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Oilers linked to signing multiple college prospects and KHL forward
Photo credit: Stan Bowman with the Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers desperately need to add to their depleted prospect pool after years of being a contending team, and they'll now have options with their signing window open.
The Oilers have already been linked to a number of college free agent defenceman, but the team will also be casting their net wider to attract more talent.
Oilers linked to several prospect signings, college and KHL free agents
Oilers analyst Allan Mitchell recently ran through the list of prospects and players the team is now eligible to sign, and with their lower ranked prospect pool, they should be chasing many of these players.
Maxim Berezkin should be the top priority for the Oilers. Selected by the Oilers in the 5th round of the 2020 Draft, the Russian forward is now 23 years old and tore up the KHL earlier this season. Berezkin is considered one of the top prospects for the Oilers, so they need to get him to North America this season.
Next, the Oilers have a group of prospects that need contracts before their rights expire and are free to sign with other teams. They most notably include Luca Munzenberger, a mobile defenceman with size, and Nathaniel Day, a promising young OHL goalie.
As is always the case, a new GM (Bowman) often looks past the work of the previous manager (Holland) and that could impact Munzenberger and others.
Mitchell believes Bowman could neglect this group, to sign some of his own prospect projects like Paul Fischer, acquired from St. Louis, or pursue other targets.
Free agent prospects Oilers could sign this season
Allan Mitchell identified three college free agent prospects for the Oilers to sign: Marc Lajoie, TJ Hughes, and Gleb Veremyev.
Lajoie is a player from the University of Alberta Golden Bears, and has been brought into the Bakersfield Condors on a tryout contract. The Oilers should be able to seal the deal with him, and add the 6'6, 21 year old defenceman to their fold.
Veremyev is a 21 year old power forward playing with Colorado College, and has the physicality to surely become an NHLer. TJ Hughes is a smaller skill forward, with no relation to the Hughes brothers, but is making noise as an offensive prospect.
Hughes is not a big winger (5-foot-11, 185 lbs) and that may reduce the number of teams bidding for his professional services. He's 23 and has delivered in each of his three seasons with Michigan. If he signs with a Canadian team, Edmonton, Toronto or Montreal would seem to make the most sense.
- Allan Mitchell
- Allan Mitchell
The Oilers do desperately need to add young talent to their pool in any way they can while draft picks are harder to keep, and have lesser value. Signing these prospects is a huge start, and an area Edmonton's lacked in the past.
| POLL | ||
MARS 2 | 511 ANSWERS Oilers linked to signing multiple college prospects and KHL forward Do you think the Oilers have lacked in signing college free agents? | ||
| Yes | 373 | 73 % |
| No | 138 | 27 % |
| List of polls | ||
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