FEATURE: Holland discusses NHL Draft, Klefbom, RNH, Puljujarvi

EDMONTON, AB -It's shaping up to be a very busy week for Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Ken Holland.
On Monday, he participated in a media conference call to address a variety of pertinent topics surrounding the hockey club, with the 2020 NHL Draft slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the free agency period starting Friday.
The Oilers hold the 14th-overall pick in the opening round of the NHL Draft, which will be conducted Tuesday starting at 5pm MT. Holland said on Monday he expects the team will make that selection, rather than trading it, and they likely won't be picking a defenceman given the depth of their prospect pool at the blueline position. He did clarify, however, they will stay true to their draft list and consider a rearguard that they didn't anticipate being available at 14.
As of right now, the Oilers have remaining additional picks in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds on Wednesday, but they have the option to give Calgary the third-round pick per the terms of the James Neal for Milan Lucic trade. Holland said on Monday they're leaning towards keeping this year's pick and deferring the third-rounder to the Flames until 2021. They have until Wednesday morning to inform the NHL and their provincial rivals of their decision.

In addition to NHL Draft discussion, Holland was asked about topics pertaining to some current roster players in Oscar Klefbom and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
The GM said the team's most tenured and highest scoring defenceman has been dealing with "an aggravated shoulder" which may require surgery that would force him out of game action for some or all of the 2020-21 season. The 27-year-old is undergoing treatment in Sweden ahead of making a decision on surgery, in consultation with the team.
Fellow 2011 first-round pick Nugent-Hopkins is entering the final season of his seven-year contract, and Holland said discussions have begun on an extension. The 27-year-old has scored 443 points in 604 career games, including 61 points in 65 games during the 2019-20 campaign.
"Nuge is a really important player on our team," Holland said. "My goal is to hopefully have Nuge here for a long time and find a solution on an extension."
Holland was also asked about the status of 2016 first-round pick Jesse Puljujarvi, who is currently playing for Karpat in Finland's Liiga and would require a new contract should he wish to return to the Oilers in 2020-21. The right-winger scored 53 points in 56 games with Karpat last season and has 37 points in 139 career NHL games.
"Last year was a good year for him, he should feel good about himself," said Holland, who has joined Head Coach Dave Tippett on multiple "relationship-building" video chats with Puljujarvi and his agent Markus Lehto this year.
"I know his goal is to get back to the National Hockey League... He's a good young player and we need good players. There's tremendous opportunity for him here."
Puljujarvi is one of the players with restricted free agent status who could receive a qualifying offer from the Oilers this week, with the deadline slated for Wednesday at 3pm MT. Edmonton's other RFAs include Ethan Bear, Matt Benning, Andreas Athanasiou and William Lagesson.
With regards to unrestricted free agents, who are able to sign new deals as of Friday at 10am MT, Holland said this will be the avenue he will likely pursue in order to acquire a goaltender, and he confirmed a third-line centreman will also be a top target.