On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: If the Oilers would have been able to select either at No. 2 or No. 3, they could have taken one of the Finnish wingers who appear ready to play in the league next year. It would have made it a little easier to trade Jordan Eberle or Taylor Hall for top-end defenseman.
“I’ve heard people say ‘how could you take a defenceman at No. 4?’ I don’t understand the logic behind that. D are very important players,” said Chiarelli. “There’s four or five players in the next group and any one of them could be a top six forward or a top four defenceman. Sure, we could move back (to six, seven, eight?).”
Forward options at No. 4 are Matthew Tkachuk, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Logan Brown. The top three defensemen are all left-handed – Mikhail Sergachev, Olli Juolevi and Jakob Chychrun.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
Presse Canadienne in the Montreal Gazette: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin could look to move up in the draft to select Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois and Matthew Tkachuk will likely go at either No. 4 and No. 5.
“It’s always interesting for the Montreal Canadiens to get hold of a Quebec player, but I’m sure there are many teams that love the ‘little Dubois’. We are not the only ones. Probably he will not be there (9th pick), but there are always surprises, Bergevin noted.
“We always look (to improve our draft pick), but we will see if the teams are interested, and what price we’ll have to pay,” he added.
Bergevin will also be checking out the free agent market.
“On July 1, this is an important date for me. I’ll be very patient. I am going to watch. If I see that we can do something that can help the team without weakening it, we’ll do it. Sometimes you sign a player for five years and after two years, you know it’s not going to work, but you’re stuck with him for another three years. You really have to be careful. “