First Round Picks: No. 17
1999-2000 Record: 32-34-16 (8), 88 points (Tied for 13th overall)
What they need
The high-speed Oilers could use some more physical players in their lineup. Also, depth to the forward corps could be a need with Doug Weight and Bill Guerin each slated to be unrestricted free agents in a couple of years.
|
HOMEGROWN OILERS
|
|
Oilers draftees who played 20 or more games with Edmonton in 1999-00: (All stats with Edmonton) |
| Name (drafted) |
GP |
G-A-Pts |
Ryan Smyth
(6th in '94) |
82 |
28-27-55 |
Tom Poti
(59th in '96) |
76 |
9-26-35 |
Boyd Devereaux
(6th in '96) |
76 |
8-19-27 |
Georges Laraque
(31st in '95) |
76 |
8-8-16 |
In their system
Last year's top pick, right wing Jani Rita (13th overall) had a tough 1999-200 season statistically.
In 49 games for Finnish League squad Jokerit, Rita had just six goals and nine points. The Oilers' top pick in '97, Swiss right wing Michel Riesen (14th overall), continued to adjust to the North American game at Hamilton (AHL), where he had 29 goals and 60 points in 73 games.
Two other '97 draftees who are cutting their pro teeth in Hamilton are centers Jason Chimera (121st overall), who had 28 points and 77 PIM's in 78 games, and Peter Sarno (141st overall), who had 10 goals
and 46 points in 67 games. Another up-and-comer is center Mike Comrie (91st overall in '99), who had 24 goals and 59
points in 40 games for Michigan State (NCAA-CCHA) and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. On defense,
Alexei Semenov (36th overall in '99), had a good year at Hamilton, recording 44 points and 135 PIM's in 65 games.
Recent draft history
Edmonton has been stocking up on forwards in the opening round of the draft lately.
Of the eight first round picks the Oilers have made in the previous six drafts, seven of the players chosen were frontliners.
The lone exception was Quebec League defenseman Mathieu Descoteaux (19th overall in '96).
|
FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS (LAST FIVE YEARS)
|
| YEAR |
PICK |
PLAYER |
POS. |
'99 TEAM |
'99 G-A-Pts |
| 1999 |
13 |
Jani Rita |
RW |
Jokerti (Fin) |
6-3-9 |
| 1998 |
13 |
Michael Heinrich |
RW |
Barrie (OHL) |
38-48-86 |
| 1997 |
14 |
Michel Riesen |
LW |
Hamilton (AHL) |
29-31-60 |
| 1996 |
6
19 |
Boyd Devereaux
Mathieu Descoteaux |
C
D |
Edmonton (NHL)
Hamilton (AHL) |
8-19-27
5-7-12 |
| 1995 |
6 |
Steve Kelly |
C |
Albany (AHL) |
21-36-57 |
|
|
ALSO SEE
Oilers' first-round history
Team Needs: Calgary Flames
Team Needs: Colorado Avalanche
Team Needs: Minnesota Wild
Team Needs: Vancouver Canucks
|
