We are just a day away from the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY. And as of today, the Edmonton Oilers carry a total of four picks heading into the weekend. Of course, with trades happening in a frenzy leading up to the event, there’s always a chance we see that number change by Friday.

One thing we do know will likely remain true is their lack of a first-round pick. As it stands, the Oilers are set to make their first pick on Day 2, when they go up for pick number 52. In what is considered somewhat of an off-year for high-end second-round and beyond picks, the Oilers will have to decide whether they want to take any major swings with their selections. The good news? While there may be a lack of high-end talent, several players remain available who bring two-way acumen and a workhorse mentality.

In addition to the names we have already covered, here are seven players the Oilers could target with their second-round pick.

A player of Samu Alalauri’s ilk won’t be brought in for any flashy offensive pedigree, but rather a projectable and steady presence. At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, he already possesses the frame of a professional player, and unlike some bigger prospects, he has no issues playing into it. While he isn’t interested in playing a finesse game, he closes gaps aggressively, finishes checks, and makes life uncomfortable for opposing forwards. He plays the game like a pro already and could build out into a steady top-four defender when all is said and done.

That isn’t to say there isn’t any offensive flash in his game. As the season wore on, he became increasingly comfortable with the puck on his stick. No, he probably won’t be quarterbacking a power play, but he moves the puck efficiently and has shown flashes of contributing offensively when opportunities arise. That was evidenced in his 25 points in 40 games at the U20 Finnish league.

What truly intrigues is that he combines all this with a strong skating base. Built with natural mechanics, he blends a strong base of physicality, mobility, and two-way acumen. For Edmonton, the attraction is obvious. Big, right-shot defencemen with legitimate defensive upside don’t grow on trees. Committing to the University of Massachusetts, he will now learn what it takes to thrive in the North American game.

Chase Harrington doesn’t wow you with highlight-reel skill every shift. Instead, he spends entire games doing all the little things that help teams win. He’s first on pucks, he wins battles, he pressures defenders into mistakes, he gets to the front of the net, and he plays with an edge that becomes increasingly noticeable the longer you watch him. When given the opportunity, he knows how to put the puck in the net, too. After all, twenty-eight goals in the WHL isn’t an accident.

What we really enjoy about the Spokane winger is that he already understands exactly what type of player he needs to be. There aren’t many wasted shifts, and he doesn’t float waiting for the puck to find him. He’s usually the player creating the situation in the first place. Like many in this range, the question becomes whether there’s enough offence here to push him beyond a bottom-six projection. 

Adam Nemec, brother of recently traded and Alberta-bound Simon, made the unique mid-season jump from HK Nitra (Slovakia) to Sudbury. Although unconventional, it’s a move that paid off for him. Producing at over a point per game with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 31 games, he was able to show off a more offensive side in addition to the pro-level side he showed in the first half.

The first thing that jumps out about Nemec is his motor. He gets after pucks, pressures defenders, and tirelessly works for his opportunities. Once he arrived in Sudbury, the offensive side of his game became more noticeable as he received more touches and responsibility. It was there that Nemec’s vision and playmaking ability began to shine through.

But what player are you getting with Adam Nemec at the highest level? Is he a scoring winger? A checking forward? A middle-six utility piece? Right now, there’s a little bit of everything in his game and also a little bit of uncertainty. For Edmonton, that versatility may be exactly what makes him appealing. Players who can adapt to different roles tend to give coaches options.

Some players put up points because they’re playing on loaded teams, but Beckett Hamilton didn’t have that luxury. The Red Deer Rebels endured another difficult season, yet Hamilton was one of the few bright spots throughout the year. Leading the club in scoring by a significant margin, he was often looking like the player driving whatever offence the team managed to create.

That’s why it’s always important to remember that context matters when examining prospects. It’s one thing to produce within a high-flying offence, but it’s another to be the focal point of opposing game plans every night and still find ways to generate offence.

What stands out most is how many different ways he impacts the game. He can play through traffic, win puck battles, create turnovers on the forecheck, and then immediately turn those recoveries into offensive opportunities. He’s the type of player coaches appreciate because there aren’t many shortcuts in his game.

Hamilton possesses a quality shot and does his best work when attacking downhill. He can beat defenders off the wall, work into dangerous scoring areas, and create opportunities for teammates when defenders collapse on him. At the same time, there are questions about whether he has enough dynamic skill to become a true offensive driver at the NHL level.

Some scouts see a future middle-six contributor who can chip in on offence while handling difficult assignments. Others view him as more of a complementary player whose game is built around effort and reliability.

Players who consistently drive play on weaker teams tend to get overlooked because their supporting cast doesn’t inflate their numbers. Hamilton spent much of the season creating his own opportunities, and that trait usually translates better than people realize.

The Ottawa 67’s forward entered the season as a name that sat somewhere in the middle rounds on most boards. By the end of the year, he had become one of the more intriguing forwards available after Day 1, posting 25 goals and 50 points as a rookie in 59 games.

He doesn’t necessarily bring a high level of offensive upside. Still, he does offer a touch of everything and brings enough defensive acumen to the table that he’s easily worthy of a safe pick in and around the 50s. He can score. He can distribute. He can play down the middle. He competes hard and doesn’t shy away from difficult areas of the ice. There are shifts where he looks like a scorer and others where he looks like a checking centre.

Organizations are always searching for centres who can play multiple roles, and with high-end names like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Vandenberg’s game feels adaptable enough to fit within the lower end of that Oilers mould.

It’s not easy to show everything you have in the toolkit when you play down the lineup. And while Alexander Bilecki was forced to play behind a steady defensive corps in Kitchener, he managed to show enough positive signs in his game to warrant a second-to-third round projection.

At the end of the day, every organization needs defenders they can trust, and Bilecki feels like one of those players. He consistently finds ways to make life easier for his teammates, moving pucks efficiently, defending with structure, and rarely trying to do more than the situation requires. He brings a strong skating base and can attack the rush with the best of them. While many young defenders try to force offence, Bilecki appears to understand that successful hockey often comes down to making the right play repeatedly.  Standing just under 6-foot-2, he has the frame NHL teams look for, and there are enough offensive flashes to suggest he won’t be limited to purely defensive responsibilities.

As a second-year defender, he’s now enjoyed a deep OHL run, which includes an OHL Championship and Memorial Cup victory.

For Edmonton, Bilecki would fit the profile of a player who could steadily climb through an organization and eventually establish himself as a dependable NHL contributor.

Adam Valentini is a tough projection and a player who could go in a wide range of picks. Assuming he’s available, he’s probably a good bet in the 50s, though. After just one season with the Chicago Steel (USHL), he stepped into the NCAA, providing incredibly solid depth for a Michigan team that had National Championship aspirations. And with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 40 games as a freshman, his introduction was quite impressive.

The numbers are encouraging, but the real standout quality in Valentini’s game is the work ethic. The Toronto native rarely takes moments off and becomes a constant headache for defenders who are hoping to beat him off of pucks. He doesn’t have a large presence, but he doesn’t let that deter him from getting into battles at all parts of the ice.

He plays a complete game, supports pucks well and rarely looks overwhelmed by the pace of play. Aside from his work ethic, there isn’t a single defining skill that jumps off the page, but he he  impacts games through intelligence and consistency. Those qualities are often harder to find.

The question becomes how much offence remains untapped and whether his size will be a determining factor in playing a larger role at the NHL level. There isn’t one outlying factor in his game, but with a motor that won’t quit, he’s a player you are willing to take a bet on.

Can Valentini become a legitimate scoring forward? Or does he settle into a complementary role at higher levels?