Edmonton Oilers Prospects Roundup: Viljami Marjala is a playmaking marksman in the AHL

As the Olympic break begins and all NHL hockey stops, now is the perfect time to catch a Bakersfield Condors game or a CHL game. Edmonton Oilers prospects across their system have been performing well, with the likes of Tommy Lafreniere sitting 16th in WHL scoring, and Viljami Marjala and Quinn Hutson making statements in the AHL.

Let’s take a look at what the prospects within the Edmonton Oilers system were up to this last week.

Welcome to the TOR Edmonton Oilers prospect update. Each week, we’ll take a dive into how the Oilers’ prospects have done in their respective leagues to go along with a feature one one standout prospect in Edmonton’s system. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and is born 2001 or earlier.

Viljami Marjala, Forward, Bakersfield Condors, AHL

After not being signed by the Buffalo Sabres, the former young Liiga standout has made a name for himself in his rookie AHL campaign within the Oilers system. The 23-year-old forward is a focal point and one of the few pure-playmaking forces with the Bakersfield Condors.

Marjala’s skillset

Marjala plays the game of a playmaking forward who thrives in high-paced situations and clearly thinks ahead due to his advanced hockey IQ, solid puck skills, and smooth transitional passing. His game is one of creativity, deception, and well timed puck placement that opens up lanes, scoring chances, and more.

Marjala’s season so far

His role with the Condors is primarily as a playmaking scoring forward, with 19:02 of ice per game, of which 3:17 is on the power play. With his high hockey IQ, solid offensive instincts, and abundance of creativity his game thrives on soft skill.

This often translates to high-paced rush attacks and meticulously timed scoring chances, to the tune of 1.58 per game with a 13% conversion rate.

This soft skill-based game further articulates and complements the 6’1” forward’s deception-based playstyle quite well. With an arsenal of passes, solid handling, and pass placement, and vision Marjala can move any play forward with clean, effective option awareness to match.

His puck skills blend with his senses to further amplify his clear play processing and offensive awareness; to the point where opposing defenders don’t even realize what is happening until the pucks in the back of the net. This also helps explain his goals expected rate of 0.24.

Some of his earlier knocks on his play involved his skating, but that is one element Marjala has worked to improve, which is showcased by improved agility, a clean(er) stride, and good crossover integration in his transition play. His top speed and rate of acceleration do still need further improvements.

There is also a sheer lack of physicality to his game, hinted at by his avoidance of physical play, limited hit frequency (0.35 per game), and reduced board play effectiveness, leading to less play support in some of the grittier areas of the ice.

What to expect from Marjala

With the Finn’s high end playmaking, his point production and momentum in the AHL should continue. In a pinch, the Oilers could call up Marjala, but with Hutson, Roby Jarventie, and Isaac Howard more NHL-ready, it is unlikely he sees much NHL time in the current season.

Expect Marjala to make an impression at Oilers training camp next season, where he will be more ready to challenge for a full time NHL roster spot.

NHL ETA: one to two years

NHL projection: Ideally a top-nine secondary scorer, but it is more likely Marjala’s will be a better fit for a bottom-six depth role.

Edmonton Oilers prospect updates

AHL

• The Condors went 1–2-0 this past week, with a win against the Wranglers on the February 3, and a pair of 4–3 losses to the Ontario Reign on February 6 and 7.
• Bakersfield now sits third in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 25–14–7 record and 57 points in the 2025–26 campaign.
• Viljami Marjala is one to watch as he just wrapped up a four-game point streak, with three goals and two assists. Marjala and Hutson are two of the main offensive drivers for the AHL affiliate.
• Forward Josh Samanski, and Goaltender Calvin Pickard were both assigned to Bakersfield on February 4.

ECHL

• Fort Wayne had a busy four-game week going 1–2-1. The Komets dropped their first game on February 4, 3–2 in overtime to Wheeling, then won a blowout 7–2 game against Iowa on the February 6. The ECHL affiliate then lost to Toledo (5–4) on February 7, and 5–0 to Bloomington the next day.
• Fort Wayne remains in second place in the ECHL’s Central Division with a 24–13–7 record.
• Nathaniel Day has edged Samuel Jonsson for the starter’s crease in Fort Wayne, starting 25 games to Jonsson’s 18 for the 2025–26 season.
• Fort Wayne acquired Cole Beamin from the Norfolk Admirals on February 4. The Komets also signed free agent defender Louka Henault on February 6. three games into his ECHL stint, defender Alex Murray left the team on the 7th.

Europe

• 2024 sixth rounder, Albin Sundin, appeared in a game on the 5th against Linköping HC, and on the 7th against Leksands IF. In the latter, he posted a goal and a +3 rating. Sundin’s club Timra, currently sits 10th in the SHL, with 57 points across 43 games.
• Czechian forward prospect, Petr Hauser, has been reassigned to the second tier team, Berani Zlin. He made his most recent appearance with them on the 8th in a 4–3 SOL to HC Poruba 2011.

NCAA

• Defensive prospect, Paul Fischer played a pair of games against the University of Wisconsin on the 6th and 7th. The Notre Dame rearguard posted a pair of assists in the first game of the weekend. Fischer looks to be a steady presence in all three zones again, and is finding passing lanes a lot easier leading to more playmaking efforts from the American.
• 2025 Oilers draftees Aiden Park and Asher Barnett played against Michigan State University on the 6th and 7th. Barnett netted a goal, and Park generated an assist, both in the first game. Barnett’s steady defensive instincts are allowing him to work his way up Michigan’s lineup as the season has gone on.

OHL

• 2024 seventh-round forward William Nicholl played in three games this past week. In his second game against the Niagara Ice Dogs, he buried the game-winner, and in the third game against Saginaw, he attacked on a quick-rush chance and rifled a goal to the back of the net. His speed, senses, and compete level make him a relentless forward in all three zones of play.

WHL

• It was a rougher week for David Lewandowski, who went a combined -4 across the three games he played. That being said, the physical playmaker did set up a pair of goals, leading to an assist against the Calgary Hitmen on the 3rd, and an assist against the Hurricanes on the 7th.
• 2025 Oilers draftee Tommy Lafreniere is on a powerhouse line with the WHL’s top scorer, J.P Hurlbert, and third-round Chicago pick, Nathan Behm. Across the three of them, they have posted a combined 217 points across just 52 regularseason games. Two of which for Lafreniere came against the powerhouse Everett Silvertips on the 6th. Lafreniere also now has 30 goals this season.

Russia

• 2020 fifth-round forward Maxim Beryozkin has been inconsistent this season. He played two games this past week, and in his first game against Spartak Moskva on the 4th, he had a goal and an assist. His power-forward playstyle is hard to play against, but does not translate as well to the scoresheet.

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