Russian goalie Ilya Samsonov, who gets a five out of five rating in most categories scouting expert Craig Button uses to grade players, is rated between 14 and 20 on most scouting lists.
But Edmonton Oilers fans are adamant on Twitter that the team shouldn’t waste its 16th overall pick in Friday’s NHL entry draft on a goaltender, thinking it’s a crapshoot taking a goalie that high.
Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli said earlier this week that “instinctively, I’d like to keep the 16th pick” in a very deep draft, although he would certainly listen to a trade offer for a veteran defenceman who could play in the top pairing next season.