The Edmonton Oilers have multiple prospects playing across the Canadian Hockey League, specifically in the Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.
The Oilers boast many alumni from the various Canadian junior hockey leagues like; Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The current Oilers prospect pool has multiple alumni and current CHL players, the ones currently playing in the Canadian juniors rank have been performing quite well too.
Tommy Lafreniere
The Oilers third round pick at the 2025 draft, Tommy Lafreniere has taken a clear step forward with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League. Playing alongside top 2026 NHL draft eligible J.P. Hurlbert.
When he was drafted, Lafreniere had all of the makings of an underrated prospect inside the Oilers system. Although not an exact copy, he fits a similar criteria as former Oilers draft pick, Sam O'Reilly who plays a projectable two-way game with enough offensive flair to give him an intriguing potential ceiling at the next level. This has been on full display this year with the Blazers in his post-draft season.
He has already set new career highs in goals and points in 15 less games, having scored 31 goals and 31 assists in 53 games played. The centre has quickly become a legitimate prospect in the Oilers system and if he can continue on his trajectory, should be an intriguing player to watch develop over the next few seasons.
William Nicholl
Having spent the vast majority of the year sidelined with an injury after undergoing surgery in the summer. William Nicholl was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL draft, similar to Lafreniere, he possesses a lot of traits that give him some projectability.
He plays the game with a lot of intensity and some strong two-way habits with flashy offensive skills. Something that was on full display last season scoring 21 goals, 36 assists for 56 points in 66 games, a big jump from his 20 points in 65 games in his rookie year. He also helped to guide the Knights to a Memorial Cup victory with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.
So far this season, he has played 18 games, scoring 13 points (seven goals, six assists). Although the Knights are not expected to be contenders, Nicholl should still use this year as an opportunity to build from for next year. But, he is clearly starting well behind the competition.
David Lewandowski
I wrote before the season that I felt like Oilers had a potential steal in their 2025 fourth round selection, David Lewandowski, out of the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. The German born powerforward uses his large frame to assert himself around the ice.
He has grown from a below point-per-game 39 points in 52 games last season to an above point-per-game 50 points (14 goals, 36 assists) in 45 games played. He also jumped from two goals and no assists in five games at the World Junior Hockey Championship to four points (one goal, three assists) in five games as this season.
He has taken solid steps this season to develop and at this stage, the sky seems to be the limit for the young German winger. He also has the opportunity to make an impact down the stretch in the postseason as the Blades are firmly ina playoff spot as of right now.