There is a chance that we could see three Edmonton Oilers prospects take to the ice at Rogers Place and the Marchant Crane Centrium this winter.
While there are still four months left until World Juniors action really begins to ramp up, projected lineups are starting to become public ahead of the 2026-27 major junior hockey seasons.
Such projected lineups put University of Michigan defenseman Asher Barnett, who was selected by the Oilers in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, into the World Juniors sphere once again. The Wilmette, Illinois native previously participated in the 2026 edition of the World Juniors, playing in all five contests leading up to the Americans' exit at the hands of Finland in the quarterfinal round.
Both The Athletic and Daily Faceoff have put Barnett into their projected United States rosters for the 2027 tournament. The former cited his intelligence and mobility while justifying his place on the blue-line alongside the likes of Michigan State defenseman Chase Reid, while the latter referred to him as someone who avoids mistakes and who is reliable.
David Lewandowski and Rudolfs Berzkalns could join Barnett at the 2027 World Juniors
Barnett is not the only Oilers prospect that could return to the World Juniors this winter.
After recording four points at the 2026 World Juniors and 65 during the 2025-26 WHL campaign for the Saskatoon Blades, David Lewandowski could very well be in for a positive 2026-27 season. He is currently set to start the season in Saskatoon, but he is eligible to represent Germany once again at the 2027 World Juniors. With Germany set to potentially return an experienced and familiar roster, Lewandowski could put together a strong tournament and put himself in position to play the second half of the season in Bakersfield.
Elsewhere, Rudolfs Berzkalns is set to potentially represent Latvia once again at the 2027 World Juniors. Berzkalns, who scored a goal at the 2026 edition, has been part of Latvia's push onto the hockey map over the past few years, one that has featured two stunning results against Canada in consecutive tournaments. Berzkalns will be eligible to represent Latvia once again as they look to continue their surge in Edmonton and Red Deer.
In terms of his club hockey, Berzkalns will contest his third USHL campaign with the Muskegon Lumberjacks before joining Boston College for the 2027-28 NCAA season. The forward remains unsigned after being drafted in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
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