Nation Sites
The Nation Network
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
NHL draft rankings: Oilers could take Ben Macbeath at No. 52
Photo credit: X.com/WHLHitmen
By Zach Laing
May 27, 2026, 18:00 EDTUpdated: May 27, 2026, 16:43 EDT
Ben Macbeath, come on down.
If Steven Ellis’ Daily Faceoff draft rankings were exactly how things shook out in next month’s NHL draft, the Edmonton Oilers would be taking a defenceman from the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen 52nd overall. Ellis released his latest Top 100 rankings, and Macbeath came in at the spot the Oilers would be selecting.
The 18-year-old left-shot defenceman is coming off a breakout season with the Hitmen, scoring seven goals and 51 points in his first season of major junior hockey. He arrived in Calgary last fall after a year with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks, scoring four goals and 34 points, but Ellis was very impressed with what the 6-foot-2, 181-pounder was able to do.
Macbeath came out of nowhere this year, registering 51 points in 67 games as a WHL rookie. The 6-foot-2 defender blends size, skill and mobility together to become an absolute force with the puck. Some scouts think the ceiling is high enough to take him in the first round. I’m not there yet because it feels like he can be a bit too passive with his decision-making at times. But as Calgary fought its way to make the playoffs, Macbeath was easily one of its most important players. I think he has a bright future with the potential to be an impact second-pairing defender.
He sounds just like the kind of defenceman the Oilers could use in their system as he heads to the University of Denver to play college hockey next fall. While the team has some forward prospects primed to take a step forward and play NHL minutes sooner rather than later in Isaac Howard, Quinn Hutson, Roby Jarventie, and Maxim Berezkin, the same can’t be said for the blue line.
There’s still hope for Beau Akey being able to get to the NHL, but a revolving door of injuries has had its impact. Paul Fischer is someone Oilersnation prospect guru Spencer Pomoty is high on, but there isn’t a promising list beyond him. Atro Leppänen had a solid season for the Bakersfield Condors, as did Damian Carfagna, but neither projects as impact players down the road. Tomas Cibulka, whom the team signed this spring, will need to get some pro games before it becomes clearer how he fits in.
If the Oilers find a trade for Darnell Nurse this spring, Macbeath’s blend of size, skill, and mobility is a similar skill set to what Nurse has, making him someone who could replace him on the NHL roster down the road.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.