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Who Should The Edmonton Oilers Draft at 8th Overall?

By Adam Girard

KELOWNA, BC - DECEMBER 01: Kirby Dach #77 of the Saskatoon Blades lines up against the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on December 1, 2018 in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
KELOWNA, BC - DECEMBER 01: Kirby Dach #77 of the Saskatoon Blades lines up against the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on December 1, 2018 in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /
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Edmonton Oilers
ST. PAUL, MN – SEPTEMBER 19: Team Langenbrunner forward Arthur Kaliyev (15) celebrates his 1st period goal during the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game between Team Leopold and Team Langenbrunner on September 19, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Team Leopold defeated Team Langenbrunner 6-4.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Arthur Kaliyev – Hamilton Bulldogs OHL – 6’2 190lbs

Heres a guy who probably wasn’t on your radar… and he should be.

A citizen of the United States, Kaliyev was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A place that I’m sure many have never heard of. Or at least I haven’t…

This is a guy who seems to be getting overlooked for some reason but may be the most natural scorer in the draft.

Kaliyev’s 51 goals were good enough for 4th in the OHL. The17-year-old is also three years younger than every player that finished above him. A pretty astonishing feat, to say the least. One that has been accomplished by very few 17-year-olds in OHL history.

He has been pegged by some as lazy, which if the Oilers had a stronger foundation in place that might not be such a risk. But they, unfortunately, don’t have that foundation and need to hit a home run with this pick. They are making Kaliyev a risky option at number 8.

However, if you think he can produce at the NHL level, you have to take a look at him. He could be absolutely lethal beside a player like Connor McDavid or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

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