Edmonton Oilers: Tracking the 2016 NHL Draft results
Here’s a look at how the Edmonton Oilers 2016 NHL Draft has panned out
Now we enter part 2 of our series on tracking the draft results of the last 5 seasons for the Edmonton Oilers. We already went over the start in the 2015 draft series, now let’s head to 2016. The 2016 NHL Draft was a much lower profile than 2015. There were no generational players, for one. We’re also still looking at the future for most of these players if they make it at all.
Oh, and for the rest of the blogs in the series instead of seeing whether the bet was covered or not as it’s still too early on most of these players, I’m instead going to be highlighting whether or not they’re trending up or down. This will make things more accurate from here on in.
In other words, 2016 was a more typical draft year. Let’s take a look.
Round 1, 4th overall – Jesse Puljujarvi
At the time the Oilers made this selection, GM at the time Peter Chiarelli couldn’t wait to come to the podium as Columbus GM Jarmo Kekäläinen – who unexpectedly picked Pierre Luc-Dubois with the pick before this one – left their expected Puljujarvi pick on the board for Chiarelli to snap up, not believing his good fortune. JP came to the NHL draft having gone from 11 points in 21 games to 28 points in 50 games in his native Finland.
Fast forward to now, and it seems that perhaps Kekäläinen may have figured something out that escaped Chiarelli et al. Dubois has since gone on to score 158 points in 234 games for the BJs, including 2 straight 20 goal seasons and it likely would’ve been 3 this year had the season not paused when it did.
The pick on Puljujarvi has not gone as well. Between language barriers, attitude problems, a sense of entitlement, and being put into the top 6 before he was ready, Puljujarvi has been a thorn in the side of the organization and a black mark on it’s drafting record ever since he was drafted.
He’s proven he can score in the AHL, which as a young player is all well and good, but that scoring has yet to be imported to the NHL. In 139 NHL games so far, he’s produced a mere 37 career points with 12 goals being the highlight so far of this player’s career.
Add in rumours of ignoring coaching by the coaching staff and veteran players, and blowing off English language lessons that the team had paid for him to attend, and in the early going it certainly seemed like this pick has been a bust.
When Ken Holland became the Oilers GM last year, this was the highest-profile problem with the team he inherited – what do we do with JP? He left the team, declaring he wouldn’t sign another contract with us and would never play for the Oilers again. However, Ken Holland being a professional, knew he had three things going for him.
He wouldn’t be that attractive to other teams as a player whose rights they had to trade for. The Oilers had invested significant resources in drafting and developing JP already. On top of it all, the Oilers still held his signing rights for another 5 years, so he couldn’t be snatched away as a free agent without someone trading for his negotiation rights. He held out for a high price in a trade that no other team wanted to pay, so he remained Oilers property in the NHL. If he wasn’t playing for the Oilers, he wasn’t playing in the NHL.
With a GM who wouldn’t grant a trade request and a season playing in SM-liiga under his belt in his native Finland in which he put up 24 goals and 53 points in 56 games, it appears Puljujarvi had his playing confidence back. He has since softened his stance on never coming back to the Oilers, to the point where it’s rumoured that any day now Puljujarvi will sign his 2nd contract with the Oilers.
Only time will tell if the attitude has been buried and we’ll see a repeat of underwhelming results or if the lightbulb comes on for him. One thing’s for sure, though, Puljujarvi is only 22 and at this point is far from a bust. Only coming back to the Oilers and suiting up will we know for sure. As of now, the next season isn’t slated to start until December, so we’ll see what happens.
His season playing in his native Finland is good progress, but not all European scorers can duplicate those results in the NHL. The only way to know for sure is to come back and play the games.
For the record, here’s his scouting report.
Going forward: If a team really wants to take a flyer on him they may offer the Oilers a 1st rounder this year in exchange for him, but that’s not likely to happen. At this point he’ll have to come back and prove himself with the Oilers, and whatever happens from there we’ll see.
Trending: Down, until he proves otherwise. Not a bust yet, but trending down.
