Revisiting the 2023 NHL entry draft - how did the Oilers make out?

The second last blog in the series is now here. Just FYI, only six players period from this draft have played NHL games so far. Most of the players have yet to play games in the AHL, never mind the NHL. A few may have played in the European pros but that's not necessarily uncommon for picks from overseas - many of them do their rawest work in the European pro leagues before coming across the ocean to determine how to translate their game to the NHL in the minors. This would also mark Ken Holland's last draft as GM of the Oilers, although it's safe to assume that the 2024 draft would've been heavily influenced by him anyway seeing as how he declined another contract only days before the draft and after the playoff run.

By Phil Gretzky | Sep 17, 2024, 9:57 PM EDT

2024 Stanley Cup Final - Media Day / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

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Round seven - Matt Copponi, 216th overall

Copponi is an interesting case. He's taken by far the most unorthodox developmental path I've ever seen, starting with a graduation in 2019-20 from a midget AAA team to a US High School prep team - and the transition was quite a success as not only did Copponi equal his numbers but beat them by eight points while playing only one more game during the transition - and managing to crack the 20-goal mark in the process.

He then moved on to the US College System, where he put up nine points (25 games), then 29 points (37 games), then managed to crack the PPG mark as he put up 32 points in 30 games. It's also worth noting as well that he's already grasped good defensive play as he has put up 0, +8, and +4 so far in his US College career. He has a nasty streak as well, as his PIMs have gone from 14 to 30 to 48 last season, all for Merrimack College. I suspect what the Oilers will do is let him play one last season for Merrimack College and then bring him into the Condors two seasons from now.

His scouting report indicates that he is a bit of a project which explains the seventh round pick, but for a seventh round pick, this certainly seems like a good bet. I'm impressed as it's looking more and more like the Oilers might have a diamond in the rough here and a legit power forward in the Mark Messier fold - not that I'm comparing him exactly to Messier but he's that player type.

Trending up or down? Up right now. I can't wait to see what he does in one more year of college and in transitioning to the pro ranks after that. Unless of course he completely implodes between now and then. Copponi has no contract yet but is on the reserve list and the Oilers have until Aug, 15, 2025, to sign him.

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