How 36 Edmonton Oilers prospects are trending ahead of the season: Stock watch

After years of bleeding young prospects, the Edmonton Oilers added significantly during the summer of 2024.

In acquiring Matt Savoie, and trading into the first round of the draft for Sam O’Reilly, the organization reset the talent level that will push for NHL work in the years to come.

The restocking is just getting started, though, with the lack of draft picks an issue now and possibly for the rest of this decade.

However, the additions of Savoie and O’Reilly signal the Oilers have a plan, and qualified personnel on the ground to execute that plan.

That’s breaking news in the world of Oilers prospects.

Comings and goings

In 2022-23, the Oilers deployed three quality NHL rookies in Stuart Skinner, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.

A year on, just one rookie qualified (James Hamblin, 34 games), along with quick trips for a look from Raphael Lavoie (seven games) and Phil Kemp (one game).

This season, the Oilers should have far more than the 42 games played by rookies in 2023-24, as injuries and opportunities appear to be more prevalent.

• Graduations: Hamblin
• Added and retained (12): Matt Savoie, Paul Fischer, Sam O’Reilly, Eemil Vinni, Connor Clattenburg, Albin Sundin, Dalyn Wakely, William Nicholl, Bauer Berry, Roby Jarventie, Brady Stonehouse, James Stefan
• Exits (6): Xavier Bourgault, Jake Chiasson, Ryan Fanti, Carter Savoie, Tyler Tullio, Jeremias Lindewall
• Returning from retirement (1): Noah Philp

A baker’s dozen have been added, with six slipping away. A more substantial prospect pool will hit the ice this winter. The new additions are more aggressive, have a rugged edge and at the top end possess enough skill to be projected on to an NHL skill line if they continue to develop.

This remains a weak system compared to all of the other NHL teams but there is a pulse this fall. That’s encouraging.

The last close look at the Oilers system came in the middle of the summer with the top 20 prospects. The rankings mentioned below come from that article. Here’s the list.

RD Beau Akey, Barrie Colts (OHL): The stock is down, perhaps temporarily, due to injury issues. He was brilliant at the 2023 Young Stars tournament, delivering a strong game as a first blush introduction. Back in junior, he was hurt after just 14 games (4-5-9) but showed his impressive combination of speed, passing and transportation ability. A strong training camp in 2024 was expected, but the shoulder injury of last fall was enough of an issue for him to skip this year’s Young Stars competition. Encouraging news from main camp (he’s skating with the group in non-contact drills) offers some hope. I ranked him as the top prospect this summer but the acquisition of Matt Savoie moved him down the list.

LW Maxim Berezkin, Lokomotiv (KHL): If the Oilers don’t bring Berezkin over to North America, another NHL team should do it. The numbers suggest he is either an NHL player or close. I ranked him No. 3 this summer after he soared during the KHL players (5-11-16 in 20 games) and emerged as a strong outscorer at even strength. The 2024-25 KHL campaign is already underway, and Berezkin has increased his scoring rates (1-3-4 in six games) his time on ice (over 16 minutes per game) and his shot volume (averaging more than three shots per game in the early going). He turns 23 next month and his stock is up. The Oilers need to sign him when he hits free agency in May 2025. His personal stock is up, but the Oilers’ vexing inability to successfully transition talent from Russia to the NHL is a worrying factor.

LC Carl Berglund, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Berglund is 24 and played most of his 2023-24 season in the ECHL for the Fort Wayne Komets. When he was part of the AHL Condors, Berglund played a strong two-way game and impressed from the depth lines. He was injured during the recent Young Stars game in Penticton and may not get a chance to impress the coaching staff at main camp. His stock is down, he is a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025 and is facing a career crossroads at that time.

