With their sights firmly set on returning to the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive season, draft picks have become secondary to the immediate goal for the Edmonton Oilers.

And with the NHL trade deadline looming shortly after the Olympic break, there’s a very real possibility this second-round selection won’t belong to Edmonton by the time June arrives.

But if the pick survives, it presents an opportunity to swing for a few intriguing long-term pieces. This range of the draft is often where players with legitimate NHL tools remain available, whether due to questions surrounding size, projection, or overall consistency.

The Oilers’ prospect pool has naturally taken some hits in recent years as the organization continues to attempt to balance its championship window with the need to develop future contributors.

Whether it’s a mobile defenseman with offensive instincts, a high-skill forward who slipped due to size, or a physically mature player with a translatable pro game, the second round presents an opportunity to add real value without the pressure of immediate expectations.

If the Oilers hold onto their second-round pick, here are nine players who could make sense when their turn arrives at the podium.

Every year, highly skilled forwards slip down the draft board due to concerns about size. Pierce Mbuyi is very likely to be the latest example.

When playing to his strengths, Mbuyi is one of the most explosive offensive players in this class. His skating allows him to generate separation effortlessly, winning races to loose pucks and creating opportunities off the rush. His speed, creativity, and nose for the net make him a constant offensive threat.

Despite his smaller frame, Mbuyi plays aggressively. He pressures defenders, attacks puck carriers, and competes at a high level, refusing to let his size limit his effectiveness.

Leading Owen Sound in scoring by a wide margin, Mbuyi has shown he can drive offence consistently on a poor team.

If he were heavier, there’s little doubt he’d be viewed as a first-round talent. Instead, he could fall directly into Edmonton’s range and become a potential steal.

Holmertz is a skilled offensive center driven by creativity and mobility.

He moves fluidly across the ice with strong edges and soft hands, allowing him to create scoring opportunities in tight areas. His playmaking ability stands out, as he consistently identifies passing lanes and creates offence for teammates.

While primarily a facilitator, Holmertz also possesses a capable shot, making him a dual offensive threat offensively and off the rush. There are questions about his physical engagement and consistency, but his offensive toolkit makes him an intriguing upside pick in this range.

He’s nearly a point-per-game player at the U20 level and has even been given some time in the SHL at a young age.

Perhaps one of the most interesting players in this class, Jaxon Cover, grew up in the Cayman Islands without ice rinks around to learn the game. Learning everything he knows from roller hockey, he’s now top-5 in OHL rookie scoring and second on his London Knights team.

His profile is tricky to pin down, and his game is still developing into a solid two-way provider. But he’s also extremely creative, which we can only assume stems from his in-line hockey background. What makes his profile even more challenging is that the upside is as wide as you could imagine. Given his incredibly raw skill set, there’s no telling whether this could turn into a 100-point player in the OHL or cap out at roughly what it is today. He just feels very boom-or-bust.

For these reasons, he may still be available to the Oilers on day two. Is there a reality where he goes in the first round? Absolutely. Admittedly, he could be well off the board by the time the clock hits within this range. But given his unknown floor, he may end up slipping and giving the team a fun and interesting project.

He’s creative, he skates well, and he’s known to have a solid off-puck game with some jam.

Speed, work ethic, and reliability define Beckam Edwards’ game.

He has quietly developed into one of the more dependable centers projected to be available in the second round. His game isn’t built around flash, but he works at a strong rate and complements with a nose for the net and solid two-way base.

Edwards pressures opponents in all three zones and uses his never-quit work ethic to win puck battles and disrupt plays. He’s a fluid skater who can transport the puck effectively and contribute in transition, while also providing reliable defensive support.

Offensively, his largest threat comes from a heavy shot that’s capable of beating goaltenders cleanly when given space. He’s 6’1” with some room to grow, and uses that frame to get to the middle of the ice and attack netminders.

With the versatility of playing on the wing and up the middle, he’s a player you can feel comfortable in taking at the midway point of the second round.

Ryder Cali already carries an NHL-ready frame at just 17 years old and feels like an easy bet to make mid-way through the second round.

At 6’2” and over 200 pounds, his physical maturity immediately stands out. He plays with strength, competes hard, and brings defensive reliability. While he may not possess elite offensive upside, he contributes with a heavy shot and a willingness to drive to the net and get his hands dirty. He also brings penalty-killing value with what feels like a relatively safe floor.

He’s not your glamorous and flashy pick. But Cali projects as a dependable middle-six forward with strong defensive utility and long-term NHL projection.

A right-handed offensive purist from the backend, Dravecký represents the modern NHL defenseman prototype.

He’s a smooth-skating, offensively driven blueliner who thrives with the puck on his stick. Whether transporting the puck up ice or quarterbacking a power play, his confidence and offensive instincts stand out from the pack.

His skating allows him to create separation from forecheckers and support the attack effectively, and he can walk the line with ease. Although he’s still prone to typical junior mishaps, he reads developing plays well, activates at the right moments, and helps drive transitions.

His size will be a key factor in his sliding down the draft board on day two. But with a high level of awareness and ability to escape situations, he makes up for that lack of size in other areas. If his defensive game can take a step forward, there is some intriguing upside.

MacBeath has steadily climbed draft boards thanks to his skating and puck-moving ability.

He moves efficiently across the ice and excels at transitioning the puck out of his own zone. His vision allows him to distribute effectively, and he contributes offensively as a facilitator from the blue line.

Defensively, he relies on positioning and stick detail rather than physicality, but his defensive game continues to improve. With continued development, MacBeath projects as a reliable two-way defenseman capable of contributing at both ends of the ice.

Schairer brings size, mobility, and defensive reliability, which are all valuable traits in a second-round defence prospect. Not to mention, he plays a premium position as a right-shot defender. For Schairer, it’s a matter of whether there’s a standout trait that separates him from the pack.

At 6’3, he possesses excellent reach and physical tools, allowing him to defend effectively against skilled attackers. His skating is solid for his size, and he shows strong defensive instincts.

While his offensive ceiling may be limited, his skating and puck-moving are decent enough as a package to work with at the next level. However, it’s his defensive reliability and physical profile that give him a strong NHL projection.

He may not be flashy, but Schairer represents the type of steady right-shot defenseman teams value highly.

Pantelas brings one of the more physically mature defensive profiles projected in this range. At 6’2 and over 210 pounds, he already carries pro-level strength and uses it effectively in his own zone. With this in mind, he’s another player who could go earlier than expected on day two. His game is built around positioning, physical engagement, and defensive reliability rather than offensive production. Although he’s found himself on the right end of the offensive ledger this year.

As you would imagine from such a specimen at 17, the majority of his intrigue comes without the puk. Pantelas is incredibly physically mature and matches it with a relentless work ethic. That’s a deadly combination. He’s always willing to engage and put himself in a position to break up plays and keep opponents to the outside. Especially at the junior levels, he’s a menace at the netfront and can punish those who go one-on-one on the boards.

It’s the defensive and physical side that’s going to get him drafted, but he does move the puck well and skates relatively well for his size. He has a good shot that can create chances at the netfront and overall, feels like a very safe bet at this stage of the draft.

Assuming he’s still available, Pantelas represents a long-term defensive piece.

Whether the Oilers ultimately keep the pick or use it in a deadline deal remains to be seen. But if they do step to the podium in the second round, there will be no shortage of intriguing options available. From skilled forwards to mobile defensemen and physically mature depth pieces, this range of the draft offers a chance to add another long-term prospect to the system.

Be sure to check back in, as we will cover more names as the year progresses.

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