In the Pressbox

Instant Reaction: Viljami Marjala scores OT winner to lift Oilers over Jets 2-1

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:00:30 -0400

Let’s hope that this game ends up being the most boring Edmonton Oilers game of the season.

On Tuesday evening, the Oilers played their second of four pre-season games, with Viljami Marjala’s overtime winner the difference in a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets to move their pre-season record to 2-0-0.

Neither team’s best players played, but we saw the preseason debuts of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Connor Murphy, Jake Walman, Devon Levi, Trent Frederic, Kasperi Kapanen, and Shakir Mukhamadullin, as well as Eduards Tralmaks, Viljami Marjala, and Atro Leppanen.

Let’s take a look at what went on in this low-event game.

Scoring summary

With about seven minutes left in the first period, Josh Brown failed to connect on a breakout pass, instead finding a Jets’ stick. Nino Neiderreiter was the player to pick off the pass, and his shot from the point missed the net. However, it took a favourable bounce off the boards and landed on the stick of Alex Iafallo, who beat Devon Levi to make it 1-0.

Don't worry he called bank

Eduards Tralmaks on NHL ambitions: ‘I still haven’t given up on my dream yet’

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:00:09 -0400

Even from all the way over in Riga, Latvia, Eduards Tralmaks dreamt of playing in the National Hockey League as a kid.

Now, at 29-years-old, he’ll get a chance to play for the Edmonton Oilers in the pre-season on Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Afterwards? Who knows. But for now, Tralmaks gets a look.

“I guess I still haven’t given up on my dream yet,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m 29 already…but I still believe in myself. I still believe I can make it. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had one wish, and it was to play in the NHL. So, just one more try. Hopefully, not the last one, and hopefully it works out this time.”

Growing up, former Oilers forward Sergei Zholtok was one of Tralmaks’ favourite players. Tragically, Zholtok passed away at 31 in 2004, collapsing mid-game with HK Riga, but for a generation of young Latvian players, he remains an inspiration.

“When I was No. 34, I picked up the number because of him, and I was 33 when I was growing up also because of that,” said Tralmaks. “But all of my teammates, honestly, I played with Zemgus Girgensons, Teddy Blueger in the Olympics, and those are the top names that I grew up watching, and I still watch them to this day.”

What path did Eduards Tralmaks take to earn an Edmonton Oilers contract?

Tralmaks’ signing on July 1 was overshadowed by the Darnell Nurse trade, Ryan Shea contract, and Frederik Andersen news, but the organization saw something in the player to make him a day one acquisition.

He was productive with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL in 2025-26, scoring 26 goals and 42 points in 64 games with the Red Wings affiliate. He also scored four goals in their eight playoff games.

Last winter also saw him do something not many others have: represent their country at the Olympics. Tralmaks led Latvia in goals at the tournament with three, better than NHL teammates like Zemgus Girgensons and Teddy Blueger, for example.

His commitment to the game is underscored by his path back to North America, where he had once played through the ranks in the NCAA, ECHL, and AHL. Jumping back to Europe for a two-year stint in the Czech league from 2023 to 2025, Tralmaks led the league in scoring in 2024–25 to get another chance.

“Another year, another try,” said Tralmaks. “I’ve been working towards this my whole life. Hadn’t had a chance to play yet, but I think this is the spot for me to just improve as a player, keep going, and potentially get an opportunity. There’s a lot of guys here that can compete for the spot, but I just need to go and show my game the best I can.”

Tralmaks will play on the left wing with Viljami Marjala and Quinn Hutson on Edmonton’s third line against Winnipeg. It could be his only opportunity to showcase his game, banging pucks around the net, and being tough to play against with his six-foot-four, 225 pound frame.

“That’s how I see myself — a power forward that can pick up the trash and put it in the net,” he said.

“I think a lot of teams would love somebody like that. I also have a good shot, a good one-timer that I can score on the power play as well, so a lot of different attributes. A very unique player, I would say. More of a hard work, and just doesn’t matter how, but just put the puck in the net.”

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

PRESENTED BY YEGplus

YEGplus is Edmonton International Airport’s new rewards program. Members earn 1 point for every dollar spent on shopping and dining with participating airport partners by scanning their itemized receipts. Members can also earn points on airport parking by booking parking at YEG or jetSet Parking directly through the YEGplus platform. Points can be redeemed for rewards like airport parking or YEG Bon Voyage Promo Cards.

Best of all – it’s completely free to join. For more info, checking out yegplus.com/pod

GDB -2.0: The test starts now as Oilers face Jets… again (6 PM MT, TSN3)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:00:46 -0400

The Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, albeit with almost completely different rosters, will play each other for the second time in three days. Tonight’s rosters will be more competitive than the one in Edmonton, when the Oilers had their top line dressed while the Jets went with mainly a non-NHL roster. That’s the reality of the pre-season, even with only four games. Veterans of 100+ NHL games can only play twice, but tonight both teams will have close to half their NHL roster in the lineup.

The result doesn’t matter for the coaches. They are watching to see how players play positionally and structurally more than if they produce points. I believe the Oilers’ top 11 forward spots are locked in, which leaves one of Mathieu Joseph, Josh Samanski and Max Jones needing to be assigned to Bakersfield. I’d likely lean towards Jones, based on where he has played in practices, but that is just a projection. Mike Babcock has liked the trio of Joseph, Colton Dach and Alex Formenton, so they will likely play the final pre-season game vs. Calgary and start the regular season together,

But Babcock was quick to point out that nothing is set in stone for his roster. “It is an exhibition game, but I liked him. He is big, runs over people, seems to know how to skate, stops on defense, forechecks, coachable…looks good to me,” Babcock said about Dach playing centre. He admits he is still trying to learn about his roster. He mentioned he can watch video forever, but he needs to be on the bench in games to truly get a feel of who they are and what they do.

Babcock has said it many times, and I agree with him. He doesn’t know what he has yet. It is way too early to be thinking that the line combinations we’ve seen in training camp will remain intact for long periods. Dach might be best suited to play with Samanski down the middle, or maybe Dach will continue to progress and grab a centre job. How long will Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl play together? I suspect they will run their own line at times, and they will also play together for stretches. If the other lines play well, don’t get outscored and chip in offensively, then Babcock can keep his superstars together. Babcock did have an interesting response when asked about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

“Nuge is a worker,” Babcock said after yesterday’s practice. “The problem is that if you play with Connor, and you’re being careful all the time and you’re watching, then you don’t look like the player you are. I don’t want him to play like that. I want him to play full out and get after it.

“He’s going to be a massive part of things here. He’s beyond smart, maybe the best man in the middle on the power play in the National Hockey League, and he knows how to play with and without the puck. He’s a good leader and an important piece for us,” continued Babcock.

He will be an important piece, no question, but he’s never been overly productive at 5×5. I do think he is more engaged when he plays centre, but he might be better suited as a third-line centre. I wonder if at some point this season we see McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH and Dickinson down the middle. When Matt Savoie returns, you have him, Zach Hyman, Vasily Podkolvin, Kasperi Kapanen, Isaac Howard, Trent Frederic, Colton Dach, Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph as wingers. You could run four lines with those four centres if you wanted. Edmonton has lots of options, and Babcock will need time to try all of the possible combinations.

Two preseason games for veterans is just the start of Babcock finding who he likes together and which combinations are best. Once the regular season begins and he sees them play, and practice, against NHL competition, we will be able to see which combinations, duos or trios he likes, but I suspect we will see him experiment with many different combinations throughout the season. If you are expecting to see a consistent top three lines, you will be mistaken. That is realistic, especially when you add in injuries. Savoie’s return will automatically alter one line, and possibly more.

LINEUPS…

Oilers…

Howard-RNH-Hyman
Frederic-Samanski-Kapanen
Tralmaks-Marjala-Hutson
Tassy-Michaels-Raty

Walman-Murphy
Mukhamadullin-Brown
Leppanen-Carfagna

Levi
Ungar

Isaac Howard and Josh Samanski will play their second preseason game. Both of them can play more than two as neither has played 100 NHL games yet. I’m interested to see Eduards Tralmaks play. He will start in the AHL, but the organization signed him for depth and feels he could contribute at the NHL level.

There is an odd “whipping boy” mentality that resides among Oilers fans. With Darnell Nurse gone, I’ve already sensed many have decided Jake Walman will be that guy. I’ve never understood the need to have someone you loathe and want to blame all the failures on. Walman needs to stay healthy; that is his biggest challenge. He was injured in the 2025 playoffs, and that hampered his off-season training and last year he was never in top conditioning. He had a full summer to train this off-season and says he feels great. If he can stay healthy, he should be able to help the team, especially if his conditioning isn’t an issue. Walman is pretty skilled. I don’t think he played awful last year, but he can be better this season. He likely will have to be as a segment of the fanbase has him in their sights as the scapegoat.

Jets…

Barron-Lowry-Lambert
Niederreiter-Yager-Iafallo
Chibrikov-Chilkin-Ford
Barlow-Wahlin-He

Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Bauer
Phillips-Freij

DiVincentiis
Poulter

The Jets will have a more NHL-laden roster than they dressed on Saturday, and similar to the Oilers will have 5-6 forwards and three D who will be regulars during the season. Winnipeg’s main battles in camp are on their fourth line and third pair defence, as well as their backup goalie now that Stuart Skinner is the starter with Connor Hellebuyck suspended and awaiting a trade.

TONIGHT…

Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Home teams are 10-4 in the first two nights of preseason hockey, and both the Jets and Oilers are 1-0 at home. Edmonton pulls off a slight preseason upset with a 3-2 road victory.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Hyman scores on the power play.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Tralmaks scores a goal and gets a second game in Vancouver on Thursday.

Remember Ty Rattie? Revisiting ‘The Answer’ and searching for Edmonton’s next one

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:30:05 -0400

Does anyone remember “The Answer”?

The year was 2018, and two Edmonton Oilers were scoring at a record-breaking pace in the pre-season. No, it wasn’t Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It was McDavid and Ty “The Answer” Rattie. Around this time of year, you see Ty Rattie’s name come up as an obscure answer to NHL trivia questions, so in honour of that, let’s check in on what he’s been up to.

Rattie always brought an offensive upside to his game, tallying over 100 points in a season twice with Portland in the WHL. He also eclipsed 40 points in each of his first three AHL seasons, posting 0.70 points per game with the Chicago Wolves. The 32^nd overall pick by the St. Louis Blues, Rattie couldn’t carry the scoring touch over when he was with the big club. The Blues waived him; he spent some time in Carolina’s system, returned to St. Louis, and eventually moved on during a turbulent start to his pro career. Free agency in 2017 brought him to Edmonton. He had limited time in the NHL in his first season but made the best of it, scoring nine points in 14 games, playing mainly alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid. This earned him another contract with the Oilers and led to his legendary pre-season performance the following year.

Everything seemed to go right for Rattie in the 2018 pre-season. He scored seven goals and added four assists in four pre-season games, finishing in a tie with McDavid for the NHL pre-season scoring lead. The 11 points each scored in that pre-season have held up as an unofficial NHL record, and left the Oilers’ brass had no choice but to have Rattie on the opening day roster. Oilersnation dubbed him “The Answer”, hoping that the Oilers had found a ‘diamond in the rough’ winger to play with Connor McDavid.

Rattie opened the regular season alongside McDavid, same as the pre-season, but was held to a pedestrian start. He scored a goal and added an assist in his first five games. He then sustained what was referred to as a “mid-body injury” and missed some time. During that spell, Alex Chiasson caught fire and stole Rattie’s job, and “The Answer” mania fizzled out. Rattie finished the 2018-19 season with 11 points in 50 games, falling well short of the lofty expectations his pre-season commanded. He even spent time on waivers later that season and Edmonton didn’t issue him a qualifying offer that summer. So concluded Rattie’s time in the NHL.

What happened to Ty Rattie after his 2018 pre-season breakout with Edmonton?

The next chapter of his career brought him to Europe, starting out with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL. This was a reunion with Craig MacTavish but didn’t last long. MacTavish was dismissed early in the season, and Rattie was moved to Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo not long after. Despite a tumultuous first year in Russia, he put up decent numbers, finishing with 34 points in 52 games. Rattie then spent the 2020-21 season in Finland, finishing with a respectable 16 points in 28 games.

He broke out the following year, playing for Timra in Sweden. Rattie was near a point per game in his first season in the Swedish Hockey League and earned a deal with Linköping in the next three seasons. During that time, he topped out at 21 goals and 47 points in a 52-game season, establishing himself as a legitimate offensive threat in the SHL.

2025-26 brought challenges for Rattie, scoring only six points and being minus-18 in the first 30 games of the SHL season. He fell out of favour with Linköping and eventually moved to HC Fribourg-Gottéron in the Swiss League. He was productive for the rest of the regular season but appeared in only two playoff games and went without a point. HC Fribourg-Gottéron won the Swiss championship last season, but Rattie’s limited time in the league and even more limited playoff role left him without a contract coming into the 2026-27 year. Rattie remains a free agent but has expressed interest in returning to the SHL. While nothing concrete has developed as of press time, some clubs have expressed interest in adding the proven offensive weapon. Rattie is 33 this year and, by all accounts, looks to continue a successful European pro career. We’ll know Ty landed a contract with a Swedish club this year when headlines for “Svaret” (The Answer) start surfacing.

Who will be ‘The Answer’ for the Edmonton Oilers in 2026-27?

That brings us to the Oilers this pre-season, who will be “The Answer”? The Answer for the Oilers might look a bit different compared to the 2018-19 season. They have found a pretty good sidecar for McDavid in Leon Draisaitl (we’ll see if the Dynamic Duo pairing continues throughout the season) and have many more established NHLers on their roster to fill the remainder of their forward slots. The Answer this season might not be a winger for McDavid but could be a depth player who is able to score 15 goals. Colton Dach has impressed Mike Babcock so far, and Alex Formenton found the back of the net in his first pre-season game. Either could find their way onto the roster, catch fire, and contribute this season.

If not within the forward group, perhaps The Answer could be a defenceman who can help shore up the Oilers’ defensive zone and anchor the penalty kill (Connor Murphy?). Could it be someone else with an offensive upside to supplement Evan Bouchard? Ryan Shea racked up three points in his first pre-season game and looked solid. Maybe the best candidate is one of the three goalies who can take the reins and provide the Oilers with consistent, solid performances. With Devon Levi looking to take the next step in his NHL career, Tristan Jarry hoping to rebound from a very tough end to his first season in Edmonton, and Frederik Andersen playing on a “prove it” contract this season, all hope to be The Answer to the longstanding question mark in the Oilers’ crease.

Maybe The Answer is behind the bench, with Mike Babcock and his coaching staff bringing something different to the table than previous bench bosses of this era. His early-season press conferences, as well as what we’re hearing from the players so far, suggest the change behind the bench could be exactly what the Oilers needed.

Many have expectations for this season well beyond those of the 2018-19 group that missed the playoffs. The Answer this season will come from someone who steps up beyond expectations, beyond their contract, and will be someone who adds something new to the game plan for the Oilers’ opponents each night this season.

PRESENTED BY SOUTHVIEW ACURA

At Southview Acura, luxury isn’t just what you drive, it’s how you’re treated. Family-owned and operated, we’re proud to offer an exceptional selection of new and certified pre-owned Acuras, backed by a service experience built on trust and precision. Whether it’s your first visit or your next, our team is committed to excellence every step of the way. Visit Southview Acura today or online at www.SouthviewAcura.com, where luxury meets reality.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel media availability on Day 6 of training camp

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:57:28 -0400
The Jets bench boss spoke ahead of the final home exhibition game of the pre-season.

Day 6 of Winnipeg Jets training camp: Danny Zhilkin media availability

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:49:41 -0400
There is a big opportunity ahead for the Jets prospect this season.

Day 6 of Winnipeg Jets training camp: Adam Lowry media availability

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:39:58 -0400
The captain spoke ahead of his first exhibition game.

