The Oilers selected three OHL players late in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Day 2
The Edmonton Oilers selected Sam O’Reilly 32nd overall to end Day 1 of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft as NHL teams packed up and either hit up the Las Vegas casinos or got a good night’s rest for Day 2.
The Oilers management and scouting team returned to the Sphere for Day 2 with their eyes set on the OHL in the later parts of the draft.
Edmonton announced a rather surprising selection with their 160th overall, fifth round pick, Connor Clattenburg. The reason for him being a surprising pick is because he’s an overage draft-eligible and not one single public scouting agency had him ranked. Not even NHL Central Scouting.
However, this is why NHL scouts get paid the big bucks. They formulate their own lists and trust their expertise.
Clattenburg, listed at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds, split this past season with the Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds and is a physical brute on the ice.
He was involved in the deal that sent Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes from Flint to Soo, which turned out to be a good trade for Connor. He had more ice time in Flint, playing sparingly at center and on the powerplay.
Clattenburg recorded four goals, 12 points, and 51 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Greyhounds before being dealt. In 30 games with the Firebirds, he increased his production, with nine goals, and 17 points, but a drop off in penalty minutes with 28.
He’s a gritty, aggressive forward who isn’t afraid to mix it up with his opponents and drop the gloves. In his rookie season, he had 115 penalty minutes, which was 50 more PIMs from second place.
If you're a defenseman and Clattenburg is on the ice, you better keep your head up, because he is a heat-seeking missile.
The Oilers are banking on Clattenburg to have an increased role in Flint for the upcoming season where he can make strides in his offensive game.
At the tail-end of the sixth round, Edmonton once again drafted a player who had been past upon in the draft, but this player was a double overage draft-eligible prospect.
Dalyn Wakely drafted 192nd overall by the Oilers had a breakout offensive season in North Bay. He went from 49 points in 2022-23 to 104 this past season (third-most points in the OHL). A remarkable jump in production, which carried over into the playoffs, where he scored 13 goals in 16 games and 23 points.
Although his statistics would say he’s a pure playmaker, Wakely is equal parts dangerous as a shooter or passer. He goes hard to the net and pushes opponents out of his way to obtain scoring chances. Also, he's not afraid to flash his creativity and skill level one-on-one against defenders.
He’s got a bit of a power forward mentality even though he isn’t necessarily a very big guy. Wakely loves to chirp and backs it up by finishing his checks and turning around to get his recipient a staredown.
Lastly, the team drafted Sam O’Reilly’s teammate with the London Knights, William Nicholl, in their seventh round, 196th overall selection.
Edmonton fans may look at his statistics (16 points in 65 games) and think, “Why did we draft this kid?”
It’s important to take into account that Nicholl played on a deep London team that forced him down the lineup. But he was a player who would regularly get elevated up when injuries or suspensions happened.
Nicholl was a star in Jr. B in the 2022-23 season, playing for London’s farm team St. Thomas Stars in the GOJHL. He recorded 64 points in 43 games and had a goal and an assist in five call-up games with the Knights.
Clearly, he was too good to play Jr. B again and had earned a full-time roster spot with London this past season.
He won the OHL Championship alongside O’Reilly and his Knights teammates. With many players from that London team expected to move on, Nicholl has the opportunity to have an increased role with the team in the 2024-25 season.
Nicholl is an above-average skater who handles the puck well at full speed. He’s good in transition and keeps his feet moving while protecting the puck along the perimeter in the offensive zone.
Nicholl is a raw prospect still developing, unlike Wakely who is much farther along in his development. Nicholl has some underrated skill in how he handles the puck while in motion, and with more experience and opportunities, there should be more production.
And just like the other two late-round draft picks by the Oilers, he’s a talkative player on the ice and doesn’t shy away from the physical aspect of the game. Even though it’s not an area of his game that he is particularly strong in.