How Edmonton’s 2016 Draft Choice Could Have Changed Its Future
The article revisits Edmonton’s 2016 draft decision to take Jesse Puljujarvi fourth overall rather than Matthew Tkachuk, who went sixth to Calgary. It considers how Tkachuk might have fit with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and notes that Puljujarvi never held a steady top-six role with the Oilers.
Edmonton’s 2016 choice came after Columbus used the third pick on Pierre-Luc Dubois, leaving Jesse Puljujarvi available at No. 4. The Oilers selected the Finnish winger, while Calgary later took Matthew Tkachuk sixth. Puljujarvi’s Edmonton tenure included moves between the AHL and NHL and changes behind the bench; he never secured a regular top-six role. He went to Finland in 2019, returned with better form, but consistency remained elusive.
Tkachuk’s path made the comparison sharper: he became a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a central figure in the Battle of Alberta, including a feud with Zack Kassian. The article asks whether his style could have complemented Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton.
For hockey audiences, this counterfactual may shape how fans in Edmonton and Calgary remember the 2016 draft and the Battle of Alberta. It could also influence how supporters and commentators judge highly touted prospects, reminding them that fit, development, and team environment can matter as much as draft position. The story may fuel debate about patience with young players, though it remains a retrospective sports narrative rather than a broader social force.