Oil focus on size, skill

Newark, N.J. — The Edmonton Oilers started the day with six draft picks and left the Prudential Center with 10 assets.

That’s not exactly the way general manager Craig MacTavish wanted the day to go, but when he was unable to secure a roster play in a trade, attentions turned to the prospects.

After selecting defenceman Darnell Nurse with the seventh pick, MacTavish traded their 37th pick to the Los Angeles Kings to acquire the 57th, 88th and 96th selections. He then traded their 56th to the St. Louis Blues for the 83rd, 94th and 114th.

The Oilers started the day without any selections in the third and fourth rounds.

They ended up with eight forwards and two defencemen: forward Marc-Oliver Roy (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL), centre Bogdan Yakimov (Nizhnekamsk, which is in the hometown of the Oilers’ Nail Yakupov); leftwinger Anton Slepyshev (Ufa, Russia), right-winger Jackson Houck (Vancouver Giants, WHL), centre Kyle Platzer (London Knights, OHL), forward Aidan Muir (Detroit, MWE HL), left-winger Evan Campbell (Langley Rivermen, BCHL), defenceman Ben Betker (Everett Silvertips, WHL) and Sherwood Park’s Greg Chase (Calgary Hitmen, WHL).

“They have a lot of young players, superstars,” said Roy. “One of my favourite players in the NHL is Ryan NugentHopkins, so I’m very proud to be a part of his team. Taylor Hall, Yakupov, all those kids. It’s good to be a part of this organization.”

Head amateur scout Stu MacGregor said the Oilers were able to address some of the team’s needs with more size and more skill, which was one of the priorities heading into the draft.

The prospects will be in Edmonton later this week for the team’s annual camp.