How Did The Oilers Do At The 2017 NHL Entry Draft?

The draft has come, and the draft has concluded. The Oilers have seven bright and shiny new draft picks to show for it. Later today, Shona will have a complete write up of the two-day event. Until then, let’s hear your input.

Let’s be frank, this draft was a little weird. There were a few surprises, at least for me.

The Oilers had the very new experience of picking late in the first round. They surprised me when they selected Kailer Yamamoto out of Spokane. I had hoped for either Eeli Tolvanen or Kailer Yamamoto, and was pretty pumped when both fell to 22. Yamamoto scored 99 points in the W with Spokane this year, 23 more than Kings draft pick Jaret Anderson-Dolan. Critics are going to leap at the fact that he’s billed at 5’8” and about a buck fifty soaking wet, but I think pick is great. You’re getting speed and skill, and there’s an opening for a top right winger somewhere on this club as of late.

Also surprising? Edmonton traded up in the third round to select a goalie out of Lethbridge. The Oilers sent pick 82 and 126 to Arizona for the chance to select Stuart Skinner. They’d follow up six picks later with defenceman Dmitri Samorukov out of Guelph.

Sparta Winger Ostap Safin followed in round four, while another winger Kirill Maksimov was plucked from Niagara. Skyler Brind’Amour was taken in round six from the US Selects Academy, while the Oilers ended the day on defence with American Philip Kemp.

The Oilers would end up with three right wings, a couple of defenceman, a goalie and centre who is the son of Rod Brind’Amour. How did the Oilers do on draft day?