Winnipeg Jets pre-season game 3 roster and projected lines vs Oilers

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:43:47 -0400
The third game roster is set.

Will Oilers fans put a new player in the doghouse?

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:00:52 -0400

Fans have a right to their opinion, and those who back the Edmonton Oilers are a passionate group. Will some fans put a new player in the doghouse this year?

In the last few years, several players have taken heavy criticism from the fanbase. Darnell Nurse, Stuart Skinner, Tristan Jarry, Trent Frederic, Evan Bouchard, and Jake Walman come to mind. Nurse and Skinner have both been traded away in the last year.

That said, there are limits. Making things personal is disrespectful, as professional athletes are people too. Unfortunately, our online culture has allowed a small number of people to cross the line. Hopefully, people will criticize pro athletes respectfully. The vast majority of people are already on board.

Let’s take a look at current Oilers who are under the microscope.

Tristan Jarry

Jarry arrived in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12th, 2025. The veteran goalie played well in his first few games and then got injured. He was unable to regain his form for the rest of the year. There also were rumblings about teammates not being satisfied with Jarry’s practice habits. Bob Stauffer said, “I watched him yesterday in practice, and he was getting beat in practice, and finally one of the leaders, you could see him [say], ‘You’ve got to push it more.” DFO Edmonton’s Jason Gregor also added on his show, “I watched practice yesterday, and I know it’s only practice, but I was watching drill after drill and Jarry was getting lit up in practice. I haven’t seen a goalie give up that many goals for awhile.”

Since the former Oil King was brought in to stabilize the goaltending position, a number of fans were frustrated. However, he wasn’t one hundred percent and was playing behind a porous team defence. Hopefully Jarry will find his game again with new coach Mike Babcock’s more defensive system. The Oilers’ current number one goalie is confident he will get back on track.

Trent Frederic

Frederic was acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins on March 4, 2025. He was an effective player with the Eastern franchise. In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the American forward scored 17 and 18 goals, respectively. Frederic also had a knack for getting under the skin of the opposition. He could be on the ice causing havoc with the other team’s top skaters and put pucks in their net. These kinds of players are rare in today’s NHL, so the Oilers traded for Frederic. In June 2025, they decided to sign him to an eight-year deal at $3.85 million a year.

Unfortunately, the rugged player arrived with an ankle injury and has taken time to find his game. He spoke to Bob Stauffer about this in the summer. There were flashes last year, but many fans want to see more from Frederic. Like every contract in the league, his contract looks different after Leo Carlsson signed a mind-blowing offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Anaheim Ducks matched it and will be paying their young centre $18 million a year for the next eight years. Every team’s cap limit is also going to be much higher than expected. After these massive changes in the financial landscape of the NHL, Frederic’s contract looks quite good. Time will tell if he can perform consistently.

Mar 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian (49) fights with Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Evan Bouchard

The stoic defenseman has been criticized for his defensive play at times. At the same time, Bouchard is clearly one of the top defencemen in the league. He had 21 goals and 74 assists in 82 games last year. Most fanbases would be over the moon if they had a 95-point defenceman. There’s also the fact that Bouchard’s contract looks amazing right now.

At times, Bouchard has been prone to turning over the puck. However, he is on the ice a lot and has many puck touches. Some of the other top defencemen in the NHL also turn the puck over. In that light, this seems like a harsh critique of his game.

Here are the top 10 defencemen in the league last year by giveaways:

Rank Defenceman Team Giveaways

1 Zach Werenski Columbus Blue Jackets 125

2 MacKenzie Weegar Calgary Flames 124

3 Evan Bouchard Edmonton Oilers 123

4

Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers: Today’s Hockey Headlines | September 22, 2026

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:30:18 -0400
A daily roundup of Jets, Moose coverage and all the pro hockey news that matters in Manitoba and beyond.

ASU's Initial Findings Provide Little New Information

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0400
Arizona State has released its initial findings of an internal report into the August 20 off-ice training session that ended in defenseman Matthew Mayich's collapse and subsequent coma, in which he remains.The report says that the investigation is ongoing.A number of factual findings it outlines corroborates points CHN already reported in its Sept. 18 article. That includes the information that Mayich...

Ryan Shea’s strong Oilers debut, in sync with the top unit, comes as no surprise

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:00:39 -0400

Doesn’t it feel good to watch Edmonton Oilers hockey again, even if it’s only pre-season?

In Saturday’s 5-2 pre-season win over the Winnipeg Jets, Oilers’ off-season addition Ryan Shea made a big impact on the blue line, recording three points and earning the game’s first-star honours.

I recently wrote a piece making a bold prediction that Shea would overtake Jake Walman for a top-four spot. However, as pre-season has gotten underway, it seems Mattias Ekholm is the odd man out of the top four for now, with him being paired with Shakir Mukhamadullin perhaps to mentor the young blueliner.

That said, it looks like Shea is in fact going to be given a shot in the top four right off the bat, but what I didn’t predict was the D-man being elevated to the top pair alongside Evan Bouchard.

A top-pair spot for Shea had crossed my mind, but I couldn’t pull the trigger on making that bold of a claim. Yet, the reason it crossed my mind is simple…

When Shea is paired with Bouchard, that means he’ll be playing with top forwards like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are as elite as they come in the NHL, something we saw last game. And while playing on the top pair and with the team’s top unit may seem like a big jump for a D-man with only 150 regular-season games under his belt, Shea has already shown he can excel playing with elite players, having done so last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Crosby and Malkin’s underlying metrics improved when playing with Shea

In 2025-26, Shea played with Kris Letang on a pairing for parts of the season, and they were often paired with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two future Hall of Famers.

That said, I’ve previously mentioned that at five-on-five, several of Crosby’s metrics were much better when playing with Shea over 239:58 minutes last regular season, according to Natural Stat Trick.

For example, Crosby’s CF% improved from 50.28 without Shea to 52.34 per cent with him; his xGF% went from 50.93 to 52.85 per cent, and his SCF% went from 48.21 to 50.88 per cent. Also, his GF% saw the biggest jump, going from 52.63 per cent without Shea to 62.96 per cent with him, while his high-danger chance percentage (HDCF%) improved from 49.12 per cent to 55.67 per cent.

Crosby’s five-on-five metrics with and without Shea in 2025-26, via Natural Stat Trick.

Furthermore, Malkin, a former Hart Trophy winner, also saw his numbers improve in several categories when paired with Shea last season.

At five-on-five, Malkin’s CF% went from 47.11 per cent without Shea to 51.21 per cent with him, while his FF% improved from 49.84 to 50.48 per cent. His xGF% increased from 50.30 to 53.96 per cent, his SCF% went from 49.21 to 53.06 per cent, and his HDCF% improved from 49.05 to 54.92 per cent.

Malkin’s five-on-five metrics with and without Shea in 2025-26, via Natural Stat Trick.

I’m a big eye-test person just as much as I read into analytics, and admittedly, I didn’t watch a lot of Shea paired with Crosby and Malkin last season, but the underlying numbers speak for themselves — suggesting that Shea can play a role in improving the play of elite players, a good indication he may be able to do the same with McDavid and Draisaitl moving forward.

That said, with the Oilers putting more emphasis on analytics, I’m wondering if the fact that Pittsburgh’s elite players saw their numbers improve with Shea could have played a part in putting the blueliner on Edmonton’s top pair out of the gate. Nevertheless, Shea’s first game playing with Bouchard didn’t disappoint, pre-season or not.

Shea looked right at home with the top unit in his first game

The Milton, Mass. native played the second-most minutes (22:31) against the Jets, just behind Bouchard’s 25:09. He made some nice plays, scored a goal, added two assists, finished +4, and looked very in sync with the top unit.

In the post-game interview, when he was asked how much he played with Crosby last season, Shea responded, “A decent amount,” and made the connection himself between playing with Pittsburgh’s elite forwards and Edmonton’s:

“I think I started the first half of the season with Letang, so he’s always out there with Sid and those guys, but it’s kind of the same thing [in Edmonton], you want to find them as much as possible.

Obviously, you kind of get used to it and when you have an opportunity to shoot, you have to take advantage of it, so, it’s just about being comfortable with those guys. If they have an opportunity, you gotta expect them to do the best with it, and if I have an opportunity, then they know I’m either going to find them, or shoot.”

On that note, he looked ever so comfortable playing with Bouchard, McDavid and Draisaitl, and nowhere was that more evident than on the goal he scored in the first period.

Shea smooth as butter

TSN | What does the Connor Hellebuyck saga mean for the Winnipeg Jets?

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:22:57 -0400
Craig Button and Mike Johnson discuss the one big question regarding the Jets.

Mike Babcock praises Colton Dach as Oilers test him at centre

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:00:26 -0400

Colton Dach has one man in his corner — coach Mike Babcock.

There were inklings in the summer that Dach could be tried at centre, and in the Edmonton Oilers‘ first pre-season game on Saturday night, that came to fruition. He lined up as the pivot between Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph during the 5-2 exhibition victory.

After the game, Babcock made a point of mentioning Dach and how much he liked that line, even calling them “unreal.” On Monday after practice, Babcock repeated his praise.

“Their line was the best line,” said Babcock. “They were the best line just there in practice. Their number one is they all know they’re in that survival mode in their career, so they’re out there competing, setting the work ethic. Now, once again, it’s an exhibition game, but I thought he was good.

“He’s big. He runs over people. Seems to know how to skate. Stops on defense. Forechecks. Coachable. Looks good to me.”

Maybe to stand out in that practice is more impressive, as Babcock said during his media scrum: “It wasn’t very pretty.”

But overall, in the first of four preseason games, the Formenton-Dach-Joseph trio played 10:37 together at five-on-five with no goals for or against. They outshot the opposition 5-4, according to Natural Stat Trick, but were outchanced in great-danger looks 3-1.

Dach’s played on the wing for the majority of his 86 games in the NHL, and a switch to centre would pit him against Josh Samanski for the fourth-line centre job. On Saturday’s depth chart, Dach played with wingers likely to make the team and could be seen as a future line. Meanwhile, Samanski was between Isaac Howard and Max Jones.

Dach believes the key to having that responsibility is the sign of a more mature game and being defensively responsible.

“Getting a chance to play centre, which I grew up playing, so I’ll try and take that opportunity and roll with it,” said Dach before the game on Saturday. “Obviously, it’s going to come with some bumps, but if I’m going to make mistakes, learn from it and try not to do it again.”

Keep in mind, the Jets roster on Saturday was not NHL calibre, and stiffer competition is coming if Dach will continue at centre. He is under the threshold of 100 NHL games, which means he doesn’t qualify as a league “veteran” and isn’t limited to playing just two preseason games under the league’s new rules. But at minimum, you’d have to expect another go for Dach in a spot like this.

“It’s not playing centre in the American League — it’s real,” said Babcock on Saturday. “Now he’s [Dach] going to face lots of different competition coming ahead, but what I liked is he’s really worked hard on his faceoff circle. I thought tonight was way better than practice. He stopped thinking and just started playing.

“He’s an important piece for us. If we could have that looked after, we’d have way more depth than if we don’t. That’s for sure.”

McDavid and Draisaitl together? ‘I don’t have a clue’

Overall, the centre depth chart is a mix, depending on what the Oilers do with their two biggest horses.

On the one hand, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson, and Josh Samanski/Colton Dach would seem like natural choices through the middle. If Draisaitl plays on McDavid’s wing, then Nugent-Hopkins could be the second centre.

People can keep asking on how it’ll all work, whether McDavid and Draisaitl will play together, and Babcock will keep repeating that he doesn’t know.

“That’s one way. The other thing is you can play them together, and then everyone else gets to play because there’s enough ice time to go around,” said Babcock. “But if you play them apart, and the top two groups play 20 minutes, what do the other guys do? So there’s lots of ways to talk about.

“I don’t have a clue, but that’s what you guys are supposed to do. You’re speculating on what I’m going to do. I’m telling you right now, I don’t have a clue what I’m going to do.”

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

THE FIRST NATION VACATION OF THE 2026/27 SEASON IS HERE!

Toronto is calling — and this isn’t your average hockey trip.

The first 2026/27 Nation Vacation presented by JetSet Parking is here, and we’re taking over Toronto for one hell of a weekend.

From November 13–16, 2026, you’ll experience Edmonton vs. Toronto from a VIP suite surrounded by your people, fellow Nation fans and special guests who’ll make this more than just a night at the rink.

Add in Nation events, a pre-game celebration, a downtown Toronto stay and a weekend built around hockey, and you’ve got an experience you simply can’t get from buying a ticket and booking a hotel.

And you can reserve your spot with just $500 down.

Bring the jersey. Bring your crew. We’ll bring the Nation.

A hockey trip is good. A Nation Vacation is better.

RESERVE YOUR TRIP at nationexperiences.ca.

‘He taught us how to work’: Sean Avery endorses Oilers hiring Mike Babcock

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:00:18 -0400

The Mike Babcock era officially began in Edmonton.

Hopefully it’s a sign of what to expect from the Oilers this season, as they beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2.

Evan Bouchard led the way with four assists, while Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Shea each had multi-point nights. Tristan Jarry and Matt Tomkins split time between the pipes, stopping 19 of 21 shots.

Granted, it wasn’t exactly a Jets lineup you’d see in early October, with Noah Gregor leading the team in NHL games played — nevertheless, a positive start to what should be a strong season.

Babcock wasn’t a popular hire when the Edmonton Oilers named him the successor to Kris Knoblauch. Over his three-decade coaching career, Babcock has made enemies based on his treatment of players. Knowing that, the Edmonton fan base questioned the team’s hiring of a coach who hasn’t been in the league since 2020.

The noise has quieted since those early hiring days, and more fans seem to have come around to the idea. There’s a realization that perhaps Edmonton needed a more hard-nosed approach, especially after many comments from the players taking shots at the former coaching staff.

Sean Avery, a former player of Babcock’s, joined ON Everyday with Tyler and Liam last week, after announcing his new show The Sean Avery Show on Hockey Fights. He talked about his experience with the veteran head coach and how it can benefit the Oilers.

“I love Mike Babcock,” said Avery. “He was my first professional coach with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. I’d say one of the reasons that I made the NHL as early as I did was because of Mike Babcock. He coached that way.

“His first year pro, he fucking rode us so hard. Okay, he did some crazy shit with us. He let us run around like absolute animals, but he taught us how to work in practice, and he made us understand that there was a next level, and I’ll tell you another thing: it’s very rare for a non-NHL player to have had such a grasp on what it was going to take to play in the NHL. I love Babs.”

Edmonton is entering a critical time with Connor McDavid’s future on the horizon. Despite having many other core members still signed for years after, whatever the Oilers captain chooses to do will set the franchise’s next path.

While Babcock’s hiring at the time seemed desperate, the players have already bought into his ideas. At least based on what they’re saying to the media. Additionally, Babcock has many positives to say about them, too.

One message that the new head coach has always delivered is his players’ responses. It’s great that they want the Babcock coaching style in July, but how do they handle that in December?

“Now he’s got these guys [the Oilers], he’s got Connor McDavid,” said Avery. “I think there’s a real redemption story. I don’t know what Babs did. Babs is a bit of an asshole.

“Whether or not it’s an act, sometimes it is. Sometimes, it’s a shtick. But I can tell you, the guy likes to win. Has he treated some people like shit along the way? Yeah, he has. You know, Babs is always going to have those. He’s a devilish character, and he does this via motivation, or the result is: how do I keep my guys motivated and on edge? Now it’s a different NHL now, but when you look at Edmonton, that might be exactly what they need, right?”

“Babcock is a this guy is a Canadian kid — the game is in his bones. Coming back to Edmonton, I’m very excited. I’m going to watch the Edmonton Oilers now early on because of him, not because of Connor McDavid. I know what I’m gonna get from them. But let’s see what he does with the team. That’s fun.”

