If I could name this portion of the season, it would be “List Season.” The top this and thats are the main diet of hockey discussion online in late August. If forced, I may do my own list of the top lists. 

In saying that, here’s another list to quibble about, an extension of The Athletic’s 23-and-under team pipeline rankings. 

The Edmonton Oilers finished 31st in the league in that one, and the surprise there was that Isaac Howard was fourth in his own’s organization’s ranks, below Matt Savoie, recent second-round pick Rudolfs Berzkalns, and sneaky Team USA riser Asher Barnett. 

The caveat being the list wasn’t just prospects necessarily, but just 23-and-younger players. Cue Macklin Celebrini at No. 1.  

So whatever, there’s a different opinion. Oiler fans are the most likely to overrate Isaac Howard. There’s no point getting bent out of shape about it. The list is meant to generate buzz, etc. 

But Corey Pronman, senior prospects analyst, then did a league-wide 23-and-under players list on Wednesday. A player must be 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2026 to qualify, and he assigns grades to each of the player’s “toolkits.” 

To my genuine surprise, there wasn’t an Oiler on it. Not in the Top 50, the Top 100, or the Top 156 NHLers and prospects he ranks across the 32 teams. That means Matt Savoie is not among the top 156 players below........

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