How the Edmonton Oilers' prospect pipeline is growing stronger at centre

Stanley Cup-winning teams are inevitably built “up the spine” with impact centres, goaltenders and defencemen.

For the Edmonton Oilers, the centre position has been occupied by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for most of the last decade, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the middle for years before spending more time on the wing in recent seasons.

That’s the kind of quality up the middle every NHL team covets.

As McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins age, it’s important for the team to restock the position.

For new general manager Stan Bowman, the age in this group (Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Henrique are past 30, and fourth-line centre Derek Ryan is 37) is a warning sign. The team needs young players, on inexpensive contracts, ready to take over.

As it happens, the Oilers have quality marbled through each level of the system.

The best available

Edmonton’s NHL depth chart at centre is so strong that head coach Kris Knoblauch routinely runs one or more pivots on the wing.

Player	Age	Description
Connor McDavid	27	Franchise centre
Leon Draisaitl	29	Franchise centre
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	31	Trusted utility forward
Adam Henrique	34	Trusted utility forward
Derek Ryan	37	Smart two-way pivot

This is a ridiculous depth chart. The 31 other NHL teams would move heaven and earth to approach this level of elite quality and depth.

The group is aging, and in the case of Nugent-Hopkins and Henrique time on left wing has increased in recent seasons. Both men have had a tough time scoring this season, and both have played poorly for stretches.

This happens over a long season, and the erosion of talent can’t be dismissed as a possible reason.

Still, the organization should be able to ride this group to a Stanley Cup victory next spring without a tweak.

The rising Condors

Edmonton sent away two young centres with strong NHL futures over the summer in Ryan McLeod and Dylan Holloway.

That’s a significant loss of talent in one position over a short period.

The Oilers added Henrique via free agency (he was their own free agent after a deadline deal) and then deemed Ryan capable of another year in the middle.

Management didn’t plan on Noah Philp having a strong impact during training camp and preseason, but his emergence as a viable NHL recall was welcome news.

The Bakersfield Condors have had injuries at the position this season, but Philp is delivering strong results in the AHL.

At even strength, his goal share (8-5, 62 percent) is well clear of the other Condors when Philp is off the ice (25-29, 46 percent). These are small samples but Philp delivered even stronger numbers two years ago as an AHL rookie.

At this level, he’s an even-strength difference-maker. An NHL recall has already happened, and another one appears imminent. There’s a chance Philp won’t see Bakersfield again the next time he flies to Edmonton.

The other young centre worth mentioning is Jayden Grubbe. He’s a little younger (21) and has had some ups and downs this season but plays a rugged style and makes his presence known.

Through the first 14 games of the season, he has just four assists (all at even strength) and owns an even-strength goal share of 47 percent (7-8). That includes a difficult recent run (4-7 over the last several games) but Grubbe’s rookie year was successful in this area. He has been playing with Seth Griffith at times in more of a feature role as the Condors coaching staff is doing a fine job of marbling youth and experience across the roster.

There’s no hurry for Philp or Grubbe. Nugent-Hopkins and Henrique are signed long-term to play behind McDavid and Draisaitl. The Philp surge allows the team to look for an internal option in case of injury or a veteran (like Ryan) falters.

Both AHL prospects are right-handed centres, win battles and possess a range of skills.

The recent draft

Sam O’Reilly is years from making his NHL debut, but his skill set is ideal for the organization. A right-handed centre with all the tools, he was regarded as a strong draft option by both Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler at The Athletic in the days leading up to the 2024 draft.

Pronman used words like “two-way center, competes hard and has physicality; quality skill and vision and can create chances” while Wheeler wrote “natural center,  plus-level skater and athlete. He projects as a potential well-rounded, complementary pro.”

O’Reilly isn’t scoring at elite levels but is productive in all three game states for the OHL London Knights this season. On the power play (0-3-3) and penalty kill (1-1-2) his offence is getting results, and he’s now over three shots per game.

At even strength, O’Reilly is a little shy in scoring (3-4-7 in 18 games). On the other hand, he owns a five-on-five goal share (13-7, 65 percent) that’s far superior to the Knights attack when he’s off the ice. With O’Reilly on the bench during even-strength play, the Knights are 39-32, 55 percent.

The OHL doesn’t publish time on ice rates, but O’Reilly is involved in all three game situations and having a 200-foot impact at even strength. It’s difficult to shine on an elite team as an even-strength outscorer, but O’Reilly is delivering on draft-day promise.

Edmonton’s amateur scouts deserve praise for O’Reilly, while the addition of William Nicholl in the seventh round looks like a stroke of genius.

Nicholl didn’t play much for London in his draft year, and it’s easy for NHL scouts to miss talent due to lack of playing time.

Nicholl is a “draft and follow” pick, so named because no one was quite sure what to expect. There’s no strong resume.

So far this season, Nicholl is thriving with his minutes. Here’s a look at how much damage he’s doing this year compared to last season.

Nicholl is on fire in the OHL, generally regarded as the world’s best junior league. The only ways for a true talent to fall in the NHL Draft from the OHL are injury and lack of exposure to scouts. Oilers scouts saw him good.

We’re a long way from calling Nicholl a home run, but a recently chosen prospect (from the seventh round) who’s third in team scoring is notable. He’s rolling with top-end talent and the play isn’t dying on his stick.

Bottom line

As we get closer to our December top 20 prospects list, it’s clear goaltending and centre are positions of strength for the organization.

Fans worried about O’Reilly’s early offensive production can be heartened by his even-strength outscoring and the low percentage of his offence that’s coming from the power play. The Knights aren’t feeding him cherry minutes, and even-strength points are tougher. His penalty killing prowess is another bullet point on the resume.

Nicholl’s offensive explosion is both impressive and a small sample. It should be recognized as a big step forward but needs to be seen over the entire season.

Among the two AHL centres who are considered prospects of note, it’s Philp who’s pushing for NHL work this season. After a year away from pro hockey, his performance is impressive.

(Photo of Noah Philp: Paul Swanson / NHLI via Getty Images)