Oilers snag C depth in first five picks

As much as you try to decide how to build your franchise, teams have to philosophize what their identity is going to be.  The Edmonton Oilers have decided that skill and speed will be their forte, especially down the middle.

With many great players still on the board in round one, the Oilers selected young centre Matt Duchene to be a key cog for them.

"Matt has such great skill and speed, that combination just was too tempting to pass up." and although there was a lot of internal discussion about going to a different position in the second round, the Oilers GM decided that the improvement in Ryan Nugent Hopkins' game was too tantalizing to defer.

"RNH added 20 pounds of muscle.  He is stronger and more dynamic.  Some times he will just narrow his eyes and take it to the net."

After picking up two cornerstone defensemen in Jacob Trouba and Olli Maata, the Oilers went back to the Centre position.

"We had a tender and a couple wingers almost picked when our head scout said....Brock Nelson is still on the board.  He is almost a point a game guy and top 30 in scoring.  He is 23 years old...and you guys want a 2nd pair dman?  You're fooked."

There was some gazing around the room, and GM Bachul said to the scout..."if it doesn't work out, you're fired."

Nelson was then picked as an Oiler.  Where do they go next?  "Who knows.  There are still a lot of great players there.  We think it will be fairly easy next pick."  With the disension of the 5th round, one might not be so sure.