With the Edmonton Oilers advancing to the last round of the NHL playoffs, most of the attention regarding the team is squarely on their current NHL squad. No matter where the Oilers finish in their cup pursuits, the organization still have the 2025 NHL draft in their rearview mirror.
As of writing the Oilers have three picks in this upcoming draft, and this entry looks to examine possible selections the Oilers could make with their St. Louis acquired third-round draft pick.
Lets take a brief look at some of the players that will likely be on the board for the Oilers to select in the third round.
Vojtěch Čihař’s gameplay
Vojtěch Čihař is an interesting prospect as he plays a complete two-way forward’s game in the top professional league in Czechia at the age of 17. While he does play a complete game he does not particularly show any dynamic skills either.
PlayerPositionHandednessHeightWeightTeamLeagueVojtěch ČihařLeft WingerLeft6’1”187HC Energie Karlovy VaryCzechia
His game is highlighted by a strong compete level, adequate physicality, and defensive senses blend nicely with an above average skating game.
At the core of his game is his skating which shows decent posture, fundamentals (flection, power), edgework, and acceleration. He generally has a clean stride, and extension, but power generation could be improved to make his game even more mobile.
This skating strength allows him to be a consistent rush threat that blends well with his sense of positioning, motor, and overall hustle for HC Energie Karlovy Vary.
Compete level is a highlight due to his relatively frequent play engagement, good intensity, and energy role as a net front presence in the O-zone. This compete also meshes well with his growing physicality in terms of hit effectiveness, grit, and overall toughness.
He shows good hitting form and can be a wrecking ball when he needs to be.
Čihař battles every shift, and punishes opponents, particularly on the forecheck as he cuts off lanes, shows some play disruption, and implements some defensive pressure. Positionally he remains reactive but responsible on the defensive side of the puck. Shows adequate defensive instincts and awareness.
The 2007-born forward shows good defensive habits with stick lifts and risk assessment in his own end.
Overall he plays a 200 foot game every shift.
What are Cihar’s weaknesses?
The main drawbacks for Čihař are his offensive senses, and inconsistent puck handling.
Čihař simply lacks dynamic offensive senses as most of his decision making, play anticipation, and play creation is straightforward. He also lacks deception in the ability to manipulate defenders, create space, or generate consistently unpredictable plays.
He still generates quality offensive plays, but it remains at the surface level. He knows where the high danger areas are, but struggles with how to get the puck there at times. Čihař’s offensive instincts, and offensive play awareness will need to take a more advanced step in order to be a threat in the NHL.
Puck skills are an element that would further his offensive growth too as the forward shows some flashes of quality handling, but once again lacks quality lane awareness, smooth(ish) passing, and higher frequency chance generation when the puck is on his stick.
Where does Čihař fit in the lineup?
He fits in the same role as Sam O’Reilly, as an high energy checking-two way forward. The dynamic skill that he lacks is made up for in what he offers defensively, skating, and physicality wise. He also fits the Oilers draft profile of sooner NHL ETA for a lower ceiling.
If Čihař is still available for the Oilers he would be a safer pick for the organization, but don’t expect him to be an all-star. He would be a comfortable bottom-six with top-nine upside for the Oilers squad in the near future.
Hayden Paupanekis type of game
A consistently underrated forward, Hayden Paupanekis, for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. The Winnipeg-born forward saw himself involved in a trade halfway through this past season from the Spokane Chiefs to the Kelowna Rockets.
The new scenery means new opportunity for the young forward as he’s slowly been creeping up the radar of NHL scouts. He is ranked as high as 38th and as low as 101st depending on the source, meaning he could still be available in the third round for the Oilers.
PlayerPositionHandednessHeightWeightTeamHayden PaupanekisCenterRight6’04203lbKelowna Rockets
He plays a heavy power forwards game. His game is highlighted by physicality, compete, and puck skills.
In both offensive transition and zone play Paupanekis displays a higher end motor, with consistent defensive pressure exertion, a high play engagement rate, and hustle both in defensive transition and with puck play as well.
Senses are highlighted by higher end defensive instincts, awareness, play reading, and risk assessment. He displays a high level of defensive responsibility which makes him a 200 foot asset to his club, with an active stick, and a good lane awareness he rarely mis-reads defensive coverage.
