Kailer Yamamoto of Oilers not letting small stature deter NHL dream

EDMONTON --Edmonton Oilers forward prospect Kailer Yamamoto wants to follow in the footsteps of Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson and make it to the NHL.
Yamamoto, a 5-foot-8, 153-pound right wing who played for Spokane of the Western Hockey League last season, was selected No. 22 by the Oilers in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Much like Johnson (5-8, 183), who also played junior hockey with Spokane, Yamamoto, 18, wants to be a dynamic offensive player in the League.

"Talking to Tyler Johnson, we were both in Spokane, and we talk about how he's a smaller guy and he's definitely made it, so that gives me a lot of confidence," Yamamoto said prior to the Oilers development camp, which ended on Wednesday in Jasper, Alberta. "He told me that I have to work hard every day because there are always guys coming up the ladder trying to take his spot. Being a smaller guy, you have to make sure you're working just as hard, if not harder, than everyone else."
A native of Spokane, Yamamoto led his hometown Chiefs in scoring last season with 99 points (42 goals, 57 assists) in 65 games. He had 71 points (19 goals, 52 assists) in 2015-16 and 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists) in his rookie season in 2014-15.
"The comparison I heard coming out of the draft was 'Tyler Johnson,' and if that happens, that would be wonderful," Oilers senior director of player development Rick Carriere said. "[Yamamoto is] a smaller, skilled guy, but he's got some edge to his game. He's able to make plays under pressure and find some people that are open and get them the puck. He can take passes in tough areas and make plays."
Yamamoto finished sixth in scoring in the WHL last season and is hoping to challenge for the scoring title this season.

"It'll be fun to watch," Carriere said. "It's always nice when some of your prospects are among the scoring leaders in their respective leagues."
Yamamoto compensates for his lack of size with grit, determination and fearlessness in pursuit of the puck. He's not one to shy away from the hard areas of the ice to make a play, a quality the Oilers admire in his game.
"I think the biggest thing is that you can't have fear in your game," Yamamoto said. "You have to have that confidence and if you don't have that confidence, it's just not going to go well for you. If you have that fear, you're always going to be hesitant to go to the puck or those dirty areas where you end up scoring those goals."
Yamamoto said he has to get stronger and put on weight to play in the NHL, and is expected to spend at least one more season in junior.
"My big goal this year is to make the Edmonton Oilers," Yamamoto said. "But if I end up going back, my goal is to be the best player in the WHL or one of the best and as a team we want to make it to the Memorial Cup. That's definitely my team goal and that's the same for everybody else on my team."
As a first-round selection, Yamamoto knows there will be pressure to have a good season.
"It's definitely motivation," he said. "It makes me want to make the team as quick as possible and work as hard as I can every day I'm at the rink, and off the ice too."