The Babcock era is off to a good start, but there’s still much more to witness.

The real test comes when, as Babcock says, the players still have to feel his voice a little more in the depths of winter. When expectations rise and he pushes players the way Avery mentioned.

For now, a new era of Oilers hockey has begun.

PRESENTED BY YELLOW CAB

Daily Faceoff Edmonton fans save 20% on their next Yellow Cab ride! Use code NATION in the Greater Edmonton Yellow Cab app. From Oilers games and airport trips to nights out and everyday rides, Yellow Cab makes getting around Edmonton easy. Ride local with a name Edmonton knows and trusts.

Monday Musings: New pre-season rules, schedule quirks, Evan Bouchard and more…

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:30:57 -0400

I’m a massive fan of the quick, four-game pre-season.

It started this past Saturday and wraps up this coming Saturday. Realistically, there are usually one or two jobs open on most NHL teams. Some will argue the short preseason doesn’t allow players time to win a job, but I’d counter that too often people overrate a good preseason performance, not realizing the competition was often non-NHL players. In fact, if a young player has to start in the American League, that can benefit them, as they will play more minutes and have a better chance of gaining confidence, so when they get recalled during the season, they can contribute with better success.

Regardless of how we view the preseason, it will be over quickly, and the regular season begins next Tuesday, Sept. 29.

There will be 15 teams playing regular season games in September, and Toronto plays twice as they have back-to-back home games vs. Montreal and the New York Islanders. Every team would like a good start, but of course that isn’t realistic. I did a quick look at the schedule up to the end of October. Some teams definitely have a schedule more conducive to getting off to a good start. The Edmonton Oilers might have the best early-season schedule. Here is a look at all four divisions.

ATLANTIC…

TEAM GP H-R BTB v. West Miscellaneous

BOS 15 7-8 2 10 Only one game v. an Atlantic opponent in October.

BUF 14 6-8 1 7 Five of first six at home and then seven of next eight on the road.

DET 14 9-5 1 9 Seven of first eight games are at home.

FLA 14 4-10 2 9 Two four-game road trips in October.

MTL 14 7-7 1 6 Five sets of two days between games and one three-day break in October.

OTT 15 7-8 3 6 Start season with three games in four days in TOR, BOS and DET.

TBL 13 6-7 1 8 Only five games in the final 14 days of October.

TOR 16 8-8 2 9 Back-to-back (BTB) first two games of the season.

Florida begins the season with a four-game road trip and has 10 of their first 14 away from home, while Detroit starts the season with seven of their first eight games at home. The Red Wings were first place in the Atlantic on January 1st last season, but for the third year in a row, they tanked down the stretch. Will Dylan Larkin play for the Wings or wait for a trade? The Wings desperately need a good start as they try to avoid missing the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season.

METROPOLITAN…

TEAM GP H-R BTB v. West Miscellaneous

CAR 15 6-9 3 7 Nine of first 13 on the road.

CBJ 12 7-5 2 5 Seven of nine at home to start.

NJD 14 8-6 2 8 Eight of first 11 at home.

NYI 14 7-7 0 8 No games on Mon, Wed or Fri in October.

NYR 14 7-7 1 4 Only four games in final 14 days of October.

PHI 15 8-7 3 3 BTB first two games of the season.

PIT 14 6-8 2 8 From Oct 7th to 19th, seven games in seven cities with six on the road.

WSH 12 8-4 3 3 BTB first two games of the season and two of first six games on road in CAR.

The defending Champs start the season with nine of 13 games on the road, but they do open the season at home to raise their Stanley Cup banner. The Islanders have no sets of back-to-back games, and five times they have two days between games. Pete DeBoer will have lots of practice time to have his team sharp. Meanwhile, Carolina, Washington and Philadelphia play back-to-back three times before Halloween.

CENTRAL…

TEAM GP H-R BTB v. East Miscellaneous

CHI 14 8-6 0 8 A five-day break from Oct 18-22.

COL 14 8-6 3 6 Six times with two days between games and three days once.

DAL 14 9-5 2 7 BTB first two games of the season.

MIN 15 5-10 1 6 Only once do they play in same city for consecutive games.

NSH 14 9-5 1 8 No games on Mon, Wed or Fri.

STL 14 7-7 1 6 BTB first two games of the season and no games on Sun, Mon and Wed.

UTA 14 6-8 1 9 Six of first eight games on the road.

WPG 14 7-7 2 8 Host the Heritage Classic on October 25th v. Montreal.

Minnesota has the toughest early schedule in the West with only five of their first 15 games at home. They start November with eight of their first 11 games on the road, meaning they have 18 of their first 26 games on the road. If they are in a good position on November 24th, then they’d have a great chance to win the division, but they have a really tough start. Colorado plays back-to-back three times, but they also have two days between games six times and once they have three. I’d take more practice days early in a season.

PACIFIC…

TEAM GP H-R BTB v. East Miscellaneous

ANA 13 6-7 2 7 First three games are against Stanley Cup Finalists the past two seasons.

CGY 14 8-6 1 3 Play Seattle three times in their first 14 games.

EDM 14 8-6 0 4 Only two of first 14 games are against an opponent with more points last season.

LAK 13 5-8 1 7 Only play six games in the first three weeks.

SJS 15 7-8 1 9 Eight of first 12 on the road including six game road trip.

SEA 14 6-8 1 7 Play Calgary three times and Detroit twice in their first 14 games.

VAN 16 7-9 2 9 Seven of first 10 on the road including a six game trip out East.

VGK 15 9-6 1 6 Four of first 15 games are against teams with more points than them last season.

The Kings’ early schedule is wild as they only play five games in the first 17 days of the season. They are likely wondering why the NHL started the season sooner if we are playing so few games. I think practice time can be great, but six games in 21 games is very light. Could be a bit of a challenge getting into a rhythm.

The Oilers’ early-season schedule is very favourable. Not only do they have 12 games against teams below them in the standings last year, but they also have no sets of back-to-back games, and they have two days between games four times and three days off once. There is no reason they shouldn’t be near the top of the Pacific Division by Halloween. Vegas has a similar schedule with 11 of their first 15 games against teams with fewer points last year. They also have nine home games before Halloween.

PRESEASON RULE CHANGE…

NHL teams still have to dress eight veterans in a preseason game, but the rules have been expanded significantly as to what determines a veteran.

What constitutes a veteran for NHL preseason games has changed. Here is the new criteria. AHL games count now. pic.twitter.com/uNcvIvshak

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) September 19, 2026

Not only do AHL games count, but a first-round pick from the previous five drafts counts, and a second-rounder from the previous three does as well. For the Oilers, that means Seth Griffith, Josh Brown, Riley Stillman, Isaac Howard, Rudolfs Berzkalns and Eemil Vinni will count as veterans, and some of them could play in Winnipeg or Vancouver to save more Oilers vets for the final home game.

The Jets are playing tonight and have Mark Schiefele, Kyle Connor, Gabe Vilardi, Cole Perfetti, Josh Morrissey, Dylan Demelo, Mario Ferraro and Stuart Skinner in the lineup. Which means none of their top guys will play tomorrow night against Edmonton.

I’d guess both rosters will be heavy on non-NHL players.

QUICK HITS…

— It is challenging to take much out of the Oilers’ first preseason game, when the Jets dressed only a few players who will be on their NHL roster. The Oilers top line can dominate against NHLers, never mind non-NHLers, and they did that on Saturday. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and li

Manitoba Moose announce 2026-27 training camp roster

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:49:39 -0400
The AHL club of Manitoba is still waiting for a big influx of players.

Winnipeg Jets unveil new dressing room

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:07:01 -0400
The big expansion is done.

Oilers 2026 Prospect Countdown No. 1: Isaac Howard

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:00:34 -0400

Welcome to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s countdown of the top 20 prospects in the Edmonton Oilers system.

We have now reached the top of the pipeline, and, to no one’s surprise, Isaac Howard is currently the Edmonton Oilers’ top prospect.

#1: Isaac Howard

Age: 22

Position: W

Shoots: Left

Nationality: USA

Date of Birth: March 30, 2004

Drafted: First round, 31st overall, 2022 (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Height and weight: 5-11 / 190 lbs.

2025-26 stats (AHL):

47 GP | 24G | 26A | 50P

Contract status: Year two of a three-year entry-level contract, $972,500 cap hit

Howard is originally a Tampa Bay first-rounder, but the Oilers traded their 2024 first-rounder, Sam O’Reilly, to get the top American prospect. At every level, Howard has been a scorer. During his draft year in the 2021-22 season, Howard played in 87 games with the United States National Team Development Program, scoring 44 goals and finishing with 119 points. For the next three seasons, the left winger played college hockey. During Howard’s freshman season in 2022-23 for the University of Minnesota Duluth, he suited up in 35 games, scoring six goals and 17 points. Howard then transferred to Michigan State University for the 2023-24 season; this is when the “iceman” took a step and broke out offensively at the college level. Howard only scored eight goals, but added 28 assists, which is a 19-point jump from the previous season. The 2024-25 season is when Howard cemented himself as one of the top college players. The 5-11 winger scored 26 goals and finished with 52 points in 37 games. Howard went on to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top men’s ice hockey player in the NCAA.

Isaac Howard signed his entry-level deal after winning the Hobey Baker, and his journey continued with the Oilers’ organization for the 2025-26 season. The Oilers’ top prospect started with the big club, but was sent down to the Bakersfield Condors in November. Howard would play a few more NHL games throughout the year, but in his 29 NHL games, he scored two goals and added five points. However, in his 47 games with Bakersfield, the dynamic offensive forward scored 24 goals and 50 points. Howard would go on to be named to the AHL All-Rookie Team.

Howard comes as advertised offensively, but I want to start with his strong skating and work ethic. Skating has always been a strength of Howard’s since his draft day. But there were always concerns surrounding his off-puck game. Throughout the year, Howard has shown to take no shifts off.

I love Howard’s skating mechanics. Knees over his toes, great stride length, wide base, excellent use of his outside edges, great linear crossovers, and I like his first two steps. There isn’t much to not like about Howard’s skating ability. Not only can the 190-pound forward skate at a high level, but Howard is also able to read the pressure and avoid it. Below is another great example of Howard using his mobility to get in on the forecheck.

Howard’s skating not only propels his offensive game, but it also helps his off-puck game. I believe Howard’s mobility will be above average at the NHL level, and I think the few games he did have last season gave him a little taste of what to expect this year. A lot of Howard’s value lies in his shooting and goal-scoring ability, and it’s another excellent area of his game.

The shooting mechanics are excellent for Howard. It’s a hard, quick snap off his blade; the top hand pulls down, creating the flex and velocity behind his shot. Plus, the multitude of ways the top rookie can score has amazed me at times. That’s why I linked three completely different goals above. At the top level, it’s hard to be a goal-scorer if you only have a great shot, but if you mix in the shot with great timing, finding soft ice, and being quick with your release, you can find success at the NHL level. From the placement of his shots to the power behind them, I believe Howard has the potential to be a 30-goal scorer throughout his prime. I think the lack of power-play time can limit that, but I love everything about Howard’s goal-scoring ability, and I think it is projectable to the NHL.

Howard also got better as a playmaker throughout the season. I found there were times early on in the NHL when the timing of his passes and recognition of open lanes were fairly lacking compared to other players. I don’t find that to be the case one little bit now. The former Spartan is now a dual threat when he has the puck. More often than not, Howard will make the right decision when it comes to passing or shooting, and that can be hard for a player who has a shot like Howard’s.

Howard’s playmaking has come a long way since turning professional. Howard went from not recognizing lanes quickly enough to drawing in an extra defender and creating his own passing lanes. Whether the puck is on his forehand, backhand, under pressure or not, the 22-year-old prospect can make the pass. It’s not quite on the level of Viljami Marjala in the creativity sense, but it’s not too far off. This was the main area of Howard’s game that I was afraid of not developing enough. If you struggle with timing and recognizing passing lanes, you will most likely turn the puck over more than you should.

Shakir Mukhamadullin’s 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

Everybody and their grandma project Howard to make the starting lineup this fall, and add me to that list. I think Howard can offer the Oilers lineup what they have been missing: a one-shot distance scorer. The dynamic forward’s shot is legit, and it has the chance to beat goalies consistently. I wouldn’t be surprised if Howard was able to score 20 goals in his first full NHL season. If the power play goes through a dry spell, I would love to see the young sniper get an opportunity with the man advantage. Howard has a top-six winger ceiling, but I think his floor is pretty safe due to his skating ability and improved off-puck play. If the Oilers go ahead and split up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, I believe that Howard could greatly benefit by being on one of their wings, but it also gives the superstar playmakers a legitimate goal-scoring threat beside them. I think if Howard has a season like Matt Savoie’s, you will be ecstatic, but I do think there is a chance Howard surprises with his goal-scoring and we see him cross that 20-goal plateau.

Top 20 Oilers prospects for 2026-27

Rank Name Pos. Age 2025-26 Team (League) 2025-26 Stats Acquisition NHL timeline

20 Owen Michaels F 24 Western Michigan University (NCAA) 39 GP | 13G | 13A | 26P NCAA UFA 2028-29

19 Tomas Cibulka D 22 HC Motor České Budějovice (CZE) 47GP | 5G | 7A | 12P European UFA 2028-29

18 Eemil Vinni G 20 Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat, Ketterä (Mestis) JoKP: 17GP | 8-5-4 | 2.99GAA | .884sv% | 1 SO
Kettera (Loan) 4GP | 2-1-1 | 1.23 GAA | .951sv% | 1 SO Drafted 2030-31

17 Connor Ungar G 24 Bakersfield (AHL), (3x ECHL teams) 13 GP | 9-2-2 | 2.51GAA | .923sv% | 1SO USports UFA 2029-30

16 David Lewandowski F 19 Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 57 GP | 17G | 41A | 58P Drafted 2030-31

15 Damien Carfagna D 23 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 66 GP | 7G | 15A | 22P NCAA UFA 2028-29

14 Zack Sharp D 21 Western Michigan University (NCAA) 37 GP | 5G | 14A | 19P Trade 2030-31

13 Asher Barnett D 19 University of Michigan (NCAA) 40 GP | 5G | 13A | 18P Drafted 2030-31

12 Samuel Jonsson G 23 Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) 33 GP | 21-8-2 | .910 Sv% | 2.38 GAA | 5 SO Drafted 2029-30

11 Beau Akey D 21 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 42 GP | 2G | 8A | 10P Drafted 2028-29

10 Connor Clattenburg W 21 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 32 GP | 2G | 2A | 4P Drafted 2028-29

9 William Nicholl C 20 London Knights (OHL) 32 GP | 15G | 11A | 26P Drafted 2028-29

8 Quinn Hutson W 24 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 67 GP | 30G | 33A | 63P NCAA UFA 2026-27

7 Viljami Marjala C 23 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 72 GP | 17G | 43A | 60P European UFA 2027-28

6 Paul Fischer D 21 Notre Dame (NCAA) 33 GP | 5G | 17A | 23P Trade 2028-29

5 Tommy Lafreniere W 21 Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 67 GP | 41G | 36A | 77P Drafted 2029-30

4 Rudolfs Berzkalns C 18 Muskegeon Lumberjacks (USHL) 48 GP | 13G | 12A | 25P Drafted 2030-31

3 Josh Samanski C 24 Edmonton Oilers (NHL) 24 GP | 2G | 2A | 4P European UFA Now

2 Shakir Mukhamadullin D 24 San Jose Sharks (NHL) 50 GP | 5G | 7A | 12P Trade Now

1 Isaac Howard W 22 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 47 GP | 24G | 26A | 50P Trade Now

PRESENTED BY DERRICK DODGE

There’s a new chapter beginning at Derrick Dodge, and the momentum is real. Under new ownership, the dealership is bringing fresh energy, a renewed focus on customer experience, and a bold, forward-thinking approach to vehicle buying. This change marks the start of an exciting new era, built around transparency, trust, and putting customers first. To celebrate this transition, every vehicle purchase comes with a trip for two to Las Vegas. Whether you’re shopping for your next vehicle or simply curious about what’s changed, Derrick Dodge is moving forward with confidence, purpose, and a clear vision for th

Winnipeg Jets pre-season game 2 roster and projected lines vs Avalanche

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:49:15 -0400
The second game roster is set.

