While draft capital often trades hands on the draft floor, the Edmonton Oilers aren’t expected to invest in the “green bananas” of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With only second-, fifth-, and sixth-round picks, the Oilers are far from being a significant player at the draft from a league wide scope, yet the players selected will be crucial to the Oilers’ future.
As even top 10 picks can be difficult to predict, it is near impossible to predict which prospects might be in play for the Oilers. Though we won’t know which names will be on the board when the Oilers pick, we can take a look at which skills the Oilers seem to value, as well as which leagues the Oilers have selected players from to help us understand some tendencies.
Oilers’ most recent draft history
The 2023 draft will be GM Ken Holland’s fifth with the Oilers, giving us a track record to look back on. In reverse chronological order, the Oilers have selected players from the following during Holland’s tenure:
| 2022 Entry | |||||
| Draft | Num. | Round | Player | Pos | Drafted From |
| 2022 Entry | 32 | 1 | Reid Schaefer | L | Seattle Thunderbirds [WHL] |
| 2022 Entry | 158 | 5 | Samuel Jonsson | G | Brynas Jr. [Swe-Jr] |
| 2022 Entry | 190 | 6 | Nikita Yevseyev | D | Bars Kazan (Russia Jrs.) |
| 2022 Entry | 222 | 7 | Joel Maatta | C | U. of Vermont [H-East] |
| 2021 Entry | |||||
| Draft | Num. | Round | Player | Pos | Drafted From |
| 2021 Entry | 22 | 1 | Xavier Bourgault | C | Shawinigan Cataractes [QMJHL] |
| 2021 Entry | 90 | 3 | Luca Munzenberger | D | Cologne [Germany Jr.] |
| 2021 Entry | 116 | 4 | Jake Chiasson | R | Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL] |
| 2021 Entry | 180 | 6 | Matvey Petrov | L | Krylja Sovetov [Russia-2] |
| 2021 Entry | 186 | 6 | Shane LaChance | L | Boston Jr. Bruins [NCDC] |
| 2021 Entry | 212 | 7 | Maximus Wanner | D | Moose Jaw Warriors [WHL] |
| 2020 Entry | |||||
| Draft | Num. | Round | Player | Pos | Drafted From |
| 2020 Entry | 14 | 1 | Dylan Holloway | L | U. of Wisconsin [Big-10] |
| 2020 Entry | 100 | 4 | Carter Savoie | L | Sherwood Park Crusaders [AJHL] |
| 2020 Entry | 126 | 5 | Tyler Tullio | R | Oshawa Generals [OHL] |
| 2020 Entry | 138 | 5 | Maxim Berezkin | L | Yaroslavl Jrs. (Russia) |
| 2020 Entry | 169 | 6 | Filip Engaras | F | U. of New Hampshire [H-East] |
| 2020 Entry | 200 | 7 | Jeremias Lindewall | L | Modo Jrs. (Sweden) |
| 2019 Entry | |||||
| Draft | Num. | Round | Player | Pos | Drafted From |
| 2019 Entry | 8 | 1 | Philip Broberg | D | AIK [Swe-1] |
| 2019 Entry | 38 | 2 | Raphael Lavoie | C | Halifax Mooseheads [QMJHL] |
| 2019 Entry | 85 | 3 | Ilya Konovalov | G | Yaroslavl Lokomotiv [KHL] |
| 2019 Entry | 100 | 4 | Matej Blumel | R | Waterloo Black Hawks [USHL] |
| 2019 Entry | 162 | 6 | Tomas Mazura | C | Kimball Union [U.S. H.S] |
| 2019 Entry | 193 | 7 | Maxim Denezhkin | F | Yaroslavl [Russia Jrs.] |
One of the things that stands out off the top is that the Oilers have not been afraid to draft players from Russia. At least one player has been selected from a Russian league in each of Holland’s Oilers drafts. Along with CHL picks, the Oilers seem to favour drafting players from Swedish leagues, as well as American leagues. The Oilers clearly aren’t afraid to select prospects from less common or lower level leagues, either.
Much ado was made over the fact that the Oilers do not have a scout with the title of OHL scout. While curious this does not necessarily mean that the Oilers don’t do their due diligence on one of the worlds biggest Junior leagues. Often, the OHL can even be referred to as over-scouted, with a large number of teams operating over a relatively small geographical area. The Oilers have only taken a single OHL player (Matvei Petrov joined the OHL after being drafted) in Tyler Tullio. Still, the relatively low number of OHL selections might have some relationship with the Oilers swinging for the fences on less accessible in Russia or even US high schools.
Despite the small number of picks in this year’s draft, and the recent trading of 2022 first-round pick Reid Schaefer to Nashville, the Oilers have a decently stocked prospect pipeline. Notably, both of Nikita Yevseyev and Maxim Beryozkin are playing regular KHL minutes, but a wave of young players will be in their rookie or sophomore seasons in the AHL as well. Max Wanner, Matvei Petrov, Jayden Grubbe, and Jake Chiasson will likely join the likes of Xavier Bourgault, Tyler Tullio, and Carter Savoie for AHL Bakersfield. With a strong performance in the AHL, some of these prospects might start making their way into the Oilers lineup.
While their ascensions can’t be guaranteed, there is enough intrigue to imagine that help might not be too far away. Alternatively, the Oilers could choose to use some of these prospects as sweeteners in roster moves.
What to expect in this year’s draft
Likewise, the Oilers could find themselves navigating their way up or down the draft board. We will have to wait and see if the Oilers favour quality or quantity. Perhaps a prospect slides to the Oilers at their pick in the second-round, or the Oilers will trade down, earning more picks to fill out the volume of their draft class.
For better or for worse the Oilers have a clear preference for drafting size, or at least a certain physical aptitude, especially on defence. It is fairly unlikely that the Oilers will opt to select a skilled and undersized defenceman falling down the draft board.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
