Oilers lock up Owen Michaels with two-year deal after Hobey Baker finalist season
Restricted free agent Owen Michaels inked a two-year, $900k AAV contract after winning NCAA Tournament MVP with Western Michigan.
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The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed college prospect Owen Michaels to a two-year contract extension. The 24-year-old forward inked the deal Monday with an average annual value of $900,000. Michaels had been a pending restricted free agent after signing a one-year entry-level contract at the tail end of the 2026 season.
In Year 1, the deal pays Michaels a reduced $225,000 in the minors. The contract converts into a one-way agreement in Year 2. Whether he remains a restricted free agent or becomes a Group 6 unrestricted free agent after this deal is still to be determined.
Born in Detroit, the right-shot Michaels was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2024-25 and earned NCAA Tournament MVP honours. He scored the winning goal in double overtime against Denver to send the Broncos to the championship game. Michaels went 33-33-66 in 119 games for Western Michigan over a three-year stint. In 2025-26 he recorded 13-13-26 in 39 games and was +10.
He was team captain in his final season but was never drafted. Michaels is ticketed for the Bakersfield Condors in 2026-27. Right-shot centres are often sought-after, and the Oilers identified the development side of Michaels' career as critical, particularly given it is not an organizational strength.
