WHAT IF PULJUJARVI IS AVAILABLE AT NO. 4?
By Lowetide
7 years agoWe have been operating under the general understanding that the top of the draft is written in stone. By the time Edmonton drafts at No. 4 overall, all of Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi will be off the board. A funny thing happened at the Memorial Cup, and Matt Tkachuk may have pushed his way into the conversation. What happens if Tkachuk goes No. 3?
Most Oilers fans I speak to are pretty excited about the idea of Matt Tkachuk patrolling the portside beside Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He appears to be a bona fide offensive player and, while it is never guaranteed, if he can bring most of that offense to the NHL Edmonton will have a gem.
Or will they?
Elliotte Friedman 30 Thoughts
- Friedman: Matt Tkachuk is “gaining momentum,” as one executive put it, days after the London
Knight bulled his way through the Memorial Cup. You know the NHL’s
preoccupation with skilled power forwards, and he certainly qualifies.Conventional wisdom is Auston Matthews goes first to Toronto, with
Patrik Laine following to Winnipeg. I think we all expected Jesse
Puljujarvi to go third, but it sure sounds like Tkachuk is pushing his
way into the picture. - Source
In looking at the 2016 entry draft, the prospects from No. 4 to No. 9
(or so) are all over the place based on published rankings.
(or so) are all over the place based on published rankings.
International Scouting Services
- Auston Matthews
- Patrik Laine
- Jesse Puljujarvi
- Matt Tkachuk
- Pierre-Luc Dubois
- Alex Nylander
- Logan Brown
- Jakob Chyrchrun
- Tyson Jost
- Mikhail Sergachev
Red Line Report
- Auston Matthews
- Patrik Laine
- Jesse Puljujarvi
- Matt Tkachuk
- Pierre-Luc Dubois
- Jake Bean
- Tyson Jost
- Alex Nylander
- Jakob Chyrchrun
- Dante Fabbro
Hockey Prospect.com
- Auston Matthews
- Patrik Laine
- Jesse Puljujarvi
- Pierre-Luc Dubois
- Matt Tkachuk
- Olli Juolevi
- Logan Brown
- Mikhail Sergachev
- Clayton Keller
- Tyson Jost
If the Columbus Blue Jackets take Tkachuk, the initial reaction (for me) would be that the Oilers grab a pretty good fit in Puljujarvi. He is a righty winger, the Oilers have only Jordan Eberle among the established scorers on the right side.
The second reaction? That No. 4 selection could be more valuable.
- Mark Scheig, The Hockey Writers: There was some talk that Columbus might do something interesting at
third. I had multiple people say watch the Blue Jackets at third, not
because they will trade, but because of who they might take. - Source
Would Winnipeg move a defenseman for that pick, thus drafting both Finns? Probably nothing, but there is some rumble out there. What about Calgary? Puljujarvi would be a grand prize for them—although a high profile trade between the two teams would seem impossible.
Interesting times.
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