The Edmonton Oilers have selected forward Kailer Yamamoto with the 22nd-overall pick at the 2017 NHL Draft.
Yamamoto is one of the more exciting players to watch in this year’s draft class. The undersized winger is creative in his play-making ability and has earned comparisons to other small forwards like Tyler Johnson, Johnny Gaudreau and Patrick Kane thanks to his speed, skill and vision.
The right-shot 18-year-old grew up skating with Johnson, as the Lightning forward’s mom was his skating coach as a child as both players grew up in Spokane.
The 5-foot-8, 153-lb led the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in goals (42), assists (57), and points (99) in 2016-17 and finished in sixth place league-wide in total points. All three totals were career-highs.
The Oilers have quickly become an offensive powerhouse, and Yamamoto gives them a dynamic edge on the wing to add some more grit and quickness to an already-potent forward corps.