Here’s another question for you: if the Oilers had somehow kept every player they ever drafted (never making a trade or signing a free agent), would they be in the playoffs right now?

With that question in mind, I examined the list of Oilers draft picks. Like every NHL team, the Oilers have made some very smart picks (e.g., Esa Tikkanen–drafted 82nd in 1983) and some very bad picks (e.g., Jason Bonsignore–drafted 4th in 1994).

I jotted down the top current players the Oilers drafted and attempted to make the best lineup possible. After much deliberation (not really), here is my Oilers All-Draft Team.

FORWARDS

Taylor Hall / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Jordan Eberle
Jason Chimera / Sam Gagner / Ales Hemsky
Ryan Smyth / Shawn Horcoff / Jason Arnott
Magnus Paajarvi / Jarrett Stoll / Kyle Brodziak

DEFENCEMEN

Jeff Petry
Matt Greene
Theo Peckham
Oscar Klefbom
Taylor Chorney
Alexei Semenov

GOALIES

Devan Dubnyk
Olivier Roy

Conclusions?

(1) This group of forwards is very solid. I’d be happy to replace Eric Belanger, Ben Eager, Ryan Jones, and Lennart Petrell with Chimera, Arnott, Stoll, and Brodziak.

(2) This group of defencemen is incredibly weak. And we thought the defence was bad this season? Obviously, the main reason why the Oilers are currently weak on defence is because of their drafting. Hopefully the recent draftees (Marincin, Klefbom, Musil, etc.) will produce better results.

(3) Drafting isn’t easy. Anyone can act like an expert on draft day. I remember Pierre McGuire being extremely negative about Montreal selecting Carey Price 5th overall in 2005. That pick doesn’t look too bad now.

(4) Would the Oilers All-Draft Team have made the playoffs this season? Highly doubtful. The All-Draft Team mirrors the current squad–except its strength is stronger and its weakness is weaker.

By the way, I wish the NHL would eliminate the unnecessary preliminary remarks before first round selections. “The Edmonton Oilers would like thank the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins organization for their kind hospitality this weekend. The Oilers would also like to congratulate the [insert this year's Stanley Cup Champions] for their fine season. The Oilers would like to say hello to all our great fans at our draft party back in Edmonton. Blah, blah, blah.”  JUST MAKE THE PICK!

Oilers All-Draft Team - Oil On Whyte - Oil On Whyte - An Edmonton Oilers blog

Room to grow. Photo courtesy oilers.nhl.com

I hope you’re enjoying the third round of the NHL playoffs.  While you’re enjoying them, I hope the fact that the Oilers not being near the playoffs this year burns in your mind.

“The defence” they all say.  ”They” are right in this instance.

After this past weekend’s “top player” fiasco, let’s go ahead and assume the Oilers are going to do what they’ve done for the last couple of years, and that’s be coy and pick the top player on offence.  Let’s assume they pick Yakupov.  Picking Yakupov is all fine and dandy, but after two years of winning the NHL draft lottery, the team is still about as stacked on defence as they were when Jeff Deslauriers was tending net.

Maybe even less.

After all this talk about “rebuilds” and “models” and “time” and “jam” and “crust” and other sports euphemisms, it’s time to get serious about making changes to the roster, specifically the defence.

Shea Weber is an RFA!

Put it out of your mind.  If the Oilers were serious about landing Shea Weber, they’d have to offer a wad of cash, and some significant draft picks.  Please recall five years ago when Kevin Lowe got serious about acquiring Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres, offering a $50M deal over 7 years.  There’s no denying Thomas Vanek’s talent, but would you be willing to part with Edmonton’s four first round draft picks that would’ve been part of the compensation to Buffalo?

Most wouldn’t.

But Oscar Klefbom!

2013-14.

But Taylor Fedun!

I hope he makes it.  He’s not going to be able to shoulder the entire defence.  If he does make it, I hope he contributes and is 300% healthy.

Over the next week or so, we’ll be taking a look at some candidates to help come in and bolster the defence.

So here comes the audience participation part:  Who would you realistically like to see brought in?  Yes, I’d like to see Shea Weber and Ryan Suter brought in, helping deliver the Oilers to the playoffs for the first time in 437 years.  Both of those guys aren’t coming to Edmonton.

I’m also imposing a ‘cap’ of 3.5-4M on the team.  I doubt they’ll be a major player for anyone half that money, but let’s at least have some fun with this.  Remember:  if you choose to bring in an RFA, there’ll likely be some compensation (draft picks) going the other way.

Let’s make the defence better today.  Who do you got?

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