New Oilers goalie prospect rises to top rankings from NHL expert
Photo credit: SHL
The Edmonton Oilers desperately need to improve their prospect pool to contend long term, and their young guns took significant jumps last season - including a goalie.
The Oilers will be relying on two of the top prospects in key NHL roles this year with Ike Howard and Matthew Savoie expected to be making the team. However, there still some prospects under the surface showing promise.
Goalie Samuel Jonsson joins Isaac Howard and Matthew Savoie as Oilers top ranked prospects
Prospect expert Steve Ellis at Daily Faceoff undertook some rankings for the Oilers prospects on Monday.
The top 3 prospects in order were ranked as Matthew Savoie, Ike Howard, and Samuel Jonsson. Much has been written on Savoie and Howard making the jump to the NHL next year, so the Oilers emerging goalie will surely draw some attention.
Drafted by the Oilers in the 5th round of 2022, Jonsson was the best goaltender in Sweden's 2nd division league. The 6'5 athletic goalie posted a .922 save percentage at 21 years old, and will be making the jump to the AHL this season. Ellis sees Jonsson as a future backup at least, but there's always potential for growth.
Now set to come to North America, the 6-foot-5 Jonsson looks set to take his game to Bakersfield this season. He's very quick for his size and doesn't give up many poor rebounds. He also has a quick glove hand, allowing few poor goals on that side. I could see Jonsson having a potential future as a backup, but I'm really happy with his progress over the past season as a whole.
- Steven Ellis
- Steven Ellis
On the whole, the Oilers prospect pool is relatively still weaker to much of the NHL - which will happen as a contending team. Ellis still praised the Oilers s for vastly improving their pool by trading for high end young talent in Savoie and Howard.
On the whole too, the Oilers do have some players who could threaten to become bottom 6 players too. From bigger physical players like Samanski to more offensive players like Jarventie, the Oilers have a solid mix.
In Edmonton's system, they have Maxim Berezkin, Roby Järventie, David Lewandowski, Tommy Lafrenière and Josh Samanski.
All of them have different skillsets, but they all make themselves difficult to play against by either beating you with their work ethic or their brute force. Even if just two of them make it, that'll be a bonus.
- Steven Ellis.
All of them have different skillsets, but they all make themselves difficult to play against by either beating you with their work ethic or their brute force. Even if just two of them make it, that'll be a bonus.
- Steven Ellis.
There looks to be some real promise to the Oilers prospect system now that wasn't there just last years ago.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 21 | 325 ANSWERS New Oilers goalie prospect rises to top rankings from NHL expert Do you think Samuel Jonsson could play in the NHL next year? | ||
| If he's unreal in the AHL, yes | 200 | 61.5 % |
| No chance | 125 | 38.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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