Edmonton Oilers Prospects Roundup: Tomas Cibulka Could be dark horse prospect

Seasons are changing, both outside and in the rink, as most Edmonton Oilers prospects are wrapping up their season. The NCAA seasons have ended, most European prospects are done, and the AHL/ECHL are gearing up for playoffs. Edmonton also has new signees with NCAA forward Owen Michaels and Czech defender Tomas Cibulka.

Let’s take a look at everything within the Edmonton Oilers system from this past week.

Welcome to the TOR Edmonton Oilers prospect update. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and was born in 2001 or later.

Tomas Cibulka, Defender, Motor Ceske Budejovice, Czechia

Cibulka is one of the newest Oilers prospects, as he officially signed with the club on March 27. The 2004-born defender is from Ceske Budejovice, Czechia. He has been a top defender for hometown team Motor Ceske Budejovice, which plays in the top-tier Czech professional league.

Before signing his first professional contract with Motor Ceske Budejovice for the 2024–25 season, Cibulka was developed in the QMJHL with the Val-d’Or Foreurs and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Across 191 QMJHL appearances, the rearguard posted 18 goals and 84 assists.

With his QMJHL experience, the 22-year-old is no stranger to North American hockey. Cibulka is also no stranger to the international scene, as he’s represented Czechia at the U18 WJC and the U20 WJC twice. The 6’0” defender has also made some appearances with the senior Czech team at the Euro Hockey Tour.

Cibulka’s season so far

Cibulka has been a staple on the Motor Ceske Budejovice blueline this past season, averaging 23:06 of TOI per game. The defenceman was also a special teams asset as a PP1 quarterback, which accounted for 3:24 of that time, and 1:33 on the penalty kill.

Cibulka plays a transitional two-way defender’s role, with puck management potential on the offensive side of the puck. The prospect’s skillset is best highlighted by solid skating mechanics, quick puck skills, and basic hockey sense, which allow him to maintain pressure and support plays effectively.

The areas of improvement for Cibulka include a very average compete level, mediocre physicality, and lower-end power/speed generation.

Cibulka’s strengths

At the core of his game, the Czech defender has good skating mechanics, from his decently fluid stride, in-tight agility, and smooth cutbacks. Cibulka recognizes space well, walks the blueline skillfully, and has the edgework for fake-outs.

It’s just the transitional speed, power generation, and lower-end rate of acceleration that need growth so Cibulka can better adapt to the pace of play and be less likely to be burnt in defensive transition. His skating base is there; the prospect only needs to elevate it with more explosiveness and muscle mass.

The area Cibulka thrives most in is as a puck distributor, and it’s clear to see why. His strong handling, quick/confident decision making, and smooth passing he routinely gets the pace going for his offence. Defensively, he also uses his stick to create opponent turnovers, accumulating 11 per game.

The undrafted defender is a breakout asset with strong puck protection mechanics (inside body positioning and protective handling), and good lane ID, and outlet ability he makes most breakouts look smooth and routine.

The stats back up the eye test too, as Cibulka averaged 36 passes per game, and had a high 90% accuracy on those passes, with an additional 1.71 breakouts via handling, and 1.41 offensive zone entries.

In the offensive zone, the Czech defender served as a stable fall-back lateral facilitator, with crisp side-side passes, cycle support, or a carry in deep when he sees room. Cibulka’s handling incorporates moderate dekes and deception to create lanes for quick passes or shots, which hints at underlying offensive instincts.

These instincts and particularly his creativity is an area of development and needs more consistency, but has translated into clutch playmaking, as the defender generates 0.34 scoring chances per game and has a 19% conversion rate on them.

Offensively Cibulka sees the ice well, has hints of on-ice vision, and shows good commitment to supporting plays.

What Cibulka can improve on

The young defender is also not needlessly aggressive, showing safe but solid offensive play reads, balancing risk with reward. At times, these limitations in aggression can limit his offensive creativity to simple, safe plays rather than innovative, flashy ones.

