Oilers sign Owen Michaels to entry-level contract

A youngster with a championship pedigree has earned himself an NHL contract.

On Thursday, the Edmonton Oilers announced that the team has signed forward Owen Michaels to a one-year, entry-level contract. The deal is for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

The signing comes just a few days after Michaels and the Western Michigan Broncos were eliminated in the regional finals of the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament by the Denver Pioneers. It ended the Broncos’ bid at becoming back-to-back national champions.

Michaels, an undrafted forward, has developed into one of the more underrated two-way players in college hockey in his three years at Western Michigan. After scoring just seven points in 38 games during his freshman season, the Northville, Mich. native scored 18 goals and 36 points in 42 games during the 2024-25 season, finishing third on the team behind Alex Bump (Philadelphia Flyers) and Tim Washe (Anaheim Ducks), playing a key part in the Broncos winning the NCHC Regular Season and Tournament championships.

Michaels became a hero during the NCAA Tournament. After the Broncos made it to the Frozen Four for the first time, he scored twice in the semifinal against Denver, including the winner in overtime, before adding a pair in the national title game against Boston University, helping WMU capture its first national championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in the process.

This season, the 23-year-old captain’s production to step back while players like Grant Slukynsky and Liam Valente led the charge. Michaels posted 13 goals and 26 points in 39 games.

In 119 games with the Broncos, Michaels scored 33 goals and 36 assists for 69 points.

Prior to his college career, Michaels spent his junior days with the Lincoln Stars and Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League, while spending two years with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League.