He also serves as a capable net front presence that is beginning to learn how to use his body leverage, prioritizes body positioning, and this makes him a quality in close finisher for the Rockets frequently. His frame and reach also add significant value to his puck handling favourable puck protection mechanics.
Shows flashes of offensive instincts, anticipation, and play reading. If he can unlock higher level vision, pass execution, and more consistent offensive pace/play driving the Kelowna forward could have a real breakout season in the WHL next year.
Paupenekis’ weaknesses in his game
Skating posture, power generation, balance, and stride mechanics could all take steps forward to make him an even more effective skater and puck mover.
Paupanekis displays higher end speed and lateral acceleration for a skater of his size, and once he figures out the other elements he could be above average at the NHL level.
Physical effectiveness and decision making are additional areas that should come with more time, as Paupanekis develops both his muscle mass, body leverage, and hitting effectiveness. These are normal barriers for players that are still getting fully use to their size and frame.
His fit in Edmonton’s lineup
Paupanekis would join the long list of hard skill, 200-foot forwards that the Oilers love to draft. His NHL comparison would be that of a Nick Paul type player who has toughness, physical upside, and compete level to make him a consistent play influencer and positive defensive presence.
His floor is that of a bottom-six forward, with the likely upside of a top-nine shutdown power forward. Additionally his NHL ETA would likely be around three to four years.
How Philippe Veilleux plays his game
The undersized Philippe Veilleux shows lots of offensive upside. He impressed with the Val-d’Or Foreurs this past season posting a team leading 87 points across 64 games, and potting 40 goals along the way. Standing at 5’9” he is undersized, but the winger shows some lethal offensive upside in the QMJHL.
This size and some ineffective play creation does make him the most risky of all the picks listed.
PlayerPositionHandednessHeightWeightTeamPhilippe VeilleuxLW/RWLeft5’09165lbsVal-d’Or Foreurs
Veilleux plays a offensive driving playmaker/sniper’s game. His game is highlighted by high end offensive instincts, quality puck skills, and skating elements.
Speed is the name of Veilleux’s game. He shows higher end agility, acceleration, lane creation, and pace. This makes him a high danger chance generator in transitional play, and blends quite nicely with his offensive instincts, and play reading ability.
Routinely shows good route creation and gets to the middle of the ice frequently, and shows hints of good spacial/gap awareness and creation that allows him to generate space and plays by himself.
He is a rush asset in every faucet of the word, that is only matched by an above average hockey IQ, and play processing ability.
In zone play the QMJHL product shows high senses too with quality play reading and reacting mixed in with hints of play anticipation and pressure awareness. Shows high end vision, handling and passing ability. He could be a solid complimentary playmaking piece in the future.
What are his weaknesses
The main areas of concern for the Quebec-born product remain his compete level, defensive instincts, and physciality. He shows little hustle and intensity on the defensive side of the puck, even in high risk situations. These limited second efforts reduce his overall effectiveness in all three zones.
With increases to his compete level through more consistent defensive play engagement mixed in with higher quality intensity and defensive pressure in transition and zone play he could see some more significant NHL upside.
One of the largest barriers at the pro-level will be his physicality. Right now he can avoid contact at the QMJHL level, but at the pro-level he is simply undersized and shows below average grit, physical effectiveness, and body/board play. This could be a make or break characteristic for his NHL chances.
Fit in the Edmonton lineup
As a largely soft-skill playmaker he could be someone that the Oilers prospect pool is largely missing. With the state of their pipeline outside of Matthew Savoie the Oilers lack that offensive minded forward, so Veilleux could find a role as a high end playmaker on the Condors or Oilers after his QMJHL career.
He does remain the highest risk prospect out of the three highlighted here, and does have that boom or bust mentality. It all depends on if the Oilers scouting staff decide to take a higher risk player or not.
Who will Edmonton choose?
As it stands right now the most likely out of the three remains Vojtěch Čihař, as he fits the mold of the type of player the Oilers organization values, with the sooner than normal NHL ETA.
Although he does not seem to be as dynamic as the other two, his 200-foot basic game in itself will be an asset as a bottom-six forward for the Oilers.
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