Bob Stauffer's Top 10 Oilers Prospects

For the first time in a long time, there is a feeling that the Edmonton Oilers organization has started to build real depth in its farm system. This isn't just my opinion.
Multiple NHL pro scouts have told me that the Oilers have a couple things going for them down in Bakersfield in the AHL.
First off, the Oilers finally have some real prospects playing significant minutes "percolating" in the AHL.
Secondly, Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and his staff have installed real "spirit" with the Condors who head into the Christmas Break with a 15-10-1 record and in a playoff spot.
Edmonton's five best players: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse are all Oilers first round picks and developed internally.
The two players that have gained the most traction under Ken Hitchcock, Jesse Puljujarvi and Jujhar Khaira, are also Oilers drafts.
See a theme here?
Successful sports organizations tend to grow organically.
The Oilers need to continue down this path and prioritize it moving forward.
Edmonton has built up depth specifically with right-shot D and have several players that will pushing to become full-time Oilers over the next few seasons.
Here is a look at my top 10 prospects:

#1. Evan Bouchard
The 10th overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft got an extended look at the start of the season, scoring his first NHL goal in what turned out be his last NHL game in a victory over Washington.
Bouchard, 19, came as advertised. The 6'2", 198 pound right-shot D exhibited poise with the puck and elite offensive instincts and played seven games for the Oilers.
Since returning to powerhouse London (23-5-2-1), Bouchard has 5-13-18 in 13 GP and is +20.

Bouchard needs to work on first step quickness and continue to develop as a skater. This may be challenging at the OHL level, where the Captain of the Knights could seemingly play in a rocking chair, relying upon his hockey sense on a stacked team that always has the puck.
It will very interesting to see how Bouchard performs in Vancouver with the Team Canada WJC team, as he is being counted on to be a big-time performer for Tim Hunter's squad.
The Oilers have at minimum a long-term second pairing right-shot D, who will quarterback their PP in years to come. If Bouchard puts the work in, he could be a legit top-pairing guy.
I fully expect him on the Oilers roster at the start of the 2019-20 season.

#2. Kailer Yamamoto
Other than not consistently scoring, the 20 year-old Yamamoto has shown well in my opinion in his two stints in the NHL at the start of the last two seasons.
The 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft has terrific hockey sense and is competitive and tenacious, which is required when you are only 5'8", and 160 pounds.
He scored an elite level first NHL goal against Boston before being sent down to Bakersfield in the AHL after playing 12 games for the Oilers this season.
Yamamoto concluded the pre-Christmas schedule in the AHL scoring three times in the final two games the Bakersfield Condors played after he missed some games at the start of the month with a lower-body injury.
Overall Yamamoto has 4-3-7 in 10 GP in the AHL, and I don't believe he will be down there much longer.
When he returns to Edmonton, I could see Yamamoto playing permanently in a top-9 role and I have a hunch Head Coach Ken Hitchcock is going to like him because he is defensively reliable and he plays the right way.
Hitchcock likes big wingers; but he really likes competitive, reliable wingers, which Yamamoto has the ability to become.
Long term I think Yamamoto will be at minimum a top-six forward for the Oilers.
#3. Ryan McLeod
There are going to be other Oilers prospects further down the list that are going to become full-time Oilers before McLeod, but this guy is a terrific long-term prospect with huge upside that could really impact the Oilers organization as another centre option in years to come.
At 6'3", 208 pounds McLeod has the size, and as we saw in an extended pre-season look, he can flat out fly too!
There were NHL teams that had the fleet-footed McLeod as high as 15 for the 2018 draft and I personally believe the Oilers stole him in the second round (40th overall).
There were question marks before the draft about McLeod's hockey sense, but based on what I saw in pre-season, I don't think it is a major issue.
That said, he has had an up-and-down season on an inconsistent team in Mississauga this season.
He started the season with an eight-game point streak (1-11-12).
McLeod recently went through a difficult five-game streak (1-1-2) where he went -9.
Then he closed out the pre-Christmas OHL schedule with 4-4-8 in his final 5 GP.
There is a distinct possibility that McLeod (11-23-34/29 GP/-12) could end being moved to an OHL team that is loading up for a run.
This is McLeod's fourth season in Junior and he is already 19 so he will be at minimum in the AHL to start next season.
Because of his ability to skate, I believe McLeod has a great chance to push for a full-time spot with the Oilers next fall, and have absolute confidence that he will slot long-term as Edmonton's third line centre.
#4 Caleb Jones
What a difference a year makes!
Jones struggled through a horrible first pro season last year in Bakersfield going -25 in 58 GP while registering 2-15-17.
Blessed with tremendous athleticism, the son of former NBAer Popeye Jones and brother of Columbus number-one defenceman Seth Jones, has taken a quantum leap forward and now currently sits on the Oilers roster with Oscar Klefbom and Kris Russell on IR.
Jones, 21, fully committed himself in the off-season and reported to training camp in terrific shape, and performed well in both the rookie games and early pre-season games.
He then got off to a stellar start under the tutelage of Jay Woodcroft and former NHLer Dave Manson down in Bakersfield.
Through 21 games with the Condors, the 6'1", 195-pound Jones has 2-10-12, all the while playing the right side despite being a left shot.
In his four games with the Oilers, Jones has seen increased playing time from Oilers Assistant Coach Trent Yawney who oversees the defence.
Jones is a fluid skater and has performed well in a solid pairing with Kevin Gravel, who have really stepped up for the Oilers given the absence of two of their top four D.
Based on what I have seen so far from Jones I don't think he is going back down to Bakersfield any time soon and I also don't think anyone in Oilers management envisioned him progressing this far, this fast.
Oilers have something in Jones, and this will provide the organization more options moving forward.
#5. Cooper Marody
Marody has already gotten two NHL looks this season in Edmonton playing six games total for the Oilers, but has only seen limited minutes The 6'0", 190-pound right-shot centre turned 22 this week and has been one of the best rookies in the AHL this season. He has 6-13-19 in 16 games played (third in rookie points/per game) for Bakersfield and got off to terrific start centring Oilers prospects Tyler Benson and Cameron Hebig. The Oilers gave up a third-round pick to Philadelphia to acquire Marody who was selected in the sixth round, 158th overall in the 2015 NHL draft.
Marody tore it up last season leading the Big Ten in scoring with 16-35-51 in 40 GP in his third season at Michigan.
There is no question Marody possesses hockey sense, offensive instincts and knows how to protect the puck. The key for him to take the next step and become an NHLer is to improve his core strength and quickness.
With a committed off-season and continued development, Marody could be in the mix as a top-nine forward next fall in Edmonton.

