The Edmonton Oilers are back on the ice down at Rogers Place. Not Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins but instead the young guns, who one day hope to put on the copper and blue jersey and skate out in front of a sold-out NHL game.
There are 29 prospects participating in the Edmonton Oilers’ 2023 Development Camp, with 12 being non-drafted invites. The remaining 17 players attending the camp are prospects who have been drafted or signed by the Oilers including Xavier Bourgault (22nd overall, 2021), Beau Akey (56th overall, 2023), and Carter Savoie (100th overall, 2020).
Matvei Petrov is another one of the top prospects attending the camp.
He’s a highly-skilled player that the Oilers managed to snag in the 6th round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Since getting drafted, the Russian forward has excelled in the Ontario Hockey League with the North Bay Battalion. He played in 128 games for North Bay over two seasons scoring 67 goals and 183 points. Additionally, Petrov helped guide his team to back-to-back conference finals appearances, however, they unfortunately could not prevail and reach the OHL Finals.
Petrov is now in his third development camp with the Oilers, becoming one of the more veteran players in the group. Today, he helped his team win the Billy Moore’s Cup in a 3-on-3 tournament amongst the 29 prospects at camp.
“It’s a great experience for us young guys here,” said Petrov about the development camp. “I like coming to see the guys from last year and it’s going to be a good camp. I am feeling really good every time I come here for the camp. The guys really appreciate me and I am very happy to be here.”
The former 6th-round pick’s production changed a lot in this second year with North Bay. Petrov fired home 40 goals in his first season in North America. He finished 2nd on his team in goals and was 15th in the OHL.
Fast forward to year two and the stats tilted slightly. While he still had great production as a scorer grabbing 27 in 65 games, Petrov become more of a facilitator with 66 assists, which was 16 more than the year before. Even with the change to his game, he still score 93 points and then added another 22 in 20 playoff games.
“I played a different game,” said Petrov on his style of play. “I spoke with Edmonton before the season started and we discussed changing my game a little bit. It was all done in the right way I think.”
Petrov was impressive today at the development camp. Even before the Billy Moore’s Cup began, he was flying around the ice in drills and scoring more often than not. Additionally, he was a social guy on the ice chatting with everyone and keeping the mood light.
Next season is going to be big for Petrov and he continues to develop his game. Of course, you never want to jump the gun with a prospect, but with the way he has progressed his game since coming to North America, don’t be surprised by what he does next season.
