Oilers select defenceman Bauer Berry 218th overall in the NHL Draft
By Cam Lewis
2 days agoWith their seventh and final pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Edmonton Oilers selected defenceman Bauer Berry.
This pick was originally owned by the Boston Bruins but was traded to the Oilers by way of the Arizona Coyotes when they acquired Troy Stecher ahead of this season’s trade deadline. Edmonton sent a fourth-round pick to the Coyotes, now known as Utah Hockey Club.
Listed at 6’4″, 198 pounds, Berry was ranked No. 154 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting coming into the draft. He scored one goal and 14 points over 59 games in his first season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL in 2023-24 and is committed to play for the University of St. Thomas starting in the 2025-26 season.
In the Elite Prospects 2024 Draft Guide, Berry is described as a “suffocating defender with a physical style and clean retrievals.”
Gaudy point totals eluded Bauer Berry, but his impact was steady throughout the season. He’s a shutdown defenceman with a standout ability and flashes of more.The list of USHL defencemen better on retrievals than Berry is a short one. He wins body position early, checks over both shoulders, and makes the quick bump pass. If he’s given a bit of space, he picks the puck up with speed, draws pressure, and ignites the rush. A punishing down-low defensive game rounds out the core of his game.While Berry’s puck is variable, the flashes of skill and awareness are exciting. He activates into the rush, uses space before shooting, and even pulls pucks off the wall and cuts inside.To make the NHL, Berry must continue to develop his skating and defensive game. His pivot power and transitions leave him chasing at times, which means his angling reads and timing of pokes must be perfect. They often aren’t.If Berry does that, he could become a solid depth defenceman. First up, he’ll head to St. Thomas where he should see decent minutes from the start.
Bauer Berry Career Statistics
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