Round 2, 32nd overall – Tyler Benson
LWer Benson had himself a solid junior career for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL, and in his last 3 seasons improving in points all 3 years from 28 points in 30 games to 42 points in 33 games to 69 points in 58 games. He then followed up that final season in junior with 11 points in 7 playoff games.
After he had finished up his junior career, he graduated to the pros by joining the Condors for 5 games in 2017-18, putting up 3 assists in those 5 games. His first full season in the AHL he did very well, putting up a fantastic 15-51-66 with 44 PIMs and a +21.
He then followed that up with 9-27-36 in 47 games for the Condors. As the AHL paused their season just like the NHL did, it’s not unlikely that in a full 68 AHL games he might’ve kept up the same pace as he did in his previous season. Although if you mathematically project it out he was on pace for a bit of a slide, as that rookie season he produced at a 0.97 PPG pace, while this season that slide a bit to 0.77.
The biggest strike against him this year, though, is that Benson’s +/- went from the aforementioned +21 to a -10 this past season. Nonetheless, Benson earned a cup of coffee in the big leagues this year, getting called up to the Oilers on merit, and going 0-1-1 in 7 games with a -1. Not great, but again we have to consider the inexperience this young man has, and in a 1st callup it’s not uncommon for a player to simply succeed by not being overwhelmed.
It appears Benson needs to work on his defensive game, but other than that he’s a player who thus far has a scoring touch with a physical side (Did I mention he has 78 PIMS over his 2 full AHL seasons?).
Scouting report pegs him at either a 2nd line winger or bottom 6 energy player.
Going forward: After the Oilers performance in the playoffs, look for the player development staff to stress Benson working on his defensive game in the AHL or whatever league he ends up in next season as we don’t know the AHL’s plans for next season at this time. If Benson can improve his own zone play and increase his boxcars in the minors, he could be a favorite for a spot 2 seasons from now.
Considering Holland’s penchant for letting players marinate in the minors for a long time, expect Benson to spend at least 1 more season in the minors. Let’s see where he is after next season, but if he plays his cards right he could be up for a spot on the 3rd line in 2022. Benson remains one of the Oiler’s top forward prospects right now.
Trending: Up.
Round 3, 63rd overall – Markus Niemelainen
Left D Markus Niemelainen took a bit of an unconventional development path. He started out in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit for 2 seasons, putting up 1-26-27 in 65 games which were good but with a -23 to go with it that makes it somewhat bad. He then followed that up with a hard dip in offense – 3-6-9 in 59 games but improved his +/- to -5.
Niemelainen then took off to his native Finland to play in the SM-Liiga, where he’s been ever since. Offensively, he appears to have picked up where he left off in his last season in junior. His best boxcars coming this past season when he put up 1-6-7 in 55 GP while piling up 42 PIMs, and defensively while he did well in 2018-19 with a +5, he slipped to -6 this season.
At this point, he seems destined to wind up as a stay at home defenceman, but the club obviously sees something in him as this past April they signed him to a 2 year, 2-way ELC that starts next season. His scouting report is here.
Going forward: Is it bad to have a career path that mirrors Adam Larsson? That’s the type Niemelainen seems destined for now, which is not bad. Or he could be a project puck mover, as another way to look at him. It’s hard to say exactly what he is as he’s had less than 150 games in the European pros. It appears the plan right now is to let him start the year in Finland and bring him over for Condors training camp whenever the AHL starts up again, likely in December. Whatever happens, he’s passed the next hurdle of getting a contract, so that’s a good thing for him.
Trending: Up, so far
Round 3, 84th overall – Matthew Cairns
Cairns is a left defenceman that is having a rather pedestrian career so far. He was drafted after a Junior A season in which he scored 9-24-33 in 46 games with 42 PIMs to go along with it (+/- is not listed).
He then followed that up with 18 games in the BCHL going 2-4-16 with 26 PIMs – pretty solid – and another 2 assists in 11 playoff games for the Power River Kings. He then went the US College Route, playing for Cornell University ever since. He’s been very underwhelming in his college career, his best season being last season when he went 2-2-4 with 20 PIMS in 32 games and a -2.
