The Oilers Have a Sixth-Round Pick Worth Keeping an Eye On

Every once in a while, an NHL prospect starts doing something that makes you take a second look. That's happening with Edmonton Oilers prospect Dalyn Wakely, who is putting together a very good sophomore season at UMass-Lowell.

Wakely scored a goal and added an assist in a 5-4 win over Union College on Friday. That brings his season totals to three goals and 10 assists in 11 games. Those are pretty good numbers for a player who recorded seven goals and 12 assists in 35 games during his freshman season.

Wakely’s Development Has Been a Steady Climb.

The interesting thing about Wakely is that his development has been a steady climb. Edmonton selected him in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in the 2024 NHL Draft. He's a six-foot-one centre from Port Hope, Ontario, and he wasn't exactly an overnight scoring sensation.

In his first OHL season with North Bay, he put up 34 points in 67 games. The following season, he improved to 49 points. Then came a big jump in 2023-24, when he scored 39 goals and added 65 assists for 104 points in 66 games. He followed that with 58 points in 55 games with the Barrie Colts before moving on to college hockey.

His first season at UMass-Lowell produced 19 points in 35 games. That was a respectable start, but his current pace suggests he could nearly double that production this season. The early numbers are certainly encouraging.

Is Wakely Becoming a Prospect Worth Watching?

What I find interesting is that Wakely isn’t simply a player who had one big offensive season. He's continued to produce as he's moved through different levels of hockey. That's worth watching, especially because he was a late-round selection and isn’t one of the Edmonton prospects talked about every day.

There is still a long way to go. A good college season doesn't automatically translate into an NHL opportunity, and Wakely still has to show what he can do against stronger competition. But he's giving the Oilers something to follow.

Edmonton is always looking for young players who can eventually contribute without requiring a major investment to acquire them. Wakely is still a prospect, not a sure thing. But if he keeps producing at this rate, he may become a more interesting name in the organization's pipeline.

For Oilers fans, that's reason enough to keep an eye on him.