one over another, but I think we have the best surrounded. As a two-year cluster, with Gretzky already in the fold? Ridiculous.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THIS SEASON?
Scott Cullen of TSN wrote a terrific article in June of 2014 giving us a range of expectations for draft picks. Using the Oilers current draft numbers (some of these are projected and subject to change) we get a fascinating look at the possibilities:
- No. 1 overall: Cullen’s top end—Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin; Average—A 1line F or top-pairing defender.
- No. 16 overall: Cullen’s top end—R.J. Umberger or Markus Naslund. Average is fringe NHL player.
- No. 33 overall: Cullen’s top end—Doug Weight or James Neal. Average is very good minor league player.
- No. 60 overall: Cullen’s top end—Zdeno Chara or Brandon Dubinsky. Average is minor leaguer.
- No. 79 overall: Cullen’s top end—Jonathan Quick or Chris Drury. Average is minor leaguer.
- No. 88 overall: Cullen’s top end—Sergei Zubov or Milan Hejduk. Average is minor leaguer.
Now there is no way they score on all of these picks (there may be one more along if the Habs go deep enough) but the No. 1 overall selection may in fact be a generational talent (good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise).
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about that Pittsburgh pick. Pick any (and I mean any) service and this draft is 20 deep (at least) with outstanding prospects.
BOB MCKENZIE MID-SEASON TOP 20
- Connor McDavid
- Jack Eichel
- Noah Hanifin
- Dylan Strome
- Mitch Marner
- Lawson Crouse
- Pavel Zacha
- Zach Werenski
- Mikko Rantnanen
- Mathew Barzal
- Oliver Kylington
- Ivan Provorov
- Kyle Connor
- Larry Bittner
- Travis Konecny
- Jacob Zboril
- Brandon Carlo
- Colin White
- Nick Merkley
- Timo Meier
CRAIG BUTTON APRIL TOP 20
- Connor McDavid
- Jack Eichel
- Dylan Strome
- Mitch Marner
- Ivan Provorov
- Zach Werenski
- Kyle Connor
- Brock Boeser
- Timo Meier
- Thomas Chabot
- Lawson Crouse
- Noah Hanifin
- Nick Merkley
- Mikko Rantanen
- Evgeni Svechnikov
- Jansen Harkins
- Anthony Beauvillier
- Mathew Barzal
- Thomas Novak
- Jakub Zboril
This is a very strong draft and those names represent exceptional value. I’m not saying Peter Chiarelli shouldn’t trade the Pittsburgh selection but he has to get substantial value if he’s going to move the pick.
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