August 32-in-32: Edmonton Oilers

Pat Quinn

3 months ago

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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects. Every day in August we will be bringing you a complete breakdown of a team’s Draft and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons.

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After a heartbreaking loss to the Florida Panthers in game seven of the Stanley Cup finals this past June, Edmonton looks to enter this season motivated and ready to get the job done this time around. After the team moved on from general manager Ken Holland, Jeff Jackson, the team’s CEO of hockey operations, stepped in as the interim general manager and did not waste any time on improving the roster. The first order of business was resigning Connor Brown, Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark, a trio that was an essential line during the Oilers’ cup run. Jeff Jackson also made a point of clearing cap space by buying-out underachieving netminder, Jack Campbell before setting his sights on the open free-agent market. To say that Jackson improved the forward group would be an understatement as he signed proven top-six wingers, Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Edmonton had limited cap space and needed goal-scoring wingers and Jeff Jackson made quick work of improving these deficiencies. Resigning young players Phillip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, two skaters that made significant strides in the playoffs, is the next task that must be completed.

On the topic of additions to the team, let’s get into Edmonton draft picks from the 2024 draft. The Oilers did not have their first round pick going into the draft after trading it at the trade deadline for Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick but ended up trading with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 32nd pick in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in either 2025 or 2026. After day one of the draft, the Oilers had a 2nd, 5th, two sixth and two seventh round picks. Edmonton’s draft overall was a bit underwhelming in terms of the upside of their selections and many of their selections are not fantasy relevant at this current moment. It will be interesting to see how the young players below develop in the coming years!

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NHL Draft

Round 1, 32nd Overall – Sam O’Reilly, C

Edmonton does not often trade up into the first round so this must be a player that the team is quite fond of. O’Reilly was not the most dynamic offensive player available at this point but it is combination of work ethic, versatility and 200-foot game that made him a first-round selection on draft day. As an OHL rookie for the London Knights, the young forward recorded a respectable 20 goals and 56 points in 68 games. His numbers are not going to jump out on any page and he was more of a complimentary offensive player finishing ninth in team scoring, but the progress he showed throughout the season and the larger role that he is poised to take on next season are both very intriguing. The Oilers like the mold of players that are hard working contributors that rely more on compete than pure skill (Zach Hyman, Dylan Holloway, Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark to name a few) and O’Reilly fits that mold. A concern in his game at this point is that at his size, he is not an overly fluid or explosive skater and that is something that helped the above players become NHLers. Expect O’Reilly’s offensive game to take a step forward this season and if he continues his upwards trajectory, do not be surprised if he finds himself in a top nine role on the Oilers three or so years from now.

Round 2, 64th Overall – Eemil Vinni

This is an interesting selection for the Oilers. Edmonton has historically struggled to draft and develop goalie prospects but that trend may be changing with Stuart Skinner cementing himself in the NHL and at 24-years-old, Olivier Rodrigue is also knocking on the door of the Oilers. While Vinni has not had the most eye-catching numbers the last couple seasons in the leagues that he has played in, he often found himself ranked as one of the top goaltenders for the 2024 draft due to his pure athleticism and lateral abilities. With that said, he has had a habit of letting in “soft goals” and does not track pucks as well as other net minders. At 6-3 and 187 lbs, he is a lanky backstop but he does a great job of filling the net. Last year, with JoKP of the Mestis, Vinni finished with a 0.892 save-percentage and 2.72 goals-against-average in 37 games and will suit up for HIFK of the Liiga this season. Vinni will need some time to develop and round out some of the rough spots in his game but with that said, Edmonton would not have selected him in the second round if they were not hoping that he would be their goalie of the future.

Round 5, 160th Overall – Connor Clattenberg, LW

This is the type of selection that has often plagued the Oilers in the past. Traditionally, low-scoring overage players that get drafted do not often make it to the NHL. Clattenberg split time with Firebirds and Greyhounds of the OHL last year and finished with a pedestrian 29 points in 60 games. What Clattenberg lacks in offensive abilities at this moment, he makes up for with his strong work-ethic and his physicality but that is not enough to be an effective pro. Edmonton went off the board with this selection and the young winger will need to see significant offensive growth in the OHL before being able to even transition to the AHL.

