The Edmonton Oilers have drafted goaltender Nathaniel Day 184th overall.
Day spent the last two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds. He posted a 17-10 record last season over 32 games alongside a .874 save percentage and 3.91 goals against average. In seven playoff games, Day posted a 3-3-1 record, .896 save percentage and 3.24 GAA.
The selection was made with one of the few Oilers’ picks in the draft. Earlier on Thursday they selected Beau Akey 56th overall, and will pick again 216th overall.
While Day’s numbers don’t pop off the charts, the 6’2, 181 lb. goaltender is considered very athletic and “one of the biggest wildcard goaltenders available in the 2023 NHL Draft,” Elite Prospects opined in their draft guide.
NHL DRAFT CONTENT PRESENTED BY BETWAY
Here’s where Day was ranked heading into the draft…
– Ranked #242 by FCHOCKEY
And here’s what scouts had to say about him…
“Nathaniel Day may be one of the biggest wildcard goaltenders available in the 2023 NHL Draft. His numbers with the Flint Firebirds won’t jump off the page at you (.874 in 32 regular season games, .896 in seven playoff games), but he has a number of traits and has shown enough positive signs to garner some interest from NHL clubs.
Day displays a lot of patience in a variety of different scoring opportunities. He is solid and composed on breakaways, rarely making the first move. When the puck is worked around the zone, he shows good attention to detail by making micro adjustments with his feet to stay on angle, even when the play around him speeds up.
His wide stance could become more of an issue as he moves on in his career. It forces him to make a lot of lunging moves across the crease on plays that he could otherwise beat on his feet with a confident push. A narrower stance that gives him better access to his edges, combined with the patience that he already has could be a deadly combination. Questions about tracking have also emerged because too many clean shots beat him, which could force teams to think hard about selecting him later in the draft.” – 2023 Elite Prospects Draft guide
Day displays a lot of patience in a variety of different scoring opportunities. He is solid and composed on breakaways, rarely making the first move. When the puck is worked around the zone, he shows good attention to detail by making micro adjustments with his feet to stay on angle, even when the play around him speeds up.
His wide stance could become more of an issue as he moves on in his career. It forces him to make a lot of lunging moves across the crease on plays that he could otherwise beat on his feet with a confident push. A narrower stance that gives him better access to his edges, combined with the patience that he already has could be a deadly combination. Questions about tracking have also emerged because too many clean shots beat him, which could force teams to think hard about selecting him later in the draft.” – 2023 Elite Prospects Draft guide
“Goalies like… Day don’t have the big bodies of those other goalies, but are all very athletic. They can make the big saves but there are enough questions in their individual games and about whether they can perform versus men.” – Corey Pronman, the Athletic
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
