Oilers Open New Chapter by Welcoming Three Female Players to Development Camp
Written By Gina Anton
The Edmonton Oilers made franchise history this week, welcoming three women's hockey players to development camp for the first time.Olympic gold medalist Abbey Murphy joined collegiate standouts Chloe Primerano and Caitlin Kraemer on the ice alongside the organization's top NHL prospects.
While development camps are designed to prepare young players for the next level, this year's camp also represented a milestone for the organization. Murphy, Primerano and Kraemer became the first female players ever invited to participate in Edmonton's annual prospect camp, sharing the ice with 24 NHL hopefuls, including all five of the Oilers' selections from the 2026 NHL Draft.
For Murphy, the invitation capped off a whirlwind stretch unlike any other. The 24-year-old forward helped Team USA capture Olympic gold at the 2026 Winter Games before being selected second overall by the Seattle Torrent in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Just weeks later, she found herself wearing an Oilers jersey instead.
"It's a pretty special feeling being here, being a part of the Edmonton Oilers organization, and having this opportunity as one of the few women here and being able to participate with these big boys out here," Murphy said. "It's been pretty fun; they've been nothing but respectful toward us. It's been a blast so far and I'm really grateful for the opportunity."
Murphy arrives in Edmonton after one of the most dominant seasons in NCAA women's hockey. Playing her graduate season at the University of Minnesota, she led the Golden Gophers with 66 points, scoring 40 goals and adding 26 assists in just 31 games before helping the United States defeat Canada in overtime to win Olympic gold.
Primerano and Kraemer brought equally impressive resumes.
Primerano, a 19-year-old defenseman entering her junior season at the University of Minnesota, was among the final cuts for Canada's Olympic roster after previously representing her country at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship.
Kraemer, meanwhile, is coming off a sophomore season at Minnesota Duluth in which she recorded 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 36 games. Internationally, she already owns a place in Hockey Canada's record books as the all-time leading scorer for Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team with 53 points, including 37 goals, in 32 games.
The trio skated alongside Edmonton's top prospects throughout the opening day of camp, gaining valuable experience in an NHL environment while showcasing the continued growth and visibility of the women's game.
Murphy believes the opportunity extends beyond individual development.
"You're skating with some of the best guys in the world," Murphy said. "They're on their own journey and we're on our own journey, too, and to kind of cross paths in a development camp like this is a pretty unique opportunity. I think this is the first time girls have been invited to a development camp, and just to be a part of history like that is pretty fun."
As the lines between the men's and women's games continue to narrow through shared training opportunities, Edmonton's decision to welcome Murphy, Primerano and Kraemer signals another step forward. While each player is pursuing her own professional path, their presence at Oilers development camp showed that elite talent, and the opportunity to develop it, continues to transcend traditional boundaries.
