This in from Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman, a solid review of David Tomasek, who has been skating with Edmonton veterans at Connor McDavid’s captain skates.
Tomasek, 6-feet, 2-inches, 210 pounds, was signed out of the top Swedish league as a 29-year-old having led that league in scoring last season.
Said Bowman to Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now: “There are stories every year of players that come in somewhat unheralded and play an important role to making a good team even better. So we’ve got a lot of great players here. So that’s the hardest thing to do, is to find those. But I’m trying to surround them with some other names…. think Tomasek is one we’ll talk about for a second.
“He’s looked very noticeable to me this week on the ice. He looks like he’s an NHL player, and he should. He’s been a really top player in Europe for a few years. And it’s hard to lead the Swedish league in scoring if you’re not a good player. So, not surprised, but it’s nice to see him come in and in these skates with all the other NHL guys. A lot of times he’s standing out even with other NHL players as, like, ‘Wow, who’s that guy?’ He’s making plays. He’s shooting the puck, scoring goals. So, you know, there’s always that adjustment from captain skates to exhibition, to regular season, to second half, and then to playoffs, like everything gets ramped up. I’m sure it won’t be always a smooth ride, but I think David looks like he’s going to be a nice player for us.”
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My take
1. We didn’t write about Tomasek in the Cult of Hockey prospect series because he’s 29, not a prospect. He’s a seasoned player, with his career slow cooking for almost a decade in Europe.
2. Born in Prague, Tomasek played minor hockey in the United States, then two years of major junior with the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League but in his final year put up just 31 points in 61 games. He was never drafted, nor signed even to an ECHL contract, so he went as a 19-year-old to play for Pardubice in the Czech league. He had limited success there and then in Finland, but his game took off at age 25 back in Parubice.
Over time he worked his way up from a bottom line player to a top line player in the Czech league, then has been an elite attacker in the Swedish league for the past two seasons for Farjestads.
3. When he signed this past spring with the Oilers on a one-year $1.2 million deal, Athletic prospect writer Scott Wheeler wrote, “One of the better players in Europe over the last couple of years. Good-sized center who has produced at the top of the SHL but is also really reliable defensively. Excellent in the faceoff circle. Drove play. Competitive. Should add to the Oilers’ depth down the middle.”
At his Lowetide site, hockey commentator Allan Mitchell wrote in July: “David Tomasek is a bona fide NHL possibility for the Edmonton Oilers this fall.”
At his Substack site, Oilers prospect expert Bruce Curlock said, “The stride is long and powerful, but it is clunky. It takes Tomasek a while to get up to speed, but when he does, he generates very good power. In some ways, it reminds me of Noah Philp when he gets to pace. He becomes very hard to stop…For the most part, he has a sound understanding of the defensive side of the game. While he isn’t a bruiser on the walls, he is effective…Overall, Tomasek is a good bet by the Oilers.”
4. We are early into the competition to see which of three attacking wingers, Matt Savoie, Ike Howard and Tomasek, are going to make the Oilers this year and take on a prominent role. Right now, in these early days, I’ll suggest Savoie is leading the pack, with Tomasek and Howard tied.
Roster
At the Cult of Hockey
STAPLES: Two good things, two bad things and two numbers as Oilers rookies lose 6-5 to Flames
STAPLES: Controversial Edmonton Oilers d-man rated as “franchise player” by NHL experts
Cult of Hockey prospect series 2025
Forwards: Matt Savoie (1st) Ike Howard (2nd), Maxim Berezkin (3rd), Josh Samanski (5th), Quinn Hutson (6th), William Nicholl (9th), Roby Jarventie (11th), Viljami Marjala (12th), Connor Clattenburg (13th), Tommy Lafreniere (14th). David Lewandowski (15th)
Dmen: Alec Regula (4th) Beau Akey (7th-tie) Atro Leppanen (10th) Paul Fischer (16th), Nikita Yevseyev (18th), Asher Barnett (19th)
Goalies: Samuel Jonsson (7th-tie), Nathaniel Day (17th), Eemil Vinni (20th)