Top end Oilers' prospect sidelined long term after serious surgery
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
According to a London Kinghts public relations announcement, top Oilers' prospect Will Nicholl will miss 4-6 months of the upcoming season after successful upper-body surgery.
The timing of the surgery could not have come at a worse time, given the start of hockey season in the next two months, and training camp a month before that.
Late-round draft pick explodes to rise in Oilers' prospect pool
As early as last year, Nicholl was ranked as only the 23rd best prospect in the Oilers' system; this year he's ranked 7th. The top Oiler's prospect analyst had this to say of Will Nicholls:
«His confidence with the puck. His pace. His touch. His finish. William Nicholl has some tools he can use. Nicholl uses these tools in combination with a really strong commitment to playing responsible hockey.»
Nineteen-year old Nicholl has played three years of junior with the London Knights, and qualifies for a 4th year. How this news impacts, not only his development, but his pro-eligibility, is uncertain at this time. He may choose to remain the additional year in junior, if his recovery does not progress as hoped.
But with skills such as his, the chances of surpassing expectations are pretty good.
"Nicholl took a huge step forward in 2024-2025, helping the London Knights make their way toward a Memorial Cup Championship. Nicholl scored 21 goals and added 36 assists in 66 games. The goals came out of the blue, after scoring just six in 65 games the year before That he was able to establish himself as a threat on a strong team makes the former seventh-round pick a fun player to root for. Nicholl projects a two-way physical type, but his knack for finding the net will boost his notoriety and rostered percentage in your leagues.»
| POLL | ||
AOUT 22 | 140 ANSWERS Top end Oilers' prospect sidelined long term after serious surgery Do you agree that Will Nicholls is Oilers' 7th best prospect? | ||
| yes | 76 | 54.3 % |
| no | 64 | 45.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
