Oilers Prospect Roby Järventie Signs Two-Year Deal with Swiss Club HC Ambrì-Piotta

Key facts

• Roby Järventie signed a two-year contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League, running through the 2027/2028 season.
• Järventie, 23, was a second-round pick (33rd overall) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
• He recorded 47 points in 61 AHL games for the Bakersfield Condors in 2025-26, plus three NHL games with the Oilers.
• Järventie underwent mid-season knee surgery in 2024-25 and played only two games that season.
• He was traded to the Oilers in summer 2024 in exchange for 2021 first-rounder Xavier Bourgault.
• The Swiss club also extended forward Michael Joly through 2028 and signed Nate Schnarr until 2027/2028.
• Järventie won bronze and silver medals at the U20 World Championships with Finland in 2020 and 2021.

A Promising Career Sidetracked by Injury

Roby Järventie, once ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Ottawa Senators system by Elite Prospects, has signed a two-year contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League, the club announced. The Finnish winger, who turns 24 this summer, had been a restricted free agent after completing a one-year, two-way deal with the Edmonton Oilers that carried a league-minimum NHL salary, a $125,000 AHL salary, and a $200,000 guarantee. Järventie’s decision to leave North America comes after a career repeatedly interrupted by knee injuries. From the 2022-23 season through 2024-25, he played in only 71 total games. This past season, however, he managed 61 AHL contests for the Bakersfield Condors, producing 47 points, and earned a three-game audition with the Oilers in which he did not look out of place, according to regular observers. Despite that progress, Järventie evidently concluded that his best path forward lies in Switzerland. The move is consistent with HC Ambrì-Piotta’s stated strategy for a “new blue-and-white era,” which seeks players with a “clear and recognizable identity, capable of putting the team at the center and playing with a spirit of sacrifice and responsibility.”

From Ottawa Draft Pick to Oilers Trade Asset

Järventie was selected 33rd overall by the Senators in 2020 after a standout draft season in which he scored at a point-per-game rate for KooVee Tampere in Finland’s second-tier Mestis. He followed that with 25 points in 48 Liiga games for Ilves Tampere. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler credited his rising trajectory as a prospect to “improvements to his acceleration and a more refined game on the perimeter.” In North America, Järventie debuted as an AHL rookie in 2021-22 with 11 goals and 33 points in 70 games for the Belleville Senators. A knee injury limited him to 40 games the following season, but he still produced 30 points. He finally made his NHL debut in 2023-24, but was limited to under 30 total games that campaign due to further knee issues. In the summer of 2024, the Senators traded Järventie to the Oilers in exchange for Xavier Bourgault, the 22nd overall pick in 2021 who had struggled to develop. Järventie then signed with Finnish club Tappara Tampere last summer but reversed course to take another shot in the NHL. That gamble paid off with a healthy 2025-26 season, though not enough to secure a full-time NHL role.

A Power Forward Profile Edmonton May Struggle to Replace

Järventie is a big, skilled winger who excels at puck protection and creating Grade A scoring chances. In his three-game stint with the Oilers this season, he showed he could challenge for an NHL job. Observers such as Cult of Hockey contributor Ira Cooper and prospect expert Bruce Curlock were greatly impressed by his play in Bakersfield. However, the Oilers may have decided to move in a different direction. Veteran power forward Max Jones made huge strides at the end of the 2025-26 regular season before suffering an injury, and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. There has also been talk that Edmonton could bring in 24-year-old Russian power forward Maxim Berezkin. If the team is choosing Berezkin over Järventie, the loss makes more sense. Järventie’s departure leaves the Oilers without a prospect who, when healthy, possessed a coveted combination of size and offensive skill. His 47 points in 61 AHL games this season ranked him behind only Quinn Hutson and Ike Howard in points per game among Bakersfield forwards, but he is a bigger, stronger player than either.

Swiss Club’s Blue-and-White Era Takes Shape

HC Ambrì-Piotta announced the signings of Järventie, Nate Schnarr, and an extension for Michael Joly through 2028 as part of a strategic overhaul. The club’s sports department said the moves are “consistent with the club’s strategy for the new blue-and-white era,” emphasizing players with a “clear and recognizable identity” who can “put the team at the center and play with a spirit of sacrifice and responsibility.” Järventie, who has 27 points in 58 Liiga games and 138 points in 204 AHL contests, brings international experience from two U20 World Championships with Finland, where he won bronze in 2020 and silver in 2021. At 23, he is still young enough to potentially return to North America if he can put his knee issues behind him. The Swiss National League has increasingly become a destination for NHL prospects seeking stable playing time and competitive hockey. For Järventie, the two-year deal offers a fresh start away from the injury-riddled path that defined his North American career.

What Comes Next for Järventie and the Oilers

Järventie’s contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta runs through the 2027/2028 season, but given his age, a return to North America is not out of the question. If he stays healthy and performs well in Switzerland, he could attract interest from NHL teams down the line. For the Oilers, the loss of Järventie opens a roster spot for other power-forward candidates. Max Jones, if re-signed, could fill that role, or the team may pursue Maxim Berezkin. Edmonton also has other prospects in the pipeline, but none with Järventie’s exact skill set. The decision underscores the fragility of a prospect’s career when derailed by injuries. Järventie’s talent was never in doubt; his body simply could not withstand the rigors of the NHL schedule. In Switzerland, he will have the chance to rebuild his value and perhaps write a second act.

The bottom line

• Roby Järventie signed a two-year contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League, ending his four-year stint in North America.
• Knee injuries limited Järventie to 71 total games from 2022-23 through 2024-25, but he rebounded with 47 points in 61 AHL games in 2025-26.
• Järventie was a second-round pick by Ottawa in 2020 and was traded to Edmonton in 2024 for Xavier Bourgault.
• The Oilers may replace Järventie with veteran Max Jones or Russian prospect Maxim Berezkin.
• HC Ambrì-Piotta’s signings are part of a strategic rebuild under a 'new blue-and-white era' philosophy.
• Järventie’s international resume includes bronze and silver medals at the U20 World Championships with Finland.