Oilers Forward Prospect Surprising Hidden Gem

EDMONTON -- Power forwards are a dying breed.

The Edmonton Oilers have had their share of that kind of player on their team. The likes of Milan Lucic, Pat Maroon, and now Evander Kane are all members of this class of forwards.

This past draft, the Oilers selected a player who could fill that mold and still bring offense to the table. Connor Clattenburg is that player.

Clattenburg is a tough customer, and the Oilers snagged him with a fifth-round draft pick. His leadership, gamesmanship, and the organization's belief in him make him a hidden gem in their prospect pipeline.

Connor Clattenburg Is A Leader For His Team

Not every prospect who plays for an NHL organization is a leader. Teams don't need every player to be a leader, in the official sense of the word, but wearing a letter for your team doesn't hurt.

Clattenburg is the captain of the OHL's Flint Firebirds. He joined the organization partway through last year's campaign. While he didn't earn a letter last year, the organization saw his character off the ice and what he brings on the ice and decided that he was their guy.

Those are the players you want on your NHL team.

He's Scoring At A Career Pace

The 6-foot-4 and 195 lbs forward is on pace for a career year. In 18 games this season, he has 13 points. Last year, he finished the season with 29 points in 60 games.

If the youngster continues producing at his current 0.72 points per game pace, he will finish the year with 43 points.

Clattenburg is currently riding a four-game point streak. He has four points in that span, three of which are goals. He has good hands around the net and an uncanny ability to tuck pucks past goalies on his backhand.

The Oilers Are Excited About Him

The Oilers' Director of Amateur Scouting spoke highly of Clattenburg at the conclusion of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, highlighting all the elements the young forward brings to the Oilers.

"That was a player who brings something different to our organization," Rick Pracey revealed. "He plays this game hard. He's thick, he's strong, he's competitive. He was a development event player. He got traded to Flint and just took off."

"He's an exciting player for us."

It's clear the Oilers see something with Clattenburg. His combination of size, untapped skill, leadership off the ice, and competitive level are all valuable assets they want to develop and further exploit.

If everything goes right for Clattenburg, he could be part of a new wave of power forwards in the NHL.

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