Oilers Draft Targets-Round One

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1929 days ago

The Edmonton Oilers are expected to be adding some forward prospects at the upcoming 2020 NHL draft. There are multiple options for them to choose from throughout the entire draft. Today I will be starting a 5 piece series, telling you who the Oilers should draft every round. Today I will be doing round 1. The Oilers will have the 20th pick in the draft if the draft is done before the playoffs are ended. It has been rumored that Ken Holland is wanting to move down in the draft to be able to acquire more picks. But he also wants to move Jesse Puljujarvi for a 1st round pick. It will be interesting to see what he does on draft day as the pressure is on to add a skilled piece to complete the top 6 forward groups.

Connor Zary

After putting up over 1.5 ppg in the WHL this year with the Kamloops Blazers Connor Zary would be considered a top 10 pick in many other draft classes. But with this class being said as one of the best ever, Zary may be available for the Oilers. He has put up 86 points in 57 games this season, while being a instrumental piece to the Blazers offense and their power-play. Zary will look to return to the WHL next season and will be expected to dominate and contend for the title while being on a stacked Blazers squad. In most mock drafts, Zary is gone by pick 15, so if he falls to the Oilers’ lap, they should pick him up.

Jake Neighbours

Alberta native, Jake Neighbours would be delighted to be drafted by the Oilers at the upcoming draft. The Oilers should be delighted as well as Neighbours is known as one of the best 2 way forwards in the draft. He’s put up 70 points in 64 games this year for the Oil Kings. Neighbours is known as a 2 way, power forward who can play physical when needed. Some compare him to Calgary Flames forward, Matthew Tkachuk. He is expected to go in the late first-round or early second round. Surprisingly, there are forwards that have fewer points than Neighbours but are ranked higher in draft rankings! Players like Ridly Greig, Jan Mysak, and Vasily Ponomaryov are all ahead of Neighbours despite having fewer points. I would be thrilled if Neighbours put on an Oilers jersey on draft day, even if it was in the first round.

Yaroslav Askarov

Yaroslav Askarov, the youngest goalie ever to play a game in the KHL. Is the best goalie prospect since fellow Russian Andrei Vasilevskiy entered the league. Standing at 6’3″ 176lbs Askarov would be the best goalie prospect for the Oilers no doubt. Askarov put up a 2.45GAA and a 9.20SV% in the VHL, Russia’s second-best league. He has great poise, amazing athleticism, and a quick glove hand. Askarov catches right, a rarity in today’s NHL. Seeing a glove on the right side can fool shooters as they are used to seeing the glove being on the left. Askarov is usually gone by pick 15 in a mock draft so if the Oilers have the chance to get him at 20, they should. Even though he is about 2-3 years away from being NHL ready, he would be a great addition to the Oilers goaltending prospects.

Jacob Perreault

If the Oilers are looking for pure goal scorers, Jacob Perreault is their guy. Perreault put up 39 goals in 57 games this year for Sarnia in the OHL. Scouts have said that his shot is NHL ready, something that the Oilers need in the future. Overall, Perreault had 70 points while playing on a horrendous Sarnia team that finished last in their conference. He is the son of a 15 year NHL veteran Yanic Perreault. Some people compare him to Alex DeBrincat , another pure goal scorer. Perreault is expected to still be on the board when the Oilers pick, and I would be satisfied if they took him.

In conclusion, the Oilers will have many options at pick 21. These players many not help immediately but will be valuable in the long run. The 4 players I highlighted are not the only options for the Oilers, as players like Kaiden Guhle, Seth Jarvis, Noel Gunler, and Rodion Amirov could easily be putting an Oilers jersey on at draft day.

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