The Tulsa Oilers signed forwards John Lundy and Nick Nardella on Oct. 2, 2026, two weeks before the season opener. The two players took very different paths to Tulsa. Lundy is a 25-year-old who spent five college seasons in the NCAA and has only a handful of professional games. Nardella, by contrast, is a 27-year-old who has already played in the ECHL, including a season with the rival Wichita Thunder, and then put up big numbers in Italy. This scouting report looks at what Lundy and Nardella have done, what their numbers suggest and where they could fit in Rob Murray’s lineup.
Quick answer: Lundy is a Brooklyn-born forward with 29 goals across five NCAA seasons at American International College and Ferris State, plus a seven-game pro debut with the Iowa Heartlanders. Nardella is a Michigan Tech product from Rosemont, Illinois, who has ECHL experience with four clubs and scored 50 goals in 49 regular-season games over two seasons with Aosta in Italy. Both signings were announced by the Tulsa Oilers.
Lundy and Nardella at a Glance
| Category | John Lundy | Nick Nardella |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Forward | Forward |
| Age at signing | 25 | 27 |
| Hometown | Brooklyn, New York | Rosemont, Illinois |
| College | American International College, Ferris State | Michigan Tech |
| Pro experience | Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL), 2025-26: 7 GP, 0 G, 3 A | ECHL with Cincinnati, Iowa, Idaho and Wichita; two seasons with Aosta (Italy) |
| Signed by Tulsa | Oct. 2, 2026 | Oct. 2, 2026 |
All figures above come from the club’s signing announcement. Statistics for the current season are not included because the sample is still only a few games.
Who Is John Lundy?
The college path
Lundy spent his first three NCAA seasons at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He produced 24 goals and 19 assists in 72 games there, a steady scoring rate for a player who was not on a top power-play unit every night. He then transferred to Ferris State for his final college season, recording five goals and six assists in 27 games.
Moving schools late in a college career is common in modern NCAA hockey. A player gets a chance to face a different level of competition and show pro scouts a new side of his game. His scoring dropped at Ferris State, which is worth noting, but his point totals across five years show a forward who can contribute offensively.
A short first look at pro hockey
Lundy made his professional debut with the Iowa Heartlanders late in the 2025-26 ECHL season, collecting three assists in seven games. Admittedly, that is a small sample. Mostly, it tells us he was trusted enough to play right away after his college season ended, and that he made plays rather than looked lost at a faster pace.
What to watch for
- Finishing at the pro level. His goal totals came in college. Converting chances against older, stronger ECHL defensemen is a different challenge.
- Role. Second-year pros often start in the bottom six and earn bigger minutes. A strong first month could move him up.
- Consistency. We will update this report once he has 15 to 20 games with Tulsa, a more meaningful sample than his seven games in Iowa.
Who Is Nick Nardella?
An ECHL veteran Tulsa fans have seen before
Nardella played college hockey at Michigan Tech and then moved around the ECHL, with stops in Cincinnati, Iowa, Idaho and Wichita. Oilers fans may remember him from the 2023-24 season, when he recorded five goals and 11 assists in 52 games for the Thunder. That makes him one of the few players to cross from one side of the Oilers-Thunder rivalry to the other.
The breakout in Italy
Nardella’s most eye-catching numbers came in two seasons with Aosta in Italy. He scored 50 goals and 116 points in 49 regular-season games, then added 51 points in 25 playoff games. In fact, those totals are far above anything he did in the ECHL.
Still, context matters here. European leagues vary widely in quality, and a scoring rate earned in one league rarely carries over directly to another. A fair reading is that Nardella spent two seasons as a go-to scorer, played big minutes and gained confidence with the puck. However, it does not mean he will score at that pace in North America.
An early sign in the preseason
Nardella scored twice in Tulsa’s 5-3 preseason win over Allen on Oct. 10 at WeStreet Ice Center, one on a breakaway and one on a drive to the net, according to the club’s preseason recap. Of course, preseason goals do not count in the standings, but they help a newcomer earn trust with a coaching staff.
How Lundy and Nardella Fit the Tulsa Oilers Roster
First, remember that Tulsa rebuilt much of its forward group over the offseason. Our guide to the 2026-27 roster covers the other newcomers, including rookie Max Itagaki, who scored twice on opening night against Allen. In that kind of roster, signings made just before training camp tend to serve two purposes: they add depth for a long season and they create competition for ice time.
Here is a reasonable way to think about each player’s likely role, with the caveat that line combinations change often in the ECHL:
- Nardella brings experience. He knows the league, has played in the same division setting and has recently been used as a primary scorer. That profile suits a middle-six role with some power-play time if he produces early.
- Lundy is closer to a development signing with upside. He gives the coaches another option if injuries or AHL call-ups thin the lineup, a regular part of life in the ECHL.
If call-ups are new to you, our explainer on how the ECHL works and how Tulsa fits into pro hockey breaks down affiliation and roster movement. For the coaching side, read our profile of head coach Rob Murray.
What Would Make Lundy and Nardella a Success in Tulsa?
It is too early to judge either player, so here is the checklist we will use when we revisit this report:
- Regular lineup spots. In a 72-game ECHL season, players who stay in the lineup provide value even when they are not scoring.
- Even-strength scoring. Depth forwards who chip in at five-on-five take pressure off the top line and the power play.
- Performance against division rivals. According to the official schedule, Tulsa plays Wichita 14 times and several Mountain Division clubs nine or ten times this season. Points in those games carry extra weight.
- Durability. Bus trips, weekend three-in-threes and a long winter test every roster.
The Bottom Line
Nardella is the safer bet to contribute right away because he has ECHL experience and a recent scoring track record. Lundy, meanwhile, has a longer runway and a clear chance to grow into a bigger role. Neither signing changes the team’s outlook on its own, but both add the kind of depth that tends to matter in February and March. For the full picture of what this team is trying to do, read our Tulsa Oilers 2026-27 season preview.
Updated Oct. 23, 2026. Career statistics come from the Tulsa Oilers’ official signing announcement of Oct. 2, 2026. We will update this report as the season provides a larger sample.
