On the eve of Edmonton Oilers hockey starting for the 2023–24 season, the team has announced that Beau Akey, the Oilers’ second-round draft pick in 2023, has signed a three-year entry-level contract.
Who is Beau Akey
Hailing from Waterloo, ON, Akey is a right-shot defenceman standing at 6’0″ and 174 lbs. He has played his entire junior hockey career with the Barrie Colts of the OHL, and is off to an excellent start this season with three points in four games.
We broke down Akey’s profile in detail, and with Brandt Clarke’s graduation to pro hockey this year, Akey is in line to take a huge step forward for the Colts.
Akey is already showing he is a high caliber player as he was one of the last cuts in Oilers training camp this season; a very impressive feat considering the strength of the Oilers roster this year and Akey being just 18 years old in his first NHL camp.
Akey’s contract
Akey is represented by Octagon Hockey. His newly minted contract carries the following details:
- three year ELC, $895k cap hit, $950k AAV
- 2023–24: $775k base + $95k SB + $80k GP
- 2024–25: $800k base + $95k SB + $55k GP
- 2025–26: $825k base + $95k SB + $30k GP
- $82.5k minor salary in all 3 years
Of course, Akey is not on the active roster and his contract will slide this year.
What’s next for Akey
Expect Akey to have a big year in the OHL this season, and push even harder to make the Oilers out of camp in 2024–25. With a lack of depth on the blueline and especially the right side, it will be very interesting to watch Akey’s progression to the NHL as early as one year from now.
Congrats to Akey on his new contract!
Akey will be a teenager for the first 4-5 months of next season, the chance of him making the Oilers are very very slim. Maybe he gets a handful of games before they send him back to junior but even that is a big long-shot, in my opinon.