When the Edmonton Oilers selected David Lewandowski in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, many viewed the German forward as a long-term project.
At 6’2”, he brings size, physicality, and a style of play that could eventually translate into a valuable NHL role. Those traits have led many to project him as a future bottom-six forward capable of providing energy, responsibility, and secondary offence.
But one of the most interesting parts of his development story has nothing to do with hockey.
Yet as is often the case with prospects, the most interesting parts of Lewandowski’s story may not be found in a scouting report.
Long before he was playing junior hockey in North America or hearing his name called at the NHL draft, Lewandowski was developing as an athlete elsewhere.
Before hockey became his focus, there was soccer.
For Oilers fans, that detail may sound surprisingly familiar.
Before hockey, there was soccer
For Lewandowski, hockey was not the starting point.
Like countless children across Germany, soccer played a significant role in his early athletic development. It wasn’t until his family relocated to Düsseldorf at the age of eight that hockey entered the picture. Surrounded by stronger hockey opportunities and infrastructure, Lewandowski decided to give the sport a try.
The transition proved to be a natural one.
While soccer and hockey appear vastly different on the surface, many of the underlying skills translate remarkably well. Balance, coordination, spatial awareness, anticipation, and decision-making are all developed through both sports.
Those traits have become increasingly valuable in today’s game, where success is often determined not only by skill or speed, but by a player’s ability to process information quickly and anticipate what will happen next.
As Lewandowski continues his development, those foundations remain visible throughout his game.
His willingness to support the puck, his awareness away from it, and the flashes of offensive creativity he has shown suggest there may be more to his long-term projection than simply being a physical winger. Those details are part of what makes Lewandowski an intriguing prospect, particularly for an Oilers organization that has long valued intelligence and puck support throughout its lineup.
Interestingly, he is far from the only German player to follow a similar developmental path.
A familiar development path
For Oilers fans, the most recognizable example is Leon Draisaitl.
Before becoming one of the NHL’s elite offensive players, Draisaitl was also heavily involved in soccer growing up in Germany. He has spoken in the past about stepping away from hockey for a period of time to focus on soccer before ultimately returning to the sport that would define his career.
Over the years, Draisaitl has credited soccer with helping shape aspects of his hockey IQ.
These concepts are central to both sports.
Rather than simply reacting, athletes learn to recognize patterns and make decisions before opportunities fully appear.
While Lewandowski and Draisaitl project as very different NHL players, the developmental influences behind their games share some notable similarities.
No one is suggesting Lewandowski will become the next Leon Draisaitl. Few players in hockey could reasonably be held to that standard.
However, the connection offers an interesting reminder that hockey development often begins long before players ever reach elite levels of competition.
While the similarities between Lewandowski and Draisaitl make for an interesting story, they may also help explain why the Oilers see untapped potential in the young forward.
Why David Lewandowski’s development path matters
When evaluating Lewandowski’s NHL potential, the conversation often begins with his size and physicality.
Those traits are important.
But they are not the only reasons he remains an intriguing prospect.
Throughout his junior career, Lewandowski has shown flashes of offensive creativity, puck support, and playmaking ability that suggest there may be more upside to his game than the typical “future bottom-six winger” label implies.
Whether soccer directly contributed to those strengths is impossible to prove.
Still, the concepts that helped shape his development are already highly valued within Edmonton’s organization.
Finding space.
Supporting the puck.
Anticipating plays.
Processing information under pressure.
Playing with patience rather than forcing decisions.
These are qualities that successful NHL players rely on regardless of role.
For Lewandowski, they may ultimately prove just as important as his physical tools as he begins the transition to professional hockey.
What comes next for Lewandowski?
The jump to professional hockey presents a new challenge for every prospect.
For Lewandowski, the immediate objective will likely be to establish himself within the Bakersfield Condors organization and earn the trust of the coaching staff.
His size, work ethic, and physical style should help him adapt to the demands of the professional game. The bigger question may be how much of his offensive game continues to develop.
Can he become more than a reliable depth option?
Can the offensive instincts and playmaking flashes he has shown at previous levels translate against stronger competition?
Those answers will take time.
Development is rarely linear, particularly for prospects whose futures depend on a combination of physical tools, hockey sense, and long-term projection.
Yet that uncertainty is precisely what makes Lewandowski one of the more intriguing players to watch as development camp and training camp approach.
Lewandowski can have a bright future
No one is suggesting David Lewandowski is the next Leon Draisaitl.
Few players in hockey could live up to that comparison.
Yet their stories share an interesting common thread.
- Both grew up in Germany.
- Both spent significant time on soccer fields before focusing on hockey
- Both developed within systems that value broad athletic development and game intelligence.
Whether those influences ultimately help Lewandowski carve out an NHL career remains to be seen.
But as Oilers fans begin following the next chapter of his development, they may find themselves watching a prospect whose journey began in a surprisingly familiar place: a soccer field in Germany.
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