2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Edmonton Oilers’ Top 10

Jul 21, 2026, 10:30 EDT

2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Edmonton Oilers’ Top 10

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Edmonton Oilers.

I have to give it to Oilers Nation: despite consistently having one of the worst pipelines in hockey, you’re dedicated to learning about the future.

Edmonton has made seven first-round selections over the past 10 years. In that span, only Evan Bouchard still remains. Some players fizzled out, like Kailer Yamamoto in 2017 or Xavier Bourgault in 2021. Others, such as Sam O’Reilly, have been used as trade bait. More depressingly, though, the Oilers lost Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets in the same summer.

So, honestly, success on draft day has been hard to come by for the Oilers recently. And that’s not going to change any time soon, with the club boasting one of the worst pipelines in the game today and unlikely to yield high-impact players from their current harvest.

Before you ask, Josh Samanski, Maxim Berezkin and Quinn Hutson are too old. I also left Devon Levi due to him having 39 NHL games to his credit. I included him in my Buffalo ranking a year ago, but elected to leave him off this year as I’ve tightened my stance on the number of games required. I’d put him No. 2 on this list, otherwise.

Biggest Strengths

I’ll highlight two: goaltending and bottom-six centers. Goaltending has plagued the Oilers for way too long, and they made a big move to address that by bringing in Freddy Andersen and Devon Levi this summer. Levi, in particular, gives the team a young gun coming off a pair of strong AHL campaigns. The crease will be a bit crowded, with Tristan Jarry also with the big club, but now is the time for Levi to prove himself. Down in the AHL, both Samuel Jonsson and Connor Ungar are interesting long-term options who should make Bakersfield a must-watch club this year. On the center front, Tommy Lafrenière had a massive campaign in the WHL, while Rūdolfs Bērzkalns made a good impression as one of the toughest players to go up against in the USHL this past year. Add in William Nicholl, and you’ve got a couple of legit bottom-six center options at their disposal. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl occupying the top two spots, this is an area worth keeping an eye on in the long term.

Biggest Weakness

If Ike Howard doesn’t pan out, the Oilers don’t have another forward with top-six potential. It’s obviously much easier to find depth players, but this group lacks players capable of scoring at a high rate. If Howard can figure it out at the next level, great! If not, it’s going to be difficult finding the offensive weapons the team truly needs beyond the two big superstars.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: Stan Bowman
Dir. Amateur Scouting: Rick Pracey
Director of Player Development: Andreas Karlsson
AHL Affiliate: Bakersfield Condors
ECHL Affiliate: Fort Wayne Komets
Recent Graduates: Matt Savoie, RW, Colton Dach, C

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Ike Howard, LW, 22 (Edmonton Oilers)

Acquired: Traded by Tampa Bay Lightning in 2025

I was 100 percent “Team AHL” to start the year for Howard. I wanted to see him get his feet under him before throwing him to the wolves. I think his NHL production speaks for itself, while his AHL performance showed he was capable of ripping goalies apart. That experience should pay off, and I think Howard should be able to play in Edmonton’s top six this year. I just wish he spent the full year in Bakersfield last season instead. The 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner loves to shoot the puck and can score from just about anywhere in the offensive zone. I think there’s legit potential for him to be a 30-goal scorer in the NHL. Howard has to establish himself as a full-time NHLer first, though.

2. Samuel Jonsson, G, 22 (Bakersfield Condors, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 158th overall, fifth round in 2022

Jonsson made his way to North America last year and posted excellent numbers with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Comets. He was one of the league’s top goaltenders, which wasn’t surprising given he was the Allsvenskan’s top keeper the year prior. Next up? Trying to go a full season with the Condors. The team already has Ungar and Matt Tomkins in the system, though, so it’ll be a bit crowded. Still, Jonsson is very quick for his size and doesn’t give up many poor rebounds. He also has a quick glove hand, allowing few poor goals on that side. I could see Jonsson having a potential future as a backup, but I’m really happy with his progress over the past two seasons.

3. Connor Ungar, G, 24 (Bakersfield Condors, AHL)

Acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent in 2024

*Connor Ungar (Bakersfield Condors/Flickr)*

Ungar was one of the Oilers’ biggest surprises this past year. He played for four teams but had outstanding numbers across the board (highlighted by a 9-2-2 run with a .923 save percentage in the AHL). It’s unusual to see a player bounce around as much as he did (he played for three teams in the ECHL alone), but the fact he could jump behind any defensive system and look good is extremely promising. Ungar is a 6-foot-2 goaltender who is the true definition of a late bloomer – he’s hoping to join Logan Thompson as the next USports alum to crack the NHL on a regular basis. Ungar still has to get a full year in the AHL under his belt first, but I have to imagine he’ll be the first guy called up to the Oilers if injuries arise.

