Edmonton Oilers Top 20 Prospects: #7 - #5
In today’s post we cover prospects #7 through #5 for the Oilers. It’s an eclectic group involving an overage draft pick, a traded player and a unrestricted collegiate free agent. As important perhaps, I think the group represents a change in the Oilers talent acquisition model. Faced with both less draft picks and picks that are further back, the Oilers have become very creative in acquiring young talent by other means. This group represents the new strategy. Let’s see what the Oilers have gathered in these three players.
#7: Connor Clattenburg
D.O.B. - May 2, 2005
Draft: 5th round 2024 (EDM)
Shoots: Left
Position: Center/Wing
Vitals: 6’2” 205 pounds
2024 Regular Season Statistics - Flint (OHL)
16-19-35 in 46 games or 0.76 points per game
When Clattenburg was selected in the 5th round, I thought the pick was a reach. He was in his third year of eligibility and had not shown much offensively. No question Clattenburg has good size and great skating ability. He’s also tough as nails. None of this added up to a 5th round pick. However, the Oilers took their shot on Clattenburg and he went back to work for his third OHL season. So what happened? Well there were hints that Connor Clattenburg might have some capability that had not previously been on display.
Now that does not mean that what Clattenburg was known for went away. Here is a pro-typical shift from Clattenburg. Great skating. Works hard on the wells. Gets in fights.
However, Clattenburg started to find his way offensively this season. Most of it came off Clattenburg’s skating ability.
As with most of his offensive success, the puck skills are average, but he makes up for it using his size and speed to beat players on the edge of their body position.
However, every now and then, Clattenburg would show some really high skill with the puck.
Watch this play where Clattenburg uses everything in his repertoire. Size, skating ability and some really creative puck skills.
Now let me be clear, there is a lot of work to be done with Clattenburg. His puck skills need to improve substantively as a professional. He is going to be playing in a much quicker league where he will be under pressure to make plays at a rate he has not experienced. He will need to show an ability to make plays with the puck that don’t result in a loss of possession. Otherwise, he simply will not play.
Why do I have him ranked so high? Some of it is the depth of the Oilers organization. However, it is also about Clattenburg himself. His skating and size are projectable to a fourth line player who can play hard, physical hockey. I would be quite surprised if he doesn’t get a cup of coffee or two in the NHL. What will make him stick for longer than a large double-double is the development of his puck skills.
He starts his professional career this year with Bakersfield in the AHL. For me, it will all about his puck skills and improving them so that plays do not die on his stick.
#6: Roby Jarventie
D.O.B. - August 8, 2002
Draft: 2nd round 2020 (OTT)
Shoots: Left
Position: LW
Vitals: 6’3” 209 pounds
2024 Regular Season Statistics - Bakersfield (AHL)
0-2-2 in 2 games or 1.00 points per game
Yes that is right, the #6 prospect had two points in two games last season. Quite frankly, if I had any confidence in Roby Jarventie’s knees, he would be the third ranked prospect in the Oilers organization. This young man has all the tools to play middle six winger in the NHL. What he has not had is health. In three years, Jarventie’s had three knee injuries. After recovering for most of the 2023/24 season, Jarventie was ready to start again in Bakersfield. He had been traded for Xavier Bourgault in the off-season. His season with his new team lasted two games. He re-aggravated the injury and his season was done.
Why am I so high on this prospect? Well, let’s take a look at some video.
This is a big, strong good skating forward who is really difficult to contain.
In this one, watch his transition skating in the zone. This is really great work by a big man.
In addition, Jarventie has a very good shot. His release is very sneaky with minimal body sway to give the goalie a tell.
All of this made the injury a shame because there was something cooking early on in Bakersfield. Watch these two shifts with Matthew Savoie.
I think Jarventie has a chance to make me look very bad ranking him this low. He’s already played seven NHL games in Ottawa. In his last 64 AHL games, he went 25-27-52 and he isn’t 23 years old yet. For Jarventie, it is simple. Stay healthy. If he does, there is certainly an opportunity for him to see NHL games this year.
#5: Quinn Hutson
D.O.B. - January 1, 2002
Draft: N/A
Shoots: Right
Position: RW
Vitals: 5’11” 170 pounds
2024 Regular Season Statistics - Boston University (NCAA)
23-27-50 in 38 games or 1.32 points per game
As we talked about with Damien Carfagna, the Oilers were very aggressive in the collegiate UFA market this season. Without debate, the Oilers were able to sign the most in demand collegiate free agent in Quinn Hutson. Hutson, the older brother of Lane and Cole, is, shockingly, not a defenceman. Instead, Quinn is a high IQ right winger with a penchant for scoring. Here is a clip demonstrating Hutson’s scanning ability and poise in the offensive zone. Notice how creative he can be to help create scoring chances for his team.
Where I think Hutson can really do damage professionally as a complimentary scorer. He has a unique ability to find the quiet spot on the ice and his finishing is strong.
The concern with Hutson is he’s a smaller winger that is not a speedster. His skating is good enough for certain to help carry him out of trouble. It is not dynamic like either of his brothers, but his stride does allow him to generate really good straight line power and acceleration.
Where I think the battle will be determined with Hutson is on the walls. NCAA hockey is big boy hockey for certain. However, it is not professional hockey. Hutson will need to show an ability to absorb physical play along the walls in all three zones. He has not shown a lot of ability to win these battles, but then he’s not needed to be in many of them. The AHL will allow Hutson to work on this area of play. Given his hockey sense, I think there is a bet here that Hutson can solve the challenge.
That is all for the Oiler prospects #7 through #5. Please do not hesitate to leave your comments here and share them with others who might find this article of interest. See you back here next with prospects #4 and #3.
Awesome work! Thanks for these, really interesting. Do you think that they perhaps let O’Reilly go because Nicholl may be coming up?
I still confuse the Hutson brothers from time to time. I know lane is in Montreal but I never seem to get it right with Cole/Quinn.