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Full list of NHL Organizational Rankings
The Edmonton Oilers Top 10 Prospects
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Center
2. Anton Lander, Center
3. David Musil, Defense
4. Tyler Pitlick, Right Wing
5. Oscar Klefbom, Defense*
6. Martin Marincin, Defense
7. Teemu Hartikainen, Left Wing
8. Colton Teubert, Defense
9. Curtis Hamilton, Left Wing
10. Ryan Martindale, Center
Organizational Ranking: 16th
*Ranking Explanation: I was lower on Oscar Klefbom in my draft rankings, but information I've gotten since then has me more optimistic on his projection and I'd bump him up a dozen or so spots in a re-rank.
System Overview: It's hard to maintain a system's stability after graduating top prospects like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi and Linus Omark, but good seasons by several 2010 second round picks, and of course getting a fair amount of talent in the 2011 draft headlined by the number one overall pick keeps this system amongst the league average.
The Oilers have an above-average amount of depth in this system at both skater positions, but outside of elite prospect Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, there isn't a lot of upside to get excited about and the two other prospects with significant upside in Oscar Klefbom and Martin Marincin are still projects. While the Oilers have a core of top talents that are starting to form in their organization, the system as it stands now will likely be what provides the support players to that core.
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1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Center
Date of birth: 04/12/1993
Age: 18
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 164
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 69 GP, 31 G, 106 P (Red Deer-WHL)
Acquired: First round, first overall in 2011 by Edmonton
The Good: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is one of the rare players who you can hang a 70 grade on his puck skills and feel completely confident about it. His skating is an above-average tool, and while he doesn't really excel in regards to high-end speed (but can reach an average level when he gets going), the other aspects of his skating are what makes it so desirable; his acceleration is very good, and he can reach top-speed within a few strides. He extends very well with a good fluid stride and once he builds up more leg strength, it looks good enough to add onto his speed level. His agility may be the best aspect of his skating, as Ryan is brilliant with his edge work and ability to out-maneuver defenders. His balance is also notable, and he regularly will be engaged from the back along the sideboards, stay up, and slide off the contact. Nugent-Hopkin's puck skills are elite and you can't say enough good things about what he does with the puck. His combination of vision, hands, and passing ability are truly special and separate him from 99% of the prospect world. When combined with his hockey sense and agility, Nugent-Hopkins does things at such a quick and efficient pace while creating a ton of offense. His vision is plus and he can regularly thread mid to long distance passes and be a reliable power play quarterback from the sideboards. While he might not be putting up gaudy goal totals, Nugent Hopkins' shot is a notable tool and there's definitely some projection in that area. He works hard on the ice and it shows such as what he does on the forecheck, going hard to the net and his defensive work.
The Bad: Ryan's physical game is the most common question mark placed on his game which is due to a frame that is very wiry and projects as below-average at the next level unless he puts on a significant amount of weight. Despite that weakness, Ryan does work very hard on the ice and it helps him to a degree overcome the frame issue because he has the right intangibles to survive on the ice when he needs to out battle bigger players and he does do so with on a notable basis.
Projection: An above-average first line center to perennial All-Star candidate who safely projects as an average first line center.
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2. Anton Lander, Center
Date of birth: 04/24/1991
Age: 20
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 185
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 49 GP, 10 G, 24 P, 18:19 ATOI (Timrå-SEL)
Acquired: Second round, 40th overall in 2009 by Edmonton
The Good: Lander is a smart, hard-working centerman who commonly gets praise for his defensive ability, but he has an underrated offensive ceiling as well. His hockey sense is above-average, possibly even pushing plus grade and he has great instincts in every zone. Defensively, he covers his marks well, hiss positional play is sound, and he works hard to come back and support the play. His offensive skills are quite decent too. He is able to see the ice, make good distributions, protect the puck well and he will on occasion flash a decent move with the puck. Lander shows a good work ethic in the corners and on the forecheck, and regularly gets praise for his intangibles.
The Bad: Lander's main liability for most of his prospect life has been his skating, but it has significantly improved from a fringe grade tool, to a fringe-average skill that may even touch pro-level. He doesn't have a truly glaring weakness, and is a very projectable prospect.
Projection: An average second line center with good two-way contribution in a perfect world, with a likely projection as a below-average second to above-average third line center.
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3. David Musil, Defense
Date of birth: 04/09/1993
Age: 18
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 198
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 62 GP, 6 G, 25 P (Vancouver-WHL)
Acquired: Second round, 31st overall in 2011 by Edmonton
The Good: David Musil came into the season with high hopes, and while he didn't meet expectations, the defender's stock has still held at a notable position. Musil is a tremendous defensive defenseman. He is smart, safe but yet will engage onto the puck and/or the opponent when he senses an opportunity for a takeaway. His reads are above-average in all situations but he has a tendency to play over-conservative at times which affects his offensive production. Musil's puck skills grade as solid to above-average with a notable ability to slow the game down and move the puck with impressive passes when being pressured.
