As Oilersnation continues to count down the top prospects in the Edmonton Oilers organization, today we’ll look at some of the players whose rights could expire at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Wakely is the most notable of the group, and he will be a key player to follow this season. His rights were set to expire on June 1, 2026, but as the centre returns to the NCAA’s UMass-Lowell, it’s worth noting that his rights have been extended through Aug 15, 2029, should he remain in school. Whenever he elects to leave, the Oilers will need to sign him to retain him.

Drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 draft, he spent his draft-plus-one season with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, scoring 23 goals and 58 points in 55 games, a step back from the 39 goals and 104 points in 66 games he scored in 2023-24. Last year was his freshman season at UMass, where he scored seven goals and 19 points in 35 games.

Selected by the Oilers in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, the German winger had a breakout season with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, scoring 17 goals and 65 points in 57 games. Lewandowski represented his country internationally at the World Juniors, scoring a goal and four points, and now, his rights will expire on June 1, 2027.

He made his pro debut last year with the Bakersfield Condors, playing a game at the end of the season and notching an assist.

Scott Roblin, a sports reporter for Saskatoon’s 650 CKOM, noted on X last week that Lewandowski likely won’t return to the Blades next season.

Fischer joined the Oilers organization in the wake of the Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg offer sheets, acquired as extra compensation for the Oilers not to match. The University of Notre Dame product is set to return to school for a fourth season, and in each of his three years, his offensive totals have increased, climbing to six goals and 23 points in 33 games last year.

The jury is still out on what kind of pro career he could have, but Oilersnation prospect writer Spencer Pomoty has noted he’s a strong defender on a Fighting Irish team that has struggled to score, making his point production significant given what’s around him.

His rights expire on June 1, 2027, but are retained through Aug. 15, 2027 if he remains in school.

Sharp joined the Oilers system earlier this summer in the Darnell Nurse trade, and all signs point to him being a player Stan Bowman is a big fan of. Bowman highlighted how much Sharp stood out when the team was scouting his teammate Owen Michaels at Western Michigan University last season.

San Jose Sharks general manager said in trade discussions around Nurse, the Oilers were adamant on his inclusion in a deal. He scored five goals and 19 points in 37 games last year.

His rights expire on June 1, 2027, but extend to Aug. 15, 2028 if he remains in school.

Salonen’s season will be kicking off at the end of the month playing for the Finnish Elite League’s Liiga, and it will be an important year for him. He posted dazzling numbers in 2024-25 for Lukko’s U20 squad, but struggled last year playing his first year in the pro league, posting a 14-7-7 record, a .887 save percentage and a 2.40 goals against average, despite Lukko finishing fifth of 16 teams.

Goalies are voodoo, though, and he was a rookie, so we’ll see what he can do this season. His rights expire on June 1, 2027.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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