February 8, 2022 by Mike Dashney

We are now a little over a month into 2022. For most of us, it means another year of Turkey behind us, and a year of failed resolutions ahead of us. For an NHL or CHL hockey player, it merely means that you’re almost half way there.

For the Edmonton Oilers, in particular, their season has certainly seen its ups and downs. The same could be said for the Oilers development tunnel and group of prospects. And this should have been expected. Uncovering a draft gem or finding a late round steal was going to be more prevalent after last summer’s entry draft.

Our pandemic provided postponed and shortened seasons causing an unprecedented small sample size for Amateur Scouting staffs to make comfortable choices. That said, the Oilers may be the benefactor of a few of these prospects outplaying their respective draft positions.

The highs and lows forementioned have partially been a result of a heavy dose of regulars having to miss significant time. The bright side or silver lining to injuries and COVID-19 quarantining is that you also get to see some of the farm in the AHL play against the best in the world and evaluate them against the best league in the world.

Here’s a look at my top 15 Oilers’ prospects [all statistics as of February 4, 2022].

Honourable mentions

D Filip Bergland, D Mike Kesselring, D Phil Kemp, LW Maxim Berezkin, G Olivier Rodrigue

15. Luca Munzenberger D – Ken Holland used his second selection and third-round pick in 2021 to select the German rearguard. This felt familiar to me after watching Holland’s friend and counterpart, Steve Yzerman, draft a German defenseman the previous draft in Moritz Seider. The overwhelming success Seider has shown in his first full season gives me some potential hope that Munzenberger can be the next great German to enter the league. He was effective in the 2020-21 WJC as a top pairing defenseman. I remember him being rangy and hard to beat 1 on 1. After recently turning 19, he was chosen by Germany to Captain this year’s tournament. He was extremely noticeable in his two games and scored a goal and assist in the process.

14. William Lagesson D – At this point, I think we know what we have in Willy. He is a month from turning 26, so his running out of time to b called a late bloomer. Its possible he could still develop into a third pairing defenseman. Although after his agent Alan Walsh put the Oilers on blast about his ice time, that may inevitably be with another team down the road. In Oil Country, it appears Lagesson will continue to be the unofficial eighth defenceman. Given that he has already cleared waivers, he becomes an asset that can easily be moved between the AHL and NHL without concerns. A player like Niemelainen has a more dynamic skill set and may replace him before the end of the season.

13. Raphael Lavoie C\W- Lavoie has good size and uses it well. He has excellent balance and is inevitably hard to knock off the puck as a result. Once he gains some more muscle, he has the potential to be an elite board player in the NHL. He can fight through checks and can get to the net. He forechecks hard, he skates hard, and he can shoot the puck hard too. Given his size, he is not an overly physical player or big hitter. That said, he still blocks shots, is active in physical battles, and takes abuse in the crease. He needs to work on his defensive positioning and puck pursuit, but has the potential to be an effective NHL middle-six power-forward if he does. All that said, it is looking more and more like that is a big “if’. Lavoie is falling hard on a lot of prospect ranking lists, and he has on mine as well. His AHL results have been paltry since the opening whistle this season. Further bad news is that his shot volume, shooting percentage, and TOI has also decreased this season over last. The good news is, the emergence of his peers has given him plenty of time to work it out.

12. Tyler Tullio RW – Outside of Ryan McLeod, Tullio is likely the best skater on this list. His edgework is sublime and moves without any wasted energy. His performance has kept him in the top 10 in OHL scoring most of this season. He displays confidence and bravado in both his play on the ice and his interviews off it. Tyler has an explosive first step and his feet are always moving. As a result, he is effective on the forecheck and creating offense off the cycle.  Oilers may have found themselves a sleeper in the fifth round as Tullio is proving to be a prospect to watch going forward.

11. Matvey Petrov RW – After being selected in the sixth round and 180th overall, Petrov could potentially be the steal of the 2021 NHL draft. Petrov wasn’t chosen to play for Russia’s team in the 2021 World Junior Championships, but it is rare for Russia to do so with players that come over to play in the CHL as imports, especially when they are still 18 years old. That said, I wonder how deeply he was still considered. Matvey and his linemate, San Jose prospect Brandon Coe, lead the OHL in scoring with 52 and 55 points respectively. His 20 goals have him tied with teammate Coe for the fifth-highest amount of OHL goals scored, and his 32 assists rank him fourth. He has a big body and a long frame which he uses well to protect pucks and win board battles. He possesses an accurate and sneaky wrist shot which serves him well sneaking into scoring positions and capitalizing quickly. He skates well, passes well, and has good hands for his size. Outside of Bourgault and Savoie, Petrov might be on of the best snipers on this list. He will also be the fastest mover up this list if he continues to keep up this intoxicating pace.