His shooting projects slightly above average with a snappy release point, a consistent weight transfer, and hand-eye, which accounts for his 0.13 goals expected rate.

Defensive efforts are the main area of growth for the 22-year-old as his scanning rate, defensive awareness, and defensive anticipation are all below average. The prospect is routinely caught off guard by quicker-paced plays, and helps explain his 0.59 errors leading to goals per game.

The former QMJHL alumnus’ defensive compete level lacks urgency, hustle, and energy in plays, which are only compounded by his limitations in anticipation and awareness. As a breakout puck-moving specialist, if he could find a higher motor or more energy in his game, he could be more innovative on the blueline.

Physicality projects around average in all regards, as Cibulka shows no hesitation; it’s just generally not as effective as it could be in terms of his puck battles, hitting form, and tie-up habits.

Overall Cibulka is a slick puck-moving defender with a good skating base and capable enough hockey sense that the 22-year-old should find some success at the AHL level next season.

If he can focus on amplifying his speed, integrating a more consistent compete level, and being more aware in the defensive zone, he could realistically see the occasional NHL game in the future.

Where does he fit into the organization?

Cibulka fills a need for defensive prospects under 23. Cibulka has the tools for the AHL level, much like how he’s already found success at the European professional level his adjustment should be smooth. Also expect him to complement and elevate the games of Damien Carfagna and Beau Akey with the Bakersfield Condors next season.

All things accounted for, Cibulka likely projects as a seventh defender at the NHL level, due to his lack of a complete three-zone game, limited separation speed, and simplicity of his safe play-making. That being said it would not be a shock to see him in the occasional Oilers game in the next two years.

Edmonton Oilers prospect updates

AHL

• It was a week to forget for the Condors as the AHL affiliate dropped all three of its games. The Condors lost 5–2 to the Colorado Eagles on the April 1. Then Bakersfield dropped a pair of games, 6–3 to the San Diego Gulls on the April 3, and then the Ontario Reign on the April 4.
• These less-than-ideal performances saw the Condors drop to sixth in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 34–22–10 record for the 2025–2026 season. Bakersfield has six games in its season.
• Quinn Hutson remains in the AHL rookie of the year conversation. The skilled playmaker is currently on a two-game point streak with two goals in their game on the 3rd, and an assist on the 4th.
• On April 2, forward Josh Bloom was sent down to the Fort Wayne Komets after a three-game stint, and fellow Komets forward Matt Brown was called up to the Condors.

ECHL

• A bit of a mixed week for the Komets as they went 1–1–1. Fort Wayne started the week with an 8–5 loss to Wheeling on the 1st, then rebounded with a 2–1 win against the soon-to-be-shut-down Iowa Heartlanders, only to drop the game against them the next day, 3–2.
• Fort Wayne sits a single point back from first place in the Central division with 90 points and a 40–16–10 record.
• Expect Oilers-affiliated forward Josh Bloom to step up as the Komets push for the playoffs. Outside of the game against Wheeling, goaltending prospect Samuel Jonsson has been exceptionally consistent in net for the Komets.

Europe

• With the signing of Cibulka, and the pending decisions on defeneder Albin Sundin, and forward Petr Hauser, don’t be surprised if the Oilers look to Europe again for another prospect.

NCAA

• Michigan plays in the semi-final against the University of Denver on April 9, and both Asher Barnett and Aidan Park are expected to be in the lineup. This could be the last game of their 2025–26 campaign.

OHL

• The recently signed William Nicholl completed his OHL season this past week after the London Knights lost in the first round of the OHL playoffs to the Soo Greyhounds. Across the five-game series, Nicholl had an assist in their first game and a multi-point game on April 1. Expect the 2006-born high-energy two-way forward to report to the Bakersfield Condors next season.

WHL

• The high-octane line Tommy Lafreniere was a part of got shut down by Kelowna, leading to the Rockets sweeping the Blazers. Lafreniere netted two goals in his final game of the 2025026 campaign on the 1st. The 2025 third-rounder is expected to report to Western Michigan University next season.
• David Lewandowski is one of the few Oilers prospects still playing as the Blades beat the Oil Kings with a game-7 3–2 OTW on the 6th. The physical German has done his part, having three multi-point games so far these playoffs.

