London Knights Update: Forward Will Nicholl underwent successful surgery for an upper-body injury earlier this summer. His expected recovery time is 4-6 months.
Last year, Nicholl was ranked 23rd among Oilers prospects by the Cult of Hockey, but this year he’s moved up to 9th.
Top Oilers prospect writer Bruce Curlock shared his thoughts: “It’s unfortunate for a player who was showing great potential after the draft. Hopefully, this surgery addresses the issue that seemed to have started after Christmas, which he continued to play through.”
Curlock also ranked Nicholl 8th in his updated list, adding, “Nicholl has the confidence with the puck, a fast pace, excellent puck skills, and a good finish. He combines those attributes with a strong commitment to responsible play.”
- Nicholl was selected by Edmonton in the 7th round of the 2024 draft, but earlier this year, he was playing like a higher-round pick before his production slowed in the second half of the season, likely due to this injury.
- Before the draft, Elite Prospects highlighted Nicholl’s game by saying: “He’s a forward who plays with relentless speed, attention to detail, and flashes of elite offensive ability. He excels in winning positioning battles in all situations: around the net, along the boards, backchecking, and even in open ice. His physicality allows him to beat defenders and get in prime shooting positions.”
- Mark Henry from Dobber Hockey also gave his take: “Nicholl is an explosive center who uses his speed to create scoring chances and isn’t afraid to mix it up physically. He projects as a bottom-six forward. In 2024-2025, he took a big step forward, helping the London Knights advance toward a Memorial Cup Championship. With 21 goals and 36 assists in 66 games, his offensive output came as a surprise, especially after scoring just six goals in 65 games the year before. That he was able to make such an impact on a strong team without much power-play time makes him an exciting player to watch. Nicholl is expected to be a physical, two-way bottom-six player, but his ability to score could increase his visibility and fantasy value.”
