Although he was not ranked as one of our 10 best Edmonton Oilers prospects, there is something worth keeping an eye on when it comes to Shane Lachance. Naturally, at 6’5”, size is often discussed for Lachance, though the 2021 sixth-round pick has taken some meaningful strides since being drafted by the Oilers. Let’s take a look at Lachance, what he brings to the ice, and how it might fit into the Oilers future.
Career stats
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts |
| 2020-21 | Boston Jr. Bruins | NCDC | 25 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| 2021-22 | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | 55 | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| 2022-23 | Youngstown Phantoms 🏆 | USHL | 62 | 33 | 21 | 54 |
| 2023-24 | Boston University | H-East | 40 | 13 | 14 | 27 |
Playing history
Lachance was drafted out of what is essentially Junior A in America. On the Boston Jr. Bruins Lachance put up modest numbers, 15 points across 25 games. For reference, Colin Graf, recently signed by the San Jose Sharks, led that team with 54 points in 45 games that season. Graf is a few months older than Lachance, but it goes to show that Lachance’s profile had been built more on attributes than production.
The results have improved since his draft year. His first USHL season definitely left something to be desired, but Lachance took a big step forward in his second season in that league. While the raw potential was always clear, Lachance has found a way to be increasingly successful.
This upward trajectory continued last season, where Lachance scored 27 points in 40 games as a freshman for Boston University. At times Lachance even played alongside another Sharks prospect in Macklin Celebrini. While Celebrini certainly helped Lachance, Lachance did earn the opportunity, proving to be one of BUs best options alongside the eventual first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
By a sheer numbers perspective, some might not be overly enthusiastic about Lachance’s resume. Sure, it would be interesting if Lachance authored the same success a year earlier, but given that each player develops at their own rate, and taller players often have longer development curves this criticism only goes so far.
Player profile
Though Lachance has strong family ties to the Boston University program, he has earned his spot as a reliable contributor on a strong team. His production is at least notable from an NHL perspective, but there is more faith to be found in his potential and his process. In short, Lachance understands his skill set, and has clearly been willing to specialise his skill set to best apply himself. There is a chance that Lachance’s game is scalable through higher levels of competition.
Lachance has a nose for the net, something he will have to continue to build on to make it to the NHL. There is shooting talent, and Lachance should be able to capitalise on mid range shots on his path to the professional ranks. Lachance is comfortable taking one-timers from the flanks. Although shooting talent is glamorous, he will need to continue building his strength and snarl to carve out his potential.
The size is an obvious plus here, but Lachance has some quality puck skills that allow him to effectively convert physical battles into scoring chances. He does have strong enough skating skills to generate rush opportunities at the NCAA level, but there is no guarantee that this will be a feature of his game at higher levels.
To contrast Lachance to some other tall scoring wingers in the Oilers system, he might not be as much of a transition threat as Raphael Lavoie or Roby Jarventie, but all three are capable shooters. Lachance has the longest way to go out of these prospects, but that might also give him the most upside. There is a chance that Lachance has the most positive effect on possession of these three prospects, as Boston University coach Jay Pandolfo notes his intelligence as an asset.
Next steps in his career
Size has been re-emphasized across the NHL in recent years. Although Lachance does not have franchise-altering potential, there is an outline of an effective middle-six winger down the road. Developing the skills and the body to succeed in his niche will be crucial to his upside.
Still, Lachance figures to build off of his success from last season, and might well be a focal point of one of the NCAAs premier programs this coming season. Lachance was fourth in goals and seventh in points on BU last season, and is poised to set new personal highs as a sophomore.
Turning 22 in the spring of 2025, Lachance can absolutely make his way further up the organisational depth chart with a strong 2024–25 campaign. Becoming a legitimate top six NCAA forward would be the culmination of a lot of hard work since being drafted. It is too early to say if Lachance should consider joining the AHL at the end of this season or return to Boston University for a third season. Regardless, NHL time in 2025–26 is extremely unlikely, and Lachance’s biggest fans should be focused on training camp for the 2026–27 season as the earliest he could push for a roster spot.
Lachance has a lot of time to become the best version of himself, and the Oilers have several similar players ahead of him that should keep the team from reaching any rash decisions in his respect. The aforementioned Lavoie and Jarventie might both see some NHL games this coming season, but Maxim Beryozkin is also a bigger winger that the Oilers should be excited to see in their lineup.
With expected extensions and elevated cap hits for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard on the horizon, supplementing the lineup with young, affordable talent will be a boon to extending the Oilers Stanley Cup window as much as possible. The odds are a bit longer, but Lachance has a chance to make an impact on the Oilers forward group over some of the more taxing seasons of those prospective extensions.
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