The Edmonton Oilers made a not-so-surprising move before the 2025 draft to shed some salary with the trade of Evander Kane. Coming back the other way was a fourth-round pick in this past draft, which the Oilers then used on the German born WHL prospect, David Lewandowski

Who is David Lewandowski?

PositionHandednessHeightWeightLeft Wing Left6’1”177lbs

Born in Dusseldorf Germany, Lewandowski grew up in the Dusseldorfer EG system, playing at its U15, U17, and U20 levels. Eventually Lewandowski made his pro debut in Germany during the 2023–24 season and the DEL this past year.

Lewandowski’s performances in Dusseldorfer’s youth system generated CHL interest, which culminated in the Saskatoon Blades selecting the winger in the second round of the 2024 CHL import draft.

After a slow start in the DEL with Dusseldorfer EG at the beginning of the 2024–25 campaign the 6’1” German decided to make the jump to the WHL. In Saskatoon, the winger found a consistent role within their top-six forwards group, and became a reliable contributor.

Internationally the forward has appeared with Team Germany at every level from U16-U20, most recently with the U18 and U20 WJC teams this past season where he was a consistent forward for their national program.

This CHL and international performance of the young forward led to him being ranked typically in the mid-70s for the 2025 NHL draft, so with Lewandowski still available at 117th overall the Oilers took the chance.

Lewandowski’s on-ice production

To put that Lewandowski is a well travelled player would be an understatement. With the young forward appearing for countless German teams over the past couple of years. His development will be more steady now that he has found a home in the WHL’s Blades.

YearDraft RelativeLeagueTeamGPGAPPlayoff GPPlayoff GPlayoff
APlayoff
P2022–23D-2Germany U17Dusseldorfer EG U17 322644702022-2023D-2Inter. U16 JuniorGermany12310132022-2023D-2Inter. U17 JuniorGermany30112023–24D-1Germany U17Dusseldorfer EG U17 21452023-2024D-1DNL U20Dusseldorfer EG U203315334891452023-2024D-1Germany3ESC Moskitos Essen13191030002023-2024D-1Inter. Jr. U17Germany U1742132023-2024D-1Inter. Jr. U18Germany U18153692023-2024D-1WJC-18 D1AGermany U1852572024–25D+0DELDusseldorfer EG70002024–2025D+0WJC-U18Germany U1851232024–2025D+0WJC-20Germany U2052002024–2025D+0WHLSaskatoon Blades521524394112

Lewandowski averaged 16:06 of TOI this past season. Look for his responsibilities to increase, and as they do this should prime the German forward to have a breakout season next season in the WHL.

Lewandowski’s strengths

Lewandowski plays a heavy power-forwards game, that has both hard and soft skill. The 2007 born forwards game is particularly highlighted by strong physicality, some flashes of higher end instincts, and high end NHL projectable shooting.

Physicality

This physicality is one of the foremost elements of Lewandowski’s game. At 6’1” and 177lbs he already has a NHL projectable frame, muscle mass, and leverage. He consistently looks for inside body positioning in offensive and defensive transition, which he accomplishes, and he absorbs pressure well.

In defensive transition Lewandowski employs decent enough play disruption via physicality, slows pace down, has some risk assessment, and overall disrupts the opponents breakout.

His ability to absorb pressure, bounce off hits, and regularly engage in physical play demonstrates his overall healthy aggression, makes him a beneficial asset in board play, and is further complimented by flashes of an above average motor, which further amplifies his physicality.

On average the 6’1” forward engages in 14 puck battles per game, and despite his 49% win-rate his physical engagement and effectiveness in terms of timing, pressure exertion, and body positioning shows good growth.

One of his trademark elements of his physicality is his grit and reverse hits, which make him an absolute freight train of a forward at points. On average he dishes out 0.89 hits per game, and absorbs 0.69 per game without being any worse for wear.

Lewandowski’s physicality also plays into his offensive game as it enables good puck protection mechanics (a wide base, stick at hip, and quality balance), which heavily benefit his cycle and low board-play support game.

Lewandowski resorts to this cycle initiation and support in established o-zone play quite frequently and effectively. Throughthis frequency and his overwhelming desire to win body positioning the German import is able to generate 3.4 takeaways per game.

