This in from the London Knights: “LondonKnightsPR: Forward Will Nicholl underwent successful upper body surgery earlier this summer. The expected recovery time is 4-6 months.”
Last year the Cult of Hockey ranked Nicholl 23rd for all Oilers prospect. This year he’s ranked ninth overall.
Top Oilers prospect writer Bruce Curlock said: “Tough news for a kid who was trending very positively post draft. Hopefully this resolves the issue that clearly started after Christmas that he played through.”
Curlock ranked Nicholl eighth overall for Oilers prospect this year, saying: “His confidence with the puck. His pace. His touch. His finish. William Nicholl has some tools he can use. Nicholl uses these tools in combination with a really strong commitment to playing responsible hockey.”
Nicholl
My take
1. Nicholl was Edmonton’s seventh round draft pick in the 2024 draft, but he was playing like a high round pick earlier this year before his performance and production dropped off in the second half of the season likely due to this injury.
2. Mark Henry at Dobber Hockey had this to say about Nicholl’s game: “An explosive center who creates scoring opportunities using his speed and is not afraid to be physical. Projects as a bottom-six forward. Nicholl took a huge step forward in 2024-2025, helping the London Knights make their way toward a Memorial Cup Championship. Nicholl scored 21 goals and added 36 assists in 66 games. The goals came out of the blue, after scoring just six in 65 games the year before… That he was able to establish himself as a threat on a strong team with minimal powerplay opportunity makes the former seventh-round pick a fun player to root for. Nicholl projects as more of a bottom-six, two-way physical type, but his knack for finding the net will boost his notoriety and rostered percentage in your leagues.”