Raphaël Lavoie – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: Hall: 11 Prospects in Make-or-Break Seasons

Dave Hall — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:57:11 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 03: Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Alex Turcotte (38) celebrates a goal during a game between the New Jersey Devil and the Los Angeles Kings on March 3rd, 2024 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire)}

A tale as old as time: a promising former junior star struggling to make the leap to the NHL.

Each year, some players see their dreams slip further out of reach, whether due to injuries, a failure to adapt their game, or simply falling out of favour with their team.

The pressure intensifies when a prospect reaches the ages of 24 to 26. Whether fair or not, hockey seems to have an unspoken rule: if a player hasn't solidified their spot by this age, the window to realize their potential begins to close rapidly. While a few defy the odds and break through the pattern, the margin for error narrows considerably.

Time may be on the verge of running out for these NHL hopefuls. Here’s a look at some players battling to keep their dreams alive as they approach one of their final opportunities to crack an NHL lineup.

Kole Lind, 25, Dallas Stars

Kole Lind, originally drafted 33rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks, has yet to implant his game at the NHL level. He is nearly 26, and with just 31 games on his resume, that dream is fading away by the day. Despite the lack of opportunity, his play in the AHL has steadily improved, going from a 17-point rookie campaign to subsequent seasons of 44, 35 (in just 46 games), 62, and most recently, 65 points. All of this is positive growth, but the question remains: can he translate this success to the NHL?

Now part of the Dallas Stars organization, Lind will be competing against names like Logan Stankoven and Colin Blackwell on the right side, with the likely scenario being that he remains a valuable call-up option rather than securing a permanent roster spot. Yet, given the lack of current depth on the wing in Dallas, the prospect of him seeing games doesn’t feel too far-fetched.

Valtteri Puustinen, 25, Pittsburgh Penguins

Valtteri Puustinen, a 2019 seventh-round pick, has defied expectations by becoming a consistent producer for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, highlighted by back-to-back 20-goal campaigns. Heck, he even posted 20 points in 53 NHL games during his only true audition last year (2023-24).

His play earned him a two-year extension, and at 25, Puustinen feels on the verge of becoming a fringe NHL player. However, his defensive acumen and play off the puck need polishing to establish trust with head coach Mike Sullivan. While a return to the minors seems likely, the time is now for Puustinen to make his move toward becoming a full-time NHL player.

Jett Woo, 24, Vancouver Canucks

Jett Woo, once known for his high-powered offensive ability in junior hockey, has struggled to maintain that form at the pro level. At one point, he was even utilized as a fourth-line winger. Slowly but surely, Woo has grown his game, though, posting improved point totals in consecutive seasons, including a career-high 31 points last season.

Now 24, Woo has become known more for his physical, hard-nosed style of play rather than his offensive contributions. He has placed himself in a position to be one of the Canucks’ top call-up options on the right side, but whether he can stick in the NHL remains to be seen. The reality of him becoming a full-time AHLer is becoming increasingly obvious with each season.

Alec Regula, 24, Boston Bruins

Alec Regula, a right-shot defender with a large 6-foot-4 frame, was selected in the third round of the 2018 draft. That pick was soon followed with high hopes after a career-high 60-point season with the London Knights in his draft-plus-two year. However, Regula’s career has been marred by inconsistency and injury since turning pro.

Now, after consecutive seasons focused primarily on AHL reps, Regula is trending in the right direction and could contribute at the NHL level soon. However, a recent summer surgery may derail his chances this season, but as a right-shot defender, his options will likely remain open a bit longer.

Raphaël Lavoie, 24, Edmonton Oilers

Raphaël Lavoie’s skillset puts him in a challenging spot when it comes to fitting into the Edmonton Oilers scheme. Known for his booming, NHL-caliber shot, the Quebec native has made a name for himself with his offensive contributions, scoring 71 goals across 202 AHL games.

However, his lack of foot speed and dynamic ability creates a dead-end road to evolving into a bottom-six role, which feels like his only pathway toward carving a spot within this team. At 24 years old, Lavoie may need an injury to a top-six player to get his shot at the NHL level, or perhaps a change of scenery where his offensive skills can be better utilized.

Alex Turcotte, 23, Akil Thomas, 24 & Samuel Fagemo, 24, Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have long been lauded for their deep prospect pool, but at some point, these youngsters have to prove themselves, right? Sitting atop those expectations is Alex Turcotte, who has yet to truly establish himself since being drafted fifth overall in 2019. Injuries have played their part, but given the pedigree, his 0.67 point-per-game clip at the AHL level doesn’t necessarily scream top-5 pick. With his sights set on making the NHL team out of camp, the time for him to bring his A-game is now.

While their pedigree may not be as high, Akil Thomas and Samuel Fagemo, both 24, are also feeling the pressure to translate their AHL success to the NHL. Both players showcase two varying playing styles. With Thomas much more ready to provide bottom-six minutes, the time is ticking for both to take that next leap in development. Fagemo has proven his ability to score at the AHL level, so now it’s time to take that release to the pro level.

Adam Beckman, 23, New Jersey Devils

Adam Beckman, a third-round pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2019, had a standout junior career, including a 107-point season with the Spokane Chiefs. However, his transition to pro hockey has sung a slightly different tune, with just 108 points in 181 AHL games and only three assists in 23 NHL games.

This summer, Beckman was given a fresh start with the New Jersey Devils in a trade, but he faces stiff competition on a young and talented Devils roster. At this point, his best chance may come as a top call-up option, but at 23, time is running out for him to establish himself as a full-time NHL contributor.

Grigori Denisenko, 24, Vegas Golden Knights

Grigori Denisenko appeared to get the fresh start he needed after being plucked off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights early into the 2023-24 season. In Florida’s system, he managed just 63 points in 101 AHL games over three years and was soon on track to become a potential first-round disappointment. In Vegas, however, his game enjoyed some rejuvenation, nearly matching his previous three-season total combined, with 56 points in 65 games.

Despite his improved play, Denisenko, now 24, faces an uphill battle to crack the Golden Knights’ roster, especially given their depth. With only 32 NHL games under his belt, he’ll need to make his mark soon if he hopes to secure a spot in the league.

Trey Fix-Wolansky, 25, Columbus Blue Jackets

Trey Fix-Wolansky has everything you want in a middle-six forward: speed, work ethic, and consistent production at every level he’s played. Everything, that is, except size, since he is just 5-foot-7. At 25 years old, the window is closing for him to make a permanent jump to the NHL. Despite his size, Fix-Wolansky has proven himself to be a formidable player, and with a new coach in Columbus, he may still have a shot at breaking through. However, how many more 60-point AHL seasons will it take for him to earn that permanent role, if ever?

Playing Blue Jackets hockey is still well on his radar, and if a teetering AHL tweener is all the upside he has, then he’s not the worst player to have in that role. The problem is, with 224 AHL games under his belt, he’s trending awfully close to being considered a league veteran, which has put a long list of players without a chair in North America over recent years.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 13:00:29 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Edmonton Oilers forward Raphael Lavoie (62) during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on December 30, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 28th (Previous Rank - 32nd)
GM: Stan Bowman Hired: July 2024
COACH: Kris Knoblauch Hired: November 2023

How does a team jump five spots from McKeen’s bottom-ranked prospect system to 28th, you ask? Simple: you trade for a top 40 prospect. Sitting 38th overall in McKeen’s rankings, Matthew Savoie heads to Northern Alberta following a deal that sent 24-year-old Ryan McLeod to Buffalo. Once regarded as a top-flight prospect and top 10 draft pick, Savoie is coming off a fruitful WHL career, where he notched 263 points (103G, 160A) in just 183 games—an impressive 1.44 points-per-game average across four seasons. He’s set to take his talents to the AHL, where he’s already shown promise, registering two goals and five points during a brief six-game stint. The local Alberta native not only stands as the Oilers' highest-rated prospect but also represents their best hope for bolstering secondary offensive production in the near future.

But Savoie wasn’t the only prospect the Oilers acquired this summer. Moving on from their 2021 first-rounder, Xavier Bourgault, the club brought in McKeen’s 233rd-ranked prospect, Roby Järventie, from the Ottawa Senators. With three seasons of AHL experience in Belleville under his belt, Järventie is tracking nicely and could see NHL action in the not-so-distant future. If his development continues to trend accordingly, the Oilers might consider him as a call-up option as early as the 2024-25 campaign.

In addition to these trades, the Oilers had their busiest NHL Draft since 2017, selecting seven players in total. Under the guidance of (former) Interim GM Jeff Jackson, they made a bold move to trade up and select Sam O’Reilly (158th) and added some depth in goal with Eemil Vinni.

Speaking of goaltending, Olivier Rodrigue is coming off his best statistical season in the AHL, posting a winning record behind Jack Campbell of 19-12-5. He may not be ready to take on NHL duties quite yet, but you have to respect the progression.

Despite relying heavily on their dynamic core—Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard—the Oilers managed to graduate two key players in Dylan Holloway and defenceman Philip Broberg. Of course, both have successfully signed offer sheets and will head to St. Louis after an aggressive move by Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong. To counter the loss, the Oilers brought in Vasily Podkolzin, a Canucks graduate who has struggled to find his footing in Vancouver.

Now under the leadership of the reinstated Stan Bowman, the Oilers will look to keep their championship window open.

Edmonton Oilers Top-15 Prospects

1. Matthew Savoie

Recently acquired by the Oilers in the Ryan McLeod trade with Buffalo, Savoie immediately becomes Edmonton’s top prospect. The former 9th overall pick (in 2022) has done nothing but dominate the WHL since being drafted. He helped Winnipeg reach a WHL final two years ago and helped Moose Jaw win one this past season. He loves to play the game at a feverish pace, consistently attacking the offensive zone with speed. He is both creative and skilled and he possesses significant offensive upside. Taking a chance on him had to be a no-brainer for Edmonton, a team that has had difficulty developing a home-grown winger to play alongside Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl. That said, there are some concerns over Savoie’s projectability. He struggled at both this past year’s World Juniors and Memorial Cup, suggesting that he could have difficulty scoring consistently in higher intensity matchups. As an undersized forward, can he make adjustments to adapt at the next level? Ironically, the Oilers just chose not to qualify his brother Carter, over similar concerns. Savoie’s first year of pro hockey this season will be an interesting measuring stick.

2. Sam O’Reilly

The Oilers’ first round selection this year was a steady riser throughout his draft year. Playing for the London Knights, O’Reilly slowly earned more ice time under Dale Hunter, eventually becoming an integral component of their run to an OHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance. O’Reilly is a competitive two-way forward who brings a ton of versatility to the table. He was one of the draft’s most polished defensive forwards and he brings a consistent physical element to every shift. However, O’Reilly’s confidence as a playmaker grew substantially over the course of the season, pointing to the fact that he may have the upside to be a solid and dependable middle six piece at the NHL level. O’Reilly will return to London this coming season and could be part of a dominant first line for the Knights, featuring him, Easton Cowan, and Denver Barkey. Expect O’Reilly to have a major breakout season, as is the tradition for major prospects coming out of London in their draft plus one year.

