The Blues announced Tuesday that they’ve sent unsigned 2023 fifth-round pick Paul Fischer and a 2028 third-round pick to the Oilers in exchange for future considerations. The swap immediately follows the Blues’ successful acquisition of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from Edmonton via offer sheets.
Fischer, 19, is a solid pickup for the Oilers, who presumably acquired him as a sweetener not to match St. Louis’ offer for either player. The left-shot defenseman is decently sized at 6’1″ and 201 lbs and is coming off a promising freshman outing at Notre Dame, where he contributed more offense than expected with 16 points in 34 games.
While he projects as a stay-at-home defender if he ever cracks an NHL lineup, Fischer does have good instincts with the puck. Those were apparent with his 14 assists last year, which tied for third on the Fighting Irish.
Fischer was a solid value for the Blues with the No. 138 pick last year. TSN’s Craig Button had him inside the top 100 of his rankings, and NHL Central Scouting pegged him as the No. 58 North American skater in the class.
The Oilers have until Aug. 15, 2027, to sign Fischer to his entry-level contract before his exclusive signing rights expire. After Broberg’s departure, he immediately becomes one of the better options in a paper-thin pool of left-shot defense prospects in Edmonton.