Edmonton Oilers prospect report: Graduations, exits and who to watch at the end of 2025-26

The Edmonton Oilers have been aggressive in procurement over the last several years, despite having traded a plethora of draft assets. The organization has made up for the lack of picks by signing undrafted free agents across the hockey world. Combined with the few picks used by Edmonton, there’s a solid mix of prospects who could emerge as complementary NHL players in the years to come. Just a few weeks from the 2026 NHL Draft, it’s a good time to look at the graduates, the exits, and most importantly, the group that will be pushing for NHL time next season. Graduating players have reached 50 NHL games. Some prospects are not listed here due to doubtful pro potential. All appear on PuckPedia’s designated Oilers roster page. The Oilers badly need young forwards just like Savoie. His graduation gives the organization a key piece for the future. He moved from the fourth line to the Connor McDavid line during the year, and allows the new coach to move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the second or third line this fall. Dach was thought to be a small part of a bigger deal at the deadline, but the former Chicago Blackhawks winger formed an impressive fourth line with Trent Frederic in the final days of the season. He could be a useful piece for Edmonton’s new coach. Regula is a big defenceman who can move the puck, but he struggled badly in the NHL with the Oilers last season. He did recover and play well with the Bakersfield Condors, so he could be part of the defensive mix in Edmonton during 2026-27. This is a key area for Oilers general manager Stan Bowman. Every summer spent without a first-round pick needs to end with an impressive list of players who saw some NHL games. Bowman nailed the list in 2025-26; there’s quality here. Howard didn’t spend the entire year in the NHL, but he showed well in Edmonton and in Bakersfield. Barring a trade or the hiring of an extreme defensive coach by the Oilers, Howard should land a job with the team this fall. He can deliver the most difficult skill in the sport (scoring goals) and has improved his play away from the puck. Samanski was a valuable two-way addition to a team with most of its forwards focused on the offensive game. Samanski was a plug-and-play on any line, while also playing centre and wing. He lacks natural offensive ability, but if the new head coach can teach him where the goals are scored, Bowman will have a home run signing. Clattenburg and Hutson showed well in their first pro seasons. Clattenburg is an agitating winger with surprisingly good hands around the net, while Hutson is a two-way winger who needs a little more speed to play inside the top three lines. The group in this category has the best chance to appear in the first blush category in 2027-28. Based on performance in Bakersfield during the 2025-26 season, defenceman Carfagna is closest to being NHL-ready. He’s a mobile player who can pass or transport the puck and is capable in coverage and defensive positioning. Leppanen, a defenceman, and Marjala, a forward, have the most offensive potential in the group. That could be important for a team attempting to improve offensive output next season, but both players have some chaos defensively. Akey is a talented two-way defender with speed, but he’s undersized, and the organization slow-played him last year. There are two impressive goaltenders in this group. Both Jonsson and Ungar lit up the ECHL last season, with Ungar also showing well in a brief AHL look with the Condors. An internal solution to the Oilers’ goaltending dilemma is at least two years away, but one or both could get a quick look with the big club next season. The key question is who gets the first shot at real AHL minutes between Jonsson and Ungar? The fall will tell the story. Nicholl was a seventh-round selection in 2024 and was signed this spring. He has great wheels and enough offensive potential to project as a depth player in the NHL. He might slot in as a burner on the fourth line who could penalty kill and score 10 goals a year (if he makes the NHL). Michaels might be applying for the same job, but is older (turned 24 on May 1) and could push for NHL time in 2026-27. He has a nice range of skills, and if his foot speed works at the highest level, the Oilers may have stolen one from NHL competitors. Cibulka is currently playing for Czechia at the World Hockey Championship. He’s a smooth skater who can pass the puck with aplomb. Cibulka is likely to spend the entire season in the AHL, but has two seasons in the Czech league and could surprise. O’Reilly went to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a deal for Howard last July. He had a strong junior season and should emerge as an effective two-way centre in the NHL in the next couple of seasons. Philp was lost via the waiver wire to the Carolina Hurricanes. Jarventie had a strong season with Bakersfield in 2025-26 and played three games with the Oilers. However, he signed right after the season to play in Europe next season. Opportunity missed for player and team. The major name is Berezkin, who has been a star on the rise in the KHL for the last few seasons. A reports, via Bob Stauffer, have him as a signing to look for soon. Berezkin is a big winger who makes his living by winning pucks along the wall and making quality passes. He can explode opponents with a hit and win the puck, but isn’t a shooter. His skill set is unusual for a winger, but Berezkin could play in the NHL as a regular in 2026-27. Fischer is an impressive college defenceman (Notre Dame) with a range of skills. An underreported fact this spring had him passing on an NHL contract with the Oilers. That means he could be a free agent in 2027. He was a significant piece of the trade with the St. Louis Blues for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway (in the wake of the St. Louis offer sheet). If the Oilers can’t sign Fischer, that trade will be even more lopsided in the Blues’ favour. Lafreniere, Lewandowski and Barnett were all 2025 draft picks who are matriculating well. Oilers amateur scouts take plenty of heat, but getting three players of that quality in the third, fourth and fifth rounds, respectively, is an accomplishment of note. Bowman has worked harder than any general manager since Craig MacTavish to shore up the prospect pool. It has already paid dividends with more hope on the way. Fans know about Howard and the first blush group above, and it would be wise to track Berezkin, Carfagna, Michaels, Jonsson and Ungar in the fall and winter to come.