Oilers Prospect Power Rankings: Quinn Hutson takes over top spot

While it is typically buried at the bottom, we’re going to start with the fine print.

We are continuing with our monthly Postmedia feature — a power ranking of the Edmonton Oilers’ most promising prospects.

The first order of business is to define ‘prospect,’ and here’s what we’ve determined: Anybody who is currently on the NHL roster is ineligible.

That means Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard, while both pieces of the Oilers’ future, won’t be on this list. They’re busy skating in the show, and we will instead focus on some of the best projects in the pipeline.

Now that we’ve established the ground rules, here’s how we have ’em ranked in our latest list of promising prospects:

1. Quinn Hutson, 24, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Draft: Undrafted

So far this season: 4 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 P in NHL; 28 GP, 22 G, 14 A, 38 P in AHL

He not only leads the Condors in scoring, but all American Hockey League rookies with 22 goals and 36 points. And that comes despite missing five games to pair of brief callups by the Oilers in December.

“He scored a goal in Coachella Valley last week that was like a goal-scorer like Mike Bossy,” Condors general manager Keith Gretzky said on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer. “He works hard and he’s learning how to kill penalties. If you want to play here, you’ve got to embrace those roles.”

Scouting report: A responsible, fast-paced winger with good defensive instincts, he is an above-average skater with an excellent set of hands and a pro-level shot.

2. Josh Samanski, 23, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Draft: Undrafted

So far this season: 33 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 26 P

A two-way player who takes every bit as much pride on the defensive side of the puck, Samanski is keen on penalty killing and is seeing improvement on the face-off dot from the beginning of the season.

“He is a guy that’s happy to be at the rink, works hard,” Gretzky said. “I think he has a chance. I think he’s going to be a good fourth-line guy, to me. If he becomes better, that’s great.

“He kills penalties. He’s the No. 1 centre on our team. He’s putting the work in, by far.”

Scouting report: A big forward who can play any forward position. He’s lauded for two-way play and compete level, in addition to his offensive potential.

3. Roby Jarventie, 23, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Draft: 2020 Round 2 (33rd overall), Ottawa Senators

So far this season: 29 GP, 11 G, 12 A, 23 P

The young winger out of Tampere, Finland, could be closer to becoming NHL ready than you might think. If the knee injury troubles are, in fact, behind him, Jarventie is said to have the ability to plug-and-play his way onto Edmonton’s bottom six, should the opportunity arise at one of the young winger positions. And with ceiling to work into middle-six capacity, at that, with a newfound physicality and good size (6-foot-3, 209 pounds), he has a shot that can find the back of the net.

Scouting  report: A goal-scoring winger with great size and very good speed. A modern power forward who uses his size to protect the puck. Isn’t afraid to drive to the net.

4. Connor Clattenburg, 20, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Draft: 2024 Round 5 (160th overall), Edmonton Oilers

So far this season: 5 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 P in NHL; 20 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P in AHL

Injury derailed this feisty youngster’s inaugural call-up to the Oilers just five games in, but not before bagging his first goal while bringing a level of energy and physicality sorely missed on the parent club this season. His goal came against the Dallas Stars, well on the way to an 8-3 loss, but that didn’t stop him from celebrating like it was a lifelong dream. And to his credit. This guy knows one speed, and a lot of the guys he was playing with that night could use the lesson. He also had his first NHL fight against Seattle Kraken forward Frederick Gaudreau.

Unfortunately, later in that game he took a high stick that required stitches near his eye, eventually landing him on long-term injured reserve and sent back to Bakersfield. Oilers fans eagerly anticipate his return.

“Before he was sent out (to Edmonton), he was killing penalties,” Gretzky said. “This guy’s not just a fighter, he brings a lot of energy to the rink. He’s got great hands, better hands than people think. He makes plays.

“The teammates just love him, it’s unbelievable. He’s not a cocky, arrogant player. He’s fun.”

Scouting report: A gritty forward who isn’t afraid to get physical. Does not offer much offensively, but could be worth a look in deep leagues that value hits and PIMs.

