For the first time since 2006, the Oilers will not be making a selection in the first round of the NHL draft.
Edmonton does not have a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The club sent it away at the trade deadline in March in order to boost its lineup for a playoff push.
The Oilers have barely any draft capital in 2023 after going all-in this season on a championship. However, Edmonton lost in the second round to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Golden Knights.
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The Sporting News has details on all of the Oilers' 2023 draft picks.
Why don't the Oilers have a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft?
The Oilers traded their 2023 first-round pick at the trade deadline in March.
Edmonton wanted to boost its blue line, and acquired defenseman Mattias Ekholm in a trade with the Predators.
Here's the 2023 trade:
- Oilers receive: D Mattias Ekholm, 2024 6th-round pick
- Predators receive: D Tyson Barrie, F Reid Schafer, 2023 1st-round pick, 2024 4th-round pick
While the Oilers failed to win a championship, the pricey cost for Ekholm is due to the fact that he has term left on his contract. Ekholm is signed for another three seasons at $6.25 million.
Who is picking in the Oilers' position?
Instead of the Oilers picking at No. 24, it will be the Predators.
It is one of two draft picks in the first round for Nashville. In addition to the Oilers' first-round pick, the Predators have their own first-round selection, which is the No. 15 overall pick.
2023 Oilers draft picks
As it stands now, the Oilers only have three draft picks in 2023. Edmonton has its own pick in Rounds 2, 6 and 7.
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
| 2 | No. 56 |
| 6 | No. 184 |
| 7 | No. 216 |