3 intriguing Oilers prospects who should make the jump in 2024-25
The Edmonton Oilers don’t have a remarkable prospects pool, but there are quite a few who they can stand to hang onto regardless of this season’s results.
The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the NHL’s best teams since the coaching change back in November, and it shows in their record since Kris Knoblauch took over. Edmonton has been so good that they lead the league in points since November 12th, and they have also been one of the league’s highest-scoring teams with 207 goals, good for roughly 3.8 per game.
Their plus-68 goal differential is also the best in the league as of March 22nd, and they also boast a top-five power play unit that has converted 27.3 percent of its opportunities since mid-November.
The Oilers know they have one of the better chances to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup Final this year, so it’s no surprise that they brought in a respectable haul at the trade deadline earlier this month. And there is a good chance they look to make some serious moves during the offseason to make another run for the Cup, or ideally, to win another Cup.
Oilers have a few prospects who could become role players in 2024-25
The Oilers are in a prime position to be annual contenders for the foreseeable future, so it would be smart for general manager Ken Holland to do all he can to field a winner.
But another reason Edmonton could be active in the free agent market this offseason stems from the fact they will have a lot of pending unrestricted free agents. Some players, like Warren Foegele, should stick around. Others, like recent trade acquisitions Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick, and Troy Stecher, could be another story.
While Holland could sign some talent in free agency, he would also be wise to look to his prospects pool and realize there are a few players worth giving an extended look next season. That said, he would do well not to block their path into a full-time, or at least a part-time role with the big club.
Dylan Holloway is on the cusp of establishing himself in the NHL
When you have a lineup full of players who could easily end up in another uniform next season, one player you don’t want to let walk is one who should already be a full-time NHLer. Dylan Holloway fits that criteria, but injuries have set him back.
As a result, Holloway has seen just 83 games in the NHL across two seasons and 32 this year, where he has just four points in 2023-24. But Holloway’s physical style and his puck-stealing ability bring hope that, if he can stay healthy, he will be an integral part of the Oilers in the near future.
Holloway is just 22, and the sheer talent making up Edmonton’s top-six is what will keep him grounded on the lower lines early. Once he’s re-signed this offseason, the clock should start ticking for him to first become part of the Oilers regular lineup before working his way into the top-six as some of the older players phase out in the coming seasons.
Having such a talented group in front of him will give the former 14th overall pick time to grow and develop. Once he’s ready to move up in the lineup, the transition should be seamless, especially since it’s a given that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should still be in town.
Olivier Rodrigue could be a season away from the NHL level
Once listed as a prospect the Oilers could have sold at the trade deadline, they will instead be better off keeping Olivier Rodrigue around. Goaltender Stuart Skinner could use a backup, or ideally, a 1B, and Rodrigue has become reliable enough in Bakersfield to warrant serious consideration.
Rodrigue's numbers show off his continual improvement, as he now has a 0.918 save percentage in Bakersfield and a 2.67 GAA to go with 15 wins. If he ends the year by posting similar numbers, Rodrigue could prove to at least get an extended look in an NHL training camp next season.
Current backup Calvin Pickard will be an unrestricted free agent, so Edmonton has created the perfect storm for the former second-round pick. This doesn’t mean Holland won’t bring in another goaltender (or bring back Pickard) to compete with Rodrigue regardless of what the 23-year-old does for the rest of the season in Bakersfield, but there is a good chance he gets an inside track to the backup job.
Should the Oilers keep Rodrigue in their system, there is a good chance that he will reward them next season if he finally makes the jump to the NHL. Edmonton has been patient with him, and that patience might just pay off.
Matvey Petrov is one prospect you don’t want to underestimate
Yep, we’re going with a surprise prospect here! Matvey Petrov is the one name on this list who isn’t likely to make an immediate jump in 2024-25, but it doesn’t mean his value won’t rise as the season progresses. The former sixth-round pick has just 11 points and seven goals in 43 contests for the Condors this season, so the production has to increase before he makes it to the NHL.
But Petrov was among the best players in the OHL during his time there, putting up 90-plus points in the regular season in 2021-22 and 2022-23, while registering 100-plus in both seasons when you count the playoffs. It shows just how much damage Petrov can do offensively, and as his role in the AHL expands, you should see an uptick in production.
He made a seamless transition to the North American game, so even if Petrov is ranked lower and, by extension, brings lower expectations than many in the prospects pool, he is that one player intriguing enough to keep an eye on. If he progresses well next season, don’t be surprised if he’s on the lower lines in Edmonton down the stretch.
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(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)