Offensive instincts

Where the Saskatoon Blades forward has plenty of hard skill, he also shows some flashes of higher end thinking too. This includes quality creativity and deception that resemble flashes of hidden playmaking ability.

This playmaking ability is exemplified by his ability to find teammates in the slot, and leads to a large portion of his 1.83 scoring chances generated per game. This also shows some aptitude with vision, problem solving, and play processing, which makes the DEL alumni an asset in the offensive zone.

Lewandowski’s offensive pressure awareness is another element that compliments his offensive transition and zone play, as the Oilers fourth rounder shows much more of a touch and go offensive style, and this explains his 76 puck touches per game, to go along with his 18 passes.

The forward also shows good offensive instincts in terms of space usage, chance generation, and finishing ability. Of the German’s chances he converts on 11% of them, this is another metric that should improve with more poise, maturity, and growth.

Shooting

Shooting is a major area of strength for Lewandowski, as he shows a high end shooting posture, a solid release point, and consistently good shot selection throughout his game.

Lewandowski has a solid weight transfer with a notable leg kick motion, which produces an even higher quality one-timer that has solid power which deceives opposing goalies.

There are small elements of deception in his shooting game as well, as he has good catch and release tendencies. Despite this deception he tends to lean heavy shooter, which is best articulated by his pure shooting volume at 3.3 shots per game, and these are rewarded with a 0.23 goals expected rate.

This shooting volume and timing explains why the forward starts 51% of shifts in the offensive zone along with his 2:07 per game of power play time with the Blades last season. This shows some possible hidden potential as a special teams player.

Shooting is without a doubt the most NHL-transferable element of his game. When Lewandowski is taking shots and finding lanes he becomes noticable in a game.

Lewandowski’s areas of improvement

Lewandowski’s game is very raw at his current state, and in order to have a chance of making the NHL improvements to skating, puck skills, and higher level playmaking needs to be realized.

Skating/puck skills

Skating holds Lewandowski back quite a bit. His stride is heavy/clunky which poses problems around power, stride recovery, depth, and agility. These limitations in terms of stride and power articulate themselves in his limited seperation speed, lateral acceleration, and top speed.

These issues of speed then compound as it makes it harder for the German forward to create/drive lanes, manipulate opponents on zone entries, and further challenges his route creation. His edgework also makes him an extremely lateral player that lacks dynamic turning ability.

In short, Lewandowski is not an agile or fast skater.

One silver lining is the fact that mechanically Lewandowski’s skating posture is decent with above average ankle/lower body flection, but this does not fully compensate for his other mobility limitations.

Puck skills Lewandowski shows major red flags around his scanning frequency, decision making, over-complicated handling, and poorer pass selection. All of these elements combine generate a reasoning behind Lewandowski’s 5.2 give aways per game, a 58% deke success rate and 86% pass accuracy.

In order for his playmaking to take another step forward he will have to show more growth in terms of scanning, play processing, and then implementing clearer offensive poise. As there were moments in this past season, where those steps were not as evident.

His playmaking needs to be more diverse in terms of waiting for the best available option, and not just a option.

Additionally his pace/intensity both on and off puck is extremely low, and this is a factor that players at the next level, be it minor league or NHL, will take advantage of.

Lewandowski’s next steps

First thing first, Lewandowski will be taking much more of a leadership role on the Blades. As likely one of a handful of NHL drafted players on the Saskatchewan based club. This leadership role, will also come with likely more on-ice opportunity.

Lewandowski remains a breakout candidate for the 2025–26 WHL season, as his unique play-style as a power-forward infused sniper.

The Edmonton Oilers are looking at a bit more of a longer timeline for development with Lewandowski, and clearly that is a factor they are comfortable with by making him their fourth round selection.

Projection with the Oilers

If everything goes according to plan for Lewandowski he could see NHL time as a bottom-six forward who brings a bit of scoring and checking.

NHL ETA: 5+ years

Projection: Bottom-six forward, with possible top-nine upside if his barriers of skating and puck skills are overcome.

What do you think of Lewandowski? Let us know in the comments below.

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