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Rick Pracey explains Oilers’ strategy at 2026 NHL Draft: ‘Sense, skill, compete’
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Michael Menzies
Jun 28, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 27, 2026, 22:12 EDT
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The Edmonton Oilers looked to identify three characteristics in prospects they were going to draft: Sense, skill, and compete. 
That’s what director of Amateur Scouting Rick Pracey said in a debrief of the 2026 NHL Draft on Saturday afternoon, as the Oilers traded down with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round and had five draft picks instead of four.
By moving back six spots from 52 to 58, the Oilers were still able to get the player they wanted in Rudolfs Berzkalns, while adding a fifth-round pick.
“That was pure strategy,” explained Pracey.
In total, the Oilers drafted three forwards, including Latvian centre Berzkalns in the second round, Swedish forward Malcom Gästrin in the third round, and American centre Caden Harvey. 
Otherwise, they took a two-way defender and Windsor Spitfire teammate of Harvey’s, Andrew Robinson, in the fifth round, while in the seventh round, they selected netminder Ryan Cameron. At that time, he was the 29th goaltender selected in a goalie-heavy draft class.
“We’re in a competing position, so there’s a lack of draft capital,” said Pracey. “The whole staff believes we need to stretch ourselves in terms of ability– that’s back to (looking at) hidden value or efficiency in a prospect.
“Trying to get ahead of it, who just might be just not quite there yet. So, sense, skill, and compete are always the mandates that we’re looking for in the forward group. That’s what it was.” 
The Oilers liked Berzkalns’ size at 6-foot-4, as scouts and analysts view him as “hard to play against.”
He spent last season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, and despite his commitment to Boston College, Pracey anticipates that Berzkalns will play another year of junior before jumping to the NCAA.
“Clearly, size in the middle of the ice trumped a little bit of his skill, but I’m not selling Berzkalns short by any stretch,” he said. “We believe in that, or else we wouldn’t have put ourselves in that position in the second round.  
“We think he can be developed. We think he showed positive signs with the puck, so we’re bullish on it.” 
Gästrin played U18, U20, and four games of men’s league in Sweden last season, a late-birthday prospect who won’t turn 18 until August. Pracey labelled him an “ability-based” and “efficiency” selection. His older brother was a second-round pick just a year ago by Washington, and was used as part of the package to acquire Jordan Kyrou. 
With a strong crop of Swedish players draft-eligible, Gästrin does not have any national team experience. His sleight frame at six-foot, 174-pounds didn’t deter the Oilers, as Pracey believes Gästrin might get a shot in the next year or two to wear his nation’s colours. 
“Sense, skill, compete were the boxes we’re looking for at that selection,” reiterated Pracey. “We think there’s potential top-nine upside, but he needs to fill out.
“Offensive players that track and are diligent in terms of turnovers and takeaways, that’s another marker in our sort of profile. That’s what we noticed at the pro level. We didn’t see an offensive spike, but from 18 to 20, yes, and that helped solidify sort of our firmness to say we believe in it.” 

A Spitfires heavy draft

Pracey’s location in Ontario might have given him an inside track of some undervalued talent from the Windsor Spitfires club, a talent-laden group that will have drafted players moving on in the upcoming season.
That could give more opportunity to Robinson and Harvey.
The Oilers liked a lot of defencemen in the draft and considered using their second-rounder on a blueliner, but ultimately by getting the fifth by trading down, were able to snag a player they had their eyes on.
Robinson’s rise in the depth chart as the season progressed was a bright light. “They played all over from an offensive role to a shutdown role. 
“It’s very rare you get opportunities to add a two-way defencemen with skating ability,” said Pracey. “We considered it at 84 ultimately made one decision, and with that extra pick able to get a guy we clearly targeted.
“We really like his feet, we like his length in terms of stick, we like his 190-pound frame, and if the second half is an indication of where the offensive potential is, we believe in it. So he’s going to play another year in Windsor, and then eventually end up NCAA. As of right now, it’s Providence. We like the path.
“I think he’s going to be a featured player of Canadian hockey level and really explore the offensive side of his game. There’s some turnover there in Windsor. He’ll be a very, very important piece.”
Harvey they believe can scratch “top-nine” potential in the NHL.
“We believe his identity is that of an offensive player, quick thinker, quick stick, lateral quickness, playmaker,” said Pracey. “We had sort of third-round, fourth round value in terms of skill and sense. So we’re convinced this was an ability-based kid that we couldn’t go by in the sixth round.” 
Ryan Cameron’s growth, literally, helped the Oilers decide on the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders netminder, with this as his second-year of draft eligibility.
The NHL Central Scouting department had him ranked 33rd among North American goaltenders, but could garner an invite to the US’s World Junior camp. Cameron did play for the US at the Hlinka-Gretzky. He is committed to Boston College, like Berzkalns.
“We think there’s a little bit of growth there, in terms and size potential, and we like him from an ability standpoint,” said Pracey. “He moves well. He’s quick. We like his pushes, we like the structure in his game, and we believe there’s value here again.
“I like the pitch count of games played by goalies. We’re not in a hurry, we liked that he wasn’t. There’s a future growth at the NCAA level as well in terms of taking that next step. No time frame on it. But just probably the patience and efficiency that he learned, maybe from being undersized, that he’s a pretty talented kid in terms of the position and holding his ground.” 
It’s a quick turnaround for these prospects, as they were headed straight to the Oilers Development Camp.
Oilersnation wants to hear from you, the reader, in our new weekly “Letters to the Editor” segment. Letters can be emailed to Oilersnation’s managing editor Zach Laing (zach.laing@bettercollective.com), titled “Letters to the Editor.” Please include a letter up to 200 words, including your name, place of residence (city, town, province, or state). Your letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. Letters must be submitted by 6 PM MT Saturday night to be considered for feature on Sunday mornings.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4. 

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