Top prospects for Edmonton Oilers

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 31 teams from Nov. 16-Dec. 16. Today, the top five prospects for the Edmonton Oilers, according to NHL.com.

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1. Philip Broberg, D

How acquired:Selected with No. 8 pick in 2019 NHL Draft
2019-20 season:Skelleftea (SHL): 45 GP, 1-7-8
The 19-year-old left shot impressed at Oilers training camp in July, using a confident mixture of strong skating and playmaking to earn his way on the postseason roster.
Broberg (6-foot-3, 199 pounds) did not dress for any of the four games against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. He began this season with Skelleftea and is expected to play for Sweden at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton (Dec. 25-Jan. 5) before rejoining the Oilers.
"Last year at the World Junior he was strictly in a defensive role ... so I'm anxious to see what role he's got this year," Oilers general manager Ken Holland said. "In the bubble [in August], he was very good, and very good offensively. He was able to get the puck on the tapes of the forwards and go."
Projected NHL arrival:This season

2. Evan Bouchard, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 10 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
2019-20 season:Bakersfield (AHL): 54 GP, 7-29-36
Bouchard (6-3, 194) used his strong offensive instincts to make a good step forward in his first pro season. The 21-year-old was Bakersfield's top-scoring defenseman and third in the American Hockey League among rookies at the position.
The Oilers are looking for that progress to continue and hope to see an increase in Bouchard's urgency. The right shot began this season with Sodertalje of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second league, and will return to Edmonton when the Oilers begin training camp.
Projected NHL arrival:Next season

3. Dylan Holloway, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 14 pick in 2020 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Wisconsin (NCAA): 35 GP, 8-9-17
Holloway (6-1, 203) is a strong skater and versatile forward who started his second season at Wisconsin.
"He's a big man who can transport the puck," Holland said. "He can play center or left wing, really versatile, gets in on the forecheck. He's got good skill and has a chance to be a good, really useful player. I think he can be a guy the coach can put in lots of situations."
The 19-year-old center was in training camp with Canada for the World Juniors.
Projected NHL arrival: 2022-23

4. Dmitri Samorukov, D

How acquired:Selected with No. 84 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
2019-20 season:Bakersfield (AHL): 47 GP, 2-8-10
The 21-year-old had an up-and-down first pro season and didn't produce offense like he did in junior hockey (99 points; 25 goals, 74 assists in 188 games for Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League) and at the 2019 WJC, when he scored four points (one goal, three assists) and was plus-9 in seven games to help Russia finish third.
Samorukov (6-3, 188) signed with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. Holland said he could return to the Oilers or Bakersfield when the KHL season is completed.
Projected NHL arrival: Next season

5. Raphael Lavoie, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 38 pick in 2019 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Halifax, Chicoutimi (QMJHL): 55 GP, 38-44-82
Lavoie (6-4, 196) scored 30, 32 and 38 goals in his final three seasons of junior hockey with a quality shot and good release.
The 20-year-old center was loaned to Vasby in HockeyAllsvenskan to start this season.
"His skating is fine, but he's just left junior and he needs to get quicker," Holland said. "Hopefully he's banging on the door in the next year or two to be in our bottom six, maybe be a second-line right winger. He's got some skill, a junior skill guy, but he's got to learn how to play pro hockey. NHL defensemen are not giving you the puck. You've got to go get it. You have to pressure them, learn to take their space away."
Projected NHL arrival: 2022-23