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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!
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Make sure to check out the Edmonton Oilers team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/edmonton-oilers/
To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/
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The Edmonton Oilers had a strange five-year stretch, where three different head coaches ran the bench, and the team made the Stanley Cup Final in the last two. Since taking over the General Manager position, Stan Bowman has created a hard-working team from top to bottom, at both ends of the ice. As a result of their pursuit for championship glory, the Oilers focused more on immediate help for its depth positions, and less on drafting future players. An example of this is their one pick in the 3rd round that was the one and only pick in the top-100.
The Pacific Division and Western Conference remained competitive in the 2025-26 season, as some teams looked to squeeze out the last drops before their windows begin to close (Winnipeg and Vegas), while others took a step forward to jumping back into playoff contention (St. Louis and Minnesota). Teams like Calgary, Vancouver, and Utah were also scratching at the door, which leaves the entire conference’s wild card up for grabs. While the Oilers aren’t at risk of falling into the wild card spot, the team will need to remain vigilant with the team’s construction and salary cap as some big names are coming up for new contracts.
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NHL Draft Recap
Round 3, 83rd overall: Tommy Lafreniere, RW
If tenacity and fearlessness are traits Bowman covets, Lafreniere is an excellent pick in the 3rd round. Though he is on the smaller size, at just 6-0, his combination of speed and endless fore-checking will more than make up for it. In his rookie season with the Kamloops Blazers, Lafreniere put up 24 goals and 56 points, placing him second among WHL rookies in goals, and third in points. Two main points of contention remain his lack of size and overall skating, which are two things the Oilers development system will need to address. The one thing you can’t teach is compete level, and Lafreniere has that in spades.
Round 4, 117th overall: David Lewandowski, LW
From Germany, a country Oilers fans are pretty content with, Lewandowski brings a lot of desirable components to the table. Cerebral by nature, Lewandowski is known to be creative and tricky with maneuvering the puck around defenders. What he lacks in pure skill with the puck, he covers it with smart and quick thinking that leads to the play going up the ice in quick succession. Saskatoon Blades fans were really impressed by his shot in the 2024-25 season, and putting up 12 points in his first 15 games with the club held a lot of promise. Another year on North American soil will do wonders for his development.
Round 5, 131st overall: Asher Barnett, D
Although he’s undersized, Barnett does everything that his 6-0 frame allows for. As a two-way defender, Barnett is effective at breakouts and getting the puck up the ice quickly. His active stick and solid positioning allow for easy pass detection and turnovers, and his work ethic has him never giving up on a play. Barnett’s offensive game will need some improvement, as will his skating, if he wishes to continue producing points at a higher level. For now, his defensive game is more than enough to get him by.
Round 7, 223rd overall: Aidan Park, C
As a late round pick, you can’t ask for much more with Park and a low risk, high reward payoff. Undrafted in 2024, Park re-entered the draft one year later and was scooped up by the Oilers, thanks in part to an excellent season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. Park is a long-term project, slotted to join the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL next season, and then a commitment to the University of Michigan for the 2026-27 season. It’ll be interesting to see how his two-way game translates, and whether he can continue to produce offensively. His never-quit attitude will be something Oilers fans won’t be able to get enough off.
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Off-Season Moves
For a team that came so close to winning the Stanley Cup two years in a row, Bowman isn’t hesitant to shake things up and bring in new life. Though they do need to be careful with Connor McDavid entering the final year of his contract, Edmonton is making every effort to convince him to stay by offering a championship-caliber team for the 2025-26 season.
Incoming
Isaac Howard, LW
Former 1st-round pick in 2022 (31st overall), Isaac Howard is a gifted offensive winger that is fresh off a Hobey Baker Award-winning season. An excellent skater paired with magical hands is sure to excite fans in Edmonton, but caution needs to be taken when discussing his potential. He’ll likely start the season on the bottom-six, but if he lives up to the promise he carries, look for Howard to join the side of one of McDavid of Draisaitl sooner rather than later. Howard signed a 3-year, $950k per year entry-level contract.