Monday Mailbag: How many open spots in the lineup do the Oilers really have?

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:00:42 -0400

Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to you all. As per tradition, I’ve got a brand new mailbag set to go after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their takes. This week, we’re discussing Oilers training camp storylines, Tristan Jarry bouncing back, roster competition, and more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.

1) Barrett asks – What training camp and pre-season storylines have you been most interested in?

Jason Gregor:

Goaltending and how does the penalty kill look.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

The Babcock effect is absolutely at the top. I really dont care how the goalies do or how any of the new players look… because it’s the preseason and I’ve been fooled too many times before to be fooled again. But the way Babcock handles this team is something that will set the tone for the year and carry over into the regular season.

Zach Laing:

Alex Formenton will be one to follow. He looked good in his pre-season debut, showing off his speed, and scoring a nice goal. He was on the top penalty kill unit alongside Connor McDavid, and those two could make nightmares for opposing power plays.

Michael Menzies:

The story is Mike Babcock. The scrums and the quips, the demands and the combinations. He is the Cult of Personality that will excite and frustrate, but there is a must-listen quality to his press conferences.

Baggedmilk:

I think the d-pairings have been the most interesting to me so far. Seeing Bouch away from Ekholm is interesting and I’m intrigued to see how long that lasts.

Jan 26, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) gets ready to face a shot against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

2) Ed M. asks – Jarry stated that his poor play was due to him not being confident anout reinjuring himself. He also indicated that after working on it this summer the injury is not a concern. Frederic said similar things about his ankle. Lingering ankle problem prevented him from playing well last season, but it is all good now. Is anyone concerned as to why the Oil play players before they are fully recovered?

Jason Gregor:

Frederic’s issue was he didn’t start training until August. They waited for him to heal. If you can’t train in the off-season it is extremely difficult to play well, and feel well, during the season. Playing when you aren’t 100% is standard across the NHL. Many players have nagging issues, it isn’t just Edmonton, but if a player is worried about re-aggravating an injury, that won’t change if they wait an extra week. The biggest hurdle when returning to action is their brain and not thinking about being re-injured. I don’t think it is exclusive to Edmonton.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

I think it’s a sign of a competitive player. For a guy like Frederic, he wants to have a spot in the lineup and I’m sure he wants to earn every penny of that big extension, so maybe he returns before he is truly 100%. For Jarry, it’s probably pretty similar. He was on a new team last year and was under pressure to be the guy and he also probably didn’t want to lose the crease to Ingram. Ankle injuries can be tricky too, so hopefully for Frederic it’s truly in the rearview mirror and he can be the player he was a few years ago in Boston.

Zach Laing:

It was a groin injury last year for Jarry, and it sounds like it was more of a mental thing than it was a physical thing. There’s always a give-and-take of players pushing to play and the team trying to do what’s best for them, and the team.

Michael Menzies:

Good enough to play, and being 100 per cent yourself are two different things. If they only played when they were 100 per cent, lineups would look much different. It’s more of a general comment on hockey than Oilers specific.

Baggedmilk:

I don’t think so. Injuries happen. This is hockey, not badminton.

May 25, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) celebrates after he scores a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (not pictured) during the first period in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

3) Dylan asks – We know there aren’t really many spots up for grabs with the Oilers at this stage of their franchise history, but what lineup opportunities do you see as currently up for grabs?

Jason Gregor:

Jarry and Levi are the goalies.
Bouchard, Shea, Ekholm, Murphy, Walman, Mukhamadullin, Emberson and Stastney are the D.
McDavid, Draisaitl, Podkolzin, Howard, RNH, Hyman, Dickinson, Kapanen, Frederic, Joseph, Formenton, Dach and Samanski are the forwards.

Dach and Samanski are battling for a centre spot. Max Jones will be in tough to make the roster, because he doesn’t kill penalties like Joseph and Formenton.

The decisions will get interesting when Savoie returns as well as Andersen, because then two players will need to go down. Likely one forward and one D-man.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

The fourth-line centre spot is absolutely up for grabs. Frederic, Dach and Samanski all seem like they’ll be given a chance to earn that job with Dach getting some early looks with the wingers that you’d think would be on the team’s fourth line. That and the battle between Emberson and Muhkamadullin for a spot on the third pairing will be interesting. Everything else seems pretty settled right now, unless a bottom-six winger really surprises in camp.

Zach Laing:

Oh, there’s plenty. If McDavid, Draisaitl and Podkolzin make the top line, it basically makes the entirety of the other nine forward spots up for grabs. Can Nuge be a 2C? If not, who can? Will Colton Dach be 4C? If not, who will? Who makes up the new penalty kill units? Will Isaac Howard make sense in the top-six?

Michael Menzies:

In terms of staying with the team, very few. The Colton Dach trial at centre is underway, which should make Josh Samanski nervous. Those two seem on a collision course for playing time. I tend to think they wouldn’t be bad playing together…but I digress. Howard, too, can’t be certain of his status. Quinn Hutson and Max Jones would have to pull a rabbit, most likely. Eduards Tralmaks, Owen Michaels, and Tomas Cibulka a full-on David Copperfield.

It’s the combinations that are up in the air, depending on which napkin you steal from Babcock’s plate.

Baggedmilk:

The fourth line seems wide open.

Nov 7, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (85) passes the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

4) Gregg asks – The Oil have too many NHL defencemen right now, and it appears Shakir Mukhamadullin has a leg up on Ty Emberson for the third pair. Who do you see as the best fit for that 3RD slot?

Jason Gregor:

I don’t think Emberson is out of the competition yet. They know what he can do and playing Mukhamadullin with Ekholm to start is about trying to make the young guy comfortable. I suspect he will get a longer look because of his age and size, but once the season starts, he will need to play well or Emberson will get his opportunity.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

First off, depth is a good thing. Having an NHL-calibre defenseman in the press box every night is a luxury for a coaching staff. With that said, I’d think that Emberson’s track record will give him an edge. I just think he’ll be more trustworthy and Babcock will value that.

Zach Laing:

It will come down to one of those two. Emberson was solid last night, and I’l sure we’ll see Mukhamadullin Tuesday in Winnipeg. Early indications are that Mukhamadullin has the inside track.

Michael Menzies:

Mukhamadullin seems to be the ceiling and potential move. Emberson is the known, but decidedly unsexy, quantity. There was that brief chatter in certain circles in I wanna say February or March suggesting Emberson could blossom into a second pair guy. Credit to him. My guess today is that both will play a lot and that Shak has the inside track for No. 6 on the depth chart.

Baggedmilk:

I’m sad that Ty Emberson looks like the odd man out. I like him. He’s steady defensively, and I think he could help. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s in the cards.

Oct 21, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save during warmup against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.

5) Oilers fan in Van asks – Nothing to do with the Oilers, but how does everyone think Kevin Cheveldayoff should approach the Connor Hellebuyck trade request? Is he better off to be patient, or should he make a deal sooner to remove the distraction from his team?

Jason Gregor:

He must think big picture. He can’t just give in and trade him for an average return. He needs to ensure players know he will only trade them if he can get a deal that is satisfactory to the organization. I don’t see it being a distraction when Hellebuyck isn’t around the team.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

I’d let him sit until three weeks into the season and hope that a true contender is getting some really poor goaltending and is willing to pay a higher price out of desperation, like the Oilers did for Tristan Jarry last season. At the same time, if this lingered into November, he will be under more and more pressure to just kill this story and simply take the best offer that he can. My guess is Hellebuyck is in a new sweater by November 1.

Zach Laing:

As Michael Menzies pointed out in his Sunday Scramble, goalie trades rarely return good value. Chevy should’ve taken Carolina’s offer of Alexander Nikishin and a first.

Michael Menzies:

As Zach Laing points out above, I pointed out in the Sunday Scramble that goalie trades rarely return good value.

But seriously, Cheveldayoff has to thread a fine needle. Until either Winnipeg, or a potential suitor reaches some pressure point, either a bad start, injury, etc, I don’t see when this gets resolved. They are complicated trades. Winnipeg likely needs a goaltender back. But suggestions that they’ll get a good goalie, a good roster player, a 1st round pick, and a prospect — some four-pronged package — isn’t going to happen. Watch for the heels to dig into the ice.

Baggedmilk:

Ride it out. Wait for the best trade available and pull trigger then. Who cares if Hellebuyck doesn’t get paid? Kick rocks, home boy.

PRESENTED BY STAKE

The "get me out of here" all-stars, a full roster of NHL stars who forced trades

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:41:28 -0400

The big story in the NHL over the first days of camp is a pair of pending trades. The situations involving Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin are playing out in different ways, with Larkin reporting to camp in Detroit (but not taking the ice due to injury), while Hellebuyck sits at home rather than join his teammates in Winnipeg.
Two different scenarios, but both are part of the same bigger story: Star players who want out. We already saw it play out to some degree with Brady Tkachuk’s exit from Ottawa, and Zach Werenski was about to do the same in Columbus before changing his mind. It’s all led to a lot of talk about the NHL’s new era of player empowerment, where stars aren’t shy about forcing their way out a situation they don’t want to be in.
It’s an important development. But is it really all that new?
From a near-term view, it is. It’s rare that we see a player try this sort of power play these days, let alone multiple stars at once. But zoom out a bit and you realize that in the bigger picture, these sorts of stories aren’t all that rare in NHL history. In fact, they’re pretty common.
How common? Let’s find out by building an all-time roster of stars who forced trades.

>> Read the full post for free at The Athletic

Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers: Today’s Hockey Headlines | September 21, 2026

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:30:29 -0400
A daily roundup of Jets, Moose coverage and all the pro hockey news that matters in Manitoba and beyond.

Winnipeg Jets make second cut of 2026-27 training camp

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 19:44:38 -0400
And then there was one less netminder in the mix.

Sunday Scramble: McDavid and Draisaitl ‘must do things right’, and the Babcock Honeymoon

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 17:00:45 -0400

From the quick burst of training camp to a home game days later, Edmonton Oilers fans got to see the familiar and new faces on Saturday night, while Mike Babcock stood on the pine to gather real, in-game information.

As expected for a home preseason game, and only two games you can play league vets, many of the big dogs got their wheels turning in a 5-2 victory against an AHL-calibre Winnipeg squad. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard against that Jets roster? Unfair.

I watched what I could on the bus ride home from Grande Prairie, so I don’t have a thorough review to provide, as the valleys of Highway 43 have dead zones that make streaming difficult.

I did have some impressions in the moonlight, but let’s agree the team they played against was not an NHL team.

Ryan Shea should complement the Oilers’ backend. Maybe the future is now with a new Evan Bouchard partner? My measured hopes were for Shea to provide a Kulak-plus type of package. Solid floor, good penalty killing, and overall a safety feeling when he was on the ice. Great first impression.

Alex Formenton still has his wheels. I still believe he and the organization should do more to reach out to the community, considering the small smattering of a protest outside, but in terms of the player, he looks galvanized for the chance. Could he be a Connor Brown-esque player?

I’d like to see Colton Dach at centre again against stiffer competition. There were segments and situations I thought he did well and others I wasn’t so much a fan of. The line with Formenton and Mathieu Joseph outshot the opposition 5-4 in a little more than 10 minutes together five-on-five. Babcock raved about Dach, though. He’s taken a liking.

Isaac Howard seemed quiet. Is he just a top-six, must-play with skill, or bust type of player?

Why do we keep doing this with Josh Brown?

Babcock: 97 and 29 ‘must do things right’

Almost like it was scripted, Leon Draisaitl turned over a puck roughly 15 seconds into the hockey game, allowing Mike Babcock to flex his coaching muscle and pull him off to set the tone.

This quote from Babcock from before the game got some attention. He was asked a pedestrian question about whether his focus in a tune-up game is more about the players on the bubble trying to make the team as opposed to 97 and 29.

“One hundred per cent the opposite,” he said. “Those guys got to do things right, and if they do things right, everyone else will do things right.

“They’re the most important people to do things without the puck that we need. Now they’re going to play their game, but they have to play with detail without the puck, and so that’s their focus for sure. Then the second part is to find depth. We need depth in the organization, so we don’t have to play those guys too much. So that’s my job: find it.”

Rick Swan, who was a Bonnyville Pontiacs coach for years and learned the game from a similar Clare Drake-Billy Moores school of thought used to repeat this phrase daily: “Doing it right is an all the time thing.”

This is what Babcock is pointing to.

What Oilers fans who watch every game know, and is only said in hushed tones in trusted company for fear of lynching in the public square, is that McDavid and Draisaitl don’t always do it right. They often do, but there are times…

In the total blame pie chart, their slices are smaller than most, with so much offensive compensation. The game revolves around them. But there are also backchecks and half-hearted plays away from the puck that you’ll notice during a long season.

But they can be better? I think so, and apparently, so do they. That’s what made a lot of fans excited about that Babcock clip, and the myriad of quotes from 97 and 29 that repeat how much they want to be coached.

With that said, if they knew they had these flaws, why didn’t they just do it before? No coach in their lives has ever harped on this? Or is it because of Babcock’s resume that they’ll actually do it?

But also remember…

As someone who listens to all the scrums, I’m going to enjoy Mike Babcock, the Hit Machine. He’s got his good ol’ Saskatchewan charm in front of the microphone and is going to give his rip, like it or not.

But let’s not forget something crucial here about entering the Babcock Zone — this is exactly what happened in Toronto when he was hired. The breath of fresh air and $50 million honeymoon with his shoot-from-the-lip verbal is all part of the pattern. Behind the scenes, the situation wasn’t so cohesive.

This isn’t to poo-poo the growing fan excitement of Babcock. My point is, this is how he is. His charisma in front of the microphone isn’t the issue, and it all follows the cycle of getting used to his unique bent at the mic.

Just like a player in preseason, don’t overreact to what you see early on. Let’s get a greater sample size, on and off the ice.

Record last week: 1-0 (preseason).

This week:

Tuesday at Winnipeg

Thursday at Vancouver

Saturday vs Calgary

The Jets are in a horrible spot

We’ve seen Alexei Yashin’s name in digital print. Not related to his skills, but to being one of the most famous holdouts in NHL history.

Because for the first time in a long time in the NHL, there could be legitimate ugliness between a team and their star that spans weeks into months, and training camps into snowfall.

Connor Hellebuyck won’t report to training camp, and the Winnipeg Jets have, in turn, suspended him. Arguably the best goaltender in the game at 33-years-old wants a trade, and the Jets need to make the best deal possible, while having little negotiating power in a trade.

I don’t see anything happening with Hellebuyck until there’s some pressure point for another team to improve their bid, or the Jets situation becomes so dire that they need players now.

The Buffalo Sabres may not submit a worthy trade offer unless they start 2-5-1, let’s say. Or the New Jersey Devils might have to watch Jake Allen make eight straight starts with average results before poker player Sunny Mehta is ready to call a bluff.

Another team will have to feel the pinch before the offers get close to what Winnipeg feels they need, or the noise in the market will have to grow so loud the Jets capitulate.

But I see heels being dug in. The dirty not-so-secret thing is, goalie trades are complicated and never fetch a good return. Done in season, it’s even more daunting if it involves players coming back the other way.

The greatest goaltenders ever didn’t command the type of returns. Two immediate examples, albeit 25 years ago and counting, are Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek.

In both situations, there was either a trade request or a money problem, and Montreal and Buffalo were under pressure to make trades.

In Hasek’s case, he had already won six Vezina Trophies, two Harts, and an Olympic gold medal, and Buffalo said at the time they were willing to pay any price, even more than his $9 million option. Hasek wanted to go elsewhere and the Sabres were at risk of losing him in free agency.

