The Edmonton Oilers’ push to add players from the college and Europe ranks kicked off Monday morning with the team announcing their first signing: defenceman Damien Carfagna.
The 22-year-old, 6’0″, 185 lb left-shot just wrapped up a three-year NCAA career, first starting with the University of New Hampshire, and ending with his last two seasons at Ohio State University, totalling 15 goals and 50 points in 107 games. His entry-level contract will begin next season.
The #Oilers have signed @OhioStateMHKY's Damien Carfagna to a two-year entry-level contract starting next season! ✍️
Learn more about the d-man ⤵️ https://t.co/OP5JCp0b1Z
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 31, 2025
This season was a breakout year for the blueliner, where he racked up over half of his entire college totals, scoring seven goals and 28 points in 38 games. He added 86 shots on goal, while also leading all Buckeyes players with 86 blocks and a plus-16 rating. A native of Wood Ridge, New Jersey, Carfagna played two years in the USHL before heading to college, where he had one fight with now Columbus Blue Jackets centre Adam Fantilli.
“Defence is Carfagna’s dimension, ensuring attackers have no room to breathe when he’s on the ice,” the 2021 Elite Prospects draft guide described of his game. “Non-stop scanning and on-the-hip positioning allows him to outright eliminate players. In transition, he keeps his gaps tight, drives plays to the perimeter, then swings across and gets the breakup.”
Defenseman Damien Carfagna opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season🚨
Aiden Hansen-Bukata and Davis Burnside assisted on the PPG. pic.twitter.com/tbHor0GEp0
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) December 7, 2024
Carfagna’s Buckeyes were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament by Boston University last Thursday, opening the door for him to turn pro. Twice Carfagna has attended NHL development camps: first in 2022 with the Seattle Kraken, and in 2023 with the New York Rangers.
Just last week, Oilers radio man Bob Stauffer indicated the team would be active in the market for free agents from the college and Europe routes, saying he felt the team would be looking to add “three or four forwards” from overseas, and “maybe a player or two out of the NCAA.” Last Wednesday German news outlet BILD reported the Oilers signed German forward Josh Samanski, who utilized an exit clause in his contract to sign with the Oilers, but the team has yet to make that move official.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