3. Roby Jarventie

Sometimes a change of scenery can do a prospect well. Acquired from Ottawa, Jarventie just needs to stay healthy. He’s battled injuries the last two seasons in Belleville; he lost most of last year after knee surgery. The good news is that the knee has apparently been the source of his issues the last two years. This could be the permanent fix, allowing him to develop uninterrupted. The big power winger excels playing a North/South game thanks to his speed and skill when driving wide. His upside as a goal scorer was what likely attracted Edmonton, as he could end up as a consistent 25 goal guy with the Oilers in the future. Just when is that future? It will depend on his rehab following the knee surgery. It seems safe to assume that Edmonton will want him in the AHL again when he returns to try to ease him back in and that delays his timeline. But good things come to those who are patient.

4. Raphael Lavoie

It’s not too often that a player who has passed through waivers remains this high on a team’s prospect list, but that’s the reality of the Oilers’ prospect pool right now. Lavoie has continued to score at the AHL level, having led Bakersfield in goal scoring the last two seasons. He’s even found a way to be more consistently physically engaged, a knock against him previously. But in limited NHL action, he’s been a virtual non-factor. The strong North/South attacker still has NHL upside as a middle six scorer. He received a qualifying offer from the Oilers because of their lack of system depth. They still have hope that he can find his way. However, after bringing in Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, is there even an opportunity for Lavoie to break in? It is fair to say that this year’s training camp will be his last chance at prospect relevance. It’s do or die time for him.

5. Beau Akey

Unfortunately, Akey essentially had a lost season of development after his dislocated shoulder required season ending surgery in November. The Oilers’ top pick in the 2023 draft will return to Barrie this year and will aim to be one of the top defenders in the OHL, on what should be a strong Colts team. He’ll also have his eyes set on a potential spot on Team Canada for the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Akey remains an incredibly intriguing blueline prospect because of his high-end mobility. As he gains confidence in his puck carrying ability and improves his physical strength, he could be a solid two-way defender as a pro cut from the same cloth as a guy like TJ Brodie. With a strong season in 2024-25, he has a chance to vault closer to the top of Edmonton’s prospect pool.

6. Matvey Petrov

The Condors had a pretty veteran laden roster last year and that made it difficult for Petrov to get significant ice time in his rookie AHL season. The former North Bay Battalion standout has a well-rounded offensive game thanks to a terrific release and strong puck skill and creativity. The key for him moving forward is to continue to find consistency in his off puck play to help him earn touches. He is at his best when he plays with a bit of an edge and if he can find that at the pro level, he may just have the highest offensive upside of any player in the Oilers’ system outside of Savoie. Hopefully, this season, he can earn more ice time and power play time with Bakersfield and really build up confidence at the pro level. He’s probably still a few years away from making a potential impact in Edmonton.

7. Olivier Rodrigue

It has taken a while, but Rodrigue has finally turned the corner as a prospect. He was one of the better goaltenders in the AHL last year, in his fourth pro season. Facing waivers this coming year, it seems likely that Edmonton will give him an opportunity to beat out Calvin Pickard to be Stuart Skinner’s back-up, a fantastic opportunity for Rodrigue to prove his worth. However, given Pickard’s performance last year, that may be a tall task. The hyper athletic, butterfly netminder has improved the technical components of his game under Dustin Schwartz and his father Sylvain in Bakersfield. With improved positioning, play tracking, and rebound control, Rodrigue has been able to improve his consistency. What’s the ultimate upside here? That remains to be seen. At the very least, Rodrigue looks like a potential back up option for Edmonton, both now and in the future.

8. Eemil Vinni

One of the first goaltenders off the board in 2024, Vinni gives Edmonton much better organizational depth at the position. At first glance, his numbers last year don’t inspire a ton of confidence, however it’s important to note that Vinni was tasked with being the starting netminder on a pro team (in the second Finnish men’s league), a difficult task for an 18 year old. Vinni’s combination of size and athleticism gives him the upside to develop into an NHL netminder. He’s aggressive in his crease but needs to refine his play reading and positioning to improve his consistency. This coming season, Vinni will move up to Liiga, the top men’s league, with HIFK. Expect him to be the back-up to Roope Taponen, who has started for HIFK the last few years. This will allow Vinni to slowly build confidence at the highest level. Patience will be key here.

9. Max Wanner

Wanner put a year to forget behind him with a very solid freshman campaign in the AHL with Bakersfield. Wanner was limited to only 44 WHL games the previous year after being suspended indefinitely for an off-ice incident. However, his play on the ice has been largely positive, as the former seventh round pick has progressed incredibly well since being selected by Edmonton. The 6-foot-3, right-shot defender brings strong mobility, physicality, and great defensive instincts to the blueline. At the very least, he has excellent defensive upside at the NHL level as more of a steady, stay-at-home type. But he does have some offensive upside built around his ability to get pucks on net and his ability to make quick outlets to start the breakout. With another strong year in Bakersfield, Wanner likely puts himself in the conversation for a roster spot in Edmonton.

10. Jayden Grubbe

The former New York Rangers draft pick was acquired by the Oilers and subsequently signed last year. Grubbe, a former captain of the Red Deer Rebels, is your prototypical bottom six forward prospect. The big centerman is physical. He’s got great two-way instincts. He can play in a variety of different roles. His puck skill is fairly limited and he’s not a high-end scoring threat, but there’s upside there as a future third or fourth line pivot. The key for Grubbe, just as it was when he was drafted, is improving his skating. A knee injury suffered in his draft year definitely hindered the development of his explosiveness and speed. It seems like he’s been playing catch-up ever since and it’s part of the reason why the Rangers moved on from their former third rounder. The Oilers are going to need to be patient with Grubbe as he finds a way to adjust to the pace of the pro game, while also continuing to work on improving his feet so that he can play that shut down defensive role well at the NHL level.

11. Shane LaChance

12. Matt Copponi

After three years at Merrimack College, including two as a top scorer, Copponi has transferred to Boston University for his senior year (where he will play with fellow Oilers’ prospect Shane LaChance). A strong two-way forward and versatile player, it will be interesting to see how this affects his development.

13. Maxim Berezkin

The hulking winger is coming off his best KHL season to date, helping Lokomotiv reach the KHL finals. He is a creative and skilled handler, but the question has always been whether his skating could improve enough to make him a pro option. He has one more year left on his KHL deal and one would assume Edmonton will try to bring him over after that.

14. Nikita Yevseyev

A step back for Yevseyev this past season as he went from a KHL regular to splitting the season between the KHL and the VHL (Russia’s second league). The strong skating rearguard projects best as a defensive first type in the NHL and the hope is that he can return to the KHL full time this coming year.

15. James Stefan

The son of former first overall pick Patrick Stefan, James used a strong overage season with Portland of the WHL to earn an entry level contract from the Oilers. Stefan has long been on the scouting radar, so it seemed inevitable that someone would take a chance on his offensive upside.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #32 Edmonton Oilers

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Mon, 27 May 2024 19:13:52 +0000

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

The Oilers organizational depth drops to the bottom of the league prior to the NHL Draft. There were no new graduates out of their system this season, and it only made three picks in the last draft, two of them late in the 6th and 7th rounds. Beau Akey, picked 56th overall, was the only meaningful addition, ranking as the team’s third best prospect. Edmonton finds themselves, once again, without a first-round pick, GM Holland moved it in the deadline trade package for Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick. As a team clearly in a win-now mindset, with Connor McDavid in his prime and Leon Draisaitl a free agent after next season, Holland will continue to move any assets available to provide the support pieces needed to win the Stanley Cup.

They remain hopeful some young players currently in their line-up, such as Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg can contribute more. However, both have appeared in trade rumours for more immediate help. Evan Bouchard broke out as star offensive defenseman this season after emerging in the latter part of last year, following the Tyson Barrie trade. Ryan McCleod graduated last season and is an important part of the bottom six. Where the organization has had some luck with their youngster is in the net. It became a glaring problem when Jack Campbell imploded to start the year, Stuart Skinner did step up to provide some assurance and collective sigh of relief from management. While it was not flawless, that is not surprising for a 25-year-old and looks like he will be a long-term solution. The Oilers must also be very happy with the steady development of 5th ranked, 23-year-old Olivier Rodrigue, who has emerged as one of the better goalies in the AHL and could have shot at backing up Skinner to start next season or make another interesting trade chip. It is all about right now.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Xavier Bourgault	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	`21(22nd)	55	8	12	20	24
2	Raphael Lavoie	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	`19(38th)	66	28	22	50	64
3	Beau Akey	D	19	6-0/185	Barrie (OHL)	`23(56th)	14	4	5	9	12
4	Matvey Petrov	LW	21	6-2/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	`21(180th)	53	9	5	14	34
5	Olivier Rodrigue	G	23	6-1/165	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(62nd)	37	19	12	2.73	0.916
6	Max Wanner	D	21	6-3/185	Bakersfield (AHL)	`21(212th)	68	7	10	17	37
7	Carter Savoie	LW	22	5-9/190	Bakersfield (AHL)	`20(100th)	63	10	12	22	22
8	Ty Tullio	RW	22	5-10/165	Bakersfield (AHL)	`20(126th)	54	9	12	21	36
9	Jayden Grubbe	C	21	6-3/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(NYR-5/23)	67	8	6	14	53
10	Shane Lachance	LW	20	6-4/195	Boston University (HE)	`21(186th)	40	13	14	27	12
11	Matt Copponi	C	20	5-11/175	Merrimack (HE)	`23(216th)	30	7	25	32	48
12	Luca Munzenberger	D	21	6-2/195	Vermont (HE)	`21(90th)	32	1	2	3	51
13	Maxim Berezkin	RW	22	6-2/200	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`20(138th)	62	8	22	30	18
14	Nikita Yevseyev	D	19	6-1/185	Bars Kazan-Neftyanik Almetievsk (VHL)	`22(190th)	38	2	10	12	40
14	Nikita Yevseyev	D	19	6-1/185	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`22(190th)	19	1	2	3	6
15	Ryan Fanti	G	24	6-3/200	Fort Wayne (ECHL)	FA(3/22)	17	9	6	2.75	0.915

1. Xavier Bourgault, C, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

It certainly hasn’t been the best year for Bourgault and his development. The former first round pick hit a sophomore slump in the AHL with Bakersfield and has been particularly ineffective in the second half of the season. The Condors have a pretty veteran laden roster, especially up front, and Bourgault just hasn’t been able to earn consistent ice time and offensive opportunities because of it. However, it’s way too early to give up on the talented pivot. He still possesses top six upside, particularly because of his scoring ability and high end shot. The focus for him needs to be on continuing to improve his quickness and his strength to allow him to earn more touches. He needs to do a better job playing through contact and this summer will be a big one for him from a conditioning standpoint.

