Say what you will about the Edmonton Oilers'; prospect base, but there';s
finally some depth at each position. The Oilers are still a few years away from
 reaping the rewards of some of these recent draft selections, but quality
players are coming along through the system for the first time in a long
time. Fans are usually attracted to some of the more prominent names within
the system like Evan Bouchard, Kailer Yamamoto, Stuart Skinner, and Ethan Bear.

However, past those names, you';ll find some players that are proving to be
providing excellent value for where they were found in the draft. There are
also a few players the club has found via free agency or acquired from other
clubs. Cameron Hebig was an undrafted player in the WHL that broke out this
season and had no previous NHL rights. He';s got decent scoring potential after
 posting 41 goals and 90 points this season.

Joel Persson, 24, is an older prospect who';s gaining notoriety in Sweden as an
 offensive defenseman. The Oilers ended up signing him to a one-year
entry-level contract (ELC) in May and let him stay with the league champion
Vaxjo Lakers for another year. Patience is also another thing for which
Edmonton is being rewarded. Tyler Vesel, 24, has completed his four seasons in
the NCAA and jumped right into the Bakersfield Condors'; lineup to end the
2017-18 season.

William Lagesson, a fourth-round pick back in 2014, is gearing up for his first
 season in the AHL. The 24-year-old has seen steady development and was seen as
 a top-pairing defender in Sweden last season. Dylan Wells, 20, is a
goaltending prospect that';s ready for his first full season in the pros after
completing his junior career. That said, he';s not the only notable goaltending
 prospect on this list.

We went over the Oilers'; top-10 prospects list, but to round out the list
nicely, here';s a list of guys that were notable omissions and currently sit in
 spots 11 through 20. The listed projections for each player are what the
generous high side projection of each player could be at the NHL level.20.
Graham McPhee (LW)

Acquired: 5th Round (149th Overall), 2016 NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: Boston College (NCAA) | 2017-18 Stats: 36 GP - 12 G - 12 A - 24
PTS

The son of Vegas Golden Knights'; general manager George McPhee, Graham is
slowly blossoming as a prospect and could have some long-term dividends for
Edmonton. He';s playing on a younger, rebuilding Boston College team and has
been a welcomed surprise in his sophomore season while taking a bigger role
with the club. McPhee doubled his point totals going from 10 to 24 and was
recognized as Boston College Interruption';s most improved player.

In his third year, he';ll be expected to continue playing in his top-six role
and potentially expand to being a true front-line contributor. He plays a
well-rounded two-way style and led the trio of Oiler prospects (Aapeli Rasanen,
 Joey Dudek) playing for BC in scoring. I wouldn';t expect Edmonton to rush
McPhee to the pro ranks. He will likely finish out his college career with four
 seasons before turning pro in 2020-21 when he';ll be a 22-year-old prospect.

Projection: No. 3-4 Left Wing, Bottom-Six Checking Forward19. Tyler Vesel (C)

Acquired: 6th Round (153rd Overall), 2014 NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: U. Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) | 2017-18 Stats: 36 GP - 11 G - 21 A -
32 PTS

The youth movement is underway in Bakersfield, and the sudden influx of young
talent will get plenty of opportunities in 2018-19. Among them is a 24-year-old
 Vesel who just wrapped up four seasons with the University of Nebraska-Omaha
in the NCAA. Vesel scored 108 points in 149 college games and finally turned
pro at the end of the 2017-18 season. He got into 11 games with the Condors
scoring six points and looks like he';s ready for the next stage of his
career.Tyler Vesel (Minda Haas Kuhlmann / Flickr)

Vesel is a quick albeit undersized skill forward at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds.
He showed good playmaking abilities during his late-season audition in
Bakersfield. Now the question is how Condors head coach Jay Woodcroft utilizes
his youngsters this season. It';s easy to suggest a guy like Vesel gets lost in
 the mix when you consider Tyler Benson, Cameron Hebig, Cooper Marody, and
Kailer Yamamoto are expected to play top-six minutes. He';s battling with the
likes of Josh Currie, Joe Gambardella, Colin Larkin, Brad Malone, and Nolan
Vesey for minutes.

Projection: No. 3-4 Center, Bottom-Six Offensive Forward18. Ryan Mantha (RD)

Acquired: Unsigned Draft Pick, Free-Agent Signing (March 2017)

2017-18 Team: Bakersfield (AHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 41 GP - 3 G - 7 A - 10 PTS

An eye injury has (hopefully temporarily) derailed Mantha who looked like an
impressive free agent signing out of the OHL during the spring of 2017. The
then 20-year-old was wrapping up his final year with the Niagara IceDogs
scoring 17 goals and 58 points in 65 games. He';s a big mobile puck-moving
defender who has the potential to become a hand on the second power-play unit.

