Edmonton Oilers interested in top undrafted NCAA free agent
Photo credit: Cornell Athletics
According to RG, the Edmonton Oilers are interested in signing Cornell University forward Dalton Bancroft as the league's hockey season comes to an end and players become available.
Bancroft along with his teammates are in the mix for a spot in the frozen 4 as they currently are scheduled to face Boston University in the Toledo regional final.
NCAA prospect offers size and other intangibles the Oilers need
The Oilers along with many other teams in the NHL of always looked to the NCAA to pick up free agents as they have not been drafted through the conventional means.
Bancroft has some intangibles that the Oilers are looking for it including size where he stands at six foot three and weighs 207 pounds.
He has played for Cornell University for the past three seasons and during his year this season, he had played 35 games scoring 15 goals with 11 assists for 26 points with 46 penalty minutes and is a + 10.
Prior to joining Cornell, Bancroft was a pretty good player with the Trenton
Golden Hawks of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He earned league MVP honors in 2021-22 after leading the league with 92 points in 54 games. Tyler Kuehl
Golden Hawks of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He earned league MVP honors in 2021-22 after leading the league with 92 points in 54 games. Tyler Kuehl
Several other teams in the NHL are looking at Bancroft including the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Winnipeg Jets.
Oilers expecting reinforcements for adding size
Meanwhile, the Oilers or waiting for reinforcements to arrive as Trent Frederic and Evander Kane are working their way back into the lineup who will also give the Oilers physical play and size that will be needed during the playoff run.
The Oilers learned quickly during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs that teams like the Florida Panthers are building their rosters around the ability to throw their weight around and grind down their opponents through physical play.
It remains to be seen on how effective both players will be as they have missed time playing the game and will require a few games to get back up to speed.
With their depleted lineup, the Oilers will be at home on Saturday March 29th to face off against their provincial rivals the Calgary Flames in another edition of the battle of Alberta which is set to begin at 10:00 PM eastern.
Source: Oilers Nation
Oilers reportedly among teams interested in NCAA free agent Dalton Bancroft
Oilers reportedly among teams interested in NCAA free agent Dalton Bancroft
| POLL | ||
MARS 28 | 405 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers interested in top undrafted NCAA free agent Do you think the Oilers should sign NCAA top prospect Dalton Bancroft? | ||
| Yes | 331 | 81.7 % |
| No | 74 | 18.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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