5. Caleb Jones – Defence (117th overall, 2015)
Caleb Jones is a name Oilers fans have followed closely since the day he was drafted three summers ago. As the younger brother of an NHL star like Seth Jones, there were bound to be higher expectations for him than there typically would be for a fourth-round pick. While Caleb has a sturdy frame at 6-foot-1 and 205-pounds, he isn’t the physical specimen his older brother is.
Still, the younger Jones is a good prospect in his own right. He progressed nicely during his two seasons in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks but didn’t make as smooth of a transition to the pro game. In junior, Jones could take the puck coast-to-coast at will and outmuscle many opponents in puck battles. But, he quickly learned that there was a real difference between playing against teenagers and men.
Jones had two goals, 17 points and a team-worst minus-25 rating in 58 games as an AHL rookie in 2017-18, so there is room for him to improve at both ends of the rink. Despite a tough first season in the minors, Jones might be closer to NHL employment than it appears. In today’s game, skating is as vital as it’s ever been, and Jones is a fanatic skater.
Even if he doesn’t rack up points at the NHL level, he can still contribute by leading a rush up the ice and being a physical presence in the defensive zone. Additionally, the two defensive prospects currently ranked ahead of his both shoot right. With the Oilers expected to try and get out from under the Andrej Sekera and Kris Russell contracts within the next couple of years, there could be an opportunity for Jones play his natural left side in Edmonton.