June 1 is the deadline for NHL teams to sign the unsigned prospects whose rights they hold. This year, the Edmonton Oilers have two players they still have to make decisions on: Czech Forward Petr Hauser, and Swedish Defender Albin Sundin.
Hauser was originally a New Jersey Devils draft pick and was part of the three-team trade on March 4, 2025. It involved the Devils and Boston Bruins, which sent former Oilers prospect Shane Lachance the other way. Albin Sundin was the 183rd overall pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Oilers.
Let’s take a look at each player’s development track, and most recent season.
Petr Hauser, Forward, HC Vitkovice, Czechia
Hauser had an interesting season as the 22-year-old forward struggled to stay in Vitkovice’s lineup consistently. He only averaged nine to ten minutes per game. These consistency issues were then further compounded as the young forward was assigned to the Czech minor league throughout the season.
Hauser is more of a complementary forward for his team, serving as a play connector. This means the 22-year-old knows where to get pucks, so the higher-end soft skill players around him can create. While the forward does have some basic puck vision, lane recognition, and handling, there’s a lack of consistent offensive instinct, habits, and awareness.
His game primarily revolves around his higher-than-average compete level, making him a decent motor and space creator in all situations. This space creation aside, Hauser struggles to manipulate plays, and push the pace. These limitations in pace, manipulation, and offensive upside translate to him not particularly standing out in offensive plays, and limited creation/finishing.
Hauser’s skating also remains a big concern. There are limitations in mechanics, power, and speed that have not fully grown as much as one would have liked in his past couple of seasons.
In short, Hauser is invisible most shifts. He might be a serviceable European pro in the future, but will likely not be signed by the Oilers. If he can barely stand out in the Czechia league, it’s unlikely he’d even carve out an AHL role with Bakersfield next season.
Signing verdict: No
It appears the Oilers and his agent have acknowledged this outcome; Hauser is signed by HC Dynamo Pardubice 2 in the second-tier Czech league for the 2026–2027 season.
Albin Sundin, Defence, Timrå IK, SHL
Sundin is in a different scenario than Hauser, in a good way. Sundin is good enough to continue playing in the SHL full time next season. The 2004-born defender brings a stable, two-way defender’s skillset. It is highlighted by capable play reads, growing puck management skills, and a noticeable compete level.
Sundin is a bit of a tweener as he is growing and developing well. However, a move to the AHL might stall his development as smaller changes the defenceman’s game the most.
One can tell that in his third pairing role with Timrå IK he is starting to read plays well, anticipate, and mitigate. Sundin’s defensive instincts are developing through good consistent habits. Defensively, he is a responsible and capable player. When he fully grows into his frame and strength, it will add another layer of physical defence to his game next season.
Offensively Sundin is a capable puck distributor with some vision and an okay passing aptitude. It’s unlikely he becomes known as a scorer at any level, but is a complementary play supporter from the blueline.
Areas where Sundin might need some improvement includes his skating speed, pace, and power.
With the state of the Edmonton Oilers defensive pipeline, any additions would help. There are few prospects that would give a player like Sundin a higher level of opportunity than he might get in other organizations. The Bakersfield Condors already have seven defenders signed for the 2026–2027 season, but only three of them are below the age of 25.
It’s all a matter of whether management wants to inject more youth into the defence core (or rather if the youth would actually play). The 21-year-old Swede has about a 50/50 chance of getting signed this offseason.
Verdict: maybe
Where does this leave the Oilers prospect pool?
Neither player is a high priority pending free agent. The Oilers could play a wait-and-see game with both prospects, letting them walk to free agency only to sign them next offseason.
Speaking of next offseason, the Oilers only have two players to make up their mind on: forward David Lewandowski and NCAA senior Paul Fischer. Both of which are likely to be signed.
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