1984

The second of the failed Oiler drafts. Odelein and Reaugh were only around long enough for a cup of coffee and didn't do much after that. Ewen never played for the Oilers but went on to have a decent career, getting in 500+ NHL games in the role of the enforcer. Grade D.

1985

An average draft for Edmonton. Metcalfe was only up for a cup of coffee and managed a few more in Buffalo - a total of 19 uneventful NHL games. Buchberger however, went on to become the Oilers captain and a symbol of team loyalty to all, until Atlanta got him in the expansion draft anyways. The very definition of a 'solid' NHLer, Buchberger will probably play over 1000 games in his career - and he played none of them soft. Grade C.

1986

The first of the Oilers 'ugly' drafts - but not the ugliest. No player from this draft had any sort of career in the NHL. Grade Z.

1987

Surprise, surprise. A passing grade on this draft year surprised me as well. But consider these numbers: Smith - 462, Van Allen - 450+ and Werenka 240+. Those numbers represent the number of games those guys have all played in the NHL with Van Allen and Werenka still playing. Sure they are/were all 4th line type players (or #5 or #6 defensemen in the case of Smith and Werenka), but a team still needs those guys to succeed. Of these players, only Smith played any real time in Edmonton. None of the other draftees did anything. Grade C.

1988

Another failed Oiler draft. Hard hitting Podein has played over 400 effective games in the NHL, lots of hits and a few timely goals. For his 240+ NHL games Leroux has never been much more than a #7 defenseman and sometimes enforcer. Unlike Brad Werenka, a player that could rise above the 'journeyman player' category, Leroux will forever hover between the ranking of outright bust and journeyman player. Grade D.