The former New York Rangers fourth-round pick in 2014 sports a large 6-foot-5
and 229-pound frame. He';s got that elusive right shot and a cannon of a point
shot. Mantha developed a blood clot in his eye which damaged his vision. He';s
currently out indefinitely until his vision returns. His career is in jeopardy,
 but if he can regain his health, Mantha gives the Oilers an intriguing right
side defender that has size, mobility, and great offensive instincts.

Projection: No. 5-7 Offensive Defenseman17. Dylan Wells (G)

Acquired: 5th Round (123rd Overall), 2016 NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: Peterborough (OHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 56 GP - 20 W - 3.62 GAA -
.896 SV%Related: Oilers Top Prospects - Dylan Wells

A few years ago a lot of folks were very high on Wells and thought he might
become the heir apparent to the Oilers'; No. 1 job. Fast forward a few years
and Wells'; stock has fallen dramatically. Part of that has to do with the
emergence of Stuart Skinner as Edmonton';s top goaltending prospect who also
backstopped the Swift Current Broncos to a WHL Championship and a berth in the
2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup. Then there';s the drafting of Olivier
Rodrigue.Dylan Wells (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Wells, 20, was a workhorse for Peterborough, playing 108 regular-season games
over the past two seasons, but his game hasn';t matured at the rate you
would';ve expected. The same issues in Wells'; game are still there;
inconsistency, and allowing soft goals that more often than not just go right
through him. Now that he';s graduating to the pros, the most likely scenario
sees the Oilers assigning him to the ECHL';s Witchita Thunder, where he';ll get
 a chance to iron the wrinkles out of his game while seeing plenty of pucks.

Projection: No. 2 Backup Goalie16. Dmitri Samorukov (LD)

Acquired: 3rd Round (84th Overall), 2017 NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: Guelph (OHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 62 GP - 11 G - 23 A - 34 PTS

Samorukov has played second fiddle to Garrett McFadden and Ryan Merkley in
Guelph for two seasons now. The Russian-born defenseman improved his point
totals from 20 to 34 in his second season in the OHL but is still a raw, rangy
prospect. There';s a ton of things to like, such as him being one of the more
utilized Russian defenders at the 2018 WJC. There';s also the fact that he';s
committed to sticking it out in North America and wants to play in the
NHL.Related: 6 Thoughts on Samorukov & Other Oilers Prospects

Overall some might';ve wished for more of an improved step forward from
Samorukov who';s offensive ceiling likely isn';t as high as you might';ve
thought after the 2017 draft. Still, his defensive skills are worth noting.
With some improved consistency and a more significant role in his final year in
 the OHL, expect steady overall improvement, and for him to represent Russia at
 the 2019 WJC in Vancouver and Victoria.

Projection: No. 5-6 Defensive Defenseman15. Joel Persson (RD)

Acquired: Undrafted, Free-Agent Signing (May 2018)

2017-18 Team: Vaxjo (SHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 51 GP - 6 G - 28 A - 34 PTS

When the Oilers signed Persson back in May to a one-year entry-level contract
(ELC), a lot of folks were confused when Chiarelli announced they';d be letting
 the 24-year-old stay in Sweden instead of coming to North America. Edmonton
holds his re-call rights and can bring him over at any point of the 2018-19
season. He';ll be a restricted free agent (RFA) next summer when the Oilers
will have a clearer picture of what their defense might look like.Related:
Oilers Sign Swedish Standout Joel Persson

Persson projects as a low-risk, high-reward type of signing and could be a
surprise. The Oilers need NHL-ready prospects on cost-effective deals, and
Persson could step right into the Oilers lineup and challenge for a No. 5-6
spot. He won';t so we';ll have to wait. His comparables might be Yohann
Auvitu, Anton Belov, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Denis Grebeshkov, and Philip Larsen.
He';s a pure power play specialist who one broadcaster believes could develop
into a John Klingberg-lite.

Projection: No. 5-6 Offensive Defenseman, Second Power-Play Quarterback14.
Aapeli Rasanen (C/RW)

Acquired: 6th Round (153rd Overall), 2016 NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: Boston College (NCAA) | 2017-18 Stats: 32 GP - 4 G - 12 A - 16
PTS

Projection: No. 3-4 Right Wing Option, Bottom-Six Two-Way Forward

Here';s a guy that some think others often sleep on that could turn out to be a
 helluva player down the road. The now 20-year-old has bounced around the past
few years and has had stints in the SM-Liiga Junior A league, the USHL, and the
 NCAA. He';ll be entering his second year of NCAA eligibility with Boston
College in 2018-19. Anton Lander is a fair comparison, but for Edmonton fans
the hope is he transitions better to the NHL.Related: Oilers Prospects 2018 WJC
 Review

Rasanen had a strong showing the 2018 WJC playing for Finland and scoring four
goals. In fact, he tied Kailer Yamamoto for the most points scored in the
tournament amongst Oiler prospects. Playing with other Edmonton prospects
George McPhee and Joey Dudek last season, Rasanen didn';t have the best point
totals among that trio. That said, he';s a gritty two-way center who has solid
defensive skills and is developing into a very astute penalty killer.

