Edmonton Oilers: Top 10 prospects entering 2018

The Edmonton Oilers are a team that’s had a weird couple years. After an excellent 2016-17, making the second round of the playoffs, the Oilers were a bottom feeder, even with the best player in the NHL in Connor McDavid. Here are the prospects who can bring some consistency.

The Edmonton Oilers have a decent prospect pipeline. As a younger team, most of their best prospects have already moved on to the NHL. But there are some very excellent ones still remaining in the Canadian juniors and the AHL, as well as overseas. That includes previous high draft picks and ones from the late rounds.

These prospects are ranked on three factors: ceiling, NHL readiness, and the likelihood that they play with the Edmonton Oilers. The ceiling is chief amongst these. To qualify for this list, a prospect must not have played 25 games in the NHL at any point, the same qualification for the Calder.

Let’s start with the goaltenders.

1. Stuart Skinner [19] (3-78, 2017)

Stats (Lethbridge Hurricanes/Swift Current Broncos, WHL) 56 gp, .905 SV%, 3.07 GAA, 6 SO (26 pgp, 2.20 GAA, .932 SV%, 6 SO) [3 Memorial Cup games, 4.02 GAA, .902 SV%]

Stuart Skinner is still a few years away from being NHL ready. At 19, he will just be able to start playing for the Bakersfield Condors, and even then, it’s a crowded goaltending room with him, Al Montoya (or Mikko Koskinen) and Shane Starrett. Still, as the best AHL-qualified goaltender in the pipeline, Skinner will get starts at the professional level. That’s going to be a good thing for his development.

He’s somebody the Edmonton Oilers should be getting excited about

He was excellent in the second half of the season but started his first half out rough. With the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Skinner had a save percentage of .897 and a goals against average of 3.38. That’s why his average for the year was so low. He recovered quite nicely with the Swift Current Broncos, getting a 2.68 GAA and .914 SV%. He even led the Broncos to the Western Hockey League championship, getting a .932 SV% in the playoffs. That was the best save percentage of any goaltender with more than 20 minutes played.

He even won first star of the game in one of the Memorial Cup games the Broncos lost, making 54 saves on 56 shots. In the regular season, Skinner was second in shutouts in the regular season and first in the playoffs, both with six scoreless outings. He’s somebody the Edmonton Oilers should be getting excited about, especially if Cam Talbot doesn’t return to his 2016-17 form.

2. Olivier Rodrigue [18] (2-62, 2018)

Stats (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL): 53 gp, 2.54 GAA, .903 SV%, 3 SO (10 pgp, 2.50 GAA, .891 SV%).

4th goals against average (>2 games), ninth save percentage (>2) T-4 shutouts; 4th playoff GAA (>5), 8th best save percentage (>5)

Olivier Rodrigue was taken very high, being a second-round selection by the Edmonton Oilers. He was one of the best goaltenders available in the entry draft and did quite well in the QMJHL this past season. He was fourth in goals-against average (more than two games played), ninth in save percentage (more than two) and tied for fourth in shutouts. He earned starting minutes with one of the best teams, even as an 18-year-old netminder.

He was one of the best goaltenders available in the entry draft and did quite well in the QMJHL this past season

In the playoffs, Rodrigue faded a bit, but still had the fourth best goals-against average and the eighth best save percentage (both amongst goaltenders with more than five games). He didn’t come up with any shutouts, but he wasn’t bad either. Perhaps that’s why he’s one of the highest picked goaltenders but wasn’t deemed a top 50 selection.

Still, the confidence the Oilers have in Rodrigue as a second round pick is high, and while he’s even further away from the NHL than Skinner and has a similar ceiling, if he takes steps forward, he’ll likely be a member of the Edmonton Oilers’ battery at some point.

9. Joel Persson, D [24] (UDFA)

Stats (Vaxjo Lakers HC, SHL): 51 gp, 6 g, 28 a, 34 p, 4 PPG, 1 GWG, .67 pts/g (13 pgp, 1 g, 4 a, 5 p, .39 pts/g).

Joel Persson was one of the best offensive defensemen in the SHL this past year, coming in tied for 15th across the league and second amongst defensemen in scoring. Persson was also second in assists, tied for second in goal scoring and points per game, and was tied for sixth in playoff scoring amongst SHL defensemen.