The Bad: His physical game is still below-average despite being a 6'3" defender and he needs to put on good amount of strength before he goes to the pro level. He's not much of a rusher as opposed to a one or two move and dish player, which is mainly due to his skating ability which grades as a fringe tool if not worse. He has a very awkward stride which he doesn't extend well on and lacks both jump and speed. Musil does flash decent agility for a big man, but that's about the only positive I've seen in his skating ability. If he's one of those prospects who can figure out a way to solve his skating mechanics, he could be a very significant asset.
Projection: An average second pairing defenseman who safely projects as an above-average third pairing defender.
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4. Tyler Pitlick, Right Wing
Date of birth: 11/01/1991
Age: 19
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 188
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 56 GP, 27 G, 62 P (Medicine Hat-WHL)
Acquired: Second round, 31st overall in 2010 by Edmonton
The Good: Tyler Pitlick is a hard-working forward who is listed as a center and right winger, but played wing for most of the season. He's a solid to above-average skater with a good first step who can get to a notable top speed. He plays a grinder-style game in his work ethic up and down the ice and along the physical areas. Pitlick excels in the cycle game, shielding the puck effectively while also having the decent offensive skills and solid vision to be able to move the puck well when a hole opens up in the defensive coverage.
The Bad: Pitlick can get in trouble when he tries to go beyond his means offensively. He doesn't look to have the top-end offensive skills to consistently bring the puck in and be the man to set up all the plays, so he needs to be more selective in his offensive attempts.
Projection: A below-average second to above-average third line forward who safely projects as an average third line forward.
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5. Oscar Klefbom, Defense
Date of birth: 07/20/1993
Age: 17
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 201
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 23 GP, 1 G, 2 P, 8:22 ATOI (Farjestad -SEL)
Acquired: First round, 19th overall in 2011 by Edmonton
The Good: Oscar Klefbom is a very toolsy defensive prospect with considerable upside if everything goes right. He's an above-average skater who at times flashes plus. Klefbom gets up to top speed very quickly with a powerful stride which lets him take off, jump into the rush and get back into defensive position if the play gets behind him. Klefbom's puck skills are solid-average as he can carry the puck at a notable level when moving at top speed. He's a decent passer, and while he has the potential to be an above-average distributor, the hockey sense and vision doesn't seem to be there enough for him to be that player. He has a decent shot, although I haven't noticed much bad or good in that aspect of his game. Klefbom has a good frame that has filled out nicely for a player born in late July at around 6'3", 200 lbs. and he can win battles.
The Bad: Hockey sense is Klefbom's major liability as it grades as a fringe tool. He doesn't see the ice well, takes too long with decisions, displays a suspect defensive game at times and can get too overzealous with his offensive rushes and pinches. Klefbom also has a tendency to make bad decisions when being physically pressured.
Projection: A below-average second to above-average third pairing defenseman, but that projection has so much variance attached to it because Klefbom is so raw and so far away. There is some reason to believe that he could push to become an above-average second pairing player, but he just as well he might end up as a fringe NHLer.
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6. Martin Marincin, Defense
Date of birth: 02/18/1992
Age: 19
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 187
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 56 GP, 27 G, 62 P (Medicine Hat-WHL)
Acquired: Second round, 46th overall in 2010 by Edmonton
The Good: Marincin is a big, toolsy defender with impressive upside who had a good season in regards to counting statistics in first North American campaign. He's a decent skater and moves well for his size, but can look a little awkward with his coordination at times. His abilities on the puck are impressive as his skills are solid and really good for a big defenseman. He has a big wingspan and can poke the puck off attackers very effectively. When he's on, Maricin shows top-end upside but…
The Bad: Marincin is maddingly inconsistent. My notes from scouts are filled with things like, "Can do great things with the puck, but for every good move, he makes a boneheaded turnover", "He can be an elite physical force, but then there are time he shies from playing the body", "He can be a top shutdown option on some shifts, but then will look like a defensive liability on others." In a nutshell, Maricin is still a significant project.
Projection: He has the tools to be an average second pairing defender but his projection variance goes all the way down to a below-average third pairing/depth defender.
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7. Teemu Hartikainen, Left Wing
Date of birth: 05/03/1990
Age: 21
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 215
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 66 GP, 17 G, 42 P (Oklahoma City-AHL)
Acquired: Sixth round, 163rd overall in 2008 by Edmonton
The Good: Hartikainen has all the makings of a fan favorite type of player who brings his all every shift and throws his body around without fear. He's an intense player who is very effective along the walls and in front of the net, and projects as an above-average to a plus physical player in the NHL. Despite limited offensive skills, he's effective in front of the net on the power play as he can cause disturbances around the crease area and also get his stick on loose pucks. On the other hand, he's not a crazy aggressive player, as he shows solid hockey sense and reads the game rather well. His offensive instincts are decent, while he shows above-average defensive awareness on top of a great two-way work ethic. His shot is solid as well.
