Top-20 Espoirs - EDMONTON OILERS


	Top-20 des meilleurs espoirs OILERS D' EDMONTON Analyses de Scott Wheeler de The Athletic.
	1- Owen Power Défenseur 19 ans 6'6 214 lbs Repêché 1ier au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Power has blown me away this year. He was the best player on the ice by a wide margin when I went down to Ann Arbour to watch the Wolverines play at the end of November. And he was equally impressive in Edmonton before the world juniors were cancelled. I think he’s the best player in college hockey this season. He walks through traffic with such ease for his size (6-foot-6), side-stepping defenders to his backhand and then making plays off of his backhand to teammates as coverage caves in on him. He’s activating to join the rush, even while shorthanded. He understands when to sling a quick one-touch pass and when to hang onto it. He’s attacking off the line with ease. He hits seams as soon as they open. He makes a ton of little plays on outlets under pressure. His ability to play off of his heels and the push to his toes, given his size, is remarkable. He’s got this uncanny ability to spin under pressure in the corner, dragging pucks through his feet and pivoting in one smooth motion to escape and advance the play. He sees the ice beautifully in possession. He wants to be involved deep into the offensive zone whenever he can. He shapes play on his edges with his footwork and crossovers like a smaller player. He breaks down the play and executes east-to-west at an advanced level. His unique skating ability for his size allows him to cover the sheet quickly, though there are still times when I’d like to see him be more aggressive defending in neutral ice (he does a great job filling and taking space inside the defensive zone on the penalty kill). He does a wonderful job adjusting around the first layer. He consistently reads the play effectively, processing at high speeds when pace ratchets up. I’m extremely confident he’s going to be a star in the NHL at this point and I can’t wait to see him in the NHL. "

	2- Zion Nybeck Ailier Droit / Ailier Gauche / Centre 19 ans 5'8 183 lbs Repêché 43ie au total en 2020 par Edmonton.	" There are far more outcomes for Nybeck’s career that end shy of the NHL than that end in it. That’s the reality when you’re listed at 5-foot-6 by a league where you can count on two hands the number of players that size who’ve ever played in it. In fact, most of the players listed below him here are probably more likely to play games in the NHL than he is. But Nybeck’s talent gap and tools suggest he may have a chance at becoming an exception to the rule and this project is about balancing that possibility against the upside of other players. His age-adjusted production in Sweden’s top junior league remain remarkable and while questions about his size and skating (his skating being the bigger issue than his size) are fair, everything else in Nybeck’s game points in the same direction as his results do. Inside the offensive zone, Nybeck is evasive with the puck on his stick, sliding under and around defenders to play through layers and quickly finishing plays when he’s left open. His ability to stutter and make defenders bite are high end, and he manages his limitations well all told. He’s going to have to learn to play faster as he progresses up levels, and he’s always going to struggle a little in board battles physically (though he is stocky for his size) but every player has drawbacks at this point in a list and I like his assets a whole lot. He’s a long-term project but I expect him to become a top offensive creator at every level below the NHL in time. Then it will become about breaking through. "

	3- Simon Holmstrom Ailier Droit / Ailier Gauche 20 ans 6'1 194 lbs Repêché 25ie au total en 2019 par Edmonton.	" It’s been a bit of a slower burn for Holmstrom over the last two and half seasons in the AHL. And within that, it’s easy to lose sight of just how young he still is. There was also a pandemic in the middle of it. So I’m not going to belabor the point and re-hash the decision to play him in the AHL. The focus here should remain on the player and the player is beginning to make real progress and show some signs of proximity to the NHL. He’s beginning to adjust to coverage, take what’s given, and problem-solve through or away from traffic with his skill and smarts as he did against his peers growing up. His ability to anticipate the play, particularly as a passer but also in the routes he takes, is becoming more evident. He still gets caught on the perimeter and chops through his stride a little too much, but there has been enough progress there not to rule out a future as a complementary piece. "