Joel Persson was one of the best offensive defensemen in the SHL this past year

For a country that continues to produce several of the best defensemen in the NHL, that’s an extremely impressive feat. Persson is also 24, just making the North American transition now. He’s excellent offensively, but can work on his skating and needs to improve in his own zone. He’s smaller (5’11”), but he’ll be fine in a smaller more skilled league.

Persson’s ceiling is likely as a bottom-pairing offensive presence who plays on the second-unit power play. Paired with a more defensive partner, Persson could be able to do some serious damage from a depth role. He’ll likely get paired with a more defensive partner in Bakersfield, likely one of the other defensemen on this list. If that pairing works well, that could catch the eye of the Edmonton Oilers.

8. Caleb Jones, D [21] (4-117, 2015)

Stats (Bakersfield Condors, AHL): 58 gp, 2 g, 15 a, 17 p, 5 PPA, 1 SHA, 73 SOG, .29 pts/g.

Jones is a better defensive presence than he is an offensive presence. With just two goals and 15 assists in 58 AHL games, it’s clear that Jones isn’t that terrific in the offensive zone. But with a shorthanded assist and the ability to play well in his own zone, Caleb Jones could make an effective transition to the NHL level as a defensive-minded defenseman. Besides Kris Russell, the Edmonton Oilers don’t have many of those. With a younger core and a better price point, Jones might fit the Oilers better in the long run.

Caleb Jones could make an effective transition to the NHL level as a defensive-minded defenseman.

Jones was able to play on both special teams units this past season, though that may have been a function of not having too many excellent defensemen in the AHL. Jones was a fourth-round pick three years ago, again because he didn’t have the offensive numbers to support a higher pick. Still, he’s been playing well enough to continue to climb up the ranks, and every team needs defensive defensemen, even in the modern NHL.

Jones likely has a bottom-six role in the NHL if he makes it. He’ll be in a position to support a more offensive presence (like Persson, or someone like him) and playing on the penalty kill. If he does much better than he did this season in the AHL next year, that might change, however.

7. Ryan McLeod, C [18] (2-40, 2018)

Stats (Mississauga Steelheads, OHL): 68 gp, 26 g, 44 a, 70 p, 6 PPG (21 A), 2 SHG, 2 GWG, 165 SOG, 54.3 FO%, 1.03 pts/g (6 pgp, 2 g, 3 a, 5 p, 2 PPA, 1 SHG, 17 SOG, 51.4 FO%, .83 pts/g).

Ryan McLeod was projected to be a first-round pick but fell out for a pretty obvious reason. 70 points in 68 games are not that great of a season in the Canadian juniors, and teams deemed other players more worthy of top-31 picks. Still, the Edmonton Oilers saw enough value in McLeod to have taken him in the top 50. He’s got speed and skill, but what holds McLeod back is his ceiling.

He’s likely going to be a third line center. That’s his ceiling, but it may also be his floor.

He’s likely going to be a third line center. That’s his ceiling, but it may also be his floor. He’s incredibly talented like most top 50 picks and should have the ability to transition effectively to the professional game. He’s an excellent playmaker, coming in tied for 25th in assists, even while being injured for a brief time. He was also tied for 29th in scoring. Most of his damage in terms of assists came on the man advantage, and he did well shorthanded as well.

The Edmonton Oilers are a team who doesn’t need McLeod to be anything but a third-line center. With Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl, the team has plenty of center depth. They also have the time to wait for McLeod to become the great player he could be. He’s a few years away from the NHL, and his ceiling isn’t that high, but if he becomes what he could, he should play for Edmonton.

6. Kirill Maksimov, RW [19] (5-146, 2017)

Stats (Niagara IceDogs, OHL): 62 gp, 34 g, 46 a, 80 p, 12 PPG (17 A), 2 SHG (2 A), 3 GWG, 227 SOG, 1.29 pts/g (10 pgp, 4 g, 6 a, 10 p, 2 PPG (4 A), 1 GWG, 33 SOG, 1.00 pts/g).

