\You could say that the Edmonton Oilers won the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Sure, we are still waiting on that number one defenseman, but the Oilers got to select Jesse Puljujärvi fourth-overall, as well as some decent picks to follow.
Here’s a list of all the Oilers draft picks, and how they stack up.
Tyler Benson, LW, 32nd Overall
The Oilers went with Benson, a left-winger from the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. He has 73 points (29 G, 44 A) in 99 WHL games. This past season, he finished with an impressive 28 points (nine goals, 19 A) in 30 games. He is a solid player, and an Edmonton native, so this was a solid all-around pick for the Oilers.
Benson will likely take a year or two to develop, but when his time comes, the former Giants captain will be an asset and another winger for the Oilers’ depth chart.
Marcus Niemlainen, D, 63rd Overall
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Finnishd efender is a monster. He’s a big guy who can pile on the physicality, and was one of the biggest defenders in the OHL. With the Saginaw Spirit, he finished the 2015-16 season with 27 points (1 G, 26 A) in 65 games.
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“Nemo” has a scouting report that highlights his excellent mobility, skating, quick decision making and puck-moving ability. The left-handed defender is a force that will definitely develop into a stable, two-way defender and make the most out of his ability.
Matthew Cairns, D, 84th Overall
The 6-foot-2, 190 pound, left-handed defender is a Cornell University commit, and now an Oilers prospect. He hails from Toronto and played in the OJHL. In this past seasonw ith the Georgetown Raiders, Cairns racked up 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in just 46 games. He’s a big, physical defender who is going to go through the NCAA and will continue to improve.
Filip Berglund, D, 91st Overall
Berglund is another big defenseman, coming in at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds. He is a large defender who is not necessarily fast, but can use his big size and physicality to his advantage. He’s also a notable passer.
He played with Skellefteå, a team in Sweden’s junior league. This past season, he put up an impressive 41 points (19 G, 22 A), and is a great right-handed defender who can definitely jump-start a play. Berglund will prove as one of Edmonton’s top defensive prospect.
Dylan Wells, G, 123rd Overall
The Oilers used their 123rd overall selection to draft a goalie. Wells suited up with the Petesborough Petes of the OHL, and put up some alright numbers. In 54 career games, he put up a 16-28-2-5 record, as well as a 4.28 GAA and a .882 gave mark.
He will likely be a prospect that will continue to improve, especially with the Oilers development camps and training. Wells was an impressive goaltender and can continue to work on things, and definitely has some highlights and will be a good pick for Edmonton in the long run.
Graham McPhee, LW, 149th Overall
Son of former Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee, Graham McPhee hails from Bethesda, Maryland. He is set to play for NCAA’s Boston College this coming year, and used to play ball hockey with Alex Ovechkin, who lived with McPhee’s family during his rookie year.
The 5-foot-11, 172-pound winger produced big in the Bantam leagues, and at age 13, McPhee put up 89 points (35 G, 54 A) in 61 Bantam games. With the U-18 Team USA in the World Junior Championships, McPhee put up five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games, and with the National Team, he scored 18 points (10 G, eight assists) in 58 games.
Aapeli Rasanen, C, 153rd Overall
The Oilers used their 153rd Overall selection to get yet another Finnish forward. The 6-foot, 196 pound centre played with Finland’s junior league with Tappara, scoring 38 points (19 G, 19 A) in 50 games. He is headed to play with the USHL’s Sioux City this coming year.
Rasanen also won a Gold Medal with Puljujärvi in the World Junior Championships, and now they have the chance to be teammates (though Rasanen will likely take longer to develop).
Vincent Deshairnais, D, 183rd Overall
With their last pick, Chiarelli decided to select another big defenseman. Deshairnais is a Providence College NCAA defender, coming in at 6-foot-6, 209 pounds. An incoming sophomore, the 20-year-old Laval, QB native scored two points (one goal, one assist) in 19 games with Providence.
Deshairnais is a big, right-handed defender who will prove to be great as he continues to develop in the NCAA.
Next: Edmonton Oilers: Everything to Know About Jesse Puljujärvi
Now, the Edmonton Oilers will get to see what the future holds for them when it comes to trades and free agency.