Welcome to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s countdown of the top 20 prospects in the Edmonton Oilers system.

Into the top five we go with Rudolfs Berzkalns at number four in the countdown.

#4: Rudolfs Berzkalns

Age: 18

Position: C

Shoots: Left

Nationality: Latvia

Date of Birth: March 3, 2008

Drafted: 2026, second round, 58th overall

Height and weight: 6-4 / 203 lbs.

2025-26 stats (USHL):

Contract status: Unsigned

The towering centreman was born in Latvia; however, Berzkalns has played in the United States since he was with the Bishop Kearney Selects AAA under-14 team. The most recent second-rounder has spent the past two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League. Berzkalns will be heading back to Muskegon for his third season, and the Latvian-born centreman has already been named team captain.

The 2024-25 season was Berzkalns’ first with the Lumberjacks; he suited up in 43 games, scoring only five goals and eight points. Born in March, Berzkalns was only 16 for most of his first USHL season. Muskegon wasn’t a bad team; they went on to win 38 of their 62 regular-season games, but in the postseason they beat the Waterloo Black Hawks to win the USHL Championship. Of the 35 players/goalies who played one game for Muskegon in the 2024-25 season, eight of them have been drafted. Berzkalns didn’t suit up in a playoff game, but playing in as many regular-season games as he did is a positive sign.

This past season, Berzkalns played in 48 games, scoring 13 goals and assisting on another 12. That’s a 17-point increase compared to the prior season. After suiting up in zero playoff games the year before, the newest Muskegon captain played in 16 this year, scoring four goals and 10 points. Berzkalns also has a lot of experience with the Latvian national team, as he has been on the World Junior squad since he was 16 years old. I expect him to continue to make the team and continue to improve his role.

I’ve said it with many prospects during this countdown already; however, scoring isn’t the primary focus of Berzkalns’ game. But I do want to start with what I find to be his biggest offensive strength, and that’s his playmaking ability. As a centre, it’s crucial to be able to move the puck around with immense efficiency; it’s why so many centres are labelled as “playmakers”. You see 12 assists in 48 games, and you wonder how........

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