Oilers defenseman moves into top-tier rankings as feature prospect
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers were so impressed with defense-prospect Beau Akey, that they signed him to a 3-year entry-level contract in October 2023, shortly after he was drafted by them at 56th overall.
The contract included a signing-bonus of $285K, and had a cap hit of $812K. Yet, it's not only his club that is impressed with the 20-year old's skillset and huge upside, but by analysts across the NHL.
According to the 2025 Prospect Countdown report, Beau Akey is the number 4 ranked prospect in the Oilers' system. In his draft year of 2023, Beau was also regarded as one of the top defenseman in his class, raking 32nd overall by Elite Prospects and 33rd by NHL Central Scouting.
«With his precise and powerful footwork," the 2023 Draft Guide reported, "he can shadow attackers and push them to the outside, pinch on opponents in the offensive zone before they can break out the puck, and absorb and box out attackers rushing to the slot. Some of his best work came off his ability to anticipate players on the rush and use his stick to poke pucks away, as well as while chasing puck carriers in his own end.»
Despite his strong rookie years with the Barrie Colts, and his impressive development to that point in his career, Akey was injured in his post-draft campaign (2023-24); he cut his season short to undergo surgery. Yet, it seems his character grew from that experience.
"I had been battling injuries with that same shoulder for a while, and it was actually kind of nice to have the surgery and be able to recover fully from that injury,» Beau Akey said. «Seeing the game from up in the stands, it's a lot different than being on the ice. It allows you to get that coach's perspective, like getting your head up a lot more, and you can visualize those plays coaches are talking about when you're sitting up there in the stands.»
Following his four years of junior hockey, 2025-26 will be Beau's first foray into professional hockey. As Edmonton's top D-prospect, he will face competition, as well as high expectations, battling for minutes with other defense-prospects and vets alike, with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 14 | 243 ANSWERS Oilers defenseman moves into top-tier rankings as feature prospect Do you think Beau Akey has top-4 defense potential? | ||
| yes | 145 | 59.7 % |
| no | 98 | 40.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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