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Oilers’ Bold Trade Signals Major Shift to Hard-Hitting Gameplay
The Edmonton Oilers traded prospects Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson on Monday, effectively flushing the front half of the team’s 2021 draft haul.
The return from Ottawa, winger Roby Jarventie and a fourth-round selection in 2025, offers more proof that the organization feels a need to add size and aggression to the pro talent pool.
Since Jeff Jackson took over in the summer of 2023, the Oilers’ procurement features an edge not seen previously.
Sam O’Reilly, Edmonton’s first-round selection at the 2024 draft, brings size, skill and a relentless style to every shift.
That’s the template for Jackson’s Oilers.
Here’s a look at the trade and what the organization may be hoping to accomplish with the new focus.
Bourgault’s offence
Edmonton’s 2021 first-round selection had a difficult time scoring at even strength. When he was on the ice, especially as a rookie, the Bakersfield Condors were a success. In his two AHL seasons, the Condors were 61-47 in even-strength goals (56 percent) and there’s no doubt he was successful in breaking up plays early and sending the puck in a good direction.
Bakersfield was scoring when he was on the ice, but Bourgault was well shy of expectations.
As a scorer at even strength, he delivered 31 even-strength points in 117 AHL games, which is 0.26 points per game over two seasons.
Dylan Holloway, Edmonton’s 2020 first-round selection, scored 17 even-strength points in his first 45 games (0.38 points per game) and then blossomed in his third year (12 points at even strength in 18 games).
Additionally, Holloway’s range of skills allowed him an NHL opportunity that he has capitalized on. Holloway is looking at a long and productive NHL career; Bourgault has already reached a crossroads.
Bourgault’s size and style
Bourgault is listed as 6-feet and 180 pounds, but he’s a small forward for the pro game. His inability to win board battles was an issue, his real skills (he turned over pucks with anticipation and intelligent positioning on the forecheck) on the ice didn’t have enough impact to earn increased ice time.
The truth is most of the Condors’ young wingers were exposed during the last two seasons. The organization has now traded Bourgault, Chiasson and Tyler Tullio since the end of the season, and walked Carter Savoie, leaving only Matvey Petrov (one year into his pro career) and graduating juniors James Stefan and Brady Stonehouse.
The organization no doubt reached the conclusion that Bourgault’s lack of size and ability to outmuscle opponents for the puck was enough of an issue to send him away.
The Senators are getting a struggling prospect who was a dandy offensive forward in junior. The organization will need to find Bourgault’s game in the next couple of years.
The pandemic on some young players may have an impact, and the second chance in Ottawa for Bourgault could prove fruitful for player and organization.
The trade by Edmonton was a clear indication the organization was ready to move on after just two seasons of pro hockey. That is a historically rare thing, as teams ordinarily give their top picks many chances to succeed.
Jarventie’s offence
The Senators forward has enjoyed more success in the AHL. Through 136 games with the Belleville Senators, he has scored 38 goals and 86 points. That projects as a middle-six forward, suggesting Jarventie will land on a third or fourth line should he have an NHL career.
He was more successful than Bourgault as a power-play shooter (18 goals to eight) and shot the puck more often, averaging two shots per game in the AHL.
His size and skill give him more chances to be around the puck and impact the play. There’s no doubt he is the best prospect in the deal.
Jarventie’s size and style
Jarventie is a bigger man (listed at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds on the AHL site) and comes with a more NHL-ready playing style. He can play centre or wing and is a good passer who also possesses a plus shot.
He has developed more since his draft day than Bourgault.
All of this sounds encouraging, but there are injury issues and that could turn this trade on its ear in the coming years. In February 2024, after an extended period of trying to play through the injury, Jarventie underwent knee surgery. It had been a problem going back a couple of seasons.
There is risk on both sides, and there’s a chance Oilers fans will spend more time observing the draft pick over the next decade than the young player Edmonton received in this deal.
It’s also possible one or both sides get nothing at all from the trade in terms of NHL games.
Bottom line
Bourgault may be the big winner in the deal, as he landed with a team that wants him and believes he can develop.
The deal puts an end to a wildly frustrating time for Bakersfield’s young wingers.
As a group, they could not find the range offensively over the last two seasons. Perhaps a different offensive look will give Bourgault a chance to wheel and have success.
Here’s a look at even-strength scoring by Edmonton’s prospect wingers over the last two seasons.
Dylan Holloway
30
19
0.63
Tyler Tullio
117
40
0.34
Xavier Bourgault
117
31
0.26
Carter Savoie
107
26
0.24
Matvey Petrov
53
12
0.23
Only Holloway built a resume that suggests an NHL career.
There are fans who blame the coaching staff, and the great unknown is the impact of the pandemic on individual players.
For Bakersfield fans, there’s a new crop of youngsters on the way. Stefan and Stonehouse may be joined by Matt Savoie, an impact junior who will see plenty of feature time should he land in the minors this fall.
There’s also Noah Philp, who fits the template of the Jackson Oilers more closely than Bourgault. An older prospect with size, Philp may be able to help the team’s young wingers this winter.
Jarventie is the latest prospect added to a growing list of new-look forwards heading to Bakersfield.
The wildest possible positive outcome would see Jarventie spike in an Oilers uniform in a way similar to Klim Kostin, whose 2022-23 season with Edmonton lives in infamy among the fan base because of his effectiveness.
Kostin was dispatched soon after due to cap constraints, but the organization has Jarventie earlier in the process and he is under control and carries an easily managed cap number.
Jarventie is the best player in the deal. If he’s healthy, the Oilers win this trade even if Bourgault takes a couple of steps forward.
The string of impressive procurement transactions delivered during the period the Oilers have been without a general manager is likely to be discussed for years to come.
With the media avail to introduce the next general manager imminent, the job for the new hire gets more difficult with each smashing trade or signing in the Jackson window.
It’s been quite a summer in Edmonton.
