Rick Pracey and his thoughts on the 2025 Edmonton Oilers draft class

It took quite awhile for the Edmonton Oilers to make their first selection in the 2025 NHL draft and they did not choose their first player until the third round with the 83rd pick.

Tommy Lafreniere, David Lewandowski, Asher Barnett, Daniel Salonen, and last but not least, Aidan Park were the five guys selected this year in the Oilers draft class.

With the NHL draft officially ending around 3:30 pm, Oilers media interviewed the teams Director of Amateur Scouting Rick Pracey, to get his thoughts on the picks that were made and why these specific players were chosen to join the Oilers program.

Why did the Edmonton Oilers choose the players that they did

Rick Pracey was asked by one of the reporters why they decided to draft players within the WHL and USNTDP, instead of any more European prospects.

Here was his reasoning behind the decision:

It’s never by design. It goes in cycles, you know last year we didn’t select a Western League player. It’s certainly just one of those things where the list is built, and sometimes those decisions are made for you and other times it works out. But it’s nice, obviously we believe in the Western League, we believe in the Canadian Hockey League, but you know, we were nice to pick from the US, nice to pick from Europe.

If we’re showing a bias or being close-minded in certain areas, we’re making mistakes.

So like Pracey had mentioned, it happens in cycles when deciding where to draft prospects from and who to draft specifically. It seems like it changes every year, depending on who is available and where the draft picks are coming from.

What did Pracey have to say about each drafted prospect

Aidan Park

It was exciting. I know, we had his name on the board for a long time there and got nervous near the end, but real happy for him.

Park had a terrific year in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, where he amassed 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points in only 55 games played. The Oilers US staff were real high on him and the organization is excited for him.

Tommy Lafreniere

We like his path, he had to take the long way, he was a part of our efficiency model of a rookie player in the CHL. We like his production, had to work his way up the lineup.

Lafreniere is a skilled forward, makes plays and has a good stick. He is the type of player that the Oilers think will take off offensively. He played on a bubble team lower in the standings, and he is going to be a part of the team improving.

David Lewandowski

Along the same guidelines. He’s a skilled forward, we’re able to add some size with him.

His skating has to come just a touch more, but he makes plays in the small areas, is good off the cycle, can extend offensive zone time and makes quick decisions. Sense, skill, and compete were not negotiable.

Asher Barnett

He brings a bit of everything defensively, with his  minutes, transition passing, physicality and defensive details. He punishes net-front attackers, wins inside position, engages opponents and tips away passes.

Daniel Salonen

He is a very good size for a goaltender at 6’3″ and 185 lbs. There is not much to be known about him, but he has solid positioning and quick reflexes that are always needed as well. If he can prove that he can be a starter, I am sure that the Oilers will consider giving him a chance.

This year, the Oilers were looking for traits, events and contributions to winning. Measurables that do not directly relate to the best player available, but add up to what the organization is looking for. The Oilers like instincts and think that you need them to play on their roster.

With a few of their prospects expected to play with Michigan in the US, the Edmonton Oilers will be looking at how these guys will develop, and hope that the team will be able to use them in the future.