He is 6.0, 175 and has plus speed and smarts. He is a RH center. Scored 24-32-56 in 68 games for the Kamloops Blazers. He is the seventh Kamloops player to be chosen, Edmonton notably drafting Devan Dubnyk and Daryl Reaugh in previous selections. Lafreniere is described here as a ‘smaller Nick Suzuki’ and I have all kinds of time for that player.
Overall, the position targeting is a good one, we don’t know what we don’t know about his offensive development but the foot speed is there so he can play middle-six NHL if he can score enough in pro. NHLE is 20 pts per 82 gp, Sam O’Reilly was 22 NHLE one year ago. Both men had the same GP and point totals in their respective draft seasons.
Because of the pick swap with NSH, the Oilers actually have fewer picks next year (4) than this (5). Meanwhile, they have all their ’27 picks except for Round 4.
If neither Vinni nor Salonen get taken in the CHL Import Draft next Wednesday–and they’d have to report even if selected–the NAmateurs could look like this next season as it stands:
London (O’Reilly, Nicholl)
Kamloops (Lafreniere)
Saskatoon (Lewandowski)
UMass-Lowell (Wakely)
Michigan (Park, Barnett*)
Notre Dame (Fischer)
St. Thomas (Berry)
This assumes Day, Clattenburg, and Akey are not returned to junior.
*Apparently, Barnett will be playing for Michigan this fall already.
I can’t argue with the player types they are drafting. In fact I like it. A lot better than trying to find the next Datsyuk in later rounds, or taking some defensive D that can’t skate, way more likely to get a player this way. We’ve seen enough picks that were long, long shots to play in the NHL because of size or skating, or temperament
Tarkus
June 28, 2025 3:03 pm
Oilers select Aidan Park, a 6’1″ RHC from Green Bay in the USHL at #223.
Park is a clever centre with a never-say-die motor and polished defensive habits. He combines non-stop movement with puck- winning skills, puck-protection ability, and an assertive defensive game. He scans often and makes plays quickly, gets to the net, and fires off the catch with power and precision.
He’s a Michigan commit who is talented, smart and competitive. He plays a mature game. He’s got some two-way elements. He’s got a desire to win and stays on pucks and plays the game with pace, whether hunting pucks or pushing through arms and sticks to drive to the slot or the net in control of them. He then has good-to-very-good hands in tight when he gets there, which allows him to tuck and finish plays around the crease and has made him a tremendous bumper/goal-line guy on multiple power plays now. He keeps his feet moving to stay involved, get open and track pucks, and has shown he can play both center and right wing. He’s a C-grade prospect who should become an impactful collegiate player as an upperclassman and if he doesn’t get picked, I wonder if he makes a case for a pro contract in four years. I think he’s got the tools to be a top-nine AHLer, for sure.
Tarkus
June 28, 2025 2:33 pm
200 picks in, and LT’s man Reese Hamilton is still available.
Farris
June 28, 2025 2:31 pm
Sorry haven’t really been following along other then reading the blog is that now it for our picks ?
If so we ended up with 2 forwards RH ?. ONE big LHD and a Finn goalie ?
Reportage like this will get you the Helsinki bureau chief post too!
Tarkus
June 28, 2025 1:50 pm
Lafreniere and Lewandowski were not ranked on McKenzie’s top 80 list, but both were among the 20 honorable mentions.
Strapping Jocks
June 28, 2025 1:48 pm
I would have giggled like a little kid if we had drafted a goalie named ‘Mans Goos’
Skippy - the bush kangaroo
June 28, 2025 1:18 pm
Who knows if these guys will ever make it; but I’m happy that both forwards drafted have ‘goes to the front of the net’ in their prospect report – Something that a gripe of mine with the current oilers.
Tarkus
June 28, 2025 1:13 pm
Oilers swap their 5th next year to NSH and takes Asher Barnett at #131, a LHD from US NTDP. 6’1″, 200.
Bringing a little bit of everything defensively, Barnett wins his minutes with transition passing, physicality, and defensive details. He punishes net-front attackers with crosschecks and then detaches to intercept the puck carrier behind the net for a stop. He wins inside position, proactively engages opponents, and tips away passes – all key traits for strong off-puck defenders moving forward.
Seems a bit like a more physical Paul Fischer as his skating sounds like a strong point. Seems like a solid pick here, late birthday too. Kid is from Illinois, willing to bet Stan has some viewings of him similar to Fischer.
€√¥£€^$
June 28, 2025 1:13 pm
I love this pick, kind of an SOR vibe, without the great team or Center role, based his stats, he probably lined up at centre for 15 games, likely due to injuries.
Not much PP opportunities given to this player (4 PPG), so that should result in a spike in production next year. He had 18 games where he had 5 or more SOG, including 1 with 11 (1g in that game). His stats were very similar in the first half of the season compared to the second, so no big offensive spike, which usually means an improved draft position.
Excellent work ethic and has a chip on his shoulder. With more strength and improved edges, this kid could make some noise in the coming years.
Great pick, IMO!
rev.hans
June 28, 2025 1:00 pm
Cool that he’s from the hockey hotbed of Hornby Island (NOT a hockey hotbed; kids and parents have to catch two ferries to get ice time). This is very close to my part of the world. Wishing him well.
