With the World Juniors done, all prospects return to their developmental teams, including Edmonton Oiler picks Beau Akey (Canada), and Paul Fischer (USA). It’s also a busy week in the CHL, as the trade deadlines for all three of its leagues fall sometime this week. Good news for Oilers fans, the London Knights (Sam O’Reilly, and William Nicholl), look to be major contenders this year for the Memorial Cup.
There is so much to get into this week- let’s dive right in!
Welcome to the TOR Edmonton Oilers prospect update. Each week, we’ll take a dive into how the Oilers’ prospects have done in their respective leagues. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and is younger than 25 years of age.
O’Reilly is a promising prospect for the Oilers
O’Reilly is a player better known for his two way game. His game is largely highlighted by a high end compete level, quality physicality, and defensive senses. However recently this season he has unlocked more layers to his game with increased offensive finishing ability.
This recent development does not change the fundamentals to his game which is his compete. No matter where he is on the ice, he shows a high end motor, and high levels of play engagement. In defensive transition this translates to quality play disruption via quality gap identification, and lane anticipation O’Reilly then closes, and exerts clean defensive pressure with stick and body positioning.
In zone, O’Reilly does much of the same punishes opponents for space, and exerts clean defensive pressure on opposing forwards showing quality risk mitigation and defensive awareness in the process.
He still has NHL projectable skating with a quality stride, edge work, crossover integration, acceleration and pace. Nothing has really changed in this aspect since the draft.
O’Reilly shines with good physicality too as he rarely loses body positioning, leverage or battles. This physicality is something that is even more evident in his offence this season as he has notable hit absorption along the walls, and can more effectively battle for slot front positioning allowing for cleaner finish. A growth in maturity and muscle mass will do that for a player.
His positioning is improving this season too as he rarely makes himself not an option. Where one of his knacks last season was he plays at too high of a speed that it loses his puck control/handling, the forward seems to have figured a healthy blend of speed, significantly better lane creation/driving which produces a higher end finishing ability.
His puck game overall still remains touch and go. This isn’t a negative as he’s shown increased offensive poise this season, and more frequent elements of manipulation, and situational awareness. He’s also shown efforts to drive more lane creation.
These developments are a promising look for the Oilers prospect.
Edmonton Oilers prospect updates
AHL
- The Bakersfield Condors have been 6–3–1 in their last ten games.
- This past week the Condors traded wins with the Henderson Silver Knights.
- Over the past couple of months Matthew Savoie has found his game at the pro level. Since December 18, the Savoie has posted five outings with two or more points. Looks like his offensive instincts are well on their way to translating to the NHL.
- James Hamblin has come out flying since returning from injury, posting three points in the last two games against the Henderson Silver Knights. Not much rust on his game.
Europe
- Another strong week for Samuel Jonsson, as he gets back in the win column, collecting two wins, including a 23-save shutout vs IF Björklöven on the January 8. He has a combined five shutouts this season. Jonsson continues impressing allowing one goal on a combined 40 shots this past week.
- New year new chances for Albin Sundin, as he continues his stay in the SHL, appearing in two games this past week with Frölunda HC.
- Tomas Mazura appeared in another three games this past week in the top league in Czechia. He serves as a reliable bottom six forward averaging around 10 minutes a game.
NCAA
- Strong statistical night for Luca Munzenberger, as he went +4 in a 8–1 win against St. Laurence University in 16:15 of TOI in his only contest this last week. Teammate Joel Maata collected two assists in that same game, and went +3.
OHL
- Heavy workweek for Nathaniel Day appearing in four games against: Ottawa, Brampton, Oshawa, and Brantford, he is posting a .889 on a 17–19–3 Flint Firebirds team this year. Teammate Connor Clattenburg posted a pair and an assist in that same span of games.
- In Akey’s first game back since World Juniors he posted a single assist and a +1 rating in 24 minutes of ice time. Expect Akey to get regular reps again with the Barrie Colts after his limited ice time with Team Canada. Teammate Dalyn Wakely also posted a lone assist this last week against the Owen Sound Attack.
- Brady Stonehouse has played his last games with the Ottawa 67’s where he posted three points in three games. He has been traded to the Peterborough Petes for a pair of OHL draft picks.
- In their single game this past week the London Knights won 9–4 against the Niagara IceDogs, with O’Reilly collecting a goal and an assist and Nicholl an sole assist.
Russia
- Maxim Beryozkin hit the 30 point mark in his KHL season this past week with an assist in his teams 4–1 win against CSKA Moskva on the January 7.
Forwards
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Berglund | C/LW | 24 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.25 | 2 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Maxim Beryozkin | RW | 43 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 0.70 | 12 | Yaroslavl Lokomitiv | KHL |
| Connor Clattenburg | LW | 29 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 0.83 | 74 | Flint Firebirds | OHL |
| Matt Copponi | C | 17 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 0.82 | 4 | Boston University | NCAA |
| Maxim Denezhkin | C | 40 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.30 | 8 | Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg | KHL |
| Jayden Grubbe | C/RW | 29 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0.24 | 13 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| James Hamblin | C/LW | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.63 | 0 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Roby Järventie | LW/RW | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Shane Lachance | LW | 17 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 1.06 | 18 | Boston University | NCAA |
| Tomas Mazura | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | BK Mlada Boleslav | Czech |
| Joel Määttä | C | 19 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 0.84 | 6 | University of Vermont | NCAA |
| William Nicholl | C/LW | 35 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 0.97 | 12 | London Knights | OHL |
| Sam O’Reilly | C | 35 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 1.06 | 16 | London Knights | OHL |
| Matvei Petrov | LW/RW | 28 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 0.50 | 8 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Matthew Savoie | C/W | 29 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 0.83 | 14 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| James Stefan | RW/LW | 25 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.08 | 8 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Brady Stonehouse | RW/LW | 18 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0.56 | 18 | Peterborough Petes | OHL |
| Dalyn Wakely | C | 29 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 1.21 | 26 | Barrie Colts | OHL |
| Cameron Wright | RW/C | 27 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.37 | 34 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Jacob Perreault | RW | 16 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0.44 | 10 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
Defence
| Player | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beau Akey | 26 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 0.77 | 24 | Barrie Colts | OHL |
| Bauer Berry | 28 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.07 | 12 | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL |
| Paul Fischer | 18 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0.50 | 8 | University of Notre Dame | NCAA |
| Philip Kemp | 29 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0.21 | 28 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Luca Münzenberger | 17 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0.53 | 6 | University of Vermont | NCAA |
| Albin Sundin | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Frölunda HC | SHL |
| Maximus Wanner | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.10 | 28 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Nikita Yevseyev | 27 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.07 | 14 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL |
| Robbie Attard | 23 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.13 | 30 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
Goaltenders
| Player | GP | GAA | SV% | Record | SO | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathaniel Day | 35 | 3.01 | .889 | 16-14-3 | 2 | Flint Firebirds | OHL |
| Samuel Jonsson | 15 | 1.54 | .932 | 13-1-0 | 5 | BIK Karlskoga | HockeyAllsvenskan |
| Olivier Rodrigue | 19 | 2.65 | .917 | 10-7-2 | 1 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL |
| Connor Ungar | 15 | 3.19 | .889 | 9-6-0 | 0 | Fort Wayne Comets | ECHL |
| Eemil Vinni | 7 | 2.02 | .910 | 4-3-0 | 0 | HIFK U20 | U20 SM-sarja |
