Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers prospect update — the Russians lead the pack early

The attention of Edmonton Oilers fans is squarely on the team’s preseason performances and the final NHL roster spot for opening night.

Across the hockey world, the club’s prospects are beginning the long season in various leagues in North America and Europe.

As always, the Russian prospects are well into their seasons and we’re beginning to see results from the Canadian junior leagues.

Here’s the early update on Edmonton’s prospects in 2023-24.

The KHL

Power winger Maxim Berezkin is once again posting crooked numbers and playing significant minutes. His totals through 12 games (1-4-5 points and 5-5 even-strength goals) are in line with last season’s production and his 14 minutes a night is also a match for 2022-23. His shots per game is up slightly, which is often an indication a young player is taking a step forward.

Teenage defenceman Nikita Yevseyev is also playing in the top Russian league. Averaging 9:23 per game, he has scored 1-1-2 through 11 games with a 5-4 on-ice goal differential at even strength.

Undersized centre Maxim Denezhkin is finally making his mark in the KHL at 22. Drafted in 2019, he received only brief looks in the league until this season. Through eight games, he is playing almost 13 minutes a night and has scored one goal plus an assist. His goal share (5-3) at even strength is a positive, but the big news is he’s made the grade and is playing a regular role this year.

The OHL

Defenceman Beau Akey caused a stir in the Penticton Young Stars tournament with his ridiculous speed and puckhandling ability. He is back in junior now with the Barrie Colts. Through three games, Akey has a goal and an assist while playing a feature role. Expect massive boxcar numbers for Akey, who posted 47 points in 66 games in 2022-23, his draft year.

Goalie Nathaniel Day, also drafted this past summer, got lit up in his season debut for the Flint Firebirds on Friday night and didn’t do much better on Saturday. He currently owns a save percentage of .783 after giving up 14 goals on 59 shots. Early days can make for unusual totals, but those numbers aren’t sustainable — or at least the Oilers hope that will be the case.

NHL preseason

There have been some impressive performances so far in training camp. Here are the numbers for the Oilers prospect forwards so far in preseason.

Raphael Lavoie’s efforts to make the NHL roster are well-documented. His performances so far in preseason range from strong (versus the Winnipeg Jets) to pedestrian (against the Calgary Flames on Friday night) but fans will remember his impressive goal versus the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night. He has shown enough flashes to at least be considered for the final roster spot.

Xavier Bourgault’s checking and anticipation have been driving opponents to distraction; his passing is also worthy of mention. The lack of offence is evident, so more time in Bakersfield this fall is likely. One thing Bourgault has proven so far is that he’s closer to the NHL than previously thought.

James Hamblin’s quickness and faceoff ability have earned him ice time and may increase his chances of recall during the season (if he continues).

The rest of the group have yet to impress. Tyler Tullio’s quick demotion to the Condors was disappointing.

Young centres Jayden Grubbe and Carl Berglund need to increase quickness in the season to come. Both will be challenged to win minutes in the AHL if they can’t keep up.

Winger Carter Savoie is finally healthy, although he did miss a game early last week. He has terrific offensive talent but hasn’t been able to deliver in preseason. His story will be written in the minors this season and he could deliver a big scoring season. He has 25+ goal talent at that level if he can stay healthy.

Matvey Petrov looked a little nervous in his game with the team. He’ll start his pro career in Bakersfield.

The Oilers NHL defence is known, so this group of prospects is playing strictly for pecking order of recall. Here’s the tale of the tape.

Ben Gleason has emerged as the best of the relative newcomers, getting more playing time than Cam Dineen and Noel Hoefenmayer.

Among other possible recalls, Markus Niemelainen and Phil Kemp are the top left- and right-handed shutdown options for the season to come.

Max Wanner is about to enter his rookie pro season. He plays with a nasty edge and the Oilers are getting bigger, stronger and more rugged on the third pairing. He’s a player to watch in Bakersfield this season.

Akey, covered in the OHL section, has fans buzzing with his puck skills.

The goaltending prospects haven’t played much. Olivier Rodrigue is the only true goalie prospect in camp and he had a fine outing versus the Jets on Sept. 24. Rodrigue stopped all but one of the 26 shots he faced, and the one goal came on a high-danger chance.

There’s a growing sense Edmonton may have another future NHL goaltender bubbling up from the system. It represents an extreme turnaround for an organization that spent decades of draft picks trying to uncover the next Andy Moog (drafted 1980) or Grant Fuhr (1981).

Redemption came for the scouts in 2004 (Devan Dubnyk) and 2017 (Stuart Skinner), with Rodrigue looking to join a rare list of Oilers picks to have a career.

Early days

Much of the attention is landing on the NHL roster, with Lavoie a major story.

The nature of prospect development is that much happens miles from NHL rinks. Akey and the Russians are good examples, and Bourgault is a player who could surprise during the season.

The AHL will soon get underway, along with college hockey, and all prospects will be in full swing by the middle of October.

The Oilers are shy in numbers and quality, so every prospect matters.

Akey is the early favourite to emerge as the big story for Edmonton among the prospects this season.

(Photo of Maxim Denezhkin: Pavel Lisitsyn / Sputnik via AP)

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