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Oilersnation’s Summer 2025 Prospect Countdown – No. 9: Paul Fischer

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Cam Lewis | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 4:43 PM ET

Welcome to Oilersnation’s Top Prospect Countdown for Summer 2025. This list profiles players and goaltenders under 25 years old who have played fewer than 25 NHL games.

Last August, the St. Louis Blues made waves by signing two young Oilers, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, to offer sheets. Both former first-round picks were restricted free agents, and Edmonton chose not to match either deal.

As compensation, the Blues sent their second- and third-round picks in the 2025 draft to Edmonton. The Oilers also received defenceman Paul Fischer in exchange for “Future Considerations” as a sweetener for letting both players walk.

Paul Fischer

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

Nationality: United States

Date of Birth: Jan. 30, 2005

Drafted: 138th overall in 2023

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 200 pounds

Via The Nation Network

One emerging trend during Stan Bowman’s first year as general manager of the Oilers is a clear investment in players from the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Following last summer’s offer sheets, Bowman cleared salary cap space by trading Cody Ceci for Ty Emberson, a USNTDP product. Another alum, Trent Frederic, signed an eight-year extension with Edmonton after being acquired at the trade deadline. This summer’s biggest addition, Isaac Howard, also came through the USNTDP pipeline.

And then there’s Paul Fischer, a native of River Forest, Illinois, who won gold with Team USA at both the U18 and U20 World Juniors. Selected by St. Louis in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, here’s how Elite Prospects described the defenceman in their Draft Guide:

Fischer’s a steady defensive presence, bringing a tight gap, proactive threat elimination, and physicality. He leverages his frame to ride guys out while defending the rush. He doesn’t fall for slips or dangles, and rubs guys out before making a simple but effective exit pass.

Fischer recorded two goals and 16 points with a minus-three rating over 34 games in his freshman season at the University of Notre Dame in 2023-24. He took a step forward offensively in 2024-25, leading the team’s blueline with 21 points in 36 games. However, the increased responsibility came with growing pains defensively, as he finished with a team-worst minus-19 rating.

Listed at 6-foot-0 and 200 pounds, Fischer isn’t an especially imposing defender, but his strength lies in his skating, highlighted by smooth strides and strong balance. With few left-handed defencemen in the system, he stands out as an intriguing long-term project for the Oilers.

Fischer still has two years of NCAA eligibility, so there’s no urgency to sign him to an entry-level deal. He’ll again play top-four minutes for Notre Dame in 2025-26, and the hope is that he continues to grow offensively while tightening up his defensive game.