Oilers 2026 Prospect Countdown No. 6: Paul Fischer

Fischer was acquired alongside a 2028 third-round draft pick from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for “future considerations.” The future considerations part of the trade basically meant the Oilers won’t match either of the offer sheets signed by Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. It was a bad day for Oilers fans, and it still stings to see both Broberg and Holloway carve out excellent roles with the Blues organization, but getting Paul Fischer back helped ease the pain just a little bit.

Paul Fischer was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL draft after playing two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program. During his draft year, the Notre Dame commit scored six goals, assisted on 21 more, and finished with 27 points in 78 games. The USNTDP had a loaded roster with players like Zeev Buium and Cole Hutson taking the offensive opportunities. As a freshman with Notre Dame in 2023-24 scored two goals and finished with 16 points in 34 games, which isn’t a bad statistical season for a first-year defenceman. During Fischer’s sophomore season, the 6-0 defender matched his goal total from the prior season, but added five more assists for 21 points in 36 games. Fischer also suited up in two games for the United States at the World Juniors, only registering an assist.

This prior season was another step up for Fischer’s game. The left-shot defenceman played in 33 games, scoring six goals and tacking on 17 assists. It’s a good sign that with every season in the NCAA, Fischer has managed to increase his point total in each one. In my viewings of Notre Dame this season, it was clear to see they weren’t a good team, and only a few players would stand out to me; Fischer was easily one of the few. We’ll start our profile out boring, but then the fun stuff will start to come in towards the end.

The 203-pound defenceman moves very well. I don’t think he is a world-class skater, but his mobility isn’t lacking; however, with some room to grow, I would love to see those steps taken to take his game to another level, which I believe Fischer can reach.

The first clip shows an important aspect of Fischer’s game that we will come back to, and that’s his gap control. But I love his base; Fischer sits low but doesn’t overdo it. He doesn’t get caught crossing his feet, and he angles off the forward perfectly using his little “C” cuts to take away space. When the fourth-year defender is attacking opponents, Fischer loves to use his crossovers to generate speed; he is willing to use the whole ice and go east-to-west. I like his stride length, and he comes back to the middle quickly; his first two steps are good as well. Overall, I like his skating mechanics, and if he just continues to refine them, I can see him being a great skater when he reaches the AHL.

As I said earlier, Fischer’s gap control stands out every game. The 21-year-old gives the opposing forwards no time or space when they have the puck — even without backcheckers, Fischer can stand up to a lot of oncoming opponents and stop the rush before they know it.

Fischer does an excellent job of playing in the forwards’ blind spot. When they aren’t looking, the Notre Dame defenceman quickly pounces and eats up any space the forward had. Fischer is never waiting for the opponent to attack him, and it makes me smile. Far too often, some defenders are playing to not get beat instead of playing to take the puck away and make a play. As you can see from the examples above, that is not an issue with Fischer; he brings the heat to them and challenges them to make a play. Fischer trusts his feet, stick, and positioning to make these plays.

After smothering the opposing team with his defence, Fischer is more than capable of being a one-man breakout machine. It’s almost like a great quarterback; I just believe he is going to find the right pass or scramble for a defensive zone exit.

The puck is going over the blueline efficiently more often than not when Fischer is on the ice. The passing ability is excellent, and it doesn’t just extend to his own zone (more on this later), but it also shows the high-functioning brain Fischer plays with. Using the net, chipping the puck into spots he can get to, and not being afraid to take a shot all show off that he knows what play to make and when to make it.

Speaking of the right play, it also translates to the transition aspect of Fischer’s game, as well as his offensive zone play. The former Blues prospect plays how a modern defenceman should; Fischer is not only willing, but great at getting involved in the offensive side of the game. Whether it is as the weak-side defender or a main puck carrier, Fischer is always trying to be a threat to the opposing team.

Both clips are from the same game, but it perfectly shows that Fischer is willing to take a risk and go all-in on the offensive rush. That is needed to create offence in today’s game. You can see when Fischer gets involved that he almost becomes that fourth forward on the rush, and there are times his hands and skill level can surprise you. What really impressed me this year was the amount of offence coming off of the American prospect’s stick in a set defensive zone environment.

It is one thing to get involved in transition, but trying to help create offence when in a set defensive environment is extremely tough. This is a strength of Fischer’s and not something you would assume is a strength by looking at his statistical profile. From his left point spot, Fischer can create a lot of excitement with little to work with. The mobile defender is willing to use the full length of the blue line and lateral movement to buy time and space. Fischer is excellent at skating at his defender’s feet and then using his weight shifts to make his way around the winger. Fischer isn’t scared to try any pass in the offensive zone; he is constantly putting the puck in dangerous areas, but they just aren’t going in as much as they should.

Paul Fischer’s 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

Paul Fischer is one of my favourite prospects in the Oilers pool at the moment. I mean, you probably know that by seeing where he is on the countdown, but I believe in this player, and I think he has a realistic path to being a good number five or six defenseman on an NHL team. Fischer suffocates you defensively, is extremely willing and capable of getting involved in the offence, and there is still some room to get better. Fischer has pro size, being 6-0 and weighing 203 pounds. With some refinements to his skating and a little bit of work on his retrievals over the next few years, I can see a day in 2029 where Fischer is just getting his toes wet in the NHL. Fischer is obviously unsigned as he is still in College, but I do think once his season is over, the Oilers should sign him ASAP, as they lose his rights in June of 2027.

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