	4- Prokhor Poltapov Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit 18 ans 6'0 176 lbs Repêché 53ie au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Poltapov plays a tenacious, driven style that complements a decent skill package. He can take the play at the opposition and attack the slot. He’s the heartbeat of whatever line he usually plays on. He plays fast (he’s a strong, balanced skater and he makes decisions quickly), works hard off the puck to get open and apply pressure defensively, thrives in the guts of the ice and has enough skill to get to the net and fight through traffic with control to score around the home plate area. He can also involve his linemates and is the kind of player who is always in the mix and making something happen when he’s on the ice. But his skill doesn’t “wow” me and I’ve often told people that I usually come away from watching him play thinking “he’s good, but?” He tops out as more of bottom-six contributor, but I like his projection into that kind of a role. He’s a good player. "

	5- Dylan Holloway Centre / Ailier Gauche 20 ans 6'1 203 lbs Repêché 17ie au total en 2020 par Edmonton.	" Since the release of the Oilers’ 2021 prospects ranking on January 23 of last year, Holloway has, as I write this, only played a total of 15 new games (all of which were when he was still with the Badgers before either of his two wrist surgeries). The good news is that before the first of those surgeries last March, Holloway was playing the best hockey of his career. In that 15-game evaluation period, he registered 25 points, stamping himself as one of the top players in college hockey. In the month of February, immediately after last year’s ranking was published, he was named the national player of the month. He has looked every bit the part of the fast, powerful, physical, forechecking presence that he has always been, and which always gave him a third-line floor, but with the skill that gives him top-six upside. Holloway has always been an explosive skater who is normally the most athletic player on the ice. But he’s also got quick-twitch hands that keep up with his feet and a powerful wrist shot release which help him manufacture offence both off the rush and cutting off the wall to the slot to power past checks and get to dangerous spots to create chances. I’m still of the belief that he’s better suited for the wing than centre, but his versatility at both positions doesn’t hurt either. He’s going to give his line a different look and provide value and punch in all three zones, on both special teams. He stays in every battle, supports play, plays hard, and can beat defenders to his spots. But he has always been much more than that, too. Here’s hoping he’s back to himself in short order. "

	6- Cole Schwindt Centre / Ailier Droit 20 ans 6'2 183 lbs Repêché 99ie au total en 2019 par Edmonton.	" Schwindt has always had the makings of a good role player and this year has has begun to show he’s more than that at the AHL level so that he can become that at the NHL level. He has been one of Charlotte’s top players, using his pro size and a workman’s approach to play to the inside, go to the net, and stay on pucks with his above-average overall skill and good instincts. He has also cleaned up his skating mechanics by the looks of it (he used to really drag his toes across the ice on his recovery but he has made some progress there) to round out his game. I don’t think he’ll be more than a bottom-six player at the next level but his odds of becoming an everyday guy instead of a fringe guy have definitely improved from low to medium. "

	7- William Wallinder Défenseur 19 ans 6'4 190 lbs Repêché 33ie au total en 2020 par Detroit.	" Wallinder’s game has always screamed “upside” and “potential” and this year we’re beginning to see it all come together for him in the SHL. His raw tools all get high grades. He’s tall (6-foot-4) and long. He’s athletic. He’s got impressive four-way mobility for that size. And he’s still early in his development curve thanks t a late-July birthday. It’s the finer details and skills that have needed tweaking. I like the confidence he plays with for his size, regularly leading rushes or sliding off the line to the backdoor. He keeps his head up to find seams when he walks the line. He’s always going to have major transition value (both ways) because of his ability to swallow carriers in neutral ice and use his feet to activate into the rush. But now his shot has started to balance out (it used to look off balance and uncoordinated), his decision-making has polished, and he’s getting himself into less trouble on gaps and reads because he’s starting to figure out his timing. After starting the season playing less than 10 minutes a night in the early going, he played 23:38 in my last viewing and has moved from depth defender to important roster piece there. If he keeps it up, he may do the same in Detroit eventually. There are several D after Edvinsson in the Red Wings pool who project as No. 5-7 guys. Wallinder’s got the tools to be a second-pairing guy if he stays on this trajectory. "

