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Edmonton Journal

This fresh face on the Edmonton Oilers' Top Prospects list will attempt to buck long NHL odds

We will kick off our 2025 Cult of Hockey Prospect Series where we typically do, which is…at the bottom. Article content Today, I will cover all the forwards ranked 34-21. Tomorrow, David Staples will do the Defencemen and Goaltenders in that same range. Then, we will go from #20 to #1 between now and training camp. Who will garner top spot? Article content This series of articles has always strived to be a number of things, long before I was a member of the CoH staff. That includes being comprehensive. We intentionally cast a wide net. Players only fall off the list once they: Article content Article content -Make the NHL -Get dealt to a different organization -Age out, or… -Drop off the map. Article content Article content By their very definition, these guys are distant bells. At best, one of more of them may become a useful NHL Bottom-six regular. But most will never play actual NHL games, let alone have a significant role with the big club. And to be frank, some of these guys are rated as high as they are because the organization is not flush with prospects to begin with. Article content And look: When your club hockey is knocking on the door for a Stanley Cup, and have been in the final two years running, part of the price of that success is the spending of draft picks. Article content (Voters: David Staples, Kurt Leavins, Jim Matheson, Ira Cooper. The average of our four votes determined each prospect's standing). Article content Park (Unranked in 2024). Selected in Round 7 of the 2025 draft, #223 overall. Made an initial splash by sticking around in his hoodie on draft day as he lived just around the corner and was rewarded with the spotlight. The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakout year with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. The 6'1, 188 LB right-shot Center put up 33-33-66 in 55 GP. Added 49 PIM. Scouts describe him as a tenacious, two-way forward who plays quick and smart. Our Cult of Hockey Draft Day summary can be found here. At just 19, Park would seem to be the one guy out of this lot with an outside shot. So, keep an eye out for him. But there is a long road to go. The numbers say that guys from Round 7 only have a 10% chance of playing 100+ NHL games. And three out of four will never see the ice. Park's Uncle is retired NHL forward Richard Park. Article content Article content Grubbe (Ranked 10 in 2024). Grubbe has toiled in the depths of the Oilers organization for a couple years now. The 6'3, 200LB Calgary native was drafted by the Rangers in Round 3, #65 overall in 2021. Worked himself up to a point per game player for the Red Deer Rebels by the time he graduated the WHL. Since being acquired by the Oilers, Grubbe has had two muted offensive seasons in Bakersfield, of 67-8-6-14 in 2-23-24 and 62-2-12-14 in 2024-25. Good friend of the CoH Ira Cooper who watches Bakersfield a great deal described Grubbe last Summer as 'A player the coach will play in tough situations at the AHL level, but questions arise regarding enough skill to translate for the NHL'. Outside shot at a Bottom-six role down the road a ways. Article content Copponi (19). A long shot selection by the Oilers in 2023, #216 overall in Round 7. After graduating from Hockey East (Merrimack for three years, Boston for one), the right shot Center got a productive cup of coffee with the Condors last season (3-0-2-2). Somewhat undersized at 5'11 180 LB, he was generally at or below a point per game in college. Recently signed a two-year AHL deal. Scouts say he is 'a high-energy player who definitely shows some good skill'. Projects as a middle-six AHL man.