Is the Edmonton Oilers’ current approach at the NHL Draft a sound strategy?

Since Stan Bowman became general manager of the Edmonton Oilers during the 2024 offseason, the team has shifted its drafting philosophy away from elite offensive prospects toward players with strong mobility, puck pursuit, and defensive awareness. The Oilers no longer hold first-round picks and are using later selections on support-type players, exemplified by 2025 fourth-round pick David Lewandowski, who impressed in a one-game stint with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. The article questions whether this revised draft strategy is a sound long-term approach for the franchise.