Riley Stillman, D
A depth defenseman signing, Riley Stillman spent most of last season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. He has good size and can hit, but he’ll likely be returning to the AHL for most of the year, unless disaster strikes Edmonton’s blue line. At 27, a two-year deal that will pay him $775k per season is a good piece of business by Bowman. At the very least, Stillman will provide some veteran leadership down in Bakersfield.
Matt Tomkins, G
Similar to Stillman’s deal, goaltender Tomkins is also coming into Bakersfield on a two-year, $775k deal. Make no mistake about it, this signing will be strictly for the Condors team, as the 31-year-old veteran spent all of last season in the AHL. Edmonton still has Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard for one more year, and they’re depth in the minors is quite young. Tomkins will come in and serve as a veteran voice for the future between the pipes for two seasons, and give the Condors a solid goaltending option.
Andrew Mangiapane, LW
If you asked him about the possibility of going back to Alberta, much less as a member of the Edmonton Oilers, Mangiapane would have laughed at you. Spending the majority of his NHL career in Calgary, Bowman and the Oilers may have the best insight into what kind of player Mangiapane is. He had a rough time in Washington following his trade to the new team, but one should expect a revival of his game back home in Canada. Mangiapane is exactly the type of player the Oilers need in their depth if they hope to make another push for the Stanley Cup, and on a two-year, $3.6 million per year deal, it’s well worth the risk.
Curtis Lazar, C
The return of Curtis Lazar in Edmonton wasn’t something many expected, but the 30-year-old centre is indeed back. The Oilers desperately needed some depth after a few trades and free agency losses left their bottom six feeling bare, and Lazar is a good option to go with. He only put up two goals and five points in 48 points with New Jersey last season, but Edmonton runs a higher-octane offense, and a one-year, $775k deal is hard to complain about. At minimum, Lazar will earn a chance to give Edmonton a jolt of electricity and hope to challenge for a championship.
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Outgoing
Corey Perry, Los Angeles Kings
One of the tougher pills to swallow, Perry opted to sign in Los Angeles on a one-year, $4 million contract. Given how tight the Oilers need to be with their salary cap, paying Perry this amount just wasn’t an option. The 40-year-old became a major fan favourite and was a big component to Edmonton’s last playoff push, but unfortunately, his high price tag was not one Bowman could afford.
Connor Brown, New Jersey Devils
While Lazar arrived from New Jersey, on the way out to the same team is spark plug Brown. He scored a four-year deal with the Devils that nets him $3 million per season, and offers him the long-term deal he was seeking. He’ll be missed for his hard-nosed style and secondary scoring capabilities, but at 31, a four-year-deal was likely something Bowman wanted to avoid.
John Klingberg, San Jose Sharks
What started of as a rocky beginning for Klingberg in Edmonton, things ended up turning around in the playoffs once he was paired with Jake Walman. It’s no shocker that Klingberg signed out of Edmonton, as his return was never guaranteed, and the price tag comes in a bit high considering the risk. Edmonton takes the loss, given their depth on the blue line at a more-affordable cost.
Evander Kane, Vancouver Canucks
This one came as a surprise, but Bowman needed to clear some cap to make room for free agency and Evander Kane’s $5.15 million became a casualty. At 34, this was likely one of the easier contracts to move away from, and they found a buyer in Vancouver, at the cost of a 2025 4th-round pick. Kane is still a serviceable forward, but comes with some baggage that Canucks fans had thought they were done with in T.J. Miller.
Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The other salary cap casualty in Edmonton was Arvidsson and his $4 million price tag. Like Kane, Arvidsson is also in the final year of his deal, and the team opted to send the 33-year-old to Boston for a 2027 5th-round pick. It’s a small-term loss to make room for the free agents they brought in, and as a result, become younger in the process.