2. Raphael Lavoie, C/RW, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

It’s not too often that a player who has passed through waivers remains this high on a team’s prospect list, but that’s the reality of the Oilers’ prospect pool right now. Lavoie has continued to score at the AHL level, just as he has the last two seasons. He’s even found a way to be more consistently physically engaged, a knock against him previously. But in limited NHL action this season, he’s been a virtual non-factor. The strong North/South attacker still has NHL upside as a middle six scorer. He’s still likely to get a qualifying offer from the Oilers because of their lack of system depth. The Oilers also have six bottom nine forwards coming off the books this offseason. There will be another opportunity for Lavoie to earn a spot next year. But that will be his last chance at prospect relevance. It’s do or die time for him.

3. Beau Akey, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Unfortunately, Akey has essentially had a lost season of development after his dislocated shoulder required season ending surgery in November. The Oilers’ top pick in the 2023 draft will return to Barrie next year and will aim to be one of the top defenders in the OHL, on what should be a strong Colts team. He’ll also have his eyes set on a potential spot on Team Canada for the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Akey remains an incredibly intriguing blueline prospect because of his high-end mobility. As he gains confidence in his puck carrying ability and improves his physical strength, he could be a solid two-way defender as a pro cut from the same cloth as a guy like TJ Brodie. With a strong season in 2024-25, he has a chance to vault to the top of Edmonton’s prospect pool.

4. Matvey Petrov, RW/LW, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

As mentioned with Bourgault, the Condors have a pretty veteran laden roster this year and that’s made it difficult for Petrov to get significant ice time in his rookie AHL season. The former North Bay Bay Battalion standout has a well-rounded offensive game thanks to a terrific release and strong puck skill and creativity. The key for him moving forward is to continue to find consistency in his off puck play to help him earn touches. He is at his best when he plays with a bit of an edge and if he can find that at the pro level, he may just have the highest offensive upside of any player in the Oilers’ system. Hopefully, next season, he can earn more ice time and power play time with Bakersfield and really build up confidence at the pro level. He’s probably still a few years away from making a potential impact in Edmonton.

5. Olivier Rodrigue, G, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

It has taken a while, but Rodrigue has finally turned the corner as a prospect. He has been one of the better goaltenders in the AHL this year in his fourth pro season. Facing waivers next year, it seems likely that Edmonton will start the year with him backing up Stuart Skinner; a fantastic opportunity for Rodrigue to prove his worth. The hyper athletic, butterfly netminder has improved the technical components of his game under Dustin Schwartz and his father Sylvain in Bakersfield. With improved positioning, play tracking, and rebound control, Rodrigue has been able to improve his consistency. What’s the ultimate upside here? That remains to be seen. At the very least Rodrigue looks like a potential back up option for Edmonton, both now and in the future.

6. Max Wanner, D, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Wanner has put a year to forget behind him as he’s put together a very solid freshman campaign in the AHL with Bakersfield. Wanner was limited to only 44 WHL games last year after being suspended indefinitely for an off ice incident. However, his play on the ice has been largely positive, as the former seventh round pick has progressed incredibly well since being selected by Edmonton. The 6’3”, right shot defender brings strong mobility, physicality, and great defensive instincts to the blueline. At the very least, he has excellent defensive upside at the NHL level as more of a steady, stay at home type. But he does have some offensive upside built around his ability to get pucks on net and his ability to make quick outlets to start the breakout. With another strong year in Bakersfield, Wanner likely puts himself in the conversation for a roster spot in Edmonton.

7. Carter Savoie, LW, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

After winning an NCAA championship with Denver in 2022, Savoie turned pro with Edmonton, something that caught some people in the scouting community off guard. While he unquestionably had a strong sophomore year, there was belief that he still needed to get quicker and stronger to withstand the rigors of the pro game given his lack of stature. After two mediocre pro seasons in Bakersfield, it appears that those critics were correct. That said, it’s way too early to give up on Carter. He still possesses high end skill and vision with the puck, and he still has great offensive upside as a pro. This is going to be a big offseason for him. There’s still a need for him to work on his quickness to give him that elusiveness he needs as a smaller player. Can he step up next year and earn more ice time after some of Bakersfield’s veteran forwards move on?

8. Tyler Tullio, C/RW, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

The former Oshawa Generals standout is currently in his second pro year, and he wasn’t able to take that next step as an offensive player with Bakersfield. Entering the pro ranks, there was some concern about Tullio’s offensive game translating and thus far those concerns have proven correct. That said, Tullio brings value as a high energy player away from the puck. He competes for touches on retrievals and along the wall. He forechecks hard. He backchecks hard. He still has upside as a bottom six player for the Oilers if he can continue to improve his confidence with the puck and continue to build up strength that would allow him to play this type of game at the NHL level at his size. As mentioned with other players in the Oilers’ system, Tullio stands to earn more ice time next year and that will be a huge one for his development.

9. Jayden Grubbe, C, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

The former New York Rangers draft pick was acquired by the Oilers and subsequently signed last year. Grubbe, a former captain of the Red Deer Rebels, is your prototypical bottom six forward prospect. The big centerman is physical. He’s got great two-way instincts. He can play in a variety of different roles. His puck skill is fairly limited and he’s not a high-end scoring threat, but there’s upside there as a future third- or fourth-line pivot. The key for Grubbe, just as it was when he was drafted, is improving his skating. A knee injury suffered in his draft year definitely hindered the development of his explosiveness and speed; it seems like he’s been playing catch-up ever since and it’s part of the reason why the Rangers moved on from their former third rounder. The Oilers are going to need to be patient but the hope remains that he can play that shut down defensive role well at the NHL level someday.

10. Shane LaChance, LW, Boston University (NCAA)

Bigger forwards simply take longer to develop and LaChance is the perfect example of that. It’s been a long road for the son of former NHL’er Scott LaChance. He was drafted out of the Boston Jr. Bruins program back in 2021, then he played two years in the USHL after being drafted, a rarity for sure. However, this allowed him to build up confidence in his offensive game and improve his puck skill and skating. His offensive explosion with Youngstown has proved to be no fluke after LaChance was fantastic for Boston University this year as a freshman. He proved to be an excellent complementary player to Macklin Celebrini, seeing consistent ice time with the likely first overall pick, helping to open up ice and prolong possessions for him and fellow linemate Jack Harvey. The real test will be next year when Celebrini inevitably turns pro and other components of BU’s roster get an overhaul. Can LaChance take on more offensive responsibility and drive play more individually?

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:43:51 +0000

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid #97 prior to the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Edmonton Oilers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on February 25, 2023. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire)

Review: Somehow, even after winning back-to-back Art Ross Trophies, Connor McDavid found yet another level to his game. He scored 64 goals and 153 points in 82 contests last season, giving us one of the greatest individual performances we’ve ever seen. As if that wasn’t enough, Leon Draisaitl had an amazing season in his own right, contributing 52 goals and 128 points while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman had career years with 104 and 83 points, respectively. Unsurprisingly, Edmonton led the league offensively with 3.96 goals per game, but all was not well. Jack Campbell was nothing short of a disaster, posting a 3.41 GAA and an .888 save percentage in 36 contests. At least rookie Stuart Skinner emerged with a 29-14-5 record, 2.75 GAA and .913 save percentage in 50 games, but relying on a young goaltender has its drawbacks. With the stakes risen in the playoffs, Skinner struggled, and Edmonton was ultimately eliminated in the second round to the Golden Knights. Skinner was yanked three times in that six-game series, undermining the efforts of McDavid and Draisaitl, who combined for 11 goals and 17 points versus Vegas.

What’s Changed? Very little. Connor Brown signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Edmonton and he’ll have a chance to earn a top-six spot. Mattias Janmark agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract and will likely be penciled in for the third line. Other than that, it will be essentially the same team as last year.

What would success look like? Anything short of winning the Stanley Cup would be disappointing. That might be unfair, but it’s what’s to be expected for a team that has McDavid and Draisaitl in their prime. That duo basically guarantees that the offense will be fine. A healthier season out of Evander Kane – he played just 41 games last year – would give them another strong scoring option. Brown is also an interesting pickup. He missed almost the entire 2022-23 campaign with a torn ACL, but at his best he’s a solid secondary scorer who could gel well with Edmonton’s elite forwards. Of course, the single-biggest boost would be a bounce back season from Campbell.

What could go wrong? Not that Campbell is a safe bet to rebound, and Skinner isn’t a sure thing either, given that he has just one full NHL season under his belt. There’s also a chance Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins will significantly regress after performing far above their norm last year, which would threaten to turn Edmonton’s attack into little more than the McDavid-Draisaitl show. The elite duo can make the Oilers competitive on their own, but they can’t win the Cup without ample support.

Top Breakout Candidate: Dylan Holloway had just three goals and nine points in 51 contests last season, but he averaged a mere 9:35 of ice time. Holloway has the potential to play a far bigger role and thrive in it. The 21-year-old is entering his sophomore campaign, so he might still need more seasoning and breaking into the top-six will be difficult. Still, he has a chance to be a valuable secondary scorer this year.

Forwards

Connor McDavid - C

A strange-but-true fact about McDavid’s historic season is that he didn’t lead the league in five-on-five points. Despite lapping the field in overall point production, becoming the first player to reach 150 since Bernie Nichols in 1989, he was only fourth in even strength points. He more than made up for this on special teams, as Edmonton’s top unit was the closest thing to an automatic goal in modern NHL history. McDavid obviously being the straw which stirred the drink and recording 71 points there alone. The explanation behind his 5-on-5 production was the Oilers shooting below 10% when he was on the ice, which included him scoring on a strong 16% of his shots. McDavid was still dominant, so much so that he won the Hart almost unanimously, so his 5-on-5 results demonstrate that there still was still another level he could have reached. It goes back to Edmonton’s recurring problem of surrounding their star player with good linemates. They still received a good season out of Zach Hyman, but they eventually had to revert to placing Draisaitl back on his wing after other options didn’t work. It’s an ancillary issue in the regular season but came back to haunt them in the playoffs where McDavid’s linemates scored only five goals on 46 of his setups. Still dominating on the power play, the Oilers star could get his points. Repeating their performance at 5-on-5 is what kept them out of the third round.

