The Edmonton Oilers have selected forward Caden Harvey 180th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Harvey, born in Pennsylvania, transferred to the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires last season from the USHL. In his first year in the OHL, he scored 11 goals and totalled 34 points.
What have the Edmonton Oilers gotten in Caden Harvey?
Following the general trend of this year’s draft, the Oilers have selected another fairly raw prospect. Tons of growth potential off of some specific attributes, but some areas of his game that will need to be developed. Harvey dropped compared to some people’s lists still being available for Edmonton at #180. He was ranked as highly as #124 by Elite Prospects.
Harvey is a tenacious forward who never gives up on a play. This is a trait the Oilers heavily target right now. He fits the profile of the type of player Edmonton wants in their system, combining the work ethic and seemingly high floor based on play style.
His playstyle shows signs of being a power forward, never afraid to engage physically in board battles or in front of the net. But his offensive instincts are strong enough that he can contribute to play creation.
Of note is that Harvey’s role on the Spitfires was limited this season, but that should change for 2026–27 as he looks to add more responsibilities to his game as he works up Windsor’s lineup.
Early projection for Caden Harvey
Harvey’s next few years will be spent playing out his junior career and heading to university. He shows promise, but is still very underdeveloped in some key areas and needs to find consistency in his game. Harvey is also a candidate to go to college for extra development time afterwards, as he has already committed to Penn State University for the 2027–28 season.
If development goes well for Harvey, he could be a good middle six forward with a physical playstyle and some underrated offensive contributions. Otherwise he may be a minor league forward.
