The Edmonton Oilers may have a hidden gem in their goalie prospect pipeline, but the path to the NHL remains uncertain. Samuel Jonsson, a towering 6-foot-5, 200-pound netminder, is currently dominating the ECHL playoffs with the Fort Wayne Comets. In five postseason games, Jonsson has recorded five wins while allowing only five goals, posting an incredible .968 save percentage.
Jonsson's Rise Through the Ranks
Selected by former Oilers GM Ken Holland in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft (12th goalie taken), Jonsson has shown steady improvement. After an .883 save percentage with Sweden's Brynas junior team in 2021-22, he elevated to .902 with Rogle's junior squad in 2022-23. An injury-plagued 2023-24 season was followed by a strong rebound: a .922 save percentage with Bokfors in Sweden's second pro league in 2024-25, and a .910 mark in his first North American pro season with Fort Wayne this year. An earlier hot streak was cut short by injury, but Jonsson has returned to top form in the playoffs.
NHL Path Blocked?
Despite Jonsson's heroics, the Oilers' goaltending depth chart presents challenges. At the NHL level, the team struggled in the regular season. In the AHL, 24-year-old Connor Ungar posted the best numbers for Bakersfield but was blocked from playoff action by veteran Matt Tomkins, 31. Tomkins has one year remaining on his AHL deal, potentially preventing Bakersfield from deploying both Ungar and Jonsson next season. This logjam could hinder the development of two promising prospects who might be NHL-ready by 2026-27.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman may address the situation by trading Tomkins. Ungar is a restricted free agent needing a new contract this summer, while Jonsson has two years left on his entry-level contract. History shows young goalies can emerge quickly—Jakub Dobes (24) is leading the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs, and Jesper Wallstedt (23) excelled for the Minnesota Wild. Both were fifth-round picks, like Jonsson.
The Oilers have net issues but possess two top young prospects in Ungar and Jonsson, both acquired under Holland's tenure. They require consistent AHL playing time in 2026-27 to develop properly. Whether they get that opportunity remains to be seen.
