Desjardins NHLE (CHL)

Curtis Hamilton had an outstanding season for the Saskatoon Blades. Desjardins NHLE’s suggest that he has a chance to be a useful NHL player, perhaps playing on a skill line in the show. Hamilton is near the top of an impressive list of CHL prospects for the Edmonton Oilers organization. The club has recently become a strong CHL booster, with 7 of last season’s 11 selections playing in Canada’s three major junior leagues.

Here are the NHLE’s for the group.

1. Curtis Hamilton (WHL) 10-23-33 (18)
2. Ryan Martindale (OHL) 13-18-31 (18)
3. Tyler Pitlick (WHL) 12-15-27 (18)
4. Drew Czerwonka (WHL) 5-11-16 (18)
5. Kristians Pelss (WHL) 5-8-13 (17)
6. Cameron Abney (WHL) 3-5-8 (19)

A quick note on their ages. Most of these kids turned over within weeks of the start of each season. My numbers come from hockeydb; many of these kids spent a large part of the regular season one year older than listed here. Hamilton, Martindale and Pitlick look like they might emerge as legit top 6 options, and compare well to some previous CHL Oilers. Pitlick is generally regarded as having the widest range of skills among that trio. There is a chance Abney isn’t signed, Pelss and Czerwonka will return to the WHL in 11-12 and a good guess would be that Pitlick, Hamilton and Martindale all turn pro this fall.

1. Martin Marincin (WHL) 5-16-21 (18)
2. Jeremie Blain (QMJHL) 1-20-21 (18)
3. Brandon Davidson (WHL) 3-14-17 (19)