Blue Jackets select Oil Kings’ high-scoring Fix-Wolansky
Edmonton Oil Kings forward Trey Fix-Wolansky was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 7 (204th overall) of the NHL entry draft after going through last year’s event with no takers.
He was an invite for the Edmonton Oilers at the Young Stars tournament in Penticton last fall.
“He’s a small guy who had a ton of points in the Western League,” said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “Our scouts really liked him with his 90 or so points and there’s lots of really small players in the NHL these days. Also lots of players who go through one draft and become great NHLers. Let’s see where it goes.”
BUTTON CALLS IT RIGHT ON BOUCHARD SELECTION
TSN commentator Craig Button correctly predicted the Oilers would take London Knights captain Evan Bouchard two days before it happened on his NHL draft show.
“Reminds me of John Carlson,” said Button, who also tossed out Hall of Famer Larry Murphy’s name. “People said Larry couldn’t skate, but he was always one step ahead of a checker.”
OILERS KEEP SLEPYSHEV’S RIGHTS
The Oilers protected their interests when they qualified Anton Slepyshev to keep his NHL rights, even though he’s going back to Russia. He isn’t on CSKA’s KHL roster as of June 24 but will be when his signing is official July 1.
The Oilers have until Monday (5 p.m.) to qualify farmhand forward Kyle Platzer and defenceman Ben Betker or they become unrestricted free-agents on Canada Day, joining Laurent Brossoit, Dillon Simpson and Joey LaLeggia.
REAUGH PREFERRED RED WINGS
Darryl Reaugh, the Dallas Stars’ play-by-play TV man and former Oilers backup goalie, who was at this draft, remembers his draft day when he went in the second round after playing for Ken Hitchcock in Kamloops.
“I wasn’t at the draft but got a phone call and thought, ‘geez, this is great going to Edmonton,’” Reaugh said. “Then I thought ‘Ahhh, they’ve got (Grant) Fuhr and (Andy) Moog. Couldn’t I have gone to Detroit where they had Tim Cheveldae?’ ”
DEVELOPMENT CAMP BEGINS TODAY
The Oilers have invited 24 players to their development camp, which runs from Monday through Thursday at the Downtown Community Arena.
Sessions run at 4:45 p.m. Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and the Billy Moores Cup scrimmage Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.
The list of players includes Kailer Yamamoto, Tyler Benson and their top three picks of the draft including Evan Bouchard, Ryan McLeod and goalie Olivier Rodrigue. Also invited were Cooper Marody, acquired from Philly in a trade, J.D. Dudek, the Boston College kid they got in the Patrick Maroon Jersey trade, George McPhee’s boy Graham (Boston College draft), and free-agent signee Colin Larkin, Dylan’s brother.
THIS ’N THAT
Steve Bartlett, Thomas Vanek’s agent, has been getting calls on his UFA client but said Oilers hadn’t called “as of yet.” They could use Vanek for a year in the top six, depending on how much he wanted with their cap issues ... The Oil Kings haven’t hired a coach yet but one name that’s out there: longtime NHL assistant Brad Lauer, who played in the WHL once upon a time
... The possible two top picks in the 2019 draft — Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko and USA centre Jack Hughes — will both be playing in the Ivan Hlinka here in early August ... Farmhand Oilers call-up, defenceman Ethan Bear, has been in Edmonton for a long working out rather than being at home ... No word on whether Kelly Buchberger will keep his job on Long Island on Barry Trotz’s staff but he’ll be fine financially with two years left on his contract. Buchberger left a scouting job with Oilers to dive back into coaching ... Overlooked Saturday: the Oilers dealing a 2019 fifthrounder to Montreal for Providence College starter Hayden Hawkey (perfect name for a kid playing his sport). Jury’s out on whether he has pro potential ... He was Nick Ellis’s backup at Providence College when he was a freshman ... Always lots of disappointed kids at draft: Jackson Leppard, long shot to get drafted (Prince George) sat through the entire draft and didn’t hear his name. You’re entitled to ask why his agent even had him there? At least Fort Saskatchewan forward (Saskatoon Blades) Eric Florchuk was smart enough to stay home. He was the last pick of the day (Washington).