He followed that up this season by posting a single assist in 19 games with 4 PIMs. The only redeeming part of his season this past year is his +/- went up to +4. Unlike the other 2 players drafted in this round, Cairns is without an ELC as he enters his last year of US College hockey. Unless he sets the US College system on fire next season and breaks out, he won’t have a pro career to speak of, at least in the NHL. Europe maybe, but not the NHL.
It’s not the end of the world to have a miss in the 3rd round, but still disappointing nonetheless. This is the closest thing I could find to a scouting report on him, and it’s old and out of date.
Going forward: The Oilers hold his rights for 1 more year, until Aug. 15, 2021. Next year is likely his last chance to break out and get noticed by the brass. Otherwise, he won’t take the next step and earn a contract.
Trending: Down
Round 3, 91st overall – Filip Berglund
Right D Berglund is coming into the organization at a good time. Evan Bouchard is higher up the chain and takes most of the pressure to perform for the organization, which means that Berglund can come in as a dark horse and fly under the radar.
This Swedish meatball appears to have discovered a scoring touch this past season in the Swedish pro leagues, having a career year of 5-15-20 in 52 GP with 16 PIMs and a +4. Throughout his career in the SwedishHL, one thing about Berglund that stands out is he’s been a + player his entire career. That bodes well for him as he makes his way to Bakersfield at the end of this calendar year.
His scouting report indicates that Berglund may have a career as a puck mover on the right side. Whether that’s in the top 4 or on the bottom pairing remains to be seen. At 6’3″ and 209 lbs, Berglund has size but the report indicates he is “not a speedster” which is unclear whether that means he’s out and out slow or just at an average speed. Size, puck-moving, and hockey sense are all great abilities to have but if this player truly has a lack of speed then that will hinder his ability to earn an NHL career.
However, like Niemelainen, Berglund has been signed to the exact same 2 year, 2 way ELC that starts next season. Expect him to join Bakersfield sometime around December when the season starts. This means the team is willing to take a flyer on him.
Going forward: Berglund isn’t a can’t-miss prospect but there’s a good toolbox there. With the Oilers’ depth on defence he may be more valuable in the future as a trade chip than anything else, but that remains to be seen. The only way for sure we know if his offence will translate to the North American game is to see him play in Bakersfield next season.
Trending: Up
Round 5, 123rd overall – Dylan Wells
I honestly can’t see this pick as anything more than a flyer, as at the time the cupboards were bare for goalie prospects. Goalie Wells played his junior hockey in the OHL for the Peterborough Petes, and his junior career is nothing to speak of. He only finished with 1 out of 4 seasons with a sv% above .900 – and just shy of elite at that at .916 – and his GAA never dipped below 3.07, and his career-low was an ugly 4.59.
As you would expect with a junior career like this, Wells has been by and large a disappointment in the pro ranks. His pro debut was 1 game in the ECHL for Wichita was one in which he finished with a .571 sv% and a GAA of 16.39. 1 game may be a short sample size – obviously – but….wow. Just wow. Ugly, ugly numbers.
He became a full-time pro in 2018-19 and his career since then has not gone well. He’s bounced around between the AHL and ECHL the entire time, only fitting in 19 AHL games in which his career-high was a .909 sv% and 2.84 GAA in 718 minutes over 12 games. That’s not good.
His scouting report very much flatters him.
Going forward: Wells has 1 more year left on the ELC he signed, and unless he gets it together his pro career is over. Even in the ECHL he’s never even put up elite stats, and right now Wells is the #5 goalie in the organization. Unless he has a strong season and turns it around quick he won’t get anywhere near an NHL roster. Don’t be surprised if with a better prospect in Olivier Rodrigue on the way Wells gets buried in the ECHL next season.
Trending: Way down. Teetering off a cliff down.
Round 5, 149th overall – Graham Mcphee
LWer McPhee appears to have been another flyer taken. He started out in the US National development program, with a career-high of 5-0-5 in 20 games with 16 PIMs and a +1. Nothing to write home about.
He then went the US College Route, playing at Boston College for 4 seasons and wrapping that up this past season. He had 1 season where he did well – 2017-18 when he put up 12-12-24 in 36 games with a career-high 47 PIMs and a -1. Other than that, he’s never put up more than 12 points in a season, so that 1 good season for him was obviously a fluke.