LD Bauer Berry, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL): A big, strong teenage defenceman with some interesting tools. He led his USHL team in penalty minutes in 2023-24. If he makes an impact in pro hockey, Berry will do it as a rugged defenceman who makes opponents pay a heavy price. There is a hint of offensive ability in his numbers (1-13-14 in 59 games) considering he was playing a depth role. He is 6-foot-4 and his dad (Brad Berry) had an NHL career. Berry is a reasonable bet, his stock is up (he got drafted), but his journey is just getting underway.

LW Connor Clattenburg, Flint Firebirds (OHL): Clattenburg’s junior numbers suggest shy offence and a lot of physicality. That does not imply an NHL future. His showing at the Young Stars Tournament was an eye-opener. He hit everything in sight but he also made plays and showed good foot speed. Fans shouldn’t expect huge offence from this player, but the Penticton tournament (the ultimate small sample) offered some insight into what may have impressed Oilers scouts. His stock is up, surprisingly.

RC Matt Copponi, Merrimack University (transferring to Boston University): The Oilers’ U.S. scouting success has been hit and miss over the years, but the club found a player in Copponi. Taken in the seventh round of the 2023 draft after going 14-15-29 in 37 games for Merrimack College, Copponi is a substantial offensive centre. He is small (5-foot-11) but has a sixth sense around the net and the puck finds him often. His transfer to Boston University should benefit his progress, and the Oilers would be wise to sign him next spring. Copponi’s stock is up, the organization appears to have found a high-end skill player deep in the 2023 draft.

G Nathaniel Day, Flint Firebirds (OHL): Day emerged as the starter for Flint in 2023-24, and his save percentage (.868) finished well clear of his backup (.853). He also played well for the Oilers at the recent Young Stars Tournament in Penticton. Another big goalie (6-foot-3), he has played well (in one game, .909 save percentage) in the OHL preseason. Day’s stock is down, the save percentage does not suggest a long pro career and a pro contract next spring is far from certain. The Oilers have a stockpile of pro and amateur stoppers at this time.

LC Maxim Denezhkin, Yekaterinburg Automobilist (KHL): Undersized two-way centre who was drafted in 2018 and turns 24 in December. Denezhkin finally played more than five games in the KHL last season (1-3-4 in 16 games) and is off to a fine start (two assists in five games) this season. He’s averaging 13:26 per game in Russia’s highest league, the most of his career. As an NHL prospect, his stock is down due to age and lack of offence.

LD Cam Dineen, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Dineen played a valuable role as a mentor to quality shutdown rookie Max Wanner for much of last season. His even-strength goal share (50 percent) was the lowest among regulars, and his offensive output (5-20-25 in 58 games) reflected less power-play time. Dineen is 26 now, aging out as a prospect, but he has good speed and could have an NHL career (currently at 34 games). His stock is down due to competition at left defence in the organization.

LD Paul Fischer, Notre Dame (Big 10): Fischer has fine speed and can close gaps plus easily win races for pucks. He is not a top-flight puck mover based on scouting reports, but his numbers are good (2-14-16 in 34 games) based on his age (18 a year ago) and role. Oilers fans may remember John Marino delivering meagre offence at Harvard and then blossoming as an offensive defender. Fischer is new to the organization and a bit of an unknown to fans, but his stock is up based on scouting reports and performance.

LD Ben Gleason, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Gleason impressed during Oilers training camp last fall and did get an early season recall but did not play in a regular season game. He delivered 10-22-32 in Bakersfield in 62 games, with 9-20-29 boxcars at even strength. He’s at the leading edge of the left defence in Bakersfield, playing big minutes at even strength and earning a 54 percent goal share in the discipline. Gleason is 26, and there is urgency to establish himself as an NHL option. The Oilers’ NHL depth chart is pristine at his position, giving Gleason’s stock a down arrow this fall.

RC Jayden Grubbe, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Among forwards in the AHL last season, Grubbe made more progress than any Oilers prospect in Bakersfield. He scored eight goals from the depth lines and had a 51 percent goal share at even strength. His playing style (physical, aggressive) and size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) fit the model Edmonton is currently pushing as ideal. Grubbe’s stock is up entering training camp.

