After a rough start to the season, the Edmonton Oilers' collective defensive efforts seem to have stablised. As of the Christmas break, they are ranked tied-eighth in the NHL for the fewest average goals allowed, at 2.79 per game.
The goalie tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are playing better, albeit Skinner can still stand to be more consistent. The three pairings seem set, with special praise in particular going to how Troy Stecher and newcomer Ty Emberson have settled in.
At the same time, there's still a sentiment that the Oilers could stand to add a quality top-four defenceman, in order to reinforce their chances of finally bringing the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton for the first time since the 1989-90 season. Which brings us to an article written on Wednesday, by Matt Parks of The Hockey Writers.
Is Akey a trade candidate for the Oilers?
The article is titled 'Oilers Shouldn’t Trade Beau Akey for a Top-4 Defenceman', and we're making sure to give Parks his due credit, as it's something of interest which we want to touch base on. We essentially agree with his opinion, but want to delve into how we came to the same conclusion.
Akey was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the 2023 NHL entry draft, with the 56th overall pick. He was coming off a career year in the OHL with the Barrie Colts, including producing 47 points in 66 regular season games.
It didn't take long for the 19-year-old to make a positive impression on the Oilers organisation, in training camp and particularly during the Young Stars Classic. As we previously wrote, the result was a three-year entry level deal just over three months after being drafted.
Buoyed by the deal, Akey got off to an excellent start in 2023-24 with the Colts, producing nine points and a +4 rating in 14 games. Unfortunately for everyone concerned though, disaster stuck in that 14th game, with him suffering a shoulder injury which required season-ending surgery.
Excellent mental fortitude despite adversity
Despite the devastation of such a tough setback, the right-shot defenceman was able to remain positive throughout his rehab, motivated to get back onto the ice and show what he was capable of again. As per Derek Van Diest of NHL.com, in August he said:
"I had been battling injuries with that same shoulder for a while, and it was actually kind of nice to have the surgery and be able to recover fully from that injury."
Along these lines, Akey does indeed look fully recovered from his shoulder issues and is playing well so far in 2024-25 for the Colts. Through 25 games he has 19 points and a +6 rating, and has been called up to represent Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship in Ottawa.
The Waterloo, Ontario native was considered a steal at the time he was selected by the Oilers, with him being ranked as high as 32nd by Elite Prospects prior to the 2023 draft. He has the upside of a top-four defenceman, who is projected to be NHL-ready for the 2025-26 season.
A top-end Oilers prospect
Depending on what source you go to, Akey is anywhere between the second and fourth-best prospect in the Oilers' system. The Athletic's Allan Mitchell likens his game to that of Evan Bouchard, with him being better offensively the defensively, although we would ague that Akey has more defensive potential compared to Bouchard.
Ultimately, the main concern surrounding Akey is whether or not he is now truly over his lingering shoulder issues. However, while some would contend this doubt is the justification to trade him for more immediate defensive help, we don't agree.
Yes, there is a certain element of a win-now mentality with the Oilers, as they look maximise the opportunity presented by having McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the roster. However, the window should be open for a while yet given that they are only 27 and 29 respectively, meaning they will still be around when Akey arrives in the NHL to help in their quest for Stanley Cup glory. (Whether it be a first cup or more.)