	8- Maxim Cajkovic Ailier Droit 20 ans 6'0 201 lbs Repêché 83ie au total en 2019 par Edmonton.	" Cajkovic is a prospect who, for a couple of years, I was quite high on from a talent standpoint, believing he was more than his good-but-not-great production. Then, over time, the production never found that next level, concerns over his attitude, frustration and body language lingered, his skating never found a needed next step (he’s decently quick in short bursts but his stride breaks down over time) and it became harder and harder for me to project the skill forward. When he keeps himself involved in plays, I’ve seen his skill take over. He’s got good touch on the puck, with an ability to execute difficult plays and passes. But the consistency just hasn’t been there, which leaves him as a boom or bust prospect whose odds are long. "

	9- Ryan Johnson Défenseur 20 ans 6'0 170 lbs Repêché 35ie au total en 2019 par Edmonton.	" Johnson just continues to progress nicely along a steady incline (without necessarily taking off up a steep one). He has become one of the top play-driving defencemen in college hockey, with excellent on-ice results and the underlying five-on-five numbers to reflect that. Johnson’s biggest asset is his four-way skating and footwork. He can dictate play with his feet, whether that’s side-stepping pressure through the neutral zone, spinning off of it in an escape under pressure in his own zone, or walking the line in the offensive zone. He adjusts in and out of space effectively and does a great job opening up lanes to pass into (though he’s not much of a shot threat and his comfort with the puck doesn’t include a particularly aggressive style per se). There are actually times where I’d like him to use his feet more often in those ways, instead of just pivoting into an outlet pass when he sees one. There’s room in his game for him to take control a little more. Defensively he gaps the rush effectively and defends within his own zone with smart reads and routes. He’s not likely going to be a big special-teams guy in the NHL, which could limit his upside, but I like him as a possession-driving No. 4-5 who drives results at both ends even-strength. He has also played both sides in college, which gives him some flexibility. "

	10- Alexander Chmelevski Centre / Ailier Droit 22 ans 6'0 187 lbs Signé à titre d'agent libre en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Chmelevski’s a player who just gets it. He knows where to be on the ice at all times, he’s always a step ahead of the play on his reads, and he understands how to play within a team’s structure in ways many young players don’t. I hate terms like “hockey IQ” because they mean different things to different people and specificity should replace ambiguity wherever possible in player evaluation, but when I think of what it means to me, Chmelevski’s playing style is front of mind. It’s about tracking the play, it’s about anticipating what comes next, and it’s about knowing how to navigate around the sheet of ice to get the most out of your game. Chmelevski has that. And then he also has the tangible tools you need to execute, with a good feel around the net, NHL puck skill, and enough playmaking knack. He’s getting older, he’s neither big nor fast, and his production is good but not enough to force a full-time role. But I still think he’d be a successful complementary NHL player who can play with different types of linemates tomorrow. His entry-level contract expires at the end of this season so I’ll be interested to see what the Sharks do with him because he’ll have to clear waivers next season and I’d like to see him get a real NHL look. "

	11- John-Jason Peterka Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit / Centre 19 ans 5'11 192 lbs Repêché 49ie au total en 2020 par Edmonton.	" You can add Peterka to the list of Sabres prospects whose seasons have gone about as well as you could hope for. He’s one of the AHL’s best young players and his middle-six projection now feels firm. Peterka’s game is built around his athleticism, his dexterity, and his ability to powerfully drive the net and forecheck. But he has also learned to focus less on the net, he has built some east-west creativity into his toolkit, and he has added dimensions to his shot (which has always been a strength but now features, for example, a useful one-timer). He used to play exclusively on instinct and feel, rather than calm and patience. And while that’s still central to his game, he has learned to slow and play at tempos other than his buzzsaw one. I don’t think he’s going to put up big counting stats at the next level, but Peterka’s going to be a fan favourite for his style of play, his effort level, and his competitiveness. He just goes out on the ice and makes things happen. "

