Edmonton Oilers First Round Target: Kailer Yamamoto
By Eric Friesen
The Edmonton Oilers are widely believed to be interested in selecting talented right-winger Kailer Yamamoto 22nd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
The Oilers have made adding speed and skill a priority this off-season. Therefore, Yamamoto should be considered one of their top draft targets. The 5-foot-8, 146-pound winger isn’t huge, but his skills are elite. And with several big, strong forwards in the lineup, there’s so reason for Oilers fans to be concerned with Yamamoto’s frame.
Yamamoto was interviewed on Oilers TV at the 2017 NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo on June 3. There, he said he doesn’t think his smaller frame will hold him back at the NHL level.
“I think the game is changing,” Yamamoto said. “There’s a lot more speed and smaller guys coming into the league, but I still think I have to prove myself every game.”
Edmonton Oilers
A dynamic offensive talent, Yamamoto has exceptional speed and hands and an uncanny ability to force turnovers. This also allows him to create scoring chances. The 18-year-old Spokane, Washington product uses his small size effectively to sneak in behind the defence and find open ice.
A Look at the Numbers
Yamamoto tallied 23 goals and 57 points in 68 games as a WHL rookie in 2015-16. In that same year, he finished third in scoring for his hometown Spokane Chiefs. Last season, Yamamoto finished seventh in the WHL in goals (42), sixth in assists (57) and sixth in points (99) in 65 games.
He also had the best offensive campaign of any draft eligible player in the CHL this season. He would likely be a top-five pick if he were a few inches taller and weighed 30 pounds heavier.
Ranked tenth amongst North American skaters in this year’s draft, Yamamoto played for Team Orr in the 2017 CHL Top Prospects Game in Quebec City. He had a goal and an assist in a 7-5 loss to Team Cherry.
On the international stage, Yamamoto played wth Team USA in the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship, winning bronze. Yamamoto will likely play for Team USA at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship this Christmas.
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Most mock drafts have Yamamoto going somewhere between 17th and 24th overall, which would put him right in the Oilers range. There will plenty of forward options for GM Peter Chiarelli, whether Yamamoto is still available or not. However, given his skill-set, he could the perfect winger for either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl in a couple years – hopefully when the Oilers are regular Stanley Cup contenders.