All things considered, it was a quiet two days at the NHL Draft for the Edmonton Oilers.
Let’s dive into all of Edmonton’s picks.
The Oilers aren’t drafting for offensive upside with this selection. The strength in his game comes from his play in the defensive zone, and that’s not the worst thing in the world for this team. He’s committed to Boston College, alongside goaltender Ryan Cameron, who the Oilers took in the seventh round. Players who competed against Berzkalns called the 6-foot-4, 205-pound centre a “pain in the you-know-what” to play against, according to Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, and the Oilers need more of that in their system.
Malcom Gästrin, C/W — 3rd round, 84th overallGästrin wasn’t in Ellis’ top 120 prospects, though he did call him a “decent, hard-working forward.” He put up nine goals and 25 points in 24 games in Sweden’s U20 league, which is a promising sign. He’s still young, turning 18 in August, so there’s lots of room for him to grow as a player.Andrew Robinson, D — 5th round, 133rd overall
This pick seems like a bit of a reach, but the Windsor Spitfires defenceman is considered sound defensively, without much offensive production. He put up nine goals and 24 points in 63 games this year, and the year prior, had three goals and 34 points in 53 OJHL games.
Caden Harvey, C — 6th round, 180th overall
EliteProspects had Harvey ranked 124th, so the fact the Oilers were able to get him nearly sixty picks later seems like a positive. At 6-foot-1, 183-pounds, the right-shot centre is Spitfires teammates with Robinson, and he put up 11 goals and 34 points in 68 games in his first year of Major Junior hockey. He’s committed to Penn State University for the 2027-28 season.
Ryan Cameron, G — 7th round, 212th overall
Cameron is interesting, as he lit up the NAHL in 2024-25 where he was named the league’s goaltender of the year. He stepped up into the USHL last season, playing in 40 of 63 games. Cameron impressed Ellis at the USA Hockey All-American Game in January, citing his impressive athleticism.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.PRESENTED BY THE OILERSNATION NEWSLETTER
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