NHL Draft Rumors: Edmonton Oilers leaning towards keeping fourth overall pick
The Edmonton Oilers are leaning towards keeping their fourth overall pick, as opposed to trading it to improve their team.
One team that has been exploring trading a very high draft pick in the 2016 NHL Draft is the Edmonton Oilers. They have explored moving the pick for a top-tier defenseman and have been linked to such players as Kevin Shattenkirk and Tyson Barrie in the past few weeks. However, general manager Peter Chiarelli says they are more likely than not going to keep the fourth overall pick.
GM Chiarelli says there is a "greater than 50%" chance the #Oilers will stick with their fourth-overall #NHLDraft pick.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 23, 2016
This likely means Edmonton has not had the kind of interest in the pick they had hoped. Edmonton has reached the point where they need to be aggressive to improve their blue line. Barrie is likely to stay with the Avalanche and multiple teams are interested in Shattenkirk, so it’s probably for the best that the Oilers keep the fourth overall pick.
They will most likely draft a defenseman, though they could also draft a forward since it appears that there are few, if any, number one defensemen in the 2016 NHL Draft. Edmonton will have to be aggressive in free agency and the trade market in order to address their clear need of blue line help. Almost all of their defensemen are left-handed, so that means they will most likely pursue someone who is right-handed. Unless someone blows away Edmonton with an offer that would give them a young right-handed defenseman, expect them to keep their first round pick.