<p>There is a common refrain in player <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-prospect-report-playoff-edition">development</a> that players need to make management uncomfortable.</p>
<p>The uncomfortable element is that management is uneasy that a player who could be on the NHL roster is not, but is performing at such a level that perhaps he should be there.</p>
<p>In the Ken Holland world, it would be called &#8220;over-ripening.&#8221;</p>
<p></p>
<p>As the season winds down for the Edmonton Oilers, there is a lot of consternation about the health and performance of the team as it readies itself for a playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings. Some of that is focused on the bottom six group of forwards. In particular, the team&#8217;s center depth and its uniquely left-shot set-up. This is all set against the backdrop of a 26-year-old center who happens to be a strong skater, 6&#8217;3&#8243; and 200 pounds and also a right shot.</p>
<p>Well, if the Oilers management were looking for someone to make them uncomfortable, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/noah-philp-edmonton-oilers-run-risk-losing-waivers">Noah Philp</a> did it this week. Whether it translates into a quick trip from Henderson, Nevada to Los Angeles, California and into the Oilers line-up time will only tell. Why do I think there is a chance?</p>
<p>Well, let&#8217;s take a look at the tape. More on Philp, another right-shot center a couple of years away, and all of the news and notes in the Oilers Prospect Report.</p>
<h1>Who Caught My Eye?</h1>
<h2>Noah Philp</h2>
<p>The stat line from the week speaks for itself. 4-1-5 in three games. He also added ten shots on net. Of the five points, four of them were at even strength. Make no mistake, Noah Philp generates his scoring at even strength. While he gets some powerplay time, it is on the second unit and is often limited to thirty seconds or less. Instead, Philp uses his size, strength and skating to generate opportunities. Take a look at these two goals from this weekend and tell me what you notice.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Philp G 04 16 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8fSHcPbC8BU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="PHilp G 04 19 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fZ9WRKEpbRk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Philp is tough to defend. When he senses an opportunity to get to the net or is at the net, defenders who are NHL size have a great deal of difficulty neutralizing him. The part of Philp&#8217;s game that has been developing throughout this year is offence in another way. Watch his other two goals from this week.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="PHilp G2 04 19 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMcnRfTT9bg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Philp 3G 04 19 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NM-ysnDkZu0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>These two goals are coming from a player who clearly has more confidence in his ability to score. There is skill and patience and a thought process to what he is trying to accomplish on these plays. In essence, this makes him a more difficult player to deal with on a shift. He can use his size and speed and beat players physically, or he can use creativity and skill to beat them just the same.</p>
<p>There is no question Philp will be a black ace in the next 24 hours. Whether it stops there or leads to time in the playoffs is yet to be determined. I just know if I were in Oilers management, I would feel quite uncomfortable at the moment.</p>
<h2>Sam O&#8217;Reilly</h2>
<p>Coming down the pipe is another right-shot center. This one is quite a bit younger at 19 years old, but he has a lot of promise. Sam O&#8217;Reilly had an excellent breakout season, scoring at a 1.15 points per game clip, up from his .82 points per game in his draft year. He also increased his shot throughput this year by .5 shots per game as well.</p>
<p>This was a key for this defender converted to forward. Could he score at rates that would make him a middle-six NHL prospect? He did that without a doubt. What&#8217;s been even more impressive is his playoff performance. Remember, O&#8217;Reilly is considered a 200-foot center who has a tremendous understanding of how to play the defensive game required of him. In the playoffs, defence is very important, so O&#8217;Reilly has been getting a lot of hard match-ups. That has not stopped his offence. In eight games, O&#8217;Reilly is 5-10-15 with a very strong 24 shots on net. His scoring totals rank him 17th in OHL playoff scoring. At even strength, O&#8217;Reilly is tenth in the league. He is also +15 in those games. To say O&#8217;Reilly is putting an exclamation mark on his draft plus one season would be an understatement.</p>
<p>His offence is coming from all parts of the game. I talked early in the season about how I thought his passing was an underrated part of his game. Look at this primary assist on an Easton Cowan goal.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="O&#039;Reilly A 04 17 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/up4omYmZXdU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>He also has a very high offensive IQ. Watch this entire sequence. First, he makes an incredibly quick decision and executes a tremendous backhand pass. Then watch him get lost behind the play and just quietly slide into the slot for the easy tap.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="O&#039;Reilly PPG 04 17 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u2NZoKi9Bsk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Finally, watch this 200-foot shift in overtime and his goal to win the series.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="O&#039;Reilly OTG 04 17 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duudonP6inE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>This is probably the most expected style of O&#8217;Reilly&#8217;s goal. Skating all over the ice in all three zones and then driving to the net to collect the loose change.</p>
<p>O&#8217;Reilly&#8217;s team is through to the OHL semi-finals, having played only eight games. However, now the competition will get much tougher. This will be an excellent chance to see whether the development that has occurred through the first two weeks carries forward.</p>
<h2>Maxim Beryozkin</h2>
<p>The player in Europe that I am most certain can play with the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-working-sign-maxim-beryozkin">Edmonton Oilers</a> is one that Stan Bowman has not signed yet. Yes, there is <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/david-tomasek-role-with-oilers">Tomasek</a> and Leppanen, but Maxim Beryozkin is the player I have the most confidence in playing NHL games for some duration.</p>
<p>He&#8217;s a right-shot winger. That checks a box. He&#8217;s 6&#8217;4&#8243; and 215 pounds. That checks a box. He loves to play physically and is very good along the walls. Check again. He also has strong offensive skills. Check! The other notable, and maybe most important element, the young man loves to play in high-stakes games. Last year, he broke out in the KHL playoffs, finishing third in scoring. This season, he is 12th in scoring with nine points in nine games. However, on a points per game basis, he is seventh as his team has only played nine games.</p>
<p>Now I know a lot of people are talking about the goal he scored yesterday and it is sublime. However, the play I want to highlight is this assist from last week again. This is an NHL style of play.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Beryozkin A 04 13 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KgNKmiUFg-4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>He loves to go to the net and he loves to engage players physically. For those who have watched him all season, you can see that he is really starting to understand how difficult he is to handle. Remember, the ice surface he is playing on allows players to avoid contact. That is very tough to do on an NHL surface. Beryozkin relishes physical play and that is a plus.</p>
<p>Now, here is the goal. There is one thing I want to highlight other than the immense skill. Look at his skating. I still don&#8217;t really understand where the concern with his skating came from. I know I&#8217;ve made comments that it is average, but that means it is NHL average. It is not poor by any stretch. He will not have any issues getting around the rink. The play itself is world-class offensive skill. Great hands. Great patience. Great shot.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Beryozkin G 04 19 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IivZgQhgKw0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Maxim Beryozkin can play in Edmonton, I believe. Whether the Oilers can sign the player out of Russia is the only question.</p>
<h2>News and Notes</h2>
<p>Matt Copponi signed his ATO and came to Bakersfield. He got into three games and was noticeable in all three. He is a high-energy player who definitely shows some good skill. He ended the season with two assists in those three games. Here is a clip of his second assist that definitely shows skill.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Copponi A 04 19 25" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jo1uPdlmuz0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Copponi still needs to be signed by the Oilers before August 15, 2025, in order for his rights to be maintained. He has shown the Oilers enough signs that I think it would be worth the contract.</p>
<p>Dalyn Wakely, another right-shot center, continues to have an impressive playoff run. In the 10 games to date, he is 6-12-18 with 35 shots on net. This is the Dalyn Wakely that I am sure the Oilers thought they were signing. He is hard to play against. He plays physical and a little greasy. His Colts team plays game six tonight with a chance to close out the series.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s it for this week. As always, send me your thoughts here or on the X to @bcurlock. Have a great week and Happy Easter.</p>

