BLOG: Oilers on absence of second-round pick

The Oilers are without their second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, which went to Boston as compensation for Peter Chiarelli signing in Edmonton.

The Oilers seem to be in a good spot despite the loss of the pick. With two third-round picks and two in the fifth, Edmonton has assets to move up if a player they like drops to a certain spot or if a trade call comes through that's too good to pass up.

"We have two thirds and two fifths," said Chiarelli. "We'll see what the draft board comes to as we get to the end of the first. I'm not really consumed by that. It's a good year not to have a second. It's a little deeper than maybe the pundits have said, but it still drops off.

"History shows a third versus a second is not much different so I'm not going to go out of my way. If something comes across our lap close to our pick in the first, we may look to trade down and get another pick in the second."

Chiarelli has shown a willingness to move picks and assets around on draft day, so it will be interesting to see if the Oilers do some shuffling.

The Oilers have eight total picks in the Draft, to be held June 23-24 in Chicago.