Leon Draisaitl - C

When Draisaitl retires, he could own a place in NHL history of the most seasons scoring 100+ points while not leading his own team. Built almost like a Hockey Voltron, Draisaitl has an unorthodox combo of being an elite shooter and an incredible passer while having a massive upper body that makes taking the puck away from him borderline impossible in the offensive zone. He is the master of the coffin-corner one-timer and still catches goaltenders off-guard with them. Also, one of the best at scoring off his backhand and elevating the puck from close-range. Still arguably a better passer than a shooter from a sheer degree of difficulty standpoint. He can move pucks from the wall to the slot effortlessly and his vision is almost unmatched. That said, there is still a question of “what do we do with him” in the Oilers lineup, as he was once again moved back between centering his own line and playing alongside McDavid. Draisaitl’s play-driving improved dramatically last year, finding ways to clean up his play in the defensive zone and make up for his lack of footspeed. Moving back to McDavid was more due to the Oilers needing more scoring from their top line in the playoffs than Draisaitl’s struggles. Enters this season in the same boat as his co-star where you know you’re getting outstanding results in the regular season and the playoffs are the next hurdle.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - LW

The number of NHLers who take 12 seasons to hit 100 points is probably low. In modern times, it happens about as often as a solar eclipse, so Nugent-Hopkins surprised a lot of people when he hit this milestone. Bringing new meaning to the term “power play specialist,” his point total with the man advantage (53) topped his entire total from last season (50). While not the catalyst, he played his part is making the Oilers power play a machine, patrolling the middle and always staying in motion so that their top guys always had a passing option open from a dangerous area. It’s not something you expect to continue at this level, but RNH has been a great power play guy in Edmonton for years now. He is the type of forward who you can use in a lot of ways, going from McDavid’s winger to a third line center, RNH usually gives you a solid level of play. This season was also one of his stronger years in terms of 5-on-5 scoring as well, where he didn’t always have star teammates to lean on. His versatility is a great tool to have, although it makes predicting next season a riddle. He’s not going to repeat the ridiculous powerplay numbers but getting back to the 65–70-point level he was at his peak shouldn’t be out of the question.

Zach Hyman - LW

Everyone on that Oilers top power play unit seemed to master the details of the game that made it great. For Zach Hyman, it was becoming a master at working the net front role. Using his body to catch loose pucks and quickly put them in the net, being a moving target instead of a stationary screen and popping out into the slot if the play was behind the net. The results speak for themselves, scoring 15 power play goals after having 11 total for his entire career before the season. He has been the perfect complement to McDavid, and it goes beyond his penchant for creating high danger chances. Hyman excels as the winger who can follow up plays to setup entries, creating a small bridge in the neutral zone to help McDavid and others gain speed and get closer to the net off the rush. It makes the relationship between him and the Oilers star more of a two-way street instead of McDavid doing all the work while Hyman goes to the net. Edmonton has gotten their money’s worth there and this is before factoring in the work he does on the penalty kill. Finding the third guy is the next challenge, as Hyman’s great in his role but doesn’t score or take many shots from distance, which is the one piece missing on the Oilers top line.

Evander Kane - RW

His second season in Edmonton was disrupted by a freak accident where he suffered a skate laceration on his wrist. Was a productive player with 13 points in 14 games before the injury and scored only 15 points the rest of the year. His game didn’t change much despite the injury, still the shoot-first, pass-second player he has been for his entire career. Kane was also less reliant on McDavid to score goals, tallying eight alongside Draisaitl whereas he only scored one goal away from McDavid at five-on-five last season. The more finesse part of his game was missing after the wrist injury, still shooting the puck often but missing the target and flubbing chances he usually gets. Also, less involved in helping move the puck up ice compared to previous years, not handling the puck much in the neutral zone and more of a secondary off-puck option on zone entries. Scored all but two of his goals at 5-on-5, as he didn’t see much power play time except for spot duty on the second unit. Brought in as support for McDavid, Kane’s spot in the Oilers lineup is known as of right now, but the revolving door nature of the Oilers wingers could lead him back there before the season is over.

Connor Brown - RW

Getting hurt in a contract year is always a bummer, especially for a player in the middle of the pack like Connor Brown. He has a chance to make up for some of that this year, signing a one-year incentive-laced contract with the Oilers. There is always an opportunity that you get slotted on their top line with their wing depth and McDavid might even vouch for his old OHL teammate. Brown brings a lot of qualities that make him a good fit with McDavid, but he’s going to have a good season regardless of where he slots. A hard-working winger who loves having the puck on his stick, Brown had a few good years in Ottawa playing high in the lineup. He was a fixture on their penalty kill and was one of the more aggressive players in the league at poaching for short-handed chances. Always hunting pucks down and has decent playmaking skills if in the right environment. Not a great finisher, but not far removed from a 21-goal season where he showed flashes of it. Edmonton could be looking to recapture some of that magic but at minimum they have a good third liner who will hold the fort down while their stars are on the bench.

Mattias Janmark - LW

If you’ve watched random highlights of Janmark, you might be tricked into thinking he has star potential. With speed to burn and decent puck-handling skills, many teams have given the Swede a call over his career. Even if he has one of the lowest conversion rates on breakaways, Janmark has forged a nice career as a solid defensive player and penalty killer. He’s good at using his speed to help clear pucks to relieve pressure and disrupt cycles. He’s also remarkably consistent in his production, scoring exactly 20-25 points in each of the last five years with three different teams. You know what you’re getting with him and it’s probably why the Oilers opted to retain him on another one-year deal. The important thing about playing in the Oilers bottom-six is to be at least a neutral player and Janmark can hold his own there. He gets more minutes than your average bottom-sixer, playing in the 14–15-minute range because of how much he is relied on the penalty kill. Formed a very solid checking line in the latter half of the season with Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod that actually controlled play in addition to not giving up much defensively.

Warren Foegele - RW

Foegele is a great example of how it sometimes takes a while for a high scorer in junior or the AHL to figure out how to be a checker. Even if they have the skillset, there is more to playing on an energy line than just getting in on the forecheck, playing at 100 mph and crashing the net. There are more details that go into it and Foegele seemed to have mastered them in his second year with the Oilers. His line with Ryan McLeod was excellent not only at preventing chances and goals, but also tilting the ice and knowing how to set the table for the McDavid line. Foegele has all the skills to be a great checker, he’s a great F1 who will get in on the forecheck and is excellent at recovering pucks. Now it’s been about using his teammates better to keep the cycle going instead of everything directly going to the net. It’s not a pretty game, but he was effective for Edmonton in his role. This could change this year depending on how the Connor Brown experiment shakes out and who else is next in line for that winger spot.

Ryan McLeod - C

A high scorer in the AHL, McLeod’s game at the NHL level is all about defense, although a new breed of it. We often associate puck-possession and things like transition, but McLeod is one of those players who has it translate to more defensive results. When he is on the ice, the Oilers usually have the puck in the defensive zone. He is very good at getting back to help the defense and moving the puck up ice on his own to flip the territorial game for Edmonton. Creates easy entries for himself through breaking up plays in the neutral zone and is deceptive with striking off the rush. He developed as a skill player in the minors, so the ability is there even if it’s not his role. Covers a lot of ground in the defensive zone getting to loose pucks without taking many strides and it helps his lines calm the waters at 5-on-5. Still only 23, he’s found a role on the Oilers and it’s an important one as they were looking for anybody to bring that calming effect at 5-on-5 while their stars are on the bench. Last year was the first time the Oilers had a positive goal differential without McDavid on the ice and McLeod’s play is a huge reason for it. Might be unknown around the league but certainly not in Edmonton.

Defense

Evan Bouchard - D

The potential Jenga piece for the Oilers going forward, this season was a big coming out party for Bouchard, specifically the playoffs. They spent most of the season trying to find a partner for him, as Bouchard was clearly top-four on a roster filled with players more suited for the 5/6 role, it took a trading for Ekholm to consistently get Bouchard in the 22-23 minutes range. They finally had a partner who could complement his high-risk game, covering more ground for him in the defensive zone so he could focus on playing the puck and starting the rush instead of trying to do everything as he did for most of the year. His offensive skills are unmatched on the Oilers blue line, it’s just the other details with being a defenseman that have been a work in progress, most notably exiting the zone against a heavy forecheck and playing too aggressive in the neutral zone. A better defense partner should help unlock his full potential. At the very least he is getting a lot of power play time next year and is poised for a monster year in terms of point production.

Darnell Nurse - D

Nurse’s play is often a lightning rod topic among Oilers fans. A good chunk of it is related to the contract he signed after a career season, which made him the fifth highest defenseman in the league at the time. The other is that watching him play will usually have you on the edge of your seat if you’re a fan. He’s an attack-minded defenseman at heart, sprinting out of the zone at the first opportunity and taking a lot of shots off the rush as the trailer. It’s a strategy that works for Edmonton sometimes, this year being a slight return to form from a production standpoint. This is also true for the defensive side of the game, as Nurse will often chase the puck or look to lay a big hit on players entering the zone. Often caught out of position or making a lot of mistakes that give opposing forwards a lot of open ice. It’s something you can coach out of players, but Nurse has to play aggressive to be effective and this just comes with the territory. He’s made up for this by not forcing as many plays out of the zone and giving way to some of their stronger puck movers when exiting the zone, but the overall package will continue to keep Edmonton’s heart rates high.

Mattias Ekholm - D

Edmonton made one of their best trades of the Ken Holland era by acquiring Mattias Ekholm at the deadline. A minute eater who can wear a lot of hats, this was exactly the type of player they have been missing for years. Ekholm doesn’t have that game-breaking skillset, but he does the little things that make life easier for Edmonton’s elite players. The most important is recovering after mistakes. Edmonton will try to push the pace more when their top guys are out and sometimes turnovers will happen. Ekholm is the type of player who won’t panic when that happens and quickly gets the puck out of the zone after. He was brought in to be paired with the offensive-minded Evan Bouchard, so it was a great fit from the start. He also has the sense of knowing when to force a play and when to clear the puck off the glass, although it’s usually the former as he’s an excellent passer with great vision. Also facilitates offense without accumulating a lot of points. A steadying presence from the point who can get pucks down low without risking turnovers. The only concerns with Ekholm are age and his durability as he gets closer to 35.

Brett Kulak - D

A problem solver of sorts for the Oilers defense, Kulak is someone who knows his role by now. He doesn’t get top minutes or get a lot of puck touches, so he is impactful when he gets the chance. Always standing up at the line to deny entries, doing an excellent job of taking away space in the defensive zone and occasionally jumping into the play (being out there with the third line means he’s usually one of their best options). Last year was a little rockier for him than usual, as the Oilers attempted to pair him with blossoming star Evan Bouchard and it wasn’t long before he was relegated back to the third pair with Tyson Barrie. Eventually he got a consistent partner in Vincent Desharnais and Kulak got back to his usual game after that. Surprisingly set a career high in points thanks to 13 secondary assists. One of the Oilers better retrievers of the puck but not the most dynamic puck mover, which has kept him lower in the lineup despite his strengths. Arguably the team’s most steady defenseman in the post-season, as he was on the ice for only four goals against.

Goaltending

Jack Campbell - G

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but the Edmonton Oilers have a goaltending problem. Jack Campbell, brought in as a pricey free agent after seemingly wearing out his welcome with the rabid Toronto fanbase, stumbled in his attempts to take the long-suffering team the distance. He managed to regain some of his game’s strongest elements down the back stretch of the season, controlling his movement and sitting back to allow his defense to help structure breakouts and coverage while he focused on eliminating open space in net with simple movements and fluid transitions. But his start with the Oilers was shaky; he struggled to find his rhythm behind the Western Conference competitors, ultimately losing his position as the team’s number one to up-and-comer Stuart Skinner.