With these pressure points in mind, and a very limited trade list, Detroit gave up Slava Kozlov, who was mired in a downslope of his career on a deep Wings roster, a 2002 first-round pick (Jim Slater) and future considerations in 2001.

Kozlov was gone a year later, the pick didn’t work out, and Buffalo was SOL.

Roy infamously jeered back at the Montreal Forum crowd, the culmination of a fractured relationship with coach and management. Alongside Mike Keane, Roy fetched three young players who showed some promise at times, but were middle-six skaters and a serviceable netminder: Martin Rucinsky, Andrei Kovalenko, and Jocelyn Thibault.

More recent examples have draft picks doing the heavy lifting, like Darcy Kuemper to Colorado for a first, a conditional third, and a prospect, or Jacob Markstrom from Calgary to New Jersey for a first and a solid defenceman in Kevin Bahl.

So the package is going to be some combo of a first-round pick, that team’s goaltender, and a mid-grade active player or mid- to upper-tier prospect. Anything more, like is suggested with perhaps two good roster players, plus the futures, would break convention, and I don’t see it happening in-season, if ever.

A winged wheel with broken spokes

These are not the Detroit Red Wings we remember.

On the one hand, you have captain Dylan Larkin wanting out, providing a “virtuous” three-team trade list, stripped of the captaincy, holding a press conference where he says he’s going to be open and honest, and then says he isn’t ready to say why he wants a trade. In fact, “he might never be ready.”

Fair to say this is a pressing issue when the face of the franchise is saying “get me out of here.” But it sure doesn’t feel pressing when, from owner Chris Illitch downwards, the organization treats hiring their general manager like cleaning out a shed: “I’ll get to it when I get to it.”

These timelines are one of the grossest examples of mismanagement we’ve seen in recent NHL memory. You punt your general manager after the draft? You conduct a GM search, even contacting names for interviews, don’t interview them, and then have your interim Shawn Horcoff, unable to conduct business, to then decide on the eve of training camp that he’s going to be the guy after all.

But wait, he’s still the interim, because the search is still going on. Kind of. What the hell is going on here?

Larkin is a Pretty Big Situation to deal with, but there are also those niggling to-dos. It’s not generated as much press in the broader hockey chatter, but Simon Edvidsson needs a contract. Ya know, the guy you drafted sixth overall in 2021, that guy? Perhaps the other pillar to your blueline for the next decade?

Thank goodness he’s still attending camp, being a good sport about it all in this day and age where agents are soaking $80 million contracts based largely on potential.

It might be good to get this stuff figured out since, again, you’re looking to snap a 10-year playoff drought, where Hockeytown has become synonymous with springtime collapse.

There’s no doubt the Wings fan is getting the shaft big time in this ordeal, watching their once-proud institution look completely inept, and somehow keeping pace with the Anaheim Ducks for having the worst offseason in the league.

What a bizarrely run franchise. It ain’t 1995 anymore. Things happen in today’s world a lot faster than this, guys.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

THE FIRST NATION VACATION OF THE 2026/27 SEASON IS HERE!

Toronto is calling — and this isn’t your average hockey trip.

The first 2026/27 Nation Vacation presented by JetSet Parking is here, and we’re taking over Toronto for one hell of a weekend.

From November 13–16, 2026, you’ll experience Edmonton vs. Toronto from a VIP suite surrounded by your people, fellow Nation fans and special guests who’ll make this more than just a night at the rink.

Add in Nation events, a pre-game celebration, a downtown Toronto stay and a weekend built around hockey, and you’ve got an experience you simply can’t get from buying a ticket and booking a hotel.

And you can reserve your spot with just $500 down.

Bring the jersey. Bring your crew. We’ll bring the Nation.

A hockey trip is good. A Nation Vacation is better.

RESERVE YOUR TRIP at nationexperiences.ca.

Unfrozen after 47 years: Ace sports writer brought back in Oilers’ time of need

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 16:00:42 -0400

Chaz Horton was a big deal in Edmonton in 1979. So big a deal that the sports reporter was cryogenically frozen until he was needed most. With the Oilers in “show me” mode with McDavid, that time is now.

Hello, Edmonton, it’s true, I was top dog back in the day. I’m 30 per cent journalist, 30 per cent Alberta beef, and 90 per cent hockey fan. Forty-seven years ago, the Oilers were about to join the NHL with three other teams from the WHA.

A reclusive millionaire who lived in the river valley came up with a crazy idea. He wanted a veteran sports writer to travel to the future. Of course, I jumped at the chance. I mean, my 45-year-old brain and ageless style could really help the fans. Scientists held clandestine meetings at Muttart Conservatory. It was a kind of pyramid scheme.

Then they built a hidden laboratory at the U of A, and they planned to cryogenically freeze me indefinitely. I wasn’t quite sure what “indefinitely” actually meant, but I was sure it would be fine. I’d watched tons of Disney movies where there were wild experiments and it always turned out well.

Now I’m back, and so far, things are going ok. I hear two superstars are now leading the Oilers and have come close to winning the Cup. Can’t believe that the organization has already won five. I believe that’s five more than Vancouver and four more than that team in Calgary.

After I was unfrozen, I set up a trailer down by the North Saskatchewan River, and I’m getting my bearings. Had an unfortunate incident with a faulty propane tank and a raccoon. But that could happen to anyone.

I’ve joined the great crew at Daily Faceoff Edmonton to write about the Oilers. The staff were stunned to hear about the whole cryo-freezing thing. But I told them I went to N.W.I.T. and was a pretty seasoned journalist. They hadn’t heard of the North Western Institute of Technology in Edson. I told them to trust me and forget about the fact that people refer to our graduates as nitwits.

This afternoon, members of DFO Edmonton took me to an old storage locker. All my belongings and my car were there. Perfectly preserved, under a layer of dust. My ’79 Trans Am is back, baby, so it looks like I’m not the only Firebird to rise from the ashes. People from the office helped me haul everything to my trailer. They set me up with something called an iPhone and a laptop. I was pretty surprised when the new phone started talking back to me like Charlie from Charlie’s Angels.

Driving around the city was eye-opening; it’s grown so much! I hear there’s over a million people living here now, that’s crazy. However, I was bummed out I couldn’t find any eight-track tapes for my car’s stereo, I guess I’ll have to use something called “Blue Tooth”?

On Wednesday, I visited the Oilers training camp, and I was blown away. The rink is wild! It looks as if a UFO from Close Encounters of the Third Kind has landed in downtown. And the team, where do I start? How do they skate like that? What voodoo has happened since I watched my last game?! Connor McDavid looks like Buck Rodgers out there, the guy is unreal! Even some of those big guys can move. This is a completely different league now. The last time I watched games, goalies weren’t as big or athletic either. Goals must be as hard to get as a ticket to a Van Halen concert.

Last night, I took in the first pre-season game of the year with the Oilers facing the Winnipeg Jets. Once again, I was taken aback by the pace. McDavid, Joseph, and Formenton are the fastest players I’ve ever seen. When the top guys had a shift, they looked like the Harlem Globetrotters out there. I think we might have a pretty decent lineup this year.

I was about to light up a cigar to celebrate the 5-2 win, when I was told smoking at the rink is frowned upon. Something about smoking permanently damaging people’s lungs: I guess things are a bit different now. After being asleep for almost 50 years, I can’t wait to see what else has changed.

Stay groovy, Oil Country.

Notes from Day 4 of Winnipeg Jets training camp

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 15:50:24 -0400
The latest Jets lines, practice notes and media from Hockey for All Centre.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel media availability on Day 4 of training camp

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 15:40:15 -0400
We heard from the bench boss between skates as he discussed Monday’s veteran-heavy Jets lineup, system progress and more.

Day 4 of Winnipeg Jets training camp: Morgan Barron media availability

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:53:02 -0400
The Nova Scotia product discusses building on last season, roster competition, team bonding and more after today’s skate.

Day 4 of Winnipeg Jets training camp: Dylan Samberg media availability

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:34:45 -0400
The Minnesotan discusses his summer work, the team’s structure, Mario Ferraro and more following Saturday’s skate.

The Oilers can’t risk going all season without signing Savoie to extension

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:00:15 -0400

In recent times, teams across the National Hockey League have been signing young, high-potential players with limited action to long-term deals.

Back in early August, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Ville Koivunen to an eight-year deal with a cap hit worth $4 million. Following that, Zeev Buium, Noah Östlund, Ryan Leonard, and Justin Sourdif signed eight-year extensions; Fraser Minten signed a seven-year extension; Braeden Bowman signed a six-year extension; and Luke Evangelista signed a five-year extension.

These players show some similarities. While they range from top-10 picks to undrafted, all seven players are 24 years old or younger and have shown promise in limited NHL games. Evangelista is the outlier, playing 259 games. The next closest is Minten, who has played 113 games. Every other player listed has played 92 or fewer games.

Most players also had similar production output as well. The only outlier here is Koivunen, who scored just two goals in 47 games. Buium scored six goals and 26 points, although he is a defenceman. Bowman only scored eight goals, but had 26 points in 54 games. Every other player had between 11 and 20 goals and 27 and 56 points, with Evangelista again being the outlier here.

One young player who hasn’t signed an extension despite being eligible for one is Edmonton Oilers forward Matthew Savoie. Selected ninth overall in 2022 by the Buffalo Sabres, Savoie was traded to the Oilers during the 2024 off-season. After a season mainly spent in the American Hockey League, Savoie became a full-time NHLer last season.

Savoie had a slow start to his 2025-26 season, scoring just two goals and five points over his first 23 games. He played slightly better over his next 33 games, scoring seven goals and 13 points leading into the Olympic break. Over his first 56 games in 2025-26, Savoie scored nine goals and 18 points.

Savoie was a totally different player when NHL play resumed. Moving up to the top six to play alongside Connor McDavid, Savoie scored nine goals and 19 points over his final 26 games, giving him 18 goals and 37 points in 82 games last season. Only Evangelista, who was playing his fourth season in the NHL, and Leonard, another top-10 pick, finished with more points.

Not all eight of the players signing extensions will reach their potential like the team hopes. Locking up young talent, especially those who haven’t really proven it, runs some risk, and Savoie is in the same boat.

He had a terrific end to his 2025-26 season once he regularly played with McDavid, but is that sustainable over the course of a full season, or a long-term deal that lasts six or seven years? Before the Olympic break, Savoie was on pace for just 13 goals and 26 points — a solid rookie campaign, but worthy of a long-term contract? Probably not.

The building blocks are there to be a staple in the Oilers’ top six for years to come, but a little bit more has to be shown before they sign him to a long-term deal. That runs its own risks, as he could command more if he has a good season, or elect to sign a shorter-term deal to reach free agency sooner.

But there are just too many question marks regarding his 2025-26 season to commit at this point. Will he bounce back from his off-season injury? Who will he play with to begin his season, and will he find the same production? These questions must be answered before a decision is made regarding a long-term extension.

That said, a decision will need to be made. In the same off-season that the Oilers acquired Savoie, they lost Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets, removing two young pieces from a championship window. While neither player lived up to where they were selected (14th and ninth, respectively) in their Oilers tenure, they’ve broken out since joining the St. Louis Blues.

Following the 2026-27 season, if Savoie remains unsigned, he’ll be offer-sheet eligible come July 1, 2027. After losing two important members for the Oilers’ contention window back in 2024, they just can’t afford to lose Savoie and his potential.

If Savoie gets off to a good start to his season once returning from injury, or has a similar type of season as last, signing him to a contract is a must. Whether that be a long-term contract is anyone’s best guess, but it’s one of the biggest question marks surrounding this team entering the 2026-27 season.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

The Tournament That Didn't Happen

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:21:08 -0400

I'm sure there are a few people who question my sanity when it comes to some of the things I find in the online newspaper archives I use simply because it looks like I spend a lot of time there. What normally happens is that I go searching for something, and a story will catch my eye that needs more thorough investigation because of a claim or conjecture made. That's exactly what happened today as one newspaper published an interesting "sports quickie" that absolutely needed context and examination.

First off, let's start off with what caught my attention in the archive.

According to the Austin Herald of Austin, Minnesota, the NHL was planning an "invitational tournament" for all fourteen NHL teams in 1970 that would be played in Winnipeg. Being that my parents and I are all from Winnipeg and had never heard about this tournament, this left me scratching my head. How did the NHL begin plannning a big tournament in a hockey-mad city that never materialized?

With my interest piqued, it was time to start hunting for more information on this tournament that never happened. The internet held no information on this tournament, so the newspaper archive was going to be my source for all the information for something that never happened. The next article that came up was from the Albert Lea Tribune as The Associated Press confirmed the "sports quickie" from the Austin Herald. The good news is there was more information as the NHL seemingly was planning to have the tournament in the fall of 1970 after the proposed World Hockey Tournament was cancelled for host cities Montreal and Winnipeg as Canada disputed the use of professional players at the championship.

There's a bold statement from Maitland Steinkopf, chairman of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation, about this tournament, claiming that, after talking to NHL President Clarence Campbell, there was a "75 per cent chance that it will come off." The former Progressive Conservative politician and longtime businessman made it sound like there was a better than good chance that the tournament would happen for the Manitoba capital. But did it happen, though?

Dozens of newspapers ran The Associated Press's report on between January 30 to February 5, 1970, but an article from MacGregor, Manitoba's The MacGregor Herald gave even more details on what was planned as Steinkopf was aiming for late September or early October for dates, adding "Right now we've just got to clear the dates." All fourteen teams would be able to attend using their players under contract to compete in the one-loss-and-out tournament over the planned week of games. In short, it sounded like a preseason tournament that would have brought the best professional players on the planet together for games. This could have been the start of something that the NHL could build on to spark interest for the coming season.

It appeared that Steinkopf was planning this massive hockey tournament to align with Manitoba's centennial celebration in 1970. He was instrumental in bringing all sorts of projects and events forward that year including the Centennial Concert Hall in downtown Winnipeg and a concert called "Man-Pop" that saw all of Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, the Youngbloods, Chilliwack, the Ides Of March, Dianne Heatherington and the Merry-Go-Round, the Mongrels, and Sugar & Spice perform in Winnipeg for one day. That lineup is insane!

For whatever reason, nothing else was published about this NHL invitational tournament following those early reports in 1970, and it could be because Steinkopf shifted his focus to music as Man-Pop took place on August 29, 1970. My guess is that the dates proposed by Steinkopf didn't work for either the arenas in and around Winnipeg or the NHL clubs themselves, but the tournament evaporated as fast as it seemed to materialize. Winnipeg was not an NHL city in 1970.

There is a bit of a sad note to this story as Maitland Steinkopf passed away on Sunday, November 22, 1970 from a heart attack. Had the tournament happened, his passing would have been just weeks after watching NHL teams compete in the Manitoba capital. It also meant that he missed out on the WHA setting up shop in Winnipeg after luring NHL superstar Bobby Hull to the league which, I believe, would have tickled his showman's heart. Rest peacefully, Mr. Steinkopf.

There's a quick bit of history about what could have been the start of an annual event for the NHL had everything gone to plan with the league-wide invitational tournament. Maitland Steinkopf nearly put Manitoba on the map as a hockey destination with his efforts, but that event simply wasn't in the cards for the city of Winnipeg in 1970.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Looking at where Oilers prospects will play in 2026-27

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:00:57 -0400

The 2026-27 National Hockey League season is right around the corner.

While the Edmonton Oilers kick off their season in less than two weeks, a handful of their prospects have already begun their respective seasons, mainly those still playing overseas. The team lacks a high-end prospect, but they have a few prospects who could become mainstays in the lineup over the coming seasons.

Let’s take a look at where the prospects on their reserve list are playing in 2026-27!

