2018 NHL Draft: The Oilers Top Three First Round Targets

By Pelle | Jun 4, 2018

PLYMOUTH, MI - FEBRUARY 14: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #28 of the Finland Nationals skates up ice with the puck against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. Russia defeated Finland 4-0. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Jesperi Kotkaniemi /

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REGINA, SK – MAY 27: Noah Dobson #53 of Acadie-Bathurst Titan warms up against the Regina Pats at Brandt Centre – Evraz Place on May 27, 2018 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

Looking at Noah Dobson

Now if a player has both, then it’s hard to argue with that. Which is the case with Noah Dobson? A player I could see being picked in the top 5 due to his outstanding performance at the Memorial Cup.

But what if it comes down to positional need?

Say a team is lacking a top-6 center and is eyeing a player like Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and we know now that Montreal, Detroit, and Edmonton spent a bit of extra time with the big Finnish pivot over the weekend, what do you do?

What would the cost be to do business with the Detroit Red Wings? Do they like Kotkaniemi more than Quinn Hughes (who plays in their backyard)? Do the Oilers like Hughes enough to spend a little extra to move up to get Hughes?

More specific to the title of the post and the Oilers, why in the world would you take Kotkaniemi at #10? Especially if Boqvist or Hughes were right there. Edmonton is set at centre for the next seven years at least barring a career-ending injury, and they’ve got a massive need for a puck-moving offensive defenseman like Quinn Hughes or Adam Boqvist.

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