The good news for Oilers fans is that it appears the days are gone of doggedly attempting to milk all the value possible out of every goaltender contract signed. Head Coach Jay Woodcroft seemed to abandon the Dave Tippett-era tendency to give deferential starts to the higher-paid veteran in net, opting to ride with Skinner when Campbell was struggling and happily going back to Campbell whenever he seemed up to the task. It was a refreshing change of pace after watching Mike Smith struggle to put up league-average numbers through three seasons, and it seemed to benefit both goaltenders in the long run. But still, it’s hard to overlook the fact that the Oilers have Campbell signed for another four years of five million per season against the cap, and he put up a -16.77 goals saved above expected as the team’s backup – only nine of the league’s 75 goaltenders with sufficient starting data last season did worse. The team will need to see Campbell continue his bounce-back from the back half of the season through the entirety of the 2023-24 season, or they’ll have to consider finding a way to move him out for a more steadying presence. With captain Connor McDavid turning 27 this season, Edmonton has to consider what they need to do to capitalize on the star’s window to push and become a legitimate threat in the postseason; unless Campbell bounces back definitively, he’ll fail to fit that bill.

Projected starts: 35-40

Stuart Skinner - G

The Edmonton Oilers have gone so long without seeing a goaltending prospect pan out in their favor, it seemed almost too good to be true last season when rookie Stuart Skinner gently took control of the crease from veteran Jack Campbell. But as the season progressed, it became abundantly clear; Skinner was exactly what the team needed, and he was there to stay.

Skinner, a 2017 draft pick out of the WHL, put up bumpy numbers in his first two pro seasons; he struggled to approach a .900 save percentage in either 2018-19 or 2019-20 at either the AHL or ECHL level, waffling between the two leagues without finding much success in either. But despite a rocky NHL debut in his third pro year, Skinner finally started to find his feet; he established better tracking skills and fine-tuned his technical foundation while cleaning up his game reads and becoming more patient on his skates. He initially lost a little bit of the creativity that had made his game so exciting to watch as a prospect in the CHL, but fans saw some of that spark return during Edmonton’s postseason run in the spring of 2023 as he proved he was unafraid to throw technique to the wind and mix in some old-school goaltending style when it suited him. It was like he learned to relax once he found his footing with some better technical foundations, and that’s a promising sign that his impressive game play last year wasn’t just a flash in the pan. The question, though, will be just how much he can shoulder a heavy workload if Jack Campbell continues to struggle. He held down the fort for a whopping 50 games last season and will likely need to do the same this year – while he’s still young, the kind of wear and tear that immediately taking on a starter’s workload at the NHL level can put on a young goaltender could start to qrip at the seams of his skill a little bit.

Projected starts: 50-55

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #29

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:29:49 +0000

Top 20 Edmonton Oilers Prospects

1. Xavier Bourgault - C

Bourgault surely learned a lot from his four years in Shawinigan, helping them pivot from being one of the worst teams in the QMJHL all the way to winning a league championship and appearing in the Memorial Cup in his fourth year with the club. And while the "Q" has run into trouble lately with their top producers making the jump to the pros, that doesn't appear to be the case with Bourgault, who has emerged immediately as one of the best players on the Condors. None of his physical tools truly grade out as elite, but how he sees the ice and how well he stays composed under pressure are both high-end attributes. He is consistent and reliable, but also able to elevate his game at big moments, and those types of players usually go on to have long, successful careers thanks to the trust they earn from coaches.

2. Raphael Lavoie - RW

Lavoie was a frustrating player to scout at times because his effectiveness wavered a lot from game to game, even shift to shift, but the Oilers still selected him relatively high because he had such an enticing collection of tools. That said, development is a marathon not a sprint, and Lavoie has really started to blossom in the years since. Getting to play most of a full season in Sweden at the height of the pandemic not only kept his development on track, but it actually provided him with a perfect bridge between the QMJHL and the AHL. He can play both a power game and a skill game and can single-handedly break through defences in the cycle as well as on the rush. When he gets all the cylinders firing at once he is such a handful for opposing defenders. He led Bakersfield in goals last season, which shows how close he already is to getting into the NHL.

3. Beau Akey - D

The foundation of Akey’s game is his strong four-way mobility. One of the better skating defenders available for the 2023 draft, Akey can impact the game at both ends with his quickness and agility. However, he is very much a player who is still learning to use his skating ability to his advantage. He can seem hesitant to extend his rushes, and his ability to start the breakout could benefit from him trusting his feet more. In reality, assertiveness and confidence are two things that could make a huge difference for Akey’s consistency and performance. He flashes high end skill, as he gains confidence in his ability to blend his feet and hands to make plays. His ceiling is quite high, despite the strides he still needs to take to reach it. If Akey’s development goes according to plan, he could easily develop into a TJ Brodie type of defender at the NHL level, another player who also took time at the junior level to understand how to be a difference maker at both ends with his athletic gifts.

4. Matvey Petrov - LW

Petrov has turned out to be a major hidden gem for the Oilers as a sixth-round draft pick and has played a pivotal role in helping turn North Bay around from one of the worst teams in the OHL to one of the league's very best. He was recently voted by a poll of OHL coaches as one of the best playmakers in the league and it's easy to understand why, as his passes are hard and crisp, and he can find the narrowest of lanes. He's not especially big or strong but can protect pucks well with his hands and reach. He's also a stellar shooter, as evidenced by his 40 goals in the 2021-22 season, but he elected to play more deferentially last year. Petrov has been arguably one of the most underrated prospects in all of junior hockey, though that is unlikely to persist as he looks to play professionally this season.

5. Carter Savoie - LW

Savoie is one of the most interesting case studies active among all NHL prospects. Look solely at his incredible scoring numbers from the AJHL and NCAA and he seems like an elite talent. However, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before he will be able to cut it in the NHL, as evidenced by the steep drop-off in his numbers since hitting the AHL. The good in his game? There are few prospects in the world more dangerous with the puck in the offensive zone, able to snipe goals with ease and find passing lanes that others cannot. The bad? His skating and pacing are atrocious, and his off-puck contributions are practically non-existent. There just aren't any players in the NHL right now who play like he does. Can he blaze an entirely new trail, or will he need to make serious tweaks to his game in order to make it?

6. Tyler Tullio - RW

Tullio was one of only a handful of top Ontario-based prospects to find a place to play during 2021-21, heading to Slovakia while the entire OHL season was cancelled. Those 19 games might not have seemed like much, but they were invaluable for him in his attempt to keep his game polished and improving, as he put forth a monstrous performance in his final year with Oshawa. For a former fifth-round pick, his first season in the AHL was relatively solid, as he scored at a decent clip and looked right at home against professional competition. He's small but feisty and combative and can find different ways to make his team better, bringing energy and grit when he isn't contributing as much on the score sheet. He can play up or down a lineup, which significantly increases his odds of finding a long-term NHL gig.

7. Max Wanner - D

Unfortunately, Wanner made more waves off the ice than on it last year after being suspended indefinitely for an off-ice incident, along with several of his Moose Jaw teammates. However, Wanner was allowed to return to action for the playoffs. On the ice, Wanner’s game actually improved significantly, a fact that shocked few after his breakout performance at last year’s Oilers’ development camp. His skating has improved considerably since being drafted in the seventh round and that has transformed him into a defensive stalwart. He shuts down transitional attacks and defends pace extremely well with his length and mobility. His defensive game has always been his bread and butter, but it has evolved to the point where he could easily be an NHL shut down type. His game has also improved offensively. Will that carry over to the pro level? Time will tell as Wanner starts his pro journey this season. Hopefully he can put a turbulent year behind him and learn from past mistakes to be better off the ice, keeping the focus on his improvement on the ice.

8. Nikita Yevseyev - D

Russia's VHL, a league above the under-20 MHL but below the highly-talented KHL, similar to the AHL in North America, can be a sneaky good environment for prospects to develop in. Yevseyev played most of his draft season there as a member of the established Kazan organization, and while he didn't draw a lot of fanfare to himself, he nevertheless put in a lot of work on his game. It should come as little surprise then, that he jumped up a level this past season. What is more of a shocker though, is that he was arguably the best junior-aged defenseman in the entire KHL as a rookie. His game is mostly built around his skating, with strong edges, long strides, and a lot of power generation, and he already knows how to use his mobility to stick to professional opponents and disrupt their offensive intentions. It's incredibly early, but Yevseyev is currently looking like one of the shrewdest picks of the 2022 draft.

9. Olivier Rodrigue - G

Stuart Skinner has emerged as both Edmonton's goalie of the present and of their future, but Rodrigue is probably going to be given a few more years’ worth of opportunities to prove that he could at least become a backup for the Oilers down the line. He's not a particularly big goaltender, but he is fast and flexible, and that can still be a workable formula for success even though the margin for error is narrower. The sudden emergence of COVID-19 in early 2020 robbed him of what was shaping up to be a QMJHL championship run in Moncton, and the two preceding years of pandemic-influenced hockey were harder on netminders than players at any other position. He did, however, bounce back quite nicely last season in Bakersfield, in his third season at the level.

10. Jayden Grubbe - C

After it was announced that the New York Rangers would not be signing Grubbe, the team’s third round pick in 2021, the Edmonton Oilers jumped at the opportunity to trade for, and sign the Alberta-born and raised center. Grubbe’s rehab following a serious knee injury has been slow, but he put together a solid season for Red Deer last year, captaining the Rebels into the second round of the WHL playoffs. His skating will still need to improve; no question that will be the focus of his pro development. However, Grubbe has the potential to be a solid bottom six option for the Oilers in the future because of his strong physical play, advanced defensive game, and more than adequate playmaking ability/vision. Due to the ongoing need for improvements to his skating, the pace of the pro game may initially overwhelm him. The Oilers may need to be patient with Grubbe. However, after a few years, he very well could end up ending up similar to an Ethan Moreau or Rem Murray type, who, despite their limitations, were pivotal role players during that deep 2006 playoff run.

11. Luca Munzenberger - D

A German defender at the University of Vermont, Munzenberger is very much a “what you see is what you get” kind of prospect. There is unlikely to be much development offensively, but he understands his role well as a staunch, physical, stay-at-home type.

12. Jake Chiasson - RW

Chiasson is an interesting prospect because he never really reached the heights that we expected of him in the WHL, yet he nevertheless earned a contract from Edmonton. The big forward has a big shot to match his physique and will be turning pro this season.

13. Matt Copponi - C

After a terrific sophomore season at Merrimack College, the Oilers selected Copponi at this past draft. He is a high IQ, strong complementary piece with a great work ethic. He definitely has a chance to be a bottom six player for the Oilers in the future.