There is a common refrain in player <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-prospect-report-playoff-edition">development</a> that players need to make management uncomfortable.

The uncomfortable element is that management is uneasy that a player who could be on the NHL roster is not, but is performing at such a level that perhaps he should be there.

In the Ken Holland world, it would be called "over-ripening."



As the season winds down for the Edmonton Oilers, there is a lot of consternation about the health and performance of the team as it readies itself for a playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings. Some of that is focused on the bottom six group of forwards. In particular, the team's center depth and its uniquely left-shot set-up. This is all set against the backdrop of a 26-year-old center who happens to be a strong skater, 6'3" and 200 pounds and also a right shot.

Well, if the Oilers management were looking for someone to make them uncomfortable, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/noah-philp-edmonton-oilers-run-risk-losing-waivers">Noah Philp</a> did it this week. Whether it translates into a quick trip from Henderson, Nevada to Los Angeles, California and into the Oilers line-up time will only tell. Why do I think there is a chance?

Well, let's take a look at the tape. More on Philp, another right-shot center a couple of years away, and all of the news and notes in the Oilers Prospect Report.
<h1>Who Caught My Eye?</h1>
<h2>Noah Philp</h2>
The stat line from the week speaks for itself. 4-1-5 in three games. He also added ten shots on net. Of the five points, four of them were at even strength. Make no mistake, Noah Philp generates his scoring at even strength. While he gets some powerplay time, it is on the second unit and is often limited to thirty seconds or less. Instead, Philp uses his size, strength and skating to generate opportunities. Take a look at these two goals from this weekend and tell me what you notice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fSHcPbC8BU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ9WRKEpbRk

Philp is tough to defend. When he senses an opportunity to get to the net or is at the net, defenders who are NHL size have a great deal of difficulty neutralizing him. The part of Philp's game that has been developing throughout this year is offence in another way. Watch his other two goals from this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMcnRfTT9bg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM-ysnDkZu0

These two goals are coming from a player who clearly has more confidence in his ability to score. There is skill and patience and a thought process to what he is trying to accomplish on these plays. In essence, this makes him a more difficult player to deal with on a shift. He can use his size and speed and beat players physically, or he can use creativity and skill to beat them just the same.

