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Oilers sixth round pick Caden Harvey focuses on consistency

Photo credit: GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

By Lane Golden

Jul 23, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 23, 2026, 03:31 EDT

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Identifying prospects who can make an impact in the NHL becomes a daunting task in the later rounds of the draft. Scouting departments must identify who has the greatest growth potential. And who everyone else is wrong about.

Fresh off being selected 180th overall by the Edmonton Oilers, sixth-round pick Caden Harvey reflected on how he can be one of those late-round gems.

“I think it’s just consistency. I think my coaches have been harping on me for a while on that, and I think it’s what a lot of scouts saw,” he told OilersTV’s Tony Brar.

Harvey debuted with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires last year after playing the prior campaign in the USHL. He got off to a hot start, scoring seven points in his first six games. In March, he had another impactful stretch, during which he notched seven points in four games. Those flashes were sandwiched between cold spells, however. By the end of the season, the 6-foot-1 centre had 34 points in 68 games.

Among the scouts, coaches, statistics, and Harvey himself, it appears everyone is aligned on one thing: he needs to be more consistent to reach his ceiling. A ceiling that the Oilers felt was too high to ignore by the sixth round.

“We believe his identity is that of an offensive player, quick thinker, quick stick, lateral quickness, playmaker,” said Oilers’ director of Amateur Scouting, Rick Pracey, following the draft. “We had sort of third-round, fourth-round value in terms of skill and sense. So we’re convinced this was an ability-based kid that we couldn’t go by in the sixth round.”

How does Caden Harvey plan to find consistency?

There were plenty of ups and downs throughout Harvey’s draft year, but he believes that if he can dial himself in every shift and every game, he will go far. His formula to achieve that goal next season is simple.

“Just making sure I’m focused every game, not taking any games off, making sure I’m warming up, being mentally prepared before the games, and just going out there every shift with 100 per cent compete,” he said.

Harvey certainly has that compete in him. Scouts have described him as “tenacious” and praised his work along the boards.

“It’s on the walls where Harvey is at his best, digging pucks and sliding them into pockets in the opposition’s coverage. There’s a level of forethought in his game, as he actively looks to invite pressure to create space for teammates.” – Elite Prospects Draft Guide.

According to Harvey, his success in retrieving pucks comes from the work he’s put in with his coaches.

“Working back home with my skills coaches, we work on a lot of plays on the walls and making sure I’m receiving pucks on the wall cleanly and not bobbling them. Keeping possession of the puck is a big part of the game, so whatever you can do to keep it on your stick — especially on the wall where it’s a tough spot to do it — is good.”

Caden Harvey’s development path: making the jump to the OHL

Possessing transferable skills like board play and playmaking off retrievals was helpful for Harvey, who made a big change last season, moving from the USHL to the OHL.

“I think the OHL is a lot more skill-based, a lot more development. I think USHL is more situational hockey. It was good to jump to the OHL, and I think it helped me out a lot.”

Harvey’s experience extends beyond his club teams, as he’s made several appearances with Team USA on the international stage. He played for the U.S. National U17 Team and, at the last Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scored two goals, helping the U.S. capture its first gold medal at the tournament since 2003.

Eventually, Harvey plans to make the jump to the NCAA, having committed to Penn State for 2027-28. But first, he will return to the Spitfires for his second season alongside fellow Oilers draft pick Andrew Robinson.

“We had a lot of top-end players, high draft picks, so it’s good to learn from them and kind of pick their brains with stuff,” said Harvey. “And next year will be good to see more of a bigger role for me.”

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