The Edmonton Oil Kings are facing a significant roster overhaul after losing all three of their import players from last season — Miroslav Holinka, Adam Jecho and Max Curran — each of whom played in the U20 world juniors and were top-six forwards in the WHL.
Departures Create Gaps
Holinka, a centre, will play for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL this season. Jecho, a winger, turns pro with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues' affiliate. Curran, also a centre, suffered a shoulder injury after the U20 worlds and is now heading to UMass Amherst for NCAA hockey. Curran was traded from Colorado to Calgary at the March NHL deadline in the Nazem Kadri deal.
Last season, the Oil Kings were one of the top five teams in the WHL. Now they must replace three key contributors who have moved on to the pros or college.
Import Draft Additions
The Oil Kings had two first-round picks (51st and 56th overall) and one second-round pick (117th) in last week's CHL import draft. They selected two Czech players — defenceman Lukas Kachlir, 16, and centre Jonas Vanicek, 17 — and Finnish left winger Olli Wahlroos, 18.
Ladislav Smid, former Oilers defenceman and current assistant coach with Sparta Praha, provided additional intel on the Czech prospects, having previously worked as an Oil Kings development coach.
Lukas Kachlir
Kachlir, listed at five-foot-eight and 149 pounds, hails from Havlickuv Brod. He will start the season in Czechia with a pro contract in Liberec before joining the Oil Kings. He dressed for 13 games in the Czech Elite League this past season at age 16. According to Oil Kings GM Michael Chan, “He was the Czech’s No. 1 defenceman at the 2025 U18 Hlinka-Gretzky tournament as an underage player. He can start an attack and be a future piece on the power play.”
Jonas Vanicek
Vanicek, a six-foot, 168-pound left-shot forward from Decin, split time between HC Karlovy Vary’s U17 and U20 teams, recording 25 points in 28 U20 games. Chan described him as “a cerebral centreman, a top centre on Czech national teams for his age group in the last few years. He’s spoken of highly by coaches throughout his country.”
Olli Wahlroos
Wahlroos, six-foot-one and 190 pounds, from Kaarina, Finland, was on NHL scouts' radar for the 2026 draft but went undrafted on June 26-27 after an injury-shortened season. He had 15 points in 24 U20 games with TPS.
Outlook for 2025-26
The Oil Kings will rely on these three imports to help fill the void left by Holinka, Jecho and Curran. While Kachlir and Vanicek may arrive later in the season, Wahlroos is expected to join the team immediately. The club hopes their combination of skill and international experience will keep Edmonton competitive in the WHL's Eastern Conference.
