Top Prospects: The NHL System Rankings

#23: Edmonton Oilers

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Number of Ranked Prospects: 25

Number of Forwards in the Top 50: 1

Number of Defensemen in the Top 50: 1

Average Rank of Top 10 Prospects in Pool: 197th

Top Forward Prospect in The System: Matthew Savoie (33rd)

Top Defenseman Prospect in The System: Beau Akey (31st)

System Score: 2.5

In the early 2010s, the Edmonton Oilers had such a remarkable run of first overall picks that the NHL actually changed their draft lottery rules. The team has not picked first overall since winning the Conor McDavid tank battle in 2015, but they have done a remarkable job of having first round picks in their pockets while building a Stanley Cup challenger. With their six first-round picks since 2018, the Oilers have brought in Evan Bouchard (265 NHL games, 171 points from the blue line), Philip Broberg (81 NHL games, lost to a St. Louis offer sheet) and Dylan Hollaway (also lost to a St. Louis offer sheet). Other first round picks Xavier Bourgault (22nd overall 2021) and Reid Schaefer (32nd overall 2022) were traded to Ottawa and Nashville, respectively.

The Oilers have not seen a lot of NHL success from their picks after the first round since the 2018 draft, and in fact only Ryan McLeod (taken 40th overall in 2018) has contributed to the NHL squad. The more recent first rounders from  2022-2024 have not yet made their way up to the NHL level, but the team has some talented prospects at the top end of the system developing and waiting for their chance.

The Top of The Pool:

The top prospect in the Oilers system is a player selected ninth overall in 2022 by the Buffalo Sabres, Matthew Savoie. The Oilers traded the aforementioned Ryan McLeod and prospect Ty Tullio for the talented winger last summer. Savoie has all the tools of a top-line NHL offensive dynamo--speed, agility, graceful playmaking abilities and an excellent shot--but as a smaller player (5'10, 180 pounds) he may take a couple more years to develop the strength and balance necessary to absorb NHL physical play. He ended his junior career with 263 points (103 goals, 160 assists) in 183 WHL games. He was an alternate captain for Canada's World Junior Championship team last year, and he scored five points in six AHL games at the end of the season. Savioe has a bright future in front of him as long as he can continue to work his overall game and retain the confidence and flair that he has played with his entire career. 

Beau Akey--the top defenseman in the Oilers system--is a player who has been on the Hockey Prophets radar for quite some time. The Oilers selected Akey 56th overall in 2023 after a stellar draft year in which he put up 47 points in 66 games for the Barrie Colts. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury early last season and subsequent surgery required to repair the damage cost Akey almost the entire 2023-2024 season. Although shoulder injuries can be problematic and slow to heal to full function, the good news is that Akey's primary assets are his feet. His skating is superb, and allows him so much freedom of movement both for shutting down attacks and for skating into free space that he can be a highly effective player even without contributing offensively. His offensive game is high quality, though, and he excels in transition, using his feet and high hockey intelligence to find open lanes for skating and passing, and can launch rushes effectively. 

The Oilers drafted Sam O'Reilly at the end of the first round of last summer's NHL draft. The London Knights center played down the lineup on the powerhouse OHL team not because of his own abilities, but rather the experienced talent playing above him. O'Reilly managed to be effective and contribute however, and helped lead his team to the OHL title and a long Memorial Cup run. He is a solid, physical player with some untapped offensive upside.

Roby Jarventie came to Edmonton as a part of the previously mentioned trade for Xavier Bourgault. Jarventie has a strong, physical build at 6'2, 215 pounds, but his play is geared more towards scoring than a bruising style of play. He has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, but if he can take his game up a step, he could become a quality contributor in the bottom half of the lineup.

Return to the Team System Rankings

Below is the full list of the Edmonton Oilers' ranked prospects.

Top Forwards 

Top Defensemen