For the third consecutive season, the Oilers entered the draft without a first-round pick. While they moved their 2025 first-rounder for the 32nd overall pick at the 2024 draft, they made no such move that early in the draft. In the fifth round, the Oilers traded their 2026 fifth-round pick for the 131st overall selection.

That begs the question: where will all five of the Oilers’ newest prospects play in 2025? Let’s find out!

Tommy Lafrenière

With the 83rd overall pick in the draft, the Oilers selected winger Tommy Lafrenière from the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers.

Last season with the Blazers was Lafrenière’s first full season, and the 18-year-old scored 24 goals and 56 points in 68 games, not too shabby considering the Blazers missed the postseason and their highest-scoring player was a seventh-round pick a couple of years ago.

With the NCAA allowing Canadian Hockey League players into American Universities, many prospects have committed to schools. Lafrenière has not, as he’ll stick around with the Blazers, at least for now.

David Lewandowski

In the next round, the Oilers selected David Lewandowski with the 117th overall pick from the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. The German started his season in Germany but eventually came to North America to play for the Blades. In 52 games, the left winger scored 15 goals and 39 points.

Unlike the Blazers, the Blades made the postseason in 2024-25, finishing with a 37-23-8 record, two points back of first in their division. Lewandowski is set to return to the Blades for the 2025-26 season, his first full season in North America. He’ll almost certainly represent Germany at the World Juniors around the Christmas Holidays.

Asher Barnett

With their fifth-round pick, the Oilers selected left-shot defenceman Asher Barnett with the 131st overall pick from the U.S. National Development Team. Last season with the United States Hockey League team, the 18-year-old scored three goals and six points in 21 games, up from the six assists in 35 games in 2023-24.

Barnett is committed to the University of Michigan but will join them in 2026-27 instead of next season. One would assume that Barnett will be back with the U.S. National Development Team where he’ll have an increased role.

Daniel Salonen

With the 191st overall pick in the sixth round, the Oilers selected Finnish netminder Daniel Salonen from the now-defunct Hokki Kajaani. Despite finishing last in Finland’s second tier, Salonen put up good results in the nine games he played, as he had a .909 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average.

The right-catching netminder played most of his season with his parent club’s under-20 team, where he had an impressive .933 save percentage and 1.55 goals against average in 25 games played. In the postseason, Salonen had a .911 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average in 11 games.

Salonen will be 20 years old by the end of 2025, meaning he may get a shot in Finland’s top tier with Lukko Rauma. He played two minutes with them in 2023-24. After next year, it’s anyone’s best guess, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he makes his way to North America in the coming years.

Aidan Park

With the penultimate pick of the 2025 draft, the Oilers drafted Aidan Park. The Los Angeles native was in attendance, which was a pretty cool moment for the 19-year-old.

The Oilers didn’t just pick Park because he was there; the right-shot centre is a legitimate talent. Last season with the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, Park scored 33 goals and 66 points in 55 games, with two goals and three points in two postseason games. Park finished fifth in points and second in goals.

Before the season ended, Park joined the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, where he was held pointless in three postseason games. He’ll return to the Hitmen for the 2025-26 season, before playing for the University of Michigan alongside Barnett in 2026-27.

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