The Pressure Is Off The Edmonton Oilers Young Stars

Cult of Hockey

Published Sep 14, 2023 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read

Xavier Bourgault in action in his first NHL preseason game in 2021. Photo by Brett Holmes / Icon Sportswire /Getty Images

Edmonton Oilers Rookie Camp is upon us. The first games will be played before Friday is over.

It is fair to say that the noise levels surrounding the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton are considerably lower this season in Oil Country than it has been in perhaps any other year in memory. It is barely a murmur.

And that’s a sign.

A good sign that the Edmonton franchise has turned the corner and has become an annual contender for the Stanley Cup.

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As Oilers fans a decade or so ago we watched Taylor Hall and hoped and prayed that he would lead us out of the darkness because that was pretty much all we had. And as much as the young Taylor thrilled us with his promise and skill, the hard truth was that it really sucked. We had so little to hold on to and as a result (in retrospect) both we and the club ended up heaping so much pressure on him.

But that was then, and this is now. In 2023 the Oilers have a roster full of stars and strong support personnel. There are only one or two spots open. And no one taking the ice at the Young Stars tourney is likely to win either of them. In fact, they may not even be in the running. They may still end up impacting Edmonton’s season in other ways. But they will not be at center ice at Rogers Place on opening night.

Let’s look at three of them. And the only reason we are not picking a Tyler Tullio, Carter Savoie or Beau Akey is because all of the young men at this camp are more or less in the same situation so far as the big club goes.

Xavier Bourgault, Jayden Grubbe and Max Wanner are all quality prospects that have a chance at impacting the Edmonton Oilers lineup. For Bourgault, a 2021 1st Round pick, that could happen as early as later this season. For the other two, the road to the NHL promises to be a greater distance from where they are today. In fact, I would submit that it is every bit as likely that one or more of these kids will end up playing for a different franchise before ever pulling on an Oilers jersey in an NHL game.

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That is because as annual contenders the Edmonton Oilers are in win-now mode. Things like draft picks and intriguing prospects are often used as trade fodder in order to plug a roster hole considered strategic in the search for the Cup. A deadline deal is just as likely to lift these players closer to the NHL than a promotion from Bakersfield. And please…do not misconstrue that as me being down on any of these three. Because it is the opposite which is true.

Xavier Bourgault is certainly at the top of this list. He possesses legit, 1st Round tools and skill. He dominated The Q in his final year of junior and followed that up with a reasonably productive first year in the AHL. An excellent skater, Bourgault has great hands and a quick release. And at an even 6’, he has enough size to project a good NHL career…somewhere. Defensive play is not Bourgault’s strength, though. As such, he does not strike you as a fourth-line player. And that is where the openings are. So, is Bourgault more likely a pawn than a prospect? We shall see.

Jayden Grubbe is a big, strong, right-shot center who plays a complete, 200-foot game and is 20 years old. He will already have some of his “man strength”. As such, Grubbe could be equally attractive to the home squad as he may be to another franchise looking who is looking for just such traits, in exchange for a veteran player they know is not in their long-term plans for any number of reasons.

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Max Wanner is a tall, dependable right-shot D-man who moved well and tends to think defence first. And the tools are the for him to chip in more on offence. As a late, 7th round selection Wanner was pinned with the “project” tag. Can he “bubble under” and eventually eke out an NHL career on Edmonton’s blueline? But his handedness, wheels and stature could also make him an attractive option to others.

These three players are certainly not the only Oilers hopefuls to watch this weekend in Penticton. They may not even be the three best bets there. But the point is…none of them are being counted on at this point to be anything other than what they are: Prospects. None of them will be mistaken for a young Taylor Hall. But nor do they need to be.

Do any of the three become part of a deadline deal? Or, as other draft picks and prospects depart for reinforcements, do they potentially fill budget-friendly slots in the Oilers roster down the road a bit? Maybe. We will still watch the games and wonder. Assess what is in the Oilers’ cupboard. Be delighted with the triumphs. Grimace at the shortcomings.

But what we no longer need to do is hope one of these kids can be the savior. The next Taylor Hall. Because we don’t need one.

In the long run…that is better for them. And it is better for us.

Drop the puck!

Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]

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