Welcome to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s countdown of the top 20 prospects in the Edmonton Oilers system.

We’re on to our second player in the mini four-skater tier from the top 20 that I found incredibly close and hard to rank: Viljami Marjala. I was going through some old game notes from the 2020-21 season, and there were a few games from the Finnish forward during his time in the QMJHL before he ever turned pro.

#7: Viljami Marjala

Age: 23

Position: C

Shoots: Left

Nationality: Finland

Date of Birth: Jan. 29, 2003

Drafted: 2021, fifth round, 159th overall (Buffalo Sabres)

Height and weight: 6-foot-1 / 176 lbs.

2025-26 stats (AHL):

Contract status: Year two of two, $947,500 cap hit.

Marjala played in 30 games during the COVID-shortened season, in which he scored five goals and finished with 27 points. That was enough to warrant a draft pick from the Buffalo Sabres, and in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL draft, Marjala heard his name called. The Sabres draft pick returned to Quebec for another season with the Remparts; however, it was a step back for Marjala, as he scored only 13 goals and notched 46 points in 68 games.

The following season, Marjala returned home to Finland and joined the TPS organization, starting with their under-20 team in the U20 SM-sarja league. Marjala started to find his mojo again, scoring 18 goals with 51 points in 32 games throughout the 2022-23 season. The smart centre was called up to TPS’ main squad for 15 games, where he scored four goals and nine points. For a 19-to-20-year-old player, those are some very intriguing numbers. After receiving the initial call-up, TPS’ young star never looked back.

The 2023-24 season was Marjala’s first full season in a professional league, and it was another impressive showing. He appeared in 60 games with 17 goals and 40 points, but the 2024-25 season is when Marjala made a name for himself. In 54 games, the Finnish star scored only eight goals but had 44 assists and put Marjala in a tie for first place in team scoring with 52 points. The Buffalo Sabres chose not to sign Marjala, and ultimately they lost his rights on June 1, 2025. About six days later, the Edmonton Oilers made it official that Marjala would sign his two-year entry-level contract with the organization and that he would play the 2025-26 season with the Bakersfield Condors.

How has Viljami Marjala performed in his return to North........

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