14. Shane Lachance - LW

The big winger is the son of former NHL defender Scott Lachance and is headed to Boston University this fall. He had a great 2022-23 season in the USHL, winning a championship with Youngstown, while serving as the team’s captain.

15. Joel Maatta - C

Another Oilers prospect at the University of Vermont, Maatta’s offensive upside is fairly limited. He tracks as a potential defensively-oriented fourth line center thanks to his IQ and compete level. Edmonton will be looking for him to improve his offensive production as a junior this season.

16. Maxim Berezkin - RW

The good news is that Berezkin broke out last season in the KHL, emerging as a strong supporting piece for Lokomotiv. The bad news is that he recently resigned in the KHL for another two seasons, meaning Edmonton won’t have the opportunity to bring him over until after 2024-25.

17. Tomas Mazura - C

The route for Mazura thus far certainly wouldn’t have followed Edmonton’s exact plan for him. The former prep star has bounced between leagues, countries, and programs the last few years. It appears he has finally found a home at St. Lawrence University, but he remains a longshot, long-term project.

18. Carl Berglund - C

A free agent signing for the Oilers out of UMass-Lowell, Berglund has led the River Hawks in scoring the last two seasons, serving as captain last year. Like some others on this list, his NHL upside is probably limited to a depth role, but his IQ gives him a chance to play in some capacity.

19. Noah Philp

It’s pretty rare to see players from CIS make the jump to the NHL, but after a solid rookie year in the AHL, Philp has put himself in contention for a bottom six role on the Oilers. The big center plays a power game and can be a net front presence.

20. Ryan Fanti - G

Signed as a free agent out of Minnesota-Duluth last year, Fanti’s first pro season had mixed results. The big netminder has intriguing athletic upside, but his play needs to find more consistency in his second pro year. Likely ticketed for the ECHL again.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK: The Top 24 Calder Trophy Candidates for 2024

Brock Otten — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 23:27:38 +0000

Connor Bedard. Photo by Keith Hershmiller.

Connor Bedard - Chicago Blackhawks

The Hawks have insulated the recent first overall pick with some veteran wingers to help his transition to the NHL. They won’t get in the way of Bedard receiving all the ice time that he can handle. For that reason, in combination with his insanely high talent level, Bedard has to be entering the season as the favourite to capture this year’s Calder trophy.

2. Logan Cooley - Arizona Coyotes

Cooley was thought to be returning to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore season despite being nominated for the Hobey Baker award. But a midsummer change of heart had him turn pro and now he’s poised to push Connor Bedard as the frontrunner for the Calder. Cooley likely steps right into Arizona’s lineup as their first line center and his rookie season should end up being pretty similar to Matty Beniers’ Calder winning performance from last year.

3. Luke Hughes - New Jersey Devils

In New Jersey’s final game of the season last year, a 3-2 loss against Carolina in the playoffs, Hughes played over 25 minutes. This was only a month after signing with the Devils. That tells you all you need to know about how New Jersey sees Hughes as an immediate piece of their roster. Even with Dougie Hamilton likely holding down the top powerplay QB spot, Hughes should still get his share of opportunity.

4. Adam Fantilli - Columbus Blue Jackets

Was there ever any doubt that the recent third overall pick and Hobey Baker winner would turn pro this season? I don’t believe so. No offence to Boone Jenner and Jack Roslovic, but there’s a very real chance that Fantilli enters the coming season as Columbus’ first line center. The opportunity is ripe for him to be among the leading Calder candidates.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Buffalo Sabres Goalie Devon Levi (27) blocks a shot on goal during the National Hockey League game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers on April 10, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

5. Devon Levi - Buffalo Sabres

All eyes were on Buffalo this offseason to see if they would bring in a veteran goaltender to help the Sabres take that next step as a playoff team. They did not. That means that the starter’s job is Devon Levi’s to lose. It was evident when he signed (and subsequently started all the important games down the stretch), but Buffalo seems content with that. We’ve had a goalie finish in the top five of Calder voting the last five seasons and Levi certainly looks to have the best chance to be that guy this season.

6. Brandt Clarke - Los Angeles Kings

Similar to Luke Hughes’ situation in New Jersey, Clarke’s powerplay time is blocked by a veteran in Drew Doughty. However, that doesn’t mean that Clarke can’t be a productive offensive player and be afforded unique opportunities to impact the game offensively. There’s still a path for him to crack the team’s top four and Clarke is talented enough to be an impact player at even strength.

7. Luke Evangelista - Nashville Predators

Even with the signings of Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist, the Predators should still have room for Evangelista in their top nine, especially given how well he played late last season. He has 15 points in 24 games, narrowly keeping his Calder eligibility. It might be shocking to see him ranked this high, but among rookies who played more than 20 games last year, only Matty Beniers, Matias Maccelli, and Lukas Reichel had more points per game.

8. Shane Wright - Seattle Kraken

Part of me is skeptical that Wright should be ranked this highly given Seattle’s sudden surge as a playoff contender and the likelihood that they remain patient with his development. That said, Wright is one of the top prospects outside of the NHL for a reason. If he comes to camp and performs well, they’ll find a spot and role for him in their top nine.

9. Marco Rossi - Minnesota Wild

Rossi struggled mightily in his 19-game stint in the NHL last year, but he was an impact player in the AHL with Iowa. A notoriously hard worker, Rossi should come back hungry for a permanent spot this season and there are some forward spots, especially down the middle, up for grabs in Minnesota. Should he crack the top nine, he’ll be flanked by some pretty good wingers and would have a chance to be among the league’s rookie scoring leaders.

10. Lukas Dostal - Anaheim Ducks

Dostal’s likelihood of being a Calder contender will depend on what Anaheim decides to do with John Gibson. Do they move on from Gibson at some point this year, giving the keys to the starter’s role to Dostal, one of the team’s top prospects? He played OK in 19 games last year as Gibson’s back-up, however is Anaheim likely to be good enough to help Dostal post the kind of stats needed to be a Calder candidate?

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 27: Toronto Maple Leafs Winger Matthew Knies (23) skates with the puck during the Round 1 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 5 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 27, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

11. Matthew Knies - Toronto Maple Leafs

Knies probably would have been higher on this list if not for the signings of Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi. Knies was a standout in limited action late last year after signing his ELC and the thought was that he could end up playing the Michael Bunting role this year alongside Austen Matthews, however, that appears to be more of a stretch now. Still, Knies deserves mention here as someone who could still play a solid role for a good team.

12. Kevin Korchinski - Chicago Blackhawks

If Korchinki plays well in camp, he seems all but destined to crack the Chicago roster this year, a team thin on the back end. While Seth Jones is likely to swallow up a lot of powerplay time, the Blackhawks would be wise to create opportunities for him if they keep him. Korchinski is incredibly talented, so if he gets ice time, he should put up points.

13. David Jiricek - Columbus Blue Jackets

This is a tough one. On paper, there just isn’t much room for Jiricek. The Jackets brought in Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov this offseason and Zach Werenski will be returning from a shoulder injury. But the former 6th overall pick was so good in the AHL last year with Cleveland. If he comes to camp and looks ready, the Jackets are likely to make room for him.

14. Pavel Mintyukov - Anaheim Ducks

Speaking of opportunities on the back end, don’t look for the likes of Colton White or Robert Hagg to block Mintyukov if he performs well in camp. Powerplay time might be a different animal altogether with Cam Fowler and Jamie Drysdale around, but there is a clear opportunity here for Mintyukov to get significant ice time. Like some of the other defenders on this list, Mintyukov is simply too talented to ignore.

15. Tyson Foerster - Philadelphia Flyers

Foerster has a very clear opportunity to earn a spot inside the top six of the Flyers this season, especially after performing so well in a cup of coffee last year. His game has improved by leaps and bounds in the last calendar year and he is someone who could be among the league’s leading rookie scorers at season’s end.

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 03: Rochester Americans right wing Jiri Kulich (25) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Rochester Americans and Cleveland Monsters on December 3, 2022, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

16. Jiri Kulich - Buffalo Sabres

Is there actually a spot for Kulich on this year’s Sabres? I’m pretty skeptical. But all it takes is one injury and Kulich would be the first guy up after his tremendous AHL rookie season and Calder Cup playoff performance. If he can find a way into the top nine or on the secondary powerplay unit, he could produce some solid numbers. The likelihood is low, but the upside is so, so high.

17. Matthew Coronato - Calgary Flames

It seems very likely that one of Coronato or Jakob Pelletier will get an opportunity to play a significant role with the Flames this year. There is room and likely even that expectation. One might think Pelletier would have the leg up given his pro experience, but Coronato is the better player, in my opinion and this ranking reflects that.

18. Fabian Lysell - Boston Bruins

There is still so much uncertainty surrounding the Bruins this year as of writing this. Will Bergeron be back? How much do they expect Van Riemsdyk, Geekie, or Lucic to contribute? Lysell’s first pro season was incredibly erratic. Maybe Merkulov would have the inside track at a spot over Lysell? However, Lysell’s a hyped, high selection with a ton of talent. If he makes the team, it would be in a significant role and that would likely mean a chance at significant production.

19. Pavel Dorofeyev - Vegas Golden Knights

After scoring seven goals in 18 games last year, during a short stint, there’s no way that Dorofeyev does not crack the Vegas roster this year in some capacity. This is especially true given that he would require waivers in order to be sent to the AHL. That kind of production stretched out to a full season would be a 30-goal season. That’s obviously far-fetched, but not completely outside of the realm of possibility.

20. Ridly Greig - Ottawa Senators

Can Josh Norris bounce back and maintain his health? That’s one question bound to be prevalent at Ottawa training camp this year. One of the main beneficiaries of Norris’ injury was Greig, who had a very good first pro season split between Ottawa and Belleville. It seems very likely that Greig will make the Senators full time in some capacity, but just how much of a role he’ll have remains to be seen.

21. Jakob Pelletier - Calgary Flames

As mentioned, it seems very likely that one of Coronato or Pelletier finds themselves with a significant role in Calgary’s offense this year. Pelletier’s 24 games last year make him just barely eligible still and, at this point, he’s proven all he can at the AHL level as an offensive leader. Thus far he has struggled to make that jump, but this year could be very different.

22. Leo Carlsson - Anaheim Ducks

This ranking represents the fact that I believe it is most likely that Carlsson will return to the SHL for another season with Orebro before making the jump to Anaheim. The recent second overall pick would be much higher if it were likely that he would stick with the Ducks. However, Anaheim has no reason to rush him and allowing him to return to the SHL to become a dominant player there first seems like the best spot for his development.

23. Pyotr Kochetkov - Carolina Hurricanes

While Kochetkov is no longer eligible for our top prospect list (due to games played), he is somehow still barely eligible for the Calder. Carolina’s top young netminder will need a lot to go his way (in terms of injuries to veterans or poor play from them) to play enough to be in the conversation, however, if he does play enough…he could be a top contender.

