william nicholl has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced Wednesday (ET). The deal is set to begin in the 2026-27 season and comes while the London Knights forward is still competing in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. The signing follows a marked jump in production after Nicholl was selected in the seventh round, 196th overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Key details of the deal and timing
The Oilers have locked Nicholl into a three-year entry-level contract that will formally start in 2026-27. The announcement was made Wednesday (ET) while Nicholl remains active with the London Knights, who are facing the Soo Greyhounds in a first-round series where London trailed 3-0 and was fighting to stay alive on the same night. The forward’s immediate availability to the NHL will begin after the contract’s start season, per the team’s roster and contract framework.
William Nicholl: season and junior resume
Nicholl, an Ottawa native and a left-shot forward, returned from offseason upper-body surgery to make his season debut on New Year’s Eve and produced 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points in 32 games this season with the London Knights. Over four OHL regular seasons and 168 games with London, he has totaled 43 goals and 62 assists for 105 points. In postseason play he has added further contributions, with 17 points in 38 playoff games so far.
His development included a breakout 2024-25 campaign in which he set career highs with 21 goals, 36 assists and 57 points in 66 games, finishing fifth on the Knights in scoring. Earlier, Nicholl was a standout with the St. Thomas Stars of the Greater Ontario Hockey League, posting 64 points in 43 games during the 2022-23 season and earning that league’s rookie of the year honors.
Reactions and immediate implications
The Edmonton club announced the signing while the Knights’ playoff push continued. The move secures a drafted prospect who has shown the ability to rebound from injury and produce at the junior level. The London Knights’ recent success at the team level included winning an OHL Championship and capturing the Memorial Cup in franchise history, with Nicholl contributing in both regular and postseason play during his tenure with the club.
What’s next
With the contract beginning in 2026-27, the immediate focus for william nicholl is finishing the current OHL playoff run and any postseason commitments with London. The Oilers will monitor his recovery, development and transition to professional play as the entry-level deal approaches activation. Expect roster evaluations, development planning and further communication from the Edmonton organization as timelines firm up ahead of the 2026-27 season.
