Edmonton Oilers Vying To Sign KHL Free Agent, Team Leading Scorer This Season

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Liam McCormick
November 29, 2024 (5:21 PM)

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Edmonton Oilers prospect Maxim Berezkin scored his first professional hat trick in the KHL yesterday, securing his team leading point totals - and now the Oilers have the task of getting him to Edmonton.

Berezkin is having a breakout offensive year in his age 23 season, which is an especially impressive feat in the KHL that's a low-scoring league that favours veterans.

The Edmonton Oilers drafted Maxim Berezkin in the fifth round of the 2020 Draft, and he's continued his development in Russia since then.

Alan Mitchell recently detailed Berezkin's scouting report, and reported that the Oilers will make a full press to sign the Russian power forward, who is likely an NHL ready talent.

[Berezkin] owns a power-forward skill set, is 22 years old, 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, wins board battles and is likely the most�NHL-ready unsigned forward in Edmonton's system."
- Alan Mitchell, The Athletic

Berezkin has played over 200 professional level games already in his young career, making him primed to step into the NHL now.

Edmonton's never had a good history successfully drafting and developing prospects from the KHL, but that could begin to change with Berezkin and Stan Bowman.

Unlike anyone in the Oilers organization, Bowman has had great success identifying and signing Russian talent. Hopefully, Bowman's history will help in the signing of Berezkin.

However, if Edmonton can't get a deal down with the KHL budding star, they could potentially trade his rights at this year's trade deadline.

Berezkin is slated to become a free agent this spring after the conclusion of the KHL season, and that will be the Oilers window to bring him to North America. If not, he'll likely just stay in the KHL.