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2018 NHL Draft: The Oilers Top Three First Round Targets

By Pelle

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
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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Edmonton Oilers
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – MAY 20: Quinn Hughes of the United States and Connor McDavid of Canada battle for the puck during the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Bronze Medal Game game between the United States and Canada at Royal Arena on May 20, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images) /

Analyzing Quinn Hughes

A quick note on Hughes’ skating.

If you’re old enough to remember how Paul Coffey used to rush the puck and get into the play for the dynasty Oilers or the Cup-winning Penguins, this is how good Quinn Hughes can skate and make plays.

You’ll hear that his size will be a detriment at the NHL level or he won’t be able to handle the rigors of an NHL forecheck but he just finished playing for Team USA at the Worlds. That right there should tell you what NHL coaches see in him as it is quite rare to have a draft-eligible player suiting up for a national team at a tournament of that stature.

Hughes has already been playing against older competition in Michigan and dominating at that level. Now, he doesn’t have a shot that you might like but Boqvist does.

This young Swede, who is drawing comparisons to Erik Karlsson and those comps are legitimate too, will be a massive contributor to the powerplay of whatever team picks him but he’ll need a year or two extra where Hughes will be in the NHL in 2019/20.

I could see that as being the only drawback on Boqvist, but with that, any team that takes him can have him sent to their AHL club since he’s being drafted out of the SHL in Sweden.

I’ve heard through various scouts that if he were only 2 inches taller than he’d be challenging Rasmus Dahlin for the 1st overall spot.

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