Scott Wheeler of The Athletic has declared the Edmonton Oilers as one of the "losers" of the 2026 NHL entry draft, alongside the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. The assessment comes after the Oilers made five selections, having traded away several picks, including their own first-round pick in the Jake Walman deal.
Oilers' Draft Picks Face Criticism
Edmonton's 2026 draft class includes: Rudolfs Berzkalns (center, second round, 58th overall), Malcom Gastrin (center, third round, 84th), Andrew Robinson (defenseman, fifth round, 133rd), Caden Harvey (center, sixth round, 180th), and Ryan Cameron (goaltender, seventh round, 212th). Wheeler's critique focuses on the perceived lack of value from these picks.
"I didn't like the Oilers' draft, but it's also hard to be too hard on them when they're picking as late as they did," Wheeler said. "Rudolfs Berzkalns is big and has clear pro attributes as a potential future bottom-sixer. He was lower on my list than where they took him, but I mocked him as a bubble late-second/early-third round guy, and he has tools. Everyone just wants to see him make the finishing play more. I don't view any of their other guys as NHL prospects."
Additional Expert Opinions
Corey Pronman, another prospects writer at The Athletic, graded the Oilers' draft performance as C-. "Edmonton picked Rudolfs Berzkalns with its first pick. I like him, but he's no sure thing. Other than him, there's no other prospect in this class I'm excited about," Pronman stated.
However, Toronto hockey writer Ken Campbell offered a contrarian perspective, noting the uncertainty of draft evaluations. "Biggest winners in the draft: Montreal, Toronto, San Jose, Chicago. Biggest losers: Vegas, Edmonton, Rangers, Seattle. (*I randomly picked those teams because I actually have no idea. And neither does anyone else. We won't know for five years.)" Campbell wrote.
Context and Analysis
The Oilers entered the draft with limited capital after trading their first-round pick. By "losers," Wheeler means teams that didn't extract enough value from the picks they held. The Oilers' five selections were all in the later rounds, with their highest being 58th overall.
Critics point out that Berzkalns, while possessing size and pro attributes, may not develop into a top-six forward. The remaining four picks—Gastrin, Robinson, Harvey, and Cameron—are viewed by Wheeler as non-NHL prospects. Pronman's C- grade reflects similar skepticism about the class's overall potential.
Long-Term Outlook
It is important to note that draft evaluations are inherently speculative. The true winners and losers of the 2026 draft will not be known for several years, as prospects develop. Ken Campbell's humorous take underscores this uncertainty: teams that drafted in the top ten but miss on a first-line player will be the real losers, while those who find a gem will be winners.
Despite the criticism, Wheeler and Pronman are respected analysts who provide detailed assessments. However, even the best NHL scouts have mixed results when projecting 18-year-olds' futures. The Oilers' draft may yet produce surprises, but for now, the consensus is that Edmonton failed to maximize its limited opportunities.
