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Revisiting the 2017 NHL entry draft - how did the Oilers make out?

After making out terribly in the 2016 NHL draft, the Oilers were looking to redeem themselves and perhaps get back at least some of the success they had at the table in 2015. Can they do it? Let's find out together.

By Phil Gretzky

Mar 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Team North America general manager Peter Chiarelli (right) gestures as he speaks to media while associate general manager Stan Bowman listens during a press conference for the upcoming 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Intercontinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Team North America general manager Peter Chiarelli (right) gestures as he speaks to media while associate general manager Stan Bowman listens during a press conference for the upcoming 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Intercontinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Fourth round - Ostap Safin, 115th overall

Not much to say about Safin. He never got anywhere near the NHL, but showed potential when he flirted with the point per game mark in the OHL (58 points in 61 games). Spent two seasons in the Oilers organization, and just bounced around between the AHL and ECHL both seasons before heading back to Europe to resume his career there, first in the Czech pro leagues and then in the KHL.

Hit or Miss? Miss.

Who did the Oilers miss out on? Only one, Drake Batherson (Ottawa), currently patroling the top six forward corps for the Sens and one of their core players. A bit defensively questionable, though, as he's finished -25 and -9 in seasons where he scored 22 goals and 62 points, then 28 goals and 66 points respectively. Is that worth it for the offence he creates? After 309 NHL games, I guess the Sens have answered that question with a yes. Fun fact - Noel Hoefenmeyer, who currently plays in Bakersfield, was drafted by Arizona seven picks earlier in this round.

Fifth round - Kirill Maksimov, 146th overall

Maksimov most definitely didn't work out. The right winger showed flashes of being a power forward in the OHL where he finished his final season of junior with 79 points in 63 games, including 40 goals and 118 Penalty Minutes (PIMs) to boot. However, he only played one season for Bakersfield, finishing 5-8-13 with a -4 and 34 PIMs in 53 AHL games, before bolting back to Europe to finish his career, bouncing around between the KHL, the KHL's minor leagues, and the Finnish pro leagues.

Hit or miss? Miss

Did the Oilers miss out on anyone? No, only two players drafted after Maksimov in this round even played NHL games, and they played a whopping seven games combined and none of those games were played last season. No impact players of any consequence were even drafted in this round, so the Oilers weren't alone in missing on their pick.

Sixth round - Skyler Brind'Amour, 177th overall

I know what you're thinking - and yes, this was in fact the son of former NHL superstar Rod Brind'Amour, veteran of over 1,000 points in almost 1,500 games.

Brind'Amour chose to go the US College Route. Although his numbers showed potential as he had 20 and then 32 points in 41 games his last two seasons, the Oilers never signed him to an ELC and thus he became a free agent. He ended up playing last season with the the Charlotte Checkers, the farm team of the Florida Panthers, putting up a mere eight points in 54 games with a -16 rating. He's not listed as a non-rostered forward for the Panthers at this time, so I assume his contract wasn't renewed and he's a free agent at this time once again.

Hit or Miss? Miss, despite the genetic pedigree

Did the Oilers miss out on anyone? No. The closest thing to impact players were two bottom six forwards taken in this round, while none of them were taken after Brind'Amour.