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Tommy Lafreniere, Kamloops Blazers (Photo credit: Rembrant Rivas Photography)

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3 Oilers Prospects to Watch This Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Matt Parks | Last updated Aug 9, 2026 9:35 AM ET

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The Edmonton Oilers are still in their Stanley Cup window. As a result, they’ve traded numerous first-round picks and prospects over the past few seasons for immediate help. Therefore, they have one of the weakest prospect pipelines in the NHL.

Since they have limited draft capital, it’s imperative to draft well and find hidden gems in the later rounds. The Oilers have also been creative in identifying talent by signing college and European free agents to replenish the system.

The Oilers’ top prospect is Isaac Howard, who should undoubtedly play NHL games this season. Matt Savoie also made an impact last season as a rookie. But after that, there isn’t anybody relatively close to cracking an NHL lineup. So, the organization must be patient and properly develop their young talent. However, there are still some interesting players to keep an eye on as they continue their development. Here are three prospects to watch during the 2026-27 season.

Samuel Jonsson

Samuel Jonsson was a fifth-round pick by Edmonton in 2022. The 22-year-old goaltender played for the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL last season, posting a 21-8-2 record, with a 2.38 goals-against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage (SV%), adding five shutouts in 33 games. He also played 10 playoff games with an impeccable 2.31 GAA and a .925 SV% with two shutouts. This was his first time playing in North America after spending his entire career in Sweden.

The 6-foot-5, 201-pounder will play for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, where he will continue his development. It’s time to see if he sinks or swims in the next level of competition. If he thrives in the AHL, it will solidify that the Oilers have a legitimate goalie prospect. The Oilers have needed goaltending stability for decades, and hopefully Jonsson can provide that for the future.

Tommy Lafrenière

Tommy Lafrenière was a third-round pick by the Oilers in 2025, but is currently unsigned. The 19-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League (WHL), and had a breakout 2025-26 season. He recorded 41 goals and 77 points in 67 games. He also made his professional debut, recording one goal and two points in five games with the Condors. He represented Canada at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in hopes of cracking Canada’s roster for the upcoming World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

He will play the 2026-27 season for Western Michigan University in the NCAA, where he will continue his development at the collegiate level. Playing major junior is one thing, but competing against older players in college is a completely different ball game. Lafrenière is one of the few forward prospects with decent upside. He’s a long-term project, but he’s a player to keep an eye on as an emerging prospect in Edmonton’s underwhelming system.

Connor Ungar

While the Oilers have a thin prospect pool with forwards and defencemen, they have another goaltender climbing up the ranks. Connor Ungar is an older prospect at 24, and he seemingly came out of nowhere. He was an undrafted goalie who signed with Edmonton in 2024 after a successful campaign with Brock University, where he was named the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.

The organization struggled to find him playing time last season. As a result, he played for three different ECHL teams, and his numbers were stellar. He posted a .944 SV% in six games between the Komets and the Greensboro Gargoyles, before being loaned to the Orlando Solar Bears, where he had a .913 SV% in 19 games. His play earned him a call-up to the AHL, where he posted a .923 SV% in 13 games. He was great in a limited sample size.

Now, let’s see what he does with a full season in the AHL. He has excelled at every level he has played at, and this is another test. If he can find sustained success at the next level, an NHL call-up shouldn’t be far behind. While it’s unlikely he plays for the Oilers this season, if he continues his trajectory, he has a chance to play in the NHL in the coming years. The Oilers have some solid goaltending prospects in the pipeline.

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This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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