Damien Carfagna (73) takes part in the Edmonton Oilers 2026 development camp, Tuesday June 30, 2026. Photo by David Bloom Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

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23 years old, 5-11, 170 lbs., signed as a free college agent March 2025

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It’s impressive how much more reliable Damien Carfagna was than other d-men on the Bakersfield Condors last year, at least if you put any weight on goals plus-minus.

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Carfagna, an AHL rookie at age 22 in 2025-26, was +18 on the Condors. The next best d-man was Carfagna’s partner Beau Akey at +12, then veteran Josh Brown at +2. Every other d-man was in minus territory.

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You might think that such superlative from Carfagna would push him to the top of most Oilers prospect rankings, but not to be, mainly for three reasons. First, Carfagna is now 23, so he’s old for a prospect, after grinding it out for years in the USHL and US college ranks. Second, Carfagna is small for a pro player, sometimes listed at 6-feet, other times at 5-11. And, third, for a smaller pro prospects, Carfagna is not an offensive demon. There are very few under 6-feet primarily defensive d-men in the NHL.

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Most of the smaller d-men are established or aspiring offensive aces at the NHL level, players like Lane and Cole Hutson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Jamie Drysdale, Denton Mateychuk, Rasmus Sandin, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jordan Spence, Sam Malinski, Olen Zellwegger.

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But there are a handful of similar players to Carfagna, lower rated players in their draft years with massive hockey IQs, solid skating and passing skills and aggressive defensive tactics, who have stuck in the NHL, namely Jared Spurgeon, Alexandre Carrier, Matt Grzelcyk, Samuel Girard, Nick Blankenburg and Troy Stecher.

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So I’m sayin’ there’s a chance for Carfagna, he of the quick boots and big hockey brain.

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In a 2020 interview, Carfagna spelled out the strengths of his game to a University of New Hampshire hockey blog: “My skating ability is what has gotten me this far in my hockey career. My feet help me get of trouble and create plays. I also feel that I do a good job at breaking out and regrouping the puck. I also have worked hard to study the game and I think I make good decisions. The thing that I have to improve on most would be my shot, which is accurate but needs to get heavier, but I believe that will come with getting stronger off the ice.”

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Carfagna was brought onto the Oilers by GM Stan Bowman as he shifted to a backend manned by superior puck movers. As the Cult’s Bruce McCurdy wrote on March 31, 2025, the day Carfagna was signed out of Ohio State: “According to insider Bob Stauffer, host of Oilers Now, ‘Slight philosophical shift with Stan Bowman as GM of the Oilers.Organization looking for smart, competitive D that can move the puck and make plays.'”

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Smart hockey observers, such as The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell, Cult of Hockey contributor Ira Cooper, and Oilers prospect guru Bruce Curlock, who watched Carfagna regularly last season, have certainly come away with strong, positive impressions of the player, even glowing reviews.