TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Matthew Savoie, C, 20 (Bakersfield, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Buffalo Sabres in 2024

What a pickup for the Oilers. They now have a top-40 prospect in the NHL, someone with legitimate top-six potential. I like Savoie, who, at 5-foot-9, is definitely on the smaller side, but his skill level isn’t. The first thing that stands out when watching Savoie is his playmaking. He plays the game at a high pace, which means making decisions on the fly under pressure. When the game’s moving slowly around him, he uses his patience to make the right pass at the right time. For someone who touches the puck as often as Savoie does, we don’t see him giving it up often or sending it to someone who isn’t ready. When Savoie makes a pass, he does it with a purpose. But the young center can also destroy you with his quick hands and flashy moves, especially in 1-on-1 breakaway situations. It’ll be interesting to see how the Oilers handle his development, but I think he should spend significant time in Bakersfield, focusing on becoming stronger and allowing him to learn how to beat older, stronger competition.

2. Beau Akey, RHD, 19 (Barrie, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 56th overall, second round in 2023

I really liked this pick last year because I was expecting a big season from Akey with Brandt Clarke leaving Barrie. Instead, Akey’s season was cut short after 14 games, just as he was starting to really show what he was capable of. Still, he’s been great in the OHL so far and think he’s a good enough two-way threat to be a long-term option for the Oilers. He’s a right-handed defender, something the team really needs, too. Some people think he could challenge for an Oilers roster spot in 2025-26, but I’d like to see him hone in on his defensive game and become more responsible in his own zone.

3. Sam O’Reilly, RW, 18 (London, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 32nd overall, first round in 2024

The Oilers must really like O’Reilly, given they traded up to get him. O’Reilly was one of the biggest movers for the 2024 draft due to his play as a smart, two-way center. He had a solid playoff run, too, playing a great secondary role. O’Reilly was playing Jr. B with the London Nationals last year, but it didn’t take him long to get acclimated to the speed and tenacity of the OHL. He put up better numbers than Easton Cowan did last year and just below Denver Barkey, so that’s a good sign. O’Reilly is toolsy, which is important for a player his age, and I love how well he plays with the puck on his stick.

4. Maxim Berezkin, RW, 22 (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 138th overall, fifth round in 2020

I’m not sure what type of role he’ll have when he comes over, but I do think Berezkin can become an NHLer. He’s 6-foot-4, 212 pounds and is very difficult to contain when he’s at speed. He also has a good shot that he put on display often during the playoffs, where he seemingly played his best hockey of the year. There are times when I think Berezkin needs to be a bit more selfish and stop relying on his teammates to shoot the puck because he has the pure skill to make it happen himself. But as a whole, I think the Oilers should do everything possible to bring him over after his KHL contract ends this spring.

5. Roby Järventie, RW, 21 (Bakersfield, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Ottawa Senators in 2024

From a skill perspective, Bourgeault is a better prospect than Järventie. But from an NHL viewpoint, I think Järventie is going to have a better shot at making it work out. From my viewings, I love how hard Järventie works for the puck, how well he anticipates plays, and how he uses his 6-foot-2, 214-pound frame to win battles. Injuries have limited his game output the past two years, but he still played at around a point per game with the Belleville Senators last year. I also thought Järventie was one of the best players at the Buffalo Prospect Challenge tournament last September, too, just getting himself in the way of the puck at all times. I see some bottom-six potential for Järventie, and I think he’ll thrive in a role like that.

6. Max Wanner, RHD, 21 (Bakersfield, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 212th overall, seventh round in 2021

Many people I’ve talked to are really impressed with Wanner’s progress. He’s primarily a shutdown defenseman, but scoring seven goals as a rookie defenseman who has never been too offensively inclined is quite solid. He’s big and mobile and has already played significant minutes despite being one of the youngest players on the Condors. I expect him to play at least another year in Bakersfield, but I think he could step into some NHL games this year without being a liability. The fact many think he could go from being a seventh-rounder to an impact NHLer shows how far he has come in his development.

7. Raphaël Lavoie, C/RW, 23 (Bakersfield, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 38th overall, second round in 2019

I really wanted to like Lavoie – a big, 6-foot-4 forward with a great shot. The Oilers took him 38th overall in 2019, but he just hasn’t panned out. He’ll be 24 once the regular season begins and he only has seven NHL games to his credit, failing to register a point last year. He’s a good AHLer, having set a career-high of 28 goals and 50 points this past season, but I just don’t see enough to suggest he’s NHL material in any meaningful way. I have seen improvement, especially with his skating and defensive reads, but I still feel like he’s too much of a perimeter player at this point. Consistency has been an issue at points, but less so last year, at least. Lavoie needs to take a big step forward this year if he’s going to have a shot at being more than just a complementary player.

8. Matvey Petrov, RW, 21 (Bakersfield, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 180th overall, sixth round in 2021

After two excellent seasons with the North Bay Battalion, many were intrigued to see what Petrov could do in his first year of pro hockey. He finished with just nine goals and 14 points in 53 games, but he mainly played in the bottom six and saw next to no power-play time. For a high-end junior producer like him, that was definitely a change, but I can see him scoring 15-20 next year once he’s given more responsibilities. He’s still young with little pro experience to his credit, but I think he has the puck skills to be a real asset for Bakersfield. His skating and lack of physicality don’t help him, though.

9. Olivier Rodrigue, G, 24 (Bakersfield, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 62nd overall, second round in 2018

Goalies develop at different speeds, so one guy taking a bit longer isn’t too crazy. Rodrigue is coming off his best year in the AHL to date, sharing the crease with Jack Campbell after his demotion early in the season. Rodrigue had a 19-12-5 record with a .916 save percentage in his second full year in the AHL, playing a key part in many victories. I think Rodrigue is a decent backup option, but he doesn’t have a clear path forward with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard currently holding down the fort. Both can be shaky, which could help Rodrigue earn some time, but I feel like he at least deserves a shot at the NHL sooner rather than later.

10. Eemil Vinni, G, 18 (HIFK, Liiga)

Acquired: Drafted 64th overall, second round in 2024

Vinni’s 2023-24 stats might not be special, but it’s difficult being a starter in a pro league at 18. Vinni didn’t get a start at the World Juniors, but he’s arguably been Finland’s best goaltender in the U-20 national team competition this year. At 6-foot-2, he has decent size and, fortunately, he isn’t overcommitting on shots as much as he was a year ago. Vinni will need a lot of seasoning before becoming an NHLer, but I see potential there in how he commands himself in the crease. I think he’s one of those guys we’re going to see have a breakout season in Liiga before heading to the AHL and becoming an NHL backup, and that works well for the Oilers.

Other notables: James Stefan, RW (20), Jayden Grubbe, C (21), Brady Stonehouse, RW (19), Connor Clattenburg, C (19), William Nicholl, C (18), Dalyn Wakely, C (20), Matt Copponi, C (21), Joel Maatta, C (22), Shane Lachance, LW (20), Maxim Denezhkin, C (23), Tomas Mazura, C (23), Berry Bauer, LHD (18), Albin Sundin, LHD (19), Nikita Yevseyev, LHD (20), Luca Munzenberger, LHD (21), Connor Ungar, G (22), Nathaniel Day, G (19), Samuel Jonsson, G (20)