Dallas Stars' 2017 draft steals still haunt the Oilers to this day

The 2017 NHL Entry Draft was one for the ages in Dallas.

Two picks, Jake Oettinger at 26th overall and Jason Robertson at 39th, gave the Stars two franchise pillars that still drive their Stanley Cup ambitions today.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers took Kailer Yamamoto with their first-round selection, a talented winger whose career never quite reached the same heights.

Let's just say, from our point of view, things worked out pretty well in Texas.

When the Stars called Oettinger's name, they landed a goalie with size, reflexes, and the calmness to steal playoff games.

As NHL.com has highlighted, Oettinger's ability to stay composed in pressure moments has turned him into the kind of netminder teams dream of building around-something the Oilers have been searching for since, well, forever.

And then came the second-round magic: Jason Robertson.

A 40-goal scorer with elite hockey IQ, Robertson has become one of the NHL's most dangerous wingers.

While Edmonton has spent years cycling through goalies like Jack Campbell and Mikko Koskinen, and still looking for steady playoff scoring depth, Dallas has been enjoying the results of two picks that fit perfectly.

It's fair to wonder, if the Oilers had taken Oettinger, would Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have a Stanley Cup by now?

Maybe, but that's one «what if» we're happy to let them debate while we keep winning games.

As one Stars fan joked recently:

The truth is, the 2017 draft didn't just shape our roster, it gave us a competitive edge that still matters today.

I think that's why Dallas fans can smile a little wider whenever we see those old draft boards.