Oil Kings acquire Avalanche prospect, Scholastic Player of the Year Curran

Edmonton, Alta.- The Edmonton Oil Kings are adding a new jewel to the crown.

The 2022 WHL Champions have added Colorado Avalanche forward Maxmilian Curran in an offseason trade.

In return, the Tri-City Americans will receive a first-round pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft (37th overall), a first-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft and a third-round pick in the 2029 WHL Prospects Draft.

Curran put up 22 goals and 52 assists for 74 points in 65 games in 2024-25, highlighted by a three-goal, nine-assist run in his final nine regular-season games.

The 6-foot-3, 187-pound centreman led the Americans in points and assists, while tying for third on the team in goals.

“Max is a guy that obviously has that veteran prowess being in the league for the last couple of seasons,” Oil Kings General Manager Kirt Hill said. “His ability to play centre and the wing, we really like him in the middle. He’s a big guy, skates well, his intelligence on the ice is probably his number one asset. He’s got an elite hockey IQ, distributes the puck extremely well and has the ability to finish on plays with, obviously, his goal production last season, which is an area where I think he does have more still to give.”

Curran, 18, also captured the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy as the 2024-25 WHL Scholastic Player of the Year.

The Prague, Czechia native kept up an overall average of 100 percent in his classes, including a 100 percent average in AP English, AP Conversation English, Czech Language Literature, German Language, AP History and Social Life Sciences.

He was enrolled in 13 core classes, the bulk of which are considered Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Originally selected by Tri-City with the 39th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Curran has amassed 27 goals and 79 assists for 106 points in 105 regular-season games over two campaigns with the Ams and helped the team return to the postseason in 2025 after a one-year absence.

Curran was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.