Round 6, 183rd Overall – Albin Sundin, RHD

Another overage selection, Sundin is set to turn 20 next week and is known more for his defensive abilities than offense. He is a steady defender who will engage physically and has a smart stick. The young rearguard produced 17 points in 41 games for Frölunda J20 and had one assist in 18 games in the SHL. The numbers are very similar to the 21 points in 36 J20 games and zero points in 10 SHL games the season prior. Sundin will likely have the opportunity to spend this season completely in the SHL but his offensive usage will likely be limited. He is not fantasy relevant at this point in his career and if he makes it to the NHL, it will likely be in 3-5 years and would likely have a third-pair role.

Round 6, 192nd Overall – Dalyn Wakely, C

Another one! Edmonton’s third overage pick in a row turned 20-years-old in March and really exploded offensively in his third season with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL recording 39 goals and 104 points in 66 games after his previous season high was 49 points the year prior. His stats were impressive and placed him third on his team in goals (10th in the OHL) and second in points (third in the OHL). Wakely centered one of the best lines in the OHL last season and was known for his relentless work ethic and and ability to thrive in the dirty areas of the ice. To keep expectations in check, many players see their production spike around the 20-year-old mark but often that offense does not translate to the pro level but with that said, Wakely and O’Reilly are Edmonton’s only selections with draft that are currently showing potential fantasy relevancy from an offense perspective.

Round 7, 196th Overall – William Nicholl, C

Another OHL rookie for the London Knights selected by the Oilers. Nicholl was a depth player for London last season and was known for his energy, pace and physicality especially in playoffs where he played a “wrecking ball” type of style. This section and the draft for Edmonton in general really paints a picture of the Oilers targeting work ethic as opposed to pure skill and it will be interesting to see how it pans out for the squad. Nicholl had a modest 20 points in 65 games last season but did flash some offensive upside and should have a chance to seize a top six role for the London Knights this season. He is not fantasy relevant at this point and should be considered a project.

Round 7, 185th Overall – Bauer Berry, LHD

Edmonton’s last pick of the 2024 NHL Entry draft was used on Bauer Berry, a 6-04 defender who played for Muskegon of the USHL last season and recorded 14 points in 59 games played. The big defender is known for his stay-at-home defensive style and his willingness to engage physically. He is very effective down low in the defensive zone and has strong puck retrieval abilities. At this point he has not brought much to the ice in terms of offense but has shown some raw potential when moving the puck up ice. Berry is a project at this point but could be a player to monitor if his offense develops.

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Collin Delia, G, 1 x $775k (AHL)

Jeff Skinner, LW, 1 x $3m

Viktor Arvidsson, RW, 2 x $4m

Josh Brown, RHD, 3 x $1m

Matthew Savoie, C – Aquired via trade for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio

Roby Jarventie, LW – Aquired with a 2025 4th round pick for Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson

The incoming listed is highlighted by Jeff Jackson’s excellent value contracts of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson both of whom will help the Oilers immensely with their scoring depth this season. After the two big free agent signings, the incoming players are highlighted by the tidy work Jackson did in his prospect trades. Trading Ryan McLeod, a capable bottom-six NHLer that may have slowed in development, for Matthew Savoie, an Edmonton area native and a prospect that many believe to be a top prospect outside of the NHL. This trade saves the Oilers cap space and provides them with more potential longterm offensive upside. The next trade was moving Xavier Bouragault for Roby Jarventie. Bourgault is an offense first winger that has struggled to produce at the pro level and did not take strides production wise in his sophomore AHL season. Jarventie on the other hand, while not as purely skilled, is a big winger that has produced well in the AHL but has battled injuries the past couple seasons. If Jarventie can stay healthy, this trade is a win for the Oilers.

