Lowetide: The 5 Oilers prospects who improved the most in 2020-21

The most encouraging development in the Edmonton Oilers prospect pool in 2020-21 comes from the fact it’s difficult to exclude some fine performances in getting down to a top-five list of achievers. In past seasons, finding five prospects who took a step forward was the issue, so the current conditions are a welcome change.

Dylan Holloway leads a talented field of players courtesy of a breakout season with the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten (NCAA). Holloway’s progress from his freshman to sophomore season was breathtaking and made Oilers scouts look brilliant for choosing him after his first NCAA season (and before his big 2020-21 campaign).

There was some evidence Holloway’s actual skill was greater than his freshman numbers at Wisconsin. Lisa Dillman of The Athletic quoted Los Angeles Kings chief scout Mark Yannetti after the draft, saying “in college last year, there were times he was forced to tread water. There were times he was playing against a team of 24-year-olds.”

Holloway was drafted by Edmonton and then embarked on what can only be described as a watershed season with the Badgers. The year-over-year comparison of his two seasons in the Big Ten shows outstanding growth:

As good as the numbers are, Holloway’s dominance in Year 2 were in stark contrast to the description by Yannetti before the draft. He was outstanding for Wisconsin this past season, with the 24-year-olds in chase mode this time. Holloway has signed an NHL contract and beginning in the fall could see some action in the AHL after recovering from thumb surgery (via Jim Matheson of Post Media). He has a chance to break camp with the Oilers in the fall, although some time with the AHL Bakersfield Condors is more likely. No one spiked during 2020-21 in the entire Edmonton system more than Holloway.

Ryan McLeod had a solid rookie season with the Condors in 2019-20. He could play a two-way game out of the box. The scoring was shy, but that was the knock on him coming out of junior. Condors coach Jay Woodcroft talked about his staff working with McLeod playing wing and learning to get to the hard areas where goals are scored. It was a tough offensive first season of pro as he scored 5-13-18 at even strength in 56 games.

McLeod used the lessons learned in his first Bakersfield season by scoring 11 points in 15 games for EV Zug in the Swiss league to begin the year. When he arrived back in North America, McLeod was a different player in Bakersfield, averaging a point per game (14-14-28 in 28 games). His zone exits and entries were textbook for the Condors and a key to the club’s strong 2020-21 season.

McLeod played so well he received a recall to the NHL in the middle of the pandemic and is finding his way on the Oilers’ No. 3 line. Early results: NHL speed, impressive in the faceoff circle, needs to push inside for those scoring chances. McLeod came a long way this year.

Dmitri Samorukov was a well-known defencemen to Oilers fans at the beginning of the 2020-21 KHL season, but his performance for CSKA Moscow has reignited interest in his career. Oilers general manager Ken Holland agreed to loan Samorukov to the KHL team after an uneven 2019-20 season for the Russian defenceman in Bakersfield. Edmonton has had mixed results with Russian players heading to the AHL in recent seasons, so the fresh approach seemed like a good idea at the time.

Samorukov scored in his first KHL game in 2020-21 and posted 2-6-8 boxcars (both goals on the power play) but remains notable as a shutdown defender. His on-ice even-strength goal differential in the KHL (38-14, plus-24) towered over his AHL season (28-34, minus-6). He also played a lot (17:29 a night) compared with expectations before his season ended in early February due to a shoulder injury.

He is expected to compete for an NHL job in the fall and with the uncertainty of Oscar Klefbom’s health and the expansion draft, Edmonton should be a welcome spot for the young defender. His star is on the rise, courtesy of a truly impressive season in the KHL, likely the best hockey league outside the NHL.

Stuart Skinner was highly regarded by Oilers scouts and management in his draft year (2017) and had a famous Memorial Cup run before turning pro. As has been the case for so many Oilers goaltenders going back to Devan Dubnyk and before, Skinner’s first pro season was spent mostly in the ECHL (Wichita Thunder) where he posted a .903 save percentage in 41 games. He struggled in six AHL games that first season (.879 save percentage), but the expectation was to ease him into a backup role in the AHL for 2019-20.

It never happened. Starter Shane Starrett was injured early and a non-factor for the rest of the season. Skinner was thrust into the starter’s role (Dylan Wells backing up) and ran hot and cold all season. He finished with 16 wins in 41 games and an .892 save percentage, the team’s defence ravaged by injury and NHL recalls.

The final season of his entry deal started badly, with no North American hockey. Skinner waited out the delay, saw his first NHL action (won the game) and has been outstanding in Bakersfield since the AHL season began. His save percentage (.917) ranks No. 6 in the league and his two shutouts rank him in a tie for the top spot in that category.

Skinner will be in a heated battle for playing time next season, as Olivier Rodrigue and newly signed Ilya Konovalov will be looking for work. Skinner’s fine performance this season puts him right back in the Oilers “goalie of the future” conversation and could earn him some NHL time in 2021-22.

Matej Blumel is a fast, aggressive winger who could fill an area (middle-six winger who can skate and score) of need for the organization one day. His draft-day scouting reports raved about his foot speed and scoring ability (30 USHL goals in his draft year) despite being second-year eligible for the draft in 2019. He also had 238 shots that season, implying he had a future as a volume shooter.

Blumel has been playing for Pardubice in the top Czech league since his draft day and the year-over-year results are eyebrow-raising:

A lot of the improvement came via usage as Blumel saw far more playing time this past season. He averaged 17:21 in 2020-21, including two minutes a game on the power play and close to two minutes a game on the penalty kill. He was under 12 minutes a game in Year 1 in the Czech league.

Blumel turns 21 at the end of May and is in the window where signing and coming over to North America is the next logical step. Volume shooter, speed demon, forechecker, has experience on both special teams. That’s a fine resume.

Those who missed

I make this list every year and there have been occasions where only two or three could be considered legit improvements. Not this year.

Carter Savoie could have earned a spot on this list, but his strong year with the Denver Pioneers was preceded by a final AJHL season that was fire, so it’s difficult to gauge improvement. Ostap Safin and Markus Niemelainen have been quality in Bakersfield with the Condors but just missed the cut.

Ilya Konovalov has been consistently excellent for years in the KHL, Raphael Lavoie split time playing well between two leagues and is currently up and down in the lineup with the Condors. Tyler Tullio had a great run in the Slovak league but couldn’t find a place to play when he returned to North America.

It’s been a quality season for Oilers prospects, there’s improvement at every position. Some of these names will be in Edmonton a year from now, the hard work of development almost complete.

For Edmonton, the pipeline is moving and should provide inexpensive plug-and-play solutions for years to come. The lost years caused by abandoning traditional development through the minor leagues is now 15 years in the past, most of that time spent recovering from a poor decision.

This organization is building a rock-solid prospect system, and the results this year have been impressive.

(Photo of Dylan Holloway: Codie McLachlan / Getty Images)