#6. Ethan Bear
Already a fan favourite in Edmonton, Bear might be the player I get asked the most about on "Oilers Now" down in Bakersfield, especially after he got into 18 games with the Oilers at the end of last season.
The 5'11", 197-pound, 21-year-old Bear was an elite offensive defenceman in Seattle registering 65- and 70-point seasons in the WHL. He had 6-12-18 in 37 GP in Bakersfield last season, before his call-up to Edmonton.
There is no question Bear can run a power play at the AHL level and is a gifted right-shot puck-mover. Bear has made strides on his overall game and will continue to need to work on improving his strength and skating.
He has 0-8-8 in 21 games played in Bakersfield, but is also +7, and has elevated his play in pairing with William Lagesson over the last couple of weeks.
#7. Tyler Benson
Derailed by core injuries throughout his Major Junior career that limited his ability to train in the off-season, Benson put in a full summer and was amongst the most dedicated skaters for informal on-ice sessions held in Edmonton this summer.
The former number one overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft had a hot start down in the AHL and despite going six games without a point has 3-16-19 in 26 points and has been really good on the PP.
Limited to just 121 games played in his final three seasons with Vancouver in the WHL, Benson is playing catch-up a bit as a prospect after being selected in the second round, 32nd overall in 2016.
The 6'0", 190 pound, 20 year-old left wing will needs to continue to work on his skating, but he does have the offensive moxie to compete for a top nine spot up front on the wing down the road.
#8. Joel Persson
Oilers Management took a swing on the undersized right-shot D who seemingly has come out of nowhere. Now the 5'10, 170-pound Persson might get some time in Edmonton at the end of the season after Vaxjo's year is done in the Swedish Elite League.
The 24 year-old Persson has moved up from several leagues down in Sweden and had a breakout performance last year putting up 6-28-34 on a Vaxjo team that won both the regular season title and SEL Championship, led by Vancouver Canucks phenom Elias Petterson.
Persson has 3-12-15 in 26 games so far this season. He can really walk the line on the PP and could compete for a third-pairing spot next fall in Edmonton.
#9. Kirill Maksimov
Maksimov looked laboured during Oilers training camp and was sent back to Junior relatively quickly. He has had a really good season in Niagara.
He has 20-20-40 in 29 GP and is second in the OHL heading into the Christmas Break with 56 Penalty Minutes.
The 6'3", 195-pound right winger can shoot the pill. His skating needs work, but the Oilers might have something with the 19 year-old who was selected in the fifth round, 146th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Maksimov will likely be headed to the AHL to start his pro career next season.
#10. Olivier Rodrigue
One of the Oilers plethora of young goaltenders selected in the last three NHL Drafts that includes Stuart Skinner (3/78/17) and Dylan Wells (5/126/13), Rodrigue is the son of Oilers Development Goalie Coach Slyvain Rodrigue and considered one of the top goalies in the QMJHL.
Rodrigue is undersized by today's NHL standards (6'1", average NHL goaltender is 6'4" in height) but extremely athletic.
He leads the "Q" in wins at the Christmas break and has a 20-6 record with a 2.46 GAA and .901 SVP.
The Oilers invested a late second round pick (2/62/18) in him and he likely will be headed back to junior next season as well.
Honourable Mentions:
William Lagesson - the 22 year-old left-shot D plays a firm, hard competitive defensive style. At 6'2", 207 pounds he could pan out as a third-pairing NHL defenceman down the road.
Selected in the fourth round, 91st overall in the 2014 NHL draft, Lagesson has been impressive in his first pro season in North America. He has 3-5-8 in 25 GP and is +6 in Bakersfield.
Cameron Hebig - undrafted forward scored 41-49-90 with Saskatoon and Regina in the WHL last season has had a stellar start to the season down in Bakersfield.
The 5'10, 185 pound RW/C, 21 year-old has 10-8-18 in 26 GP for the Condors and has exhibited a "professional" approach according to Condors Head Coach Jay Woodcroft.
Bob Stauffer is Radio Analyst of the Oilers Broadcasts on the Oilers Radio Network and Host of "Oilers Now" Monday thru Friday Noon to 2:00PM on 630 CHED. You can follow him on twitter at @Bob_Stauffer