He won’t wow you but he’s an intelligent player who thinks the game well, has pro size and is just very cerebral as a player and kid. He also started playing in the WHL with a pair of 16-year-olds, Cooper Williams and Zac Olsen, and became a reliable, almost veteran player for them right away. My challenge with Lewandowski is that I don’t know if he has enough skill or speed to be more than just a guy at the next level. But he does seem to have the rest in terms of the way he thinks it and operates. He’s a good player.
@StLouisBlues Joel Hofer won’t be subject to offer sheets after signing a two-year contract extension worth $6.8 million ($3.4 million AAV). #stlblues
misfit
June 28, 2025 12:48 pm
I think he scored well as a rookie especially considering how bad his team was, and I always love those tenacious, high motor players.
Despite knowing nothing about him going in, I like the pick. My expectations going forward do match that he was a mid-late 3rd rounder though
misfit
June 28, 2025 12:45 pm
Kamloops’ website lists him as a RW, but lots of the scouting reports I saw online called him a center.
His official combine height and weight are 5’11.5” and 175lbs. Blazers website slights him by half an inch and 4lbs. Who knows when those measurements were taken though.
I posted in the other thread, but with Kamloops’ top forwards moving on next year, he’ll be good to follow as the Blazers’ offense will be lead by Lafreniere and Behm who went earlier in the same round to Chicago
Travis Hayes – small RW who fits the skilled battler mold; will likely play on a good Soo team the next couple years, too (Sept birthday!!!) EDIT: he just got drafted by PIT
Carson Cameron – smart, aggressive RD with a defensive focus on a baaad Petes team; good skater with strong lateral movement
Will Sharpe – strong skating, assertive two-way LD whose production suffered after a midseason trade to a bad Kelowna, but was producing nicely prior
Jamiro Reber – late birthday overage two-way C that produced solid number with HV71 in the SHL
I have time for Cameron or Sharpe for sure. Also like Reese Hamiltom or Anthony Allain-Samake at this point for dmen and David Lewandoski, Gustav Hillstrom or Mads Kongsbak Klyvo as forwards.
Didn’t realise Hamilton was still on the board! He’d be a good target with his combo of skating and the fact that he’ll be passing to Schultz for the next couple years.
Scouting report sounds like a player that could fit a middle or bottom six role in the future for this team as non-core pieces continue aging out. Now just keep working hard, kid!
Todd Macallan
June 28, 2025 12:19 pm
Fan of this one! Hoping Cameron Schmidt falls to 117 somehow but lots of interesting names out there still.
Looks to me as though he’s kind of in the Sam O’Reilly mode (two-way C with some skill) save for the physical edge. We’ll see. He certainly scored enough.
Because of the pick swap with NSH, the Oilers actually have fewer picks next year (4) than this (5). Meanwhile, they have all their ’27 picks except for Round 4.
If neither Vinni nor Salonen get taken in the CHL Import Draft next Wednesday–and they’d have to report even if selected–the NAmateurs could look like this next season as it stands:
London (O’Reilly, Nicholl)
Kamloops (Lafreniere)
Saskatoon (Lewandowski)
UMass-Lowell (Wakely)
Michigan (Park, Barnett*)
Notre Dame (Fischer)
St. Thomas (Berry)
This assumes Day, Clattenburg, and Akey are not returned to junior.
*Apparently, Barnett will be playing for Michigan this fall already.
Park needs to work on his strength, it seems like he will play for the Hitmen next season.
From what I can gather online, he only joined the Hitmen for the playoffs, and he will be in Michigan this fall.
I guess we’ll know soon enough?
Toward the end of his media availability, Park confirms he’s going to Michigan next season.
I can’t argue with the player types they are drafting. In fact I like it. A lot better than trying to find the next Datsyuk in later rounds, or taking some defensive D that can’t skate, way more likely to get a player this way. We’ve seen enough picks that were long, long shots to play in the NHL because of size or skating, or temperament
Oilers select Aidan Park, a 6’1″ RHC from Green Bay in the USHL at #223.
Overager, turned 19 in January.
From Elite Prospects:
Motor seems to be the name of the game under Bowman.
Another profile: https://thehockeywriters.com/aidan-park-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/
Calgary owns his WHL rights–he suited up for three playoff games with them–but he also has a chance to go to Michigan this fall.
His uncle is former NHLer Richard Park.
Wheeler had Park at #10 on his list of draft-eligible overagers:
200 picks in, and LT’s man Reese Hamilton is still available.
Sorry haven’t really been following along other then reading the blog is that now it for our picks ?
If so we ended up with 2 forwards RH ?. ONE big LHD and a Finn goalie ?
One more pick, #223.
Lewandowski is a LH shot.
Gotcha thanks !
And one last pick in Round 7
Here is a neat perspective of Lafreniere that was created before the WHL season got underway.
https://youtu.be/fkEdNZ7KqUA?si=xA9ATEvSOIkWhQrH
Oilers select Daniel Salonen, a 6’3″ Finnish goalie at #191.
