With the Edmonton Oilers advancing to the third round of the NHL playoffs, most of the attention regarding the team is squarely on their current NHL squad. No matter where the Oilers finish in their cup pursuits, the organization still have the 2025 NHL draft in their rearview mirror.
As of writing the Oilers have three picks in this upcoming draft, and this entry looks to examine possible selections the Oilers could make with St. Louis’ third-rounder.
Lets take a look at some of the players that are likely to be eligible for the Oilers to select in the third round.
What type of game does Max Psenicka play
| Player | Position | Handedness | Height | Weight | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Psenicka | RD | Right | 6’4” | 185 | Portland Winterhawks (WHL) |
Psenicka is a prototypical defensive shutdown defender that any team would want. His game is highlighted by strong physicality, high compete level, and high quality defensive senses. His game is the steady and stable defender that could balance out a more offensively driven defensive partner.
His game is heavily defensive orientated and revolves around risk mitigation, opponent isolation, and high frequency play engagement that show above average defensive pressure exertion and awareness.
Psenicka routinely reduces the quality of chances against with strong gap control that focuses on reach, stick positioning, lane awareness and pace of play are all to his advantage. In the defensive zone he employs a high rate of physicality, with strong balance, grit, and becomes a slot presence that is simply hard to play against with frequent tie ups, and punishing physical leverage on opponents.
Storing spacial awareness in all three zone of his game is another highlight of his game. This also particualrly makes him an effective offensive transition starter, with quality scans that lead to a quick option ID, and higher pace puck movement.
The Winterhawk’s defender shows a decent compete level through his second efforts, intensity, and hustle no matter how long his shift is or how overwhelmed his team may be.
His weaknesses
There tends to be a bot of aggression to his game that can backfire in pinches and this hints at below average poise, which is an element that comes with more experience. This limited poise shows in his below average offensive awareness, pass placement, offensive instincts, and offensive deception.
Skating is another issue for the young Czech defender as he has decent enough skating fundamentals, but shows limited agility, acceleration and edgework all need improvements to make the next jump to the pro level.
Where would he fit in the lineup
His game resembles that of the recently traded Maximus Wanner, which could be a selling point for Oilers management, as a defensive orientated defender who could be a safe and reliable depth option in the near future for the contending Oilers.
Breaking down Reese Hamilton’s game
| Player | Position | Handedness | Height | Weight | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reese Hamilton | Left Defence | Left | 6’1” | 170 | Regina Pats (WHL) |
Hamilton plays a sleek two way transitional defenders game. As a first year draft eligible his game will take some growth. With that being said Hamilton’s game is exemplified by his sleek skating, high quality senses, and solid puck skills. Think of his game as the Evan Bouchard Bouchard.
Skating and mobility serves as the pinnacle of the defenders game, as he is often cited as one of the smoothest skaters in this draft class, with a high quality stride, high rate of acceleration, quality stride recovery and agility allows the young defender to be anywhere he needs to be on the ice.
Expect Hamilton’s already good top notch acceleration and speed to increase as he gets more muscle and confidence in his game.
He also strives in offensive situations with high end offensive instincts, playmaking, and positioning. A frequent activator and lane manipulator that opens up options and passing lanes both in transition and zone play for him and his teammates.
Hamilton’s play processing and play reading is also a standout trait.
Puck skills stand out for evident vision, passing ability, and puck control that further allows him to dictate the pace of play from the blue-line for his team. If he can gain more confidence and consistentcy he could be a real threat next season in the WHL and beyond.
Does Hamilton have any weaknesses?
The main knocks on Hamilton’s game involve his consistently in compete and defensive end play. Particularly his rate of engagement, motor, and intensity changes game to game, which overall reduces his effectiveness.
Additionally he needs to master better angles of attack and defensive risk mitigation to better complete his all around game, with improvements to his defensive awareness, more often risk mitigation, and some greater defensive pressure generation this is achievable.
His fit in Edmonton’s roster
The Oilers pipeline outside of Beau Akey to a lesser extent lacks a dynamic offensively driven defender, and Hamilton could be that next transitional defender for the Oilers organization. Don’t let Hamilton’s stat-sheet fool you the low points total is largely because of the state of the Pats as a rebuilder.
Topias Hynninen’s type of game
| Player | Position | Handedness | Height | Weight | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topias Hynninen | Center | Left | 5’11” | 176 | Jukurit (Liiga) |
Hynninen plays a two way forwards game with a high compete level, and flashes of higher end playmaking. Hynninen’s game is highlighted by above average skating, puck skills, and compete level.
His skating is above average from its posture fundamentals to its pace, acceleration, and agility. Theres very little that limits his mobility when he’s on the ice. This skating mixes well with his positioning instincts to make him an effective off-puck threat, which boosts his overall play engagement.
This play engagement is further complimented by his hustle, energy role and defensive responsibility/support for his teammates. He looks to be a higher energy forward that should be a capable bottom-six forward.
One area that he particularly shows promise in is his pace based offence.
The young Finn has notable senses through positioning, rush instincts, and offensive play driving which blend well with his pass diversity, while demonstrating quality puck control, and high pace playmaking ability.
He was no stranger to the scoresheet this year, so why should that change next season given all of his offensive growth in the past two years.
He looks to have quality puck handling, vision and developing decision making which further compliment his offensive instincts even more. With Jukruit he is a consistent transitional and zone chance generator tjrough his passing lane awareness, space usage, and overall smooth passing ability.
His decision making has also shown some quality growth since his first draft year, which demonstrates how much of a late bloomer the Finnish forward might just be.
Hynninen’s weaknesses
Physicality is the main drawback for the Finn, and although he has shown some growth in his muscle mass, leverage, and angles in recent seasons it still poses the biggest barrier for him to play in the NHL. Below average in puck battle/board battles, and just gets outmuscled by more mature opponents.
Also with any European player their adjustment to smaller ice in North America will amplify any physicality, space, or play processing issues as its simply less time for them to do all of those elements. This is something to watch for if Hynninen gets selected by the Oilers.
Fit within Edmonton
The one drawback for him is the fact that he is a 2005-born player, entering his second year of draft elgibility. However this aligns with the Oilers recent signing and drafting strategies. This also means that the Finnish forward is further along in his development path, which could bode well for a contender.
The Liiga forward had a breakout year this past season, and as a result his draft stock has soared, which might lead to some buyer beware mentality, but the Oilers have shown they aren’t scared to be bold with their selections, and Hynninen might just be that next such selection.
Overall his defensively responsible game, mixed in with his playmaking, and skating combo make him an enticing overage combo to be selected in the middle rounds of this upcoming draft.
Which draftee will the Oilers ultimately choose?
There’s still lots of time for NHL teams to finalize their draft lists, so expect for them to be changing their minds all the way up to the date of the draft. These are three prospects that the Oilers might select due to their likely priorities around furthering defenceman depth, and sooner NHL ETAs (like Hynninen).
Are you excited for the NHL draft? Are there any prospects that you think the Oilers should select? Let us know in the comments below?
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Just want to let you know Max Pšenička plays for the Portland Winterhawks and has never played for Swift Current Broncos.