Jun 21, 2018
Oilers open to moving No. 10 overall pick
The Edmonton Oilers are open for business when it comes to the 10th overall pick in Friday's NHL Draft. Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed Thursday that he's willing to move the pick if he can get his desired return.
TSN.ca Staff
The Edmonton Oilers are open for business when it comes to the 10th overall pick in Friday's NHL Draft.
Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed Thursday that he's willing to move the pick if he can get his desired return.
"We would look to move the pick if the right player is available... I've had some discussions with some teams," Chiarelli told reporters in Dallas.
TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie said Wednesday he believes the Oilers are looking for an offensive defenceman to add to their roster, preferably with a right-hand shot.
“No question about it," McKenzie said when asked if the Oilers are willing to trade their pick. "The problem they are running into is that as much as they’d be prepared for the right player to give up the 10th overall pick in the draft, they don’t see that player out there right now. Yeah, they’d like a right-shot offensive defenceman. Everyone wants one of those. And Edmonton desperately needs one, but if they had a really good left-shot offensive defenceman who became available, they’d certainly look at that too for that 10th pick or some other assets. That’s their number one priority, their number one goal is to try and get that.
"The guy they really want, I think, is not available. His name is Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators. A year left on his contract. David Poile’s number one priority is to extend him this summer. If he doesn’t get extended then he could perhaps become available, but not in time for this weekend.”
Chiarelli said if he keeps the pick, he will simply pick the best player available rather than try to fill an area of need for the franchise.
"There are some good defencemen in the top part of the draft, but we're going to take the best player available," Chiarelli said.
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button projected the Oilers to select London Knights defenceman Evan Bouchard with the 10th overall pick in this week's TSN Hockey Mock Draft.