Roby Jarventie checks in at number three on the Edmonton Oilers Prospect Countdown and is the player who signifies the transition from the Ken Holland era to that of the new regime under Jeff Jackson. It is hard to overstate how dynamic the makeover has been in the Oilers prospect list since Jackson took his role. Jarventie begins a top-three run of players not in the Edmonton Oilers organization in June.

Each of those three has positions at the very top of the prospect list, deservedly so. Jarventie has a realistic chance of meaningfully impacting the Oilers roster this season. So, who is this new guy who busts his way to the top of the Oilers prospect group? Let’s take a look.

This clip of a Jarventie goal is probably the best description of what you would see from him in Edmonton. He’s a big, strong player who plays the walls very well. He has enough puck skills to work in tight quarters but often just uses his size and determination to win battles.

Jarventie’s offensive prowess is his calling card. When he was drafted, it was the package of his size and his offence that intrigued scouts. He has an excellent understanding of the game offensively, leading to some highlight reel attacks by him. Watch this play. The read and then the quick transition to a better attack spot with a very good finish.

The issue for Jarventie in the draft was his defensive understanding and interest in the game or when he didn’t have the puck. Now that has been cleaned up a fair bit. His desire to be engaged is much higher now, which has translated well. What has not left his game enough is his risk-taking. He often makes very high-risk plays with little reward. Here is a clip of something that happens too frequently with Jarventie.

For Jarventie to make an impact with the Oilers this season, the coaches will need to be able to count on him to make plays that don’t put his team in trouble. He will be a bottom-six forward on this roster, and the hard expectation of these forwards is not to get scored. If Jarventie can focus on this area of his game, I expect him to have a presence on the Oilers roster this season. That would be a welcome outcome for a player acquired for a failed first-rounder in Xavier Bourgault. If that happens, the praise for the work of Jeff Jackson will only grow this summer.