With the playoffs officially over for the Edmonton Oilers, the only thing for the organization to look forward to is the upcoming NHL draft. The Oilers have four picks in the draft: second, third, sixth, and seventh round. This series aims to highlight some of the draft targets the Oilers could select in each round.
This iteration looks at possible second-round prospects that the Oilers could target.
Adam Nemec, Forward, Sudbury Wolves, OHL
Adam Nemec is a classic do-it-all two-way forward defined by his play support, defensive disruption, and down-low support. Nemec particularly shows off strong physicality, a pest-like compete level, and some fundamental skating that has plenty of room for growth.
Where the Slovakian thrives most offensively is in a play-connector role, battling along the boards, or as the bumper. Defensively, Nemec has proved all season long to be a formidable, forechecking presence. He employs quality angles of attack, pace management/willingness, and smart play engagement.
He can be a dual threat as he disrupts plays and can move plays forward all in the same shift. The main questions for Nemec are his puck skills (handling, simplicity in his playmaking, and decision making), and offensive senses (finishing inconsistencies, limitations in offensive instincts, and deception).
Also expect his skating speed and power to increase as he ages up.
Think of Nemec as a less-skilled Sam O’Reilly. If the Oilers do select him, in a sense, it’s a redo for the scouting staff. Nemec has the potential to be a solid bottom-six depth piece of the future. He could be a complementary shut-down defensive/physicality-first forward as he grows stronger.
Adam Valentini, Forward, University of Michigan, NCAA
The Oilers are no strangers to the University of Michigan program, with two other prospects already playing on the team. Its quite possible they could add a third this offseason.
Adam Valentini is a high-energy power forward with two-way upside. The 2008-born forward has an extremely high work ethic, crushing physicality, and enough puck skills to be a capable connector.
Valentini has one of the highest motors in this draft, with relentlessness, intensity, and attention to defensive and physical detail. The Michigan forward is also a physical monster with high-end muscle mass, crushing hits, and smart body positioning and leveraging every single shift.
He’s even a fan of implementing semi-frequent reverse hits.
To match this wrecking-ball mentality and high play engagement, Valentini has stable puck skills with evident vision, lane awareness, hand-eye, and adaptive decision-making. This allows him to be both a downlow supporter, tip threat, and a net-front pest in every offensive zone shift.
The main areas of improvement that Valentini faces are below-average skating (mechanics, power, acceleration/crossover integration) and some moderate offensive limitations in creativity, playmaking, and offensive awareness.
Valentini projects as a likely top-nine checking forward at the NHL level. He could serve in quality depth role. If his NHL potential is realized, expect him to play a game similar to Connor Clattenburg, or Josh Samanski.
Giogos Pantelas, Defender, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Giogos Pantelas is the exact type of defender that the Oilers have been lacking: a smart, shutdown, defensive-defender who isolates risk efficiently and effectively. His game demonstrates quality hockey intelligence, an effective defensive compete level, and smart physicality that mitigates risk and pace.
From his gap control that employs his reach effectively, smart stick work, and physical isolation/risk assessment, to his high rate of boxouts and stick tie-ups he is a shutdown machine.
Pantelas has all the small details in his defensive scanning game and a consistently high work ethic/motor that could make him a difference maker in the future.
While Pantelas shines the most defensively, he also showcases some good facilitation efforts, and puck skills. These could make him even more of a two-way threat as he ages up as well.
The main knocks on his game include his below average skating (speed, agility, and pace), and offensive awareness. But as a defender, he has time to develop his game as he gains experience.
Pantelas projects as a stable top-four defender with a nice blend of hockey intelligence and hard skill. If drafted by the Oilers, he could be the replacement for a Darnell Nurse-type defender in the near future.
The Oilers at draft day
Considering their draft tendencies from the past couple of years, these three players best exemplify the Oilers scouting priorities. If any of the three are still available when the Oilers pick, it would not be a shock to see one of these players become a key part of the Edmonton Oilers prospect pipeline.
With limited draft capital and a precarious cup window, the Oilers have to make sure they hit with their second-round pick this year. Be it one of the three players on this list, or an off-the-board target, the Oilers have plenty of good options to select.
Who would you like to see the Edmonton Oilers draft with their second-round selection? Let us know in the comments below.