24. Raphael Lavoie - Edmonton Oilers

The last player to make this list, look for Lavoie to push for a roster spot in Edmonton this year, likely over the more hyped Xavier Bourgault. Lavoie’s development took a very positive turn in the second half of last year’s AHL season and he could very easily find himself in Edmonton’s top nine to start the year.

Honourable Mentions: Marco Kasper (DET), Simon Nemec (NJ), Joakim Kemell (NSH), Simon Edvinsson (DET), Brock Faber (MIN), Hendrix Lapierre (WSH), Ryker Evans (SEA), Cole Guttman (CHI), Danil Gushchin (SJ), David Reinbacher (MTL), Aatu Raty (VAN), Yegor Sokolov (OTT), Dalibor Dvorsky (STL)

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #28 Edmonton Oilers

Derek Neuemeier — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:30:03 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 28^th

The Oilers have emerged as Stanley Cup threat built around a constellation of stars, including the game's best player, Connor McDavid. After years of drafting frustration, including multiple first overall picks, Ken Holland took the reins as GM in time for the 2019 NHL Draft. After making the playoffs once in 13 years, they have made the playoffs every year since, including going to the conference finals last season. They have retained all of the first-round draft picks in his time, excluding this season, and have graduated four promising prospects. Evan Bouchard (2108 – 8^th – drafted just prior to his arrival has emerged as a star following the trade of Tyson Barrie to Nashville for Mattias Ekholm. Philip Broberg drafted 8^th in 2019 along with Dylan Holloway, drafted 20^th in 2020 debuted in limited ice time last season.

Player graduations are a healthy sign for an organization in a salary cap era if all players continue to progress. They are also responsible for the group ranking falling from 19^th to 28^th. Raphael Lavoie looks the most promising to emerge from the current group of prospects for the coming season. Holland has also been active on the trade front recently, adding pieces to win a championship. You can expect him to continue to move future assets for help immediately. They only have their second-round pick in the first four rounds, so prospects and future picks are likely in play for the foreseeable future.

CALGARY, AB - SEPTEMBER 26: Edmonton Oilers Center Xavier Bourgault (54) and Calgary Flames Defenceman Rasmus Andersson (4) in action during the second period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Edmonton Oilers on September 26, 2021, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire)

1. Xavier Bourgault

Bourgault surely learned a lot from his four years in Shawinigan, helping them pivot from being one of the worst teams in the QMJHL all the way to winning a league championship and appearing in the Memorial Cup. And while the "Q" has run into trouble lately with their top producers making the jump to the pros, that doesn't appear to be the case with him, emerging immediately as one of the best players on the Condors. None of his physical tools truly grade out as elite, but how he sees the ice and how well he stays composed under pressure are both high-end attributes. He's consistent and reliable, but also able to elevate his game at big moments, and those types of players usually go on to have long, successful careers thanks to the trust they earn from coaches.

2. Patrik Puistola

Puistola has now dressed in more than 200 games in Finland's top pro league and just led his Jukurit Mikkeli team in points, so it's fair to say that the 22-year-old should be ready to sign his entry-level contract and make the jump to North America. Newly acquired by Edmonton from Carolina in exchange for Jesse Puljujärvi, he might even be able to skip the AHL and head straight the Oilers, so maybe the possibility of playing on the same team as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will make the move easier. He's very smooth and fluid with both his skating and puck control, being able to move around the ice and stay in the play with minimal energy exerted. He's still quite scrawny, though, so bulking up will be a big priority if he is to succeed on the smaller ice.

3. Raphael Lavoie

Lavoie was a frustrating player to scout at times because his effectiveness wavered a lot from game to game, or even shift to shift, but the Oilers still selected him relatively high because he had such an enticing collection of tools. However, development is a marathon not a sprint, and Lavoie has really started to blossom in the years since. Getting to play most of a full season in Sweden at the height of the pandemic not only kept his development on track, but it actually might also have given him a perfect bridge between the QMJHL and the AHL. He can play both a power game and a skill game and can single-handedly break through defenses in the cycle or on the rush. When he gets all the cylinders firing at once he is such a handful for opposing defenders. He led Bakersfield in goals this season, which shows how close he already is to getting into the NHL.

4. Carter Savoie

Savoie is one of the most interesting case studies active among all NHL prospects. Look solely at his incredible scoring numbers from the AJHL and NCAA and he seems like an elite talent. However, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before he will be able to cut it in the NHL, as evidenced by the steep drop-off in his numbers since hitting the AHL. The good in his game? There are few prospects in the world more dangerous with the puck in the offensive zone, able to snipe goals with ease and find passing lanes that others cannot. The bad? His skating and pacing are atrocious, and his off-puck contributions are practically nonexistent. There just aren't any players in the NHL right now who play like he does. Can he blaze an entirely new trail, or will he need to make serious tweaks to his game in order to make it?

5. Matvey Petrov

Petrov has turned out to be a major hidden gem for the Oilers as a 6th-round draft pick and has played a pivotal role in helping turn North Bay around from one of the worst teams in the OHL to one of the league's very best. He was recently voted by a poll of OHL coaches as one of the best playmakers in the league, and it's easy to understand why, as his passes are hard, crisp, and he can find the narrowest of lanes. He's not especially big or strong but can protect pucks well with his hands and reach. He's also a stellar shooter, as evidenced by his 40 goals last season, but he has elected to play more deferentially this year. Petrov is arguably one of the most underrated prospects in all of junior hockey, though that is unlikely to persist for much longer.

6. Tyler Tullio

Tullio was one of only a handful of top Ontario-based prospects to find a play to place during 2021-21, heading to Slovakia while the entire OHL season was cancelled. Those 19 games might not have seemed like much, but they were probably invaluable for him in his attempt to keep his game polished and improving, as he put forth a monstrous performance in his final year with Oshawa. For a former 5th-round pick his first season in the AHL was relatively solid, scoring at a decent clip and looking right at home against the competition. He's small but feisty and combative and can find different ways to make his team better, bringing energy and grit during the times where he isn't contributing as much on the score sheet. He can play up or down a lineup, which significantly increase his odds of finding a long-term NHL gig.

7. Nikita Yevseyev

Russia's VHL, a league above the under-20 MHL but below the highly talented KHL, can be a sneaky good environment for prospects to develop in. Yevseyev played most of his draft season there as a member of the established Kazan organization, and while he didn't draw a lot of fanfare to himself, he did nevertheless put in a lot of work on his game. It should come as little surprise, then, that he jumped up a level this past season. What is more of a shocker, though, is that he was arguably the best junior-aged defenseman in the entire KHL. His game is mostly built around his skating, with strong edges, long strides and a lot of power generation, and he already knows how to use his mobility to stick to professional opponents and disrupt their offensive intentions. It's incredibly early, but Yevseyev is currently looking like one of the shrewdest picks of the 2022 draft.

8. Olivier Rodrigue

Stuart Skinner has emerged as both Edmonton's goalie of the present and of their future, but Rodrigue is probably going to be given a few more years’ worth of opportunities to prove that he could at least become a backup for the Oilers. He's not a particularly big goaltender, but he is fast and flexible, and that can still be a workable formula for success even though the margin for error is narrower. The sudden emergence of COVID-19 in early 2020 robbed him of what was shaping up to be a QMJHL championship run in Moncton, and the two proceeding years of pandemic-influenced hockey were harder on netminders than players at any other position. He did, however, bounce back quite nicely this season in Bakersfield.

9. Luca Munzenberger

The Oilers really went off the board when they selected Münzenberger within the first 100 picks of the 2021 draft. So far, that gambled has really not paid off for them. The German junior hockey system can be really hit or miss for developing prospects, and despite coming over to North America to advance his game in a different environment, the University of Vermont program that he joined isn't exactly that much better. On the plus side, the defender has a lot of size and natural athleticism to work with, and he is getting the opportunity to play a lot of minutes on his club, so there is a foundation being built right now that could potentially lead to success somewhere down the road. If he can get in some reps with the German national team at the World Championships that could provide a beneficial boost.

10. Jake Chiasson

Chiasson hasn't quite lived up to the expectations of his draft placement, but still received his entry-level contract from the Oilers because they believe he still has a lot more left to offer. In his defense he did miss the majority of his 2021-22 season due to injury, and then started this year on a weaker Brandon team before being traded to a Saskatoon club that played much differently. While he flashed some intriguing power forward elements in his draft season those largely haven't panned out since then. Interestingly, though, his off-puck play did start to look better once he joined the stingy and structured Blades, utilizing his athleticism and speed. Maybe he'll have a more likely path to the NHL by focusing on being a checking winger and penalty killer. One more season in junior before turning pro would be the best thing for his long-term growth.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Arlo Schulz, Zack Szweras, Eloi Biondi — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:59:07 +0000

1 - Xavier Bourgault C

A teammate of Stars top prospect Mavrik Bourque on the QMJHL Champion Shawinigan Cataractes, Bourgault and Bourque formed possibly the best duo in the CHL this season. They both compliment themselves perfectly on the ice. Bourgault is an amazing offensive talent who has an amazing shot as well as good passing abilities. He can open up passing and shooting lanes with his tremendous skating ability. He has very good hockey sense as he knows where to always position himself on the ice. A lot of people were questioning Oilers GM Ken Holland's decision to pick Bourgault ahead of goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, but the early returns suggest that the Oilers got an amazing player in Xavier Bourgault that could fit amazingly well on a line with (possibly) Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid in the future (depending on what position he settles into as a pro). Speaking of which, Bourgault will start his pro career this season, likely in Bakersfield of the AHL. Depending on how he performs, he should move relatively quickly through the Oilers’ system and could even earn a look as early as this year. He has top six potential. - EB

2 - Philip Broberg D

The Edmonton Oilers selected Broberg with the 8^th overall pick of the 2019 NHL draft. He has quietly worked his way onto the NHL roster, playing a semi-regular role in their defensive rotation. After his draft year, Broberg spent the next couple of seasons playing in the SHL, where he produced 8 and 13 points over his next two regular seasons. While his offensive game may not have stood out in the SHL, he was able to harness his athleticism and raw tools to turn into more of a complete player. Standing at 6’3”, Broberg is a smooth skater with a fluid stride. He uses his silky stride to quickly transition pucks from his own end into the offensive zone. When defending, he exudes confidence and is not afraid to establish physicality and play aggressively. This past season, Broberg transitioned to North America and earned a role with Edmonton’s AHL team, the Bakersfield Condors, playing mostly in the top-four. While playing for Bakersfield, Broberg focused on improving his offensive game, making better decisions, reading plays earlier and setting up his teammates. He finished his AHL stint with 23 points in 31 games before getting the call-up to the NHL. Broberg played more sheltered minutes up with the Oilers, focusing on his defensive and transition games. He finished the year playing 23 NHL games, producing 3 points. Broberg will look to add to his NHL career and fight for a spot on the blueline in training camp. Whether the points are there or not, he should be able to establish himself as a top-six defender for the Oilers based on his defensive and transition play alone. - ZS