Phil Kemp, Pittsburgh Penguins
After spending five seasons with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, Kemp is on the move to Pittsburgh. He has only appeared in one NHL game with the Oilers, during the 2023-24 season, spending the majority of his career in Bakersfield. Kemp was a part of the 2020-21 AHL Championship winning team, and he will have plenty of experience to provide in Wilkes Barre-Scranton for two years, at $775k per season.
Lane Pederson, Philadelphia Flyers
Pederson has become quite a journeyman in the NHL, but he still has plenty to offer at 27 years of age. Pederson has spent the last two seasons in Bakersfield, but put up 64 points in 84 games during that stretch. He felt like a good option for a call-up, but sadly, never got that opportunity. In Philadelphia, there may be a fit on the bottom-six if he can earn a spot during training camp.
Sam O’Reilly, Tampa Bay Lightning
As part of the Isaac Howard deal, O’Reilly went the other way to Tampa Bay. While there is plenty that fans will miss in O’Reilly’s potential and offensive upside, Edmonton took the gamble at trading him for someone with two-years worth of development in Howard. O’Reilly will return to the London Knights for a third full season, where he’s won two championships and exceeded all expectations.
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Re-Signed
Evan Bouchard – 4-years, $10.50 million AAV
The big re-signing made by Bowman this off-season was, without a doubt, the major four-year deal given to defenseman Bouchard. Carrying a whopping $10.50 million AAV, he surpasses Darnell Nurse as the most expensive piece to the Oilers blue line. While his offensive production regressed this past season, Bouchard’s overall play and contribution during the playoffs certainly earned him this deal.
Trent Frederic – 8-years, $3.85 million AAV
Frederic arrived this past March in a three-team deal, and he must have impressed Bowman enough to earn an eight-year extension in Edmonton. At $3.85 million per year, the deal will carry the versatile winger into his mid-30s, which you don’t see very often these days. The deal should look better as the years go on and the cap rises, but the longevity of the contract is one that caught many off guard.
Ty Emberson – 2-years, $1.3 million AAV
One of the youngest members of Edmonton’s blue line, Emberson did plenty to earn his two-year extension by playing hard minutes on the bottom pairing and doing the little things right. He is a strong presence in front of the net and can do well with any work load. It will be interesting to see if he gets more ice time this upcoming season, and who is pairing partner will be.
Kasperi Kapanen, 1-year, $1.3 million AAV
Claimed off of wavers from St. Louis last season, Kapanen stepped into a bottom-six role on the Oilers team and did well. He scored a goal in each of the final two games against Dallas in the Western Conference Final, and then added three assists in five games against Florida. Edmonton’s right side has plenty of options, and Kapanen could move up or down the line-up with what he can show next season.
Noah Philip – 1-year, $775k AAV
The undrafted 26-year-old Philip is back on a one-year extension and will likely begin the year in Bakersfield. He put up 35 points in 55 games last season, which is two points shy of his career high two years ago, but in 15 less games as well. There’s a strong chance he’ll begin the year with the Condors but could get a shot at some point this season. It all depends on how he starts, and if injuries hit Edmonton.
Roby Jarventie – 1-year, $775k AAV
This one comes as a surprise, as the snake-bitten Jarventie was rumoured to be departing the NHL for Tampere, but opted to return to Edmonton. The 22-year-old Finnish forward has dealt with chronic knee issues that reduced his availability to just 24 games in the AHL over the last two seasons. If Jarventie can recover, there’s still time for him to bounce back and revitalize his hopes of reaching the NHL one day.
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In the System
Risers
Maxim Beryozkin, LW
Beryozkin has not only improved with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl over the last three seasons, but he also helped them to the 2025 KHL Gagarin Cup Champion. Doubling his goal totals in both the regular season and the playoffs, Beryozkin became one of the more prolific point producers on the team, and that does not appear to be going away any time soon. He will be back in the KHL after signing a one-year extension with the club, but one has to expect he will make the trip to North America with another strong season.
