{"id":575893,"date":"2026-04-01T20:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/575893\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:42:09","slug":"oilers-sign-prospect-william-nicholl-to-entry-level-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/575893\/","title":{"rendered":"Oilers sign prospect William Nicholl to entry-level contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Edmonton Oilers<\/a> signed an up-and-coming prospect to his first NHL contract on Wednesday.\u00a0William Nicholl<\/a> is now officially a member of the Edmonton Oilers organization, as he agreed to a three-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season.\u00a0
Nicholl was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 Draft from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.\u00a0The six-foot-tall, 183-pound forward missed half of the season due to a shoulder injury<\/a>. Upon his return, the two-way centre has been nearly a point per game option for the Knights.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This season, he\u2019s scored 11 goals and 26 points in 32 games. His production took off after a quiet draft year offensively, and in 2024-25, the left-handed forward scored 21 goals and 57 points in 66 games.<\/p>\n

Some prospect experts have said he might have a late-round steal. In the Oilersnation Summer Prospect Ranking, Nicholl was ranked seventh amongst Oilers\u2019 futures.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis said<\/a> he\u2019s a strong skater who\u2019s as good without the puck as he is with it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTaken 196th overall, Nicholl has emerged as the London Knights\u2019 second-line center alongside Easton Cowan and is on pace for more than 60 points. He was a depth forward with just 20 points in 65 games last year, but his game started to come alive as the team won the OHL championship,\u201d Ellis said before this season began.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNicholl is an excellent skater who brings speed and energy to every shift. I think his ability to handle the puck on the rush \u2013 and at speed \u2013 has improved, making him more dangerous in the process. Given that he was one of the last picks in the draft, there\u2019s a lot to like, and I think he\u2019ll push his way up the Oilers\u2019 depth chart as time progresses. Once known more for his off-puck play, I\u2019m glad Nicholl has taken control offensively, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicholl and his London Knights team are the reigning Memorial Cup Champions, having been to the final the last two seasons. He\u2019s dressed in nine Memorial Cup games and a total of 38 playoff games in his junior career. Overall, he\u2019s produced two goals and 17 points.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday night, the Soo Greyhounds took a 3-0 series lead against the Knights. Nicholl has one year of junior eligibility remaining.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.<\/p>\n

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