Oilers 2026 Prospect Countdown No. 4: Rudolf Berzkalns

The towering centreman was born in Latvia; however, Berzkalns has played in the United States since he was with the Bishop Kearney Selects AAA under-14 team. The most recent second-rounder has spent the past two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League. Berzkalns will be heading back to Muskegon for his third season, and the Latvian-born centreman has already been named team captain.

The 2024-25 season was Berzkalns’ first with the Lumberjacks; he suited up in 43 games, scoring only five goals and eight points. Born in March, Berzkalns was only 16 for most of his first USHL season. Muskegon wasn’t a bad team; they went on to win 38 of their 62 regular-season games, but in the postseason they beat the Waterloo Black Hawks to win the USHL Championship. Of the 35 players/goalies who played one game for Muskegon in the 2024-25 season, eight of them have been drafted. Berzkalns didn’t suit up in a playoff game, but playing in as many regular-season games as he did is a positive sign.

This past season, Berzkalns played in 48 games, scoring 13 goals and assisting on another 12. That’s a 17-point increase compared to the prior season. After suiting up in zero playoff games the year before, the newest Muskegon captain played in 16 this year, scoring four goals and 10 points. Berzkalns also has a lot of experience with the Latvian national team, as he has been on the World Junior squad since he was 16 years old. I expect him to continue to make the team and continue to improve his role.

I’ve said it with many prospects during this countdown already; however, scoring isn’t the primary focus of Berzkalns’ game. But I do want to start with what I find to be his biggest offensive strength, and that’s his playmaking ability. As a centre, it’s crucial to be able to move the puck around with immense efficiency; it’s why so many centres are labelled as “playmakers”. You see 12 assists in 48 games, and you wonder how playmaking can be a strength of his. Watch the examples below.

The 203-pound centreman shows high-end flashes of seeing the next play and being able to make the proper pass. In the first clip, Berzkalns makes a subtle slip pass around the defender for a primary assist, and then in the third clip he does a great job pre-scanning and mapping out where his teammate will be backdoor. The second clip is more to show off the underlying skill the centreman has, but it also displays that Berzkalns can make a dot of a pass under duress. Playing under pressure is something that Berzkalns is comfortable with and will even invite extra pressure to open a passing lane.

The Oilers’ second-rounder can keep pressure on his backside and still make a play; instead of using his skating, he prefers to use his size when things get tight. Berzkalns is a good skater, though; don’t get it twisted. The Latvian pivot has a wide base with a great amount of hinge at the hips; the stride length is long and quick, using all of that 6-4 frame. Berzkalns’ crossovers are quick, and he’s shown that his edge work is strong whether it’s to keep him in balance in tight quarters or to stop up on a rush. 6-4, 203 pounds, born in March, and already an above-average skater? I like what I’m hearing already, but then you mix in the ability to not only carry the puck in transition, but to make the right pass/play almost every time. Don’t forget that Berzkalns is willing to show off some skill and get a little risky and creative in transition.

I don’t project Berzkalns to bring a ton of offence with him if he ever becomes an NHL player, but if he does pan out, I believe the passing ability is more than good enough to become a third-line centre. But even without the offence, the Boston College commit can find a way to be an impact player at the NHL level. The left-shot centre is a handful to deal with along the wall both offensively and defensively; however, in general, Berzkalns is a pain for opposing offensive players to go up against. The defensive smarts and skating ability give him a solid floor as a bottom-of-the-lineup player (much like how I described William Nicholl).

The first two clips focus more on the defensive aspect of his game, so we’ll start there. The first video is a good example of not only having a big body, but knowing how to use it. The massive centre doesn’t go around crushing the opposing players; instead, Berzkalns is strategic and uses his body to create contact, gain position, and gain extra space. The second clip is one I love to see; he almost looks like a lifelong defenceman the way he attacked and took away all the time and space from the opposing forward. This isn’t a one-off, and I can see this part of Berzkalns’ game easily projecting to the NHL with his size, skating, smarts, and work ethic. Berzkalns generates power from his legs to lean on players instead of just being handsy. The third clip is the definition of being a handful to deal with. Muskegon was able to complete a line change in the offensive zone because of the work Berzkalns was putting in down low. Relentless all over the ice. My one concern is that when he does have pressure on his backside, he can forget to look around and get his head up. This limits his playmaking potential, but something that can be worked on.

Paul Fischer’s 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

I love the decision for Berzlans to return to Muskegon for one more year before heading off to College. This is the season I want the big man to focus on his offensive upside, get creative like we’ve seen flashes of, shoot the puck a bit more, be a little selfish, take risks, etc. The issue is that he is that good defensively; a coach is going to try to use him in the defensive zone or on the penalty kill as much as possible. 2027-28 will be the year Berzkalns heads to Boston College to play for a prominent program, and that is yet another excellent choice by the prospect. I would like to see at least two to three years of college hockey before he is signed to his entry-level deal. The floor is very safe, but I think you want to maximize his potential as your everyday two-way third-line centre one year. College will allow him to further develop the offensive tools he needs to make it work at the professional level. I think by the 2029-30 season, I’d like to see the big Latvian with the Bakersfield Condors and starting to develop his professional game. By that time, I only picture Berzkalns being in the AHL for two years maximum if he is ever going to be an NHL player. This is another long-term bet by the Oilers, and it’s one I like.