Projection: No. 8-12 Defensive Forward, Penalty Kill Specialist13. William
Lagesson (LD)

Acquired: 4th Round (91st Overall), 2014  NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: Djurgardens (SHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 49 GP - 1 G - 12 A - 13
PTSRelated: Oilers William Lagesson Ready for North America

The 22-year-old is an often forgotten-about prospect since he';s largely been
out of sight, out of mind playing in the USHL, NCAA, and then the SHL in 
2017-18. He emerged as a legitimate top-pairing option in Sweden';s top league
logging 19:27 in ice-time over 49 games. Lagesson is a tough customer and a
real nasty, physical blueliner who';s a throwback to former Oilers like Jason
Smith.William Lagesson (Connor Mah/Flickr)

He might not have the same upside, but he';s got great awareness in the
defensive zone and is poised for his age. He logged a ton of minutes
shorthanded for Djurgardens and is pegged to play a top-four role in
Bakersfield. He could be the biggest surprise within the system this season.

Projection: No. 5-6 Shutdown Defenseman12. Cameron Hebig (C)

Acquired: Undrafted, Free Agent Signing (December 2017)

2017-18 Team: Regina (WHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 66 GP - 41 G - 49 A - 90 PTS

The now 21-year-old was an undrafted prospect who';s generally seen as a late
bloomer. In 2015-16 he was better than a point-per-game player (1.17), but it
wasn';t until his 2017-18 season where he put up 41 goals and 90 points (1.36
PTS/GP) that he caught on. Hebig was traded from the Saskatoon Blades to the
Regina Pats.Related: Hebig Stars in Oilers Continued Makeover in Bakersfield

Despite being knocked out in the first round, the hosts of the Mastercard
Memorial Cup defeated the same team that eliminated them from the WHL playoffs,
 Swift Current Broncos, en route to the final against the Acadie-Bathurst
Titan. Hebig was a huge piece of that, and his goal-scoring prowess will now be
 tested in the AHL.

Projection: Top-Nine Scoring Forward11. Olivier Rodrigue (G)

Acquired: 2nd Round (62nd Overall), 2018 NHL Draft

2017-18 Team: Drummondville (QMJHL) | 2017-18 Stats: 53 GP - 31 W - 2.54 GAA -
 .903 SV%Related: Oilers Draft Olivier Rodrigue 62nd Overall

There';s a ton of untapped upside with Rodrigue. He';s got a ton of poise,
moves well across the crease, and has good positional fundamentals. Similar to
where Skinner was last summer after he was drafted, now it';s about putting it
all together. The 18-year-old will need to add to his 6-foot-1 and 159-pound
frame to eventually reach his potential as a starting option, but his quickness
 and reflexes are outstanding.Olivier Rodrigue (Ghyslain Bergeron/Drummondville
 Voltigeurs)

Rodrigue will have a shot at making Team Canada';s roster for the upcoming WJC.
 Michael DiPietro might have the inside track for a spot, but Rodrigue will
draw consideration. He';s looked good at the World Junior Summer Showcase and
will ride that into the 2018-19 season. He';s had two seasons under his belt as
 a starter in Drummondville, and will likely see a busy workload as the
Voltigeurs look to stay in playoff contention and make a deep run in the QMJHL
playoffs.

Projection: No. 1-2 (1A/1B) Goaltender

Oilers - Top Prospects #11-20

RankPlayer2017-18 TeamGP

GPG

WA

GAAPTS

SV%

20Graham McPhee (LW)Boston College (NCAA)36121224

19Tyler Vesel (C)U. Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)36112132

18Ryan Mantha (RD)Bakersfield (AHL)413710

17Dylan Wells (G)Peterborough (OHL)56203.62.896

16Dmitri Samorukov (LD)Guelph (OHL)62112334

15Joel Persson (RD)Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)5162834

14Aapeli Rasanen (C/RW)Boston College (NCAA)3241216

13William Lagesson (LD)Djurgardens (SHL)4911213

12Cameron Hebig (C)Regina (WHL)66414990

11Olivier Rodrigue (G)Drummondville (QMJHL)53312.54.903

The post Edmonton Oilers Top Prospects #11-20 appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWrite...
--- SBBSecho 3.04-Win32
 * Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)