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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GATINEAU, CANADA – DECEMBER 1: Joe Veleno #9 of the Saint John Sea Dogs controls the puck against the Gatineau Olympiques on December 1, 2017 at Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Looking at my top ten list

My top ten for the upcoming draft doesn’t have Boqvist or Hughes anywhere near the Oilers selection.

Buffalo – Rasmus Dahlin – D
Carolina – Andrei Svechnikov – RW
Montreal – Brady Tkachuk – LW
Ottawa – Filip Zadina – RW
Arizona – Adam Boqvist – D
Detroit – Quinn Hughes – D
Vancouver – Noah Dobson – D
Chicago – Evan Bouchard – D
New York Rangers – Oliver Wahlstrom – LW
Edmonton – Joe Veleno – C

You’re probably wondering why I’d pick Veleno at #10, right?

I think Veleno projects to be an outstanding 2nd/3rd line center who specializes on the penalty kill. He’s very cerebral, he’s very fast, he’s got excellent puck protection skills, and he’s a very hard worker. Maybe more importantly, I don’t see him as the type of player that’ll earn significant money in the NHL, and that’s key to me when planning the team’s direction long-term.

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