Done Deal: Oilers’ signs Portland winter hawks’ forward.

EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward James Stefan from the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks to a three-year entry-level contract.

The 20-year-old has tallied career highs in goals (48), assists (51) and points (99) through 64 games this WHL season, potting three hat tricks and recording 33 multi-point efforts.

The right-shooting Laguna Beach, California native currently ranks fifth in goals in the WHL and ninth in points. Through 251 career games with Portland, Stefan has recorded 109 goals and 145 assists for 254 points.

Stefan was invited to attend Rookie Camp with the Ottawa Senators this past September.

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Edmonton Oilers’ Zach Hyman eying 50th goal against former Maple Leafs team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t let a 50-goal scorer slip from their grasp in Zach Hyman.

But they will.

And chances are they might even have a front-row seat to see it when they do.

The Edmonton Oilers forward picked up his 47th and 48th goals of the season in an 8-3 undressing of the Buffalo Sabres at Rogers Place on Thursday, setting up a happy homecoming, of sorts, Saturday when the Oilers visit Scotiabank Arena.

Well, happier for one side than the other, that is.

When the Oilers landed Hyman in free agency in July 2021, they knew they were getting a 20-goal scorer. What Maple Leafs didn’t realize was just how high his potential might reach when they didn’t clear the cap space to bring him back for a seventh season.

As a rookie, Hyman landed in the lap of the Maple Leafs back in 2010. The 123rd-overall draft pick by the Florida Panthers, Hyman declined to sign a contract with them and chose instead to join his hometown team and earn his way up into their ranks by proving himself on the farm with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.