The NHL Draft is an inexact science. As the Edmonton Oilers know, you get some right, you get a lot wrong. That’s the nature of the beast when selecting 18-year-olds.

The draft lottery luck was kind to the Oilers last decade, selecting first overall four times in six years from 2010 to 2015, from the highs of Connor McDavid to the lows of Nail Yakupov.

Edmonton enters this weekend’s draft with a second, third, sixth, and seventh round pick, drafting at 52nd overall. That could be a quality NHL player. That could be a guy who never cracks into the league.

In their history, Edmonton has nailed a lot of first-round picks, and due to head scout Barry Fraser, authored some of the greatest drafts of all-time. That was especially true in the transition into the NHL at the 1979 draft, which saw them select Kevin Lowe in the first round, Mark Messier in the third round, and Glenn Anderson in the fourth.

Few drafts by any NHL franchise compare in out-and-out statistics and success.

But the Oilers have struggled in the second round throughout their history. Considering the perceived value, either by Wins Above Replacement or as a trade asset, it is historically the worst round for the Oilers.

For example, Edmonton’s best of the third round are buoyed by choices like Messier, Mike Comrie, Kirk Maltby, Tom Poti, and Stuart Skinner. Historically, fourth-rounders would outplay the second-round picks severely, with Anderson, Jari Kurri, Esa Tikkanen, Shawn Horcoff, and Jaroslav Pouzar.

The Oilers have drafted 44 times in the second round:

14 never played an NHL game
12 played fewer than 100 NHL games
8 played more than 100 NHL games
8 played more than 350 NHL games

That list cuts off at 2020, with Beau Akey and Eemil Vinni as the two second-round picks of the 2020s. They are not included in the total.

The first Oilers second-rounder was Todd Strueby in 1981, drafted out of the Saskatoon Blades. He played just five games. Brad Werenka was their first second-round pick to play more than 35 games in the NHL in 1987. He would eventually play parts of two seasons with the Oilers until being traded to Quebec for Steve Passmore in March 1994.

The best Oilers second-round draft picks

Georges Laraque

Georges Laraque in 1995, 31st overall.

Salvaged the draft somewhat after the 6th overall choice of Steve Kelly, infamously selected over Shane Doan
Played parts of eight seasons with the Oilers from 1997-98 to 2005-06.
490 of his 695 of his GPs were with the Oilers | 43G, 69A, 112pts, 826 PIMs |

Jarret Stoll

Jarett Stoll in 2002, 36th overall.

Was originally drafted two years before by the Calgary Flames in the second round, but couldn’t agree on a deal.
He was traded to Toronto with the intention of signing, but the fax did not arrive at the NHL office in time, making Stoll eligible to re-enter the draft in 2002.
He played four seasons and change from 2002-03 to 2007-08, playing 286 of his 872 games with the Oilers.
59 goals, 106 assists, 165 points

Matt Greene

Matt Greene in 2002, 44th overall.

Drafted out of the USHL and played three seasons at North Dakota before turning pro.
Played three seasons, 151 games with the Oilers, 1 goal, 13 assists
Dealt with Stoll for Lubomir Visnovsky in June 2008

Jeff Petry

Jeff Petry in 2006, 45th overall.

Drafted out of the USHL and after three seasons at Michigan State, cracked the Oilers in 2010-11.
Played 295 of his 1046 games and counting with EDM. 17 goals, 57 assists, 74 points.
Traded to Montreal for a second- and fourth-round pick that turned into Jonas Siegenthaler (which was part of the Cam Talbot trade to the New York Rangers, then the pick was dealt to Washington) and Caleb Jones.

Ryan McLeod

Ryan McLeod 2018, 40th overall.

Drafted from the Mississauga Steelheads and played his first games with the Oilers in 2020-21.
Played 219 games. 32 goals, 43 assists
56 playoff games and 7 playoff goals and 13 points.
Dealt for Matt Savoie, which extends the value…

This doesn’t bode well…

So the Oilers aren’t bereft of quality of second-round picks through the years, but they’ve certainly underachieved in getting players who make the NHL or stick with the franchise for multiple seasons.

The three other players who played north of 350 NHL games were David Vyborny (never played in Edmonton), Brad Winchester (78 games with EDM) and Tyler Pitlick (58 games with EDM).

For every Stoll and Petry, there are several more David Musils, Mitch Morozs, or Curtis Hamiltons.

Draft Day Coverage Starts Here

The future of hockey is about to be selected — and the Nation Network is bringing you closer to every pick.

From live pre and post Draft Day coverage with The Sheet and Pierre McGuire, to custom player profiles, first round pick reactions from The Leafs Nation, and Barn Burner’s live hangout, we’re covering every angle of the biggest night for hockey’s next generation.

Follow along for all the Draft features, analysis, and reactions on YouTube and socials.