Top Prospects: The NHL System Rankings
#23: Edmonton Oilers
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.