As most leagues around the world enter into their holiday break, prospects within the Edmonton Oilers system have been getting some last-minute hockey in. With the last edition of prospect update before Christmas, let\u2019s take a look to see how nice some of the Oilers prospects have been this year.<\/p>\n
Despite the break, hockey doesn\u2019t stop everywhere all at once, so let\u2019s take a look at this past week.<\/p>\n
Welcome to the TOR Edmonton Oilers prospect update. Each week, we\u2019ll take a dive into how the Oilers\u2019 prospects have done in their respective leagues to go along with a feature on one standout prospect in Edmonton\u2019s system. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and is born 2001 or earlier.<\/p>\n
James Stefan, F, Bakersfield Condors<\/p>\n
Who is James Stefan?<\/p>\n
James Stefan is a name not many Oilers fans might be familiar with, and for good reason. The 2003-born undrafted free agent wrapped up his WHL career with the Portland Winterhawks after the 2023\u201324 season. Across parts of five seasons and 254 WHL games, the forward posted 256 career points.<\/p>\n
The soft skill forward plays a high-frequency shot game, which demonstrates his aptitude as a sniper. His overall game is highlighted by strong shooting, decent puck skills, and adequate offensive instincts. <\/p>\n
Stefan\u2019s road to pro-hockey<\/p>\n
Stefan initially signed with the Edmonton Oilers on March 21, 2024 near the end of his over-age year with the Portland Winterhawks. Entering the 2024\u201325 season, the American winger was then assigned to the Bakersfield Condors, but would be assigned back and forth from them to the ECHL\u2019s Fort Wayne Komets.<\/p>\n
Across his first 45 AHL games Stefan scored only three times for the Condors, while also having a -16, plus-minus rating.<\/p>\n
As a player who is primarily known as a scorer, his adjustment to professional hockey wasn\u2019t off to a smooth start as he struggled adjusting to the offensive pace, play reads, and situational awareness of more mature professional players. Soon after <\/p>\n
The undrafted forward found moderate success at the ECHL ranks, being a consistent focal point and primary scorer for the Fort Wayne Komets, hinting at Stefan being a late bloomer and finally adjusting to the ranks of professional hockey. <\/p>\n
Stefan\u2019s season so far<\/p>\n
Stefan has been the best player for the Komets in the 2025\u201326 campaign so far. The 6\u20190\u201d winger has led all players in production with 12 goals and 10 assists good for 22 points across 23 games. Stefan also averages around 17:00 of TOI per game, including a whopping 2:34 of power play time.<\/p>\n
This heavy usage of him on the man-advantage contributes to his 2.1 scoring chances, and 5.1 shots per game. He also has some hidden finishing and clutch ability as the 22-year-old converts on 19% of his chances, and has a 0.24 goals expected rate.<\/p>\n
His puck skills has also grown as his passes look better timed while being more accurate (85% on 18 per game), smoother, and his handling routinely generates 3.8 zone entries per game. His offensive soft skill is his selling point as a pro player.<\/p>\n
Offensively all of these key categories demonstrate just how well his shooting, and offensive instincts have translated to the ECHL in his early career.<\/p>\n
This production, growth and likely the impending ECHL players\u2019 strike have led the Oilers to assign the 2003-born late bloomer to Bakersfield. In three games since Stefan\u2019s reassignment, the sniper looks to be playing a bottom-six secondary scorer role with the AHL affiliate in limited ice time.<\/p>\n
Look for the American winger to round out his game more with a higher compete level, and stronger physicality to elevate his game to the next level. <\/p>\n
NHL ETA: three years<\/p>\n
NHL potential: Bottom-six scorer, but likely a top-six AHLer<\/p>\n
Edmonton Oilers prospect updates<\/p>\n
AHL<\/p>\n
The Bakersfield Condors had a solid past week, going 2\u20131\u20130 in their three games. They lost their first game of the week to the Ontario Reign 4\u20130 on the 17th. Then swept the Coachella Valley Firebirds in their series with a 5\u20134 win on the 19th, and a 3\u20132 win on the 20th.<\/p>\n
Bakersfield remains sixth in the AHL\u2019s Pacific division with a 13\u20139\u20135 record and 31 points.<\/p>\n
Since being sent down, Isaac Howard remains a scoring force, and this past week was no exception setting up three plays for three assists on the 19th, and scoring a hat trick on the 20th. If the American forward can figure out his senses in all three zones he could be called up soon.<\/p>\n
