3 Oilers Rookies to Watch in Next Gen Showcase

The Edmonton Oilers will take on the host Calgary Flames in the Next Gen Showcase at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday at 6 p.m. MT. Fans can watch the game on the Oilers+ streaming service.

Both teams will ice lineups comprised entirely of players attending their respective Rookie Camps. Edmonton opened its rookie camp at Rogers Place on Friday (Sept. 11), with 14 forwards, seven defenceman and four goaltenders reporting.

The exhibition game provides a final opportunity at making an impression for Oilers Rookies as they look to earn an invite to Main Camp. Here are five Oilers players to watch when the puck drops from Calgary on Monday night.

Beau Akey

Three years ago, an 18-year-old Beau Akey was one of the standouts at Oilers Rookie Camp. The defenceman, who Edmonton had taken 56^th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, showed a ton of promise with his play during the Young Stars Classic exhibition tournament.

But only a couple months later, Akey was seriously hurt while playing with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He required surgery on both of his shoulders, which sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023-24 OHL season, and it seems like he’s being playing catch-up ever since.

Akey’s start to his pro career last season was delayed by injury. He didn’t play until November, first spending four games with the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL on a conditioning stint, before joining the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League. The six-foot blueliner would go on to appear in 42 games with the Condors, totalling two goals and eight assists, while ranking third on the team with a plus-12 rating.

Now that Akey is hopefully fully healthy going into camp, he’ll get a chance to show what he can really do. Edmonton’s needs on the blueline are no less than they were three years ago when Akey first had fans buzzing and now may finally be when he realizes the potential that the Oilers saw on Draft Day in 2023.

Rudolfs Berzkalns

Monday will be the first time playing a game in an Oilers jersey for centre Rudolfs Berzkalns, who was the first player Edmonton selected in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, at No. 58 overall.

A native of Cesis, Latvia, Berzkalns totalled 13 goals and 12 assists in 48 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in the 2025-26 season. He added 10 points in 16 postseason games, helping Muskegon capture the Clark Cup championship.

Standing six-foot-four and weighing well over 200 pounds, Berzkalns is regarded for his ability to play in all three zones. The 18-year-old drew comparisons to current Oilers winger Zach Hyman when he was drafted.

Oilers Rookie Camp is just the beginning of what should be a massive season for the power forward. He was originally expected to join the Boston College NCAA Division 1 men’s hockey team, but is instead returning for one more season in Muskegon, where he will serve as captain of the Lumberjacks as they look to defend the Clark Cup.  He’s also a lock to be part of the Latvian team that will compete at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, which takes place Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027.

Zach Bookman

What’s Rookie Camp without a good underdog story? Defenceman Zach Bookman checks just about all the boxes to qualify for such.

He’s one of the smallest (standing five-foot-11) and oldest (turning 25 next spring) players in camp, and one of a handful that wasn’t drafted into the NHL. Bookman’s journey to get to this stage is a study in steadfastness.

A native of Syracuse, NY. Bookman moved to the other side of the continent to play for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He spent two seasons with the Bandits, and in 2021-22 was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top Defenceman while helping Brooks capture the AJHL championship.

From there he went to Merrimack College, where he played three seasons of NCAA Division 1 hockey with the men’s hockey team, earning nomination for the Hobey Baker Award in 2023-24 and 2024-25. He transferred to Western Michigan University for his senior year and registered 18 points in 38 games in 2025-26.

In April he signed an ECHL contract with the Komets and made his pro debut, suiting up for two regular season games and four playoff contests. Now he finds himself back in Alberta, as one of only five players attending Oilers Rookie Camp on invite this year.

Following Monday’s game, Oilers Main Camp is scheduled to open Tuesday. Edmonton plays its first game of the 2026 preseason on Saturday (Sept. 19).