Predicting the Next 5 Edmonton Oilers Prospects to Arrive in the NHL

The Edmonton Oilers have an interesting crop of prospects currently being developed at either the pro or amateur levels.

Unfortunately for the club, the team is lacking any elite forward prospects. Thanks in large part to the three first overall selections made by the team in the last four years who made the automatic jump from the junior ranks into the NHL.

The Oilers do, however have multiple defensive prospects that looked primed to make their NHL debuts in the not-too-distant future.

It is hard to predict when exactly a developing player is ready to make that next step, but due to injuries and roster deficiencies, Edmonton may be primed to start seeing what exactly they have in some of their promising prospects.

This list does not include any players who have played for the Oilers thus far, so players like Anton Lander will not appear as he has already technically arrived in the NHL.

Here is a prediction of the next five Edmonton Oilers prospects to arrive in the NHL.

Oscar Klefbom

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Oscar Klefbom will get all the opportunities to make the Oilers roster next season.

Oscar Klefbom is probably the Oilers best prospect currently not playing in the NHL, and though he was called up to the NHL in November, he did not dress for Edmonton.

Currently playing in his first year of North American pro hockey with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City, Klefbom has gotten off to a sleepy start offensively for the Barons, only having registered two points in 17 games played.

A slow transition to a different style of hockey was to be expected, and Klefbom should be able to develop more of a scoring touch as he becomes more comfortable with his role on the team.

Klefbom is one of the more intriguing Oilers prospects, as he would almost certainly fill a much-needed void on the Oilers blueline next season.

Darnell Nurse

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Darnell Nurse may make it hard for Edmonton to send him down next season.

It is always hard to predict when a young defender will be able to make an impact in the NHL and because of this; defensive prospects often spend more time developing at the junior level than their offensive counterparts.

However for Nurse, the Oilers' seventh overall selection in the 2013 entry draft, his fast start in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, combined with an excellent training camp before the 2013-14 NHL season, may see the young defender make the Oilers roster next season.

Nurse is projected to be a physical two-way defender, but was criticized for his lack of offensive abilities. It appears that Nurse has started to find his scoring touch, as the talented defender has already registered eight goals and 20 assists for an impressive 28 points in 26 games.

Nurse should factor as a prominent member of Team Canada’s World Junior squad in December and should he continue this impressive development, he could very well be in Oilers colors next season.

Martin Marincin

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Opinions may have changed a bit on Marincin, but he is still an intriguing prospect in the Oilers' system.

Though Martin Marincin may not be the elite defensive prospect the Oilers believed him to be just a couple of seasons ago, the Czech native could still play a solid role for the Oilers defensive corps in the next season or so.

Marincin is a big defender, but has failed to capitalize on his size thus far in his career. If he can utilize his big 6’5” frame more and assert himself more physically, there is no reason he can’t make the NHL in short order.

The Oilers may decide not to rush other prospects such as Darnell Nurse. This would more than likely result in a player like Marincin getting a shot with the Oilers fairly soon.

Mitch Moroz

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The current Edmonton Oil King could be a decent energy role player for Edmonton.

The Edmonton Oilers have struggled find a consistent group of forwards to play regular minutes in their bottom-six forwards all season and because of this, Mitch Moroz could see a rapid progression through Edmonton’s system in the next year.

Moroz has decent offensive skills, but it is his physical game and tenacity that should see the current Edmonton Oil King make the Oklahoma City Barons next season and possibly earn a call up to the NHL.

Moroz could very well play the type of role currently occupied by Ryan Jones, a forward who can be a pest and agitator while chipping in offensively from time to time.

The Oilers will no doubt be looking to supplant some forwards into their lineup in secondary roles which may delay Moroz from making the squad, but if the Oil Kings standout can continue to thrive in his progression, it will be hard for Edmonton to ignore him.

David Musil

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David Musil is still a project for the Oilers but could develop into a nice asset in the next couple of seasons.

The son of former NHL defenseman Frantisek Musil, David could get a serious look by the Edmonton Oilers next season to fill an organizational need on the back end.

Musil has benefited from increased ice time in the AHL with Oklahoma in his second year with the club and though he has already been demoted to the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors for a conditioning stint in November, he could be primed for a strong bounce back in the AHL.

Musil is another one of the Oilers’ long-term projects, but if he can develop better footwork and puck skills, Musil should be able to play a decent role at the NHL level.