The Edmonton Oilers selected American goaltender Ryan Cameron with their seventh-round pick, 212th overall, in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Cameron, 18, was the team's final selection among five total picks.
Outstanding Junior Season Earns National Recognition
Cameron's 2024-25 season with the Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) was exceptional. He posted a 29-8-1 record, a 1.35 goals-against average, and a .945 save percentage. His performance earned him USA Hockey's Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year Award, which honors the top American goaltender in junior hockey.
Lone Star Brahmas head coach Dan Wildfong praised Cameron's consistency and maturity. "You knew what you were getting every night with him. With some players, younger players, the inconsistency of their game — I coached pro for a long time, and he's like a pro goalie at a young age. Just knowing that he would make that big save and his character in the locker room, that's just phenomenal," Wildfong said.
Coach Compares Cameron to Carey Price
Wildfong further highlighted Cameron's unique qualities. "Ryan's obviously a special player. He's one of the most mature goalies that we've ever had here and he was the youngest player on the team. He's a really athletic, calm — he's kind of like a Carey Price kind of goalie. He's just so calm in everything he does, his movement. But on the inside, he's really a competitor, he wants to win and very confident in himself to win."
Scouting Analysis Highlights Strengths and Areas for Development
Neutral Zone scouting provided a detailed assessment of Cameron's game in 2025. "Cameron's footwork and edge control allow him to play a controlled butterfly style while still reacting with athleticism when plays break down. He tracks well through traffic and displays a calm, efficient up-down motion in scramble situations… He consistently arrives early to his spots and plays with good visual discipline."
However, the scouting report noted his size as a potential limitation. "At 6'1", Cameron is slightly undersized by modern NHL standards, where the average drafted goalie now measures closer to 6'3". He will need to prove that his reflexes and anticipation can continue to compensate for less net coverage, particularly on elevated shots and net-front chaos where his frame offers less margin for error… Cameron's lean frame leaves questions about long-term durability and how he'll handle the physical grind of professional hockey."
College Commitment Provides Development Path
Cameron is committed to Boston College for the 2027-28 season, giving the Oilers ample time to develop the young netminder. The Boston College website noted: "Scouting reports describe him as being technically strong in net and someone who excels at rebound control, which are traits that many of BC's best goalies have shared over the years. He is considered a bit undersized for his position, but hopefully he'll be able to make up for that and add his name to the list of successful Boston College goalies."
Oilers 2026 Draft Class Summary
The Oilers made five selections in the 2026 draft: Round 2, 58th overall: Rudolfs Berzkalns (C); Round 3, 84th overall: Malcom Gastrin (C); Round 5, 133rd overall: Andrew Robinson (D); Round 6, 180th overall: Caden Harvey (C); and Round 7, 212th overall: Ryan Cameron (G).
