The Oilers are rolling out training camp information by sundial, but it does give us a chance to look closely at the young men who represent the future of the team. Please read this.
The cover photo on the main page is the 2015 rookie camp roster for the first game in Penticton that year, and the quote above is from a few years ago looking back at that 2015 rookie crop. These years later, the GP comparison for the 2010 and 2015 draft currently sits:
- 2010 rookie camp 4848
- 2015 rookie camp 3220
I imagine the Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Jeff Petry group will be caught and passed by the McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse combo, but it’ll be fun to track. Here’s a quick look at this year’s rookie roster.
Goalies: Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day, Eemil Vinni, Ryan Cameron
Samuel Jonsson is the gem here, I have him highly rated courtesy two strong seasons in a row. If he delivers well again this season, expect him to push for NHL time. Eemil Vinni and Ryan Cameron will be the new goalers to keep an eye on, Vinni has some draft pedigree and is regarded as a fine athlete.
Defense: Beau Akey, Damien Carfagna, Tomas Cilbulski, Andrew Robinson, Samuel Sjolund, Zach Bookman (invite), Kyle Heger (invite)
Damien Carfagna and Beau Akey are the players to watch here, I have NHL hopes for both. Tomas Cibulski is a Euro signing and Stan Bowman has done well in this area. Kyle Heger is an invite with interesting boxcars.
Forwards: Ike Howard, Josh Samanski, Quinn Hutson, Connor Clattenburg, Viljami Marjala, Owen Michaels, William Nicholl, Rhett Pitlick, David Lewandowski, Rudolfs Berzkalns, Cameron Harvey, Simon Tassy (invite), Weston Cameron (invite), Olli Wahlroos (invite)
Ike Howard should be the standout player at rookie camp, with Josh Samanski, Viljarmi Marjala, Quinn Hutson, Connor Clattenburg and Owen Michaels also showing well. I’m interested in seeing Berzkalns, who appears to be fairly complete save for the offense. I’m hoping he turns into a modern Gilles Tremblay.
Overall, I think Bowman and the Oilers scouting staff (both sides of the pond) have done well with limited draft picks. There’s no McDavid, Draisaitl, Hall or Eberle, but there is a future 20-goal scorer (Howard) and I hold out hope that Hutson can find a way to regular work and 15-goal seasons. If I’m guessing on a third forward to join those two, I’ll go with Josh Samanski. The second best NHL prospect in this camp (for me) is Samuel Jonsson. I also like Damien Carfagna’s future.
On the Lowdown today, our feature guest will be Steve Lansky. We’ll talk about the changes at Sportsnet, the Elks-Stamps game and hockey waking up from a summer slumber. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Why the Edmonton Oilers must add a top-6 forward this season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7581498/2026/09/11/edmonton-oilers-stats-trade-forwards/
John Klingberg has retired from pro hockey.
I wonder how often he thinks about the big long term contract he turned down – I believe it was from Dallas and in the $7MM or so range for term.
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I presume the flames will have a strong roster. I know Zane P. is playing and presume they have a bunch of other good prospects I’ve never heard of.
For the Oilers, no matter how good the flames might be, Samanski, Hutson and Howard should be overtly dominant. Samanski and Howard are NHL level players and Hutson is a tweener but an older tweener that should kill this tournament.
I am vey much looking forward to getting eyes on Barzkalns – I watched about 6 of his shifts in a USHL exhibition game last week – his size is noticeable but he didn’t really do anything notable in the shifts I watched.
I agree with this but first things first – establishing himself at the AHL level, he hasn’t even played a game at that level yet.
It will be fascinating how they split the 5 non-NHL goalies.
Will one be loaned up like Ungar last year or do they keep 3 in either the AHL or ECHL? If they do loan, will it be the kid, Vinni or someone more experienced at the N. American pro level.
Who pairs with Tomkins to start – Ungar or Jonsson? Do they keep both in the AHL?
I know this will start the conversation of getting rid of Tomkins and I truly understand and acknowledge the argument (and there is validity) but I remain firm that I don’t think the organization plans on doing that at all. Tomkins has value as the vet mentor to help the young goalie(s) and he’s also important for the on-ice success of the team and that IS important – a competitive/winning environment is important for prospect development and Tomkins provide very good AHL tending, a calmness in the chaos of the AHL and a floor.
Ya, sure, maybe an Ungar/Jonssson combo will be great from day 1 but there is real risk there – one has never played at that level and the other a cup of coffee that started off great but was very bad for 4 games at the end.
I doubt they move Tomkins.
There will be injuries, both Ungar and Jonsson will get their AHL games.
Along the Hitch-hiker’s Guide theme today, upon review of the official rookie camp roster I was disappointed to see there was no player wearing # 42.
That’s because The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything already belongs to Kapanen.
Im not in the “win at al costs and use what ever method you need to to achieve your goals ” camp .
I built 4 successful organizations and I never ,not once, had the mantra that I would use what ever method or ignore human decency or ethics to achieve my companies goals ..
You have a choice of how to do business as there are a number of ways to be successful . .The decisions the Oiler ownership and management have made to “win at all costs” is foreign to me and even if they do win the cup, to me it will forever be tainted ,I have been a Oiler fan since day one but …..Im out.
Thanks for sharing, bcoil. I mentioned this on the Lowdown and will briefly mention it now. The decision to move away from something that one is attached to is difficult, and in the grand scheme of things may appear to be not much at all. However, as time marches on the cumulative impact can be enormous over time.
I’m aways concerned when people hammer away at someone who is expressing something real and true to them. It means a lot to me that you felt comfortable sharing this here. Be well, all the best. If you ever care to pop back in, the light will be on and there’s beer in the fridge. 🙂
As he goes ” Quietly into the night”.