The very first Oiler games of the 2024-25 season went poorly.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Thankfully, those games were exhibitions, part of the Young Stars Classic in Penticton. The Oilers rookie team lost all three of their games over the weekend, falling 2-0 to Vancouver, 3-1 to Calgary, and 2-0 to Winnipeg.
When you lose all your games and only score one goal, there obviously aren’t going to be a lot of positives to glean from the experience. This is, after all, one of the weakest farm systems in the league. Still, we got the opportunity to see how Oilers prospects match up to their peers, and who stands out.
Goaltending
The Oilers gave all three of their goalies the chance to start in Penticton. All three played well, but Nathaniel Day and Brett Brochu were excellent. Day, drafted in the 6th round by the Oilers in 2023, saved 28 of the 30 shots the Canucks prospects fired on him on Friday. Day has struggled in the OHL, putting up save percentages under .875 in back-to-back seasons.
After Connor Ungar allowed two goals on 20 shots against Calgary on Saturday, Brett Brochu wrapped up the weekend with 32 saves on 34 shots against Winnipeg yesterday. The undrafted Brochu signed a contract with the Bakersfield Condors after putting up a .920 save percentage in the ECHL last season.
The 22-year-old Brochu will have to fight for starts in Bakersfield behind veteran Colin Delia and 24-year-old Olivier Rodrigue, not to mention his Young Stars teammate Ungar, but he’s had good numbers everywhere he’s played so far.
Physicality
We saw a few prospect games get chippy over the weekend, and it was no different in the Okanagan. Defenceman Nate Corbet dropped the gloves in all three of his games, taking on Vancouver’s Joe Arntsen, Calgary’s Lucas Ciona, and Winnipeg’s Mark Liwiski.
He wasn’t the only one, either. 2024 5th round pick Connor Clattenburg fought Calgary’s Parker Bell, while Jayden Grubbe picked up 19 penalty minutes on Monday, dropping the gloves with Winnipeg’s Danny Zhilkin.
These rookie tournaments are always full of young enforcers trying to make a name for themselves, and the Oilers clearly have a few young candidates if they decide they need a Matt Rempe equivalent. We know the Oilers like Clattenburg, a physical forward drafted this summer, and Grubbe, who they traded for in the spring of 2023.
Maximus Wanner
With Beau Akey sidelined due to injury, 2021 7th round pick Max Wanner became the Oilers’ #1 defenceman. Wanner spent all of last year in Bakersfield, making him the only blueliner with pro experience on the rookie camp roster. The big defenceman acquitted himself well on both sides of the puck, especially on Friday against Vancouver.
Wanner led the Condors in plus/minus last year at 13, contributing 17 points in 68 games in his first professional season. With his strong performance this weekend, he’s almost certainly earned himself a spot in training camp. Considering the Oilers’ poor drafting record over the past few years, turning a 212th overall draft pick into an NHLer would be a massive win.
At the end of the day, the performance of the Oilers’ prospects is of low importance this season. Top prospect Matt Savoie looked good, chipping in a nifty assist on the team’s only goal and contributing on both sides of the puck. He’ll get a long look in training camp, and any NHL contributions from him would constitute a success for the farm system this season.
While the Oilers rookies’ performance this weekend is disappointing, the Oilers have bigger fish to fry. Big league training camp opens on Wednesday, while the preseason schedule starts on Sunday afternoon with a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss news, interviews or any other updates on the Oilers.
Related: Oilers Possess 7 Sure Fire 30-Goal Scorers
Related: Oilers New Trade Acquisition Was the Right Call
Related: Oilers Reportedly Looking For New Nurse Partner
Related: ‘Like We Weren’t Even There’: Jason Demers Recounts the Awkward Night Where Milan Lucic Prevented Him From Signing With the Oilers
Related: Wife of Former Oilers Forward Ending Marriage
Related: When Evander Kane Will Return to the Oilers
Read the full article here
Discussion about this post