4. Tommy Lafrenière, C, 19 (Western Michigan University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 83rd overall, third round in 2025

I wrote last year that Lafrenière felt like a breakout candidate. After exploding for 41 goals and 77 points in 67 games with Kamloops, and adding another two points in five AHL games, he lived up to the billing. The skilled center didn’t waver from his typical two-way game, but looked significantly more confident as a shooter than we’ve ever seen from him. Lafrenière has always been good with the puck, but his overall control and hockey sense took big steps forward. Lafrenière has what it takes to be an impact middle-six NHLer at his current rate, especially if he’s productive as a freshman with Western Michigan this season.

5. Rūdolfs Bērzkalns, C, 18 (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)

Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2026

Bērzkalns helped get Muskegon to the USHL playoffs, taking on an even more important role once Tynan Lawrence left for college. The Boston College commit is a big 6-foot-4 center who played solid two-way hockey at the World Juniors. He isn’t flashy and likely won’t be a big-time producer in the NHL, but he plays with a ton of muscle and took over shifts in ways very few bigger forwards could this year in the USHL. I like him as a fourth-line forward – I think he understands the defensive game well enough to be a solid player. He just… scares opponents in a way very few guys can at this age. I love him.

6. David Lewandowski, LW, 19 (Saskatoon Blades, WHL)

Acquired: Drafted 117th overall, fourth round in 2025

*David Lewandowski (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Lewandowski already looks like one of the better fourth-round picks from 2025. The German winger is an outstanding playmaker, putting up 48 assists and 65 points in 57 games with the Blades. He also put up four points at the World Juniors and nabbed an assist in his AHL debut in late April. Lewandowski is good around the net, using his muscle to outwork players and get into scoring lanes. He’s also smart enough to take advantage of open lanes before getting the disk into high-danger areas. I’m not 100 percent sure what type of role he’ll have in the NHL, but with his strong playmaking acumen, I think the Oilers will find a spot for him in three to four years.

7. Damien Carfagna, LHD, 23 (Bakersfield Condors, AHL)

Acquired: Undrafted free agent signing in 2025

Carfagna was one of the more intriguing college UFAs last year. He started his NCAA career at the University of New Hampshire before emerging as a legitimate NHL prospect in 2024-25 at Ohio State University. Carfagna had 22 points as a rookie AHLer, which is nothing to sneeze at. The puck-moving defender was known more for his defensive play when he skated in the USHL, but he started to use his speed to his advantage more often the past two years. He’s a six-foot defender who lacks ideal size, but he plays with a ton of confidence and his decision-making is decent, too. I don’t think he’s more than a No. 7 defenseman in the NHL, but he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

8. Paul Fischer, LHD, 21 (University of Notre Dame, NCAA)

Acquired: Traded by St. Louis Blues in 2024

Fischer was never known for his offensive exploits in junior, but he has been quite consistent with Notre Dame the past three years. He set a new personal best with six goals and 23 points in 33 games in 2025-26. Still, the real driving force behind Fischer’s game is his defensive play. He doesn’t get lulled into pinching or overcommitting and doesn’t make a ton of mistakes with the puck. I think Fischer is far from a guarantee to make the NHL, but he’s safe enough that coaches won’t have to worry about him being too accident-prone.

9. Asher Barnett, LHD, 19 (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 131st overall, fifth round in 2025

*Asher Barnett (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Barnett was a surprise addition to USA’s World Juniors team in 2026, but they clearly like him, having made him captain of the U-18 team the year prior. Barnett is decent with the puck, but he’s more known for being quite physical despite not being that huge. I prefer his own-zone game to the O-zone, and I feel like he’s quite strong off the puck for someone his age. Most defenders look to make smart, sharp moves with the puck, but Barnett prefers to keep things simple. Will he max out as an NHL call-up? That’s probably all he’ll be, and that’s fine.

10. William Nicholl, C, 19 (London Knights, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 196th overall, seventh round in 2024

Nicholl has been a nice story to follow. He nearly went undrafted in 2024 after a 20-point season, but he exploded for 57 in his Draft+1 campaign. Injuries limited him to 32 games this year, but you still saw the signs of a potential bottom-six NHLer. Nicholl is an excellent skater who brings speed and energy to every shift. I think his ability to handle the puck on the rush – and at speed – has improved, making him more dangerous in the process. Given that he was one of the last picks in the draft, there’s a lot to like, and I think he’ll push his way up the Oilers’ depth chart as time progresses.

Other Prospects: Connor Clattenburg, LW (21), Dalyn Wakely, C (22), Viljami Marjala, LW (23), Brady Stonehouse, RW (21), James Stefan, RW (22), Roby Jarventie, RW (23), Malcom Gastrin, LW (17), Caden Harvey, C (18), Aidan Park, C (20), Matt Copponi, C (23), Bauer Berry, LHD (20), Zack Sharp, LHD (21), Andrew Robinson, LHD (18), Tomas Cibulka, LHD (22), Beau Akey, RHD (21), Nathaniel Day, G (21), Eemil Vinni, G (20), Daniel Salonen, G (20), Ryan Cameron, G (18)

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