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Revisiting the 2021 NHL entry draft - how did the Oilers make out?

The "reverse pandemic" draft - jabs received, safety increased amongst both players and fans. The season starts late instead of ending early. Ken Holland continues putting his stamp on the Oilers.

By Phil Gretzky

Feb. 9, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; General managers Ken Holland (left) of the Detroit Red Wings and Brian Burke (center) of the Toronto Maple Leafs talk with NHL Networks sportscaster Kathryn Tappen (right) during an NHL press conference for the 2013 Winter Classic at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb. 9, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; General managers Ken Holland (left) of the Detroit Red Wings and Brian Burke (center) of the Toronto Maple Leafs talk with NHL Networks sportscaster Kathryn Tappen (right) during an NHL press conference for the 2013 Winter Classic at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports / Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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Seventh round - Max Wanner, 212th overall

This is another great pick that Holland and his scouts appear to have pulled a rabbit out of their hats with. The right-shot blue-liner was definitely looking like a seventh round reach, as he only put up four assists in 17 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, albeit with a +2.

However, what Wanner's done since then seems to have justified the Oilers' pick. He followed that up with 23 points in 55 games with 53 PIMs and a -4, with 3-4-7 in 9 playoff games with 10 PIMs. He followed up that season with 8-22-30 in 44 games for the Warriors and redeemed his defensive play from the season prior with a sparkling +23, with a further 2-5-7 in 10 playoff games with 17 PIMs.

Wanner then turned pro the next season in Bakersfield, putting up 7-10-17 with 37 PIMs and a +13. He also played two playoff games, contributing no offence but 7 PIMs. He may not have set the AHL on fire but that's a pretty solid pro debut, and shows future potential.

Although I have no way of officially confirming this since the AHL doesn't publish line combos like the NHL does, word on the street is Wanner will be playing a key role for the Condors defence corps going forward. He will play either on the first or second pairing with fellow prospect right shot blue-liner Phil Kemp the likely tandem on the other pairing, so it appears the Condors have the right side of their defense set until one of these two graduates to the NHL with the Oilers.

Overall verdict

Well through the research I had to do for this piece, I'm pleasantly surprised that this draft turned out much better than I expected. Although it's a bummer that the Oilers' first rounder (especially after they hit on our first rounder in 2020) and fourth rounder didn't pan out, Holland worked his magic and was able to use them as trade chips. Jarventie, by the way, played seven games for the Senators last season, putting up a single assist in that time with a -5. Then he went back to down to Belleville and putting up 20 points in 22 games before suffering a injury that prematurely ended his season, which was too bad because he was rolling along. The Oilers, of course, are betting two stagnant prospects that Jarventie will report to the Condors this season healed from his injury and ready to pick up where he left off in Belleville last season.

Next. Oilers knew double offers sheets were coming well ahead of time. Oilers knew double offers sheets were coming well ahead of time. dark

Unless Munzenberger completely implodes in his last year of college, he'll be signed to an ELC, as the Oilers have a dearth of prospects at left D. (All of the Condors left D are outside hires at this point in time, and AHL bubble players at best.) The bottom of this draft looks very good - Petrov may have started his pro career with a whimper, but those crazy junior numbers show some potential and I'm excited to see what he can do for an encore. Ditto for Lachance and Wanner, who right now are looking like found $$.

Expect to see lots of picks traded in the next few drafts as Holland loved to use picks to tinker with the roster, especially at bottom six forward. Missing out on Johnson in the first round kind of sucks, but the Oilers seem to be doing fine without him.

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