Oilers News: Tough Break For Oilers As Top 5 Prospect Signs Overseas for Next Season

The Edmonton Oilers have been handed a tough break this week, as one of their top 5 prospects, set to be an RFA this summer coming off his entry-level contract, has decided to sign overseas for next season. 22-year-old Roby Järventie had risen to the No. 4 spot on the Edmonton Oilers' list of top prospects this season, despite playing only two games with Bakersfield of the AHL due to knee injuries.

But the talented 6-foot-3 forward will not be signing a new contract to stay with the Oilers, and instead will take his skills back home to Finland, signing with Tappara Tampere in the Finnish League.

Edmonton had acquired the rising prospect from the Ottawa Senators last summer in a trade for Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson, after he posted 20 points in 22 games with Belleville of the AHL, and got a 7-game taste of life in the NHL with the Senators.

Roby Järventie with the quick 1-timer to put the Sens up 1-0! 🚨 #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/qbpENCykWX
— Martian (@LalimesMartian) September 25, 2023

The knee injuries had already begun to take their toll in his last two seasons while he was with the Sens organization, and limited him to just two games this year.

A smooth skater with an excellent shot, he was expected to develop into a middle-six scoring winger with the Oilers.

Järventie was the Senators' second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (33rd overall). It remains to be seen if the Oilers will still make him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights as an RFA.