The Edmonton Oilers made a trade and wound up drafting six players on day two of the NHL Draft.
The Oilers moved up to 78th overall in round three, to select Lethbridge Hurricanes goaltender Stuart Skinner.
The Edmonton native picked up 34 wins in 60 games with the Hurricanes last season while posting a 0.905 save percentage, and a 3.26 goals against average.
“What a blessing,” said Skinner. “Watching the Edmonton Oilers as a young guy, there’s no words to describe it. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
The Oilers gave up the 82nd and 126th picks to the Arizona Coyotes in the deal.
LISTEN: Skinner chats with Reid, Jack and Bob
With the 84th pick the Oilers selected Russian defenceman Dmitri Samorukov. Samorukov scored four goals and set up 16 others in 67 games with the Guelph Storm last season.
In round four the Oilers added their second forward of the draft. With the 115th pick the Oilers selected Czech Ostap Safin. He’s 6’4″, 198 pounds and can play both centre or the wing.
The Oilers would add another forward in round five, drafting Kirill Maksimov 146th overall from the Niagara IceDogs. The Russian right winger scored 21 goals and 38 points with Saginaw and Niagara last season.
In round six the Oilers snagged Skyler Brind’amour 177th overall. He’s a left shot centre and is the son of former NHLer Rod Brind’amour.
“They’re around the game all the time,” said Oilers director of scouting Bob Green about the children of pro hockey players. “My experience with those guys is that they become pros quicker. Their habits are good right away because it’s been instilled in them from an early age.”
And with their final pick in round seven, the Oilers selected American defenceman Philip Kemp 208th overall.
LISTEN: Bob Green wraps up the Oilers draft.