DRAFT: Right-shot rearguards

EDMONTON, AB - They're hard to cultivate and even harder to cull.
Right-shot defencemen continue to be one of the most coveted players in the National Hockey League and Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Peter Chiarelli acknowledged it in his end of season media avail.
"That type of defenceman is a need," he said. "I would love a righty-lefty paradigm to get equal on each side and to be compatible partners, also. It's an area where we have to fill a gap."
The 2018 NHL Draft class is replete with skilled defenders and although the Oilers GM would like to acquire one with NHL experience, there's plenty of talent available in June's draft. NHL Central Scouting included 13 D-men alone in the top 30 of their final North American rankings and nine in their top 30 International order - putting many in play should the Oilers decide to add one to their prospect pipeline.
- VISIT OUR SPORT CHEK DRAFT SITE

EVAN BOUCHARD

London Knights | OHL
67 GP | 25 G | 62 A | 87 P
What's not to like about the London Knights 2017-18 leading scorer, who finished fourth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final projections? The 6-foot-2, 192-pound blueliner doubles as a puck transporter and power play quarterback. He's also said to own the best first pass among all the defenceman in the 2018 NHL Draft class to some scouts. Bouchard tallied 25 goals - 10 on the power play - and 62 assists for 87 points in 67 games on a Knights team that regressed this past season. He could very well be gone before the Oilers take to the podium in Dallas but one has to wonder what could happen should he still be available.
NOAH DOBSON

Acadie-Bathurst Titan | QMJHL
67 GP | 17 G | 52 A | 69 P
Viewers of the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup became accustomed to hearing Noah Dobson's name. The Acadie-Bathurst Titan defenceman ended the tournament tied for first in scoring with two goals and seven points in four games, helping his Titan capture the 100th Memorial Cup for the first time in franchise history by defeating the host Regina Pats. Dobson provided glimpses of his playmaking ability in the Mem Cup and continues to get better with each season, going from 26 points in 2016-17 to 69 in '17-18.
RYAN MERKLEY

Guelph Storm | OHL
63 GP | 13 G | 54 A | 67 P
Nobody questions Ryan Merkley's offensive instinct or mobility. Rather, Merkley's uncertainty stems from his defensive shortcomings and emotional control, as the Guelph Storm defenceman ranked 21st in Central Scouting's North American midterm rank, then fell to 45th in their final release. The NHL continues to get faster and smaller players continue to prove the League wrong, so it's hard to overlook the 5-foot-11, 170-pound mover's 13 goals and 67 points in 63 games this past season with the Storm.
FILIP JOHANSSON

Leksands IF J20 | SuperElit
29 GP | 4 G | 5 A | 9 P
Swedish rearguard Filip Johansson is tabbed as a well-rounded defenceman, competent in puck-moving, defending and boasting a powerful one-timer. Coming in at 6-foot-1 and 187-pounds, Johansson shows promise as a balanced blueliner and is expected to compete in the SHL next year, giving him experience against grown men. That could translate well in expediting his path to the NHL.
JACOB BERNARD-DOCKER
Okotoks Oilers | AJHL
49 GP | 20 G | 21 A | 41 P
The Canmore, AB, product is typified as smooth-skating, reliable defender but his numbers with the Okotoks Oilers prove he is also capable of filling the net. Bernard-Docker led all defenceman in scoring in the AJHL playoffs with 14 points and tallied 20 goals and 21 assists in 49 regular season matches, being named the Canadian Junior Hockey League's top defenceman of 2017-18. The Alberta native finished 33rd in Central Scouting's North American ranks.