Recapping the Edmonton Oilers’ 2025 NHL Draft

By the time Round 1 of the draft began, it became clear nothing of the sort would materialize. The likes of the New York Islanders, revitalized by winning the draft lottery and hiring new GM Mathieu Darche, swung trades and made multiple first round selections. The Oilers were as active as former Isles GM Lou Lamoriello at a trade deadline, which is to say, very much not.

To make matters worse, the next day the Anaheim Ducks traded noted Edmonton goaltending target John Gibson, to the Detroit Red Wings. There are still other trade options available, and a full offseason to work on them. But the path is certainly not as clear now.

The Oilers added the 131st overall pick from Nashville

The Oilers’ only draft-day trade took place on Day 2, when they sent a 2026 fifth-round pick originally from the Nashville Predators, back to the Preds in exchange for this year’s fifth. The pick, at 131st overall, would be used to select defenceman Asher Barnett, from the US National Team Development Program.

A similar scenario to last year, when the Oilers gave up the next year’s equivalent-round pick to get an extra choice this year. Barnett, who captained Team USA at the under-18 World Championships, is a well-rounded defenceman with tenacity and solid ability to aid the forwards with breakout passes. This is his full profile.

The other four selections (83rd, 117th, 191st, and 223rd)

Selected with the 83rd overall pick was right-winger Tommy Lafrenière. Lafrenière was one of the top WHL rookies in 2024–25, and it’s interesting that he slid down the draft board this much given how many CHL prospects wound up getting drafted. A very solid get for the Oilers, from a similarly orange-and-blue team in the Kamloops Blazers.

Selected with the 117th overall pick was left-winger David Lewandowski. This pick originally belonged to the Ottawa Senators before being traded to Edmonton, and for the past year was “loaned” to the Vancouver Canucks between the Vasily Podkolzin and Evander Kane trades. A fellow countryman to Leon Draisaitl, the German Lewandowski brings tenacity, and a potent shot, to the table and can definitely be a solid depth player and playoff producer with the right development.

Selected with the 191st overall pick was goaltender Daniel Salonen. Salonen, a Finnish product, continues a trend of the Oilers selecting goalies in later rounds of the draft—a strategy about as random as success at the position itself can be. Salonen is a right-hand-catching goalie, which may be a benefit to the Oilers if Salonen pans out. The Washington Capitals are an example of how a right-catching goalie can force an opponent to rethink its shooting strategy.

Selected with the 223rd overall pick was centre Aidan Park. Park, who is from Hermosa Beach near the draft’s central venue at the Peacock Theater, was in attendance as the Oilers called his name. He had a breakout 2024–25 season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, and has his sights set on the NCAA next year. This pick has strong middle-six upside if Park continues to develop well enough.

Curtain-call thoughts on the 2025 Draft

Though it wasn’t a plentiful draft for the Oilers, this was a very well-rounded one to say the least. The Oilers picked a player at each forward position, a defenceman, and a goalie to boost the prospect pool across the board. For a team facing a lot of questions about the average age of players on the squad, more youth anywhere in the organization isn’t a bad thing, and to spread it out evenly is an added bonus.

There wasn’t a ton of work for the Oilers to do, but with the five picks they had, they used them about as wisely as you could imagine.