The National Hockey League preseason is officially just over a month away. Hockey season is almost here. With that being said there are plenty of expectations on players by both themselves, the fans, and the organization.

Let’s take a look at five Edmonton Oilers prospects who might be on the hot seat as they enter the 2025–26 season as a make or break year in their career.

Noah Philp, Forward, (1998)

The University of Alberta alumni enters what will be fourth full season of pro-hockey. He was also injured for the entire 2023–24 campaign, so injuries have stalled his development. At almost 27-years-old, Philp isn’t particularly a prospect and the the clock certainly is ticking to make an impact in the NHL.

He has proven that he has the phyiscality, hockey sense, and defensive upside to be a serviceable fourth-line forward for the Oilers if given the chance.

What needs to happen

Short and sweet, Philp needs to prove to Oilers management that he can make the NHL club straight out of training camp. The Canmore product has a game that is defined by him being a workhorse on defence and can shine in a fourth line role.

If he does not make the Oilers out of camp, that would indicate his time in the NHL is close to finished. Ultimately, if Philp starts with Bakersfield, there will likely be a lot of call-ups ahead of him on the depth chart, making it incredibly unlikely that he would see any NHL action.

With all of the Oilers recent signings there’s even a possibility Philp would get shuffled down the Bakersfield Condors roster if he ends up there come September.

Factors:

Age

Depth of current roster

Opportunity

Make or break is an understatement once all the factors are considered.

Roby Järventie, Forward, (2002)

Järventie has been an interesting case for the Oilers, as the young Finn shows an abundance of potential, but just has limited reps of in-game action. Since being acquired by the Oilers last summer, the forward has been injured for almost the entire time.

Järventie has only appeared in two regular season games in Bakersfield in his entire time in the organization. Injuries certainly doesn’t help improve a players development, chemistry, or trade value. He shows quality skating, shooting, and puck skills.

Realistically Järventie could be an NHL top nine forward.

How he can make it

Järventie simply needs to prove that he hasn’t lost a step when he gets back on the ice. The Finn’s season is not so much a “make” season, but rather not a “break” season. It’s likely that the 23-year-old starts his year in Bakersfield, to help him shake off any rink rust.

If he can prove that he was the same or better player than the last time the coaching staff saw him, he’s in an ideal spot. Most importantly, despite not being able to control it, Järventie needs to avoid injury at all costs this season. Knock on some wood for the prospect.

If everything goes according to plan, and the prospect plays as well as scouts and management believe he can, Järventie might even see a handful of NHL games this year—especially if the NHL bottom six is under-performing. Expect him to be competing for a NHL roster spot next season.

Factors:

Health

Regression worries

NHL bottom-six performance

Matvei Petrov, Forward, (2003)

The 2003-born Russian is entering his third full season in the AHL, and Petrov’s entire stint with the Condors has left more to be desired. The past two seasons he has also served largely in a depth role with the Oilers AHL squad, averaging anywhere from 9 to 13 minutes a night.

While this ice-time hurts production, it does not mean he can’t still produce. Considering Petrov’s game is that of an offensive minded sniper-playmaker, who may not be the most acute defensively he needs to show up on the scoresheet.

Petrov also has yet to appear in every game of a season, only suiting up 53 times in 2023–24, and 50 times this past season. Across 103 AHL games he’s posted 30 points, which for a offence first player these numbers appear to be underwhelming, especially when entering a contract year.

What Petrov needs to do

Petrov needs to carve out a top six role with the Condors. At 22 he still has plenty of runway in terms of growth and development, but he needs to prove to Oilers management he’s worth keeping around. If he can’t, it is possible that the Moscow product goes back to Europe.

A commanding performance from the young forward as a stable top-six scorer in the AHL might mean the Sarnia Sting alumni stays around for another season. That being said, he will be competing with a lot of competition for ice-time in Bakersfield so it’s quite possible remains in that bottom-six role.

This is absolutely a make or break season for Petrov’s North American hockey ambitions. Petrov also remains a distance away from competing for an NHL roster spot.

Factors:

Performance

Contract year

Depth of roster

Connor Ungar, Goalie, (2002)

The former Usports goaltender of the year had an okay 2024–25 season in the ECHL. He won one goaltender of the week, and suffered an unfortunate injury at the end of the regular season. He had a rough start to his season, but slowly turned it around, posting a .903 across 35 ECHL games.

There’s a couple of things going against the former Moose Jaw Warrior starter.

The first of those factors being the crowded crease in Edmonton’s system. Second, his performance in comparison to Allsvenskan goalie of the year, Samuel Jonsson, and Nathaniel Day’s hot performance in the ECHL. Not to mention the most recent signee, proven AHLer Matt Tomkins.

Third, its very rare that an NHL franchise signs or extends a goaltender for their ECHL affiliate.

How Ungar can break through

An ideal season for the WHL alumni means he beats out two of Jonsson, Day, or Tomkins for a full time AHL spot. The likelihood of this happening is not very likely, as the Oilers would not have brought Jonsson overseas or Tomkins in to play at the ECHL level. That being said it is not impossible, if he performs well.

Ungar needs to prove that he can handle the AHL first before the Oilers are even willing to sign an extension with the goaltender in his contract year. If Ungar gets no or very few AHL reps this year, the likelihood of another NHL contract for the Calgary product dwindles.

The situation Ungar faces is the pure definition of prove your worth in a make or break year.

Factors:

Performance

Opportunity/development chances

Level of play

James Hamblin, Forward, (1999)

Hamblin has proved that he can handle NHL play, and pace. The Edmonton product has also proved that he can excel in the AHL, as one of the Condors top-six forwards these past couple of seasons. At the age of 26, the organization might also be shifting their focus to other players as well.

The main issue is Hamblin finds himself in the awkward spot of being too good for the AHL, but also not getting much of an NHL opportunity.

This 2025–26 season is a contract year for Hamblin, and with the depth of bottom-six talent in the Oilers organization, it’s possible management goes with younger options.

If the Canadian winger can’t carve out an NHL role, there’s likely plenty of other suitors for the forwards services be it with an NHL/AHL organization, or European pro.

What Hamblin needs to do

Best case scenario for the forward Hamblin makes the Edmonton Oilers out of training camp.

If the WHL alumni gets reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors for his fifth season with the club, then priority would just be on his performance for the rest of the season and hope there’s more opportunities elsewhere next season.

This year is undoubtably a make or break season as time catches up to Hamblin he can’t be viewed as much of a prospect so he needs to prove his worth to the club.

Factors:

Age

Opportunity/contract year

Depth of the organization

State of the Oilers organization

The Edmonton Oilers have plenty of players facing a make it or break it year, so here’s hoping that best case scenario happens for the organization. As a contender this season though, there might not be many open spots on the Oilers roster.

What other prospects do you think are facing make it or break it years? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire

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