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Why Ethan MacKenzie could be the Oilers perfect 52nd overall pick
Photo credit: CHL
Jun 25, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 25, 2026, 01:48 EDT
The NHL Draft isn’t something Edmonton Oilers fans get excited about anymore. The days of drafting near the top of the first round, or even on the opening day, are long gone. The focus now is on winning the Stanley Cup.
Edmonton traded its 2026 first-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jake Walman. The Oilers won’t be on the clock until the 52nd overall pick on Day 2 — that’s if they don’t trade it away before then.
Rick Pracey has done solid work since taking over as the director of amateur scouting in August 2023. He’s had more sixth-round picks to deal with than first, but the Oilers prospect pool still features promising young players, with Conor Clattenberg, Tommy Lafreniere, and Asher Barnett showing encouraging signs early in their development.
One area lacking depth is defence. Beau Akey and Damien Carfagna are the only prospects under 24 years old playing in the AHL, while Barnett and Beau Berry continue to develop in the NCAA. Albin Sundin was their sixth-round pick in 2024, but the organization allowed his rights to expire.
Could that mean they go with a defenceman with the 52nd overall pick? If they did, there could be some excellent options for them, especially close to home.
The Western Hockey League features a strong group of high-upside bluelines. Carson Carels, Daxon Rudolph and Ryan Lin headline the group. They’re all expected to be selected with the first 15 picks, if not earlier. Eight more defencemen from the WHL made it onto Steven Ellis’ final Top 120 rankings.
Anyone who followed the Edmonton Oil Kings this season is familiar with Ethan MacKenzie. He was a surprise pick for Canada’s World Juniors squad, too, and didn’t disappoint with five points in seven games.
MacKenzie was one of the draft’s biggest risers. He was overlooked in the 2025 draft, but then put together a great season with the Oil Kings. His 58 points in 59 games are the best point-per-game rate in franchise history for a player who stayed the full season.
Steven Ellis had this to say about MacKenzie in his top 120 rankings:
“MacKenzie was a surprise addition to Canada’s World Junior team, and he didn’t disappoint. It was a solid enough stretch that helped ensure he would be selected this year after being passed over twice. MacKenzie’s ability to win individual battles and shut guys down makes him intriguing. His maturity and hockey sense have really blossomed over time, and he can kill plays and log a lot of minutes if needed (as proven with the Oil Kings).”
MacKenzie also compares favourably to his WHL peers. According to SportlogIQ, MacKenzie is in the 99th percentile for ES possession driving plays per 20, 97th percentile for ES offence-generating plays per 20, and 90th percentile for even strength shot-on-ice differential. Those numbers point to an elite play-driving defenceman.
Edmonton won’t have a chance at one of those elite defencemen at the top of the draft. However, they have a chance to grab one of the top play-driving defencemen in the WHL at 52nd overall.
Defensively, he’s proactive. What he is strong at offensively translates into his defensive game, too. His value comes in his retrievals, puck management, and play advancement. He ranks in the 83rd percentile for defensive zone turnover rate, indicating he rarely panics with the puck or forces plays. He also grades well in the entry denial rate at the 78th percentile. That’s an indication of good gap control, positioning, and the ability to challenge entries. The best form of defence is offence, and he has that ability.
Another factor worth considering is one of Edmonton’s recent front office hires. No, not Mike Babcock, but Kirt Hill. Hill comes to Edmonton from the Oil Kings, where he spent the past eight seasons as their general manager. If anyone in the organization has extensive firsthand knowledge of MacKenzie’s game, it’s Hill.
The Oilers won’t have a chance to draft a complete, top-tier defenceman like Rudolph or Carels. Instead, they could land one of the WHL’s best possession-driving blueliners. At 52nd overall, you could do much worse than what Mackenzie has to offer.
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