Bauer Berry, LHD
One of the greatest names in hockey, Berry gave the Muskegon Lumberjacks a second consecutive season of consistency. Sure, his point production took a minor step back, but Berry’s presence on the blue line can’t be overlooked. He towered over opposition using his 6-foot-4 frame, and his defensive prowess played a big part in the Lumberjacks’ 2025 USHL Clark Cup Championship. Berry is committed to the University of St. Thomas for the 2025-26 season.
Samuel Jonsson, G
Jonsson couldn’t have had a better season for himself in the HockeyAllsvenskan league last year. Posting a .922 save percentage and a 17-6-0 record with BIK Karlskoga, Jonsson led the league in goals against and shutouts, and was named the league’s best goaltender of the year. He’ll be making the jump to North America to play in Bakersfield, where he’ll contend for one of the two positions available.
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Fallers
Matt Copponi, C
As an undersized forward, Copponi needs to utilize his speed and awareness to get by at the next level. Unfortunately, he took a major step back after joining Boston University, as Copponi’s 24 points in 40 games were a downgrade over the progress made in the previous two seasons. Expectations were high when Copponi moved from Merrimack to Boston, but the results just didn’t follow. Hopefully a fresh start in the AHL next season will be what the doctor ordered.
Albin Sundin, RHD
After a strong performance in the J20 Nationell, Sundin’s arrival in the SHL was met with underwhelming results and reduced ice time. The SHL is notorious for limiting younger players’ time on the ice, but Sundin’s development took a hit into the next season. Failing to record a single point in 25 appearances with Frolunda, Sundin’s role was mostly spent on the bottom-pairing. He joins Timra of the SHL for the 2025-26 season and will likely get more playing time.
Eemil Vinni, G
During his time in the U18 and U20 SM-sarja leagues, Vinni showed consistency and quality starts that helped make him a safe pick in the 2nd round in 2024. Unfortunately, his graduation to the Mestis and Liiga did not fare off as well. There’s still plenty of time for him to turn things around, and he’ll likely get more starts with JoKP next season. He’s only 19 as well, leading many to believe the comeback will be stronger than last season’s setback.
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Likely to see NHL action
Isaac Howard – Developed plenty with Tampa Bay and looks to be NHL ready for next season.
Noah Philip – He was knocking at the door last year, the 2025-26 season could be the one.
Riley Stillman – At 27, he still has a lot left in the tank and can be good if injuries hit.
Max Jones – Big and mean, he’s a good choice for a call-up if Edmonton needs size and grit.
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Top 20 Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the Edmonton Oilers prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
- Isaac Howard, LW
- Matthew Savoie, C
- Beau Akey, D
- Maxim Berezkin, RW
- Raphael Lavoiec, C/RW
- Olivier Rodrigue, G
- Roby Järventie, RW
- Max Wanner, D
- Paul Fischer, D
- Matvey Petrov, RW
- James Stefan, RW
- Jayden Grubbe, C
- Brady Stonehouse, RW
- Connor Clattenburg, C
- William Nicholl, C
- Dalyn Wakely, C
- Matt Copponi, C
- Joel Maatta, C
- Shane Lachance, LW
- Berry Bauer, D
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Final thoughts
The Edmonton Oilers cupboards aren’t bare just yet, and the current product on the ice still holds promise of another year of contending for the Stanley Cup. The window may feel like it’s closing relatively soon, especially if Connor McDavid takes his talents elsewhere, but the hope is very much still alive. The arrival of Isaac Howard and some much-needed depth up front makes Edmonton a more dangerous team in the 2025-26 season.
What remains a question mark is the return to the tandem of Skinner and Pickard, and if the blue line is deep enough to compete with some of the beasts of the Western Conference.
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Make sure to check out the Edmonton Oilers team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/edmonton-oilers/
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Thanks for taking the time to read this post, you can follow me at @ShawnFWilken on Twitter for more Hockey-related talk and opinions.