After the Tristan Jarry injury, Connor Ingram was called up on the 18th, and ECHL goaltender Connor Ungar was called up in a corresponding move. Quinn Hutson was also reassigned to the Condors on the 20th, after Jack Roslovic was activated from the Oilers\u2019 injury reserve.<\/p>\n
ECHL<\/p>\n
The East Coast Hockey League is facing an impending players\u2019 strike over more rest days, community engagement duties\/compensation, and fairer wages. It is quite likely if the strike happens, fans see all Oilers-affiliated players reassigned to AHL teams.<\/p>\n
Fort Wayne had mixed results this week, going 1\u20130\u20132 in their three games. They beat the Bloomington Bisons 4\u20133 on the 17th, but fell 2\u20131 in OT to the Indy Fuel on the 19th, and 4\u20133 in OT to the Cincinnati Cyclones on the 20th.<\/p>\n
Despite these mixed results the Komets remain in first place of the ECHL\u2019s Central Division. Fort Wayne now has a 16\u20136\u20134 record.<\/p>\n
With James Stefan being called up to the Condors last week, expect Oilers-affiliated forwards Brady Stonehouse and Jayden Grubbe, and goaltenders Nathaniel Day and Samuel Jonsson to be the organization\u2019s focal point on the Komets now. <\/p>\n
Europe<\/p>\n
2025 sixth-round netminder, Daniel Salonen appeared in one game this past week, collecting a 4\u20132 win against HPK on the 20th. Look for Salonen to be a classic late-blooming goaltender.<\/p>\n
Eemil Vinni had one of his best performances of the season in a 4\u20131 loss to Jokerit on the 20th. He stopped 33 of 35 shots he faced, and displayed good mobility and senses throughout the game. <\/p>\n
2024 sixth-rounder Albin Sundin appeared in two games this past week. The 21-year-old defender is consistently improving his play in all three zones, showcasing better defensive awareness, conservative positioning, and stable decision-making. This growth has led to more trust from his head coach, Tommy Samuelsson.<\/p>\n
NCAA<\/p>\n
The NCAA is now on their holiday break.<\/p>\n
WHL<\/p>\n
David Lewandowski made his debut with Team Germany for the pre-tournament games at the 2026 WJC, and he posted a pair of assists against Team Finland.<\/p>\n
Russia<\/p>\n
Amur Khabarovsk defender, and Oilers 2022 sixth rounder, Nikita Yevseyev found the scoresheet in one of his two games this past week. Yevseyev played Admiral Vladivostok on the 17th, where his club won 3\u20131, and he posted that assist On the 21st he played Sibir Novosibirsk, which was a 4\u20132 loss.<\/p>\n
Maxim Beryozkin\u2019s rough season continues as he appeared in just one game this past week, a 3\u20132 shootout win against Dinamo Minsk on the 16th. He also logged a season low 8:19 of TOI. His flaws remain his senses and skating, as he looks to be chasing plays rather than contributing to them this season.<\/p>\n
Forwards<\/p>\n
PlayerPositionGPGAPP\/GPPIMTeamLeagueMaxim BeryozkinRW37312150.418Yaroslavl LokomitivKHLSamuel Poulin W\/C26913220.8520Bakersfield CondorsAHLJayden GrubbeC\/RW2049130.6517Fort Wayne KometsECHLIsaac HowardLW\/RW14910191.362Bakersfield CondorsAHLPetr HauserRW272570.2614HC VitkoviceCzechiaQuinn HutsonRW\/LW241612281.1722Bakersfield CondorsAHLRoby J\u00e4rventieLW\/RW23109190.8316Bakersfield CondorsAHLTommy LafreniereRW\/C322217391.228Kamloops BlazersWHLDavid LewandowskiLW28824321.1420Saskatoon BladesWHLViljami MarjalaLW\/C27717240.896Bakersfield CondorsAHLWilliam NichollC\/LW\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013London KnightsOHLAidan ParkC2064100.5018University of MichiganNCAAMatvei PetrovLW\/RW143140.292Bakersfield CondorsAHLJosh SamanskiC\/LW27517220.8132Bakersfield CondorsAHLJames StefanRW\/LW300000Bakersfield CondorsAHLBrady StonehouseRW\/LW2647110.4218Fort Wayne KometsECHLDalyn WakelyC1757120.7116UMass-LowellNCAA<\/p>\n
Defence<\/p>\n
PlayerPositionGPGAPP\/GPPIMTeamLeagueBeau AkeyRD140550.366Bakersfield CondorsAHLAsher BarnettLD200880.408University of MichiganNCAABauer BerryLD181340.2210University of St. ThomasNCAADamien CarfagnaLD212570.336Bakersfield CondorsAHLPaul FischerLD16510150.9420University of Notre DameNCAAAlbin SundinRD272460.2210Timra IKSHLNikita YevseyevLD3528100.2924Amur KhabarovskKHL<\/p>\n
Goaltenders<\/p>\n
PlayerGPGAASV%RecordSOTeamLeagueNathaniel Day152.53.8959-4\u201322Fort Wayne KometsECHLSamuel Jonsson92.39.8985-2-23Fort Wayne KometsECHLConnor Ungar12.00.9461-0-00Bakersfield CondorsAHLDaniel Salonen172.65.8768-5-22LukkoLiigaEemil Vinni162.92.8868-4-41JoKPMestis
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