Russia

• The Edmonton Oilers retain the rights of Amur Khabarovsk defender and 2022 sixth rounder, Nikita Yevseyev, indefinitely. It would be a surprise if the 21-year-old defender signs his NHL ELC this offseason, but it is possible.
• 2020 fifth-round forward prospect Maxim Beryozkin is off to the KHL quarterfinals after his club’s 3–2 win against Spartak Moskva on the 1st, which clinched the series for his team. Expect Beryozkin to play more of a middle-six forward role for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.

*Denotes Playoff Stats

Forwards

Player	Position	GP	G	A	P	P/GP	PIM	Team	League
Maxim Beryozkin*	RW	5	1	1	2	0.40	0	Yaroslavl Lokomotiv	KHL
Samuel Poulin	W/C	65	19	25	44	0.68	43	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Connor Clattenburg	LW	29	2	2	4	0.14	129	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Josh Bloom	LW/RW	24	15	14	29	1.20	10	Fort Wayne Komets	ECHL
Isaac Howard	LW/RW	42	21	23	44	1.05	10
Petr Hauser	RW	41	3	7	10	0.24	16	HC Vitkovice	Czechia
Quinn Hutson	RW/LW	61	29	29	58	0.95	78	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Roby Järventie	LW/RW	55	18	20	38	0.69	30	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Tommy Lafreniere*	RW/C	4	2	1	3	0.75	2	Kamloops Blazers	WHL
David Lewandowski*	LW	7	3	5	8	1.14	8	Saskatoon Blades	WHL
Viljami Marjala	LW/C	66	14	37	51	0.77	20	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
William Nicholl*	C/LW	5	0	3	3	0.60	2	London Knights	OHL
Aidan Park	C	39	8	8	16	0.41	28	University of Michigan	NCAA
Matvei Petrov	LW/RW	34	5	5	10	0.29	4	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Josh Samanski	C/LW	45	8	23	31	0.69	40	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
James Stefan	RW/LW	38	17	17	34	0.77	10	Fort Wayne Komets	ECHL
Brady Stonehouse	RW/LW	46	7	11	18	0.39	33	Fort Wayne Komets	ECHL
Dalyn Wakely	C	35	7	12	19	0.54	34	UMass-Lowell	NCAA
Owen Michaels	W/C	39	13	13	26	0.67	6	Western Michigan University	NCAA

Defence

Player	Position	GP	G	A	P	P/GP	PIM	Team	League
Beau Akey	RD	42	2	8	10	0.24	22	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Asher Barnett	LD	39	5	13	18	0.46	14	University of Michigan	NCAA
Bauer Berry	LD	37	3	11	14	0.38	18	University of St. Thomas	NCAA
Damien Carfagna	LD	60	7	15	22	0.37	20	Bakersfield Condors	AHL
Paul Fischer	LD	33	6	17	23	0.70	39	University of Notre Dame	NCAA
Albin Sundin	RD	51	4	5	9	0.18	20	Timra IK	SHL
Nikita Yevseyev	LD	61	4	12	16	0.26	43	Amur Khabarovsk	KHL
Tomas Cibulka	LD	47	7	15	22	0.47	35	HC Motor Ceske Budejovice	Czechia

Goaltenders

Player	GP	GAA	SV%	Record	SO	Team	League
Nathaniel Day	36	2.77	.892	19-9-8	3	Fort Wayne Komets	ECHL
Samuel Jonsson	30	2.32	.911	19-7-2	5	Fort Wayne Komets	ECHL
Connor Ungar	17	2.74	.910	5-8-3	2	Orlando Solar Bears	ECHL
Daniel Salonen*	2	2.11	.902	0-2-0	0	Lukko	Liiga
Eemil Vinni*	6	1.52	.943	4-2-0	0	Ketterä	Mestis