Entry Draft: Who Should the Oilers Target in the 1st Round?

C/W, Francesco Pinelli (ranked between 12 & 31)

I’m someone who values having an excess of centers on my team due to the versatility it provides. Particularly, I like ones that have a mix of skill, speed, and work ethic: enter Francesco Pinelli of the Kitchener Rangers.

After the cancellation of the OHL season, Pinelli went and found himself a spot to in play in Slovenia on HDD Jesenice of the AlpsHL where he scored 5 goals and 11 points in 13 games. While this is hardly a league renowned for producing NHL talent, this is quality production for a 17-year old playing in a men’s league on the other side of the world. In his draft-1 season, he posted 18 goals and 41 points in 59 games- with 13 goals and 34 points coming at even strength.

Pinelli is a 6’1, 185lbs, left-shot C who demonstrates a range of skills that would allow him to be an impact player in the NHL in a variety of roles. Need a playmaking 2C? Pinelli is touted for his high-end hockey IQ and ability to feather passes through the smallest of gaps.

Need a winger to help finish plays? Pinelli also brings finishing ability to the table with a strong and quick release from mid-range. Need a skilled 3C that can help shutdown opposing forwards? Pinelli is also noted for having a very well-rounded game. Name a role and Pinelli can probably fill it.

Due to the pace he thinks and plays at, Pinelli is an exciting player to watch. Constantly scanning the ice and planning his next moves, he’s adept at setting up his teammates, finishing plays himself, or picking off a puck in the defensive zone. As such, the play is often going in the right direction when Pinelli is on the ice.

His versatility both in style and position have led others to compare him to players like Ryan O’Reilly but I’m not sure I think it’s apt given the role skating speed plays in Pinelli’s game. Maybe it’s not a perfect comparison, but his scouting report reads quite a lot like the Oilers’ very own Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. In particular, his understated release and how he looks while finishing plays screams Nuge to me, but I’m hardly an expert.

Who do you want out of the Oilers to pick at 19? Or perhaps do you want them to trade down? Let me know down in the comments!