Edmonton Oilers set to lose rights to 4 players this month

As a contending team with a relatively weak prospect pool, letting players walk may not be ideal. One of the 4 players, Luca Munzenberger, has already signed with a new DEL team.

According to PuckPedia, the Oilers' rights to sign all 4 players will expire on August 15th because they've played games in NCAA hockey.

Luca Munzenberger is the highest profile prospect on the list, a 3rd round draft pick who showed some promise as a big mobile defenceman. Although he's signed a contract with a German team, if the Oilers can come to terms with him before August 15th they can keep him in the organization.

Matt Copponi is the next best prospect on the list. Now 22 years old, the right shot centreman was signed to an AHL contract and played 3 games last season with the Bakersfield Condors and had a quality showing.

On the other hand, Joel Maata and Tomas Mazura don't look like prospects with a future in the Oilers organization. Insider Jim Matheson has already revealed it's unlikely Maata is re-signed, and it's easy to cut another long shot pick in Mazura.

Hopefully the Oilers can retain the two promising players in Munzenberger and Copponi, and introduce them to the development team next season.