In a possible move that no one saw coming, Asher Barnett, a late-round pick, could be the Oilers' next hidden gem on defence to play some NHL games in the future. The 2025 NHL Draft left the Edmonton Oilers with not very many picks to use, something that is standard with <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/stanley-cup/bleacher-report-2026-stanley-cup-contenders-ranking-oilers-and-jets-land-in-surprising-positions' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>a team gunning for the Stanley Cup</a>. But even in later rounds, finding undervalued skillsets can pay dividends. While top-100 picks are generally full of offensive upside, defense is still a very important aspect of the game today. That's where fifth-round pick Asher Barnett is filling in. Not included on Oilersnation's Top 10 Prospect Rankings, Asher Barnett is not one of the team's more highly touted prospects, but he does have some things about him. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1958878215231209788'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Putting up 11 goals and 17 assists in 79 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program, and six points at the U18 World Championships, scoring isn't Barnett's forte; defence is. <h3>Barnett's Game is Comparable to That of Mattias Ekholm</h3> Barnett's game is a duplicate of Mattias Ekholm's in that neither makes an impressive first glance, but both are excellent at close-out speed, closing down opponents prior to being capable of making plays. <a href='https://oilersnation.com/news/real-life-podcast-tylers-ace-race-planning-for-next-year-and-the-oilersnation-open' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Barnett excels in closing off defenders with quick feet</a>, sound positioning, and sound retrieval tendencies. Where Barnett struggles is handling the puck under pressure. His passing and skating through tight areas need refinement, as well as his two-step acceleration. Shoring up those items will be the key to unleashing his NHL potential. Already standing 6-foot and 200 pounds, Barnett is a good shutdown guy. He'll wear the Michigan University uniform next season, with the Oilers keeping a close eye. As a late-round pick, Barnett will likely not be a star, but he does have a real shot to carve out an NHL role with his defensive foundation. If he is able to polish his puck skills, Edmonton may have found another gem on the blueline.