DEV CAMP: Akey soaking in Development Camp experience

EDMONTON, AB - Fresh off getting drafted, Oilers second-round pick Beau Akey is just taking in his new surroundings.

The 18-year-old is in town for Oilers Development Camp and is enjoying his first taste of what being a pro-hockey player is all about. From Rogers Place to the city of Edmonton, it's been a whole new experience for the Oilers first pick in 2023.

"Yeah, it's incredible," Akey said after his on-ice session at the Downtown Community Arena. "The facilities here are obviously incredible and the city's great. I haven't done much exploring of the city, but from what I see from my hotel room, it's pretty nice."

The smooth skating defender from the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League comes to Edmonton highly lauded in scouting circles for his two-way ability and is considered an exceptional defender near the blueline. Elite Prospects contributor Mitchell Brown tracked Akey as having shutdown the highest percentage of rush opportunities among draft-year defencemen out of the 400 defenders he has tracked.

Offensively, Akey took a massive leap forward offensively in his draft eligible season, with his 47 points (11G, 36A) marking a 31-point improvement over his freshman OHL season. The Waterloo, Ontario product listed off what he feels his strengths are, and they all fit the prototype of the modern NHL defender.

"I'd definitely say my vision, my passing, my skating, is really where I excel," Akey said. "I think I move the puck really well, and I use my brain. I think my hockey sense is good also, so I can make passes on the fly, and I think I play a really quick game."

As is the case with most 18-year-olds fresh out of the NHL Draft, Akey's goals are to add more muscle so he can handle the rigours and the physicality of the pro game. It's an area of his game that the 6-foot-0, right-shot defender has already got a head start on.

"Yeah, definitely just looking to get bigger and stronger. I think that's kind of always been my weakness, is not having that weight to me," Akey said. "I think I'm definitely looking to get bigger and stronger, and I'm definitely going to be in the gym this summer.

"I've already gained 15 pounds so, I'm pretty proud of myself there. I'm just looking to gain some more and go into the [OHL] season a little bit heavier."

Coming to Edmonton is always an exciting proposition for young draft prospects. In many cases, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been the league's most dominant players during the formative years of their hockey fandom, and the allure of one day suiting up beside them is always an enticing possibility.

"It still feels like they're not even like real people, you only see them on television," Akey said. "I haven't seen either of those two guys yet in person, so I think it'll be pretty incredible when I do."

That is hopefully the future for Akey. The present is all about acquitting himself as Oilers Development camp rolls on, getting to know his new teammates and soaking up the entire experience of what it may one day be like at the NHL level.

"I think it's just pretty special being on the ice here wearing Edmonton Oilers gear. I think that's just the most special thing," he said. "It kind of hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will in the next couple of days."