CP NewsAlert: Oilers make it official, draft Connor McDavid with first pick

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. - The Edmonton Oilers' first pick of the NHL draft is a snap. It's their second that's going to be the tough one to figure out.

Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is expected to make Connor McDavid the first overall pick Friday night. But Edmonton also has the No. 16 selection, which has many more variables attached to it.

"I've been entertaining some offers," Chiarelli said Friday morning. "We've had some good amateur meetings the last few days, there's going to be some real good players there.

"It would have to take something pretty good for me to move that pick."

Although McDavid is expected to make an immediate impact and move on to Edmonton's top line, Chiarelli has more moderate goals for the 16th pick.

"We're looking at guys that are really likely to be top-two line guys, top-four defencemen," said Chiarelli, adding he expects the Oilers' second pick will return to junior for the 2015-'16 season and make the jump to the NHL within three years.

Edmonton's youth movement will continue in the second and third rounds, where it has two picks in each.

Chiarelli says although he considered offers for all of his picks — except the coveted No. 1 overall — as the draft drew closer he's been more reluctant to make any trades.

"What happens is as you get closer to the actual draft, and the drafting of players, there's a little bit of excitement that builds in your amateur group," said Chiarelli. "You covet your picks more. There's a little kind of dynamic that goes around he draft that tails off afterwards.

"That's what we're going through right now."

With a youthful group of all-star forwards like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with highly touted McDavid soon to join them, Chiarelli put an emphasis on drafting defencemen and goalies with his later picks.

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