10. Ilya Konovalov G – The second goalie on the list enters to round off the top ten. To my knowledge, there are only a handful of goalies that have played in the NHL over the last few seasons that have been under six feet tall. The current trend for NHL General Managers to lean towards larger goalies. Even though that may hurt Ilya’s chances to be a full-time NHL goalie, his athleticism may get him there. He tracks the puck very well and uses his excellent skating and lateral movement to seemingly always be in position. He likes to challenge shooters from the top of his crease, and uses that superior mobility to get side-to-side quickly. Like most young goalies, he needs to work on his rebound control. That said, his mental make-up and ability to remain unflustered is apparent. This season in the AHL should be telling after some successful season with Lokomotiv in the KHL. Konovalov is currently the goalie on the Oilers taxi squad.

9. Markus Niemelainen D – At 6’6”, the big left-handed Finn rounds out my top 10. He is a complete defenseman without a lot of deficiency in his game. For his size, he is a very mobile skater and can rush the puck when needed. His AHL coach, Jay Woodcroft, has praised for his stability defensively and ability to play all facets of the game. His size, poise, patience, and quick stick make him a great candidate for an NHL penalty kill. He also excels at breaking up cycles in his own end and plays sound positionally. He was the unexpected choice to be an early call-up this season when the entire left side of the Oiler’s defense went down. He made an immediate impact… or two… ask Dustin Brown. It was a pleasure to watch a defenceman in an Oiler uniform like to hit and look to hurt. Defenseman like he and Samorukov is that they provide space for the puck transporters like Bouchard and Broberg. If all goes well, this could be a great value contract as a 6-7 defenseman for quite some time.

8. Tyler Benson LW- Tyler Benson was nothing short of a beast and MVP for the South Side Athletic Club in Edmonton when he was 14 and 15 years old. The SSAC Lions were the benefactor of Tyler scoring 91 goals and 149 assists for 240 points in 66 games, yes 66 games. This led him to being a top pick for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL where he amassed 184 points in 190 games. He was given the captaincy at age 17 and wore the “C” for 3 seasons. Since then, he continues to find the net in the AHL where he still hovers near a point per game clip with 141 points in 156 games. Last season he dominated both the SL Swiss League and the AHL and the Oilers need skill on the wing. Another year in the AHL should be perfect for him. So far in the 2021-2022 NHL season, Benson has averaged just over eight minutes of ice time and amassed one assist in his seventeen games. At times, Tyler has shown flashes of offensive flare and ability to use his high hockey IQ to make smart plays. He has done well in the role he’s been asked to play in the NHL given he has never played in a bottom six in his life. There has been games where Benson looks like he is one of the only players that continually moves their feet and makes the most of his minutes. If he remains resilient and versatile, I believe his top six opportunity will eventually come. As a fan of him and the Oilers, I really hope we get to see that opportunity play out. This player has too much talent trapped inside screaming for its chance to show itself and shine.

7. Carter Savoie LW – Born and raised in St. Albert, the Savoie brothers have been on the radar in the local hockey scene for some time. Maybe I am biased to the kid that played in Sherwood Park for the AJHL’s Crusaders, but I personally watched him live while scorched the AJHL with ease. As a 16-year-old, he tallied 73 points in 58 games. Wearing an “A” in his 17-year-old season, he trumped his previous season boasting 53 goals and 46 for 99 points in 54 games. Few players have put up these types of numbers I the AJHL since fellow Edmontonian, Mike Comrie. As a freshman in Denver, Carter Savoie scored 13 goals in 24 games, and is still on a torrid pace in his sophomore campaign with 12 goals, 10 assists, and 22 points in 16 games after scoring 11 points in his first 4 games of the campaign. He is undersized at 5’9”, but still plays with bite. He uses his edgework and well-disguised fakes to attack defenders in an extremely deceptive manner and can get his shot off his stick very quickly from any angle with pepper. He is a blue-chip sniper (Keep an eye out for his younger brother Mathew in this upcoming NHL Amateur Draft. He turned 18 in January and is currently projected to be a consensus top five draft selection overall. Thus far, he is +24 with 52 points in his first 34 games with the Winnipeg Ice in the WHL). I understand Carter has dedicated himself to conditioning and nutrition since being drafted, and in my personal opinion will likely be the next prospect to sign their professional contract.

6. Ryan McLeod C – McLeod played 4 years in the OHL after playing AAA Midget with Quinn Hughes with the Marlboros where Ryan earned the Buck Houle Award. While leading the Mississauga Steelheads, he amassed 194 regular season points and 39 more in the playoffs over his OHL career. He was an OHL Gold Cup Champion, a two-time OHL Cup Champion, and the 2014-15 OHL Cup MVP. His skating has always looked effortless and fluid and he works his edges well. He is a good puck-handler and sees all areas of the ice very well. Similar to Dylan Holloway, he plays a very responsible game and this was evident when he led the AHL in plus/minus from Bakersfield last season. McLeod has been given some considerable bottom 6 time this season, and has gotten progressively better along the way. Similarly, to his criticisms in junior, he still needs to avoid his appetite to overplay the perimeter and look for perfect passes. He and Holloway both have an opportunity to fill a 3C future role; only consistent play and developing more drive and intention will keep him there. He is trending in the right direction.