AHL/ECHL

The Oilers’ American Hockey League and ECHL teams will be made up of prospects, though where is still up in the air. Last season, the AHL Bakersfield Condors featured prospects like Connor Clattenburg, Atro Leppänen, Beau Akey, Damien Carfagna, Quinn Hutson, Viljami Marjala, and Isaac Howard.

Hutson and Howard both had good AHL seasons in 2025-26. Both players, especially the latter, will factor into the Oilers’ plans in 2026-27. Marjala also had a good season and could be a candidate for some playing time this season.

There were a few mainstays on the Oilers’ ECHL team in 2025-26 as well. Matt Copponi, Brady Stonehouse, and James Štefan all played 35 or more games with the Fort Wayne Komets in 2025-26, as well as a handful of games with the Condors. They may jump up a level in 2026-27.

The Oilers’ affiliates will also welcome fresh faces this season, as draftee William Nicholl will play in Bakersfield.

Nicholl, drafted in the seventh round in 2024, spent most of his 2025-26 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, but appeared in five regular-season and three post-season games with the Condors to end last season. Both players will likely start their season in the AHL.

The Oilers also added a few older prospects to their ranks in recent months. Owen Michaels was signed following his junior season at Western Michigan University. He’s a 24-year-old right-shot centre who may get a look in the NHL this season.

Tomáš Cibulka signed his entry-level contract in late March after two seasons in Czechia. Last season, the left-shot defenceman scored seven goals and 22 points in 47 games, along with a goal and three assists in four playoff games.

Aku Räty signed in July after 51 games with Karpat of SM-Liiga. In those 51 games, the winger scored 20 goals and 57 points, the eighth-most points in the league. Räty is the older brother of Aatu Räty and made his NHL debut back in 2023-24, picking up an assist in his lone game.

With Matt Tomkins signed, the organization is faced with a bit of a challenge as they have four goaltending prospects for four AHL/ECHL spots. Nathaniel Day and Samuel Jonsson served as the Komets’ tandem last season, and the latter is deserving of a look in the AHL.

Last season, that left Connor Ungar in a weird spot, as he played for three separate ECHL teams, two of which weren’t in the Oilers’ organization. Like Jonsson, Ungar is worthy of a look in the AHL, as he posted a .923 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 13 games with the team last season.

If it were just those three, the Oilers could make it work. However, 2024 second-rounder Eemil Vinni is coming stateside this season after several seasons in Finland. He’ll likely tandem in the ECHL alongside Day, but the Oilers now have five goalies for four jobs.

Europe

Sticking with the professional ranks, albeit overseas, the Oilers retain the rights of eight players. Three are in Russia, while Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland each host one Oiler prospect. The likelihood of a handful of these players playing for the Oilers is now slim to none.

It looked as if Maxim Berezkin could forge a spot on the Oilers’ roster, but the 24-year-old re-signed with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Yaroslavl Lokomotiv after back-to-back Gagarin Cup victories. Berezkin was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Russian defenceman Nikita Yevseyev was drafted in the sixth round two years later, but he’ll return to the KHL’s Kazan Ak-Bars in 2026-27. At only 22 years old, the left-shot defenceman scored four goals and 16 points in 61 games last season. He’s certainly a prospect worth monitoring, especially if he ever comes to North America.

Rounding out Russian-born players is Maxim Denezhkin. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the 25-year-old centre scored 17 goals and 29 points in 55 games with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg last KHL season, the same team he’ll play for this season.

The Oilers hold on to the three Russian-based players’ rights indefinitely. Despite signing with HC Ambri-Piotta of the National League (Switzerland), the Oilers maintain Roby Järventie’s rights as well as they qualified the restricted free agent this past off-season.

Of course, there are two recently drafted prospects who are in Europe as well. Netminder Daniel Salonen, drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, will play for SM-Liiga’s Lukko this season. He appeared in 30 games for Finland’s top-flight team in 2025-26, posting an .887 save percentage and 2.40 goals against average.

In June, the Oilers drafted Malcom Gästrin with the 84th overall pick. The winger has already begun his 2026-27 season with MoDo Hockey’s U20 team in Sweden, where he’s scored two goals and three points in four games. He played four games in Sweden’s second tier last season.

College

Most non-professional Oiler prospects are situated in the ranks of college. Before the end of the last season, they signed Owen Michaels from Western Michigan. Well, two Oilers prospects will play for the 2025 NCAA champions, Tommy Lafrenière and Zack Sharp.

Lafrenière was drafted in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft, scoring 41 goals and 77 points in 67 games with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers in 2025-26. After they fell in the first round of the WHL playoffs, the right winger joined the Bakersfield Condors for five regular-season games and three postseason games. He was signed to an amateur tryout, thus keeping his collegiate eligibility intact.

Sharp was acquired by the Oilers on July 1, as he joined the organization in the Darnell Nurse trade. The defenceman was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Sharks, scoring five goals and 19 points with Western Michigan last season. This will be his third collegiate season.

There are two other Michigan-based Oiler prospects playing in the NCAA this season. Both Asher Barnett and Aidan Park are set to play for the University of Michigan.

Barnett, a defenceman selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, scored five goals and 18 points in 40 games last season with the Wolverines. Park was selected in the seventh round of the same draft and scored eight goals and 16 points in 39 games with the Big-10 team. Both players are entering their sophomore season.

Similarly, 2024 draftees Dalyn Wakely and Bauer Berry are also entering their sophomore seasons.

Wakely is set to play his second season at UMass-Lowell, having scored seven goals and 19 points in 35 games last season. The Port Hope, Ontario product is 22 years old and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Berry, a defenceman, was drafted in the following round and scored three goals and 14 points in 37 games with the University of St. Thomas in 2025-26.

Paul Fischer ranked as our sixth-best prospect in the 2026-27 pre-season list, but is about to embark on his senior season at Notre Dame. Assuming he doesn’t return for a fifth season, the Oilers are set to lose Fischer’s rights on June 1st, 2027, unless he’s signed to an entry-level contract.

Acquired as compensation for the Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway offer sheets (unofficially), the left-shot defenceman scored a career-best six goals and 23 points in 33 games for Notre Dame last season.

Junior

There are five Oiler prospects set to play in junior hockey in 2026-27, two in the Ontario Hockey League and two in the United States Hockey League. Four of the five players were selected in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Rūdolfs Bērzkalns was selected in the second round back in June, and he’ll join the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks for the 2025-26 season. Last year, he scored 13 goals and 25 points in 48 regular season games, then another four goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games. The Latvian centre is committed to Boston College for the 2027-28 season.

Netminder Ryan Cameron, drafted in the seventh round, will play for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede in 2026-27. Last season, the 19-year-old posted an .882 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average in 40 games. Like Bērzkalns, Cameron is committed to Boston College.

The last two prospects were both drafted in June out of the Canadian Hockey League. Andrew Robinson, drafted in the fifth round, and Caden Harvey, drafted in the sixth round, will play their 2026-27 season with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.

Robinson, a defenceman, scored nine goals and 24 points in 63 games last season, then added two goals and eight points in 13 playoff games. Harvey, a right wing, scored 11 goals and 34 points in 68 games, then added three goals and six points in 13 playoff games. Harvey is committed to Penn State; Robinson to Providence College.

Lastly, David Lewandowski, who is still at training camp with the Oilers, is expected to return to the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades. Lewandowski, drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, spent most of his 2025-26 season with the Blades, but appeared in his first AHL game at the tail end of last season.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

Letters to the Editor

Daily Faceoff Edmonton wants to hear from you, the reader, in our new weekly “Letters to the Editor” segment. Letters can be emailed to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor Zach Laing (zach.laing@bettercollective.com), titled “Letters to the Editor.” Please include a letter up to 200 words, including your name and place of residence (city, town, province, or state). Your letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. Letters must be submitted by Sunday morning to be considered for that week’s edition.

The Day After -1.0: Big dogs bark as Oilers make light work of Jets

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:17 -0400

If you wanted any indication of Edmonton Oilers hockey being back, look no further than the team giving up a goal on the second shot against on Saturday night.

For the visiting Winnipeg Jets, who were surely excited to see their young squad get on the board first, that was about all they could get excited about, as from that point on, the Oilers took over the game, leading to a 5-2 win.

It was no surprise to see the Oilers run away with the game. After all, their top line featured Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Vasily Podkolzin, and the top defensive pairing saw Ryan Shea skating with Evan Bouchard. All but Podkolzin would end up with multi-point efforts.

It was Shea who got the Oilers on the board first, dangling around a forward in the offensive zone before firing a shot past Jets netminder Thomas Milic. Minutes later, McDavid would get on the board after carrying the puck around the back of the Jets’ net, throwing a puck in, and thanking whatever favourable bounce he got in front.

While Draisaitl would add a goal in the second period, as a snapshot from the point found twine, Edmonton would add another marker before the period was over. Bouchard would carry the puck from behind his net before looking up-ice, firing a careening pass off the far wall and right onto the stick of his old friend, Alex Formenton. The newest member of the Oilers would make no mistake, tucking home a puck on his backhand.

It’s not easy to draw much from early pre-season games, but there were some things worth noting.

The top line dominated their minutes, which should be the least surprising thing out there. But the remainder of the forward lines struggled. The second line of Formenton, Colton Dach, and Mathieu Joseph was the best of the rest, though, breaking even in shot attempts, and controlling 45.5 per cent of the expected goal share. The third line of Josh Samanski, Isaac Howard and Max Jones, as well as the fourth line of William Nicholl, Owen Michaels and Seth Griffith, each got outshot 4-1 at five-on-five. Not great.

The top penalty kill unit was made up of McDavid, Formenton, Shea, and Bouchard, and they outshot the Jets power play 1-0. There is speed to burn for Formenton, and we all know how quick McDavid can play, so this could be a very interesting unit to watch. They’ll force opposing teams to be more cautious, because one bounce the other way could quickly turn into a two-on-one for the Oilers.

Besides giving up the first goal on the second shot, Tristan Jarry looked solid for the Oilers. He played the first two periods, posting a .938 save percentage and saving .93 goals above expected, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Dach, for just the fourth time in his NHL career, played centre and looked the part. He went nine-for-15 (60 per cent) in the faceoff dot, and got a bit of time on both special teams.

Edmonton’s next pre-season action comes on Tuesday, when they hit the road to visit the Jets.

Zach Laing is Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

Letters to the Editor

Daily Faceoff Edmonton wants to hear from you, the reader, in our new weekly “Letters to the Editor” segment. Letters can be emailed to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor Zach Laing (zach.laing@bettercollective.com), titled “Letters to the Editor.” Please include a letter up to 200 words, including your name and place of residence (city, town, province, or state). Your letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. Letters must be submitted by Sunday morning to be considered for that week’s edition.

Oilers loan Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day to Condors

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:05 -0400

The Edmonton Oilers have made two more cuts to their training camp roster.

Following Saturday’s game, the Oilers announced that Samuel Jonsson and Nathaniel Day were loaned to the Oilers’ American Hockey League team, the Bakersfield Condors. With this cut, the Oilers’ training camp roster now stands at 54 players, featuring 31 forwards, 17 defencemen, and six netminders.

The #Oilers have loaned goaltenders Samuel Jonsson & Nathaniel Day to the @Condors. https://t.co/AmOZDmIEJH

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 20, 2026

Jonsson was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of Sweden. After spending the 2024-25 season with Bofors IK in Sweden’s second tier, the right-catching goalie made the move to North America.

Over 33 games with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets, the 22-year-old had a .910 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average with a 21-8-2 record. He also appeared in 10 post-season games, finishing with a .925 save percentage and 2.31 goals against average. Jonsson ranked as our 12th-best prospect ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Jonsson split the Komets’ crease with Day last season. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the Grimsby, Ontario product finished the season with an .893 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average over 39 games, appearing in seven post-season games where he had a .912 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average.

Both prospects appeared in the NextGen game earlier this week. Day stopped all six shots he faced in the first period, while Jonsson allowed the lone goal the Oilers surrendered, but made numerous high-danger saves.

As it stands, the Oilers have four goaltending prospects and a veteran goaltender (Matt Tomkins) fighting for four spots between the ECHL and AHL. The other two goaltending prospects, Eemil Vinni and Connor Ungar, remain on the training camp roster for now.

Next up for the Oilers is a rematch against the Jets in Manitoba on Tuesday at 6 p.m. MT.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers: Today’s Hockey Headlines | September 20, 2026

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:30:46 -0400
A daily roundup of Jets, Moose coverage and all the pro hockey news that matters in Manitoba and beyond.

Babcock says Formenton could be ‘difference-maker’ for Oilers after scoring in pre-season debut

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 23:30:18 -0400

The mood outside Rogers Place was much different from the mood inside Rogers Place on Saturday night.

While a group of 100 protesters gathered outside the home rink of the Edmonton Oilers ahead of their pre-season game against the Winnipeg Jets, making their displeasure known about the team’s controversial signing of winger Alex Formenton, the same couldn’t be heard inside.

In fact, when he tucked home his first pre-season goal, there weren’t any boos inside.

Outside, protesters’ signs and chants made their stance known.

“Acquitted does not equal innocent,” “drunk isn’t consent,” and “acquitted fourth-liner over lifelong fans … really, Bowman?” were among the signs seen by an Edmonton Sun reporter, while those gathered chanted “Formie’s got to go, no means no.” Among those in the crowd were Oilers superfan Mama Stanley, who earlier this month said she would no longer support the team in the wake of Formenton’s signing.

Formenton himself, meanwhile, was twice avoidant of questions about fans’ anger at his signing.

“Yeah, to be honest, I’ve been laser-focused on trying to make this team and get better every day,” he said. “And, you know, whatever role that I have on this team, trying to perfect that. So, I’ve had laser focus on getting better each day.”

Asked again if he’s been trying to cut out “outside noise,” Formenton doubled down.

“Yeah, like I said before, my main focus is getting better here. And, you know, I want to do everything possible to make the most out of this opportunity.”

The Oilers would go on to win the game 5-2.

Formenton made his impact on the ice swiftly, using his speed multiple times to separate on multiple partial breakaways, creating scoring chances for the team. He was also on the top penalty-killing unit with Oilers captain Connor McDavid and defencemen Ryan Shea and Evan Bouchard, with the four outshooting the Jets 1-0.

His performance impressed head coach Mike Babcock.

“Pretty good, eh?” said Babcock. “I mean, what a difference-maker he’s going to be for us.

“Elite penalty killer, puts pressure on the other team. I thought him, Joe, and Docker [linemates Mathieu Joseph and Colton Dach] were unreal.”

There’s rust to Formenton’s game, as was to be expected. The winger has been out of the NHL since 2022 after being acquitted in the Hockey Canada Five trial that saw him, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote charged with sexual assault from a 2018 incident in London, Ont.

The Oilers saw something they liked in the player, and he looks poised to make the team out of training camp, potentially in a fourth-line role with Joseph and Dach.

Zach Laing is Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

Letters to the Editor

Daily Faceoff Edmonton wants to hear from you, the reader, in our new weekly “Letters to the Editor” segment. Letters can be emailed to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor Zach Laing (zach.laing@bettercollective.com), titled “Letters to the Editor.” Please include a letter up to 200 words, including your name and place of residence (city, town, province, or state). Your letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. Letters must be submitted by Sunday morning to be considered for that week’s edition.

Instant Reaction: Evan Bouchard’s four points lead Oilers to 5-2 pre-season win over Jets

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 22:45:49 -0400

It may be pre-season, but the Edmonton Oilers look pretty darn good.

On Saturday evening, the Oilers played their first of four pre-season games, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 5-2. This win came after a 6-1 victory in the NextGen game earlier this week against Calgary Flames prospects. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!

The Jets struck first, scoring the game’s opening goal two minutes into the game. Max Jones was unable to keep the puck in the zone, leading to an odd-man rush. Parker Ford snuck in on the weak side, receiving a pass and tapping it past Tristan Jarry for a 1-0 lead.