The Bad: Hartikainen is a below-average skater who at times shows below that, and is not an impressive mover in the least. He keeps his feet moving consistently, and it's the least he'll need to do to survive in the pro game. His puck skills are fringe too although the hockey sense helps him be a decent distributor of the puck. However, he's not a puck holder or a true offensive player by any means.
Projection: An average to below-average third line winger who safely projects into a bottom six in some capacity.
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8. Colton Teubert, Defense
Date of birth: 03/08/1990
Age: 21
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 195
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 59 GP, 4 G, 17 P (Manchester/Oklahoma City-AHL)
Acquired: Trade from Los Angeles; drafted first round, 13th overall in 2008 by Los Angeles
The Good: Colton Teubert regularly gets praise for his physical game which easily projects as plus in the NHL if not higher, with one NHL source describing his style as nothing short of "angry". He regularly shows a penchant for physicality in open ice and during in tight physical battles, on top of showing a regular edge to his game. He moves at a decent level, stays with his checks on the rush well, and is quite mobile for a defender his size. He also did a decent job reigning in his penalty minutes this season.
The Bad: Teubert is a limited player with the puck who should only be used to execute the short passes. His coordination has actually improved with the puck, but he's not an accurate passer and doesn't have much in terms of offensive instincts or vision. Teubert had an adjustment period to the AHL and had some troubles defensively early on, but as the season went on, that slowly started to come around.
Projection: An above-average third pairing defender with a floor projection of a below-average third pairing defender or depth player.
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9. Curtis Hamilton, Left Wing
Date of birth: 12/04/1991
Age: 19
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 206
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 62 GP, 26 G, 82 P (Saskatoon-WHL)
Acquired: Second round, 48th overall in 2010 by Edmonton
The Good: Curtis Hamilton rebounded well from an injury-plagued draft season and showed a plus physical game to go with a fine all-around skill set. He's grown into his frame very well and doesn't shy from using it. He's very effective in the physical areas and is a pain to get off the puck when he puts his back to defenders. Hamilton has above-average hockey sense, as he is the kind of player who the play just follows, and his decision making is relatively good on top of an impressive defensive game. He's a hard-worker who is the kind of player who will go the net with authority and make a conscious effort on the backcheck.
The Bad: Hamilton is a fringe-average skater, but can on occasion flash pro-average ability which is fine for his size. He's not much of a puck skills guy, and lacks the offensive creativity to score at a notable level in the pro game.
Projection: An average third line winger who safely projects into a bottom six at least.
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10. Ryan Martindale, Center
Date of birth: 10/27/1991
Age: 19
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 190
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 65 GP, 34 G, 83 P (Ottawa-OHL)
Acquired: Third round, 61st overall in 2010 by Edmonton
The Good: Martindale has above-average puck skills and gets regular praise from scouts as a talented puck-handler and playmaker. He's good with the puck in open ice, and can be a very effective puck distributor. On one of the better lines in the CHL, he was regularly the player who was the designated puck carrier and the player who started a fair amount of offense. His skating has improved to the point where it can look pro-average and he moves around at a decent level. Martindale's defensive game also took a step forward and he showed decent prowess on the penalty kill.
The Bad: Martindale is a big player who put on some muscle this past year, yet scouts regularly point to the fact that he plays a fringe physical game, isn't assertive at all, and can be intimidated when opposing defenders go after him.
Projection: He might end up as a below-average second line center, or he may not even play 100 games in the league, although if his defensive game continues to improve, a lower-line projection could get into the mix.
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The Sleeper: 2010 seventh round pick Kristians Pells is a forward who is a decent skater and has fine offensive instincts. His first North American season was okay from a counting numbers perspective, but I think he has the potential to have a breakout campaign next year.
Extra Notes:
Defenseman Jeremie Blain was right outside my top ten, and he showed good progression this season. I heard praise for the fact that Blain's defensive game took a step forward this year, and his overall decision making looked better in all facets of the game, which is impressive seeing as his hockey sense drove his draft value.
2007 first round pick Alex Plante is a decent, big body shutdown defender, but fringe feet and hands make me skeptical if there is any significant NHL value to his game or if he simply ends up as a replacement level player. His defensive awareness would need to be absolutely terrific to push his value to a notable level, and while that aspect is good, I don't think it's at that point.
Winger Toni Rajala should be coming to the AHL next season after serving his year of military duty in Finland. He has an above-average skill set, but he's just so slight physically and I'm not sure if his offensive tools are dynamic enough to overcome that.
Another candidate I had for a sleeper in this system is defenseman Dillon Simpson. With Chay Genoway leaving North Dakota, that could open up some prime scoring minutes for the skilled puck-mover. My report on Simpson as well as Travis Ewanyk can be found here and my report on Tobias Reider can be found here.
Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus.
You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.
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Top 10 Prospects (07/21)
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