	12- Ilya Fedotov Ailier Gauche 18 ans 6'1 176 lbs Repêché 65ie au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Despite mediocre production last season, Fedotov’s high-intensity, active games pushed him into a KHL role this season (with a couple of excellent pitstops in the junior level MHL mixed in). I was extremely critical of the Coyotes’ selection of Fedotov (a player I wouldn’t have considered drafting until the final rounds in 2021) in the second round, and I still am, but I’ve also liked what I’ve seen out of him this year and he looks like a better prospect than I gave him credit for. He’s got good size, he always seems to be involved in the play, he protects the puck well, and he has begun to develop more of a comfort level as a playmaker. I still think he’s too much of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get guy and we won’t know what he is for years yet, but he’s worth monitoring for sure. "

	13- Nolan Allan Défenseur 18 ans 6'2 194 lbs Repêché 49ie au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Even as the game changes and the makeup of a team’s group of six defenders tilts away from specific roles toward defensemen who are well-rounded, there are still teams that covet the strong, shutdown defenders. That’s a fine thing to covet, I think, when those defenders also project to be able to handle the pressures, speeds and congestion that every NHL D now requires. And if they don’t have those things, drafting them and working with them to develop them is also fine, if the range is appropriate. In Allan’s case, I think the Blackhawks saw the way he defended at worlds (which was quite well!), got carried away by that showing, and drafted him about two or three rounds two early. He skates well, he’s got length, he defends through neutral ice effectively and he plays hard shift-to-shift. Those are desirable qualities, for sure. But even as he has tried to do more offensively in Prince Albert this season, and his production has modestly improved, it’s clear he’s not going to be much more with the puck than a player who lifts his head and hits the first available stick at the next level. He’ll take space when it’s given to him in the WHL, and occasionally beat the first layer of pressure to show some poise, but neither of those things are consistent in his game. He was a safe pick as a kid who likely projects to play NHL games. But even if/when he gets there, there will be several players taken shortly after him who make his selection look like a head-scratcher. "

	14- Ethan Edwards Défenseur 19 ans 5'11 185 lbs Repêché 145ie au total en 2020 par Edmonton.	" After rotating in and out of the Wolverines’ lineup a little early on his career on a deep blue line, Edwards has started to settle in of late. He’s a player who looks way better than his numbers and frame indicate. He’s a fabulous skater with extremely impressive edgework through his crossovers, rotations, and pivots, playing a tight, glued-to-your-hip gap in the neutral zone and effortlessly maneuvering inside the offensive zone. He’s also a sneaky-physical, pesky player for his size, frequently stepping up to deliver hits or engaging physically along the wall instead of looking to win back possession with his feet and stick (which can be a bit of a blessing and a curse for smaller defenders who feel the need to involve themselves more than they sometimes have to). Edwards is tremendous on exits and entries, does a great job creating passing and shooting lanes with his feet, but doesn’t make as many plays as he probably should. A late birthday should work in his favour, giving him the time he needs to put it all together and find another level offensively. He gets full marks for his skating and aggressiveness. "

	15- Simon Lundmark Défenseur 21 ans 6'2 201 lbs Repêché 51ie au total en 2019 par Edmonton.	" After a fairly linear progression for a mid-level prospect in Sweden, Lundmark has been fine in his first season in the AHL. He’s an above-average player in most of the areas you’d like a modern defender to be but lacks a dynamic quality. The challenge with that is that on top of what’s in front of him on the depth chart in Winnipeg, players like him typically need a lot to go their way to become No. 6 or No. 7 D (the right coach, the right opportunity at the right time, etc.) to begin with. He’s a smooth skater without being explosive. He’s a heady passer on outlets and within the offensive zone, without stretching the ice or breaking plays open east-to-west. He’s comfortable pivoting away from pressure without caving to the forecheck, but he’s not going to hang onto the puck too long. He’s got pro size and strength but he could stand to leverage them more than he does. I like him more as organizational depth than the kind of guy who plays every day. "