LW-C James Hamblin, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): If Hamblin was blessed with a little more offensive ability, he would be an NHL regular. As it is, the young centre/winger played in 31 NHL games last season (just two goals) and is ideally situated for a recall in 2024-25. He excels in the middle when playing AHL games (4-4-8 in 13 games) and could find his way to the No. 4 job in the NHL if others stumble. His only sins are size (5-foot-10) and offensive ability, but in all other areas, Hamblin is an NHL player. His stock is down due to the added competition for jobs at his positions and his limitations.

LD Noel Hoefenmayer, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Hoefenmayer delivered a solid year in relative obscurity for the Condors last season. The owner of a monster shot from the point and some passing ability, Hoefenmayer had a 54 percent goal share at even strength. That total ranked him No. 4 among the seven Bakersfield defenders who played regularly one year ago. Hoefenmayer’s stock is down; his skill set lacks a standout feature and the competition is strong at left defence.

LW Roby Jarventie, Ottawa Senators (NHL): Acquired over the summer for prospect Xavier Bourgault, Jarventie, 22, is a perfect fit for the new Oilers procurement model. He’s a power forward with grit and determination married to speed and skill. The only reason he was available is injury history and that will be the worry for Edmonton’s management. He will miss training camp healing but should play this season. He’s a true wild card for the Oilers, with possible outcomes that include landing an NHL job later this fall or spending all winter in Bakersfield. Stock is down due to injury.

G Samuel Jonsson, BIK Karlskoga (Allsvenskan): Giant goalie (6-foot-5) hasn’t moved the needle much since he was drafted in 2022 (fifth round, No. 158). He does have a great reputation from published evaluators like Corey Pronman at The Athletic. He ranks Jonsson as a prospect with a chance to play in spite of pedestrian numbers (.884 save percentage in three games) one year ago. One of the worries for European talent is getting into game action, and a year ago that seemed to be the issue for Jonsson. He might have been better off playing more in a league less competitive than the Allsvenskan. His stock is down, but the scouts like his future.

RD Phil Kemp, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Kemp is a shutdown type who has worked hard to improve his skating and offensive contributions since arriving in pro hockey. He was on the ice for 58 percent of Bakersfield’s even strength goals a year ago and played big minutes there and on the penalty kill. Kemp played one NHL game a year ago but was used sparingly and as a forward. There’s far more to this player, and he should get a chance to show what he can do at training camp. The Oilers have stacked the right side of the defence with trades and free-agent signings but would do well to have a long look at Kemp as well. His stock is up on merit.

LW Shane Lachance, Boston University (Hockey East): Lachance produced one of the more impressive freshman seasons for an Oilers prospect in 2023-24. He quickly emerged as a regular for Boston University and scored 13-14-27 in 40 games. He has a power forward’s size (6-foot-5, 218 pounds) and plays with an edge, with speed the only concern. He is regarded as an intelligent player who uses his size, strength and skill well. If he takes another step offensively this year, the Oilers need to sign him and turn him pro. His stock is up.

RW Raphael Lavoie, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Lavoie’s 28 AHL goals last season represent a career best and got him a spot in the top-10 goal scorers in a fine league. His ability to impact the play, use his body effectively and fire the puck were all on display often. However, the reality of Lavoie’s Oilers career is about to reveal itself once again. He arrived in the organization at a time when the team had more talented skill wingers, and he is not ideally suited to a checking role. Lavoie’s stock is flat, but if he can prove to the coaching staff a third- or fourth-line role is merited, his stock will move north.

LC Joel Määttä, University of Vermont (Hockey East): Määttä is a defensive centre who is a coach’s dream in terms of suppression. Strong in the faceoff circle, an expert penalty killer, the questions for pro evaluators involve his offensive ability. He scored just four goals last season as a junior. Players who make the NHL from the NCAA as fourth-line centres with defensive acumen have far stronger scoring records. Chris VandeVelde is an example from 20 years ago. Määttä’s stock is down.

