Ranking the 10 best Edmonton Oilers prospects this season
The Edmonton Oilers got younger over the summer, and their prospect cupboards finally have some interesting players in them.
The Oilers welcomed 25 players to participate in their 2025 rookie camp last week and have already played two games against the Calgary Flames. It’s not the type of thing an NHL fanbase with Stanley Cup aspirations would usually be excited about, but this year is a bit different.
The Oilers have not had much luck in developing prospects over the last couple of seasons. Their drafting under Ken Holland yielded just two regular NHL players since 2019, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, both of whom are no longer with the franchise.
Things are changing a little bit. The team has a few intriguing prospects from recent drafts, and GM Stan Bowman has been able to acquire additional prospects through trades or signings to help restock the organization.
For the first time in a long time, Edmonton actually has a decent-looking prospects list. So, with that, let’s take a look at the 10 best Oilers prospects currently in the system:
10. Tommy Lafreniere
Age: 18
Position: RW
2024/25 stats: 24 G, 32 A, 56 PTS, 68 GP (WHL-Kamloops)
Acquired: Drafted #83 in 2025
It’s early in Tommy Lafreniere’s development, but early signs are looking good for Edmonton.
He was the team’s top pick of the 2025 draft class and was lauded as a hard-working centerman with a knack for driving the net. Lafreniere is on the smaller side of things, which could be a roadblock, but he has looked comfortable during the Oilers’ rookie camp.
The 18-year-old notched two goals in Calgary over the weekend in a losing effort.
9. Viljami Marjala
Age: 22
Position: LW
2024/25 stats: 8 G, 44 A, 52 PTS, 54 GP (TPS Turku – SM-Liiga)
Acquired: Free agent signing in 2025
The Oilers’ signing of Viljami Marjala flew under the radar due to the announcement coming in the middle of the Stanley Cup Final, but it was a sneaky good move.
The 22-year-old Finn was excellent in the SM-Liiga last season, leading his team in scoring at a young age. Marjala has continued to look impressive at the Oilers rookie camp, scoring in the first game and being one of the most noticeable players on either side.
Like a few others on this list, he will be hard-pressed to crack the lineup out of camp, but he could line himself up for a call-up at some point.
8. Quinn Hutson
Age: 23
Position:Â RW
2024/25 stats: 23 G, 27 PTS, 50 PTS, 38 GP (NCAA-Boston University)
Acquired: Free agent signing in 2025
The brother of last year’s Calder Trophy winner, Lane Hutson, won’t have that big of an impact on the Oilers, but he could still be useful.
Quinn Hutson was a standout player at Boston University last season and was one of the top NCAA free agents. He made his NHL debut with Edmonton during the last two games of the regular season, and he looked comfortable doing so.
It’s unlikely he cracks the team out of training camp, but his offensive skills could earn him a midseason call-up.
7. Beau Akey
Age: 20
Position: RD
2024/25 stats: 6 G, 26 A, 32 PTS, 52 GP (Barrie-OHL)
Acquired: Drafted #56 in 2023
The Oilers are noticeably light on the blue line, but they do have an interesting defensive prospect in Beau Akey.
He was the top pick of Edmonton’s 2023 draft class and was unfortunately sidelined with injury for the majority of the following season. He came back strong this past year, however, cracking Team Canada’s World Junior squad.
Akey is more of an offensive, puck-moving defenceman than anything else, which is always a need in today’s NHL.
6. Roby Jarventie
Age: 23
Position: LW
2024/25 stats: 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS (Bakersfield-AHL)
Acquired: Traded from Ottawa Senators in 2024
Roby Jarventie has a history of producing at a high clip ever since he turned pro. The issue is that he isn’t healthy a lot of the time.
The Finnish forward was limited to just two games with the Condors last season, but still managed to notch two points in that span. The year prior, he managed 20 points in 22 games with the Belleville Senators.
There is a lot ot like about Jarventie’s game and his ability to make an impact, but he will need to find a way to stay healthy.
5. Josh Samanski
Age:Â 23
Position:Â C/W
2024/25 stats: 14 G, 26 A, 40 PTS, 52 GP (Straubing-DEL)
Acquired: free agent signing in 2025
The Oilers have made a habit of acquiring German talent, but Josh Samanski might be the most intriguing outside of Leon Draisaitl.
The 23-year-old was a standout forward in his native country, with some German pundits calling him the “greatest German talent at the forward position” and the “Straubing’s best player” last season.
He’ll be battling for a roster spot in training camp and may be a dark horse to crack the opening night lineup.
4. Samuel Jonsson
Age:Â 21
Position: G
2024/25 stats: 17-6-0, .922 SV% (Bofors IK-HockeyAllsvenskan)
Acquired: Drafted #158 in 2022
Goaltending has been a hot topic in Edmonton for the past few seasons, but they may have a long-term solution in Samuel Jonsson.
The Swedish goaltender has turned heads overseas, being named HockeyAllsvenskan’s Goalie of the Year while putting up a solid 17-6-0 record that included six shutouts. It’s too early to say when he will make noise at the NHL level, but he will play his first season in North America this year after signing an entry-level deal with Edmonton in April.
3. Maxim Beryozkin
Age: 23
Position: LW
2024/25 stats: 15 G, 27 A, 42 PTS, 66 GP (Yaroslavl-KHL)
Acquired: Drafted #138 in 2020
For the first time in quite a while, the Oilers have an intriguing player over in the KHL.
Maxim Beryozkin has quietly been lighting up the Russian league over the past few seasons. He finished second on Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in scoring last season and added 14 additional points in the playoffs en route to a championship.
The 23-year-old is an intimidating presence at six-foot-four and 211 pounds and is arguably the most NHL-ready forward in the system. Beryozkin could make some noise in the top six as soon as he decides to sign with the Oilers, which could come as soon as next season.
2. Isaac Howard
Age: 21
Position: LW
2024/25 stats: 26 G, 26 A, 52 PTS, 37 GP (Michigan State-NCAA)
Acquired: Traded from Tampa Bay Lightning in 2025
Isaac “Ike” Howard was one of the Oilers’ big offseason additions this summer.
There is a lot of hype with Howard, who is coming off an impressive NCAA season that saw him win the Hobey Baker Award. He has a deadly shot that should translate well into the NHL and has a knack for getting to the right spots on the ice to finish off plays.
Those are traits that will make him an attractive option for the Oilers’ top-six this season, with both Connor McDavid and Draisaitl being two of the best playmakers in the world.
1. Matt Savoie
Age: 21
Position: C/W
2024/25 stats: 19 G, 35 A, 54 PTS, 66 GP (Bakersfield-AHL)
Acquired: Traded from Buffalo Sabres in 2024
Matt Savoie is expected to be a full-time NHL player for the Oilers next season, and there’s a good chance he will be in the top six.
The 21-year-old is entering his second full pro season after an impressive AHL season last year. Savoie holds the highest draft pedigree on this list, having been drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2022.
At five foot nine, Savoie finds a way to combine his offensive skills with his ability to win puck battles along the boards. There is a chance that the St. Albert native could wind up getting some time on the Oilers’ PK this season.