	16- Hunter Skinner Défenseur 20 ans 6'3 190 lbs Repêché 115ie au total en 2019 par Edmonton.	" After turning a last-minute call from Team USA at the world juniors and an ECHL contract with the Utah Grizzlies into a late-March entry-level contract with the Rangers last season, Skinner has played well in his first full season with Hartford this year. A couple of the folks I’ve talked to think he has been better than Robertson, the consensus better prospect to this point in their careers. Skinner is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-shot defender whose confidence with the puck has come a long way over the years, turning his once reserved game into more of a 200-foot one. His value is felt more prominently on the defensive side of the puck still but he has always had impressive athleticism (he skates well and has made real progress with his stride) and there is a sense that his best is still to come. He’s hard to play against because of his active stick, good positioning, and willing physicality (without chasing for it). And he’s consistent in his habits with the puck to advance play up ice and take only what’s given to him. He should provide the Rangers with some nice organizational depth within the next couple of years if some of the bigger names run into injury troubles. "

	17- Ryan Winterton Centre / Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit 18 ans 6'2 190 lbs Repêché 81ie au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Winterton’s one of the toughest prospects in the sport to evaluate right now because he’s going on 700 days since his last OHL game in March of 2020. He played at the U18 worlds last spring, and played well in a depth role there, but that’s all I’ve had to go by for some time now after he hurt his shoulder in Kraken camp. Whenever he has played, and dating back to his rookie season in Hamilton and even his minor hockey career before that, though, Winterton has impressed me (and has impressed others enough to have been brought up to me as a sleeper repeatedly by NHL and OHL folks during the 2021 draft year). He’s a rangy winger who plays a predominantly straight lines, north-south game that is built upon a dangerous in-motion release, a strong give-and-go game, and offensive zone instincts that allow him to time his routes into space to get open or pounce on rebounds. He’s the kind of player who gets into the thick of things when there are battles to be won but can also hide off of coverage when there aren’t. He’s also a superb defensive player who stays above the puck when he needs to, tracks the play effectively, and wins those battles with body positioning, lifts and steals. He needs to get back playing for an extended stretch before anyone can come to any real conclusions, but he was one of the youngest players in the 2021 draft so he’s got the benefit of time on his hands. And if he can use that time to his advantage, he might develop into a bottom-six winger down the line. "

	18- Jakub Brabenec Centre 18 ans 6'0 154 lbs Repêché 129ie au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" While Hallum was one of the youngest players in the 2020 draft, Brabenec was one of the youngest players in the 2021 class (are you sensing a theme here with the Golden Knights?). In that context, his point-per-game rookie season in the QMJHL is a good start in this next chapter of his career (one that should presumably follow a steeper incline than his peers). He’s already an athletic kid (who has plenty of room to get physically strong) who boasts good passing intuition and creativity on the puck. He’s a player to watch as a breakout candidate in the QMJHL next season when the Islanders lose some of their core pieces and he’s allowed to try to do more offensively. "

	19- Cole Huckins Centre 18 ans 6'4 198 lbs Repêché 97ie au total en 2021 par Edmonton.	" Huckins is a versatile 6-foot-4 forward who has had success playing both centre and wing in the QMJHL (though he’s primarily a winger) without becoming a true top-of-the-league performer yet. He’s an aggressive forechecker who extends through his pushes to elongate his stride and push up ice. Moving forward, he’s an above-average skater for his size (though it can break down when he has to change directions or stop and start). He finishes his checks, stays on top of opposing players to apply pressure and force board battles, and then excels at taking possession from the wall and making an aggressive play. Given all of the attributes he has and his ability to overwhelm his peers when he’s feeling himself, I’m still waiting for Huckins to produce more, but he has some pro attributes to build upon. He’s a dexterous player for his size, regularly catching tough passes and getting his stick onto point shots (which he needs to do because he’s not a natural finisher from distance). There may be a depth piece there someday with the right development. "