FUTURE WATCH: Grubbe ready to compete and grow with the Oilers

EDMONTON, AB - With a diverse and well-rounded skillset at his disposal, newly-acquired and signed centre Jayden Grubbe knows that it's the competitiveness and the effort he puts in that can push him to the next level.

"That's something that's kind of built into you is the compete and bringing it every game, not just the skillset," he said. "When you're competing like that, the skill shines through, so that's something that I've kind of learned to be good at."

The Calgary, AB product spoke to Bob Stauffer and 630CHED's Oilers Now after his rights were acquired by the Edmonton Oilers from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick on Wednesday -- one day before he was set to re-enter the NHL Draft following the expiration of his signing window with the Rangers at 5:00 p.m. ET on June 1.

The Oilers and Grubbe agreed to a three-year entry-level contract just hours later, reaffirming the organization's interest in the prospect and solidifying the opportunity for the Red Deer Rebels' captain of three seasons to grow into the 200-foot player he feels capable of becoming at the NHL level within the Oilers organization.

"I'm a good 200-foot player. I like to play physical and use my speed and skill around the net and down low," he said. "I try to pitch in wherever I can whether it's blocking shots, killing penalties or taking faceoffs. I like to think overall I'm a good player that wants to compete hard."

There haven't been many three-year captains in the history of the WHL, but Grubbe is one of the few. There also aren't a lot of players who possess those kinds of leadership qualities along with the ability to touch so many different aspects of the game, which is a detail of Grubbe's game that the former Calgary U15 AAA Bison takes plenty of pride in.

Being from Alberta and growing up in the hay-day of Jarome Iginla, Grubbe picked out the former Calgary Flames captain and St. Albert product as a perfect example of a player "who did everything and was a good leader as well," he said.

Grubbe modernized his comparisons with a nod to another former Flame in Matthew Tkachuk, whose blend of physicality, skill and skating with an undeterred level of competitiveness has the Florida Panthers competing in this season's Stanley Cup Final.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound centre also has a mean side to his game, amassing 195 penalty minutes in 194 WHL games that he attributes to his competitive side and the expectations of playing within the Red Deer Rebels' program established by Brent Sutter.

"I think it's just natural for me," he said. "It's not really anything I think about, especially playing in Red Deer."

Following a 29-point campaign in his rookie WHL season, Grubbe was made captain of the Rebels for the start of the abbreviated 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic before he suffered a knee injury that would limit him to only five games that campaign.

Grubbe returned the next season and played 78 regular-season and playoff games for the Rebels, scoring 16 goals and adding 23 assists -- including a clutch series-clinching triple-overtime winner in the longest game in Red Deer Rebels' history during Game 6 of the WHL Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

With a full offseason and training camp in 2022, Grubbe came back renewed and registered over a point per game with 18 goals, 49 assists and 71 penalty minutes in 64 games before adding another 16 points in 12 playoff matches.

Serving as captain of the Rebels for three of his four WHL seasons wearing the same Rebels' No. 9 jersey that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wore as an assistant captain from 2008-11, Grubbe would record 39 goals, 95 assists and 195 penalty minutes in 194 WHL games.

The 20-year-old is eligible to begin next season in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors and views his quickness, strength and scoring tough as major areas of emphasis this offseason as he prepares himself for the professional game.

"I think for me, a lot of it starts off the ice and getting a little stronger and quicker," he said. "Probably the speed aspect and working on my skating is still something everyone can always work on, but I think that'll be a big focus for me this summer. Also the scoring touch, you need that at every level, so I'll continue to work at that."

Photo Credit: Rob Wallator