With the No. 56 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Edmonton Oilers could select… Kalan Lind?

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Liam Horrobin | Last updated 6/19/23

Unfortunate news emerged this past week that Noah Philp is stepping away from hockey.

Philp had put himself in a promising spot after his first full season with the Bakersfield Condors. Of course, we wish him all the best and hope to see him back on the ice one day.

The Edmonton Oilers reacted quickly acquiring Jayden Grubbe from the New York Rangers for a third-round pick. Grubbe can now fill the void left by Philp with the Condors.

The evidence would make you believe that Grubbe brings leadership to the roster, outside of his on-ice abilities. He was the captain for three years at the Red Deer Rebels, which is incredibly rare in junior hockey.

One player that played under that leadership in Red Deer was Kalan Lind. Lind was a high pick, sixth overall, by the Rebels back in the 2020 WHL Draft, and has proved his worth since that day.

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Kalan Lind Scouting Report and Profile

Position: Centre

Shoots: Left

Nationality: Canada

Date of Birth: January 25, 2005

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 154 lbs

Lind is a centreman that has played 119 regular-season games. He has scored 40 goals and 88 points in that time and is coming off a career season with 44 points in 43 games while averaging around 15 minutes of ice time a night. However, while Lind comes with an offence package, it is something else that makes him appealing.

The Rebels forward provides a ton of energy with his physicality and pesty antics. He isn’t afraid to battle in the hard areas around the net and boards and will also drop the gloves if needed. If you watched the CHL Top Prospect game, you would have seen that for yourself. On top of that, he plays a great two-way game and skates with very good speed.

Here is what Steven Ellis from Daily Faceoff had to say about Lind:

“Like energy? You’ll love Lind. He brings it every shift, getting in your face and making you pay on the scoresheet. Lind has the makings of a fan favourite for the way he gives it his all every game. He’s a future middle-six forward with the potential to step up in a pinch.”

The Oilers select at 56th in the second round, and Ellis currently has Lind 44th on his top 100 list. Most mock drafts have Lind going late in the second round to midway through the third, so he falls perfectly within Edmonton’s range.

Additionally, he brings some flexibility by being able to play on the wings. That is something the Oilers have liked in the past with picking guys like Tyler Tullio, Xavier Bourgault and even Dylan Holloway, during Holland’s tenure.

Another aspect the Oilers have appreciated the last couple of years is toughness, which is something that Lind brings.

Overall, Lind feels like the ultimate package for the late second-round pick. At best, you have second line winger that scores goals with Leon Draisaitl for years to come, similar to what they want from Kailer Yamamoto. At worst, you have a depth forward that brings a ton of energy every night.

It really feels like a win-win, which is why the Edmonton Oilers should take Kalan Lind with the 56th overall pick.