It’s not likely that anyone had David Tomasek circled as the Edmonton Oilers camp storyline to watch.
A 29-year-old Czech import who was signed in April to a one-year, $1.2 million contract – just a hair above the NHL’s buriable limit of $1.15 million – Tomasek was supposed to be a depth piece. Sure, he led the Swedish Hockey League in scoring last season, with 24 goals and 33 assists in 47 games for Färjestad BK, but expectations were that Tomasek would be little more than a versatile forward who could be in the mix for bottom-six minutes at center and winger.
However, through a few short weeks, Tomasek has turned that perception on its head, and now the whispers are growing louder: could he be the guy skating next to Connor McDavid when the puck drops on opening night?
Tomasek isn’t the typical training camp darling. He’s not a fresh draft pick or a blue-chip prospect making the leap. Instead, he’s a player who spent years grinding across European leagues, carving out a reputation in the Czech Extraliga and KHL before opening eyes in Sweden and landing a one-year deal with the Oilers.
“I can say that I feel the best I’ve ever felt in my career, and I can still improve,” he said in a Hockey News interview earlier this month, a simple but telling line from a player who knows how fleeting NHL opportunities can be.
David Tomasek Impresses Edmonton Coaches With Shooting Ability, Versatility
At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Tomasek brings size, but it’s his hockey IQ and ability to put the puck on net that have earned him early praise.
“He can shoot the puck,” said Oilers general manager Stan Bowman. “I’m not surprised that he led the Swedish League in goalscoring. He’s got a knack for getting open. He’s got the ability to get the puck off his stick quickly and in the net, so I think that’s an intriguing option for us.”
Edmonton’s camp has been defined by battles for jobs on the wings, and Tomasek has been a surprise standout. His ability to push pace, protect the puck, and make smart reads has turned heads, especially in scrimmages alongside the Oilers’ top stars.
Local reporters have noted his knack for keeping plays alive in the offensive zone, exactly the kind of connective tissue a superstar like McDavid thrives on. It’s not about Tomasek being the finisher — it’s about whether he can think the game quickly enough to let No. 97 do his thing. So far, the answer looks like yes.
The fact that Tomasek is even getting looks on the top line says plenty. Edmonton has cycled through a revolving door of wingers alongside McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in recent years, searching for the perfect blend of skill, speed, and complementary play.
The Oilers don’t need Tomasek to suddenly morph into a 30-goal scorer. What they need is a forward who won’t get lost at McDavid’s warp speed, who can win puck battles, and who can finish just enough chances to keep defenses honest. Tomasek has shown glimpses of all three.
One Oilers Nation piece suggested that “reasonable expectations” for him this year might be modest depth production. But camps like this force recalibration. If Tomasek can be the latest example of a “found money” signing, Edmonton’s already elite top six could become even more dangerous.
David Tomasek Could Provide Oilers With Valuable, Low-Cost Secondary Scoring
The Oilers’ Stanley Cup window is wide open, with McDavid and Draisaitl in their primes and the team reshaping around a deeper supporting cast. Integrating a hungry veteran like Tomasek could be one of those subtle moves that pays off come playoff time.
Even if he doesn’t stick on the top line all year, his ability to move up and down the lineup, eat minutes, and chip in secondary scoring makes him a valuable piece. That versatility is exactly what Bowman had in mind when he signed him.
For Tomasek, this isn’t just about hockey. It’s about finally proving he belongs on the NHL stage after nearly a decade of waiting for the call. His first impressions of Edmonton have been glowing.
“Edmonton is an excellent organization,” he said. “They’ve been to the Stanley Cup finals the last two years, they have two of the best players in the world… It’s a small reward for the work I’ve put in, and something new to motivate me.”
That kind of perspective matters in a locker room full of stars chasing a championship. He’s not just here to take a job; he’s here to make the most of it, wherever the coaches put him.
Is David Tomasek going to be Connor McDavid’s full-time linemate? That’s still a long shot. But the fact that we’re even asking the question after a few weeks of camp speaks volumes. At minimum, he’s pushed himself from afterthought to roster lock, and at best, he could be Edmonton’s next great find — the kind of overlooked talent who rides shotgun with the best player in the world.
And in Edmonton’s current Cup-or-bust era, that’s the kind of story worth keeping an eye on.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Unknown Import Shocks Oilers Camp With Push for McDavid’s Wing appeared first on Heavy Sports.