A rare right handed catcher.
Also an overager, having turned 19 in December.
Had an absolutely dominant season at the U20 level. Won best goalie and league mvp, .933 and 4 SO.
Reportage like this will get you the Helsinki bureau chief post too!
Lafreniere and Lewandowski were not ranked on McKenzie’s top 80 list, but both were among the 20 honorable mentions.
I would have giggled like a little kid if we had drafted a goalie named ‘Mans Goos’
Who knows if these guys will ever make it; but I’m happy that both forwards drafted have ‘goes to the front of the net’ in their prospect report – Something that a gripe of mine with the current oilers.
Oilers swap their 5th next year to NSH and takes Asher Barnett at #131, a LHD from US NTDP. 6’1″, 200.
Committed to Michigan for 2026-27.
From Elite Prospects:
Captain of his U18 team per the Sportsnet panel…and poise!!
And also scored 2-4-6 in 7 GP at that tourney.
Another good Barnett profile:
https://thehockeywriters.com/asher-barnett-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/
Seems a bit like a more physical Paul Fischer as his skating sounds like a strong point. Seems like a solid pick here, late birthday too. Kid is from Illinois, willing to bet Stan has some viewings of him similar to Fischer.
I love this pick, kind of an SOR vibe, without the great team or Center role, based his stats, he probably lined up at centre for 15 games, likely due to injuries.
Not much PP opportunities given to this player (4 PPG), so that should result in a spike in production next year. He had 18 games where he had 5 or more SOG, including 1 with 11 (1g in that game). His stats were very similar in the first half of the season compared to the second, so no big offensive spike, which usually means an improved draft position.
Excellent work ethic and has a chip on his shoulder. With more strength and improved edges, this kid could make some noise in the coming years.
Great pick, IMO!
Cool that he’s from the hockey hotbed of Hornby Island (NOT a hockey hotbed; kids and parents have to catch two ferries to get ice time). This is very close to my part of the world. Wishing him well.
Colorado Avalanche select Tobias Funke
Bad pick. His development has been arrested.
Haha more jokes per minute here than the show itself. There are dozens of them. Dozens!
Oilers select David Lewandowski from the Blades at #117.
6’2″ LW, originally from Drai-land.
Wheeler had Lewandowski at 90 on his list:
Drafting a young German kid playing in the Dub?
sounds good to me
is there a precedent? 😉
As long as the Joe Colbourne comparisons start to fly, I think there’s a chance.
@StLouisBlues
Joel Hofer won’t be subject to offer sheets after signing a two-year contract extension worth $6.8 million ($3.4 million AAV). #stlblues
I think he scored well as a rookie especially considering how bad his team was, and I always love those tenacious, high motor players.
Despite knowing nothing about him going in, I like the pick. My expectations going forward do match that he was a mid-late 3rd rounder though
Kamloops’ website lists him as a RW, but lots of the scouting reports I saw online called him a center.
His official combine height and weight are 5’11.5” and 175lbs. Blazers website slights him by half an inch and 4lbs. Who knows when those measurements were taken though.
I posted in the other thread, but with Kamloops’ top forwards moving on next year, he’ll be good to follow as the Blazers’ offense will be lead by Lafreniere and Behm who went earlier in the same round to Chicago
He didn’t take many FOs (~300) but managed to win around 50% of them.
I posted the height and weight from NHL.com.
Other names I’ll be hoping for include:
Travis Hayes – small RW who fits the skilled battler mold; will likely play on a good Soo team the next couple years, too (Sept birthday!!!) EDIT: he just got drafted by PIT
Carson Cameron – smart, aggressive RD with a defensive focus on a baaad Petes team; good skater with strong lateral movement
Will Sharpe – strong skating, assertive two-way LD whose production suffered after a midseason trade to a bad Kelowna, but was producing nicely prior
Jamiro Reber – late birthday overage two-way C that produced solid number with HV71 in the SHL
I have time for Cameron or Sharpe for sure. Also like Reese Hamiltom or Anthony Allain-Samake at this point for dmen and David Lewandoski, Gustav Hillstrom or Mads Kongsbak Klyvo as forwards.
Haha oh man of course Klyvo goes to Florida.
Didn’t realise Hamilton was still on the board! He’d be a good target with his combo of skating and the fact that he’ll be passing to Schultz for the next couple years.
Got your wish!
The Dusseldorf Dangler!
FWIW he was high on my list 🙂 Work ethic, skill, skating and playing on a bad team makes his numbers look unimpressive.
Scouting report sounds like a player that could fit a middle or bottom six role in the future for this team as non-core pieces continue aging out. Now just keep working hard, kid!
Fan of this one! Hoping Cameron Schmidt falls to 117 somehow but lots of interesting names out there still.
Owen Conrad, a big LHD from Charlottetown wouldn’t break my heart either.
Schmidt to DAL at 94.
Fourth in team scoring on a horrawful Kamloops squad.
Looks to me as though he’s kind of in the Sam O’Reilly mode (two-way C with some skill) save for the physical edge. We’ll see. He certainly scored enough.
Could still grow 4 inches and put on 40 pounds. That will give him a physical edge. Can’t wait.