Recently acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators, skilled power winger Roby Jarventie debuts as our fourth ranked Edmonton Oilers prospect. Once a toolsy potential first-round pick, Jarventie has already played parts of four seasons in the AHL. Turning 22 before the season starts, there is a lot to like about Jarventie, who is coming off a season ending injury suffered early last season. Let’s take a look at what Jarventie brings to the ice and what it might mean for the Oilers.
Production
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts |
| 2019-20 | Ilves Tampere | SM-liiga | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | KooVee Tampere | Mestis | 36 | 23 | 15 | 38 |
| 2020-21 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2020-21 | Ilves Tampere | SM-liiga | 48 | 14 | 11 | 25 |
| 2021-22 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 70 | 11 | 22 | 33 |
| 2022-23 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 40 | 16 | 14 | 30 |
| 2023-24 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 22 | 9 | 11 | 20 |
Jarventie is a goal scorer, a tall winger with an impressive shot. He has been able to score at the AHL level, increasing his productions rates since joining the league as a teenager.
Strengths and weaknesses
Jarventie is a power winger, meaning his game is built on athletic prowess. A big body and a fast skater, Jarventie does seem able to continue building a professional body. An added element of strength would go a long way to rounding out Jarventie’s contributions.
His speed and puck control gives Jarventie the chance to use his most dangerous tool, his shot. Jarventie is best when releasing heavy wrist shots in stride, but is a threat to score in any shooting position. With a good one-timer, Jarventie can be an in-zone triggerman.
Jarventie is not much of a playmaker. Despite his size there appears to be room to add strength. His ability to thrive in open space is not matched by his effectiveness in close quarters, perhaps in the corners or at the net front. Some playmaking skills might develop if he can become more comfortable in these areas.
Jarventie’s game without the puck is more passive, which can make it seem like he disappears when he is not getting offensive chances. Some growth here will be important to making and sticking with a bottom-six NHL role. For those keeping track, there are a number of similarities between Roby Jarventie and fellow Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie. Jarventie is about two years younger than Lavoie.
Next steps
With the Oilers adding a good deal of forward depth already this offseason, the chance for any of their prospects to make the team out of camp is slim. Jarventie is certainly among this group, including Raphael Lavoie and Matthew Savoie, all of whom will be heading into training camp thinking that they have a shot.
Lavoie is the more seasoned, while Savoie has the highest ceiling. Jarventie is coming off of a long injury. From here, Jarventie seems to be the least likely of the three to make the team, but anything can happen in training camp. Moreover, there will be injuries and attrition throughout the season, and all three of these prospects might find themselves in the NHL at some point next season.
A bigger likelihood is that Jarventie plays most of next season in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors. It might take some time for him to bounce back from a long layoff, but he should be an offensive leader for the Condors. While more AHL production is possible, it is more important that his frame and his game continue to take steps.
From a longer term perspective, Jarventie joins a wave of young forwards that the Oilers have that will be pushing for NHL jobs over the next couple seasons. This is a good thing on its own, but paired with the potential new contracts looming for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard over that time frame the concept of adding cheap talent is vital. If a couple of Jarventie, Savoie, Lavoie, or Maxim Beryozkin can break into regular NHL roles the Oilers will be able to offset the decline of older players and provide a push for their core superstars in the most expensive years of their new contracts.
2024–25 projection
Top three goal scorer for the Condors on a per game basis, and a handful of NHL games as an injury call up. Jarventie should set the stage for a shot as a full time roster player in 2025–26.
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