Stan Bowman has made three trades as the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers and we might already be able to see a pattern emerging.
The first two trades were made as a result of the St. Louis Blues signing restricted free agents Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets. The Oilers acquired former top prospect Vasili Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick and got defenceman Ty Emberson from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Cody Ceci and a third-round pick.
The third trade came after the Oilers opted not to match either offer sheet. They acquired defence prospect Paul Fischer and a third-round pick in 2028 from the Blues in exchange for Future Considerations, which was likely a handshake agreement not to match considering the Oilers had the cap room to keep both players.
Like Emberson, Fischer is a product of the United States National Development Program. Listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds with a left-handed shot, Fischer is described by scouts as a mobile defender who can move the puck up ice quickly and effectively.
Born just outside Chicago in River Forest, Illinois, Fischer played on the U.S. National U17 team in 2021-22 and the U18 team in 2022-23. In his pre-draft season, Fischer scored 27 points over 78 games for the U18 team and helped the United States win gold at the IIHF World U18 Championships in Switzerland.
The Blues selected Fischer with their fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft. Here’s what Elite Prospects’ Draft Guide had to say about him at the time…
“Fischer’s a steady defensive presence, bringing a tight gap, proactive threat elimination, and physicality. He leverages his frame to ride guys out while defending the rush. He doesn’t fall for slips or dangles, and rubs guys out before making a simple but effective exit pass.”
After two seasons with the U.S. Development Program, Fischer joined the University of Notre Dame. In his freshman season with the Fighting Irish, Fischer scored 16 points over 34 games and had a minus-three rating.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, Fischer will take on a more significant role on Notre Dame’s blueline. The team’s top two defenders last year, Drew Bavaro and Ryan Siedem, were both in their fourth and final years of NCAA eligibility and are making the jump to professional hockey in the fall. Fischer is also in the mix to play for the U.S. at the U20 World Juniors this winter.
