| Oilers sign Owen Michaels from NCAA W. Michigen [message #851227] |
Thu, 02 April 2026 11:25  |
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 welcometotheOC
Messages: 717
Registered: April 2010
Location: Also, sadly, Cowtown
No Cups
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Good size decent points, Frozen 4 MVP, Hobey Baker candidate this year. Promising.
As per Sportsnet
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 6000
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
6 Cups
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This is a write up from a Minnesota Wild blog writer about Michaels
He's in the Fzn4.. you can watch him this weekend.
Western Michigan won it last year.. he was FZN4 MOP
Sounds like his skating is efficient.. but his top gear is suspect.. biggest red flag for me..
Id be looking for above average speed and quickness as a top pre-requisite
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Owen Michaels
Pos: C – Shoots: R – 6-foot-2, 185 pounds – DOB: 5/1/2002 – Team: Western Michigan
Michaels has won 59.9% of faceoffs this season and 57% over his three years at Western Michigan. That right there will be enough to get the attention of the Wild, who seem to perpetually struggle in that department.
The junior captain has had a bit of a down year offensively with 12 goals and 13 assists in 37 games. Part of that is because Western Michigan has asked him to carry a lot of the load defensively for the nation’s 4th-ranked team, and he was a NCHC finalist for Defensive Forward of the Year. He’s second on the team in ice time among forwards and is a major contributor to the NCAA’s seventh-best penalty kill.
Michaels is a smooth, effortless skater with excellent edges, and his lateral crossovers are beautiful to watch. He’s always in control of his body, which enables him to take advantage of his hockey sense and active stick to quickly pick up pucks and be ready to make a play. Michaels will never be a major offensive contributor as a pro, but he has an excellent shot that he can release with power from multiple angles.
He’s skilled and deceptive with the puck on his stick, which causes defenders to back off and give him space to operate and make plays. He’s more calculated than aggressive as an attacker, and there’s a cerebral element to the way he reads plays as they unfold. That type of recognition tends to translate to higher levels.
However, Michaels’ pace could limit him as a pro. He’s efficient as a skater, but his top gear isn’t fast, and he’ll probably have to play within a structure where his other attributes carry more weight. He can be a good complementary forward on a depth scoring or defensive match-up line, but will need time in the AHL to build strength and develop an identity as a pro.
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[Updated on: Thu, 02 April 2026 12:22]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 6000
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
6 Cups
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Bruce Curlock with good write up on Michaels (c/w video clips)
https://bcurlock.substack.com/i/192981198/owen-michaels
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Owen Michaels
Let’s be clear. Michaels is not a replacement for Sam O’Reilly. Yes, he is a right shot center. However, O’Reilly’s overall skill package and age make him a dramatically better prospect. What Michaels is for the Oilers is a prospect who fits an area of need which is right shot center. Michaels is a very smart player who understands how to play system hockey. He is always above the puck and in good spots both defensively and offensively.
While you can see the smarts in his game, you can also see the area of concern: skating. He’s not Jayden Grubbe for certain, but he simply is not a very dynamic skater. Some of it is posture. He gets into a very crouched position and that does not allow for full extension of arms and legs in the stride. He also does not avail himself of the crossover technique very well either.
Again, you can see that his smarts and puck skills allow him to impact in this play, but he is working very hard to do so. Fortunately, skating is an area can improve. Michaels is 24 in a month, so there is still opportunity for him to enhance this element to his game. If he can do that, he has some really good pucks skills to go with his hockey sense.
This is a signing I like for the organization. He likely tops out at a 4C role on an NHL team. That said, it is hard not to be impressed with the success of the development group of the Oilers in the last year. Hutson, Clattenburg, Howard, Carfagna, Jarventie and Samanski have all outperformed. Some of that is part to the work of the coaches and development group in Bakersfield. Michaels has enough fundamentals skills that I believe the team can help him improve his overall game.
i
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[Updated on: Sat, 04 April 2026 15:18]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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Tarkus
Messages: 10
Registered: January 1998
Location: The Speediest of Creeks
No Cups
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Michaels is not an O'Reilly replacement. He is a Philp replacement.
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last.”- Winston Churchill
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