<p><em>A note about the criteria of to be included in this countdown. The player must be 25 or younger when the season starts and he must have played less than 50 NHL games. As such, a player like Noah Philp is excluded because of his age. Players like Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg are excluded because of the number of NHL games played.</em></p>
<p></p>
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<h2>Jayden Grubbe</h2>
<p><strong class="text-lg font-bold">Position: Center</strong><br />
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Shoots: Right</strong><br />
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Nationality: Canada</strong><br />
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Date of Birth: January 12, 2003</strong><br />
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Drafted: 3rd Round, 2021</strong><br />
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Height: 6&#8217;3″ / 191 cm</strong><br />
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Weight: 203 lbs / 91 kg<br />
Ranking last year: 9th</strong></p>
<p>For a very long time, the Edmonton Oilers have been looking for right-handed players of certain skill sets: Right-handed defencemen who can play in the top four, right-handed wingers who could play in the top six and right-handed centers who could anchor bottom six lines playing meaningful minutes. So when <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2023/06/01/the-edmonton-oilers-prospect-report-who-is-jayden-grubbe/">Jayden Grubbe was traded to the organization</a>, he came at a fortuitous time. The third round pick of the New York Rangers was <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-acquire-forward-jayden-grubbe">dealt to the Oilers in May 2023</a>, shortly before the end of his last junior season in Red Deer. His fortunes got even brighter when Noah Philp announced his retirement leaving a slot in the middle with the Bakersfield Condors.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Grubbe came to a Bakersfield program that has struggled to develop forwards with any consistency and who weren&#8217;t first-round picks. Grubbe ended his first year 8-6—14 in 67 games. He struggled to find his role early on, and it was only after the Christmas break that Grubbe finally settled in and looked comfortable in a role.</p>
<p>Grubbe plays a heavy game from the faceoff out. He is hard on the puck and uses his size well to create loose pucks and space. Here is a prototypical shift for him.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Grubbe FO and OZ Work TUC 02 24 24" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XYp3dZnMXfk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Here is another shift of Grubbe using his size to his advantage.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Grubbe Physical Play TUS 12 22 23" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ul-yue5dUWM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Finally, here is Grubbe using his strength and size to make space for himself to score.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Grubbe Goal #7" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fcqc_evUUCk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>The one area where Grubbe was critiqued in his draft year was his skating. However, there is no question he has worked on this area of his game. His boots used to come up to high on the kick and the pull back to underneath the body was slow. That clearly changed in his first season in Bakersfield. Here are some clips of his improved acceleration from a stop and his higher-end top speed.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Grubbe PK Break CGY 01 20 24" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HBLYoahPphk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Grubbe Goal #6" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FWfikF-97HY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>More importantly, his defensive zone skills from the faceoff will accelerate his progress in the Oilers system. This is what he needs to do consistently each game.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Grubbe DZ FOW CV 03 01 24" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iGaHSDB-yaY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>There is a slot in the bottom six for a big, defensively strong right-shot center with the Edmonton Oilers. There has been for some time and there will be this year once again. Grubbe&#8217;s development could fill this hole in the organization.</p>
<h1>Previous names in the countdown</h1>
<ul>
<li>20: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/14/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-20-nikita-yevseyev/">Nikita Yevseyev</a></li>
<li>19: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/16/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-19-bauer-berry/">Bauer Berry</a></li>
<li>18: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/17/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-18-albin-sundin/">Albin Sundin</a></li>
<li>17: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/21/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-17-brady-stonehouse/">Brady Stonehouse</a></li>
<li>16: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/23/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-16-william-nicholl/">William Nicholl</a></li>
<li>15: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/24/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-15-james-stefan/">James Stefan</a></li>
<li>14: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/26/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-14-dalyn-wakely/">Dalyn Wakely</a></li>
<li>13: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/28/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-13-luca-munzenberger/">Luca Munzenberger</a></li>
<li>12: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/30/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-12-shane-lachance/">Shane Lachance</a></li>
</ul>
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<em>A note about the criteria of to be included in this countdown. The player must be 25 or younger when the season starts and he must have played less than 50 NHL games. As such, a player like Noah Philp is excluded because of his age. Players like Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg are excluded because of the number of NHL games played.</em>


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<h2>Jayden Grubbe</h2>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Position: Center</strong>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Shoots: Right</strong>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Nationality: Canada</strong>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Date of Birth: January 12, 2003</strong>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Drafted: 3rd Round, 2021</strong>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Height: 6'3″ / 191 cm</strong>
<strong class="text-lg font-bold">Weight: 203 lbs / 91 kg
Ranking last year: 9th</strong>

For a very long time, the Edmonton Oilers have been looking for right-handed players of certain skill sets: Right-handed defencemen who can play in the top four, right-handed wingers who could play in the top six and right-handed centers who could anchor bottom six lines playing meaningful minutes. So when <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2023/06/01/the-edmonton-oilers-prospect-report-who-is-jayden-grubbe/">Jayden Grubbe was traded to the organization</a>, he came at a fortuitous time. The third round pick of the New York Rangers was <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-acquire-forward-jayden-grubbe">dealt to the Oilers in May 2023</a>, shortly before the end of his last junior season in Red Deer. His fortunes got even brighter when Noah Philp announced his retirement leaving a slot in the middle with the Bakersfield Condors.

Unfortunately, Grubbe came to a Bakersfield program that has struggled to develop forwards with any consistency and who weren't first-round picks. Grubbe ended his first year 8-6—14 in 67 games. He struggled to find his role early on, and it was only after the Christmas break that Grubbe finally settled in and looked comfortable in a role.

Grubbe plays a heavy game from the faceoff out. He is hard on the puck and uses his size well to create loose pucks and space. Here is a prototypical shift for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYp3dZnMXfk

Here is another shift of Grubbe using his size to his advantage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul-yue5dUWM

Finally, here is Grubbe using his strength and size to make space for himself to score.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcqc_evUUCk

The one area where Grubbe was critiqued in his draft year was his skating. However, there is no question he has worked on this area of his game. His boots used to come up to high on the kick and the pull back to underneath the body was slow. That clearly changed in his first season in Bakersfield. Here are some clips of his improved acceleration from a stop and his higher-end top speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBLYoahPphk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWfikF-97HY

More importantly, his defensive zone skills from the faceoff will accelerate his progress in the Oilers system. This is what he needs to do consistently each game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGaHSDB-yaY

There is a slot in the bottom six for a big, defensively strong right-shot center with the Edmonton Oilers. There has been for some time and there will be this year once again. Grubbe's development could fill this hole in the organization.
<h1>Previous names in the countdown</h1>
<ul>
 	<li>20: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/14/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-20-nikita-yevseyev/">Nikita Yevseyev</a></li>
 	<li>19: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/16/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-19-bauer-berry/">Bauer Berry</a></li>
 	<li>18: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/17/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-18-albin-sundin/">Albin Sundin</a></li>
 	<li>17: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/21/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-17-brady-stonehouse/">Brady Stonehouse</a></li>
 	<li>16: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/23/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-16-william-nicholl/">William Nicholl</a></li>
 	<li>15: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/24/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-15-james-stefan/">James Stefan</a></li>
 	<li>14: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/26/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-14-dalyn-wakely/">Dalyn Wakely</a></li>
 	<li>13: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/28/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-13-luca-munzenberger/">Luca Munzenberger</a></li>
 	<li>12: <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/08/30/edmonton-oilers-prospect-countdown-12-shane-lachance/">Shane Lachance</a></li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>SPONSORED BY bet365</strong></h2>
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Oilers Prospect Countdown #11: Jayden Grubbe

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