5. Connor Ungar, 23, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Draft: Undrafted

So far this season: 4 GP, 1.71 GAA, .944 SVP

In his first professional season since closing out his collegiate career at Brock University with a .932 save percentage in U Sports, where he set a program record 20 wins, the Calgary product signed an entry-level deal with the Oilers. He has played for a handful of ECHL teams, leading the league in save percentage, prior to being called up to Bakersfield to replace Connor Ingram.

“Ungar, for some reason, has been shipped from team to team,” Gretzky said. “The big key is he has played great. I think there’s something there.

“Yeah, it’s only four games but those are amazing stats for this year, and for what he’s done before.”

Scouting report: Never a highly ranked prospect, this season has seen a huge jump in his performance. But needs more opportunities to show consistency.

6. Maxim Beryozkin, 24, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Draft: 2020 Round 5 (138th overall), Edmonton Oilers

So far this season: 43 GP, 4 G, 14 A, 18 P

Don’t let the fact he’s having a tough season in the KHL under Bob Hartley detract too much from the first Oilers draft pick on the list. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Russian winger has hands built to handle both the puck and the opposition at the same time. He isn’t afraid to play on the inside, and that combination could be intriguing at the NHL level, even if it’s not with the Oilers.

Scouting report: A power forward with strong goal-scoring abilities. His skating will need to improve if he hopes to be a middle-six winger in the NHL in the future.

7. Viljami Marjala, 22, Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Drafted: 2021 Round 5 (159th overall), Buffalo Sabres

So far this season: 33 GP, 7 G, 21 A, 28 P

So far, the only question on Marjala is why don’t we have him higher on this list? Well, the argument could be made as he closes in on a point-per-game in his first AHL season. The Liiga graduate stuck out like a sore thumb in Oilers training camp, and the thumb was pointed straight up. What the organization needs to figure out is where the smaller center fits in the rest of their puzzle, or perhaps a different one.

Scouting report: A skilled offensive forward who can play at center or wing. An excellent skater and capable of making plays at high speed.

8. Paul Fischer, 20, Notre Dame (NCAA)

Draft: 2023 Round 5 (138th overall), St. Louis Blues

So far this season: 18 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P

The lone defenceman on the list, Fischer has the size to hold his ground in the college game, along with a defensive focus. And that’s what has made his near point-per-game progress raise eyebrows. If and when his skills transition to the next level, the Oilers could find themselves with a solid, if not flashy option to consider.

Scouting report: Fischer’s a steady defensive presence, bringing a tight gap, proactive threat elimination and physicality.

9. Tommy LaFreniere, 18, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Draft: 2025 Round 3 (83rd overall), Edmonton Oilers

So far this season: 37 GP, 25 G, 22 A, 47 P

The point machine just keeps chugging along in the Dub, to the point where it’s difficult to ignore the young rising star on a team studded with them. He is projected to hit 85 points this year.

Scouting report: Lafrenière wins pucks with speed, contact details, and if all else fails, sheer effort. He never stops battling and engaging, especially on the forecheck.

10. William Nicholl, 19, London Knights (OHL)

Draft: 2024 Round 7 (196th overall), Edmonton Oilers

So far this season: 3 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 P

The fact Nicholl has been hurt all season until recently is not a good enough reason to bump the junior player from the top-10 list. The sky might very well be the limit for this prospect, and bouncing back from injury is all part of the development.

Scouting report: A depth player for London as a rookie last year known for his energy, pace and physicality, especially in playoffs where he played a “wrecking ball” type of style. Should be considered a project.

Who’s who of the who else?

We would love to have added Isaac Howard to this list. Fortunately for him, the skilled 21-year-old forward and reigning Hoby Baker award winner as the NCAA’s top player is currently in his second call-up with the Oilers, where he has two goals and an assist in 19 games so far this season … Defenceman Attro Lehpinen is out two-three weeks with injury, and might be the best passer the Condors have when it comes to moving the puck out of their own zone. Expect to hear his name a lot more next year … Twenty-year-old defenceman Beau Akey, who made last year’s world junior team, has been dealing with injury and started out the season in the ECHL before working his way onto the Condors roster.

Scouting reports provided by: www.dobberprospects.com and www.eliteprospects.com

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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