As we enter the dog days of the off-season, most teams are quite inactive and even a team as highly competitive as the Edmonton Oilers are for the most part, done with their moves for the summer. That does not mean that general manager Stan Bowman and his staff have gone away on vacation until training camp.
However, as the weeks wear on, it seems that this secondary trade market that was widely speculated on is a lot more dry than we were lead to believe. As such, it feels safe to say that the four prospects that the Oilers are going to lose the rights to on August 15th, will be left unsigned.
This is not uncommon, it is quite standard and has actually bit the Oilers in the behind before. One notable recent example is that of Czech winger, Matej Blumel. He was left unsigned by then general manager Ken Holland and after lighting up the top tier pro league in his home country, he signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars. Since then, Blumel has developed into a decent call-up option and could be a legitimate depth winger, something that a cup contender like the Oilers could use.
Now, looking at the current prospect pool, it is quite barren and the cupboards are in desperate need of replenishing but given the club's trajectory, that seems unlikely at this point. This is why the team losing exclusive signing rights to these four players could be viewed as a big deal.
Oilers set to lose rights to four prospects
Tomas Mazura, C
Mazura was drafted by the Oilers in the Sixth Round, 162nd overall at the 2019 NHL Draft. After being drafted, he played in the NCAA with Providence College for his freshman year before joining St. Lawrence University for the final three. Throughout his four year collegiate hockey career, he scored 11 goals, 37 assists for 48 points in 87 NCAA games. He left part way through his last season in 2024-25 to join BK Malada Boleslav in Czechia. There he showed promise, notching 12 points in only 20 regular season games and three in 11 playoff games.
At this stage, it seems unlikely Mazura will sign with the Oilers or frankly another North American club and will likely stay over in Europe, unless he takes a major step in the coming years. He will be 25 years old in September, giving him a few years to break out and earn an NHL deal down the road.
Joel Maatta, C
Maatta was drafted in the Seventh Round by the Oilers, 222nd overall in 2022 and has since spent the past four years playing in the NCAA with the University of Vermont. Touted as a defense-first center, the Finnish forward was able to score 23 goals and 33 assists for 56 points through 129 games as a Catamount.
There is no question surrounding the 23 year old's future as he has already signed a two-year contract with TPS Turku of the Liiga, in his home country. Given his style of play, it will be interesting to see if he gets an NHL contract down the road, especially if he can find another gear offensively.
Matt Copponi, C
Copponi is a 22 year old center who was drafted by the club at the 2023 NHL Draft in the Seventh Round, 216th overall. He spent the next two years at Merrimack College before transferring to Boston University for this past year. Despite playing for a bigger program, Copponi saw his point totals drop. In total throughout his College hockey career, he played 132 NCAA games, scoring 30 goals and 64 assists for 94 points.
Unlike the others on this list, he signed a minor league deal with the Oilers AHL-affiliate the Bakersfield Condors. He notched two assists in his first three games with the club and is expected to join them this upcoming season. The ball appears to be in his court at the moment and if he can impress, he is likely to ink an ELC down the road.
Luca Munzenberger, 22
drafted third round 90th overall in 2022
Munzenberger is a German left-handed defenseman who posseses a solid frame at 6'2 201lbs. He was drafted in the Third Round 90th overall in 2022. Since then he spent the past four years with the University of Vermont, playing 123 games and amassing 23 points, playing top-four minutes in all-situations.
Like most of the others here, he has opted to sign back home and is currently under a one-year contract with Kolner Haie in the top German, DEL. He is 22 years old but will be 23 this November and with his size and playstyle as a benefit, there is a chance that Munzenberger is able to secure an AHL contract should he impress, however it is likely that he will be staying in Europe.
The NHL Draft is notoriously a game of chance, especially as the rounds go on and I am sure all Oilers fans wish these players the best of luck moving forward, wherever their careers end up.