Fordo wasting NO TIME ✈️

Oilers 2026 Prospect Countdown No. 2: Shakir Mukhamadullin

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 19:00:06 -0400

Welcome to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s countdown of the top 20 prospects in the Edmonton Oilers system.

The last defender on our list is one of the newest additions, Shakir Mukhamadullin.

#2: Shakir Mukhamadullin

Age: 24

Position: D

Shoots: Left

Nationality: Russia

Date of Birth: Jan. 10, 2002

Drafted: First round, 20th overall, 2020 (New Jersey Devils)

Height and weight: 6-4 / 201 lbs.

2025-26 stats (NHL):

50 GP | 5G | 7A | 12P

Contract status: Year one of a two-year contract, $1,750,000 cap hit

The left-shot defenceman was acquired in the trade that sent longtime Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks. Mukhamadullin is originally a New Jersey Devils first-round selection in 2020, but was shipped over to San Jose in the Timo Meier trade. During his draft year, the Russian defenceman was playing in Russia with the Salavat Yulaev Ufa program. Mukhamadullin played 13 games in the MHL (Russia’s second division), but played in 27 games with the KHL squad. Mukhamadullin played two more years in the Salavat Yulaev Ufa program before coming over to North America.

During the 2021-22 season, Mukhamadullin got into three playoff games with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, before being traded during the off-season. In 2022-23, the six-foot-four defender played in 67 KHL games and 12 AHL games; 2023-24 was the first season that Mukhamadullin played completely in North America. The 201-pound defender put up a great first full AHL season with seven goals and 27 assists in 55 games played; Mukhamadullin even got in three NHL games with the Sharks. The following season, the former first-rounder played in only 21 AHL games compared to 30 NHL games.

The 2025-26 season was Mukhamadullin’s breakout campaign, as he only played with the Sharks’ big club. The former San Jose prospect played in 50 games, scoring five goals and totalling 12 points. Toward the end of the season, Mukhamadullin played about 18 to 20 minutes per night and took on some penalty-killing duties. In my viewings, the 24-year-old defender played most of his minutes alongside Mario Ferraro. Sometimes the Russian prospect would play with youngster Sam Dickinson; in these scenarios, Mukhamadullin would play his off-side. To make the Oilers’ opening-night roster, he will have to be okay with playing the right side.

One of the first aspects of Mukhamadullin’s game is his size and skating combo. Standing at six-foot-four, Mukhamadullin shows off strong skating mechanics in certain areas. The new defenceman has a good first two steps and gets his knees above his toes, like Josh Samanski; his crossovers are quick and smooth. Mukhamadullin has strong edges as well, being able to spin off of pressure and maintain his balance.

Mukhamadullin maintains a solid base while skating backward as well. Legs are apart, butt is down a good amount, good hinge at the hips, and of course the excellent length. There were instances where the former Sharks player would get caught transitioning from backwards to forward skating. If a player can get to the inside of your triangle, they will take advantage of this all day; just something minor I noticed.

There were moments when his stride got a little short, but that was rare. With Mukhamadullin’s use of crossovers and his strong first two steps, I don’t think this will be a long-term issue at all. The Russian defenceman uses his skating ability to help strengthen other areas of his game, like our next topic. I was impressed with Mukhamadullin’s retrieval game in all of my viewings. The skating helps with his retrievals, but Mukhamadullin’s pre-scanning and shoulder checking were just as impressive.

Another note I kept taking down was how Mukhamadullin used his 6-4 frame. It’s not like he’s crushing opponents, but the stout defender creates contact and gains inside positioning. More often than not, Mukhamadullin can control forechecking pressure, use his shoulder checks, and make the right decision when it comes to moving the puck. What gets me excited about Mukhamadullin is that he is proficient in what I call “the big three” for a defender: how’s your first touch (retrievals)? How do you defend your blueline (controlled entries against)? Are you able to leave the defensive zone effectively (defensive zone exits)? We already talked about retrievals, but the next one up in the big three is controlled entries against. How’s your gap control? Do you allow controlled entries? Are you applying pressure early and often?

Mukhamadullin is very mobile and has an extremely long reach; the best part is that he knows how to use it to his advantage. The offseason acquisition will be known for his defensive play, and I think you’ll see Mukhamadullin force a lot of dump-ins/turnovers this season. Not only does he defend the blueline well, but I like how quick he is on opposing forwards in the defensive zone.

There is a lot to like in how Mukhamadullin defends. Against third and fourth lines in the NHL, I can see him putting up good defensive results. Going back to the big three, the third and final crucial area I look at is: are we leaving the zone efficiently? I don’t only focus on leaving the defensive zone; I do like to see good puck movement throughout the ice, but being able to make a play on the breakout is critical. The former first-rounder is excellent when it comes to leaving his zone. In my viewings this year, I found he struggled a bit early on in the season, but with more time and experience, it started to look like he took a step in this area. There were some examples already linked above showcasing Mukhamadullin using his feet to exit the zone, but the young player can make some great passes.

Nothing crazy, but very effective. That’s all Mukhamadullin will need to be regarding his passing game; as I said, most of the value lies in how well he defends. However, we love players who can move the puck up quickly and get the offence started. That’s why I think Mukhamadullin has a bit more to give as a player. It’s because of his ability to consistently make the right play in his own zone, leading to a transition.

Shakir Mukhamadullin’s 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

I think we’ll see Mukhamadullin make the Oilers’ opening day roster this year, either as their number six or seven defenceman. I think he will get some opportunities to kill penalties, but will mostly be playing against bottom-six competition while at five-on-five. I like Mukhamadullin as a bottom-pair defender already, but I believe there’s an outside chance he could develop into a serviceable No. 4 by the time he is 26 or 27.

Top 20 Oilers prospects for 2026-27

Rank Name Pos. Age 2025-26 Team (League) 2025-26 Stats Acquisition NHL timeline

20 Owen Michaels F 24 Western Michigan University (NCAA) 39 GP | 13G | 13A | 26P NCAA UFA 2028-29

19 Tomas Cibulka D 22 HC Motor České Budějovice (CZE) 47GP | 5G | 7A | 12P European UFA 2028-29

18 Eemil Vinni G 20 Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat, Ketterä (Mestis) JoKP: 17GP | 8-5-4 | 2.99GAA | .884sv% | 1 SO
Kettera (Loan) 4GP | 2-1-1 | 1.23 GAA | .951sv% | 1 SO Drafted 2030-31

17 Connor Ungar G 24 Bakersfield (AHL), (3x ECHL teams) 13 GP | 9-2-2 | 2.51GAA | .923sv% | 1SO USports UFA 2029-30

16 David Lewandowski F 19 Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 57 GP | 17G | 41A | 58P Drafted 2030-31

15 Damien Carfagna D 23 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 66 GP | 7G | 15A | 22P NCAA UFA 2028-29

14 Zack Sharp D 21 Western Michigan University (NCAA) 37 GP | 5G | 14A | 19P Trade 2030-31

13 Asher Barnett D 19 University of Michigan (NCAA) 40 GP | 5G | 13A | 18P Drafted 2030-31

12 Samuel Jonsson G 23 Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) 33 GP | 21-8-2 | .910 Sv% | 2.38 GAA | 5 SO Drafted 2029-30

11 Beau Akey D 21 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 42 GP | 2G | 8A | 10P Drafted 2028-29

10 Connor Clattenburg W 21 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 32 GP | 2G | 2A | 4P Drafted 2028-29

9 William Nicholl C 20 London Knights (OHL) 32 GP | 15G | 11A | 26P Drafted 2028-29

8 Quinn Hutson W 24 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 67 GP | 30G | 33A | 63P NCAA UFA 2026-27

7 Viljami Marjala C 23 Bakersfield Condors (AHL) 72 GP | 17G | 43A | 60P European UFA 2027-28

6 Paul Fischer D 21 Notre Dame (NCAA) 33 GP | 5G | 17A | 23P Trade 2028-29

5 Tommy Lafreniere W 21 Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 67 GP | 41G | 36A | 77P Drafted 2029-30

4 Rudolfs Berzkalns C 18 Muskegeon Lumberjacks (USHL) 48 GP | 13G | 12A | 25P Drafted 2030-31

3 Josh Samanski C

Winnipeg Jets make first cuts of 2026-27 training camp

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:36:13 -0400
From 50 players to 47 after they send three players back to junior.

GDB -1.0: Oilers vets open pre-season against Jets (6 PM, Oilers+)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:00:30 -0400

The NHL is back, hockey fans.

While Edmonton Oilers fans got a taster of pre-pre-season action when the team’s rookies walloped the Calgary Flames’ rookies 6-1 earlier in the week, Saturday’s affair against the Winnipeg Jets will be much different. We’ll finally get some NHL players in the mix, going up against other NHL players, giving Mike Babcock and his coaching staff a chance to have something tangible to chew on.

“I want us to take care of the puck, I want us to play with detail, I want us to work,” said Babcock on Saturday. “Is that a reasonable expectation for your first exhibition game? I don’t know, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The lineups between the Oilers and Jets have quite a different look to them. Edmonton will have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line alongside Vasily Podkolzin, a trio that has skated together since the team kicked off captains’ skates earlier this month. The top pairing will see newcomer Ryan Shea alongside Evan Bouchard, while Tristan Jarry is set to get the start.

From there, the group is largely players fighting for position. Alex Formenton, Colton Dach, and Mathieu Joseph will form the second line, as a trio that could be the Oilers’ fourth line on opening night. Spencer Stastney and Ty Emberson make the second defensive pairing, and both are the two players who could be on the outside looking in, based on the training camp lines we saw Thursday.

The Jets, meanwhile, are bringing a roster teeming with youth to Edmonton in what will likely be a wake-up call for those yet to cut their teeth. This year’s eighth overall pick, 5-foot-9 Viggo Björck will centre their top line.

But when it comes to the Oilers, Babcock sees the Dynamic Duo setting the tempo for the game.

“Those guys got to do things right, and if they do things right, everyone else will do things right,” said Babcock. “They’re the most important people to do things without the puck that we need.

“Now they’re going to play their game, but they have to play with detail without the puck, and so that’s their focus for sure. Then the second part is to find depth. We need depth in the organization, so we don’t have to play those guys too much. So that’s my job: find it.”

Time to get to work, Babs.

LINEUPS…

Oilers

Draisaitl – McDavid – Podkolzin
Formenton – Dach – Joseph
Jones – Samanski – Howard
Nicholl – Michaels – Griffith

Shea – Bouchard
Stastney – Emberson
Stillman – Brown

Jarry

The bottom six will be worth keeping an eye on. Samanski, Jones and Howard are all fighting for a roster spot, though the latter of the three has the inside track. Howard skated with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman on Thursday in camp, but it’s clear the Oilers want to see him in action sooner rather than later. The fourth line of William Nicholl, Owen Michaels, and Seth Griffith could play together in Bakersfield this season, so having them together makes some sense.

Jets

Rosen-Björck-Lambert
He-Yager-Ford
Chibrikov-Zhilkin-Gregor
Barlow-Julien-Wahlin

Fleury-St. Ivany
Thrun-Bauer
Phillips-Gustafsson

Milic

Winnipeg’s forward group is largely devoid of NHL experience, with Noah Gregor’s 330 games far and away the most. Their centres have a combined nine NHL games, six for Zhilkin and three for Yager. They do bring a blue line that does have games under their belt, however. Fleury has played 345 games, Thrun 123, St. Ivany 53 and Phillips 59. It feels as though they’ll have their work cut out for them, though.

TONIGHT…

Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk

Game Day Prediction: The Oilers end up on the right side, in a 5-1 win.

Obvious Game Day Prediction: McDavid and Draisaitl each score two points.

Not-So-Obvious Game Day Prediction: Isaac Howard scores, impressing the coaching staff, and getting an early start to securing a spot in the Oilers’ top-nine.

Zach Laing is Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

PRESENTED BY STAKE

The FOMO of an Oilers fan: Why I watch (almost) every game

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:00:31 -0400

We all know the agreement, at least 82 (now 84) times a year (and hopefully many more), that a three-hour window is blocked off so we can be in front of the TV, in the stands, or listening on the radio while commuting.

This works out to roughly 250 hours of commitment to our team. That’s pretty overwhelming, especially if you’re like me and have trouble committing to dinner plans with friends a lot of the time. This begs the question – why are we like this?

The answer is FOMO – fear of missing out. With this team, it comes down to the “what if” factor – there are some moments where seeing them happen in real time just can’t match up with the highlight reels.

I myself have experienced this feeling of FOMO – anyone remember the Battle of Alberta beatdown/goalie fight/best game ever that the NHL just released the full version of? Yeah, I wasn’t watching that night. I remember getting a text while the game was happening saying, “ARE YOU SEEING THIS?” and knew I had messed up. This feeling only got worse when I saw the highlights. Now, you might say that game was an outlier, but there’s so much other stuff that can happen that can cause the same feelings.

What if Connor McDavid goes full Columbus Blue Jackets return-from-injury game? New York Rangers/Winnipeg Jets deke the entire team out game? Toronto Maple Leafs spin-o-rama goal game? And, if not McDavid, the team has several more capable human highlight reels.

What if someone scores eight points in a game? Seeing Sam Gagner go through that stretch of being untouchable in 2012 was pure magic. I bet there were lots of people who missed that game because we were deep in the Decade of Darkness – it just goes to show that you have to watch!

What if someone goes off with a 59-save shutout like Ben Scrivens in 2014? I’ll never forget the post-game interview where he used the word “inauspicious” to describe having a bad warm-up. I think that comment forever cemented him as “The Professor” in the fans’ eyes.

What if an EBUG comes into the game like Matt Berlin did in 2022-23? Nothing like seeing a guy’s life get made on the ice, at Rogers Place, during an Oilers victory. That’s the type of hype you bring with you to work the next morning.

What if there’s an NHL first? What if there’s a crazy moment on the broadcast? One of the coolest moments from the 2025-26 season was the game where Connor Clattenburg scored his first NHL goal. It was a pretty unassuming game with not much excitement. To boot, Jack Michaels’ voice was on its last legs after a battle with a cold. The moment would have been cool on its own with Clattenburg scoring but somehow, Jack also summoned up the power to give the goal the call it deserved. These types of moments are what we watch for.

So, what about this season? We know that every game has the potential to provide us with a “McDavid flying down the wing, through three defenders and backhand top-shelf ” type of goal. I’ll never get sick of those. This season, we can look forward to more than that. Maybe we’ll see a generational fight? The Oilers certainly have some players who can do it (Trent Frederic, Vasily Podkolzin, and, who can forget, Nuge). Maybe we’ll see a young gun turn into a real rising star. Isaac Howard looks like they could take off at any moment. Maybe we’ll see a game with three Bouch Bombs. What kind of celly will Jake Walman have for his first OT winner? And will Gene Principe finally run out of pre-game hijinks? That seems unlikely. This season promises to be memorable in so many ways, so don’t miss out!

I’m looking forward to the new season.

Winnipeg Jets pre-season game 1 roster and projected lines vs Oilers

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:17:17 -0400
The first game roster is set.

It Was Always One Name

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:16:57 -0400

I had a chuckle today as a co-worker lamented over Connor Hellebuyck's situation in my office. His proposal was that the Jets are now the laughing stock of the NHL thanks to Kevin Cheveldayoff's inability to facilitate a trade with any number of teams, and this poor asset management will lead to more heartbreak for Jets fans like him. I can't say he's wrong, but his proposal that the Jets should apply for a new team name as the "Jokes" made me laugh before it got the old gray matter churning as we almost had a minor-league version of the Jets before the Atlanta Thrashers headed north.

Back in the summer of 1996, the IHL approved the relocation of the Minnesota Moose to Winnipeg as current Jets' owner Mark Chipman had bought the IHL franchise. Of course, a new league and team in town generates excitement, and one of the ways to get fans involved early is to run a "Name the Team" contest. We already knew the Moose were coming to Winnipeg with that name, so did Chipman need to run this contest? Apparently, the correct answer is yes.

