Oilers Draft Latvian Center and Swedish Forward
Edmonton's first two picks of the 2026 NHL Draft bring physical play and playmaking to the prospect pipeline.
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The Edmonton Oilers added two forwards to their prospect system in the 2026 NHL Draft: 18-year-old Latvian center Rudolfs Berzkalns with their first selection, and Swedish forward Malcom Gastrin with the 84th overall pick.
Berzkalns, a left-handed 6'4", 206-pound center, spent the last two seasons with Muskegon of the USHL. In 2025-26 he posted 13 goals, 12 assists in 48 games, finishing +7 with 39 penalty minutes. He represented Latvia twice at the World Juniors, including a notable goal against Team Canada in the U20 this past season. Scouts describe him as physically aggressive, with a heavy wrist shot and strong two-way play — he logged considerable penalty-kill time and was a key faceoff man for the Lumberjacks. He's expected to attend Boston College in 2026-27.
Gastrin, who turns 18 in August, played for Modo's U18, U20, and men's squads this season in Sweden. At 5'11", he's undersized for his draft position, but scouts praise his work ethic and playmaking. One evaluator called him "a cerebral play connector who utilizes elite anticipation and smart checking to build a versatile middle-six profile."
To make room for the picks, the Oilers traded their second-round selection (52nd overall) to Tampa Bay in exchange for picks 58 and 133 — part of a broader strategy to stock the prospect pool after using picks in recent deadline deals to push the big team.