Outgoing

Ryan McLeod, C, Traded with Tyler Tullio for Matthew Savoie

Tyler Tullio, RW, Traded with Ryan McLeod for Matthew Savoie

Xavier Bourgault, C, traded with Jake Chiasson for Roby Jarventie and a 4th round pick in 2025

Jake Chiasson, RW, traded with Xavier Bourgault for Roby Jarventie and a 4th round pick in 2025

Oscar Klefbom, LHD, Retirement

Warren Foegele, LW, Free Agent

Sam Carrick, C, Free Agent

Vincent Desharnais, RHD, Free Agency

Sam Gagner, C, Free Agency

Jack Campbell, G, Buyout

Brad Malone, C, Free Agency (AHL)

Carter Savoie, LW, Free Agency (AHL)

Markus Niemelainen, LHD, Free Agent (AHL)

Adam Erne, LW, Free Agent (AHL)

Ryan Fanti, G, Free Agent (AHL)

Seth Griffith, C, Free Agent (AHL)

Grant McKegg, C, Free Agent (AHL)

The outgoing list is minor in comparison to the positive additions that the team made this Summer. McLeod, Foegele and Desharnais are the most notable subtractions but all three struggled greatly with consistency and are depth players at this point in their careers. Foegele is the most proven NHLer but when away from Leon Draisaitl, he produced at a bottom-six forward level. The biggest move of the Summer for the outgoing list was the inevitable buyout of Jack Campbell which helped the team make the team make moves they did this Summer. Oscar Klefbom also announced his retirement finally after not playing since 2020.

Re-Signed

Calvin Pickard, G, 2 x 1m

Adam Henrique, C, 2 x 3m

Mattias Janmark, LW, 3 x 1.45m

Connor Brown, RW, 1 x 1m

Raphael Lavoie, RW, 1 x 775k (AHL)

Troy Stetcher, RHD, 2 x 787,500k (AHL)

James Hamblin, LW, 2 x 775k (AHL)

Cam Dineen, LHD, 2 x 775k (AHL)

Noel Hoefenmayer, LHD, 2 x 775k (AHL)

The resigned list is highlighted by the value Edmonton got in bringing back one of the team’s best lines in the playoffs which consisted of Janmark, Henrique and Brown. If this line plays this season like they did in the playoffs then the Oilers will have one of the best bottom-six lines in the NHL. Calvin Pickard was also brought back after providing a steady back-up presence to Stuart Skinner last season and finishing with a 0.909 save-percentage. Prospect Raphael Lavoie was also resigned and likely deserves more minutes in the NHL this season but, unless there are injuries, Lavoie may not get much of a chance to show what he can do. His one year contract likely means that this is the last chance that he will get with Edmonton Oilers.

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Development Camp

Oilers Development Camp took place July 3-5. In 2023, camp was fours days long and there were 29 players that attended but this year, camp was downsized to three days and just 17 players. In addition to the smaller size, this year’s camp also featured no on-ice sessions which was unusual for the team. This style of camp made for an uneventful couple days from a fan perspective but allowed the team to focus on smaller group bonding.

The Oilers prospects will take part in the 2024 Young Stars Classic in Penticton, BC from September 13-16th.

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Final Thoughts

Edmonton may have experienced heartbreak at the hands of the Florida Panthers in June but let one thing be clear, the Oilers are serious cup contenders and, due to Jeff Jackson’s savvy Summer, are a much deeper offensive team than they were last year. On top of that, Edmonton’s relatively shallow prospect pool got deeper with NHL quality talent in Savoie and Jarventie. To the disappointment of most Oiler fans, Jackson opted to not retain the role of general manger and instead made the controversial decision to hire Stan Bowman to be the team’s new GM. As for Young NHLers with fantasy upside this season, Dylan Holloway and Phillip Broberg made strong development strides in these past NHL playoffs and will look to continue to trend upwards this season while hopefully seizing the bigger roles that will more than likely be offered to them.