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Oilers Draft Guide: Draft Picks, Targets, and Predictions for the 2026 NHL Draft
Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
Jun 26, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 26, 2026, 15:44 EDT
It’s draft day in the National Hockey League.
Thirty-two teenagers will be selected in the first round on Friday night, as another 192 will hear their names called on Saturday.
For the Edmonton Oilers, the draft doesn’t mean much these days. In their quest to hoist Lord Stanley’s mug, the team has consistently shipped out their draft picks year after year. That doesn’t mean the Oilers are absent from this year’s draft, as they have selections in the second, third, sixth, and seventh rounds. Will they hold onto them? Who knows!
In the last three years, the Oilers have had one first-round selection, which was used in 2024 to select Sam O’Reilly 32nd overall — a pick the team acquired on the draft floor, catching everyone by surprise — and his tenure with the team was short-lived, as he was traded for Isaac Howard last summer.
The Oilers’ track record in the first round hasn’t been great, either. Their last player that hit was Evan Bouchard, who the team took 10th overall in the 2018 draft. Since then, they’ve drafted Philip Broberg (eighth overall, 2019), Dylan Holloway (14th overall, 2020), Xavier Bourgault (22nd overall, 2021), and Reid Schaefer (32nd overall, 2022).
Which draft picks do the Oilers have?
PuckpediaA look at the Oilers’ draft picks ahead of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Graphic via PuckPedia.
As seen above, the Oilers have traded away three of their seven picks. The first rounder was sent to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jake Walman, while the fourth was used to help pick up Trent Frederic and Max Jones.
Edmonton’s fifth-round pick was used to move up in last year’s draft to select defenceman Asher Barnett, who had a strong first season in the Oilers organization.
The remaining picks the Oilers have are as follows:
- Second round, 52nd overall
- Third round, 84th overall
- Sixth round, 180th overall
- Seventh round, 212th overall
What will they do with them?
The Oilers will have no shortage of options. Dave Hall highlighted seven players the team could take: defenceman Samu Alalauri or Alexander Bilecki, left-wingers Chase Harrington, or Adam Nemec, and centres Beckett Hamilton, Thomas Vandenberg, or Adam Valenti.
Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis’ latest mock draft has the Oilers selecting Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Ethan MacKenzie with their 52nd overall pick. Here’s what Ellis wrote about him:
We know the Oilers had eyes on MacKenzie this year. He was a surprise addition to Canada’s World Junior team, and he didn’t disappoint. It was a solid enough stretch that helped ensure he would be selected this year after being passed over twice. MacKenzie’s ability to win individual battles and shut guys down makes him intriguing. His maturity and hockey sense have really blossomed over time, and he can kill plays and log a lot of minutes if needed (as proven with the Oil Kings).
Oilersnation’s Liam Horrobin wrote about MacKenzie earlier this week:
MacKenzie was one of the draft’s biggest risers. He was overlooked in the 2025 draft, but then put together a great season with the Oil Kings. His 58 points in 59 games are the best point-per-game rate in franchise history for a player who stayed the full season….Another factor worth considering is one of Edmonton’s recent front office hires. No, not Mike Babcock, but Kirt Hill. Hill comes to Edmonton from the Oil Kings, where he spent the past eight seasons as their general manager. If anyone in the organization has extensive firsthand knowledge of MacKenzie’s game, it’s Hill.
The Oilers won’t have a chance to draft a complete, top-tier defenceman like Rudolph or Carels. Instead, they could land one of the WHL’s best possession-driving blueliners. At 52nd overall, you could do much worse than what Mackenzie has to offer
At 84th overall, Ellis’ mock draft has the Oilers selecting Kelowna Rockets goaltender Harrison Boettiger:
Boettiger has had to steal more than his fair share of games with Kelowna this year. He prides himself on his ability to stay focused under pressure. That’s something he had to deal with often early in his major junior career. His hockey sense and active hands – keeping them up in front to take space away – are as good as you’ll find in this draft class. I also like how quick his footwork can be, even if it’s a little inconsistent. Boettiger has a chance to be USA’s starting goalie at the World Juniors next season, so get prepared to hear a lot more about him over the next few years.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
Draft Day Coverage Starts Here
The future of hockey is about to be selected — and the Nation Network is bringing you closer to every pick.
From live pre and post Draft Day coverage with The Sheet and Pierre McGuire, to custom player profiles, first round pick reactions from The Leafs Nation, and Barn Burner’s live hangout, we’re covering every angle of the biggest night for hockey’s next generation.
Follow along for all the Draft features, analysis, and reactions on YouTube and socials.
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