The Edmonton Oilers delivered quality in the 2025 NHL Draft despite not having a first- or second-round selection. Tommy Lafreniere (third round), David Lewandowski (fourth round) and Asher Barnett (fifth round) all produced performance spikes in 2025-26 and are currently on a trajectory to eventually play in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Only time will tell whether the Oilers scouts did it again, but we have first-blush impressions of the five selections made on Saturday.<\/p>\n
58. Rudolfs Berzkalns<\/p>\n
The Oilers drafted a big centre with shutdown skills in the second round. Berzkalns is 6-foot-4, 205 pounds and has a tremendous reputation as a faceoff performer. The Latvian turned heads at the World Juniors and held his own offensively with the USHL\u2019s Muskegon Lumberjacks. He scored 13-12-25 in the regular season (48 games), but finished fifth in team scoring (4-6-10 in 16 games) during the playoffs. He should be considered a reach pick, though, in an area of the draft where (risky) high-end skill was available.<\/p>\n
The Athletic scouting gurus ranked Berzkalns as a player who could make the NHL. Corey Pronman (No. 70) wrote<\/a>, \u201cBerzkalns is a clear NHL-caliber athlete. He\u2019s a big, strong center with good foot speed and the ability to overpower junior defenders. He has direct skill and can beat opponents one-on-one.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott Wheeler ranked him No. 89, saying<\/a>, \u201cHe\u2019s a center who stays around the puck, took a lot of draws for the Lumberjacks this year and featured prominently on their penalty kill. His offensive game is pretty straightforward, but he can take pucks to the net and will find guys off the cycle\/from below the dots.\u201d<\/p>\n 84. Malcom G\u00e4strin<\/p>\n One of the youngest players in the draft, G\u00e4strin is an August 2008 birthday and has plenty of time to develop. A thin winger (6-foot, 184 pounds), scouting reports have him as a skill player with two-way ability. At MoDo in the Swedish junior league last season, G\u00e4strin scored 9-16-25 in 24 games, and played four games in the nation\u2019s top league. G\u00e4strin\u2019s offensive potential suits the range he was drafted, but he should be considered a long shot.<\/p>\n 133. Andrew Robinson<\/p>\n Robinson has average size (6-foot, 190 pounds) and is a January 2008 birthday. His speed will be a major positive in his pursuit of an NHL career. Robinson\u2019s boots could become an even bigger asset in defensive coverage; he is already among the best outscorers on his team. He doesn\u2019t bring a large skill set offensively, but is a plus outlet passer. Robinson played for the OHL\u2019s Windsor Spitfires last season. The OHL is the strongest junior league in the world (although the USHL is in the conversation). Robinson is heading for Providence College in the fall of 2027, so he\u2019s on a long-range development timeline.<\/p>\n 180. Caden Harvey<\/p>\n Another OHL bet, Harvey has some power-forward elements in his toolbox, but has yet to put it all together. Brock Otten at OHL Prospects wrote<\/a>, \u201cHe looks like a borderline power forward at times with his ability to drive the net and work the wall. However, the physical consistency really wavers. His play away from the puck lacks consistency too. He shows flashes of being a very capable offensive support player. He protects the puck well and has good playmaking vision. But, there are other times where he simply fades to the background.\u201d<\/p>\n 212. Ryan Cameron\u00a0<\/p>\n The Oilers usually take a goaltender, and used the final pick of the day on Cameron. He\u2019s tall (6-foot-2) but slender (185 pounds) and at 18 has room to grow. Cameron\u2019s USHL numbers are mediocre, but goaltenders never develop in a straight line, and (like much of Edmonton\u2019s draft in 2026), Cameron is a \u201cdraft and follow\u201d that fans will be able to track for the next several years.<\/p>\n Matriculating prospects in the system<\/p>\n