I can’t find a good scouting report for this player but knowing his track record do you really want to read it anyway? I don’t.
Going forward: There isn’t anything to go forward on. After periodically checking the Oilers reserve list, McPhee was there but he had to be signed by August 15th of this year to have the Oilers retain his rights. This was a pretty easy decision not to sign him, and who can blame the club for that? Hope he got good marks at Boston College because there isn’t a career as a hockey player for him.
Trending: Career over on August 15, 2020.
Round 6, 153rd overall – Aapeli Rasanen
This Finnish right center took a rather unorthodox route in his development. He played in the USHL for 1 season where he put up 25 points in 38 games with 30 PIMs and a fantastic +21, with another 4 points in 13 playoff games.
He then graduated to the US College level, where he was a teammate of Graham McPhee’s at Boston College. Rasanen has fared much better at BC than McPhee, though, as he put up totals of 16 and 7 points before breaking out this year putting up 11-13-24 in 34 games with 14 PIMs and a +14.
He doesn’t have a contract yet but his timing is very good as he’s got 1 more year of US College hockey left. If he can follow up next season with boxcars as good or better than this year, I’m willing to bet Holland gives him an ELC prior to the deadline for retaining his rights which is August 15, 2021. His scouting report is here.
Going forward: If Rasanen can build on this season he’ll graduate to Bakersfield and I could see him being a bottom 6 forward for the Oilers in a few seasons. He could make it into the top 6, but that would be as a winger as there’s no way he’s unseating McDrai in their spots. Hard to say exactly what we have in him just yet, but so far so good.
Trending: Up
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Puck Prose
Round 7, 183rd overall – Vincent Desharnais
Ahh, Round 7. This is where you take the extreme flyers, and that is what appears to have happened with Desharnais.
The right defenceman started out in the BCHL with 5 points in 54 games and 52 PIMs. Something you would expect as this gentleman is a massive 6’7″ and 228 lbs.
He then graduated to the US College route, where for Providence College he underwhelmed.
He put up 8 career goals when you add up his totals all 4 years (that’s 5, 2, 1, and 0 if you don’t believe me) and never more than 11 points in a season. Not exactly totals that scream NHL career. For the record, he did have 36 PIMs in 38 games that same season.
Still, in today’s NHL game you have to be able to play hockey as well as hit and fight. The days of players who couldn’t play hockey but could hit and fight and that’s it are over.
Nonetheless, the Oilers took a flyer on him by signing him to a 1 year, 2-way ELC for this past season. Unsurprisingly, he underwhelmed, playing 6 games for the Condors and putting up 0 offence. Had 7 PIMs in those 6 games though. For whatever that’s worth, which isn’t much.
Not surprisingly with a pretty forgettable player on their hands and with a crowded blue line in Bakersfield, the Condors sent him down to Wichita in the ECHL. There he put up 0 goals and 13 assists in 31 games with 24 PIMs and a -9 – and this was after he finished even in those 6 games in Bakersfield. Now how do you finish with a lower +/- in a lower league against weaker competition? That doesn’t make sense to me, but that’s just pettiness in the grand scheme of things with this player.
Puckpedia confirms his contract was not renewed for next season. Can you blame the organization? Not one bit.
Don’t feel too bad, though. For the record, only 2 teams have players drafted in the 7th round that year who have played games in the NHL, so the Oilers are not alone in missing on this pick.
Going forward: There is no going forward. He’s done.
Trending: Career over on August 15, 2020.
Bottom line
This draft was much weaker than 2015’s. Depending on how the situation goes with Puljujarvi, we may or may not have any guys on the Oilers roster this year from this draft. Most of the players trending up are longer-term projects, it seems, and it is disappointing that only 1 pick from Round 5 and below is trending up.
But, that part of things is not the end of the world. This draft got some good players into our prospect pool, and we’ve got some good guys in the pipeline from this draft right now. The guys to watch are Poolparty, Benson, Niemelainen, and Berglund. Rasanen would be a great story if he made it to the big league and would help to salvage the latter 3 rounds of this draft. Stay tuned as I move on to 2017’s draft in the future.