Maksimov was one of the finest playmakers in the OHL this past season, coming in tied for 16th in assists and points per game. He was 15th in scoring and tied for 20th in goals. Kirill Maksimov did all that after being a fifth-round pick and has clearly exceeded that. He’s got the size to be a solid NHL player, and now he’s showing the skill to be as well.

Maksimov was one of the finest playmakers in the OHL this past season

That’s not to say that he’s great all around. In the playoffs, he was tied for just 34th in points per game and 51st in scoring. He’s got excellent awareness, however, and he has a solid shot. Those are assets that the Edmonton Oilers could work with in the future, especially on the wing, where they’re currently lacking talent. Maksimov is also a solid net-front presence.

He’ll need more time and more than one season to truly prove that he’s better than a fifth-round pick. If he can continue to build on this season, instead of taking a step backward, in both the OHL again next season and then the AHL, the Oilers might be looking at one of their middle-six wingers of the future. Someone who can man the goaltender on the power play and contribute at even strength.

5. Tyler Benson, LW [20] (2-32, 2016)

Stats (Vancouver Giants, WHL): 58 gp, 27 g, 42 a, 69 p, 4 PPG (17 A), 1 SHG (2 A), 6 GWG, 232 SOG, 1.19 pts/g (7 pgp, 3 g, 8 a, 11 p, 1 PPG, 1 GWG, 23 SOG, 1.57 pts/g)

Stats (Bakersfield Condors, AHL): 5 gp, 0 g, 3 a, 3 p, 1 PPA, 10 SOG, .6 pts/g.

Tyler Benson did quite well in the WHL in his final season then had three points in five AHL games, which could indicate a successful professional transition. Benson was tied for 51st in scoring, 53rd in goals, 51st in assists, and was 34th in points per game. Not bad for missing about 15 games. In the playoffs, he was tied for ninth in points per game, again showing that he’s better than whatever other numbers come with it.

Benson is not big, but he is everything else. He’s got the ability to skate well, he can get to the high-danger areas, he’s able to make plays successfully, and he’s excellent on both special teams units. He can generate chances for himself (averaging four shots per game in the regular season and 3.29 shots per game in the postseason), and can find ways to get the puck in the net, but more often through scoring.

Benson will likely play in the AHL this next season, but if he continues to find plays to make, he could be in the NHL by the second half with injuries. The Edmonton Oilers really need more speedy wings and better depth, and Benson could represent that. His ceiling is a middle-six player, someone who could contribute, and he’s close to being that. He’s also likely to be an Oiler sometime in the near future, with his combination of skill and the fact that he’s an Edmonton native and could be a fan favorite.

4. Cooper Marody, C [21] (6-158, 2015)

Stats (University of Michigan, NCAA): 40 gp, 16 g, 35 a, 51 p

Stats (Bakersfield Condors, AHL): 3 gp, 1 g, 2 a, 3 p, 1 PPG (1 A), 7 SOG, 1 pt/g

Marody is the best center in the Edmonton Oilers pipeline and the most truly NHL-ready forward the team has. He dominated the NCAA, sixth in scoring, third in assists, ninth in points per game. He’s an able-bodied playmaker, one who could complement a better depth of wingers on the third line in the near future and can play in his own zone as well. He needs to work on his shot, although he was better in the AHL in that area.

Cooper Marody also did well in the AHL, with a point per game pace in three games, and he’s already scored his first professional point and his first professional goal. He should be able to do more in a longer season, and he could get first-line minutes this season in the AHL. If he exceeds in that role, he could be moved up to the NHL quickly. The Oilers do have three centers, but Draisaitl has always been better with McDavid than without him.

Marody can do a competent job of filling in at the third line spot if he does well in the AHL this season, and the Edmonton Oilers should love that. A vital part of their bottom six for a sixth-round pick is an incredibly solid deal. Especially with how good Marody could be.

3. Ethan Bear, D [21] (5-124, 2015)

Stats (Bakersfield Condors, AHL): 37 gp, 6 g, 12 a, 18 p, 7 PPA, 2 GWG, 55 SOG, .49 pts/g

Stats (Edmonton Oilers, NHL): 18 gp, 1 g, 3 a, 4 p

Ethan Bear is perhaps the best NHL-ready defenseman the Edmonton Oilers have. He has a top four ceiling, and that’s an excellent thing. He’s not ready for that role yet, but the Oilers don’t need him to be. If he can be plugged in on the bottom pairing like he was for a time this past season, the Oilers really need him there. He averaged 18:38 in the 18 games he played in 2017-18, and that’s an excellent showing of what he’s capable of doing right now.