On Friday, March 1, 1996, the newly-relocated IHL franchise in Winnipeg took out a half-page advertisement in the Winnipeg Free Press to run their "Name the Team" contest. This is that ad.

There was a pretty cool grand prize for whoever had their entry selected as flying to Chicago to see the Wolves and Moose play on Air Canada with a friend would be pretty fun despite the game being played in Rosemont as opposed to Chicago. Nevertheless, a free trip is awesome and getting to watch live hockey always makes it better.

However, I want to point your attention to the actual "Name the Team" entry portion of the advertisement where two of the names seem very familiar if you're a Winnipeg hockey fan of any kind.

The team went ahead and proposed two names that they didn't own nor held the trademarks for by printing "Winnipeg Jets" and "Winnipeg Warriors" as two of their more popular names. The Jets had just moved to the Arizona desert to become the Coyotes while the Warriors left Winnipeg in 1984 to become the Moose Jaw Warriors. As far as I can tell, neither the Coyotes nor the Moose Jaw Warriors had given permission to Chipman et al. to use those names for his team.

Had one of those names been selected by fans, it's likely that Mark Chipman would have had to negotiate the rights for those names since they belonged to those franchises, but history tells us that the team went with "Manitoba Moose" which seems like the name that requires the least amount of work to trademark. After all, the team once was the Minnesota Moose, and the original Moose logo literally was just modified to say "Manitoba" rather than "Minnesota".

What makes this rather unbelievable to me, however, is that Mark Chipman, current owner of the Jets, proposed that name for the Moose who were the first professional hockey franchise he owned in Winnipeg. It's almost like the name "Jets" was always going to be the name of an NHL team if one returned to Winnipeg, and, in 2011, we found out that the NHL team that moved from Atlanta would indeed be called "Winnipeg Jets". It's almost like Chipman wanted that name for his team from the start of his pro hockey ownership career!

I want to be clear that "Jets" isn't a bad name in any way, but it seems like, with the advertisement above, that Mark Chipman would someday own a professional hockey franchise called "Winnipeg Jets". He may have missed out on having that dream achieved in the IHL in 1996, but he certainly didn't miss again in 2011 when he bought and relocated the Atlanta Thrashers franchise. And had the fans opted for that name and the NHL had given up rights to that name, we may now be talking about the fourth iteration of the Jets after they played in the WHA, the NHL, the IHL, and back again in the NHL.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Kings off-season review: The NHL’s oldest team got even older this summer

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:00:48 -0400

The Los Angeles Kings just love being mediocre.

After winning Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, the Kings rebuilt and picked 11th or higher in four of five drafts from 2017 until 2021. Returning to the playoffs in 2022, the Kings fell in seven games to the Oilers. Then they lost in six to the Oilers in 2023, five to the Oilers in 2024, and six again to, you guessed it, the Oilers, in 2025.

Last season, the Kings also had the distinction of playing in 33 regular season games that went to overtime, the most in NHL history. If you went to a Kings’ game last season, there was a 40% chance you’d be getting free hockey. Unsurprisingly, their 20 overtime/shootout losses also set a record.

However, the loser point just helped them squeak into the playoffs, managing a four-point cushion over the St. Louis Blues. By nabbing the eighth seed, the Kings even managed to avoid the Oilers in the 2026 postseason, instead having the honours of being swept by the Colorado Avalanche.

So the big question is: where do they go from him?

What major acquisitions did the Kings make this off-season?

The simple answer to that question is the retirement home (in terms of hockey years).

Their biggest move came during the season, acquiring 34-year-old forward Artemi Panarin and locking him up to a two-year extension shortly after. Also before the trade deadline, the Kings acquired 32-year-old Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs, re-signing him the day free agency opened on July 1st.

One player they traded before the deadline was Corey Perry, sending him to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a pick. Well, they re-signed the 41-year-old to a one-year deal worth $1 million. Sticking with players formerly in the Oilers organization, the Kings also handed 34-year-old Erik Gustafsson a 1×1 deal.

Gustafsson was one of two players named Erik that the Kings signed this off-season, as they signed 35-year-old Erik Haula to a two-year deal with an annual cap hit of $3.6 million. Haula still had a productive 2025-26, scoring 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games with the Nashville Predators.

Similarly, 39-year-old Mats Zuccarello scored 15 goals and 54 points in 59 games last season for the Minnesota Wild. When Ken Holland has a chance to sign a player over the age of 30, he’s going to do it, as Zuccarello signed a one-year deal worth $1 million.

The team did make one big move this summer, naming Peter Laviolette head coach. They’ll hope he can help them break through.

Which key players departed the Kings this off-season?

The Kings’ biggest loss this off-season was their captain, Anže Kopitar. This article has taken a “what the heck is Ken Holland doing” tone, but respect where it’s due: Kopitar was a hell of a player.

Drafted 11th overall by the Kings in 2005, the Slovenian scored 452 goals and 1,316 points in 1,521 career games. In the postseason, he added 27 goals and 89 points in 107 games, helping the Kings win the Cup in 2012 and 2014.

On top of hoisting the two Cups over his head, Kopitar won three Lady Byng Trophies and two Selke Trophies. With a résumé like that, Kopitar is basically a lock to have his name in the Hockey Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible.

What a career, but it’s also a sizable loss for the Kings. He wasn’t as productive as he was in the last three years, scoring just 12 goals and 38 points, but his leadership alone is a big loss. Perhaps that’s why the Kings signed all those veterans.

The other notable loss this off-season was Andrei Kuzmenko, who signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last season, he scored 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games, after scoring five goals and 17 points in 22 games after the Kings acquired him ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. He’s had an odd career since coming over from the Kontinental Hockey League

Kyle Burroughs signed with the Dallas Stars, Phoenix Copley signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Mathieu Joseph signed with the Oilers, and Jeff Malott signed with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Kings’ 2026-27 outlook

All of their notable off-season acquisitions/trade deadline re-signees are 32 or old. Panarin, Laughton, Perry, Gustafsson, Haula, and Zuccarello join a core featuring a 30-year-old Adrain Kempe, 30-year-old Kevin Fiala, 31-year-old Trevor Moore, 33-year-old Joel Armia, 36-year-old Drew Doughty, 33-year-old Joel Edmundson, 32-year-old Cody Ceci, 35-year-old Brain Dumoulin, and 36-year-old Darcy Kuemper.

There’s still some youth on the team, as Mikey Anderson is 27 years old and Brandt Clarke is 23 years old. Up front, Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere are both 24, while Samuel Helenius is 23.

But man, this Kings’ rebuild may go down as one of the worst in NHL history. They had four picks in five years that were selected 11th or higher, yet haven’t gotten out of the first round since the rebuild ended. Don’t expect anything different in 2026-27, that is if they make it with young teams like the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks hungry to make it.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

Rule Change Friday

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:05:56 -0400

I don't think I'm in the minority here when I say that I like exciting hockey. Having been through the "dead puck" era of the NHL when some version of the trap was used by almost every team, watching hockey was a chore in that era where teams looked to prevent mistakes and were far more comfortable winning 2-1 while preventing their opposition from scoring more than two goals. Good defence hasn't taken a backseat in the NHL as we still see strong defensive teams, but no fans fo to hockey games to watch a clinic on how to stifle offensive hockey. Fans like offence, fans want offence, and two leagues today instituted rule changes that should help generate more offence in games and situations. Thee rule changes won't solve every problem when it comes to overall scoring in these leagues, but it shoudl give fans some hope that offensive hockey is being prioritized when it comes to entertainment value.

We'll start in the WHL who announced three rule changes today. The first two included implementing a coach's challenge for offside goals and adding an officials' review of major and match penalties, but the one I want to focus on in the "no return" 3-on-3 overtime. As you likely have seen in European leagues, teams in overtime can move the puck up the ice, but once they cross the centre ice line they are forbidden to retreat to their defensive zone unless playing defence. The numbers show this is a good rule.

The third rule today is exactly that - a "no retreat" overtime rule. Teams in the WHL will be forbidden to possess the puck in the defensive zone once they cross the centre red line, and this should promote more games being decided in overtime based on what we've seen in other leagues. We're one step close to banning the shootout!

In all seriousness, the Champions Legaue has been using this rule and tracking metrics, and it's not hard to see why this is better for the game. Here are their numbers and MHL (KHL junior circuit) numbers:

Shot attempts increased by 51% in overtime overall.

Alternating shot attempts increased by 53% as both teams played more offensively in trying to end the game.

Puck possession changes were up 23% as teams simply could not retreat into their own zone and regroup.

Attacking zone swaps increased by 17% as teams forced turnovers and moved the puck more.

Games completed in overtime increased by 12%.

Officials approved "no retreat" overtime by 87%, fans by 64%, and Champions League clubs by 63%.

In the MHL, overtimes averaged 2:14 in length with this rule.

The MHL saw 67% of games decided in overtime rather than the shootout, giving fans more entertainment.

In short, this overtime rule works because it forces teams to play offensively which results in more mistakes and more goals. Less shootouts are better for the game, so I'm happy to see the WHL adopt this rule rull-time! Now if we could reinstitute tie games....

That aside, we'll move to the AHL where they also made a couple of minor changes to their rules today. The two rules that shouldn't affect too many plays are an expanded video review process to give coaches more options for challenges and using video review for awarding goals for pucks entering the net on a continuous play despite the referee blowing the whistle. Both of these situations do happen so these needed some altering, but it's the third rule that could affect some teams' decisions when it comes to using video review liberally.

Starting today, the AHL announced that any "team’s first failed coach's challenge will result in a bench minor penalty for delay of game. Subsequent failed challenges in the same game will result in double-minor penalties" which is an excellent addition to the video review rules because there is nothing worse than a ten-minute delay after a goal is scored because some coach believed a player's skate was a millimeter offside. If he's right, good on that voach. If he simply wanted a timeout for his team, a minor and subsequent double-minor penalty should curb the enthusiasm over video reviews.

The AHL doesn't publish any numbers on video review challenges, but it seems clear that the Board of Governors wanted to see changes by implementing these new rules. Whether or not this cuts down on the number of coach's challeneges seen in the AHL will be determined, but I'm very sure there aren't a lot of coaches willing to put his team down a man for four minutes after one unsuccessful challenge.

Both of these rules in these respective leagues should keep the pace of games moving and make the games more entertaining. The WHL will likely see more games decided in overtime which is always a good thing, and the AHL should see less long delays when video review of a play is needed as failed challenges will now see teams penalized more heavily. As Champions League stakeholders show with their approval ratings, fans, teams, and officials are fans of more entertaining games alike, and the NHL would be wise to start looking at these kinds of changes to make their product better overall.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

9/19/26 Illegal Curve Hockey Show

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:59:24 -0400
Guests: Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press and former NHLer Martin Biron.

Which Oilers are most likely to land on NHL waivers?

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:00:23 -0400

The Edmonton Oilers will need to make some decisions before the season starts.

As it stands, the Oilers’ roster stands at 29 players, six more than what is allowed, according to Puckpedia’s new waiver watch. All 32 teams must be compliant before Sept. 28 at 3:00 PM MT, a day before the 2026-27 National Hockey League is set to begin.

That begs the questions: which Oilers are likely to be waived, which other players are on the bubble, and who is waiver exempt? Let’s find out!

Likely to be waived

Puckpedia lists six Oilers as likely to be waived: Max Jones, Riley Stillman, Josh Brown, Matt Tomkins, Eduards Tralmaks, and Atro Leppänen. All players aside from Brown are making the minimum cap hit of $850,000, as Brown is entering the final season of his three-year deal that carries an annual cap hit of $1 million.

Brown is one of three players who have played for the Oilers, appearing in 10 regular season games and one playoff game during the 2024-25 season. The entirety of his 2025-26 season was spent with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors, where he scored two goals and 13 points in 57 games. The right-shot defenceman offers toughness, but is behind plenty of players on the team’s depth chart.

In fact, when the Oilers needed a defenceman last season, they turned to Stillman. The 28-year-old appeared in four games with the Oilers last season, but spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Condors. Over 51 games, he scored three goals and 18 points, then added two more goals in the Condors’ three playoff games.

Assuming he clears waivers, Jones should factor into the 2026-27 Oilers as he’s an energetic bottom-six forward who has shown a scoring touch in the past. Acquired before the 2025 trade deadline, Jones scored three goals and five points in 21 games for the Oilers last season. If he remains in the organization, he’ll find his way on the roster at some point.

Tralmaks is the other forward likely to be waived by the Oilers. Signed by the organization this past off-season, the 29-year-old Latvian winger played in 64 AHL games last season, scoring 26 goals and 42 points while hitting everything in sight. He’s yet to make his NHL debut, but could factor in the Oilers’ lineup at some point this season.

Leppänen is a Finnish defenceman who scored 21 goals and 63 points in 60 SM-Liiga games in 2024-25, leading the Oilers to sign the 27-year-old. With the Condors last season, the 27-year-old scored 11 goals and 38 points in 53 games. Like Tralmaks, Leppänen could make his NHL debut this season.

Lastly, Tomkins is a 32-year-old netminder who is set to enter his second season in the organization. Last season with the Condors, the veteran netminder had a .904 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average in 42 games. Losing Tomkins on waivers wouldn’t be the worst-case scenario for the Oilers, as they have a boatload of goaltending prospects in need of playing time.

Bubble players

Puckpedia also lists five Oilers who are waiver candidates: Alex Formenton, Colton Dach, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Spencer Stastney, and Ty Emberson.

Three of the five players are defencemen, as the Oilers are the deepest they’ve been at the position for years. Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, Connor Murphy, and Ryan Shea are all locks to be mainstays on the Oilers’ back-end, meaning just one spot for four defencemen (including the injured Alec Regula).

Stastney was acquired by the Oilers during the 2025-26 season, appearing in 36 games where he scored just one goal. Prior to the trade, the left-shot defencemen scored a goal and nine points in 30 games with the Nashville Predators, but was often a healthy scratch in the final few months of the season.

Once the Oilers acquired Murphy and Walman returned to the lineup, they regularly used Emberson as the sixth defencemen. Over 72 games, the right-shot defenceman scored two goals and 12 points, while also picking up an assist in six playoff games. It seems unlikely that Emberson will be waived, as this spot is his to lose.

This off-season, the Oilers acquired Mukhamadullin from the San Jose Sharks for Darnell Nurse. In 50 games with the Sharks last season, the 24-year-old Russian scored five goals and 12 points. Capable of playing on both sides, Mukhamadullin figures to be the Oilers’ seventh defencemen, appearing in the lineup when there are injuries or poor performances.

Dach likely has a spot on the Oilers’ roster as an energetic bottom-six forward. After the Oilers acquired him before the trade deadline, the St. Albert product scored two goals and four points in eight regular season games, then picked up a helper in five postseason games. He’s not waiver exempt, but it’s unlikely he won’t be in the team’s lineup on September 29th.

Waiver exempt

There are a handful of players who are waiver exempt, even if they have the potential to factor into the team’s plans in 2026-27. The notables of the bunch are Ike Howard, Matthew Savoie, Viljami Marjala, Connor Clattenburg, Owen Michaels, and Quinn Hutson.

Other players Puckpedia lists as waiver-exempt are William Nicholl, Nathaniel Day, Samuel Jonsson, Tomáš Cibulka, Patrik Štefan, Damien Carfagna, Brady Stonehouse, Beau Akey, Aku Räty, and Connor Ungar.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers: Today’s Hockey Headlines | September 19, 2026

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:30:09 -0400
A daily roundup of Jets, Moose coverage and all the pro hockey news that matters in Manitoba and beyond.

Manitoba time change prompts Winnipeg Jets to adjust 12 home game start times

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:13:41 -0400
Manitoba’s permanent daylight time means new start times for 12 Jets home games, with road-game viewing times also affected.