LC Tomas Mazura, St. Lawrence University (ECAC): Mazura is a big power forward whose resume suggests skill, but the Oilers didn’t see the results until last season. Mazura scored 6-14-20 in 34 games in his second season with St. Lawrence, scoring the winner against Quinnipiac to send the Saints to the ECAC championship game. His stock is down to age and the gap between his current level and an NHL job. At 23, the big man (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) is burning daylight.

LD Luca Munzenberger, Vermont (Hockey East): Munzenberger is a fine skater with good size (6-foot-2) making progress in Hockey East. His plus-minus has improved in his three Vermont winters, from minus-17 to minus-9 to plus-2. Munzenberger isn’t going to provide much offence, but he has a gritty style and finished with 51 PIMs in 32 college games. He is about to play his senior year, and the Oilers may make a decision at that time. The change in Oilers management may benefit him, as the team is searching for physical players. Munzenberger’s stock is up due to the encouraging outscoring numbers last season.

LW William Nicholl, London Knights (OHL): Nicholl has Oilers fans buzzing about his future after an electric showing at the recent Young Stars Tournament in Penticton. His speed attracted attention initially, but his smart play and that he spent so much time around the puck stood out as positives. He didn’t play much during his draft season on a deep Knights team but did spike (1-7-8 in 18 games) from a depth roster role in the playoffs. A definite draft and follow, Nicholl’s stock is up.

RC Sam O’Reilly, London Knights (OHL): Edmonton’s No. 2 prospect showed well at the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton and did it across 200 feet. If he doesn’t develop as an offensive player, there’s still a way for him to get to the NHL. O’Reilly’s two-way ability, physical presence and puck pursuit all make him an attractive third-line option. The question is offence, and the answer will play out in junior hockey over the next two seasons. His stock is up, as O’Reilly got drafted by an organization that badly needs him to develop as an NHL talent sooner rather than later.

RW Matvey Petrov, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Petrov was part of a frustrating group of prospect wingers one year ago in Bakersfield. Coach Colin Chaulk had so many it was impossible to get all of them going, and so a year was basically wasted on players like Petrov. He should have clear sailing this season with the Condors on a skill line (he can play either wing). Petrov’s limited minutes meant shy numbers, but he did score seven goals at even strength. Petrov’s stock is flat.

RC Noah Philp, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): The most unusual story in the Oilers minor leagues at this time is Philp. He was right at the edge of a dream fulfilled in the spring of 2023 after an impressive rookie season with the Condors. Philp did not return for his second season, choosing instead to retire from the game. A welcome change of heart has him back in training camp and looking for NHL work. It may take some time in Bakersfield to shake off the rust, but there’s a job (right-handed No. 4 centre for a player with size, skill and grit) waiting the moment he’s considered ready. His stock is up.

G Olivier Rodrigue, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): The Oilers haven’t said much about Rodrigue this offseason, but there’s an interesting story here. He has finished top 10 in AHL save percentage two seasons in a row and is now eligible for waivers. The organization is set in goal at the NHL level for 2024-25, with Skinner and Calvin Pickard considered locks for the big club. Talk surrounding Rodrigue has him going to the AHL to prove himself, but there’s a chance another NHL team believes he has already arrived. Stock is up, way up if a team places a waiver claim.

C-RW Matt Savoie, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL): Savoie spent time in the AHL and NHL as well as junior last season and is ticketed for Bakersfield after the end of main camp with the Oilers. Last season, he scored five points in six AHL games and dominated the WHL by scoring 40-55-95 in 53 games (including playoffs). He’s easily the most talented prospect in the system and may not be far from NHL-ready. His stock is soaring. Fans should expect to see him play for the Oilers at some point in 2024-25.

