Beau Akey is undoubtedly one of the top prospects in the Oilers system, but how highly he's rated depends on who you ask. For example, this weekend alone, The Oil Rig has him ranked second, while NHL.com places him fourth. (The Athletic did have him first, but this was prior to the arrival of Matthew Savoie.)
Regardless, this is a big season coming up for Akey, as he looks to bounce back from a shoulder injury he suffered last November. As a result of the injury, he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery.
Of course there's never a good time to suffer a serious injury, but the timing was particularly frustrating for the blueliner. He had looked extremely promising during 14 games for the OHL's Barrie Colts, including producing nine points (four goals and five assists), as well as a +4 rating.
This was just a continuation of what Akey had shown during training camp, when he impressed enough to earn a preseason appearance and was rewarded with a three-year entry level deal. Now, it's a case of getting back on track and resuming his progression as one of the best prospects in the Oilers system.
Some uncertainty surrounding Akey
Of course no one can know for sure how well the 19-year-old will progress, until he actually returns to the ice. He's going to have to get back up to speed, after missing so much playing time.
If nothing else, at least Akey has maintained a positive attitude, to the point that he almost welcomed the injury ... in a manner of speaking. As per Derek Van Diest of NHL.com, he said: "I had been battling injuries with that same shoulder for a while, and it was actually kind of nice to have the surgery and be able to recover fully from that injury."
The right-shot defenceman's positive attitude extended to being able to study and learn the game of hockey from a different perspective. As per Van Diest, he said: "Seeing the game from up in the stands, it’s a lot different than being on the ice. It allows you to get that coach’s perspective, like getting your head up a lot more, and you can visualise those plays coaches are talking about when you’re sitting up there in the stands."
Akey has a lot of promising attributes that you look for in a defenceman, including his puck movement, mobility, offensive game and high hockey IQ. The belief is he has what it takes to eventually become a top-four pairing in the NHL, conceivably as soon as the 2025-26 season.
We believe it will take at least a season longer, but have no issue if we are proven wrong. Regardless, the 2023 second round draft pick is just focused on returning to the ice, as he said: "I’m just looking at getting back to being myself. Last season was a rough season, but my head (mentally) is good and I’m really looking forward to getting back to hockey."