The No. 7 prospect on our Edmonton Oilers 2025-26 top 10 prospects list is Swedish goaltender, Samuel Jonsson.
Drafted by the Oilers with their Fifth round pick, 158th overall at the 2022 NHL Draft. The 21 year old goaltender boasts excellent size for a modern goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) at 6'5 201lbs. He has spent the past few seasons since being drafted developing in Sweden, working his way up.
He has spent significant time in the J20 Nationell league, as well as the Hockey Allsvenskan and the Hockey Ettan league. Jonsson had an unexpected season this year, played in 24 games with BIK Karlskoga (HA), with a record of 17-6-0 and sporting a 1.88 goals against average (GAA) and .922 save percentage. He lead the league in GAA and was second in save percentage of all goalies playing more than 20 games.
Then in qualification round, they had a losing record of 2-3-0 in five games with a 2.15 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. Putting up these numbers in the second-tier Swedish men's league is significant especially for a player at Jonsson's age.
Future outlook
Jonsson was signed to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) in April of this year and is expected to join the Oilers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Bakersfield Condors. Although, there is quite the logjam forming in the crease for their farm system and may find himself down in the ECHL with the Fort Wayne Komets.
He was recently named to the club's rookie camp roster and will be one of four goaltenders attending and likely facing some action as the team faces off against their division and provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames.
Last season, fellow Oilers prospect netminder Connor Ungar split the crease down with the Komets and showed he could handle the level well. Since then, the club has let multiple goalies for their AHL team walk, potentially opening a spot for him. Also prospect Nathaniel Day played three games to end the season with the Komets sporting a .981 save percentage.
The Oilers also added veteran goaltender Matt Tomkins this summer, likely making him the third string goalie who will occupy a spot with the Condors in the AHL unless needed due to injury or poor play. This opens the team up to potentially riding three goalies in the AHL but could prioritize development, placing two of Ungar, Day, and Jonsson in the ECHL.
If Jonsson does go down to the ECHL, he should either split the crease or take on the starter's role for the Komets. If he ends up with the Condors, it is likely that he will be splitting the crease with two other goaltenders or will likely play a backup role with the team.
NHL potential
At each level, Jonsson has worked his way up, after a few seasons he has been able to master that level and put together exceptional seasons. If this trend continues, it is likely that Jonsson can work his way into an NHL role.
He has shown that he is capable of playing at a high level against grown men, playing quite well in the Hockey Allsvenskan in the playoffs and regular season. Jonsson also boasts the perfect size for a modern NHL goalie with high end technical abilities.
It is hard to project NHL goalies but I would say that Jonsson's NHL potential is real and likely as a backup or tandem net minder.