Setting Up the 2025 WHL Prospects and U.S. Drafts

Setting Up the 2025 WHL Prospects and U.S. Drafts

Edmonton, Alta. – The Edmonton Oil Kings will be looking to add some more high-end prospects to an already stocked cupboard at the 2025 WHL Drafts.

The Oil Kings will pick second overall, and eighth overall in the first round of 2025 WHL Prospects Draft which goes on Wednesday evening, followed by the subsequent rounds on Thursday, and the club will also pick third and 44th overall in the U.S. Priority Draft which also takes place on Thursday.

🎰 IT'S OFFICIAL! 🎰

Here's how we're picking in the first round of the WHL Prospects Draft and U.S. Priority Draft this May! 👑 pic.twitter.com/o5Wn3waTl7

— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) April 11, 2025

Looking at the 2024/2025 playoff roster for the Oil Kings, 14 of the 27 players were drafted and developed by the Oil Kings. Four of which were drafted in the first two rounds.

Led by Captain Gavin Hodnett, who was the 19^th overall selection in 2021, the Oil Kings have continued to find success in the draft. Hodnett is currently ninth on the Oil Kings all-time scoring list and was named the 16^th Captain in team history this past season. Meanwhile, Joe Iginla was drafted in the first round, 12^th overall in 2023 and this season became the youngest Oil King to record a hat-trick back on December 29. Kayden Stroeder was also just drafted in 2024, fifth overall and had eight points in 16 games, becoming the highest scoring 15-year-old in Oil Kings history.

It’s not just in the first round either where the Oil Kings have found important pieces as defencemen Ethan MacKenzie was a fourth-round pick in 2021, and Rhys Pederson was a 2021 fifth round pick, while goalie Alex Worthington was a 2020 fifth rounder. Josh Lee on the blue line and Luke Powell up front both played roles this season after being third and fourth round pick respectively. The Oil Kings have also found some gems in the later round, taking forward Jack Toogood in the 12^th round in 2022.

Meanwhile, other 2023 draft picks including goalie Parker Snell, and forward Cage Smith are all knocking on the door of full-time roles on the Oil Kings roster. 2022 third-rounder Presley Kerner was out with an injury during 2024/2025 but got a taste of the WHL in 2023/2024.

Outside of the 2025 playoff roster, the Oil Kings have a number of 2023 and 2024 draft picks that are looking to take that next step, including 2023 fourth rounder Matt Williams who has played three games as an affiliate over the last two seasons.

From the 2024 draft, the Oil Kings have signed second-rounder Jensen Marsh, and third-round pick Kayson Anderson.

The U.S. Priority Draft has also proved fruitful for the Oil Kings as well with defender Blake Fiddler highlighting the Oil Kings signing their last three first-round selections from that draft.

Fiddler, who was the first-overall pick in the 2022 draft has played 127 games over the last two seasons and is now ranked 26^th among North American Skaters in NHL Central Scouting for the 2025 NHL Draft. Defenceman Noa Ta’amu was the third-overall pick in 2023 and had six points in 43 games as a 16-year-old this season. Matheas Hejda, another defenceman, was taken with the fifth pick in 2024 and has signed with the club as well. He played this past season with the Chicago Reapers 15U AAA team.

On top of their two top-10 picks in the WHL Prospects Draft this season, Edmonton also owns two second round picks.

This will be the second time in team history that the Oil Kings will have the second overall selection in the draft. Back in 2010, Curtis Lazar was taken with the second pick and went on to help the club win two WHL Championships and a Memorial Cup. This will be the first time the Oil Kings will pick eighth.

 

Full Pick List:

1^st Round (2^nd Overall) (From Moose Jaw)

1^st Round (8^th Overall) (From Seattle)

2^nd Round (34th Overall) (From Moose Jaw via Vancouver)

2^nd Round (36^th Overall)

4^th Round (77th Overall) (From Seattle)

6^th Round (127th Overall) (From Portland)

6^th Round (131st Overall) (From Prince Albert)

8^th Round (174th Overall)

9^th Round (197th Overall)

10^th Round (220th Overall)

11th Round (243rd Overall)

12th Round (266th Overall)

13th Round (289th Overall)

14th Round (312th Overall)

15th Round (335th Overall)