RW James Stefan, Portland Winterhawks (WHL): Stefan is a first-shot scorer and a volume shooter. In the WHL last season (age 20) he led the league with 454 shots and scored 50 goals. As a pure goal scorer, Stefan has been money for the last three junior seasons, scoring 106 goals in 199 games. The Oilers have some options in Bakersfield for the scoring lines, but Stefan’s pure scoring ability is going to find a place in pro hockey beginning in October. Arrows up for Stefan.

LW Brady Stonehouse, Ottawa 67’s: Since CEO Jeff Jackson arrived in Edmonton, the amateur procurement has a decidedly rugged feel. Stonehouse was invited to camp last season as an undrafted free agent and impressed. He even got into a preseason game (versus the Winnipeg Jets on Sept. 25, playing alongside Brad Malone and Lavoie) and was eventually signed to an entry-level deal. His offensive output fell off in 2023-24. He is a smaller player (5-foot-10) and injury will be a concern. His stock is down.

RD Albin Sundin, Frolunda HC (SHL): Everything about Sundin’s resume looks good. A two-way defender with size and skill, he was drafted this summer as an overager out of Sweden. The Oilers have had success over the last decade or so (Erik Gustafsson, Filip Berglund) with Swedish blueliners, and Sundin appears to have spiked last season (especially in the playoffs). His SHL time at a young age indicates he will at the very least play in one of the highest Euro leagues in his 20s. The questions about a North American future are a couple of years down the line. He’s a fairly complete player based on his resume. Sundin’s stock is up.

G Connor Ungar, Brock University (OUAA): Ungar is an outlier among Oilers goaltending prospects. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 205 pounds. What the 22-year-old has going for him is the ability to stop 92 percent of the pucks aimed in his direction. In 2022-23 in the WHL, his save percentage was .925, and last season playing Canadian college hockey he came in at .932. Ungar’s pro future has several possibilities, including ECHL starter and AHL backup. No matter where they send him, his stock is up.

G Eemil Vinni, JoKP (Mestis): A highly ranked goaltender entering last season, Vinni struggled early and then recovered nicely. He has size (6-foot-2) and great lateral movement. The Oilers liked him because of his quick reflexes and aggressive style. He’s a showman and reportedly owns a big personality. His ability to stop pucks (.892 in Mestis last year) is inconsistent. Edmonton has a talented young goalie prospect with great natural talent and some things to work on. His stock is flat (first pro seasons for goalies often have a lower floor than Vinni showed) entering this season.

RC Dalyn Wakely, North Bay Battalion (OHL): Wakely is 20 and gives the organization options. He can return to junior or turn pro and give the team a right-handed centre who can play for the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets or the AHL Bakersfield Condors. Wakely has plus skill (104 points with North Bay last year) and worked hard to improve his two-way play. That work ethic bodes well for his future. Stock is up slightly (he got himself drafted) and will increase if he gets a contract from the Oilers this fall.

RD Max Wanner, Bakersfield Condors (AHL): Wanner had a strong rookie season with the Condors. He plays a position that the Oilers need help in immediately. Even with that understanding, it’s a stretch to place him anywhere close to the opening-night NHL roster. A more reasonable guess would be a few NHL games later this season, and then more regular duty in 2025-26. If Wanner shows up as a regular in the NHL at any time this season, fans should consider that development a major accomplishment for the young defender. His stock is up more than any prospect defenceman in the system.

LD Nikita Yevseyev, Kazan Ak Bars (KHL): Yevseyev is an effective shutdown defender who arrived in the KHL as a teenager. The Oilers drafted him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft and he’s played in the top Russian league in every year since. The problem for Yevseyev is that he’s playing less each season.

NHL teams are at the mercy of European clubs when it comes to handling prospects. Yevseyev has played in the second Russian league (VHL) in these seasons, but the progression isn’t there and that’s a concern. As recently as last winter, Scott Wheeler at The Athletic had good things to say about Yevseyev and possible roles in North America. Yevseyev’s stock is down.

(Photo of Sam O’Reilly: Candice Ward / Getty Images)