The Edmonton Oilers have seen some success in graduating players from their Bakersfield Condors farm team to the NHL, but most have been top picks spending a year or two in the minors before moving up. Since 2015-16, only one prospect drafted outside the first round has made a significant impact: Ryan McLeod, a 2018 second-round pick who became a third-line center in Edmonton and later a second-line center in Buffalo.
Ethan Bear and Michael Kesselring have spent time in a top-four defensive role but failed to stick. This lack of surprise contributors is a major indictment of the Oilers' drafting and development over the past decade. However, new general manager Stan Bowman and his revamped player development staff are aiming to change that.
New approach to player development
Bowman's team has shifted strategy, focusing on signing the best young professional free agents aged 22 to 26 from U.S. college hockey and European leagues. This approach has already paid off with Josh Samanski, who joined the Oilers late last season from Germany and performed well as a fourth- and third-line center. If he can secure a third-line role next season, it would be a valuable surprise.
Ike Howard, a late first-round pick, could also make the top nine. While less surprising, it would still be an accomplishment given that several high-drafted wingers—Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Xavier Bourgault, and Raphael Lavoie—failed to stick in Edmonton.
Promising prospects on the horizon
Defensemen Atro Leppanen and Damien Carfagna, both agile puck-movers, have a chance to earn a roster spot, as do forwards Quinn Hutson, Viljami Marjala, and rugged winger Connor Clattenburg. The Oilers also signed center Owen Michaels, described by Corey Pronman of The Athletic as a good-sized center who skates well and works hard at both ends, with enough skill to contribute offensively.
Other additions include forward Aku Raty and defenseman Tomas Cibulka from European pro leagues, along with goalie prospects Samuel Jonsson and Connor Ungar.
Outlook for 2025-26
While there are no sure things, Bowman's new strategy may produce two or three top-nine forwards or top-four defensemen for the upcoming season. This would be a stark improvement over the previous regimes of Peter Chiarelli and Ken Holland, who rarely found such hidden gems.
