What kind of player will the Oilers get at 29th overall?

25. Brad Lambert, C/W, Lahti (Finland)

Perhaps the most polarizing player in the class, Lambert has tools that suggest he should be an elite player. He is a sublime skater, probably the best in this draft class, and has a higher-end skill set as well. The issue with Lambert is that we’ve basically seen him in Finnish pro hockey for three years with little to no progression beyond continued physical development. He played for three teams in the last three years and had the same results. In fact, he had fewer points this season than he did last. His inability to get to the interior of the ice consistently is an especially large concern about his game as he can’t simply be a perimeter player. That has sparked concerns about his hockey sense and his competitiveness. I’ve talked to scouts who say the tools are worth the risk and I’ve talked to others who would advocate for his team not to draft him at all. I’ve come down somewhere in the middle, but I recognize the risk that exists in hanging a first-round pick on him. If you watched him play one game and saw the skating and the hands, you’d say this player is one of the very best prospects, but the rest just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny as well.

26. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, U.S. National Under-18 Team (NTDP)

A down-low force with work ethic that doesn’t relent, Snuggerud has often had to do the dirty work on his line. Despite that role, he is an especially dangerous scoring threat. Snuggerud has a great release and heavy shot that can surprise goalies. On top of that, he has the size and strength to get to the middle and make plays in tough areas. His skating is not amazing, which is a reason I don’t have him higher on this list. I think Snuggerud is a well-rounded, committed player who makes those around him better and can create a lot of extra room for his linemates to operate.

27. Lian Bichsel, D, Leksands (Sweden)

You can watch Bichsel for a matter of minutes and see the pro potential. He checked in at the combine at 6-foot-5.5 and 225 pounds and he knows how to use that frame. He defends very well and did so even against professionals this year, appearing in 29 SHL games this season. He was physically dominant and showed some better offensive tools at the U20 level, scoring seven points in 11 games in junior with Leksands this season. Bichsel dealt with some late-season injuries that prevented him from participating in a number of events including the U18 World Championship which surely could have aided his draft stock. Injuries aside, the upside of a player like Bichsel is pretty huge, especially at that size and with the physicality he plays with. The concern is if he thinks the game at a high enough level offensively to be more than a mobile defender with size and physicality. Picking him in the first round, you’re betting on his ability to find it.

28. Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

A towering defenseman with excellent mobility for a big man, Pickering has a lot of tools that stand out. There’s some raw potential there as I think his anticipation and overall hockey sense still need to advance to make him a more effective two-way player. Offensively, he is adequate, but there are flashes of greater potential. He did have 33 points in 62 games for a poor Swift Current team this season. As he gets a bit more aggressive and confident with the puck on his stick, it could open up the possibility of him one day becoming a top-four defender.

29. Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska H.S./Waterloo Black Hawks (MN-HS; USHL)

He’s a big, raw blueliner who split time between his high school team and the Waterloo Black Hawks. I think Rinzel’s stock may be higher had he played junior all year. His high school performances were fine, but at the junior level under better competition, I thought he raised his level a few notches but you could see he was behind a little bit. Rinzel is a very good skater for a player his size and has an innate ability to get pucks up ice with some incredible skill and vision. What he has in physical tools, though, he lacks in the hockey sense department. I think he just needs time and experience to make better reads and quicker decisions. He might have some of the highest upside of any defenseman in this draft, though, as a 6-foot-4, right-shot defenseman that can skate. He’s a bit of a project, but I think a fun one for a team that has time and resources to devote to him.

30. Filip Mesar, RW, Poprod (Slovakia)

Mesar is so quick and shifty, which makes him exceptionally fun to watch. He has the skill level to make defenders miss 1-on-one 1 has a good enough shot to beat goalies clean from distance. The big issue with Mesar is that he’s slightly below average in size and can be pushed off pucks a little easier at this point. Despite that, he does so many things well with the puck on his stick, you want to bet on his offensive upside. Mesar had decent numbers in the top pro league in Slovakia this year but shined internationally at various U18 events including his eight-point performance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup early this season. His speed and skill suggest he could one day round out into a top-six scorer, which is probably what he has to be to make it in the league as there’s not a ton of value off the puck.

31. Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

You can’t deny Del Bel Belluz’s hands because he has some slippery puck skills. He’s especially good at getting through the neutral zone and keeping plays alive in transition, making it tough for defenders to keep track of both him and where everyone else is on the ice. I think his skating is probably the one major drawback in his game at this point. It’s average for me but not irreconcilable. He had 76 points in 68 games this season after not playing anywhere in 2020-21 and only had six points as a rookie back in 2019-20. Seeing his progression as well as his legitimate puck skills and great shot, I think there’s a case for him to be a good middle-six scorer at the next level if he hits all his marks along the way.

32. Noah Ostlund, C, Djugardens U20 (Sweden U20)

A committed center with some dynamic elements in his skill, Ostlund put up big numbers in the Swedish U20 ranks, but he couldn’t quite find a way to make an impact at the pro level this season. Then he went off for 10 points at the World U18s and was essentially playing every third shift at center over the course of that tournament. He is competitive in all zones, but he shines most in his ability to find teammates and make those around him better. He may have to move away from the middle down the road, but I think he plays the position well. He’s an adequate skater, but he plays a little bit lighter and has a lot of strength he needs to tack on to be effective at the next level. His last impression was a strong one and I thought the best example of what Ostlund can ultimately be if he can get a bit stronger.