Oilers must trust their young players moving forward

The Edmonton Oilers could learn a lesson from two of their former first-round draft picks.

After falling 2-1 to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers’ depth was gutted as Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway signed offer sheets with the St. Louis Blues, later departing for the Midwest.

Their departure made the Oilers one of the oldest teams in the league. At the bare minimum, the Oilers should’ve matched Holloway’s contract worth just under $2.3 million. The winger broke out in a big way last season, scoring 26 goals and 63 points, but missed the postseason due to a knee injury.

On the other hand, Broberg had an incredibly strong start, but cooled off after scoring two goals and 12 points in his first 15 games. That said, he finished with a respectable eight goals and 29 points in 68 games, while being on the ice for nine five-on-five goals in the postseason, and wasn’t on the ice for a single five-on-five goal against.

At a little under $4.6 million, it makes sense that the Oilers didn’t match Broberg’s contract, but both players should’ve been traded far sooner if the Oilers were comfortable giving them away for a second and a third.

You can even add Ryan McLeod into the argument, although they got a solid return (Matthew Savoie). Last season with the Buffalo Sabres, the speedy forward scored 20 goals and 53 points.

All of this is to say that the Oilers have to trust their young players heading into the 2025-26 season. With Zach Hyman out until November, Savoie should get a long look on Connor McDavid’s wing, as Savoie has looked strong so far in training camp.

Isaac Howard didn’t have a particularly great Next Gen showing, but the reigning Hobey Baker winner scored 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games with Michigan State University in 2024-25. After giving up Sam O’Reilly for the 21-year-old, it’s best to give the left winger a significant look, even if it’s on the third line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Additionally, Noah Philp is deserving of a long look as the Oilers’ fourth-line centre. He played 15 games with the team in 2024-25, picking up two assists, but had a strong 2024-25 season in the American Hockey League, scoring 19 goals and 35 points. This was after a year-long layoff.

It looked as if Roby Järventie was returning to his home nation of Finland, but the 23-year-old re-upped with the Oilers. He played just two games in 2024-25 with the Bakersfield Condors, but has had strong showings in the past, including a nine-goal, 20-point season in 22 games in 2023-24.

The Oilers were busy in both the NCAA and European markets toward the end of the season. Quinn Hutson was the best college player they signed, and he even appeared in two NHL games, albeit he was rather unnoticeable (he has a good shot, though).

One player the Oilers signed who has been noticeable, at least in the two Next Gen games, was Viljami Marjala. Josh Samanski could also see some action in the NHL at some point this season.

Then you have Atro Leppänen, a 26-year-old left-shot defenceman who led Liiga in points, again, as a defenceman. The Finn has earned good reviews from Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer, with Stauffer noting that Leppänen stood out in Saturday’s scrimmage game.

Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, the Oilers have two Russians who could make the jump to the NHL: forward Maxim Beryozkin and defenceman Nikita Yevseyev. The former could make a jump to the Oilers’ top nine in the present day. Connor Clattenburg had a good showing in the two Next Gen games as well, and the pest could be available as soon as 2026-27.

The Oilers do not have a good farm system by any means, but there are quite a few players who could feature on the team in a depth role in the coming years. It’s a must that the Oilers learn from the Broberg/Holloway offer sheets and play and trust their young players when they show they’re ready.