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Oilers prospect Rudolfs Berzkalns models game after Aleksander Barkov

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Oilers prospect Rudolfs Berzkalns models game after Aleksander Barkov

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Michael Menzies | Last updated Jul 14, 2026 5:38 PM ET

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The Edmonton Oilers would benefit from another Zach Hyman in the lineup, or even an Aleksander Barkov. Every team in the National Hockey League would.

But if recent draft choice Rudolfs Berzkalns had his way, the Oilers would get a player with some of those traits. He mentioned both of those players in interviews after the Oilers selected him in the second round, 58th overall in late June.

“I would say Alexander Barkov for me, just because he’s a two-way centre,” Berzkalns told OilersTV’s Tony Brar. “He can play any position that is on the ice, and I think he can win some faceoffs, he can play power play, penalty kill. I think he’s very responsible, like I said, and I like watching him.”

Berzkalns excited Oilers director of amateur scouting Rick Pracey during the evaluation process and, feeling comfortable they could trade down and still take the Latvian centre, was able to acquire another pick in the process.

The 6-foot-4, 203-pound frame is a great place to start.

“Clearly, size in the middle of the ice trumped a little bit of his skill, but I’m not selling Berzkalns short by any stretch,” said Pracey after the draft. “We believe in that, or else we wouldn’t have put ourselves in that position in the second round.”

Berzkalns made his first visit to Edmonton for Oilers Development Camp two weeks ago, cementing a life-changing moment after being drafted just days prior.

“It was great,” he said. “A couple tears dropped. For my mom, for myself, and my dad, it was awesome.

“All the great players that the Edmonton Oilers have had in their organization. It was just such a good feeling to be called by such a great organization, and just looking back at all the success that the team has had in the past. I’m just very excited to be here.”

Berzkalns confident using his size

Berzkalns is not a flashy player, evidenced by his 13 goals and 25 points in 48 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, his second season of junior hockey. But at 18 years old, he projects as the type of hard-to-play-against centre that helps your team win games in the playoffs.

He had ten points in 16 playoff games with the Lumberjacks, as they went to the wire of the Clark Cup, eventually losing in Game 4 (best-of-five) in double overtime to the Sioux City Stampeders. That was good enough for sixth in his team’s playoff scoring despite being a depth piece, while maintaining strong defensive details in his game.

“I just felt more confident using my size,” said Berzkalns. “I think that’s what gives me success, just using my size and just being that two-way centre who can play on both sides of the puck.

“I think for this upcoming season, I’m looking forward to getting more offensive. I feel like I’ve always had that in the past. I’ve always been more of a points guy, but then the past couple years I picked up that defensive game. I’m just trying to be a complete two-way centre.”

Although he’s played in North America for a few years already, Berzkalns is a proud Latvian who’s been able to represent his county at two World Junior Championships. Canadian fans may remember how Latvia gave them a scare, with Berzkalns scoring a late goal in regulation to force an unexpected overtime in the preliminary round.

After this latest draft, that team featured five NHL selections, as Latvia finished seventh in the tournament.

“It’s always great to represent your country,” he said. “Especially Latvia, it’s such a small hockey community. You can see it’s been growing the past couple of years on the international stage.

The plan is for Berzkalns to go back to Muskegon for another year of junior hockey. He’s committed to Boston College for 2027-28.

This article first appeared on Oilersnation and was syndicated with permission.

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