Edmonton Oilers prospect Owen Michaels seeks to carve out role in his first pro year

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeSportsHockeyNHLEdmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers prospect Owen Michaels seeks to carve out role in his first pro year “The Oilers are in a win-now mode with McDavid and Draisaitl but if you can carve out a bit of a role, all you really want is a chance. This felt like a great opportunity" Author of the article: By Jim Matheson Published Sep 14, 2026 5 minute read Join the conversation Owen Michaels (27) takes part in the Edmonton Oilers 2026 development camp on June 30, 2026. Michaels, will be looking to earn a spot in a bottom-six role with the Oilers this season. PHOTO BY DAVID BLOOM /Postmedia Article content When Johnny Gaudreau was in college in Boston his major for three years was communications but there was hockey to be played and the late winger did it handsomely for 800 NHL games. Article content Nobody’s saying Owen Michaels, also a communications major at a college in Western Michigan, will ever be as good as Gaudreau. His play spoke volumes. But the high-end university centre Michaels is also putting his media training on hold to give the NHL a shot with the Edmonton Oilers. Article content Article content Article content It’s a tall task trying to make the Oilers as a centre in this win-now window with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as the best 1-2 in hockey, if they’re apart and not linemates, along with veteran two-way pivot Jason Dickinson signed to a five-year deal in the No. 3 hole. Article content Oil Spills Essential Oilers news, insight, opinion and analysis. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content But, Michaels, the former captain at Western Michigan, who chose the Oilers as a free-agent last spring, and another ex NCAA player/free-agent Quinn Hutson, who did the same and had 63 points in Bakersfield last year in his first full year of pro, are the best two prospect forwards in the Oilers sytem if AHLer Ike Howard makes the team. Article content The clock’s ticking for both Michaels and Hutson, because they’re already 24 and turning 25 in a few months. But, Michaels is a right-shot centre, which gives him a leg up on an Oilers team heavy on lefties. Article content And Michaels, a college teammate of Philadelphia Flyers forward Alex Bump and Anaheim’s Tim Washe had 62 points in his last…