The Edmonton Oilers drafted another player out of the Ontario Hockey League with their second-round pick in the NHL Draft on Saturday.
LISTEN BELOW: Bob Green, Oilers director of player personnel, wraps up the 2018 NHL Draft
After adding London Knights defencman Evan Bouchard in the first round on Friday, the Oilers selected Mississauga Steelheads centre Ryan McLeod with the 40th overall pick.
McLeod scored 26 goals and added 44 assists in 68 games with the Steelheads last season. He says the foundation of his game is built around his speed.
“From a young age, I’ve always been a great skater,” McLeod said on the draft floor with 630 CHED’s Bob Stauffer and Jack Michaels. “I like to take guys wide and use my speed to my advantage.”
Being drafted by the Oilers is a dream come true for McLeod. Despite growing up in Ontario, McLeod admits that he’s always been an Oilers fan.
LISTEN BELOW: Interview with Ryan McLeod
McLeod, 18, also has good size to go with that speed. The Mississauga, Ont. native is listed at six-foot-two and 200 pounds.
He’s the younger brother of New Jersey Devils prospect Michael McLeod, who was drafted 12th overall in 2016.
The Oilers also made a trade on day two of the NHL Draft. They acquired the 62nd overall pick from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 71st and 133rd picks. With the pick, the Oilers selected goaltender Olivier Rodrigue from the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
LISTEN BELOW: Interview with Olivier Rodrique
NHL Central Scouting had Rodrigue as their highest rated North American goaltender heading into this year’s draft.
The Oilers made two more selections on the day to round out their draft. In the sixth round, they selected six-foot-four, 190-pound right-shot defenceman Michael Kesselring. Kesselring will suit up for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL next season.
With the 195th overall pick in the seventh round, the Oilers selected forward Patrik Siikanen from the Espoo Blues of the Finnish Junior League.
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