5. Stuart Skinner G – I am still not convinced that Skinner is the answer to our franchise goaltending vacancy. The Oilers haven’t groomed a goalie properly since Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog, and Skinner still has a lot of ground to make up if he wants to be the third name on that list behind Grant and Andy. Dubnyk came close, but his engine was out of synch in Edmonton with Fredrick Chabot. Devan was refurbished by Barry Trotz, Mitch Korn, Stephen Valiquette, Sean Burke before flourishing and becoming a Vezina candidate and All-Star in Minnesota. Stuart Skinner has been excellent in almost every opportunity in Bakersfield and done everything asked of him there. I believe the same to be true with his time up in the NHL. He has been absolutely adequate, and turned heads in doing so. His rookie mistakes have been something all goalies encounter and learn from. I am confident Skinner will learn enough to become an adequate 1B or back-up for the next decade. That said, I am significantly less confident he is the answer to the question, “Which Goalie will Connor, Leon, and Doc hand the Stanley Cup to when they eventually win it?”

4. Dmitri Samorukov D – Of the top 5 prospects listed, Samorukov has the best chance to to make the big club the soonest. He has poise and patience for his age and excels in his own end. With Adam Larson departing for fresher waters in Seattle, nobody else in the system has the skill set to backfill his role as a nasty stay at home defender; and this is something the Oilers are in need of sooner than later. His father was a professional footballer, and Dmitri was also very adept. He has been living in North America for almost 5 years and is NHL-ready. His grit and leadership helped him win an OHL Championship, and two WJC Bronze medals. Samorukov got a sniff of a cup of coffee in one game back on December 29 and was benched after 2:26 TOI and being -2. Despite his debut, he is exactly what the Oilers need right now if his game can translate.

3. Xavier Bourgault RW – Plain and simple, Shawinigan’s Xavier was drafted to play RW with McDavid or McDavid. It may not be that long before he is sitting at the top of this list. He was perhaps the best pure sniper available in the recent draft. His skating and edgework may need some improvement, but he has a high hockey IQ and possesses top shelf creativity. He has good top-end speed in a straight line, but slows things down when moving laterally due to his wide stance. That said, the same wide stance makes him difficult to take off the puck or move in front of the net. He plays the boards hard, and can help develop a strong forechecking cycle. He is not afraid to work to the tough areas of the offensive end which works well with his deceptive and accurate shooting. He was unfortunately injured in the 2^nd period of Team Canada’s first game at the World Juniors a few weeks ago, but previous to that he had 42 points in 24 games for the Shawinigan Cataractes. He is in eighth place in QJMHL scoring and has the third-most goals scored in the league. With both the Oilers and Connor McDavid both desperately needing a right-handed sniper, I am starting to see why Holland was confident to trade down with the Minnesota Wild and pass up on Jesper Wallstedt for this selection. In doing so, the Oilers picked up 90th selection in the third-round and used that to select Munzenberger.

2. Dylan Holloway C – The 2020 14th overall pick turned pro after becoming potent performer in his sophomore season in Wisconsin. In his final season, he had 35 points in 23 games and was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist. He was an NCAA (B16) First team All-Star, an NCAA (West) Second Team All-Star, and also helped Wisconsin win their Regular Season Championship. He plays an NHL-style game due to his ability to play a 200-foot game. He never cheats for offense, but once in the offensive zone he uses the same tenacity toward board battles and puck retrievals. He is another prospect that excels in his skating ability with a strong first step. He has top-end speed and uses it to create passing lanes where he can use his playmaking ability to create offensive chances. If Holloway wasn’t injured and rehabilitating from two recent wrist surgeries, he may not be on this list. He was projected to be higher than McLeod on the depth chart, and will have to play his way back up there when he is healthy and able to. I can see him finishing up the season in Bakersfield and then getting his fresh chance again next fall.

1. Philip Broberg D – With Evan Bouchard graduating to being a full-time NHL asset this year, the new #1 spot now belongs to Philip Broberg. The captain of Sweden’s World Junior Championship team brings leadership, a big rangy body, and contains a level of grit in his game. Conversely to most European defensemen, he also seems to play better on the smaller ice. Perhaps this is because he skates so well and has a very active stick. Defensively, he owns top-level ability to read and anticipate plays. He has a very accurate first pass and ability to head-man pucks. As a result, this compliments his transition game because his skating and ability to transport the puck up through the neutral zone is also apparent. Offensively, he has the potential to play powerplay and can create passing lanes the way he changes angles and moves laterally. In his 8-game call-up in November earlier this season, Broberg looked a lot like any 20-year-old defenseman with promise would. There were both flashes of brilliance, as well as a few major mistakes. He scored an assist in his first game, but then never got another point. He was minus-eight in eight games but still had impressive possession and shot-share metrics. In my opinion the overall NHL work outplayed his expectations. He showed promise to potentially cement himself behind Darnell Nurse in the 2LD slot for the next five-10 years. He was our best skating puck transporter over those 8 games, and it wasn’t even close. Philip has been a crucial part of Woodcroft’s back end for the Condors this season where Broberg is +4 with 12 points in 17 games.