This is a review of what the Edmonton Oilers did (and didn’t) do at the 2013 NHL entry draft:

Round 1

7th overall selection – The Oilers take Defensman Darnell Nurse 7th overall and while I’ve seen his name come up for the Oilers in a few mock drafts I really expected them to take a forward. The team is clearly weak at forward and has a real need for skilled players with size to complement the young forwards already in the system, so when the Oilers went to the podium with Nishushkin still on the board I was quite surprised that they picked Darnell Nurse. With that said I think Nurse really adds alot to the defensive prospect pool of the Oilers and gives them a position of strength to deal from when making trades for the forwards the team needs. Nurse may be a couple of years away from the NHL but he will get there and he will make an impact so that really opens the door for MacT to trade good prospects like Marincin, Mussil, Fedun etc.. I still think they like Klefbom too much to deal him unless the return is just too perfect. Continue reading →

Craig Mactavish and the Edmonton Oilers have selected Darnell Nurse 7th overall in the NHL entry draft. I honestly expected the Oilers would pick Nishushkin when they came to the podium with him still available and was actually a little disapointed when they didn’t. I was however very releved that they used the pick rather than use it as a package to obtain Cory Schneider from the Canucks. There were rumors that the Oilers were offering the 7th overall pick plus a top prospect to Vancouver for Schneider but for whatever reason the deal didn’t go through. There were looks of surprise from the Oilers table at the anouncment of the trade of Schneider to the Devils for just the 9th overall selection. Continue reading →