But his 18 points in 37 AHL games shows what he can do eventually. He averaged .49 points per game, added seven assists on the power play, and came up with two game-winning goals. He even averaged nearly two shots per game as a defenseman and scored six even-strength goals. In the NHL, he scored four points, and two of them came on the power play. That’s a good sign for the future, as Bear could continue to get played in more offensive situations.

Bear will be put in a position to succeed over the next few years, and if he does so, he could be a crucial part of the future. The Edmonton Oilers found a solid defensive prospect with a fifth-round pick, and their depth drafting continues to impress. Though the next two players are both top of the Oilers’ drafts.

2. Kailer Yamamoto, RW [19] (1-22, 2017)

Stats (Spokane Chiefs, WHL): 40 gp, 21 g, 43 a, 64 p, 4 PPG (14 A), 3 SHG (1 A), 5 GWG, 111 SOG, 1.60 pts/g (7 pgp, 1 g, 3 a, 4 p, 2 PPA, 1 GWG, 26 SOG, .57 pts/g)

Stats (Edmonton Oilers, NHL): 9 gp, 0 g, 3 a, 3 p

Kailer Yamamoto was one of the best players in the WHL, even in an incredibly shortened season. He only played about half the games, but in the time he played, he was seventh in points per game and tied for 48th in assists. He’s an excellent playmaker and a very fast wing who will be able to keep up with McDavid in the future. Yamamoto averaged 15 minutes in the nine NHL games he played in 2017-18, but he’s better than a third-line player in the long-run. His size played a major factor in his being drafted in the late first round, but he’s got top-six potential.

Yamamoto was able to play with McDavid in the brief games he played, and he should be able to keep that up in the long term. In the WHL, Yamamoto played top line minutes and dominated, which is a great sign for his future. He averaged more than 2.5 shots per game and scored five game-winning goals in 40 games. He was excellent shorthanded and was terrific on the power play, and got power-play time with the Edmonton Oilers.

He might play with the Oilers this season, but he could also play for the Bakersfield Condors. Because his birthday is in September, he’s eligible to head to the AHL if the Oilers want him there, and that might be a smart decision. It might be a smart decision to put him in the NHL as well. He’s a very competent wing already.

1. Evan Bouchard, D [18] (1-10, 2018)

Stats (London Knights, OHL): 67 gp, 25 g, 62 a, 87 p, 10 PPG (23 A), 1 SHG (3 A), 7 GWG, 297 SOG, 1.30 pts/g (4 pgp, 1 g, 4 a, 5 p, 1 PPG (3 A), 13 SOG, 1.25 pts/g).

Evan Bouchard was one of the finest players in the OHL, let alone finest defensemen. He was tied for seventh in scoring across the league and was first amongst defensemen. He was tied for 51st in goal scoring and was second amongst defensemen. Fourth in assists (first defenseman) and tied for 14th in points per game (first defenseman). He was tied for 18th in playoff points per game as well and was third amongst defensemen. Through this, it’s clear that Bouchard is one hell of an offensive presence.

What he isn’t, and why an offensive defenseman of his caliber dropped to tenth overall and was ranked around there before the draft, is an excellent defensive presence. He needs to continue to work on his game in his own zone, and until he’s mastered it, it’s hard for him to be an NHL-ready defenseman. He still has an excellent ceiling, possibly being a franchise cornerstone as an offensive defenseman. But again, his defensive game must get better.

He’s got a hard road ahead of him because offensive numbers can’t be everything. But he’s of an NHL size, he’s good at skating (though not fast) and he does have an excellent creative vision and hockey IQ. But he needs to put more effort in across the ice, and he needs to get somewhat better at skating. He’ll likely be heading back to the OHL, where he’ll be told to work on developing his defensive game. Even if he does, it might still be a while before he’s on the Edmonton Oilers roster. But he’s got the ceiling to be a long-term fixture.