There is no question Philp will be a black ace in the next 24 hours. Whether it stops there or leads to time in the playoffs is yet to be determined. I just know if I were in Oilers management, I would feel quite uncomfortable at the moment.
<h2>Sam O'Reilly</h2>
Coming down the pipe is another right-shot center. This one is quite a bit younger at 19 years old, but he has a lot of promise. Sam O'Reilly had an excellent breakout season, scoring at a 1.15 points per game clip, up from his .82 points per game in his draft year. He also increased his shot throughput this year by .5 shots per game as well.

This was a key for this defender converted to forward. Could he score at rates that would make him a middle-six NHL prospect? He did that without a doubt. What's been even more impressive is his playoff performance. Remember, O'Reilly is considered a 200-foot center who has a tremendous understanding of how to play the defensive game required of him. In the playoffs, defence is very important, so O'Reilly has been getting a lot of hard match-ups. That has not stopped his offence. In eight games, O'Reilly is 5-10-15 with a very strong 24 shots on net. His scoring totals rank him 17th in OHL playoff scoring. At even strength, O'Reilly is tenth in the league. He is also +15 in those games. To say O'Reilly is putting an exclamation mark on his draft plus one season would be an understatement.

His offence is coming from all parts of the game. I talked early in the season about how I thought his passing was an underrated part of his game. Look at this primary assist on an Easton Cowan goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up4omYmZXdU

He also has a very high offensive IQ. Watch this entire sequence. First, he makes an incredibly quick decision and executes a tremendous backhand pass. Then watch him get lost behind the play and just quietly slide into the slot for the easy tap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2NZoKi9Bsk

Finally, watch this 200-foot shift in overtime and his goal to win the series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duudonP6inE

This is probably the most expected style of O'Reilly's goal. Skating all over the ice in all three zones and then driving to the net to collect the loose change.

O'Reilly's team is through to the OHL semi-finals, having played only eight games. However, now the competition will get much tougher. This will be an excellent chance to see whether the development that has occurred through the first two weeks carries forward.
<h2>Maxim Beryozkin</h2>
The player in Europe that I am most certain can play with the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-working-sign-maxim-beryozkin">Edmonton Oilers</a> is one that Stan Bowman has not signed yet. Yes, there is <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/david-tomasek-role-with-oilers">Tomasek</a> and Leppanen, but Maxim Beryozkin is the player I have the most confidence in playing NHL games for some duration.

He's a right-shot winger. That checks a box. He's 6'4" and 215 pounds. That checks a box. He loves to play physically and is very good along the walls. Check again. He also has strong offensive skills. Check! The other notable, and maybe most important element, the young man loves to play in high-stakes games. Last year, he broke out in the KHL playoffs, finishing third in scoring. This season, he is 12th in scoring with nine points in nine games. However, on a points per game basis, he is seventh as his team has only played nine games.

Now I know a lot of people are talking about the goal he scored yesterday and it is sublime. However, the play I want to highlight is this assist from last week again. This is an NHL style of play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgNKmiUFg-4

He loves to go to the net and he loves to engage players physically. For those who have watched him all season, you can see that he is really starting to understand how difficult he is to handle. Remember, the ice surface he is playing on allows players to avoid contact. That is very tough to do on an NHL surface. Beryozkin relishes physical play and that is a plus.

Now, here is the goal. There is one thing I want to highlight other than the immense skill. Look at his skating. I still don't really understand where the concern with his skating came from. I know I've made comments that it is average, but that means it is NHL average. It is not poor by any stretch. He will not have any issues getting around the rink. The play itself is world-class offensive skill. Great hands. Great patience. Great shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IivZgQhgKw0

Maxim Beryozkin can play in Edmonton, I believe. Whether the Oilers can sign the player out of Russia is the only question.
<h2>News and Notes</h2>
Matt Copponi signed his ATO and came to Bakersfield. He got into three games and was noticeable in all three. He is a high-energy player who definitely shows some good skill. He ended the season with two assists in those three games. Here is a clip of his second assist that definitely shows skill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo1uPdlmuz0

Copponi still needs to be signed by the Oilers before August 15, 2025, in order for his rights to be maintained. He has shown the Oilers enough signs that I think it would be worth the contract.

Dalyn Wakely, another right-shot center, continues to have an impressive playoff run. In the 10 games to date, he is 6-12-18 with 35 shots on net. This is the Dalyn Wakely that I am sure the Oilers thought they were signing. He is hard to play against. He plays physical and a little greasy. His Colts team plays game six tonight with a chance to close out the series.

That's it for this week. As always, send me your thoughts here or on the X to @bcurlock. Have a great week and Happy Easter.

Oilers Prospect Report: Make Them Uncomfortable

Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse slashes Dallas Stars Roope Hintz

Ask Dubey: Talking Oilers vs. Stars, unusual pre-game routines, and Darnell Nurse’s slash

Stars’ Roope Hintz confirms Oilers’ Darnell Nurse’s slash broke his foot

Edmonton Oilers Troy Stecher fights Sean Couturier

Recent articles from Bruce Curlock

Breaking News