Home My Local This in from Scott Wheeler, prospect analyst for The Athletic, his ranking of Edmonton Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway as the 49th top prospect under the age of 23, the highest ranked Edmonton Oilers’ prospect on Wheeler’s list. Wheeler noted Holloway’s injuries, including two wrist surgeries, had held back the young player, but gave Holloway a glowing review:

This in from Scott Wheeler, prospect analyst for The Athletic, his ranking of Edmonton Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway as the 49th top prospect under the age of 23, the highest ranked Edmonton Oilers’ prospect on Wheeler’s list. Wheeler noted Holloway’s injuries, including two wrist surgeries, had held back the young player, but gave Holloway a glowing review:

Jul 21, 2023 comments off

  1. Cult of Hockey

Published Jul 21, 2023  •  Last updated 5 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Dylan Holloway Oilers rookie forward Dylan Holloway was used to playing 20-plus minutes a night in college and junior, but is averaging just seven or eight in the NHL. Photo by David Bloom /POSTMEDIA

This in from Scott Wheeler, draft analyst for The Athletic, his ranking of Edmonton Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway as the 49th top NHL prospect under the age of 23, the highest ranked Edmonton Oilers’ prospect on Wheeler’s list.

Wheeler noted Holloway’s injuries, including two wrist surgeries, have held back the young player but gave Holloway a glowing review:

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“He’s a fast, powerful, physical, forechecking presence who I believe has a third-line floor and the skill to push into a top-six role as the complementary scorer and go-getter that the Oilers searched for high and low for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl before they found Zach Hyman and Evander Kane. He’s known as an explosive skater who is normally the most athletic player on the ice. But he’s also got quick-twitch hands that keep up with his feet and a powerful wrist shot release which help him manufacture offence both off the rush and cutting off the wall to the slot to power past checks and get to dangerous spots to create chances… He stays in every battle, supports play, plays hard and can beat defenders to his spots… I still see a 50-something point ceiling in the prime of his career if he can stay healthy. He’s going to find his way.”

You will recall that only yesterday long-time Oilers observer Terry Jones also spoke out favourably about Holloway, suggesting the young forward will find his way onto one of Edmonton’s top two lines.

Dylan Holloway

My take

1. Wheeler is a credible assessor of talent so I have no reason to question this ranking. At the same time, close observers of the Oilers can make up their own minds on Holloway’s potential, as we got a decent look at him in Edmonton last year in his 51 games.

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2. Heading into the year, Holloway was the Cult of Hockey’s second ranked Oilers prospect (see below) and the top-ranked forward. The hope was that Holloway would earn a top-line spot in 2022-23, but not to be. He made some iffy rookie plays with the puck early on and got bumped down the line-up. He finally got sent the minors and promptly got injured, but did come back and score 10 points in 12 games at Bakersfield.

Prospects

3. Holloway is indeed big, fast and skilled. He was an outstanding two-way centre at Wisconsin in US college hockey before turning pro. He’s also got a history of taking a year to adjust to a new league, then take a major step up. This is his second NHL season, so no one should be surprised if he makes a move.

stats

4. Of course, the Oilers have got to make room for Holloway, give him an opportunity, something he didn’t always finds in limited ice time last season. He played just 9:35 per game on the Oilers. Holloway was just OK as a two-way player in Edmonton. Players like Klim Kostin, Kailer Yamamoto and Devin Shore slipped in ahead of him in the line-up. Now Holloway faces major competition from newcomer Connor Brown for a top line role, but Brown is also a checker who could help lead a shut-down line for the Oilers, a major need on this team.

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5. I’ve been expecting a breakthrough from Holloway for some time now. He seems to have all it takes to be a top pro winger. This is a huge year for him. It will be no surprise to anyone if Holloway breaks through, and it’s certainly time he got the opportunity. The Oilers need to know what they’ve got in this young player, so I expect to see plenty of him in the line-up in October and November.

At the Cult

STAPLES: “Bet on it”: Hockey Hall of Fame writer boldly predicts Edmonton Oilers will win Stanley Cup this year

STAPLES: Oilers most improved team in Pacific Division, says analytics expert. Hmm

McCURDY: The sad ending of Oscar Klefbom’s career

STAPLES: Where does loss to Vegas rank among Oilers’ all-time painful moments?

McCURDY: Oilers iffy defence needs to be better. Much better

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