The Edmonton Oilers weren’t big-game hunting in Buffalo during the draft. With just five picks to dissect and none in the first round, the 2026 NHL Draft felt more like finding their true complementary gem than anything.

That sentiment was even more evident when they traded down from their opening pick at No. 52 to drop six spots and recoup further draft capital later in the draft. It was clear they had their target, and probably even clearer that they had no worries of him being snagged before them.

The pick turned out to be Latvian forward Rudolfs Berzkalns. While he may not be a household name most raved about before the draft, it’s a strong bet for a team typically looking for more foundation than flash.

Hailing from Valmiera, Latvia, he has been in North America since he was 14, playing hockey on a small sheet. He’s now played two seasons in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he’s steadily improved his game by the month, it seems.

With just 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in 91 games, his production hasn’t been tremendous, but his utilization, numbers, and game have steadily improved over time. That improvement stretched into the playoffs, where he put up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 16 games, helping them all the way to a league final.

That uptick in production through the playoffs isn’t necessarily shocking, though.

Berzkalns established himself as one of the most reliable two-way forwards available outside the opening round. He earned increasingly difficult assignments as the season progressed, became a fixture on both special teams, and developed into one of Muskegon’s most trusted forwards in high-pressure situations.

In 2024-25, he was primarily used as a bottom-six fixture. But in 2025-26, that role grew significantly and became a go-to centre, especially after Tynan Lawrence left the program.

Berzkalns protects pucks extremely well, wins battles along the boards, and consistently creates second opportunities around the net. Defensively, his long reach allows him to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers before opponents can generate dangerous scoring chances. Translation: he’s a player you want in your lineup when the going gets tough.

He’s a modern-day power forward with some underrated offensive skill and a motor that won’t quit. Players standing 6-foot-4 often require several extra years to grow into their bodies. Still, Berzkalns already moves surprisingly well, particularly through the neutral zone, giving Edmonton a solid athletic foundation to continue building upon.

“I would say a little bit of Zach Hyman,” Berzkalns said when asked about who he models his game after. “I feel like he’s just a power forward with netfront presence and I feel like I’m like that, too”

He’s no burner, but there’s enough of a profile to suggest that he’ll hang in the professional ranks once he’s put in the time at the NCAA level.

One of the biggest reasons Berzkalns climbed throughout the draft process was the progression of his offensive game.

As Muskegon dealt with injuries and roster turnover, he was asked to play a larger role. Rather than simply surviving those tough minutes, he embraced them and passed the test, with nearly all his skills improving down the stretch. The puck confidence improved, his playmaking became more creative, and he attacked defenders with greater conviction and became increasingly willing to shoot the puck himself.

While the goal totals may not suggest it, he has a wicked release and can use his one-timer as a significant threat on the power play. Whether it’s from a stationary position or off the rush, his quick snap is capable of beating any goalie who gives up room.

Of course, he’s no finished product, and there’s still room for growth. At this point, no one should be projecting him to become a point-per-game NHL player—or even slightly above-average production, really. But Edmonton clearly believes there’s more offence to come than his statistics alone would suggest, and his late-season production is a positive sign for the better.

“I think my offensive ability,” he described as his number one focus for improvement. “I think it’s always been there in the past. Growing up, I was always more about the offence, but in the last two years, I have picked up on the d-zone and that two-way game, so right now I am just trying to get to that complete two-way centre.”

Like many second-round selections, Berzkalns remains a long-term project.

He’ll continue his development at Boston College, where he’ll face older, stronger competition while refining the offensive elements of his game.

If everything develops as Edmonton hopes, the Oilers should get a solid middle-six, likely third-line, centre. They’ll have a big, intelligent power forward capable of matching up against quality competition, killing penalties and helping the team win in difficult situations.

Those players rarely receive the same attention as high-scoring prospects on draft day, but often become invaluable once the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.

Berzkalns may never become the biggest name from the 2026 NHL Draft. He may never lead the Oilers in scoring. But in reality, that’s not why Edmonton selected him.

The organization identified a player with NHL size, fine skating, excellent defensive habits and a game built around detail. Those traits provide him with one of the safer projections among second-round forwards. At the same time, his offensive progression over stretches of last season offers reason to believe there’s still untapped upside.

For a team looking to extend its championship window rather than rebuild its core, Berzkalns represents exactly the kind of prospect worth betting on.

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