3 - Dylan Holloway C

A wrist injury delayed the start to Holloway’s pro debut this year, but his first season in the AHL was still a success. With each passing month for Bakersfield, his confidence grew and, as such, his production improved. There was some initial thought that Holloway would jump straight to the NHL from the University of Wisconsin, but the wrist injury he suffered caused Edmonton to take a more patient approach with him. He is a prototypical power winger. His skating ability is a major strength as his straight-line speed is terrific for a player of his size. Holloway also revels in the opportunity to play the body. He does not play around defenders; he plays through them. Over the course of his NCAA career, he developed into a top-notch defensive forward, too. The million-dollar question has always been, how effective will Holloway be as an offensive player at the NHL level? He is not an overly creative player, even if he has good hands. He finishes well in tight and can find his way to the net, but he does not own an upper echelon shot. In all, Holloway probably profiles best as a complementary piece on a scoring line who can clear space, play with pace, and support his linemates off the puck. It just so happens that Connor McDavid could use someone like that on his flank. This season, there is a chance that Holloway cracks camp with Edmonton as a bottom six player and from there, he should slowly develop into a quality, all situations winger for the Oilers. - BO

4 - Carter Savoie LW

The Denver Pioneers were the 2022 champions of NCAA Men’s Hockey, and Carter Savoie was a major reason why. Savoie was a fourth-round pick at the 2020 NHL draft and is the brother of Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie, the eighth overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft. Savoie is a five-foot-nine winger who scored at a goal-per-game rate in the AJHL. Upon coming to Denver, Savoie made an immediate goal-scoring impact, and his abilities as a sniper became even more clear as a sophomore when he potted 23 goals in 39 games playing next to Flyer’s prospect Bobby Brink. While Brink did much of the chance creation for Savoie, Savoie’s exceptional ability as a triggerman made that line click as well as it did. Savoie’s shot is good enough to allow him to be a scoring threat from the perimeter, and he often got himself into the right place at the right time. Like Brink, though, Savoie doesn’t skate as well as you’d want for an undersized player, and he doesn’t offer the same level of play-driving offensive generation as Brink. Ultimately, though, putting the puck into the net is still an extremely difficult thing to do, and Savoie has done that exceptionally well wherever he’s been. It’s possible that Savoie’s lack of tools outside of his shot keeps him from having an NHL impact, but if he can get a chance in the future to stick with one of the Oilers’ top playmakers, he could surprise a lot of people. He’s a goal-scorer, and there is always room for pure goal-scorers in the NHL. He’ll have to prove he can remain a top-flight sniper at the AHL level first, though. - EH

5 - Raphael Lavoie RW

The big winger is coming off of his first full pro season with Bakersfield after playing in Sweden for the majority of the pandemic. At this point, consistency remains an issue for Lavoie. He has significant potential as a goal scorer. He has a strong wrist shot, a quick release, and good scoring instincts. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s 6’4 and can protect the puck well from defenders with his reach and frame. However, some of the things that prevented him from becoming an elite QMJHL player also prevented him from becoming a reliable offensive contributor for Bakersfield last year. His skating and pace of play still needs to improve. He needs to use his size more away from the puck to win jousts and to get himself clean looks. Overall, his physical intensity level just needs to be higher. However, as stated, Lavoie does have top six potential as a complementary goal scorer. Patience will be key for Edmonton as they wait for him to improve and become a more consistent player. He will return to Bakersfield this coming season and should be given an opportunity to be a top six player with significant powerplay time. The key for Lavoie will be to outplay some of the standout forward prospects turning pro this year, as competition for ice time will be fierce. - BO

6 - Dmitri Samorukov D

The Oilers have definitely had to be patient with Samorukov. Drafted as a bit of a project out of the OHL, he has slowly emerged as one of the team’s top defensive prospects. First, it was in the OHL where he improved to the point of being one of the league’s best defenders, helping the Guelph Storm capture an OHL Championship in 2019. However, after an up and down first pro year, Samorukov returned to Russia to play in the KHL during the pandemic. Last season, he returned to Bakersfield to become one of the team’s top defenders. As a pro, his offensive production has not been terrific, as his offensive skills have not translated quite as well as some may have anticipated. However, he has stabilized his defensive approach to become very reliable in the defensive end. He plays with physicality. He is aggressive in taking away space. He can initiate the breakout and skate the puck out of trouble. Let us not forget that it took some time for Samorukov to become an offensive standout in the OHL too. This coming season he might have the inside track at a third pairing role with the main club in Edmonton. At the very least, he should be one of the team’s top injury call ups. He is close, very close, to realizing his potential as a second or third pairing defender for the Oilers. - BO

7 - Reid Schaefer LW

A late bloomer of sorts, Schaefer was six days too young for the 2021 draft which worked out to his advantage as he likely would have gone undrafted. Instead, a third season in junior with the Silvertips saw Schaefer break out with 32 goals to go with 88 penalty minutes, establishing himself as a budding power forward, before being selected by his hometown Oilers with the final pick of the first round in 2022. Schaefer skates well for a big man although it will never be a strength of his. His bread and butter is his physical play, as he protects the puck well and won’t be beaten along the boards and on the cycle. His shot release is also a weapon and will result in a lot of goals at every level simply by going to the right places and letting the puck find him long enough to get the shot off. Schaefer doesn’t carry the puck well and frankly isn’t an asset to his team with it on his stick, unless it’s to shoot. He does display decent awareness and hockey sense, which has led to some penalty-kill usage, and can make routine plays to teammates off the cycle but struggles in zone exits and in transition. It will be interesting to see what the future looks like for players like Schaefer in the NHL, which seems to be trending towards more transitional play and prioritizing speed. He is a long-term project and will need time to work on his skating, puck skills, and executing at a high tempo. Expect at least another year of junior in 2022-23, with the possibility of staying in the WHL for his overage year followed by some AHL seasoning. - AS

8 - Matvei Petrov LW

Heading into the 2021 NHL Draft, Petrov was highly hyped as one of the better Russian prospects available, but a poor showing in the MHL caused him to fall to the 6th round, where Edmonton selected him. A year later and that looks like an excellent selection as he exploded as a first-year player with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL. He exceeded all expectations to become one of the league’s best goal scorers as a 19-year-old. Petrov is a gifted scorer. Not only can he rip one-timers working the area near the wall on the powerplay, but he also owns a powerful and deceptive wrist shot that he uses when pressured. Even more surprising (based on his MHL play previously), Petrov showed well as a playmaker too, with especially good vision coming off the wall and when carrying in transition. Offensively, he has proven to be a player with few weaknesses. Away from the puck, is another story. Heading back to the OHL again this coming season, the Oilers will be looking for Petrov to improve his commitment to playing a 200-foot game, in addition to being more consistently involved and engaged physically. With another good CHL season, he could really vault himself up prospect rankings. He looks like a potential future contributor in a top six role for the Oilers. - BO

9 - Stuart Skinner G

In 2018, Stuart Skinner backstopped the Swift Current Broncos to a WHL Championship, emerging as a quality goaltending prospect. Since then…it has been quite a ride. A year in the ECHL, a few in the AHL. Skinner initially struggled at the pro level and there was some concern that he was not improving. However, he took a step forward in 2021 and then another last season. With his strong play in Bakersfield, he earned a look with Edmonton where he was largely terrific. There is a reason why it is stated that goaltenders take longer to develop. Now on the cusp of his 24th birthday, Skinner is poised to be the full time back up in Edmonton (behind the newly signed Jack Campbell). For the 6’4 netminder, his professional odds have always been staked to his ability to improve his athleticism and quickness. Over his pro career, Skinner has done that. He will never be confused with Dominik Hasek, but Skinner has worked hard to become quicker post to post to help him take greater advantage of his size and to help him track the play better. He squares to shooters well, controls rebounds, and makes the saves that he needs to make to keep his team in games. It is unknown whether Skinner has the potential to be a true number one netminder in the NHL, however, more will be known based on his performance this year. - BO

10 - Ty Tullio RW

Last season didn’t quite go according to plan for the Oshawa Generals, especially in the second half where they struggled mightily. However, one constant was the play of Ty Tullio. His final year in the OHL was a very positive one. It is hard not to notice Tullio on the ice. He involves himself in all aspects of the play, constantly working to get himself open, to earn touches, or to reacquire the puck for Oshawa. He’s not huge, but his compete level is very high. His best assets might be his release and his hands in tight, something that could make him a solid complementary goal scorer at the next level. As he turns pro this season with Bakersfield, the focus will be on Tullio to continue to get quicker and for him to build up strength. To play his game effectively at the pro level, he will need to be one of the stronger guys on the ice. Look for Edmonton to ease him into responsibility at the pro level. He probably starts in an energy role in the bottom six next year before moving up the lineup in his second/third pro seasons. If all goes according to plan, he could be a solid middle six option in the future and a possible fan favorite in Edmonton. - BO

11 - Tyler Benson

This is a make-or-break season for Benson in the Oilers organization. The former WHL star and playmaking winger has proven to be a standout at the AHL level but has yet to transfer that ability to the NHL level.

12 - Ryan Fanti

The Oilers signed Fanti as a free agent after a standout season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 6’3 netminder may end up in the ECHL this year thanks to the Oilers' pro depth in net.

13 - Markus Niemelainen

Niemelainen has always been an intriguing prospect because of his massive frame (6’6) and strong skating ability on the back end. It has taken some time for him to find a true role, but he seems to have settled into being a defensive first player and could be a depth piece for Edmonton this year.

14 - Olivier Rodrigue

The former QMJHL standout has struggled in his first two pro seasons. Rodrigue is an extremely athletic netminder, but he has struggled with his consistency and play tracking at the AHL level. He is likely playing for a QO this season.

15 - Maxim Beryozkin

Beryozkin has among the highest offensive upsides of any forward in the Oilers’ system currently. He will need to prove that he can score above the KHL level.

16 - Luca Munzenberger

The big and physical German defender is entering his sophomore season at the University of Vermont. His upside is limited, but he could develop into a third pairing stay at home type down the line.

17 - Joel Maatta

A teammate of Munzenberger’s at Vermont, Maatta is a pure defensive center who projects as a lockdown 4th liner and penalty killer. Edmonton will want to see more offense from him at the NCAA level.

18 - Michael Kesselring

The mobile defender with size is similar to Markus Niemelainen in that he skates well for a larger blueliner, but his future NHL projection is fairly murky. A few more years at the AHL level should give Edmonton an indication of a potential future role.

19 - Phil Kemp

Yet another defense first defender, Kemp is a little less athletic than the guys ranked ahead of him but is a little more composed. He played well for Bakersfield last season.

20 - James Hamblin

A nice surprise at the AHL level last season, Hamblin finished second in goals for the Condors. The former free agent signing out of the WHL is not the biggest or the quickest, but he has progressed well.